Local officials
broke ground Thursday, Jan. 21, on a
100,000-square-foot "spec" buildingat the Magnolia Industrial Park Phase II in Tift County.
The new 116-acre industrial park tract is located on Oakridge Church Road near its intersection with Tifton-Eldorado Road.
The "speculative" building is being constructed to lure more industry to Tift County.
"We've had so much success over the last few years that we're out of product, out of buildings," Brian Marlowe, Tift County Development Authority president, told Georgia Trend magazine last year.
Marlowe says he has already received inquiries from companies interested in the spec building.
The project is expected to be completed by May.
"We also have an option on
395 acres (with 3,000 linear feet of rail frontage) immediately contiguous and south of the 116 acres, so we have room to grow,"
Marlowe said.
Members of the Tift County Development Authority, board members from the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce and local elected officials gathered for Thursday's groundbreaking. From left in the photo above are: Brian Marlowe; Development Authority members Richard Golden, Frankie Mathis and Norman "Red" Hill; Tifton Mayor Julie Smith and City Councilman Frank Sayles Jr.; Chamber Chairman Dr. Joe West; Tift County Commission Chairman Grady Thompson; Chamber board member and local banker Morris Tankersley; and Jonathan Jones of Jones Construction, which is responsible for management of the project.
MAGAZINE: LOCAL CO. PRODUCES 'HEALTHY' SOUTHERN FOOD
In
Atlanta Magazine's current issue, it cites
"7 healthy foods made in Georgia: Who says Southern foods can't be part of a sensible diet?"
"
Tifton-based
Bell Plantation presses peanuts to
remove the fat, resulting in a
powder that can be
reconstituted into a
spread or
added to smoothies or sauces," the magazine notes. "A
two-tablespoon serving of
PB2 has
45 calories, compared with
190 in
ordinary peanut butter."
According to
Bell Plantation: "Peanut butter has always been a staple for the health conscious and physically active. But even peanut butter can be improved. PB2 reduces fat through a chemical-free process.
"Like all Bell Plantation products, PB2 and Chocolate PB2 are all natural, preservative free and contain no artificial sweeteners. And that makes them a sweet alternative for active lifestyles, dieters, and moms who want healthy snacks for their kids."
The GED Testing Service said that based on statistical evidence, it decided to recalculate the GED passing score and is not changing the test material; the passing score is moving from 150 to 145, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2014.
"We think that its a more realistic passing score. We have several students who have now earned their GED credentials," said Melissa Burtle, director of adult education for Southern Regional Technical College, which has a Tifton campus.
"We are excited for our students and hope this change will give them the opportunity to move forward with their goals of enrolling in college or entering employment," she said.
Burtle said students will be notified via email from the
GED Testing Service.
The
GED consists of four tests, each of which now requires a score of 145 to pass: Reasoning Through Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, and Math.
The
Adult Education Programat Southern Regional Technical College is designed for those individuals who need
assistancewith basic academic skills. Flexible programs with non-traditional classroom hours are offered to meet the needs of almost anyone's schedule.
Literacy Volunteers of Tifton-Tift County provides
free one-on-one tutoring for those needing individualized assistance.
GED Scholarships are provided through the Chief James Smith GED Scholarship Fund for those who qualify through Literacy Volunteers. Call 229-391-2527 for information.
SRTC Adult Ed services include instruction in basic skills, GED preparation and testing, COMPASS test preparation, and English as a Second Language program.
The next GED prep class orientations are Feb. 2 at 8:30 a.m., and Feb. 9 at 5 p.m. Interested students need to come by SRTC to complete the pre-registration paperwork prior to orientation.
Classes are available at no charge to adults and are held in Colquitt, Grady, Mitchell, Thomas, Tift, Turner and Worth counties. Southern Regional is a local testing site for the GED.
Len Lastinger Primary School students -- and teachers -- celebrated the
100th day of school recently. Students in the photo at upper left dress as if they're
100, while
Miss Peters' class at upper right is
"100 days brighter."
ANNETTE RIGDON SWAN EXHIBIT OPENING JAN. 28
The Georgia Museum of Agriculture Gallery in partnership with Tiftarea Artisans is opening a retrospective exhibit honoring local artist Annette Rigdon Swan.
Swan has had a prolific artistic career, producing hundreds of pieces of art scattered across the South in collections, exhibits, and private collectors' homes. Traditionally trained in oils, her favorite subject is people. She considers herself an Impressionist.
Even at the age of 96, she is still active in the Tifton arts community, hosting artist groups on Tuesdays. She has retired her oils for the most part and now favors pastels and watercolors.
Tiftarea Artisans, of which Swan is an honorary member, will honor the artist with a retrospective show to be opened with a reception from 5:30-7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 28, in the lobby of the Museum of Agriculture and Heritage. The reception is free and open to the community; refreshments will be provided by Dave's Bread & Coffee House.
Following opening night, the exhibit will be included in the GMA's daily admission ticket and free with a current GMA Season Pass. This exhibit will remain on display until Feb. 27.
The 40th Annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show & Conference brought in a lot of folks to the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center on Thursday, Jan. 21.
Farmers got to view products and services of more than 100 exhibitors.
The UGA Peanut Seminar, pictured at left, was among the sessions.
A SEEDY SATURDAY: ANNUAL PLANT AND SEED SWAP JAN. 30
Bring your excess plants and bulbs leftover from thinning garden beds, saved heirloom garden seeds and all matter of extra seeds to share with others interested in gardening on Saturday, Jan. 30 from 9:30- 10:30 a.m.
The annual Wiregrass Farmers Market plant and seed swap will be in the lobby of the Georgia Museum of Agriculture. Admission to the swap is free, and you are welcome to bring items to swap or come with nothing but your knowledge and questions -- and leave with a few plants.
No money is to change hands for any of the plants or seeds.
There will be a
local sharpener on hand, and participants in the swap are welcome to bring their favorite
gardening tool and have it
sharpened for free.
JoBeth Easters, market vendor and board member, will host an activity table where young and old can learn how to make seed tapes. Even those who don't want to bring any new plants home will learn a lot in friendly conversations with fellow gardeners who enjoy digging in the dirt.
While at the swap, locals will also get a chance to view the retrospective exhibit of local artist
Annette Rigdon Swan, which will be on display in the museum lobby.
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PASSING THE GAVEL
Outgoing President Brenda Rose, left, passes the "gavel," a handmade mallet from her kitchen, to incoming President Bonnie Sayles at the installation ceremony for 2016-2018 officers of GFWC Tifton Twentieth Century Library Club at its meeting Jan. 12 at the Tifton-Tift County Public Library. Including club members, 37 people came out to a Keep Calm and Color event following the club's business meeting. The club is a member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs.
TIFTON ARTS IN BLACK FESTIVAL SEEKING VOLUNTEERS
The Tifton Arts in Black Festival this spring is celebrating 29 years of providing arts, music and dance to the community.
The event is scheduled for April 30 at Fulwood Park, and the Arts In Black Festival Committee is seeking volunteers for this year's festival.
THIS DAY IN TIFTON HISTORY: On Jan. 23, 1903, Tifton's first city court judge and solicitor were elected. Frederick Grant Boatwright was elected judge, and Christopher Columbus Hall was elected the first city court solicitor.
JAN. 13
Dorothy Pridgen Hogan, 89, Fitzgerald
Wilburn Ford "Burt" Anderson Jr., 63, Nashville
Clara Frances Worthy 64, Tifton
JAN. 14
C. Allen Adair, 55, New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
JAN. 15
Margaret Hutchinson Davis, 75, Tifton
Connie Bozeman, 66, Scooterville
Herbert Lee Folsom Jr., 63, Nashville
Robert Stone, 65, Lenox
Cecie Gladys Sears, Tift County
JAN. 16
Myrtle Weaver Eady, 71, Poulan
William Lucious "Bill" Tyson, 96, Tifton
Morris D. "Dooney" Campbell Jr., 82, Fitzgerald
Walter H. Tucker, 74, Fitzgerald
JAN. 17
Robert Paul Harris, 46, Enigma
Jewel Dover Covington Paul, 93, Fitzgerald
Patricia Wiggins, 76, Cordele
Betty Stephens, 69, Doerun
James C. Crapp Jr., Sylvester
JAN. 18
Lillie Mae Hobbs Sauls, 88, Tifton
Thera Dell Rountree Merritt, 93, Fitzgerald
Rodney Walker, 45, Ashburn
JAN. 19
Frances "Fran" Royal Jackson, 74, Tifton
Carol Ivey Griffin, 57, Tifton
Lenora Cooper, 89, Valdosta
Henry Samuel Cox, 55, Ocilla
JAN. 20
Merle Ann Walker Ziegler, 90, Omega
Margarette Faye Taylor Paulk, 71, Sumner
JAN. 21
Billy Elbert "Goose" Connell, 69, Tifton
Mary L. Luke, 89, Tifton
Kimberly Crapse, 52, Hahira
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enrolling in college or entering employment," she said.
