Tift Gets Drug Court

OCT. 25, 2016

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126

tiftongrapevine.com

TIFT DRUG COURT

BEING CREATED

During its workshop meeting Thursday, Tifton City Council got a briefing on the new "drug court" being established.

Superior Court Chief Judge Bill Reinhardt, Superior Court Judge Melanie Cross and Circuit Court Administrator Charleston Carter appeared before council and said the


	REINHARDT

drug court being created is expected to be in operation at the first of the year.

Reinhardt told council that the local judicial circuit is one of three in the state without a current drug court, whose program is an alternative to standard incarceration. Instead, non-violent offenders in the program receive treatment, counseling services and vocational training. They submit to frequent drug screenings and are closely supervised on a regular basis, with a judge monitoring their progress. If they don't follow the court's guidelines, the offenders will be jailed.

Reinhardt said the program should help improve recidivism rates while alleviating jail overcrowding.

The Superior Court received a $75,000 state grant to get the court started.

'You Had to Want it

in Order to Excel'

As nine individuals and two teams were inducted last Saturday into the Tift County Athletic Hall of Fame, the audience at Tift County High School heard about the impact that sports has had on the inductees' lives.

"The coaches at Tift County High showed us that you had to want it in order to excel at something," said new Hall of Famer Todd Shiver, a baseball star at TCHS in the early '80s who went on to be a star pitcher at Georgia Tech and to play professional baseball.

"Gymnastics had a great impact on me and ultimately on the trajectory of my life," added inductee Morgan Jones Schoenbachler. She was a state champion gymnast and cheerleader at Tift County High and received a cheerleading scholarship to Mississippi State University.

Other Hall of Fame inductees Saturday were Coach Emmett Bowers, Winford Vickers, Monique Jordan, Justin Brownlee, Johnny Lipsey, Monroe Jones, Jimmy Spurlin, the 1972 TCHS baseball team and the 1954 boys basketball team .

REHAB SERVICES OF TIFTON WINS PINK CUP CHALLENGE

The Rehabilitation Services of Tifton was the winner of the Pink Cup Breast Cancer Challenge on Saturday in Tifton.

Warriors against cancer participated in teams, handling challenges based upon activities used in the corporate world to promote teamwork and improve morale.

The Pink Cup Challenge is designed to get teams working together while keeping in mind the theme: "My Cancer, My Team, Our Fight."

Proceeds from team participation provide free breast screening examinations for local women who cannot afford them .

THAT'S USING YOUR MARBLES!

Heather Denham's class at Northside Primary School in Tifton recently used marbles to paint autumn leaves. Pictured from left are Princess Jackson and Parker Urquhart.

IMMIGRATION TO BE DISCUSSED

AT TIFTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

A free, educational, non-partisan and non-religious presentation on immigration is scheduled 7-8:30 tonight (Tuesday, Oct. 25) at the Tifton-Tift County Public Library.

Sponsored by Georgia Detention Watch, the presentation includes an overview of current immigration policies and how they have evolved in the United States. The differences among an immigrant, non-immigrant, refugee and asylum seeker will be discussed.

Presenters are PJ. Edwards of Atlanta and the Rev. Deacon Leeann Culbreath of Tifton, and others will share stories from two immigration detention centers in South Georgia and lead a question-and-answer session following the presentation.

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LITERACY VOLUNTEERS' FUNDRAISER HELPS EDUCATE LOCAL ADULTS

SMOKED TURKEYS, BOSTON BUTTS AVAILABLE

Literacy Volunteers of Tifton-Tift County is selling smoked Boston butts and smoked turkeys for Thanksgiving for a donation of $25 each.

Orders are being taken now, and the holiday meats may be picked up from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 19, in the parking lot of Peace Lutheran Church, 604 Tennessee Drive, near Virginia Avenue, during the church's annual Cookie Walk.

The fundraiser benefits adults in our community who are learning to read and preparing to take their GEDs, as well as those who are learning to speak, read and write English as a second language.

Call 229-391-2527 to reserve your butt or turkey today, smoked by Towson Meats.

"Support from friends and local businesses keep us going strong," said Bonnie Sayles, executive director of Literacy Volunteers. "Donations enable us to purchase books and recruit and train tutors, and pay fees for students to take their GEDs when they are ready."

'TRICK OR PEANUT'

GEORGIA PEANUT COMMISSION OPENS DOORS

WEDNESDAY FOR PEANUT EVENT

The Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) will be hosting a "Trick or Peanut" event from 3-6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, at the GPC office, 445 Fulwood Blvd., Tifton.

The event is open to the public; GPC staff will dress in costumes and provide peanuts and peanut butter- themed candies and treats to visitors.

The Georgia Peanut Commission represents approximately 3,400 peanut farmers and carries out programs in research, promotion and education. For information, visit www.gapeanuts.com