Vaccines Open for Age 16+

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

COVID-19 VACCINES EXPANDING TO

AGE 16 AND ABOVE

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Beginning Thursday, any Georgian age 16 and above may get the COVID-19 vaccine, Gov. Brian P. Kemp said Tuesday.

As the state expands the eligibility for the vaccine, doses have been more difficult to get in North Georgia, while in South Georgia there have been more vaccines available than demand. Vaccine supplies are being redistributed to areas where demand is higher.

A state-run mass vaccination site in Albany was closed last week because of limited demand; officials said the site was averaging less than 100 appointments daily.

“We cannot afford to have vaccines sitting in the freezers, whether it’s in metro Atlanta or in rural Georgia,” Kemp said.

"I just want to encourage everyone to get the vaccine," the governor said. “Confirm your spot in line as quickly as possible. ... This is our ticket back to normal, and we’re getting closer to that point every day.”

For Georgians aged 16 and 17, Pfizer is the only vaccine currently approved, says the Ga. Department of Public Health (DPH).

According to the latest vaccination figures released by the state, 12,522 of the first dose has been given in Tift County, and 9,128 second doses have been administered in the county.

Local residents may make an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine with the DPH, with Southwell medical, or with several local pharmacies.

To make an appointment with the local health department, call 844-955-1499, or Click Here!

To make an appointment with Southwell, call 229-353-2200, or Click Here!

Also on Tuesday, the DPH confirmed the first case of the Brazil COVID-19 variant in Georgia. The state has also confirmed 351 U.K. variant cases and 15 South African variant cases, the DPH said.

TIFT COUNTY'S COVID-19 CASES AT NEW LOW

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Tift County’s average daily cases of COVID-19 have now dropped to the level of the beginning days of the pandemic one year ago, according to state data.

As of March 22, Tift's daily average cases are 3.2 per 100,000 population, according to Emory University – the lowest level in a year.

According to the Ga. Department of Public Health (DPH), Tift County during the past week has recorded two new cases of the coronavirus and one related death. In the past two weeks Tift County registered 14 cases, which is 34 per 100,000 population, and a 1.8 percent testing positivity rate, the DPH said.

Statewide, Georgia on Tuesday reported 1,119 new cases within the previous 24 hours with 17 additional deaths and 107 new hospitalizations. In total, Georgia has recorded 844,720 cases with 16,187 related deaths of state residents, the DPH said.

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I-75 ROAD WORK UNDERWAY,

PLANNED IN TIFTAREA

The Ga. Department of Transportation (GDOT) is working on projects in the Tiftarea totaling approximately $17.5 million to help maintain Interstate 75, which is Southwest Georgia's major route.

The resurfacing of nearly 11 miles in Turner County, from south of Hat Creek to south of State Route 159/Exit 84/Ashburn and Amboy, began this past Sunday. There will be lane closures as the contractor works nightly from 7 p.m.-7 a.m. The project is scheduled to finish later this fall.

A start date hasn't yet been announced for a project to restripe I-75 from south of Southwell Boulevard in Tift County to south of Hat Creek in Turner County – about 14 miles.

The work will improve the striping reflectivity, which will help drivers stay safe. Hours of work and traffic interruptions will be released to the public before the work begins. This project is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year, GDOT said.

Mae Mae Collins & Principal Chad Stone

Marisa Pearman & TCHS Principal Stone

TCHS NAMES VALEDICTORIAN, SALUTATORIAN FOR CLASS OF '21

At a ceremony Tuesday, Tift County High School recognized the top academic students in this year's graduating class.

Mae Mae Collins was named the valedictorian of the Class of 2021 with a grade-point average of 99.9.

Right behind her is Marisa Pearman, named the Class of '21 salutatorian with a grade-point average of 99.758.

Also recognized were the senior honor and superior honor students. The newly redesigned cap and gown were also displayed on stage.

The TCHS graduation ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, May 22, at Brodie Field.

KIWANIS DONATES TO TIFT COMMISSION ON CHILDREN & YOUTH

Jane Justice, at right, president of the Kiwanis Club of Tifton, recently presented a club donation to Lillie McEntyre, left, coordinator at the Tifton-Tift County Commission on Children & Youth.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and McEntyre's office has several local events planned, including a "pinwheel ceremony" April 1 to call attention to the number of Tift County children who were reported abused during the past year.

LOCAL DAR CHAPTER AWARDS YOUTHS

The Tallassee Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) held its awards meeting March 16, honoring several local youth.

The DAR Youth Citizenship Award was presented to Maria Rodriquez of Tift County High School (TCHS). Cadet Col. Maryssa Jackson of TCHS received the DAR Jr. ROTC Award.

Chrishawn Chappell of TCHS received the DAR Good Citizen Award, and Sarabeth Royal of Tiftarea Academy was presented the DAR Good Citizen Award.

Pictured, from left, front row are: Maria Rodriquez, Maryssa Jackson, Chrishawn Chappell, Sarabeth Royal, and DAR members Mary Guill and Gladys Wiseman. Back row from left are DAR members Monie Moody, Loraine Sullivan, Bobby Fresh, Kelly Fresh, and Vicki Walker.

GIRL SCOUTS GIVE COOKIES TO FIRST RESPONDERS

Girl Scout cookie sales may be over for this year, but on Monday members of Girl Scout Troop 40363 gave boxes of cookies to local first responders.

They delivered donated Girl Scout cookies to Tift County EMS, the Tifton Police Department and the Tift County Sheriff's Office. Some cookies have also been recently donated to the Tifton Fire Department and to Southwell medical.

The Girl Scouts usually send donated cookies to military personnel stationed overseas, but with the pandemic this year the scouts decided to give to local first responders.

Jason Morris, Synovus' Tifton market president at center, poses with several ABAC students.

SYNOVUS AIDING FINANCIAL LITERACY FOR

ABAC STUDENTS IN MIGRANT PROGRAM

Synovus has provided a 2021 “Here Matters” donation to the ABAC Foundation to provide financial literacy training to 24 students in the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

“We at Synovus are so proud to support organizations such as the ABAC Foundation and all the good work they do to improve our community,” said Synovus Tifton Market President Jason Morris. “Like the ABAC Foundation, we believe in giving back to the community in which we live and work.”

Dr. Deidre Martin, ABAC’s chief development officer, said the donation concentrates on the Synovus giving areas of education/needs-based initiatives and is directed to low-income students in need of financial literacy.

Olga Contreras, the college's multicultural educational programs director, said financial literacy is a critical need among underrepresented populations.

“There is great concern about the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on minority populations,” Contreras said. “An area of concern currently is ensuring these students also have training and support in financial literacy as they move into adulthood.”

CAMP is designed to provide support to first-year college students of migrant and seasonal farmworkers. The program offers tutoring, counseling, health services, assistance with special admissions, and some financial help for migrant youth to complete their first year of post-secondary education.

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

"Nala," a female feline, is available for adoption at the Tift County Animal Shelter. To adopt her and to see other pets available, visit the Animal Shelter from 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).

Pets of the Week are sponsored by:

Branch's Veterinary Clinic

205 Belmont Ave., Tifton, 229-382-6055

TIFTON'S LARGEST DRUG STORE SOLD

– MARCH 27, 1917

Dr. B.W. Mills sold his drug store on Tifton's Main Street on March 27, 1917, to I.Y. Conger of Norman Park. The business then continued under the name of Conger Drug Co. It was the largest drug store in Tifton and was originally started by Dr. George Smith, who had sold the business to Dr. Mills on March 14, 1906.