Digital Newspaper for Tifton, Ga., and the Greater Tiftarea

IHeardIt@tiftongrapevine.com ~ 478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

To SUBSCRIBE, Click Here!

NOTE: Depending on your computer's settings, you may need to click the link at the bottom

of the edition to download its entirety.

AG DAMAGE

AT LEAST $6.5 BILLION IN GA

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Agricultural damages from Hurricane Helene will cost Georgia’s economy at least $6.46 billion, state officials said Thursday.

“Right now, the future is uncertain for thousands of Georgia farmers and farm families who were devastated by Hurricane Helene,” said state Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper. “We are working around the clock with state, federal, and industry leaders to deliver federal aid to Georgia farmers to help them recover and bounce back stronger than before."

(Harper, center in photo at right, surveys cotton crop damage in South Georgia.)

The preliminary damage estimate represents total crop losses, losses to businesses that support agriculture and forestry, losses to workers in related industries, and estimated recovery and restoration costs that agricultural businesses face.

It is based on projections by University of Georgia analysts, Georgia Forestry Commission foresters, and a model of the state's economy. Officials said it will take months to determine the full impact of damages.

"We depend on our farmers and timber growers to provide the food and fibers we use every day and that drives our economy as part of Georgia's No. 1 industry," said Gov. Brian P. Kemp.

"Following the immense losses caused by Hurricane Helene, and with Hurricane Milton possibly bringing further impacts to our state, I'm urging all of our local, state, and federal partners to join efforts in bringing them relief. That's why we're calling on the federal government and Congress to act quickly in appropriating relief funds and helping them rebuild their livelihoods," Kemp said Thursday.

Among those with Harper and Kemp at the press conference in Atlanta were Nick Place, dean of UGA's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences; Georgia Forestry Director Johnny Sabo; Congressman Austin Scott, R-Tifton; and state Rep. Clay Pirkle, R-Ashburn.

Agriculture contributes more than $83 billion to the state's economy annually and employs more than 320,000 Georgians.

On Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., said he has brought together 34 members of Congress from both parties to launch a bipartisan push for agricultural disaster relief.

Ossoff said the state lost up to 35% of its cotton crop and up to 30% of peanut crops. He said more than 200 poultry houses have been seriously damaged or destroyed in Georgia, and up to 50,000 acres of pecan orchards have been damaged or destroyed.

“There is the risk of not just deep, but lasting damage to Georgia agriculture— our No. 1 industry, if Congress fails to act swiftly,” Ossoff said.

The American Farm Bureau Federation reported that Georgia is responsible for 36% of U.S. pecan production, with approximately $183 million in annual output from more than 260,000 acres. Preliminary reports from UGA suggest that older pecan trees have suffered a 70% loss, while younger trees face a 40% loss.

Affected counties make up about 23% of Georgia’s pecan acreage. The destruction of mature trees, which can take up to a decade to replace, will result in long-term production declines, the Farm Bureau Federation said.

TIFT COUNTY EXCEEDS U.S. ON SAT

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Tift County public school students have outperformed the nation's public schools on the SAT, formerly known as the Scholastic Aptitude Test, school officials say.

Tift County students earned a total mean score of 1012, outperforming the national average by 17 points. Tift's senior Class of 2024 recorded a mean score of 524 on the evidence-based reading and writing portion of the assessment and a mean score of 488 on the math portion, the school system reported. That's compared to national averages of 507 and 488, respectively.

The school system is also celebrating that 7.52% of seniors in the Class of 2024 took the SAT, up from 7.02% in 2023.

For the seventh consecutive year, Georgia public-school students outperformed their counterparts in the nation’s public schools on the SAT. Georgia students recorded a mean score of 1030, 35 points higher than the national average for public-school students of 995, according to the Ga. Department of Education.

Georgia’s public-school Class of 2024 recorded a mean score of 527 on the evidence-based reading and writing portion of the assessment, and a mean score of 503 on the math portion. That’s compared to averages of 507 and 488, respectively, for students in the nation’s public schools.

“I am so proud of the Class of 2024 and their teachers, parents, families, and the communities who supported them,” said State School Superintendent Richard Woods. “We continue to see Georgia students outpacing the national average on the SAT and ACT, and that’s a testament to the work we’ve done in Georgia to invest in our students’ academic recovery post-pandemic and create opportunities in our public schools that prepare every child for life.”

GROUNDBREAKING BRINGS $18 MILLION INVESTMENT

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Local economic leaders joined representatives of CRC Logistics to break ground Tuesday on the company's warehouse and distribution center, representing an $18 million investment in Tift County.

The 270,000-square-foot facility at Windy Hill and Oakridge Church roads is expected to create more than 40 jobs. The building will serve as a warehouse and distribution center for seed and chemicals for the agriculture industry.

Along with temperature-controlled, chemical-containment storage will be distribution facilities for agricultural-related companies.

TIFT HIGH, MIDDLE SCHOOLS TO ADD AUTOMATIC WEAPONS DETECTION SYSTEMS

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Tift County Board of Education (BOE) is partnering with Xtract One Technologies to implement advanced weapons detection systems in all middle and high school campuses throughout the school district.

Xtract One's cutting-edge technology is designed to efficiently and effectively identify potential threats, including firearms and other weapons, without disrupting the flow of students and staff entering school buildings. By integrating the state-of-the-art security solution, the school system said it aims to create a safer learning environment.

Xtract One provides entry screening solutions that automatically detect guns, knives, and other threats more accurately than metal detectors without requiring students and staff to divest personal items or endure pat-downs. When the integrated school-security system detects a weapon, security is discreetly notified where the weapon is located on the body, allowing an immediate response.

The school system said this proactive measure underscores the BOE's commitment to ensure the safety and security of all students and staff.

"The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority," said Superintendent Natalie Gore. "We are confident that the implementation of Xtract One's weapons detection systems will significantly enhance our existing security measures and provide an additional layer of protection for our school community."

The installation is scheduled to begin this fall and is expected to be completed by the new year. The school district will work closely with Xtract One to ensure a smooth and

efficient implementation process.

The BOE said this just one of the many steps the school district is taking to ensure the well-being of students and staff.

OKLAHOMA RESCUE TEAM STAGES FOR HURRICANE MILTON AT TIFTON FIRST METHODIST

By TOM MARK

For the Tifton Grapevine

Tifton First Methodist Church played host to some special guests Wednesday evening as members of the Oklahoma Urban Search and Rescue Team utilized the Tifton First campus as a staging area for Hurricane Milton.

The rescue team was preparing to assist after Milton made its way across Florida. After prepping and securing their gear, the team members shared a meal and then bunked in the Tifton First Activities Center.

“We all want to do something,” said Tifton First Senior Pastor Chip Grantham. “For these people willing to go in and take on one of the hardest tasks, I’m glad we are able to provide shelter for those going in to help.”

According to Program Manager Matt Bell, the Oklahoma squad is a Type 3 Swift Water Search and Rescue team. Its members hail from throughout Oklahoma. In addition to the Oklahoma team, rescue teams from Texas and California were also on their way to assist with the aftermath of Hurricane Milton.

It has been a busy couple of weeks for the 38-person Oklahoma rescue team.

“We were in Georgia for Hurricane Helene before heading up to North Carolina,” Bell said, referring to the western part of the state that has been devastated by flood waters. He said that following the North Carolina deployment, part of the team returned home to Oklahoma and replacements were scheduled to arrive later Wednesday night.

“When we arrived at Treasure Island, Fla., where there was a six-foot storm surge,” Bell said, “we were handed three pages of 911 emergency calls. We were able to rescue multiple people, including a 98-year-old lady who we found floating on her couch.”

While the teams are fully self-sufficient, Bell expressed his appreciation for the support of the communities who have offered assistance to the rescue teams.

“If it wasn’t for you guys with the church, we’d be sleeping on the side of the road somewhere,” said Bell. “It is very humbling what the communities across this country have given to help us.”

Pastor Grantham said that what the Oklahomans are doing is a "picture of Christian living. To leave the safety of Oklahoma and go that far to help is an incredible testimony on the goodness of people.”

ABAC Men's Basketball Coach Calvin Sinkfield shares his coaching philosophy Wednesday with the Tifton Rotary Club.

ABAC BASKETBALL RETURNS WITH

ALL-NEW PROGRAMS

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

At Tifton Rotary Club's meeting Wednesday, the men’s and women’s basketball coaches at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College offered their perspectives on bringing the sport back to ABAC.

As of July 1, the college's athletic program is now a member of NAIA and Southern States Athletic Conference, competing as a four-year program, ABAC Public Relations Director Chris Beckham told the club.

“Part of that is the return of men’s and women’s basketball,” he said. “You can imagine how busy you are when you are building a program from scratch, and that is what our two speakers today are doing.” 

ABAC men’s basketball will kick off Oct. 19, and a double header of women’s and men’s teams will be Oct. 26. The transition from a two-year junior college basketball program to a four-year one happened in six months, said Athletic Director Chuck Wimberly, the women’s basketball coach.

“It’s been tough but also very exciting for me,” he said. Wimberly said this is his 35th year in athletics. He has been a head football coach and coached nine state championship teams and has coached baseball.

Born in Birmingham, Ala., and raised in Wrightsville, Ga., Wimberly said that for the past 18 years he has “looked after” Tiger Woods during the Masters in Augusta. 

He has been at ABAC for two years. 

“Bringing back basketball and redoing the gymnasium” has been challenging, he said. “We’ve redone, floors, walls, scoreboards, goals; I don’t think there’s anything in the gym we haven’t somewhat touched to try to make it better.” Gov. Brian P. Kemp and former Gov. Roy Barnes have flown in to help, so Wimberly said he’s had a lot of support.

“Helping a college and helping some young people are what I’m trying to do,” he said.

“Thank you for what you are doing for the young people in Tifton,” Wimberly said. “These young people have gone through a lot – pandemics, epidemics, hurricanes, in school, out of school, missing school. For ABAC, I need your help. Come to a basketball game, even if you don’t know the kids.”

ABAC had 67 athletes in softball, baseball, tennis, cross country, golf, and soccer. After adding basketball, it has grown by 150% in six months to 200 athletes. “A lot of schools aren’t growing in enrollment, but our school is,” Wimberly said.

He has 18 players on his team, and two graduated from Tift County High School. Others are from Miami, Tampa, Illinois, and elsewhere. Wimberly said he needed help to feed all the athletes during the first week of school. 

“I went to eight businesses and asked them to feed them, and everyone said yes,” Wimberly said. “That speaks tremendously for your businesses and your town. That’s about $8,000 to $10,000 worth of food."

Men’s Basketball Coach Calvin Sinkfield, who is also assistant athletic director, told Rotarians he grew up in Southwest Atlanta and moved to Griffin “where they had a great sports program, and that changed my life.”

He found that he was addicted to winning and addicted to competing and dominating, “and that’s the way I coach.” He first coached at Georgia Southern University, and this season will make 31 years coaching. In 1991-92, his team won a conference.

He has coached at Odessa College, which was among the top five colleges athletically in the nation every year. Starting a program from the ground up at ABAC is a challenge, he said, but he has done it before.

“I’m going to give you that drive,” he said. During his career, Sinkfield has been named coach of the year twice. 

“I know that our kids don’t know what it’s like to play basketball in Tifton, Georgia,” Sinkfield said. He tells them to “give me your best, and the community will support you.”

He said his team consists of 18-19 year olds who will be competing against 24-25 year-olds in some cases. He said it will be like sixth graders playing high schoolers with the age difference.

“We’re new, and we’re young,” said Sinkfield.

Among opponents on the schedule are Middle Georgia, Dalton State, Thomas University, and Life College. Game admission is $10 or season tickets for $80.

TIFT COUNTY ASKED TO LIGHT UP WORLD FOR YOUTH

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Tift County organizations are once again asked to “Go Light Up Your World” with luminaries all over Tift County from 7-8:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 16, to show support for local youth.

Local faith-based organizations, businesses, churches, clubs, and neighborhoods are invited by the Tift County Commission on Children and Youth (TCCCY) to use luminaries along their streets to light up Tift County. Participants may request registration forms to include their locations by calling or emailing TCCCY Executive Director Robin Rust at 229-388-1000 or tc3y@friendlycity.net

“We hope that you will consider being included in lighting up our community, to show our kids how much we care about them,” Rust said in an email to constituents.

“Thank you, so much, for your consideration,” she said. “You may also elect to participate as an individual and have luminaries lit in your community. All supplies are provided, and ready for pick up at the TCCCY office."

The event has been held annually in October since 2014. 

TCCCY and Youth-Family Connection is a nonprofit collaborative that works to improve the conditions for children, families, and communities by partnering with residents to address serious challenges that face children and their families.

“We envision that anywhere you go in Tift County you will see the light and recognize how unified we are as a community in our effort to ensure that children have a safe and caring environment,” Rust said. “Our hope is that throughout the year, our community will provide programs for our youth that encourage involvement in positive activities. October 16 will be our night to show our unity in this effort.”

Participants are asked to share their pictures on Facebook using the hashtag #lightyourworldtift24. 

TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RIBBON CUTTING

ATC Auto LLC

165 Love Ave, Tifton

Oct. 4

PLAINS FILM EXPLORES RACE RELATIONS

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Tifton Council for the Arts (TCA) and Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) will present the film “Plainspoken” at 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16, at the Syd Blackmarr Arts Center.

The recently produced GPB documentary was filmed in Plains in commemoration of President Jimmy Carter’s 100th birthday.

This free event includes a light meal, film screening, a talk by the director, and a discussion. Registration is required through GPB. TCA encourages interested people to sign up as soon as possible here.

“Your participation would help make this event a success,” said TCA Administrative Coordinator Georgia Smith. “Your support at this event would make a significant impact, showing the strength of our community and helping to ensure future opportunities like this.

“It’s also a great chance to network with others in our community who are working to bridge the divide regarding race and socio-economic relations,” Smith said. “Please share this important and special event with your contacts and come be a part of the conversation.”

"Plainspoken" explores the people of Plains, and “encourages viewers to think about our relationship with race as it plays out on the ground level in everyday community,” GPB said.

The Syd Blackmarr Arts Center is located at 255 Love Ave. in Tifton.

TRIVIA NIGHT RESCHEDULED FOR OCT. 29

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Howard Center Trivia Night is back on! The 24th annual event to benefit Literacy Volunteers of Tifton-Tift County has been rescheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29, at the Southern Regional Technical College Tifton Campus Conference Center. 

A pub-style dinner will be provided for attendees, courtesy of Chicago Pizza and other local restaurants, and pairs of individuals may sign up to participate for a donation of $50. Participants are asked to register in advance by emailing tiftlv@gmail.com. 

Teams of four to six pay $200 or more for the opportunity to compete.

“This provides more businesses, organizations, and individuals an opportunity to join the event,” said Bonnie Sayles, Literacy Volunteers president. “Thank you so much to all our supporters.”

The event sponsor is the Howard Center, and other sponsors are Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals, the Hilton Garden Inn, Southwell, and the Williams Hotel Group. Trivia teams that have signed up so far include newcomers Tift Area Academy team sponsored by Albritton Funeral Directors, Hendricks Cleaning Services, Southern Appliances Sales and Service, and Woodmen Life. 

Longtime contestant teams that are returning are Bowen-Donaldson, the Tift County High School Quiz Bowl Team, sponsored by the Tift County Foundation for Educational Excellence, Southern Regional Technical College, South Georgia Banking Company, Southwell, the Tifton Exchange Club, the Tifton Rotary Club, and Dr. George Yared. A Book Club led by Melissa Wilt is also returning. 

Trivia master David “Big Wave Dave” Holmes will conduct the competition, and teams of four to six players will compete against each other simultaneously throughout the event, answering trivia questions.

First-, second-, and third-place teams will receive prizes, including dinners and nights at Hilton Garden Inn, tickets to Wild Adventures, and gift cards to local restaurants.

Support of the event allows Literacy Volunteers to recruit and train tutors to work with individuals wanting to improve their reading, writing, math, and English-speaking abilities. 

Literacy Volunteers also provides transportation to qualified Adult Education students attending GED classes at Southern Regional Technical College.

To Subscribe, Click Here!

Your free subscription allows you to receive our MidWeek and Weekender editions in your in-box, along with occasional Sponsored Editions.

Your subscription is free because of the support of local advertisers.

Please support the businesses and organizations who make this possible.

To Contact Us, Call 478-227-7126

YOUR GUIDE

TO ACTIVITIES

THIS WEEKEND

IN THE GREATER TIFTAREA

Saturday, Oct. 12, is National Farmers Day. Farming is one of the world's oldest and most vital professions, and agriculture is Georgia's top industry. The number of farms in the United States is estimated at 2 million, with 42,439 farms in Georgia. Agriculture contributes $1 trillion to the U.S. economy. The average farm is estimated to feed 166 people each year. Georgia is the No. 1 state in the nation in the production of peanuts, broilers (chickens), pecans, blueberries, and spring onions. The state is also at or near the top in cotton, watermelon, peaches, eggs, cucumbers, sweet corn, bell peppers, tomatoes, cantaloupes, rye, and cabbage. So, thank a Georgia farmer for his/her hard work and for helping feed people around the world.

FRIDAY, OCT. 11

• Tift County High Blue Devils football vs. Lowndes County High Vikings, 7:30 p.m., Brodie Field, Tifton
• Tiftarea Academy Panthers vs. Deerfield-Windsor Knights, 7:30 p.m., Panther Pit, Tiftarea Academy, Chula

SATURDAY, OCT. 12

• Second Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Downtown Tifton
• Downtown Tifton Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-Noon, Tifton Gardens, Downtown Tifton
• Pink Out Loud, Southwell's Breast Cancer Awareness Event (free registration required), 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Northside Baptist Church Worship Center, Murray Avenue, Tifton 
• TiftCon: Horror Edition, spooky costumes encouraged, 1-3 p.m.,Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts, Downtown Tifton

ADVERTISE YOUR

YARD SALE HERE!

To Advertise Your Yard Sale, Contact:

IHeardIt@tiftongrapevine.com 

or 478-227-7126

Fees are $1 per word, paid in advance

"Mookie" is in need of a loving home. His owners have died, and he is feeling lost. Come visit Mookie 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).