Friday, Nov. 6, 2026

Tifton, Georgia

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IN TIFT COUNTY, REPUBLICANS ELECTED TO BOE

New members of the Tift County Board of Education were elected Tuesday. From left are Republicans Sterling Haring, Jerry Baker, and Blake McRae. Tift County voted for all Republicans on the ballot but statewide, Democrats swept the election.

DEMOCRATS TO FILL TOP STATE OFFICES AT

GEORGIA CAPITOL

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

As the dust settles following Tuesday's election in Georgia, it is clear that the Peach State will begin a whole new chapter in governance come January.

Republicans controlled the governor's office, both chambers in the General Assembly, and all constitutional offices going into the election. In a stunning turnaround, Democrats will have the governor's office, all state constitutional offices, and will have a majority in the state House of Representatives. The GOP will still control the state Senate, but Republican ranks have been thinned.

Democrats also won a majority in the Public Service Commission.

Many Republican incumbents were defeated Tuesday, including all of them in constitutional offices. Surprisingly, GOP Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper of Ocilla, Insurance Commissioner John King, State Schools Superintendent Richard Woods of Tifton, and Labor Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes all lost their seats. In offices with no incumbents – lieutenant governor, Secretary of State, and attorney general – Democrats also won.

In fact, black women will fill all constitutional offices except lieutenant governor, to which Democrat Josh McLaurin was elected. Constitutional offices are those detailed in the state constitution and are elected statewide in Georgia.

The victories of Keisha Lance Bottoms in the governor's race and Jon Ossoff in U.S. Senate balloting carried through to many other races. But Tift County's Republican state legislative delegation remained intact since all three candidates had no opposition: State Sen. Carden Summers of Cordele, Rep. Jaclyn Ford of Tifton, and Rep. Angie O'Steen of Ambrose.

In his congressional race, U.S. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Tifton, handily defeated his Democratic opponent.

Also in Tift County, three incumbents and one newcomer to the Tifton County Commission were elected without opposition: Republicans Paul Webb, Stan Stalnaker, and Greg Wood, and newcomer Angela Haggins, a Democrat.

The Tift County Board of Education will have several new faces come January. Jerry Baker, Blake McRae, and Sterling Haring – all Republicans – were elected, as was Democratic incumbent Pat McKinnon, who had no opposition.

Georgia voters also approved three state constitutional amendments: A fund to modernize state 911 services, an increased tax break for owners of large farms and timberland, and an initiative putting probate judges on a nonpartisan basis.

TIFT THEATRE CLOSES TEMPORARILY

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The historic Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts in Downtown Tifton is undergoing renovations in time for its 90th birthday next year.

The theatre will be "temporarily closed for the next several months as renovations are made to items like seating, carpeting, bathrooms, and the stage," said Caroline Abbott, city marketing & communications manager.

"At this time, we don’t have an exact timeline for when renovations will be completed, but residents can trust that we are just as eager as they are to get our theatre back up and running better than before. We do know the work will take several months, and we appreciate the public for bearing with us. Good things take time," Abbott said.

Being renovated are items ranked the highest priority, city officials said.

“The building needs the most attention at the moment. After renovations, technical upgrades will be next on the list,” Theatre Director Kezia Larry said.

Abbott praised Larry for bringing "new life" to the Tift Theatre with "a wide variety of shows for all interests. She has also brought an increase in originally produced acts, which not only provide more entertainment for the public but create and strengthen a special community for musicians, actors, and actresses in Tifton. From Fiscal Year '25 to '26, in-house productions rose from 23% to 40% of total shows."

Also, total attendance rose from 4,600 in FY 2025 to 7,500 in FY 26, according to City of Tifton figures.

"Kezia has fostered a warm and welcoming place for artists to grow and showcase their talents," Abbott said.

The Tift Theatre opened in 1937 with the film "Pennies From Heaven" starring Bing Crosby. Designed in an Art Moderne style, a late variant of Art Deco with a multi-colored Carrara glass facade, a neon-lit vertical sign and marquee, the theatre screened popular films for 50 years. It closed in 1987 as downtown's commercial focus shifted.

In the early '90s, residents, local businesses, and the city recognized the theatre's cultural impact, raising restoration funds and volunteering countless hours to clean and refurbish the property.

It soon reopened as a community performance venue and has been a key part of Downtown Tifton's resurgence during the past 30 years.

"We intend on keeping this important heritage structure alive and well for years to come," Abbott said. "So, we will miss you for a short time, but just wait – because when we're back, we'll be better than ever."

CONFEDERATE RAILROAD, COLE GOODWIN,

THE BAND LOULA TO HEADLINE RHYTHM & RIBS BBQ FESTIVAL

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The Tifton-Tift County Tourism Association is gearing up for another "Party Under the Pines" as the Tifton Rhythm & Ribs BBQ Festival returns the weekend of March 5-6 in Fulwood Park.

The entertainment at the free festival has now been set, and headlining the welcome party on Friday night, March 5, is Academy of Country Music (ACM) award-winner Confederate Railroad.

Founded in 1987 in Marietta, Confederate Railroad has had 18 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. Their song "Queen of Memphis" hit No. 2 on the country music charts, and the song "Jesus and Mama" reached No. 4, both in 1992. Their song "Trashy Women" was a Top 10 hit in 1993, and was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1994.

In 1993, the band won Top New Vocal Group at the ACM awards, and was nominated as Vocal Group of the Year at the Country Music Association awards (CMA) in both 1993 and '94.

Also performing the first night of the festival will be Rocco Gorelik, a 16-year-old country music singer from John's Creek who country star Travis Tritt calls "a voice of the next generation."

On Saturday, March 6, at the Rhythm & Ribs BBQ Festival, headlining the entertainment is Cole Goodwin. The 24-year-old from Pooler is building a fanbase through touring across the Southeast and opening for artists such as Zach Top, Luke Bryan, and Billy Currington.

Signed to Big Machine Records, Goodwin has released his new EP, "Howdy." This year, he has performed at CMA Fest, performed on Zach Top's Cold Beer & Country Music Tour, on Vincent Mason's There I Go Tour, made a special appearance with Carly Pearce, and has been part of Dierks Bentley's Off The Map Tour. This past summer, he also joined Braxton Keith for select dates on his Real Damn Deal Tour.

Also headlining that day will be The Band Loula – a duo of North Georgia natives Malachi Mills and Logan Simmons – which recently made their Grand Ole Opry debut with a standing ovation.

Their debut EP, "Sweet Southern Summer," was produced by John Osborne of the Brothers Osborne, with additional production from Greg Bieck, who has worked with such artists as Hall and Oates, Tim McGraw, Little Big Town, Destiny’s Child, Lionel Richie, Micheal Bolton, Ricky Martin, Josh Groban, Barbara Streisand, and Marty Stewart.

Billboard calls their single, “Running Off The Angels,” an "immensely promising release,” while All Country News said it is “a haunting, culturally charged ballad that cements their place as one of the genre’s most compelling new acts.” The Band Loula spent the summer on the road with Dierks Bentley and Zach Top, and has spent much of the past few years touring alongside artists such as Brothers Osborne, Ashley McBryde, Elle King, Brent Cobb, and Lukas Nelson.

Also performing on that Saturday at the Tifton festival will be Slater Nalley, D.K.Harrell, the Bella Rayne Band, and Remedy Tree.

GEORGIA A LEADER IN DEMENTIA CARE, TIFTON ROTARY CLUB TOLD

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

Georgia is shining in the area of supporting dementia care, said Christy Joyner, dementia care specialist for the Southern Georgia Area Agency on Aging, at the Tifton Rotary Club meeting Wednesday. 

“We have other states reaching out and asking us how to get started” in dementia care leadership, she said.

November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, and supporting organizations want everyone to know that Alzheimer’s disease is not a normal part of aging, that early detection matters, and that lifestyle choices can reduce risk.

The Tifton Walk to End Alzheimer’s is at 9 a.m. this Saturday at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. 

Dementia is one of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and other related disorders, Joyner said, such as vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. The most common cause of dementia, Alzheimer’s, affects an estimated 60% to 80% of all people with dementia. 

Among the lifestyle choices that reduce the risk of dementia, Joyner said, are: Controlling high blood pressure, eating a healthy diet, being physically active, keeping mentally active, staying socially connected with family and friends, treating hearing problems, taking care of mental and physical health, sleeping well, preventing falls, and limiting or avoiding alcohol. 

One of the problems we have with aging is suspecting dementia when we simply forget something, such as misplacing our keys.

“Your brain ages,” she said. “Give your brain grace.” Dementia is more dramatic, such as holding a shirt and not knowing how to put it on.

She discussed and explained examples of the 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s:

• Memory loss that disrupts daily life;

• Challenges in planning or solving problems;

• Difficulty completing familiar tasks;

• Confusion with time or place;

• Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships;

• New problems with words in speaking or writing;

• Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps;

• Decreased or poor judgment;

• Withdrawal from work or social activities; and

• Changes in mood and personality.

In caring for people with dementia, one must be calm and patient, she said. For instance, she tells caregivers at assisted living centers that if they show frustration, residents will pick up on that, “and they’re going to match that.

“Take someone with a broken brain and their frustration and match that, and it can be ugly real fast. Put on a smile, have a calming voice, and keep them calm,” she said. “Never correct or argue.”

For information and advice, Joyner said, email cjoyner@sgrc.us or call 1-888-73AGING. She is available to speak on dementia to churches and organizations.

LAUGHING DONKEY GRAVEL INVITATIONAL BIKES HIT GRAVEL ROADS SATURDAY

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The 5th annual Laughing Donkey Gravel Invitational, the free premier gravel cycling event in South Georgia, takes to gravel roads Saturday morning.

The event is supported by sponsors and donations. This year it benefits the Anthony Bateman Scholarship Fund, supporting scholarships for local students pursuing post-secondary education.

The routes include a 16-mile one, a 26-mile, a 42-mile, a 67-mile, and a 78-mile route, beginning at 9 a.m. at the Citgo gas station located at 184 Willis Still Road in Chula.

This is an “open roads” event with all associated risks. Participants should be aware of your physical/health limitations as you choose your route, and be respectful of all traffic rules.

For more information, email laughingdonkeygravel@gmail.com

TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RIBBON CUTTING

Lasseter Welding & Fab Works

20 S. Access Road, Chula

Nov. 5

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YOUR GUIDE

TO ACTIVITIES

THIS WEEKEND

IN THE GREATER

TIFTAREA

Today, Friday, Nov. 6 is National Nacho Day, celebrating one of America's favorite cheesy, crunchy snacks. According to Nacho history, the dish was invented in 1943 when a group of wives of U.S. soldiers stationed at Fort Duncan visited a hotspot, The Victory Club, one evening in Piedras Negras, Mexico. The women wanted something to eat but unfortunately, the kitchen had closed. However, the club's maître d' – Ignacio Anaya García, affectionately known as "Nacho" – improvised by pulling together ingredients he had available in the kitchen, frying tortilla pieces, topping them with grated cheese and sliced jalapeños, then baking them. This impromptu dish, originally called "Nacho's Especiales,'' quickly gained popularity and became known simply as "Nachos."

Born on November 6: Joseph Smith III, religious leader, 1832-1914; Charles Dow, economist & co-founder of Dow Jones Co., 1851-1902; John Philip Sousa, composer-bandleader, 1854-1932; James Naismith, basketball inventor, 1861-1939; Walter Johnson, MLB player known as "The Big Train," 1887-1946; Zig Ziglar, businessman & author, 1926-2012; Mike Nichols, actor-director, 1931-2014; Sally Field, actress, 1946–; Glenn Frey, singer-songwriter with The Eagles, 1948-2016; Maria Shriver, broadcast journalist, 1955–; Ethan Hawke, actor, 1970–; Pat Tillman, NFL player who joined the U.S. Army after 9/11 attacks, 1976-2004; Emma Stone, actress, 1988–; Bowen Yang, actor-comedian, 1990-.

FRIDAY, NOV. 6

• Coastal Plains Fair, 6 p.m.-midnight, American Legion Fairgrounds, Tifton

• Tiftarea Academy Panthers football vs. Frederica Academy (GIAA state playoff), 7:30 p.m., Panther Pit, Chula

• Irwin County High Indians football vs. Charlton County High Indians, 7:30 p.m., Ocilla

• Cook County High football Hornets @ Thomasville High Bulldogs, 8 p.m., Thomasville

• Berrien County High Rebels football @ Bacon County High Raiders, 7:30 p.m., Alma

• Worth County High football Rams @ Carver High Tigers, 7:30 p.m., Columbus

SATURDAY, NOV. 7

• Poulan Community Yard Sale, 8 a.m.-until, locations throughout Poulan

• Tifton Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-noon, Tifton Gardens, Downtown Tifton

• 5th Annual Laughing Donkey Gravel Invitational, free gravel cycling event, donations benefit Anthony Bateman Scholarship Foundation, 9 a.m., 184 Willis Still Road, Chula

• Tifton Walk to End Alzheimer's, 9 a.m. arrival, 9:30 a.m. opening ceremony, 10 a.m. walk, ABAC Front Circle, 2802 Moore Highway, Tifton

• Community Garden Volunteering, hosted by Keep Tift Beautiful, 9:30-11 a.m., 1413 Central Ave. N., Tifton

• Nashville Christmas Open House, shopping & holiday cheer at various businesses, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Downtown Nashville

• Arts Affair, hosted by Tifton Council for the Arts; live music, live arts demonstrations, exhibits, arts & crafts, Authors' Row, Kids Arts Gallery; free tree giveaway; 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Syd Blackmarr Arts Center, 255 Love Ave., Tifton

• Coastal Plains Fair, 2 p.m.-midnight, American Legion Fairgrounds, Tifton

SUNDAY, NOV. 8

• Coastal Plains Fair, 1-7 p.m., American Legion Fairgrounds, Tifton

• Downtown Adel Christmas Open House, shopping & holiday cheer at various businesses, 2-5 p.m., Downtown Adel

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TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S DOG OF THE WEEK

"Memory" is 3 years old, weighs 65 pounds, and is as sweet as can be. She came to the Animal Shelter as a stray, so they don’t know much about her past life. But they do know that this beautiful girl has a whole lot of love to give. Memory deserves a family who will give her the chance to leave shelter life behind and enjoy a home of her own. Come meet Memory and see other pets available for adoption between 1-6 p.m. Mondays thrugh Fridays at the Tift County Animal Shelter on Highway 125 South, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).

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