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Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025

Tifton, Georgia

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Worth County fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Tuesday cheer the final score of the Class A Division l football championship game. The Worth County Rams captured their first state Championship title since 1987.

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Can you hear the cheering in Sylvester?

The Worth County Rams on Tuesday won their first state football championship in 38 years, defeating the defending champion Toombs County Bulldogs, 17-13 to win the GHSA Class A Division I title.

The game was played in the Atlanta Falcons' home Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

The Rams' 15-0 record is their very first undefeated football season in Worth County High School history.

Head Coach Jeff Hammond, who took over the Worth County program in 2022, said this year's squad is the hardest-working and most focused team he has led. Hammond praised the seniors on the team for their leadership.

Behind 13-10 at halftime, the Worth County Rams dominated the game's second half, sealing victory with an interception in the final minutes. Toombs County was also plagued with numerous penalties, adding to its difficulties moving the ball late in the championship game.

It was the first meeting ever between the two South Georgia teams. Toombs County is home to Vidalia.

OCILLA HOSPITAL SEEKS TO POSITION ITSELF FOR FUTURE, OFFICIALS SAY

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

Two million people in Georgia depend on rural hospitals, James Nixon, the newly appointed interim CEO of Irwin County Hospital, told the Ocilla Rotary Club on Monday.

Of 159 counties in the state, 60% are rural. Forty hospitals have closed since 2010.

“Rural health care happens locally,” Nixon said. “Our goal is to provide the best and most appropriate level of care at home.”

He said plans are to convert the rural emergency hospital to a traditional hospital setting with inpatient and observation stays. The hospital is awaiting a letter from the Georgia Department of Community Health, providing a certificate of need for admitting patients, Nixon said.

“There is no reason to not be able to take care of patients at home,” he said.

In the meantime, the hospital is providing mammograms and other radiology services, laboratory, radiology, respiratory, surgery, and emergency medicine with board-certified emergency medicine physicians.

During November, the hospital experienced 360 emergency room visits, 306 radiology visits, 428 lab patients, and 84 respiratory procedures.

Three clinics provide care, including Urgent Care, which is open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. The other clinics are Irwin Family Medicine and Willacoochee Family Medicine. In November, Urgent Care experienced 168 visits, Irwin Family Medicine provided care in 344 visits, and Willacoochee, 394 visits.

“We are at a new beginning, a fresh start,” said Irwin Hospital Authority Board Member Susan Driscoll. “We’re investing so we can have a longer term picture of where we need to be as a hospital.”

Along with Nixon as interim CEO, Mary Demian was appointed chief operating officer in November.

Nixon’s focus is on the big picture, “so Mary can focus on day-to-day operations,” Driscoll said.

Nixon told the Rotary Club that the community can help by choosing local care, advocating for rural healthcare, participating in hospital events, supporting local healthcare workers, volunteering time, partnering as a local business, promoting hospital information, supporting long-term growth, and spreading positivity.

Irwin County Hospital was built in 1914 as a 20-bed hospital, and it was expanded in 1953 to 34 beds. Nixon said it has no debt, being completely paid for. A 30-bed skilled nursing facility with 27 patients, Palemon Gaskins Nursing Home, is attached to the hospital.

UGA ECONOMISTS SEE SLOWER GROWTH FOR GEORGIA IN 2026

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Georgia’s economy will see growth slowing to about 1.5% in 2026, but the state is positioned to bounce back once national conditions are favorable, say UGA economic forecasters.

“In 2026, Georgia’s economy will match the U.S. economy with respect to the pace of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and job growth. That said, both economies will experience positive but slower growth,” said Santanu Chatterjee, interim dean of the University of Georgia's Terry College of Business.

Chatterjee recently spoke in Atlanta at the kickoff of the 2026 Georgia Economic Outlook series, hosted annually by the UGA Selig Center for Economic Growth, a public outreach unit housed in the Terry College of Business. For 43 years, the forecasters have produced an economic forecast report for the state and its metropolitan statistical areas.

The projected slow growth, along with some economic headwinds facing the nation, will keep the risk of a recession at an elevated level next year, the forecasters said.

This year, Georgia had enough economic momentum to overcome issues facing the national economy. Near-record population growth in the years following the pandemic, a full pipeline of new factories and logistics businesses and a business-friendly environment helped keep Georgia growing faster than average during the past four years.

But a slowdown in population growth, a decline in the size of the labor force, and uncertainty over trade policies have weakened the state’s hedge against national economic headwinds, forecasters said.

Analysts project that inflation will peak at around 3.5% during 2026 before retreating to 3% in 2027. Because of an elevated risk of recession, the Federal Reserve will likely ease monetary policy even though inflation will remain higher than its 2% target, according to the forecast prediction.

The Selig Center for Economic Growth expects the Federal Reserve to lower the federal funds rate to 2.75%, down from 4.5% at the beginning of 2025 and down from 5.5% in 2024.

Chatterjee also said commercial and residential real estate should remain stagnant in the next year. The affordability of single-family homes is at an all-time low, and homeowners are loathe to sell if it means leaving behind their lower mortgage rates.

Single-family homes — whose prices rose 59% nationwide in the years following the pandemic — are overpriced, and analysts predict 2026 will be the year home prices start to come down.

Despite the slowing economy, Georgia is better prepared than some other states.

“Georgia’s economy is resilient and well diversified with a workforce with wide-ranging skill sets, a business-friendly policy environment, and a world-class higher education network with top universities and trade schools,” Chatterjee said. “This gives us much hope for the future.”

TIFT BOE CELEBRATES TCHS PLAY CAST, CREW FOR WINNING SEASON

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Tift County Board of Education on Thursday recognized Tift County High School’s one-act play cast and crew for its championship season.

The group captured the Region 1-6A championship with its production of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" and went on to compete at the state level, finishing at fifth place in Georgia.

Special recognition went to Region 1-6A All-Star Cast: Anton Gregus & Chase Turner, Region 1-6A Best Actor: Jackson Shirts, and State All-Star Cast: Jackson Shirts & Chase Turner.

Advisor Jake Alley expressed his appreciation for the hard work, dedication, and countless hours this group poured into bringing the production to life.

Cast and crew members include: Laci Barbee, Gavin Carlson, Emily Rowe, Jackson Shirts, Caroline Womack, Anton Gregus, Madison Bowyer, Clayton Shirts, Chase Turner, Kennedy Merwin, Halle Newbern, Azia Farley, Christian Dennis, Joshua Stringfield, Pedro Perez, Kiera Gibbs, Norah Dean, Claudia Tanner, Andrew Stewart, Ellabeth Mitchell, Bernardo Ramirez, Gabrielle Spires, Hayden Taylor, Landon Taylor, Brandon José, Kaitlyn Fields, Semaj Garcia-Baker, Hailey King, Tucker Moore, Melody Cameron, Chris Robinson, Annabell Beck, Lyra Edwards, James Whitley, Dalton Sinyard, Leah McMurphy, Meghan Vicars, Greta Coarsey, Ja’Maria Williams, and TaLiyah McDaniel.

ABAC TO HOST 1969 MUSIC TRIBUTE ON JAN. 22

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) invites an audience to step back in time on Jan. 22 for an evening celebrating an iconic year in music history.

"1969 The Tribute" will take the stage at ABAC with an performance geared to capture the heart and soul of a year that reshaped music.

The tribute band performs such hits as “Born to Be Wild,” “Come Together,” and “Time of the Season,” alongside favorites from legendary groups including Led Zeppelin, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and The Guess Who.

Concert-goers are encouraged to dress in their most far-out and groovy attire. The band’s commitment to the fashion, atmosphere, and energy of the era creates an experience that feels both nostalgic and fresh.

This musical journey is for lifelong fans and anyone who wishes they could have experienced the magic of 1969 firsthand.

Tickets and event details are available at arts.abac.edu.

TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RIBBON CUTTING

Tifton Family Dentistry

315 14th St. E., Tifton

Dec. 10

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

"Hunter" is one of the cute kittens looking for a home this Christmas season. Come visit Hunter 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).

TIFTON POLICE CHIEF VOWS TO STOP

THEFTS OF FLOWERS ON GRAVES

~ DEC. 16, 1971

On Dec. 16, 1971, Tifton Police Chief William Paulk vowed to crack down on thieves stealing flowers from local graves. He said the thefts were occurring with increasing frequency. "We are going to put a stop to this despicable conduct of stealing flowers from graves one way or another," Paulk said. "We will station plainclothesmen in the cemetery, if necessary, and will bring a halt to the thefts."

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