Tifton Religious Freedom Debate

SEPT. 16, 2016

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126

tiftongrapevine.com

SENS. KIRK, FORT

TO DEBATE

'RELIGIOUS FREEDOM'

State Sens. Greg Kirk, R-Americus, and Vincent Fort, D-Atlanta, are having a series of debates on religious freedom, the Pastor Protection Act and the First Amendment Defense Act, including a debate in Tifton.

Four debates are being held around the state and are open to the public to


SEN. GREG KIRK

ensure as many Georgians as possible may attend.

The Tifton debate is at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center auditorium.

There is also a debate tonight, Tuesday, at 7 p.m. in St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Atlanta; on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Savannah State University; and at 1 p.m. Thursday, at Mercer University in Macon.

Fort is the Senate minority whip whose district includes part of Fulton County.

Kirk's district includes part of Tift and Sumter counties, as well as Worth, Turner, Crisp, Dodge, Dooly, Lee and Wilcox counties.


	SEN. VINCENT FORT

Kirk was a primary sponsor of the original, controversial "religious liberty" bill passed by the General Assembly earlier this year but vetoed by Gov. Nathan Deal.

The bill stated that "religious officials shall not be required to perform marriage ceremonies, perform rites or administer sacraments in violation of their legal right to free exercise of religion."

Under terms of the bill, religious officials would not be required to perform same sex marriages if it conflicts with their beliefs. The bill would have protected faith-based groups from having to rent their facilities for events they deem objectionable.

Supporters of the bill said it confirmed their religious values; opponents said it was discriminatory and was unconstitutional.

STILL A WINNER

TIFTON RESTAURANT GETS EXPOSURE AT JELYLL ISLAND SHRIMP AND GRITS FESTIVAL

Although Executive Chef

David Scarbrough and

Tifton's The Local + Bar restaurant did not win the title of

"Georgia's Best Shrimp & Grits" on

Sunday, the restauranteur says they

still "won big."

The Local Kitchen + Bar was one of only nine restaurants from across the state selected to vie for the title last weekend at the

11th Annual Jekyll Island Shrimp and Grits Festival.

"We worked very hard to prepare for this event. There is no doubt we got our full points for our booth and commitment to Georgia products," Scarbrough said.

"Unfortunately, we did not place; however, rest assured if we ever make it to this event again, the results will be much different. And


SCARBROUGH

we will just attribute this experience to our

inexperience in timed cooking competitions, a first for us all.

" On the bright side, we educated and informed a lot of people on the amazing food products coming out of South Georgia and our restaurant. So in that regard, we won big," he wrote on Facebook.

"Thank you so much for all of your support! We love you!" Scarbrough said to the Tifton community.

The Jekyll Island Shrimp and Grits Festival was presented by Southern Living and included arts and crafts vendors, live music, a kids' zone, food, a craft brew fest, and wildlife demonstrations.

PLAINS GOES NUTS

PEANUT FESTIVAL (WITH A PRESIDENT) ON SATURDAY

The 20th Annual 2016 Plains Peanut Festival kicks off Saturday, Sept. 24, with a parade and lots of peanuts.

The festival is held annually in Plains, home of President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter.

The parade begins at 11 a.m. Saturday. Planters' Mr. Peanut and the Nut Mobile Peanut will be featured in the parade.


President and Mrs. Carter wave at a past Plains Peanut Festival. At right (partially obscured) is Tiftonite Tyron Spearman.

Created in 1916 by a 12-year-old boy as part of a contest, Mr. Peanut has been an American icon for almost a century. Dressed in the formal clothing of an old-fashioned gentleman, complete with top hat, monocle, white gloves, spats, tights and a cane, Mr. Peanut first appeared in advertising in 1919.

Mr. Peanut was inducted into the Advertising Walk of Fame and was given a makeover and a voice on TV for the first time in 2010.

The Peanut Institute, National Peanut Board, American Peanut Shellers Association, Georgia Peanut Commission, Planters, Jif, National Peanut Buying Points Association and Mars will display exhibits in the Planters Peanut Pavilion beginning at 9 a.m.

Saturday events begin at 8 a.m. with a One-Mile Fun Run followed by a 5K road race. Mr. Peanut will be cheering on runners in the Fun Run. Additional festivities throughout the day include free entertainment, historical and educational displays, food vendors, as well as arts and crafts booths.

SAM Shortline will have train rides, and President and Mrs. Carter will be signing books. The festival street dance featuring Jimmy Gaddy will perform live on Main Street beginning at 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

For information and to view a schedule of activities, visit www.plainsgeorgia.com

You are Cordially Invited to Join Us for a

Seafood
Extravaganza

> This Thursday, September 22 -- 6-9 p.m. <

Music -- 6-9 p.m. by Daniel Parrish

Our mouth-watering menu includes: Neptune salad, peel-and-eat shrimp, seafood newberg, fried catfish, tilapia, crab legs, coleslaw, fried shrimp, shrimp and grits, grilled shrimp brochettes, baked potato bar, steamed zucchini medley, fresh green beans, 12-layer chocolate cake, pecan pie, key lime pie and cake ... and more!

$19 per person. Includes beverage.

BJ's at Springhill

"Where Everyone is Welcome!"

5 E. Springhill Road, Tifton, Georgia

229-392-2913

IT'S NEARLY PUMPKIN TIME

AT AGRICULTURE MUSEUM

Visitors can pick out the perfect pumpkin or travel through the tractor-shaped corn maze beginning Oct. 1 when the Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College opens its annual pumpkin patch and corn maze.

Museum Director Garrett Boone said the corn maze is included in the museum and Historic Village's admission price.

While adults pick out the perfect pumpkin for a jack-o-lantern, children can choose their own pumpkin or play on the tire swings, seesaws, the corn box and the swing set. The pumpkin patch also has a number of photo spots to create fall family pictures.

The corn maze will be open to visitors from Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. It will also be open on Saturdays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. throughout October.

For information, call 229-391-5205.

Saturday,
September 24

10 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Fulwood Park in Tifton

Free Admission

Traditional foods, non-stop performances from La Fiesta Stage, Street Dance, Children's Area with Rides and Face Painting, Arts, Educational and Health Exhibits

Sponsors

The Howard Women's Health Center

BB&T

Tifton Tift Co. Tourism Association

Tift Regional Medical Center

Coca-Cola

Tifton Aluminum

Quality Produce, LLC

First Comunnity Bank

South Georgia Banking

Ameris Bank

The George McCranie law firm

City of Tifton, Tifton Police Department

Tift County Recreation Department

Performers

* Mariachi Espuelas de America

* Nuestro Folklore - Dancer's Pointe Dance Company- Cultura Latina ABAC

* Tifton County High School Spanish Club - Grupo Ninas Panderitas

* Grupo Gran Comision - Grupo de Danza Mexica Azteca Tonacuauhtl

* Street Dance with Quique Fuentes Radio Rumba from Atlanta

Activities

Children's Carnival/Carnaval para ninos

by Philgood Entertainment

Typical Foods/Comidas Tipicas

Baile/Streeet Dance

Health & Educational Activities/Actividades Educativas y de Salud

Art Exhibit/Exhibicion de Arte

ESMS EARNS CHECK

SUMMER READING HELPS SCHOOL'S MEDIA DEPT.

Penny Peters, center, presents a check for Accelerated Reader points earned by staff, students and friends of Eighth Street Middle School this past summer.

The AR points were earned on books read and then tested at the Summer Reading Center operated by the Tift County Foundation for Educational Excellence.

Peters, foundation liaison to Eighth Street Middle School, is seen with School Principal Chad Stone, left, and Doug Head, media specialist.

DOWNTOWN TIFTON'S UNIQUE ADDRESS

HISTORIC

UNION DEPOT APARTMENTS

Unique 1 Bedroom/

1 Bath Apartment @$850

& 2 Bedroom/ 2 Bath

Loft Apartment @ $950

Now Available!

Both with Marble Countertops;

Custom-made Cabinets;

Walk-in Closets; Hardwood Floors;

All Appliances,

including Washer & Dryer;

Secure Entry; Ample Parking

ABAC'S FREEDOM GALLERY

TO HONOR 'PINKY' DURHAM

For Dr. David Bridges, there's no question that those who sacrifice their lives for the country should be honored in a special way. That's why the president of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and his wife, Kim, are excited about the public opening of the Freedom Gallery at ABAC on Oct. 13.

"We are doing this because I want future generations of ABAC students to know that we respect the honor, the integrity and the valor of those who serve in the armed forces of our country," Bridges said. "We will continue to invest in those who


DURHAM

invested so much in us. We must not forget that some of them invested their lives for our freedom."

The Freedom Gallery focuses on the life of Harold Bascom Durham Jr., an ABAC alumnus and Tifton native who gave his life for his country on a Vietnam battlefield on Oct. 17, 1967. For his bravery, he was a posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor.

"We wanted to tell the story of 2nd Lt. Harold Bascom Durham Jr., but we also wanted to convey the fact that he was just one of many men and women who sacrificed their lives for this great country," said Lindsey Roberts, ABAC marketing and communications director.

The Freedom Gallery opens to the public at a 1:30 p.m. ceremony Oct. 13 on the front steps of Tift Hall. All veterans and local residents are invited.


	Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, left, presents the Medal of Honor for 'Pinky' Durham to Durham's mother, Grace Jolley.

Durham, nicknamed "Pinky," was a 1960 graduate of Tifton High School and attended ABAC for a short time. He received the Medal of Honor posthumously on Oct. 31, 1969.

Durham is Tifton's only Medal of Honor recipient. The medal will be displayed in a specially designed case in the Freedom Gallery.

"The Freedom Gallery is a tribute to all the brave men and women who place themselves in harm's way every day so that all Americans can be free," Bridges said. "It is a key component in our new Veterans Initiative."

The ABAC Veterans Initiative includes a new Veteran Success Center in J. Lamar Branch Hall, a student veterans' organization, recognition as a Purple Heart College, recognition as a Military Friendly College, free tutoring for veterans beyond normal tutoring hours, and advanced preferred registration for veterans.

Bridges and his wife committed $20,000 toward a $100,000 fundraising campaign for an ABAC Veterans Enrichment Fund in 2015. After reaching the goal, Bridges announced a new $1 million campaign for a veterans' endowment fund.