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Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024

Tifton, Georgia

Your Local Digital Newspaper for Tifton and the Greater Tiftarea

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Tifton City Clerk Jessica White, left, and Mayor Julie Smith receive Community Development Block Grant funds to help renovate dilapidated housing in the city.

TIFTON RECEIVES $791,000 GRANT FOR HOUSING REVITALIZATION

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The City of Tifton has received a $790,945 Community Development Block Grant to help renovate dilapidated homes in the city.

Mayor Julie B. Smith formally received the grant last week during the Ga. Department of Community Affairs annual Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Summit in Athens.

Smith said the grant will aid the city's Urban Redevelopment Agency in neighborhood revitalization. The grant will allow the acquisition and clearance of a dilapidated structure and the rehabilitation of 11 owner-occupied housing units, benefiting low-to-moderate income residents.

The total project is estimated at $823,695 with a $32,750 match from the city.

Smith said the Department of Community Affairs was complimentary of Tifton's efforts to revitalize South Tifton. "They used Tifton as an example" for others in the state, the mayor said.

Georgia awarded more than $33.4 million in CDBG funds to 36 Georgia communities in 2024. The city of Sumner in Worth County received a grant of $728,000 for water improvements in low-income areas,

TEEN DIES AFTER BEING SHOT BY 5-YEAR-OLD IN TIFTON

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Tifton Police Department and the GBI are investigating the shooting death of a teenager by a 5-year-old in Tifton.

At approximately 10:20 p.m. Saturday, Tifton Police responded to the 1100 block of Central Avenue South regarding a gunshot victim. Officers found a 16-year-old male with a gunshot wound. The teen was transported to Tift Regional Medical Center but later died, police said.

Initially, police believed the teen was shot elsewhere, but after multiple interviews, it was

determined the shooting occurred at the South Central Avenue residence. Police then

determined that the shooting resulted from an accidental discharge from a five-year-old holding a firearm.

No charges have been filed, but the investigation is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Sylvester at 229-777-2080 or Tifton Police Sgt. Sydney Greene at 229-382-3132. Anonymous tips may be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477) or using the TiftonPD Tip411 mobile

app.

FULWOOD PARK TO REOPEN LATE FRIDAY

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Tifton's Fulwood Park remains closed until late Friday afternoon as clean-up from Hurricane Helene continues this week.

"We have been pulled in a hundred different directions this week and haven't completely finished the clean-up in Fulwood," said Acting City Manager Larry Lawrence. "Fulwood Park is still closed till this Friday night at 4:30 p.m."

At that time, the city plans a "grand reopening" of Fulwood Park. The evening will be capped with "Movie Fright Night in Fulwood Park" – a free screening of the film "Hocus Pocus."

Lawrence said the dog park in Fulwood will remain closed for a few more weeks until damaged fencing is repaired.

EARLY VOTING SETS RECORD; SOME CONFUSED IN TIFT

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Advance voting began Tuesday in Georgia, and the state had a record number of early voters.

"Over 300,000 votes cast today. That’s 123% higher than the old record for the first day," said Gabriel Sterling, the chief operating office of the Georgia secretary of state’s office.

In Tift County on Tuesday, some voters residing in county District 1 were confused about two different ballots from which they could choose.

Because a judge ordered the Democratic primary for the Board of Education's (BOE) District 1 seat to be held again, District 1 voters are being asked if they want a general election ballot (which does not include the Democratic primary for the BOE) or a Democratic ballot (which includes all races along with the Democratic primary race).

According to Leila E. Dollison, Tift County elections supervisor, if a voter chooses the Democratic ballot, they do not have to vote Democratic on all races; they may still choose each race individually and vote Republican in some races, if they wish.

Voters may choose the Democratic ballot with the school board race even if they voted Republican in the prior election, Dollison said.

Those with questions may call the Tift County Board of Elections at 229-386-7915.

In the District 1 BOE race, incumbent Marilyn R. Burks faces challenger Ambrose B. King Jr.

A judge threw out the results of May's Democratic primary election during which Burks defeated King by two votes. King filed a suit challenging the results, and it was discovered that Casey’s Court Apartments on Carpenter Road was placed in District 6 when it should have been in District 1. The judge then ordered a new election.

There is no Republican candidate in that race so the victor will serve a term on the Tift school board.

CHICK-FIL-A PLANNED ON NORTH SIDE OF TIFTON

BY FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

An additional Chick-fil-A restaurant is being planned on the north side of Tifton on Tift Avenue at 16th Street.

The project passed its first hurdle Monday when the Tifton Planning and Zoning Commission approved waiving the city requirement that restaurant drive-thrus have a bypass lane. The existing Chick-fil-A in Tifton on U.S. Highway 82 does not have a bypass lane. That restaurant has two drive-thru lanes, and the planned site will mirror that.

Jeff Walker of Foresite Group in Peachtree Corners, site engineer for the project, noted that there will be entrances and exits on both Tift Avenue and 16th Street and that there will be be access to both of them through the restaurant's parking lot.

The $3 million project includes 65 parking spaces.

The plan now goes before Tifton City Council for final approval.

TIFTON FINES BUSINESSES, SUSPENDS LICENSES FOR UNDERAGE ALCOHOL SALES

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Tifton City Council is penalizing three businesses for selling alcohol to underage customers.

At council's meeting last Tuesday, council suspended the alcohol licenses for 45 days and imposed a $1,000 fine on both El Metate Mexican Restaurant on Second Street and on Speego #1 convenience store on Whiddon Mill Road. Both had their second alcohol violation within about six months, council said.

Pepi's Food Mart on 20th Street was fined $1,000 for underage alcohol sales. It was that store's first violation in about two years.

In other action, Council discussed implementing "traffic calming devices" when needed in the city. Such devices may include speed bumps/speed humps to slow traffic in residential areas.

City Attorney Rob Wilmot said speed bumps would be used only when other measures have failed to stop speeding. If a residential street is found to have a speeding problem, first courses of actions may involve adjusting speed limits, new signage, road-striping, police patrols, or signs that show drivers how fast they are going.

Wilmot said if it's determined that speed bumps are necessary, there first must be a 67% consensus of residents on that street. Once implemented, speed bumps could not be removed from a street for at least 12 months.

Council will consider the proposal at a future meeting.

WE KNOW HOW TO MILK COWS IN GEORGIA: Dr. Nick Place, dean of the UGA College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, center, won the milking contest Tuesday during the first day of the Sunbelt Ag Expo. Colleen Larson, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, was a close second. Chris Denmark, right, of the Florida Department of Agriculture, came in third.

SUNBELT AG EXPO OPENS THREE-DAY SHOW IN MOULTRIE

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The three-day Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition opened its 46th Anniversary show Tuesday at Spence Field in Moultrie.

Thousands of people Tuesday visited the more than 850 exhibitors at the 93-acre site.

Crowned as North America’s Premier Farm Show and the largest farm show in America with field demonstrations, the Sunbelt Ag Expo brings together all segments of agribusiness, including farmers, educators, policy-makers, ag-enthusiasts, and families.

Among Tuesday's highlights was naming Faylene Whitaker of Climax, N.C., as the Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year.

Her Whitaker Farms & Garden Nursery operates at three locations on 940 acres producing tobacco, garden plants, field tomatoes, strawberries, organic corn and wheat, and a variety of vegetables. It also features an agritourism business.

“The 2024 Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year was selected from an outstanding group of eight state farmers of the year. The recipient was chosen because of their outstanding qualifications. The winner is highly diversified and has demonstrated the ability to adapt their operation to changing economic conditions as well as commodity and consumer preferences,” said senior judge Joe West of Tifton.

Also at the Expo on Tuesday, Dr. Nick Place, dean of the UGA College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, won the annual cow-milking contest. Coming in second was Colleen Larson of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences; in third place was Chris Denmark of the Florida Department of Agriculture.

The next milking contest is scheduled at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday.

That is just one of the many activities at the Sunbelt Ag Expo, which continues 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday and 8:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. Thursday. Attendees will see the latest

innovation and technology in the agriculture industry, and more than 300 seminars and demonstrations are being offered.

ABAC CLUB COLLECTING PET FOOD FOR LOST

N.C. ANIMALS AFFECTED BY HURRICANE

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Pre-Vet Club is partnering with the Winterville Animal Clinic in North Georgia to collect pet food donations for animals in North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene.

Various shelters throughout North Carolina have been housing lost pets in hopes of reconnecting them with their owners. These shelters are in desperate need of food for these animals, officials say.

Any type or amount will be accepted. Donations may be dropped off at ABAC’s Herring Hall, located on the college’s front circle. The last day for donations is Friday, Oct. 25.

For information, contact Dr. Jenny Harper at Jennifer.harper@abac.edu

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

Meet "Shady," the Hotdog Cat! This scruffy guy was found at Shady Lane Drive-In, where someone fed him hotdogs until he could be rescued. He’s had a week of real cat food and TLC, but still looks like he’s seen it all. He likely had to fend for himself most of his life and could use a little help with grooming. But despite it all, he’s the sweetest cat. Come visit Shady 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).

TIFT GENERAL HOSPITAL DEDICATED

IN MEMORY OF TIFTON'S FOUNDER

~ OCT. 17, 1965

The Tift County Hospital Authority dedicated the new Tift General Hospital on Sunday, Oct. 17, 1965, followed by an open house and tours. The new hospital was dedicated to the memory of Capt. Henry Harding Tift, the founder of Tifton.