Tift BOE Must Be Transparent

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Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026

Tifton, Georgia

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TIFT COUNTY BOE

MUST BE MORE TRANSPARENT

Why won’t the Tift County Board of Education answer this simple question: Is the school superintendent whose contact was terminated Wednesday continuing to receive any payment under her contract?

This is a question on the minds of many Tift countians since the previous superintendent received payment for nine months after “resigning.” Since Natalie Gore’s contract was abruptly terminated at a special meeting Wednesday night, one would think she would not be eligible for additional payment since she was fired.

However, Tift County Schools officials won’t comment, even though taxpayers’ dollars may be involved.

On Thursday, the Tifton Grapevine contacted BOE Chairman Jonathan Jones and asked if Gore is receiving any payment under her contract, if she had been placed on leave before her termination, and if there was an incident that prompted her firing.

“What you are looking for is in public documents,” Jones responded, directing us to Dana Spurlin, the school’s communications chief.

Spurlin responded that they were working on getting us the information. She then followed up with the comment that our questions were “essentially going to have to be treated as an open records request.”

Then, Spurlin sent an email noting that “At this time, Tift County Schools will not be providing responses to the specific questions submitted. If you are seeking public records related to this matter, you may submit an open records request identifying the specific document or documents you are requesting. The request will be reviewed and processed in accordance with applicable open records requirements.”

We presume the lawyers must have gotten involved.

So, the Grapevine has submitted a formal Open Records request for specified documents. We understand that personnel matters are treated with a degree of privacy, but we still must ask the questions. Under state law, there is nothing limiting public comment as to the official reason for separation, which officials may give rather than getting into detailed personal disputes.

And why make the public jump through hoops to find out whether or not taxpayer funds will continue to be paid to someone who was terminated? It is a simple question that people whom we elected to represent us should be able to readily answer.

It is time for greater transparency from the Tift County Board of Education. Otherwise, one wonders what the board is trying to hide, or rather, who the board members are trying to hide from.

~Frank Sayles Jr.

Tifton Grapevine

GBI CHARGES TIFTON MAN

WITH MURDER

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The GBI announced Friday that it has arrested a Tifton man in connection with the shooting death of a man found dead in a vehicle Aug. 29 outside a local apartment complex.

Javious Taylor, 21, of Tifton, is charged with murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime in connection with the death of Michael Benefield, 23, of Tifton, the GBI said.

According to preliminary information, at approximately 10 p.m., August. 29, Tift County 911 received a shots-fired call from the area of Wildwood Apartments and the 1100 block of Milton Drive in Tifton. When officers arrived on scene, they found Benefield with an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

Another man and woman were also shot during the incident and transported to a local hospital, where they were treated and released, authorities said.

Benefield’s body was taken to the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office, where an autopsy was conducted.

Taylor was arrested Thursday, and booked into the Tifton County Jail. The Tifton Police Department had requested the GBI to assist with the death investigation.

This investigation remains active. Anyone with information is asked to contact the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Sylvester at 229-777-2080 or the TIfton Police Department at 229-382-3132. Anonymous tips can also be submitted.

ABAC BUSINESS DEAN STRESSES MENTORSHIP, LOCAL COLLABORATION

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Speaking to the Tifton Rotary Club last Wednesday, Dr. Yasemin Atinc, dean of the Stafford School of Business at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, shared a message centered on leadership, education, mentorship, and the importance of investing in people and communities.

“Education is one of the most powerful tools for creating opportunity and strengthening communities,” Atinc said.

She noted that colleges and universities play an essential role in preparing not only future professionals but also leaders who will make meaningful contributions to their organizations and communities.

A key theme in her remarks was the value of mentorship. Atinc encouraged each person to recognize their personal impact on students and young professionals by offering guidance, encouragement, and growth opportunities. She noted that many successful individuals point to a mentor, teacher, or community leader who helped them.

"One of the greatest investments we can make is in people," Atinc said. "When we invest in students, we invest in the future of our communities."

She also highlighted several initiatives underway at the Stafford School of Business. Among them is the online organizational leadership program providing flexible pathways for both traditional students and working professionals seeking to advance their education and careers.

Atinc also discussed workforce-focused programs and professional development opportunities designed to meet regional needs and support lifelong learning.

In addition, she shared plans for the business school's Student Investment Club, an initiative designed to provide hands-on experience in financial literacy, investment analysis, portfolio management, and decision-making.

Atinc stressed the importance of collaboration among educational institutions, local businesses, civic organizations, and community leaders. She said partnerships create valuable opportunities for students while supporting workforce development and economic growth across South Georgia.

"Leadership is not about a title," she said. "It is about using your influence to help others succeed."

TIFTON WALK TO END ALZHEIMER'S SET OCT. 10

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

Tifton’s annual Walk to End Alzheimer's is returning to the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College campus, beginning at 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10.

The Tifton Walk has 22 teams, including senior living centers and home care agencies, along with local businesses and school groups. About 34 people have registered to date. The Tifton Walk has already raised 26% of its $45,000 goal, which is $15,000 higher than last year’s goal. The top fundraising team to date is Geneva’s Gems.

Held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide, the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research.

Participation in the event helps to change the level of Alzheimer’s awareness in communities. While there is no fee to register, participants are encouraged to fundraise in order to contribute to the cause and raise awareness.

All funds raised through Walk to End Alzheimer's further the care, support, and research efforts of the Alzheimer's Association, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. All donations are tax-deductible.

Here are some frequently asked questions, according to Alzheimer’s Association Walk Coordinator Robin Salisbury:

• Do I have to register in order to Walk?

Yes, we want to know you're walking with us and need every participant to sign a standard waiver through their official registration. There is no registration fee for the walk. However, we ask every participant to make a personal donation and commit to raising funds in the fight against Alzheimer's.

• Do I need to register my children for Walk?

Yes, children should register. Parents/guardians can register children online or complete an offline registration form and sign the waiver on behalf of the child.

• Does every participant get a T-shirt?

Every registered participant who achieves the fundraising minimum of $100 will receive an official Walk to End Alzheimer's T-shirt via USPS. To receive a shirt in time for walk day, participants must raise the T-shirt minimum at least four weeks before the event.

• How do I get my offline donations to show up on my personal fundraising web page?

Donations can be made offline by submitting a check or money order by mail or hand-delivering to the local Alzheimer's Association office. Be sure to include your offline donation form, which can be found in your participant center or on your fundraising web page, to make sure you receive credit for the donation. Donations typically take one to two weeks to show up on your web page. Don't want to wait? You can also deposit checks directly to your walk page from the Walk to End Alzheimer's mobile app for iPhone or Android.

Local registration is still open online for walkers, teams, and donors here.

KEEP TIFT BEAUTIFUL NAMES 'BEAUTY SPOTS' OF MONTH

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Keep Tift Beautiful, a citizens advisory board, has awarded the residential and commercial "Beauty Spots of the Month" for September.

The Veazey residence on Old Ocilla Road, pictured above, is the Residential Beauty Spot for the month.

The Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals at 118 E. 20th St. in Tifton, pictured below, is September's Commercial Beauty Spot.

Keep Tift Beautiful promotes recycling, community gardening, litter abatement, and outdoor beautification.

ABAC, UGA PARTNERSHIP ADRESSES

RURAL VETERINARY NEEDS

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine have formed a partnership to address Georgia’s shortage of veterinarians serving rural communities and the state’s food-animal agriculture industry.

The five-year agreement establishing the Georgia Rural Practice Veterinary Incentive Program, or Georgia Rural Practice VIP, creates a pathway for ABAC students interested in pursuing mixed animal and food-animal veterinary medicine and ultimately serving rural communities. Food animals are domesticated or farmed animals raised primarily for human consumption and animal-derived food products.

The need for veterinarians who specialize in food-animal medicine is significant. According to statistics reported by the American Veterinary Medical Association, of the 90,219 veterinarians in the United States involved in clinical practice in 2025, only 3.1% were dedicated solely to food-animal practice. The percentage of veterinarians dedicated to food-animal practice also declined from 3.4% in 2024.

The Rural Practice VIP will provide selected ABAC students with specialized advising and mentoring during their undergraduate education. Students will be advised by an ABAC faculty member in the animal science track and mentored by a UGA College of Veterinary Medicine faculty member with expertise in food-animal medicine.

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'JYNX,' IRWIN COUNTY K9 OFFICER,

GETS NEW PROTECTIVE VEST

Jynx, a K9 "officer" in the Irwin County Sheriff’s Office in Ocilla, is happily wearing his new bullet and stab protective vest, thanks to a charitable donation from the non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s Inc.

Jynx’s K9 vest was sponsored by Tracey Smith of St. Petersburg, Fla., and embroidered with “Gifted by Tracey Ann Smith.”

Vested Interest in K9s, established in 2009, is a 501(c)(3) charity whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. This potentially lifesaving body armor for four-legged K9 officers is U.S.-made, custom-fitted, and National Institute of Justice-certified. Since its inception, the organization has provided more than 6,631 vests valued at $6.9 million to K9s in all 50 states, made possible by both private and corporate donations.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

Friday Scores

• Lambert High 21, Tift County 7

(Blue Devils record at 2-1)

• Tiftarea Academy 21, Turner County 0

• Fitzgerald 28, Irwin County 0

• Worth County 31, Early County 0

• Berrien 24, Charlton County 21

• Colquitt County 38, Cook County 6

• Lowndes 22, Lithonia 8

• Valdosta, 56, Bradwell Institute 13

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Weekend Scores

• Georgia 63, Tennessee State 3

• Colorado 14, Georgia Tech 13

• Alabama 48, East Carolina 10

• Auburn 17, Baylor 16

• Florida 66, Florida Atlantic 21

• SMU 27, Florida State 24

• LSU 51, Clemson 10

• Miami 45, Stanford 6

• Tennessee 56, Furman 9

TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RIBBON CUTTINGS

Kangaroo Express

1054 U.S. Highway 82, Tifton

Sept. 3

Starbucks

1054 U.S. Highway 82, Tifton

Sept. 3

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

Friday night lights, hometown pride, and one adorable kitten named "Blue Devil." This handsome guy may be too small to take the field, but he is already winning over the crowd and ready to score a forever home. No helmet or jersey required, just a cozy place on your couch and family ready to cheer him on for life – the Blue Devil Way! Come meet Blue Devil 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).

LAND-CLEARING DEMO ATTRACTS 2,000 PEOPLE

~ SEPT. 11, 1919

An estimated crowd of 2,000 came out to the Coastal Plain Experiment Station in Tifton on Sept. 11, 1919, to watch a land-clearing demonstration involving the latest agricultural equipment available. Six tractors at work in the big field roused much interest from farmers in Tift and surrounding counties. The stump pullers were also a big hit with the crowd, especially when they demonstrated their use of dynamite.

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