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TY TY MAN CHARGED IN WORTH DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

A 48-year-old Ty Ty man is in Tift County Jail on four felony charges related to the fentanyl overdose deaths of two men in Worth County, authorities say.

Mikel Julies Singleton is charged with two counts of aggravated involuntary manslaughter for fentanyl overdose, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, and use of a communication facility in the commission of a drug felony, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).

At approximately 5:26 a.m. Saturday, Worth County E-911 received an OnStar crash alert indicating a possible motor vehicle accident on Poulan Shingler Road. Deputies with the Worth County Sheriff's Office responded and located a truck in a field. They discovered two dead males and a third man in critical medical distress, the Worth County Sheriff's Office said.

The GBI identified the deceased men as Morgan Young, 36, of Sumner, and Bailey Barfield, 24, of Vienna. They were pronounced dead at the scene and taken to the GBI Crime Lab for autopsies.

The third man, who hasn't been identified, was transported to Tift Regional Medical Center.

Initial observations led deputies to determine that the incident was not related to a vehicle crash; further investigation quickly determined that the incident was the result of a suspected drug overdose that took place around the parked vehicle, authorities said.

The Worth County Narcotics Investigative Division responded to the scene and located a substance that tested positive for fentanyl during an on-site field test. As the investigation continued through last weekend, it was determined that the fentanyl had been purchased in Tift County. On Monday, the GBI was called in to assist. GBI tests confirmed the presence of fentanyl in the substances collected at the scene.

On Monday, the GBI and the Tift County Sheriff's Office located and arrested Singleton. A subsequent search warrant executed at Singleton's residence resulted in the seizure of suspected cocaine, methamphetamine, and a Schedule I synthetic cathinone – an amphetamine-like stimulant known as khat.

Additional charges are expected against Singleton.

"I hope and pray that this ... will serve as a strong reminder and caution to those of you who choose to purchase illegal drugs off the street, that the consequences of doing so can be very deadly," said Tift County Sheriff Gene Scarbrough. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families who lost loved ones because of this heinous crime."

This case remains open and under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Worth County Sheriff's Office at 229-776-8211, the GBI Region 15 in Sylvester at 229-777-2080, or the Southwestern Drug Enforcement Office at 229-420-1254.

ALAPAHA CHURCH BOOKKEEPER IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR STEALING PB&J MONEY

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

A former bookkeeper for the Glory Church of Alapaha has been sentenced to federal prison for stealing $173,500 from the church's Peanut Butter & Jesus (PB&J) charitable organization.

Judith Alane Chavis, 58, of Sorrento, Fla., was sentenced Tuesday in federal court in the Middle District of Georgia to serve 21 months in prison per count to run concurrently, followed by three years of supervised release, and to make $173,500 in restitution.

Chavis pleaded guilty in October to five counts of wire fraud and 10 counts of money laundering.

The Alapaha organization is not connected to the Tifton Peanut Butter & Jesus operation.

"Chavis betrayed the confidence the church had placed in her by misappropriating funds intended to support its mission,” said Paul Brown, special agent in charge of FBI Atlanta. “We hope that this federal prison sentence offers some measure of closure to the church and its congregation, and serves as a warning to others who might exploit the trust of faith-based or charitable institutions for personal enrichment."

According to court documents, Chavis was a volunteer bookkeeper for the Glory Church of Alapaha and its PB&J charity from 2018 until August 2022. She was authorized to write checks, and the bank statements were only sent to her. Between August 2020 and March 2022, Chavis applied for and was granted $163,500 of Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration on behalf of the church and PB&J without the Church's or PB&J’s authorization or knowledge.

Chavis also falsely designated herself as treasurer in requesting the funds, signing the letter herself. On March 7, 2022, Chavis submitted a signed certification stating members of the church's finance committee approved the second modification of the loan. No such approval occurred.

In June 2021, Chavis submitted requests for advances on behalf of the church without the church’s knowledge. The SBA granted the requests and deposited $15,000 in the church’s account. Chavis transferred almost all of the funds from the church's and PB&J’s accounts, totaling $173,500, to her personal checking account using the church's and PB&J checks that she made out to herself and signed.

She used the money for personal expenses including travel and large purchases.

TIFTON MOSQUITO-SPRAYING FOLLOWS STATE REGS, CITY SAYS

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The Ga. Department of Agriculture has determined that the controversial mosquito spraying underway in the City of Tifton is following state regulations, according to city officials.

In a press release Thursday, the CIty of Tifton said that the state performed an audit and review of Astro Exterminating's mosquito-spraying applications on April 3, 10, and 17 in Tifton at the request of area residents who had expressed concerns about the mosquito spraying.

The Department of Agriculture reviewed the equipment and pesticide being used, the amount, and application rate and found it all was in compliance, the city said. Tifton has contracted Astro Exterminating to spray every street in the city monthly through November.

The city said mosquitoes are known as the deadliest animal in the world.

Astro uses Perm-X UL4-4 (4% Permethrin-based active ingredient) for mosquito control. Permethrin has been allowed for use since 1979 and is the most widely used mosquito adulticide in the U.S., treating up to 10 million acres.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has conducted human health-risk assessments for all labeled uses of pyrethroids and determined that they may be used for mosquito control programs without posing "unreasonable risks" to human health when applied according to the label directions, the City of Tifton said, adding that they also do not pose "unreasonable risks to wildlife or the environment."

Several Tifton residents have appeared before City Council in recent months imploring the city not to spray chemicals for mosquito control but to use other methods.

Astro Exterminating is spraying Tifton streets between 7-10 p.m. The city said there is no requirement for notifying the public during each application.

“The City of Tifton prioritizes all of our citizens’ health and safety. The Tifton City Council makes decisions that reflect the betterment of the health, welfare, and safety of the city’s residents," said interim City Manager Larry Lawrence. 

Mosquitoes can spread such diseases as malaria, dengue, West Nile, yellow fever, Zika, chikungunya, and lymphatic filariasis. Last year in the U.S., the CDC reported 1,466 cases of West Nile virus, with 53 of them in Georgia.

GEORGIA DEVELOPING HUNDREDS OF TRAFFIC ROUNDABOUTS

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The Ga. Department of Transportation (GDOT) has been busy building roundabouts, or traffic circles, across the state in recent years.

Roundabouts, a type of circular intersection in which entering traffic yields to vehicles on the circular roadway, helps reduce speeds and offers safety advantages, GDOT says.

Georgia currently has 98 roundabouts in operation, with 50 under construction, and 240 in development.

According to GDOT, roundabouts reduce the number of points where vehicles can cross paths, eliminating right-angle and head-on collisions, reducing congestion, and saving long-term costs by not requiring traffic signals and their maintenance.

Among the roundabouts in the planning stage is one expected to begin construction next year in Worth County at the intersection of State Route 32 and 300 south of Oakfield. The intersection has been the scene of several serious wrecks in recent years.

Another roundabout project at the intersection of Highways 37 and 76 east of Adel in Cook County is expected to be finished this fall.

TIFTON SENIORS GATHER FOR OLDER AMERICANS MONTH

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Several hundred Tifton seniors enjoyed socializing over a chicken luncheon at the Leroy Rogers Senior Center on Thursday, kicking off a month of activities for Older Americans Month.

The next activity is playing pickle ball with a lunch scheduled at First Baptist Church at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 6. Activities and events will continue throughout May.

Tifton Fire Chief Bobby Bennett accepts the automatic external defibrillator from Mandy Brooks, director of the TRMC Foundation.

TRMC FOUNDATION DONATES CARDIAC DEVICE TO TIFTON FIRE DEPARTMENT

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Tift Regional Medical Center Foundation recently provided the Tifton Fire Department with a Lifepak 1000 life-saving device that helps first responders deliver faster, more effective care in cardiac emergencies.

“This device is an easy-to-use automatic external defibrillator (AED) and is adaptable for professional responders,” said Mandy Brooks, TRMC Foundation director. “It features advanced capabilities that can improve lifesaving outcomes and speed the transition of cardiac patients to the next critical level of care.” 

The donation was funded by the 2025 “Hearts and Diamonds” Gala, which raised more than than $113,000 for the Foundation’s Community Fund.

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ARTS COUNCIL PROUD OF RELATIONSHIP

WITH TIFT COUNTY SCHOOLS

To the Editor:

On April 24, the Tifton Council for the Arts (TCA) most recently celebrated our annual Gala, which was very well attended by people from around the Tiftarea. With a tropical theme, great food, and fabulous prizes and giveaways, everyone appeared to have a marvelous time.  

It is from that event that we as an organization raise a substantial amount of our annual operating funds. Over the last two years, one of the areas we have focused on is art education, particularly in Tifton’s elementary schools. The TCA is currently providing an art instructor in two of our elementary schools and making plans to expand that later this year.

Coincidently last evening, our staff and board members were invited to attend the dress rehearsal for the upcoming TCHS production of Disney’s "Beauty and the Beast."  And I must say, we were all very much impressed and entertained by an amazing ensemble of students who sang and danced their way into our hearts that evening. What an incredible team with fantastic instructors that produced a Broadway-quality event. We kept reminding ourselves that these were high school students.

Among the audience were, of course, the parents and grandparents of the performers, but also present was Superintendent Natalie Gore and many of her staff – there, no doubt, to support and enjoy the production.

Those of us in attendance from the Arts Council had the opportunity to meet some of the students and have photographs taken on stage with the team after the performance. Later, we all commented on how proud we were of their abilities and the quality of the production, which can be summarized in one word: Superb!

We are thankful for our relationship with the Tift County School System and our support from the superintendent and her staff who have allowed us the opportunity for our organization to help in the process of reaching and expanding the experiences of young people in this community through the arts. One day, a few years in the future, we may very well see some of these elementary students up on the stage singing and dancing and having a joyous time.

Do yourself a favor and buy a ticket for one of the upcoming performances; I am sure that you will be as entertained and amazed as we were.

We are so proud of you, Blue Devil Players.

Bruce Allen Green

Executive Director

Tifton Council for the Arts

Tifton

YOUR GUIDE

TO ACTIVITIES

THIS WEEKEND

IN THE GREATER TIFTAREA

Sunday, May 4, is National Orange Juice Day. Orange juice grew in popularity when, in the 1940s, the Florida Department of Citrus began producing frozen concentrated orange juice. By 1949, orange juice processing plants were set up across the Sunshine State. In 1967, Florida designated orange juice as the state's official beverage. Florida Welcome Centers once again are offering free orange juice to visitors, a tradition that began in 1949 and stopped for a couple of years beginning in 2020. Despite budget cuts, the Florida Citrus Commission has approved a contract with Visit Florida to continue providing free juice at welcome centers. 

FRIDAY, MAY 2

• Arts in Black Festival, "Dancing Under the Stars" with DJ's G-Man and T-Roy, J.J. Jackson and more, 6-10 p.m., Fulwood Park, Tifton

• "Beauty and the Beast," Blue Devil Players, 6 p.m., TCHS Performing Arts Center, Tift County High School, Tifton

• First Friday Concert, Page Brothers Band, Loose Chain, 7 p.m., 130 First St., Downtown Tifton

SATURDAY, MAY 3

• Free Market, 8-11 a.m., gently used items available free, Carnegie Center for the Arts, Lee Street, Fitzgerald

• Tifton Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-noon, Tifton Gardens, Downtown Tifton

• iNaturalist Workshop, Will Rogers and Zach Wood of UGA State Botanical Garden present about the Georgia Grasslands Initiative and Georgia Native Seed Network, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Gaskins Forest Education Center, 3359 Moore Sawmill Road, Alapaha

• Arts in Black Festival, live entertainment, kids zone, arts & crafts, information booths, food trucks, 1-10 p.m., Fulwood Park, Tifton

• First Responders Contribute Cook-Off Festival, annual festival honoring first responders; proceeds benefit first-responder charities, 5 p.m., Jeffords Park, Sylvester

• Gaither Vocal Band, 6 p.m., UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center, Tifton

• "Beauty and the Beast," Blue Devil Players, 6 p.m., TCHS Performing Arts Center, Tift County High School, Tifton

SUNDAY, MAY 4

• "Beauty and the Beast," Blue Devil Players, 3 p.m., TCHS Performing Arts Center, Tift County High School, Tifton

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"Ruby" is a little shy, but with patience and kindness she begins to open up. She just needs someone willing to show her love. Ruby is full of potential and is waiting for the right person to help her blossom. Come visit her 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).

Tifton Grapevine

e-published every Tuesday and Friday

Frank Sayles Jr.

Editor & Publisher

Bonnie Sayles

Managing Editor