DEC. 8, 2017
Tifton, Georgia
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LATE TIFTON MAN FIRED U.S.'s FIRST SHOT OF WWII
By FRANK SAYLES JR.
Tifton Grapevine
Yesterday -- Thursday,
Dec. 7 -- was
Pearl Harbor Day, the
76th anniversary of the Japanese
attack on the
U.S. Naval forces in
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
What many folks
may not realize is that
William W. Outerbridge, who spent the last years of his life
living in
Tifton,
fired the first shot against the Japanese
more than an hour before the
Pearl Harbor attack,
sinking a
Japanese submarine.
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OUTERBRIDGE |
Lt. Cmdr.
Outerbridge, who died in
1986 and is buried in
Tifton's Oakridge Cemetery, had been in
command of the destroyer
USS Ward for only
two days on the morning of
Dec. 7, 1941. His ship was
patrolling the
entrance to the U.S. base at
Pearl Harbor that morning when, shortly before
6:45 a.m., an
unidentified foreign submarine was spotted
attempting to
follow a U.S. vessel into the Pearl Harbor base.
Contact with the sub was
unsuccessful.
Outerbridge ordered
defensive action,
firing upon the
submarine, striking it, and ordering
depth charges. The
sub sank, and a heavy slick of oil rose to the water's surface.
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Crew of the destroyer USS Ward in 1941.
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"We have
attacked, fired upon and dropped depth charges on a submarine operating in defensive sea areas,"
Outerbridge informed his superiors.
His missive was
ignored, however, partly because he had only been in
command for
two days and wasn't taken
seriously. B
ut Outerbridge had just sunk a Japanese midget submarine just three to four miles off shore.
And just 65 minutes later, Pearl Harbor was under full attack from the air.
Outerbridge remained in the Navy until 1957, retiring as a rear admiral. He then taught at a private school in Gulfstream, Fla., eventually retiring to Tifton, where he died at age 80.
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LEN LASTINGER PRIMARY
IMPROVES, STATE SAYS
Len Lastinger Primary School is among 61 schools in Georgia that have improved enough to come off the state's list of schools that need significant improvement in performance.
The Georgia Department of Education made the announcement
Tuesday. Len Lastinger Primary was on the state's "Focus" list. Focus schools represent the lowest-performing 10 percent of Title I schools based on achievement gap data.
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FISHER
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That data examines the gap between a school's lowest performing 25 percent of students and the state average, and the progress those students are making.
Last March, Principal Richard Fisher detailed Len Lastinger Primary School's improvement plan to the Tift County Board of Education. Fisher said the school was working hard to improve in
reading levels, in mathematic scores and in teamwork.
According to the state, the Tifton school was successful.
"We continue to see that
underperforming schools can
improve and move the needle for their students, even when they face difficult odds," Superintendent
Richard Woods said this week.
"We've seen once again that
intensive, intentional partnerships between schools, districts, communities and our department can equip schools with the resources they need to
improve student achievement. These schools worked directly with our DOE staff and with Georgia RESAs (
Regional Education Service Agencies), and their leaders and teachers deserve
immense credit for the
progress they've made."
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BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE
Brace yourself: The first real cold blast of the season is coming this weekend.
Winter is technically a couple of weeks away, but the weather is finally going to feel seasonal come Saturday.
While rain is forecast all today (Friday) and
tonight in the Tiftarea, temperatures will be in the
lower 40s tonight and only in the
upper 40s on Saturday. On Saturday night, lows will fall around the freezing mark. By Sunday night, the lows will be in the upper 20s, says the National Weather Service.
Brrr.
There is a slight warming trend forecast for next week but low temperatures may still be in the mid to low 30s at night.
Tiftarea residents are reminded to bring in their pets when temperatures dip to freezing. Also be sure to check on elderly residents to ensure they are all right as temperatures drop. And as lows get into the 20s, make sure your exposed water pipes are wrapped in insulation.
While parts of North and Middle Georgia may briefly see some snow or a rain/snow mix tonight, the only white stuff expected in the Tiftarea is cotton.
Can I get a "Ho, ho, ho"?
Stay warm, my friends.
--Frank Sayles Jr.
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1676 S. Carpenter Road, Tifton
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SIX CHARGED IN TIFT BURGLARIES
The Tift County Sheriff's Office has arrested six Tifton men "in connection with a rash of recent burglaries in Tift County," Sheriff Gene Scarbrough said Thursday.
In a press release, the Sheriff's Office stated that it
has been "investigating several recent residential and commercial burglaries over the last few weeks that have occurred in the northern and southern parts of Tift County."
The Sheriff's Office identified those arrested as:
* Dustin Duckworth, 20, charged with one county of second-degree burglary.
* Calimb Deal, 17, charged with one count of second-degree burglary.
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FELDER
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HARRIS
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* Clayton Hornbuckle, 22, charged with one count of second-degree burglary, one count of theft by deception and two counts of theft by receiving stolen property.
* Deonte Calhoun, 17, charged with one count of first-degree burglary.
* Ja'Kevion Harris, 18, charged with six counts of first-degree burglary.
* D'Montayvious Felder, 18, charged with four counts of first-degree burglary.
Scarbrough said the investigation is continuing with additional charges expected.
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NEWSONG, FOUNDED BY TIFTON NATIVE, PERFORMS SATURDAY AT UGA TIFTON
Well-known Christian music group NewSong, co-founded by a Tifton native, is bringing its nationwide "Very Merry Christmas" tour to Tifton this Saturday night.
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CARSWELL
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NewSong is teaming with Grammy-nominated, multi Dove Award-winning singer-songwriter Crowder and Word recording artist Sarah Reeves for the show at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center.
Tifton-based Road Less Traveled Ministries is hosting the event.
NewSong has become an
icon of contemporary Christian music since the group's founding in 1981. Tifton native Eddie Carswell has been with the group from the beginning.
Carswell co-wrote the group's popular song "The Christmas Shoes," which hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts within three weeks of its release in 2000. A book based on the song hit The New York Times bestseller list in 2001; and in 2002, a CBS-TV movie, starring Rob Lowe and based on the song and book, has become a popular Christmas program.
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IRWIN COUNTY FACES CLINCH COUNTY
IN STATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
The
Irwin County High Indians varsity football team faces the Clinch County High Panthers on Saturday for the Class A State Championship.
The clash of the South Georgia titans kicks off at 10 a.m. Saturday in the new Mercedes-Benz stadium in Atlanta, the successor to the Georgia Dome and home to the Atlanta Falcons.
The Irwin Indians have a 12-1 record, and Clinch is 11-2. The two teams had met for the state title in 2015 with Clinch winning that contest, after having lost to Irwin County earlier that season.
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Church Pianist 
Position
Tifton First United
Methodist Church
107 W 12th St., Tifton, GA
Tifton First United Methodist Church has an opening for a church pianist. This is a part-
 time position.
The pianist is responsible for preparing for and practicing with the chancel choir, orchestra and ensemble every Wednesday evening for about two hours and for playing at Sunday traditional services at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., as well at special services at Christmas, Easter, etc.
229-382-6100.
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'SELF' CHRISTMAS DANCE DEC. 15 
The local seniors group "SELF," or "Seniors Enjoying Life Forever," is holding its Christmas dance on Friday, Dec. 15, at the Leroy Rogers Senior Center in Tifton.
Doors will open at 6 p.m. with dinner at 7, and dancing beginning at 8 p.m.
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SECRETARY OF STATE
TOUTS RURAL GEORGIA
Ga. Secretary of State
Brian Kemp, who is seeking the GOP
nomination for
governor, was the guest speaker
Thursday night at a reception at the
Georgia Chamber of Commerce office in
Tifton.
Kemp noted the
importance of both
rural Georgia and
agriculture to the state.
The reception was to announce that
Georgia CEO business news will soon begin a Tifton arm of the online publication.
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EDUCATION
GRANT IN ACTION AT G.O.BAILEY
The director of the Tift County Foundation for Educational Excellence, Mike Brumby, at left in photo, got to see an educational grant in action recently.
The
$805 grant was to teacher
Sara Askew at
G.O. Bailey Primary School for a
"High Touch - High Tech Sounds Like Fun" workshop.
These
first graders are learning about
funnels and vortexes, and also learned air and vibration using kazoos.
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TIFTON VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT
FOR FREE TAX PREPARATION
The Free Tax Preparation Program, mostly operated by the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA), are seeking community volunteers across Tifton to provide free tax assistance to those who need help in filing their taxes.
Neighborhood volunteers are needed to electronically file federal income tax returns, greet
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WILBER
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taxpayers and help organize their paperwork, set up and keep computer equipment running, manage tax sites and handle quality control.
"The Tax Counseling for the Elderly program and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program must have community volunteers to continue the good work. Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are welcome. Neighborhood volunteers who are interested in learning about taxes and then helping others by preparing income tax returns for free are needed,"
said David Wilber, director of Diversified Enterprises.
"All volunteers preparing returns are IRS-certified to at least complete simple, non-business tax returns for people with low to moderate incomes, senior citizens, disabled individuals and for people that English is a second language. There is a volunteer role for anyone who is interested, anyone who wants to help and give back to their community."
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Tifton's Locally Owned Electronic Newspaper!
It's Free!
e-published every Tuesday & Friday / to Advertise, call
478-227-7126
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YOUR WEEKEND
.
..at a Glance
FRIDAY, DEC. 8
- Tifton Christmas Spectacular starring the Tift County Chorus, 6:30 p.m., Tift County High PAC, Tifton
SATURDAY, DEC. 9
- Brunch with Santa, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, Tifton
- Christmas Open House, 10 a.m.-Noon, Country Store, Ga. Museum of Agriculture, Tifton
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Class A State Football Championship: Irwin County High Indians vs. Clinch County High Panthers, 10 a.m., Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
- UGA Fall Graduation, 3 p.m., NESPAL, UGA Tifton Campus, Tifton
- Tifton Christmas Spectacular starring the Tift County Chorus, 6:30 pm., Tift County High PAC, Tifton
- "Very Merry Christmas Tour:" Newsong, Crowder & Sarah Reeves, 6:30 p.m., UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center, Tifton
SATURDAY, DEC. 10
- "All is Well" Christmas Musical, 6 p.m., First Baptist Church, Tifton
- "The Greatest Story Ever Told" Christmas Musical, 7 p.m., First United Methodist Church, Tifton
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NOV. 30
Harvey Lee Barton, 65, Tifton
Olivia Bennett, 57, Nashville
Jeffrey Craig Cose, 58, Hudson, Fla.
Louie T. Gibson Jr., 57, Ellijay
James Edward Parrish, 75, Fitzgerald
DEC. 1
Perry Samuel Key, 67, Tifton
Lottie Lurinzie Delaney Guy, 69, Norman Park
Geneva Whytsell Wilson Morgan, 92, Fitzgerald
Jackie "Jack" Amos Parten, 76, Boston
DEC. 2
John Kyle Brooks, 55, Tifton
Peyton Renee' Alexandra Hawk, 22, Worth County
W. Terry Smith, 78, Adel
R.C. Thompson, 89, Nashville
DEC. 3
Bobbie Willis Lightle, 78, Tifton
Shirley Carter "Grammy" Fordham, 78, Sylvester
Lorie Apperson-Moore, 58, Sparks
Lillian Moore, 82, Nashville
DEC. 4
Bessie Lassiter Hayes Mathis, 80, Tifton
Latrelle Metts Heath, 81, Berrien County
DEC. 5
Sunny Medders, 87, Poulan
Arthur McDonald, 75, Fitzgerald
Ed Purvis, 76, Irwin County
Eliza Ann Hutchinson, 83, Valdosta
Jocelyn Careen Hatcher Miller, 80, Sylvester
DEC. 6
Betty Cooper Tucker Johnson, 83, Tifton
Doyle E. Wiggins, 88, Tifton
Betty Cooper Tucker, 83
, Tifton
Helen Sego Posey, 84, Ashburn
Richard "Ric" M. Thomas, 69, Sylvester
Walter Eugene "Walt" Peterson Jr., 46, Valdosta
DEC. 7
William "Billy" Drew, 77, Quitman
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FRANK SAYLES JR.
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iheardit@tiftongrapevine.com
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478-227-7126
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