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TIFTON ADOPTS PLAN TO CURTAIL SPEEDERS

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Tifton City Council on Monday approved a plan to implement a "traffic calming" program when speeding becomes a problem in residential neighborhoods.

If a residential street is found to have a speeding issue, first courses of actions may involve adjusting speed limits, adding new signage or road-striping, increasing police patrols, or erecting signage that shows drivers how fast they are going. 

If those actions are ineffective, speed bumps/speed humps may be installed to slow traffic on specified streets.

If it's determined that speed bumps are necessary, there first must be a 67% consensus of residents on that street, said City Attorney Rob Wilmot. Once implemented, speed bumps could not be removed from a street for at least 12 months.

The city's plan allows residents to request that actions be taken to "calm traffic" on a particular street. A city investigation would then have to determine if a speeding issue indeed exists. If so, city officials would decide the best course of actions to address that situation.

Officials said that installing speed bumps would be a last resort; they could divert the problem to other streets as drivers find alternate routes to avoid the speed bumps.

JOHN HUNT AUDITORIUM, UGA TIFTON CAMPUS CONFERENCE CENTER, TIFTON GA

CLICK HERE for Tickets

This year's theme of the Georgia Sweet Potato festival in Ocilla celebrates the city's Native American heritage. The festival gets underway Saturday morning in the Irwin County seat.

GA SWEET POTATO FESTIVAL RETURNS SATURDAY IN OCILLA

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The 64th Annual Georgia Sweet Potato Festival gets underway Saturday in Ocilla. This year the festival honors Ocilla's Native American roots.

The Irwin County city is said to be named either for the Seminole Chief Osceola, who camped in the area known as Western Heights in Ocilla, or named for the Oswichee Indian tribe that once lived near the Ocmulgee River on land known in 1818 as Irwin County.

Held each year on the last Saturday in October, the Sweet Potato Festival includes antique farm equipment, refurbished vintage and classic cars, arts and craft vendors, entertainment, and a children's area with face painters, games, and rides.

The festival parade begins at 11 a.m. along Highway 129, and the festival runs throughout the day in downtown Ocilla.

The first Georgia Sweet Potato Festival was held in November 1960, shortly after the Georgia Sweet Potato Improvement Association was founded to promote the sweet potato industry and growers in Georgia.

The first festival in Ocilla was so successful, that organizers chose to make it the permanent home of the annual event.

JOBLESS RATE IMPROVES IN AREA

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The unemployment rate improved throughout the Tiftarea during September – in some instances dramatically – showing more people being employed.

Tift County's jobless rate fell to 2.9% in September from 3.8% in August, according to data released Thursday by the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL).

Tift County’s labor force – the number of people who are employed or are unemployed and seeking employment – was at 21,322 during the month, which is an increase of 324 from the previous month, according to GDOL data. September's labor-force number in Tift was also 1.6% higher than a year ago.

September's unemployment rates in area counties versus the previous month's rates were: Turner, 4.5% vs. 5.3%; Worth, 3.4% vs. 4.3%; Irwin, 3.8% vs. 5.1%; Cook, 3.2% vs. 4.0%; Berrien, 4.1% vs. 5.1%; and Ben Hill, 5.5% vs. 5.8%.

Statewide, the September unemployment rate remained the same at 3.6%, said Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson. The national jobless rate for September was at 4.1%.

"Every job created represents another paycheck in the pocket of hardworking Georgians," Thompson said. "With record-breaking job growth, an expanding workforce, and rising key industries, we're continuing to build better lives for families across our state."

Statewide, jobs were up by 6,800 above the previous month and up by 66,900 over the year to 4,990,300, an all-time high. The sectors with the most over-the-month job gains included health care and social assistance, 4,700; accommodations and food services, 3,200; specialty trade contractors, 1,100; personal services, 800; and state government, 700.

EMPLOYING WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES HELPS PEOPLE & BUSINESSES, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TOLD

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

As of July 1, Georgia state government has been named a model employer of people with intellectual disabilities and mental illness, serving as a model for employers around the state, the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce was told Thursday. 

Danny Hoover, chief operating officer with Diversified Enterprises in Tifton, said all state agencies are going to increase the amount of time they are working with people with disabilities. 

Tifton leads the way in these positive changes, Hoover said. In 1986, former COO Marion Curry made Diversified Enterprises the first agency in South Georgia to offer supported employment for those with disabilities.

Tifton is “the best at a whole lot of things,” Hoover said, and he applauded Heatcraft, Target Distribution Center, and the City of Tifton for enabling individuals with disabilities to be employed. The City of Tifton received a statewide award in 2016 for hiring and retaining someone with disabilities all the way through their retirement age.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and Hoover shared the challenges and contributions of people with disabilities to the workplace and the importance of inclusive workplaces.

He also noted the barriers that people with disabilities face in accessing the workforce and how employers can empower such individuals “so they can have access to good jobs."

When society was largely agrarian, people with disabilities helped on farms where they grew up, just like other family members, Hoover said. 

“They were expected to do their share with what they were able to do,” he said. “Then there was a change in our society, and some unthinkable things began to happen with people with disabilities.” They were often shunned and not allowed to live in communities with other people.

“We institutionalized people with disabilities,” Hoover said.

At one point, up to 33,000 people in Georgia with disabilities were living in institutions. Often, people with disabilities were given piecework to do. “They were like indentured servants, forced into doing things other people didn’t want to do,” he said. 

Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act allows employers to pay workers with disabilities less than the federal minimum wage. 

“In the state of Georgia there are people earning as little as 22 cents an hour,” Hoover said. “Many of us have gone to the state Capitol and talked to our legislators,” and have met with Georgia's congressmen and U.S. senators seeking for a national ban on Section 14(c). 

The Fair Labor Act in the 1960s made some changes, and IDEA, or Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, allows these individuals to go to school and receive special education. In 2008, the Rehabilitation Act allowed those with disabilities to be in employed in the community.

People with intellectual disabilities have an 85% retention rate in the workplace, Hoover said. Companies that hire people with disabilities have a 28% higher rate of profitability, he added. Hiring people with disabilities boosts innovation and problem solving, and especially improves workplace morale, he said.

“People that work with them say, ‘They come in every day and they make us all feel better,’” Hoover said.

Employers can earn tax credits by hiring disabled people through the Work Opportunity Tax Credit. Also, they can get a Disabled Access Tax Credit of up to $5,000 a year for providing accommodations to employ them. The Architectural Barrier Removal can provide up to $15,000 in tax credits. 

“I want you to partner with us to employ, enable, engage, and empower people,” Hoover said. Diversified Enterprises currently supports 33 people in Tift County and a total of 140 people with disabilities in eight surrounding counties.

Paid Political Advertisement

Early Voting: A Simple Step with a Big Impact

Every vote is a voice, and every voice deserves to be heard. The importance of early voting has never been clearer, especially as citizens are finding it more convenient to cast their ballots ahead of Election Day. One such example is Jeremy Mathis, a young man who recently exercised his right to vote early. Reflecting on his experience, Mathis expressed gratitude for the ease of early voting, stating, "I’m glad I voted early, and I didn’t have to wait in a long line."

Mathis’s story exemplifies the power of planning ahead. Early voting allows citizens to avoid potential obstacles like long waits, unforeseen emergencies, or last-minute schedule conflicts. It offers the opportunity to participate in the democratic process on their own time, ensuring that no voice is left unheard due to logistical challenges.

Commissioner Melissa Hughes, a dedicated public servant, has been actively championing early voting. Hughes believes that participation in elections is one of the most powerful tools for community empowerment. "We owe it to ourselves and to future generations to participate in shaping our communities," Hughes said, encouraging everyone to make early voting part of their routine. Her message is clear: Voting is more than a civic duty — it’s a personal investment in the future of our communities.

The beauty of early voting lies in its simplicity. It ensures that every voter, like Jeremy Mathis, can cast their ballot without unnecessary stress or inconvenience. Hughes’s continuous call to action reminds us that democracy thrives when people engage early and often.

As we move forward in this election season, let us follow the example of Jeremy Mathis and the encouragement of Commissioner Hughes. Early voting offers a powerful way to make sure that life’s surprises don’t interfere with your right to be heard. Whether you’re voting for the first time or the fiftieth, each vote counts.

So why wait? Take charge, avoid the rush, and vote early. When we vote, we don’t just change outcomes — we change lives.

 Paid for by the Committee to Re-Elect Commissioner Melissa Hughes

OVERNIGHT MANHUNT RESULTS IN ARREST

IN COOK COUNTY

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

A Moultrie man appeared Thursday in Cook County Probate Court in Adel following a lengthly overnight manhunt involving the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, said Probate Judge Chase Daughtrey.

Brandon Cooper was arrested on two counts of criminal trespass and one count of driving with a suspended license, third offense, Daughtrey said. 

Judge Daughtrey set a cash-only bond of $4,000, since Cooper was not eligible for a property bond based on his criminal record. Among other bond conditions, Cooper is banished from Cook County, is subject to random search, and is barred from consuming drugs or alcohol while out on bond.

He will be arraigned Jan. 14.

Game day is almost here! ABAC Basketball officially kicks off on Saturday, October 26!

Let’s pack the stands to support the Stallions and Fillies!

Purchase your tickets online here for 20% off at the door admission. 

ABAC BASKETBALL IS BACK

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Basketball is back at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) after a 15-year hiatus, and it's now a four-year program for athletes.

For the first time in more than a decade and a half, the ABAC Fillies and Stallions basketball teams will host a doubleheader Saturday at the college’s Gressette Gym. The Fillies (women) will host East Georgia State College at 1 p.m. while the Stallions (men) face Community Christian College at 3 p.m.

The Stallions scrimmaged New Rock Prep Academy last Saturday, coming away with a 92-70 win. Calvin Sinkfield’s team was led by 6'-9" Nate Mobley with 18 points and 15 rebounds; Xavier Boyd added 16, Tommie Hall had 15, Antwann Brown added 14, and Matas Aidietis scored 12 points.

Charles Wimberly, who also serves as ABAC’s athletic director, leads the Fillies squad, which features some familiar faces. Sophomore forward Shakiria Chaney and freshman forward Faith Hillmon both played at Tift County High School.

Saturday’s games are the first of 16 home contests, most of them doubleheaders, that the teams will face as the newest members of the Southern States Athletic Conference.

PRINCE TOYOTA SUPPORTING TIFT EDUCATION FOUNDATION

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Tift County Foundation for Educational Excellence (TCFEE) has received $2,500 from members of the Prince family on behalf of Prince Toyota in Tifton.

Prince Toyota has long supported the Foundation and its mission of fostering academic excellence in Tift County public Schools. During the past 13 years, Prince Toyota has donated $65,000 to support the educational foundation.

In photo from left are John Prince; Laura Cutts, TCFEE executive director, Heather Prince Stripling; TCFEE President Ron Branch; and Heidi Prince Massey.

FUNDRAISER AIDS TIFT EDUCATION INITIATIVES

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

A full house was in attendance Thursday night for the annual Surf and Turf fundraising dinner at UGA-Tifton's Blackshank Pavilion aiding the nonprofit Tift County Foundation for Educational Excellence in its mission. The Foundation supports initiatives that help Tift County public schools provide innovative and enriching programs for the development of students.

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YOUR GUIDE

TO ACTIVITIES

THIS WEEKEND

IN THE GREATER TIFTAREA

Saturday, Oct. 26, is National Pumpkin Day. Pumpkins are a member of the gourd family – which includes zucchini, honeydew melons, cantaloupe, and watermelons – and are actually fruits, not vegetables. Pumpkins are indigenous to the Western Hemisphere. When Frenchman Jacques Cartier explored North America in the 1500s, he reported finding what the French called “gros melons.” The name was translated into English as “pompions,” which has since evolved into the modern “pumpkin." The Halloween connection dates to the 1800s. The term “jack-o’-lantern” first appeared in 1837, while the idea of a carved pumpkin originated in about 1866.

FRIDAY, OCT. 25

• Ribbon Cutting at Milt Miller Field-Worth County Stadium, new fieldhouse, concession stand, restrooms, scoreboard and more; 11 a.m., 304 E St., Sylvester
• Fourth Friday on Fourth: No Tricks, Just Treats, 4-8 p.m., Fourth Street, Downtown Ocilla
• "Sweeney Todd," performance by Tift County High Blue Devil Players, 6 p.m., TCHS Performing Arts Center, Tifton
• ABAC Friday Night Lights Rodeo, 6 p.m., ABAC Arena, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Tifton
• Free Movie Night at the Syd, Disney's "Coco," presented in partnership with Ruth’s Cottage and its Latino Outreach Program for the Hispanic cultural celebration of Dia de Los Muertos, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Syd Blackmarr Arts Center, Love Avenue, Tifton
• Abandoned Manor Haunted House, 7-11 p.m., 3702 U.S. Highway 82, Tifton
• Tift County High Blue Devils football @ Valdosta High Wildcats, 7:30 p.m., Bazemore-Hyder Stadium, Valdosta
• Tiftarea Academy Panthers football @ Terrell Academy Eagles, 7:30 p.m., Dawson
• "Terror on the Tracks: Haunted Trail," 8-11 p.m., ABAC's Georgia Museum of Agriculture, Whiddon Mill Road, Tifton

SATURDAY, OCT. 26

• Pickleball Tournament & Champions Recognition, Tift Regional Medical Center Foundation - Stepping Out for Your Heart, 8 a.m., Anderson Family Pickleball Court, Tiftarea YMCA, 1823 Westover Road, Tifton
• Georgia Sweet Potato Festival, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., parade at 11 a.m., Downtown Ocilla
• Tift County Wrestling's Pancake Fundraiser, $10 a plate, 9-11 a.m., gym foyer, Eighth Street Middle School, Tifton
• Downtown Tifton Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-Noon, Tifton Gardens, Downtown Tifton
• Trick or Treat in the Village, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Ga. Museum of Agriculture & Historic Village, Tifton
• ABAC Basketball Returns with Doubleheader "Game Day," ABAC Fillies (women) vs. East Georgia State College, 1 p.m.; ABAC Stallions (men) vs. Community Christian College, 3 p.m., Gressette Gymnasium, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Tifton
• "Sweeney Todd," performance by Tift County High Blue Devil Players, 6 p.m., TCHS Performing Arts Center, Tifton
• Abandoned Manor Haunted House, 7-11 p.m., 3702 U.S. Highway 82, Tifton
• Kraken Pro Wrestling, 7 p.m., Mott-Litman Gym, 2425 Emerson O. Bynes Ave., Tifton

SUNDAY, OCT. 27

• "Sweeney Todd," performance by Tift County High Blue Devil Players, 3 p.m., TCHS Performing Arts Center, Tifton

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Benz is a mix of playful and sweet; he's always down for fun and affection, and is donning his hotdog costume for Halloween. He’s on a mission to find his forever family and is ready to "ketchup" on the love he’s been missing!  Come visit Benz and see other pets available for adoption at the Tift County Animal Shelter on Highway 125 South, open between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. For additional information, call 229-382-PETS (7387).