Friday, January 2, 2026

Tifton, Georgia

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SAY IT AIN'T SO, BULLDOGS!

UGA'S SEASON ENDS IN SUGAR BOWL DEFEAT

AS OLE MISS ADVANCES TO FACE MIAMI

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels upset the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs, 39-34, Thursday night in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

Ole Miss's storybook season continues as it now faces the Miami Hurricanes in the college football semifinals Jan. 8 in the Fiesta Bowl.

Georgia had a nine-point lead at halftime but Ole Miss roared back in the second half to avenge its only loss this season, which was to the Bulldogs, 43-35. Ole Miss now has a 13-1 record.

For the Bulldogs, it was a heartbreaking ending, its second consecutive loss in the Sugar Bowl. It is Georgia's first loss in 76 games when leading in the third quarter.

UGA quarterback Gunner Stockton (No. 14) finished the game 18-for-31 passing for 204 yards and a touchdown; he also ran for two scores.

Both teams played hard, and the game could have gone either way in the final minutes.

"I'm so proud of the way our guys competed," said UGA Head Coach Kirby Smart after the game.

Georgia ends its season at 12-2.

GOV NAMES NEW SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE FOR ALAPAHA CIRCUIT

COOK COUNTY APPOINTS OTHER COURT OFFICIALS

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Alapaha Judicial Circuit now has an additional Superior Court judge; two days before Christmas, Gov. Brian P. Kemp appointed Probate Court Solicitor Matthew B. Bennett to the new Superior Court position created during the recent term of the state Legislature.

House Bill 55 created the additional judgeship for the circuit after Georgia's Judicial Council made the recommendation based upon caseload.

Bennett is a partner at the law firm of Bennett & Connell LLC, where he has a litigation practice. He has served for more than a decade as solicitor for the probate courts of Cook, Lanier, and Atkinson counties, as well as serving as solicitor for the municipal courts of Nashville, Ray City, and Homerville.

Bennett attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and received a bachelor’s degree from University of Georgia. He received his J.D. from Florida Coastal School of Law. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Adel-Cook County Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Alapaha Judicial Circuit Bar Association. He also serves on the Cook County Student Attendance Committee and Cook Middle School Council. He and his wife, Kala, have two children and live in Cook County.

Bennett's appointment creates a vacancy in the solicitor’s position, and last week the Cook County Board of Commissioners unanimously named Lea Gaskins Hazel to fill the solicitor vacancy. Hazel obtained her bachelor of arts in history from Valdosta State University in 1994 and completed her juris doctorate degree from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University in 1997.

Hazel began her career in law with Sims, Flemings and Spurlin in Tifton and served as the in-house attorney for the Bank of Lenox. In 2017, she opened her law practice in Adel where she specializes in business law, probate, real estate and adoptions. She has also served as the probate public defender for several years. 

Also last week, Cook County Probate Judge Chase Daughtrey named Moultrie attorney Hayden Willis as the probate court’s public defender. Willis, who specializes in criminal defense and family relations matters, is a graduate of Oglethorpe University in Atlanta where he obtained his bachelor’s degree before graduating from the Paul M. Hebert School of Law at Louisiana State University. Willis has managed his law practice for more than 15 years and also serves as chairman of the Colquitt County Board of Education.

“We are extremely excited for Matt Bennett and his family as he embarks on this journey in Superior Court. I personally want to thank Gov. Brian Kemp for this appointment as it gives Cook County a sitting Superior Court judge – Matt being only the second person from Cook County to hold that position," Daughtrey said.

"We are also excited about the new team moving forward as it relates to the management of our misdemeanor caseload. Our mission remains the same: Provide a court that's fair, impartial, and responsive to the needs of the citizens,” Daughtrey said.

For internal Cook County Probate Court operations, Gail White, with 28 years of experience, will continue to serve as clerk. In the Criminal Division, Julie Payne serves as the case management coordinator and is the point person on all cases pre-disposition and Suzanne Bennett, the criminal case administrator, is the point person on all cases post-disposition.

"Thanks to the funding assistance from District Attorney Chase Studstill, the probate court also has a victim advocate on staff part-time to assist with crime victim cases," Daughtrey noted. Both the solicitor and public defender positions are part-time.

FORMER TIFT COACH

MAYO TUCKER DIES AT 77

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Retired Tift County High and Tiftarea Academy Coach Luther “Mayo” Tucker of Tifton died Monday at his Tifton residence.

The funeral for Tucker, 77, will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at Northside Baptist Church in Tifton. The family will receive friends from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Saturday at Northside Baptist.

Tucker was an assistant football coach for the Blue Devils under Coach Gene Brodie for 19 years and also coached track. When Brodie retired from Tift County in 1993, Tucker also left coaching. However, he later joined the football coaching staff at Tiftarea Academy, and in 2003, became the Panthers' head coach, serving for two seasons.

Tucker was a graduate of Tift County High School, where he was a lineman for the Blue Devils and went on to attend both Georgia Southwestern State University and the University of Georgia, where he played football for the Bulldogs under Coach Vince Dooley.

Upon graduation from UGA, he earned a master’s degree in education.

“Coach Mayo,” as he was known by his players, was both a "true Blue Devil" and was proudly a "DGD." or "Damn Good Dawg," a term for one who is deeply loyal and dedicated to the UGA Bulldogs. 

Tucker was a member of the Cattleman’s Association, the Tift County Saddle Club, the UGA Letterman’s Club, and the Georgia High School Hall of Fame. He was a member of Northside Baptist Church.

Photos by Bonnie Sayles

"Polar Bears" gather Thursday morning at the Tiftarea YMCA before they take the plunge into the pool to raise funds for local nonprofits. From left are Cruz Chambless,  Sam Skaggs (kneeling), Josh Pridemore, Angie Saturday, YMCA Director Jason Bishoff, and Dr. Mac Sims. In photo below, Angie Saturday hits the 50-degree water.

'POLAR BEARS' PLUNGE INTO POOL TO RAISE COLD CASH FOR NONPROFITS

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

Angie Saturday, representing the Exchange Club of Tifton, was the top "polar-bear plunger" who raised the most funds for her organization in the Tiftarea YMCA's annual Polar Bear Plunge into the YMCA pool on New Year's Day. 

She raised $1,140 for her nonprofit, which supports local children’s charities. She took the plunge first on Thursday, going down the YMCA slide into a small pool, where the water temperature was 50 degrees. The other participants followed her, as well as two other local residents.

Coming in second place was Josh Pridemore, taking the plunge to raise funds for Tift County Commission on Children and Youth; third place was Sam Skaggs representing the Alzheimer’s Association; fourth place: DeAnn Benefield for Hospice of Tift County; fifth place: Mac Sims for Tift Animal Rescue; and sixth place: Cruz Chambless with Called to Care.

The top fundraiser’s organization keeps the total donation raised, while the other five “plungers” split their fundraising totals between their representative organizations and the local YMCA. 

Tiftarea YMCA Director Jason Bishoff said a total of more than $4,000 was raised, and the YMCA’s portion will go toward purchasing a $100,000 dome over the YMCA swimming pool.

“It’s a matching fund,” Bishoff said. “We’ve raised $30,000.”

He said the dome would expand pool hours and make water exercise available year-round for seniors and individuals with special needs, as well as allow year-round swimming lessons for second graders in the Y's swim program.

SGBC EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RETIRES

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

South Georgia Banking Co. (SGBC) has announced the retirement of Melinda Moore, executive vice president, after a 47-year career.

Moore began her work with SGBC in January 1979 as a part-time bookkeeper. She rose through the ranks to become executive vice president, holding key senior management roles including chief operating officer, senior vice president, and secretary of the corporation.

"Her steady presence and strategic vision have helped shaped the growth and success of SGBC across all nine locations, influencing hundreds of employees and countless customers throughout the years," the bank said in a statement.

Moore has been actively involved in the community, including with organizations such as Brother Charlie’s, First Baptist Church of Tifton, and numerous professional women’s groups. Her more than a decade as a Girls in Action (G.A.) teacher and former G.A. director reflect her passion for nurturing the next generation.

“Melinda’s legacy is one of integrity, compassion, and excellence,” said Glenn Willis, SGBC's CEO. “Her contributions have strengthened our company and enriched the lives of those around her. We are deeply grateful for her service and wish her the very best in retirement.”

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YOUR GUIDE

TO ACTIVITIES

THIS WEEKEND

IN THE GREATER

TIFTAREA

Sunday, Jan. 4, is National Spaghetti Day. Historians are uncertain about the origin of modern pasta. It is believed to have originated in Italy, but many are of the consensus that Marco Polo was the one to bring it back from his adventures in China. Either way, after it made its way to Italy, the locals started making pasta into elongated strands. This is where modern-day spaghetti comes from, although the original was closer to vermicelli in terms of texture. The word spaghetti is derived from the word spago, meaning twine or string. Just like in Italy, spaghetti is cooked around the world to “al dente,” which means that it is just soft enough to be bitten into easily, and quite chewy.

Born on Jan. 2: Francis Bacon, English philosopher, 1561-1626; Barry Goldwater, U.S. senator & presidential candidate, 1909-1998; Isaac Asimov, science fiction writer, 1920-1992; Larry Harmon, first Bozo the Clown, 1925-2008; Roger Miller, country singer, 1936-1992; Jim Bakker, televangelist & convicted felon, 1940– ; Cuba Gooding Jr., actor, 1968–; Trombone Shorty, New Orleans musician, 1986– .

SATURDAY, JAN. 3

• ABAC Stallions men's basketball @ Thomas University Night Hawks, 2 p.m., Thomas University, Thomasville

• Tift County High School Lady Devils and Blue Devils basketball vs. Colquitt County High Packers, 6 p.m., Tift County High School, Tifton

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TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S DOG OF THE WEEK

"Bobbi" is about 2 years old and came to the animal shelter as a stray. He is the definition of a gentle giant. He has a calm, loving nature and can’t wait to snuggle up to you and soak in the affection. He’s ready to trade shelter days for cozy nights with a family who will love him forever. Visit Bobbi 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).

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