Your Memorial Day

May 27, 2016

Tifton, Georgia

(478) 227-7126

www.tiftongrapevine.com

MEMORIAL DAY 2016

REMEMBERING THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR FREEDOM

Monday, May 30, is Memorial Day -- a day to remember and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect us and ensure our freedom and American way of life.

The Disabled American Veterans Chapter 38 in Tifton will hold a memorial ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday in the municipal courtroom at the Tifton Criminal Justice Center building on U.S. Highway 82. The guest speaker will be Dr. David Bridges, president of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC).

Following the ceremony, a motorcade will proceed to Tifton's Oakridge Cemetery for a brief observance honoring those who died in service. The ceremonies are open to the public.


	The Sentinel-Record photo ABAC's Jalen Williams, left, (wearing an ABAC T-shirt) walks through Hot Springs, Ark., on Wednesday along with, from left, Josh Atkins, Bill Many and ABAC's Russ Simpson of Sparks as part of the Carry The Load relay for Memorial Day.

Meanwhile, walkers who are part of the national Carry The Load relay initiative, which aims to restore

the true meaning of Memorial Day, is nearing its destination in Dallas, Texas. Among the participants in the 2,000-mile trek are several ABAC students.

In Thursday's edition of The Sentinel-Record newspaper in Hot Springs, Ark., Jalen Williams, an ABAC student from Ocilla, was shown carrying the U.S. flag during the Carry The Load relay through Hot Springs en route to Texas. Also in the photograph is ABAC's Russ Simpson of Sparks.

A Carry The Load "step-off" ceremony April 28 at ABAC was a formal send-off of local participants, which include several ABAC nursing students.

MOST INCUMBENTS WIN

BUT TIFT BOARD OF EDUCATION CHAIR SEES A CHANGE

In Tuesday's primary election, there were few surprises as most incumbents handily turned back challengers, both on the local and state levels.


JONES

However, incumbent Kim Rutland, chairman of the Tift County Board of Education, lost her bid for re-election as Tifton businessman Jonathan Jones defeated Rutland in unofficial results. Jones received 2,326 votes, or 57.42 percent of the votes, to Rutland's 1,725, or 42.58 percent.

In the other Tift BOE race, John Waddell bested Amy Johnson for the District 3 seat; Waddell received 456 votes ( 56.72 percent); and Johnson, 348 ( 43.28 percent).

Tift County Sheriff Gene Scarbrough easily overcame challenger Steve Wood, with the incumbent sheriff getting 3,418 votes ( 82.76 percent) to Wood's 712 ( 17.24 percent).

For the GOP nomination for Tift clerk of Superior Court, Clay Pate won with 56.15 percent ( 2,228


	PATE

votes) in the three-way race. Charleston Carter had 914 votes ( 23.03 percent); and Ken Dunn, 826 votes ( 20.82 percent). Pate will now face Democrat Gail Taylor Drayton in the November general election.

U.S. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Tifton, easily defeated his GOP challenger Angela Hicks. Scott received 77.75 percent of the vote in the 8th Congressional District to Hicks' 22.25 percent. Scott will face Democrat James Neal Harris in November.

U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson won the Republican party's nomination over two opponents, receiving 77.48 percent of the vote. Jim Barksdale won the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate over two opponents with 53.8 percent. Barksdale will now face incumbent Isakson in the Nov. 8 election.

TIFT GRADUATES BIGGEST CLASS

With the largest class ever recorded in Tift County, 485 seniors walked across the stage at Brodie Field last Saturday and became graduates of Tift County High School.

"This is such a fantastic day for everyone: The students, their families and the faculty and staff who have been a part of this educational journey," said Patrick Atwater, superintendent. "I've been lucky to work in

the Tift County School System for more than 20 years, and this day is always one of my favorites of the year."

Of the 485 graduates, 32 were Superior Honor Graduates (95 average and above), and 106 were Honor Graduates (90 to 94.9 average).

In addition to the Class of 2016's academic, athletic and other extracurricular accomplishments, volunteerism was also highlighted. The class logged more than 10,000 volunteer hours.

"Many of our students took full advantage of what a public school can offer," said TCHS Principal Kim Seigler. "Totals are still coming in, but the class has already earned nearly $1.4 million in scholarships, not including HOPE. We have graduates going to college all over the nation, into branches of the military and some right into the work force."

Among the colleges and universities where TCHS students are going include: Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Auburn University, Boston College, Columbia University, Duke University, Emory University, Florida State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Morehouse College, University of Alabama, University of Georgia, and Valdosta State University.

SHERIFF WARNS OF SCAM

Tift County Sheriff Gene Scarbrough advises citizens of Tift County of an ongoing telephone scam.

During the past week, deputies from the Tift County Sheriff's Office have responded to several calls for service concerning suspicious telephone calls from individuals purporting to be sheriff's deputies or representatives of the office.

When they call, they identify themselves as a deputy and inform the resident that he or a member of his household has had a warrant issued against them for failing to report for jury duty or for a bench warrant. The resident will be given the option to send money via money order or to meet in person in front of the courthouse in lieu of being arrested.

These calls are scams, the Tift County Sheriff's Office says. The office does not and has never solicited payment of fines or bail in lieu of arrest via telephone or mail. If you receive a similar call or any suspicious call soliciting money in lieu of arrest, hang up and call 911 or contact the Sheriff's Office.

Miss Rita's School Mobile

This Summer, Take Only Six Weeks to a Better Grade!

Private Tutoring - 401 N. Ridge Ave., Tifton

CALL OR TEXT 941-313-0614

References available upon request

[email protected]

Patience * Persistence

GA & FL Certified Reading Specialist

Register NOW to begin

tutoring for 6 weeks

Pool party for registered students & families at Tift County Rec Pool in June!

Miss Rita's Tutor Room has been operating in Manatee and Sarasota Counties in Florida for the past 40 years.

She brings to Tifton her teaching talents as Reading Specialist through Miss Rita's School Mobile -- eager to build a strong foundation in the youths who are struggling readers. Other areas of expertise include math, language arts and violin.

Serving the Tiftarea since 2009

RECOGNIZING STUDENTS OF THE YEAR

Tiftarea Academy and Tift County High School

In the photo at left, Taylor Gray of Tiftarea Academy is awarded Student of the Year by the Business & Education Workforce Committee of the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce, represented by Bridgett Mobley and Patricia Brooks at left. Gray is also pictured with her parents and representatives from Tiftarea Academy.

In the photo at right, Kaycee Aultman of Tift County High School is presented the Student of the Year award by Business & Education Workforce Committee representatives, and is also pictured with her parents and representatives of Tift County Schools.

SALVATION ARMY GEARS UP FOR DONUT DAY

Entenmann's Bakery is again partnering with the Salvation Army for National Donut Day, celebrated this year on Friday, June 3.

The Salvation Army founded National Donut Day in 1938 to pay tribute to "Donut Lassies," female volunteers who had provided writing supplies, clothes-mending, home-cooked meals and donuts for soldiers on the front lines in World War I.

This year, Entenmann's Bakery will donate $1 to the Salvation Army for each "Win Free Donuts for a Year" Facebook sweepstakes entry received during the campaign, up to $35,000.

"With the support of Entenmann's, we are glad for the opportunity to share National Donut Day with our community. For the Salvation Army, the donut is a symbol of our service, a legacy we continue to uphold in Tifton," says Susie Chitwood, local director.

The sweepstakes link is on the Entenmann's Facebook page. All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. July 2. Winners will be randomly selected from all submissions.

VOTING ENDS SUNDAY FOR

DOWNTOWN TIFTON IN NATIONAL CONTEST

Voting ends this Sunday, May 29, for the 2016 Independent We Stand "America's Main Streets " contest; the Downtown Development Authority of the City of Tifton, as a quarterfinalist, has a chance of winning the grand prize of $25,000 for downtown improvements.

The winner is based upon the number of votes collected online for each community. You may vote once every 24 hours.

To vote for Tifton's Main Street , Click Here!

Please note: Only one vote is allowed from the same computer network or wifi every 24 hours; for example, if an office of several people are on the same computer network, the contest will allow only one vote from that office network every 24 hours.

BIG LITTLE RIVER

PADDLE RACE

BRINGS OUT PADDLERS

Paddlers took to the water last Saturday to support the Friends of Reed Bingham State Park and the WWALS Watershed Coalition/Waterkeeper affiliate in the 4th annual BIG Little River Paddle Race.

Bret Wagenhorst of Tifton said there was a good mix of ages from 10 to folks in their mid 70s, and all levels of experience.The fastest paddler finished in about 40 minutes; paddlers who took in the scenery completed in about 1 1/2 hours.

Paddlers got to see alligators, prothronatory warblers and native spider lilies in bloom, Wagenhorst said.

Dwight Griner, for the fourth consecutive year, took home the trophy and the $100 first prize.