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Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024

Tifton, Georgia

Your Local Digital Newspaper for Tifton and the Greater Tiftarea

478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

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INCUMBENTS WIN IN TIFT COUNTY RACES

Tift County Commissioner Melissa Hughes, pictured left, won re-election Tuesday, as did Tift County Board of Education member Marilyn Burks, at right.

TRUMP WINS PRESIDENCY; CAPTURES GA

By FRANK SAYLES JR. and BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

President Donald J. Trump won election to the presidency Tuesday, also winning the Peach State, reversing his loss four years ago.

In unofficial results, Trump captured 51% of the state's vote.

Nationally, Trump is estimated to have amassed 277 of the 270 electoral votes needed to win.

Vice President Kamala D. Harris was estimated to have 224 electoral votes early Wednesday as ballots continued to be tabulated in some so-called battleground states.

In Tift County, Trump won handily with 68% of the vote, 11,489, to Harris' 5,435 votes, or 32%.

In local county races, incumbent District 2 Democratic Tift County Commissioner Melissa Hughes was re-elected, 948 to 653, or with 59% of the vote, over GOP challenger Priscilla Prince.

Hughes said she feels “blessed to continue to serve. ... I know without a shadow of a doubt that God put me in this position. He is not ready for me to leave yet, and the evidence is on the wall,” she said indicating the voting results on a projector behind her.

Hughes said there’s a vision for District 2 that she is about to share with Tift County commissioners, “and it’s big.”

In the special Democratic primary race for the District 1 seat on the Tift County Board of Education, incumbent Marilyn R. Burks defeated Ambrose B. King Jr., 830 to 756, or with 52% of the vote.

During the spring, Burks had won the Democratic primary over King by two votes. King successfully challenged the result, and it was found that an apartment complex had been placed in the wrong BOE district. A judge then ordered a new school board election. There is no GOP opposition in that race, so Burks is re-elected.

In the race for Georgia House District 169 in the General Assembly representing Irwin and Turner counties along with parts of Coffee and Tift counties, Republican Angie O'Steen won the seat represented by Rep. Clay Pirkle, R-Ashburn, who did not seek re-election.

O'Steen received 75% of the district's vote in the race against Democrat Theresa R. Rewis.

In the District 8 congressional race, U.S. Congressman Austin Scott, R-Tifton, was re-elected with 69% of the vote over Democratic challenger Darrius Butler.

Three statewide ballot initiatives were apparently approved with all but two counties' votes outstanding early Wednesday.

Tift County Election Supervisor Leila Dollison said voting went well. “Overall, it was a good day. Everyone was peaceful,” she said.

There was one discrepancy in voting counts Tuesday with one more vote made on the computers than showed up in paper ballots on the scanner. That means someone voted but walked past the scanners with their paper ballot and didn’t scan it.

“It’s hard to watch everyone,” Dollison said.

Those with provisional ballots will have three days to correct their issues. Dollison said those instances mostly involve voters who cast ballots in the wrong precincts or who did not have their IDs with them.

re=EMMETT F. 'TONY' EATON

EMMETT C. 'CAM' EATON

AMANDA NICOLE AUBREY

TOTAL OF 182 COUNTS OF THEFT BY CONVERSION FILED IN TIFT MONUMENT CASE

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The co-owners and an employee of two Tifton cemetery monument companies are each charged with dozens of counts of theft by conversion following numerous complaints of headstones, slabs, and monuments being purchased but never placed on graves.

The Tift County Sheriff's Office has arrested Tifton residents Emmett Fred "Tony" Eaton, 72; Emmett Cameron "Cam" Eaton, 39; and Amanda Nichole Aubrey, 44, on numerous counts of felonies and misdemeanors, the Sheriff's Office said.

The Eaton father-son team owns Tifton Monument & Memorials LLC and Eaton Memorials LLC. The Eatons were arrested Saturday morning; Aubrey was arrested Friday afternoon, according to Sheriff's Office documents.

The arrests followed numerous complaints from customers, some who said they have been waiting more than two years for their orders to be filled after paying for them.

According to the Sheriff's Office, Tony Eaton is facing 45 felony counts and 22 misdemeanor counts of theft by conversion; Cam Eaton faces 46 felony counts and 21 misdemeanor counts of theft by conversion; and Amanda Aubrey is charged with 26 felony counts and 22 misdemeanor counts of theft by conversion.

Theft by conversion is a crime that occurs when someone lawfully obtains another person's property or money and then uses it for their own benefit. In Georgia, theft by conversion is usually a misdemeanor, but can be charged as a felony if the value of the property or money is more than $500.

On Eaton Memorial's Facebook page on social media Sept. 11, Tony Eaton had said: "I want to express my sincerest and most heartfelt apology for the unnecessary grief and concern caused by the delay in procuring the memorial for your loved ones. I know this delay has caused much stress and anxiety for my customers. I have been in business over 35 years and have never failed to complete an order. Unfortunately, many factors beyond my control have caused this delay. Please know that I am not making excuses, and I am working extremely hard right now to make everyone whole and deliver all memorials in an expeditious manner," he wrote.

"I was born and raised in this area, and I have great respect and admiration for all of the people and my customers in this community. I have absolutely no intention of defrauding anyone or failing to deliver the memorials as ordered. I am working now to resolve all issues and make my customers whole. I am diligently working to obtain the status of everyone's order and report the progress I am making toward delivery. It is my intention to deliver all orders. Thank you for your patience and please accept my apologies."

FEMA OPENS DISASTER CENTER IN TIFT COUNTY

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has opened an additional Disaster Recovery Center in Tift County to provide one-on-one help for Georgians affected by Hurricane Helene.

The center is open 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays, and from 1-6 p.m. Sundays at the Tift County recreation swimming pool complex at 202 Baldwin Drive in Tifton.

Additional Disaster Recovery centers are open in Appling, Chatham, Coffee, Emanuel, Laurens, Liberty, Lowndes, McDuffie, Richmond, Toombs, and Washington counties.

Additionally, Mobile Disaster Assistance Centers are open in Atkinson, Telfair, Brantley, Jeff Davis, and Ware counties for a limited time, FEMA said.

Accepting a FEMA grant will not affect one's eligibility for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and other federal welfare and entitlement programs. In addition, any assistance from FEMA is not considered taxable income.

Disaster grants help pay for temporary housing, essential home repairs, essential personal property replacement, and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other sources.

“Housing Assistance” covers repairs to structural parts of a primary residence. This includes windows, doors, floors, walls, ceilings, cabinets, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems, utilities (electrical, plumbing and gas systems), and entrance/exit ways. FEMA may also reimburse for repairing or replacing a furnace, well, and septic system.
“Other Needs Assistance” may reimburse both homeowners and renters for uninsured or underinsured out-of-pocket expenses related to Hurricane Helene, such as:

....................–Medical and dental expenses; funeral and burial costs; cleaning, or replacement of clothing, household furniture and appliances; specialized tools used for your occupation; childcare, educational materials, moving, storage, and other necessary expenses related to the storms.

....................–Your personally owned and registered disaster-damaged cars and trucks may also be eligible for repair or replacement by FEMA.

TIFT COUNTY CLOSES PORTION OF WILLIS STILL ROAD FOR REPAIR

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

A portion of Willis Still Road is closed for the next two to three weeks as Tift County repairs damages from Hurricane Helene, the county said.

Willis Still Road was closed on Monday from just east of Interstate 75 to Adams Road. County officials said the repairs will take 14 to 21 days, weather permitting.

Pictured from left are William Bowen, Southwell Ambulatory chairman; Jimmy Allen, Southwell Inc. chairman; Christopher Dorman, Southwell president/CEO; Dr. Richard McCullough, Exceptional Physician Award recipient; Shea Seagraves, Advanced Practice Provider Award recipient; Jill McIntyre, Prince Distinguished Service Award recipient; Brian Handley, Tift Regional Medical Center Dixon Dorminy Employee of the Year; Tekela Jones, Southwell Medical Employee of the Year; Dallas Hunt, Tift Regional Health System chairman; and Mandy Brooks, Tift Regional Medical Center Foundation executive director.

SOUTHWELL HONORS EMPLOYEES AT ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Southwell honored colleagues recently at its annual awards banquet in Tifton. Southwell consists of Tift Regional Medical Center (TRMC) in Tifton, Southwell Medical and Southwell Health and Rehabilitation in Adel, and Southwell Physician Practices with clinics throughout the region.

“Our physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, therapists, technicians, and support staff work around the clock to meet the needs of patients. Whether it’s at one of our hospitals, clinics, outpatient centers, or skilled nursing facility, the entire Southwell team merits our deepest gratitude, admiration, and support," said Christopher Dorman, Southwell president/CEO.

The TRMC Foundation presented Dr. Richard McCullough with the Exceptional Physician Award. McCullough is a board-certified internal medical physician with Southwell Medical Clinic in Tifton. The TRMC Foundation also recognized Shea Seagraves with the Advanced Practice Provider Award. She is a nurse practitioner with South Georgia Surgical in Tifton. The Foundation also named Kristen Garrett with the TRMC Orthopedics Unit as the Jensen Patrick Nursing Excellence Award winner.

Jill McIntyre, Southwell’s director of Diversity, Inclusion, and Wellness, received the John B. Prince Distinguished Service Award, designed to recognize a long-standing TRMC associate who is a leader in the community.

Southwell also recognized employees of the month for the past year at TRMC and Southwell Medical. Brian Handley, a cardiology nurse at Southwell Medical Clinic in Tifton, was named the TRMC Dixon Dorminy Employee of the Year.

Tekela Jones, receptionist with Southwell Health and Rehabilitation in Adel, was announced as the Southwell Medical Employee of the Year.

Southwell also saluted employees with five, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 years of service. Marguerite Merritt with TRMC Respiratory Care, and Gabriel Reese with TRMC Service Excellence each reached the distinct milestone of 45 years of service.

TIFTAREA ACADEMY WINS DISTRICT, HEADS TO PLAYOFFS FRIDAY

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The Tiftarea Academy Panthers are the District 3-3A football champions in the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA) and are headed to the playoffs.

The Panthers, with a 9-1 record, will host the first round of the playoffs Friday in Chula against the John Milledge Academy Trojans, which has had two wins and eight loses this season.

Tiftarea had defeated the Trojans earlier this season by a score of 46-21.

The winner of Friday's game will advance to the semifinals on Nov. 15 to face the victor in this week's Valwood vs. Frederica Academy game. Tiftarea Academy beat Valwood last week, 27-21, to clinch the district title. Tiftarea earlier this season defeated Frederica Academy, 22-9.

This is the Panthers first district title in six years. Last year, Tiftarea had ended the season with only three wins.

KTB NAMES BEAUTY SPOTS OF MONTH

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Keep Tift Beautiful (KTB), a citizens advisory board, has named the residential and commercial Beauty Spots for November.

The home of the McNabb family at 803 Davis Ave., pictured above, is this month's residential Beauty Spot.

The Trolley Stop RV Park at the corner of U.S. Highway 82 E. and Whitley Road in Brookfield is the commercial Beauty Spot of the month. Owners Jorgette and Boris Krsulic, at center in the picture below, pose with some of the RV park residents.

Keep Tift Beautiful promotes recycling, community gardening, litter abatement, and outdoor beautification.

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

Meet "Mesha Bell," a true gem. She's a graceful, affectionate, and stunning kitty with long, silver fur and delicate white markings. Mesha Bell is a gentle soul who adores cozying up with her people. Come visit her and see other pets available for adoption between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at the Tift County Animal Shelter on Highway 125 South, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).

CITY OF TIFTON AGREES TO PURCHASE

36 WATER BUCKETS TO HELP FIGHT FIRES

~ NOV. 7, 1892

Tifton City Council met Nov. 7, 1892, and decided to buy three dozen zinc buckets to be used to help fight fires in the city. Council also ordered that Jim Stevenson be refunded the city's 75-cent street tax since it was ascertained that Stevenson was not a resident of the city.