South Ga Strong

JAN. 27, 2017

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126

tiftongrapevine.com

SOUTH GEORGIA STRONG

McALPIN ENTERTAINMENT CREATES

TIFTON BENEFIT CONCERT FOR STORM VICTIMS

Austin McAlpin of Tifton-based McAlpin Entertainment has announced a benefit concert in Tifton with 100 percent of all ticket sales going to victims of last weekend's deadly storms and tornadoes that devastated several areas in South Georgia.

The concert, headlined by Nashville, Tenn., artists John Berry, Buddy Jewell and

Ray Scott, along with many other performers, will be at 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26, at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center.

" Our hearts are heavy after seeing everything that many of our neighbors are currently

going through and will continue to go through over the days, weeks and months to come. In times like this, we must hold our chins up and stick our helping hands out," McAlpin said.

The "first wave" of volunteer performers announced include recording artists John Berry, Buddy Jewell, Ray Scott, and local artists Anne Cline, Derrick Dove, Daniel Parrish, Landis Frier, Ben Wells, TJ Mauldin, Faith Jackson and Ryn Crider.

McAlpin said more performers will be announced.

Tickets are $30 and are available by Clicking Here.

"We ask that you play a helping part by supporting this event. Let's show those in need what it means to be 'South Georgia Strong,' " McAlpin said.

IT'S OFFICIAL!

EDUCATION FOUNDATION CREATES BRUMBY

LEADERSHIP CHAIR WITH $45,000+ IN DONATIONS

The Tift County Foundation for Educational Excellence announced Thursday that the required funding has been raised to endow the Mike and Moppy Brumby Leadership Chair, named for the husband-and-wife team who has directed the foundation for nearly 28 years.

Begun by a $12,500 contribution from George McCarty, a longtime Brumby friend and foundation patron, the education foundation chair required a total of $25,000 to


George and Karen McCarty, left with Moppy and Mike Brumby at Thursday's board meeting.

establish it, which will be used for operations. The community responded, with more than $45,000 raised since last July.

George and Karen McCarty, who live in the Atlanta area, were at the education foundation's board meeting Thursday as the announcement was made.

"We are extremely honored," Mike Brumby said.

When the effort began to endow the chair, Marianna Keesee, a charter member of the education foundation, had noted that "the Leadership Chair is the ideal vehicle to recognize the Brumbys. Monies generated will be used to reinforce the operations of the foundation and provide a dependable, ongoing source for years to come."

The Leadership Chair joins 13 endowed academic chairs, a cornerstone program of the foundation, which funds multiple in-school projects annually.

ABAC NAMES NEW DEAN OF

STAFFORD SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Dr. Renata Elad has been named dean of the Stafford School of Business at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, President David Bridges announced Thursday.

"Dr. Elad has served as the interim dean for the past seven months, and she has done an outstanding job," Bridges said. "She is highly educated, well prepared, and she has

great experience with 17 years here as a faculty member."

Elad was appointed as the interim dean of the Stafford School of Business on June 13, moving from her teaching position in the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, where she was an agricultural economics professor.

"It's an incredible honor for me to accept this position," Elad said. "I tell my students that you don't have to always be the brightest person in the room to succeed in life; you just have to be the person who is willing to put in the effort. I know that I am willing to put in the effort to get the job done."

Bridges is confident that Elad will do just that.

"Dr. Elad's leadership provides ABAC a unique opportunity to bring programs in the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Stafford School of Business closer together," Bridges said. "Her proven skills and committed leadership will move the Stafford School of Business forward."

Elad has three goals in mind involving enrollment, curriculum and partnerships.

"I like the close the loop approach that Dr. Bridges uses," Elad said. "We want to show the students not just what they get when they enroll here but what they have to look forward to when they graduate with a degree from ABAC.

"I believe we have a solid curriculum in the Stafford School of Business, but every curriculum could use some tweaking. I want to make it more relevant for today's market, and I also want it to match the climate in the workplace."

Community partnerships and outreach into the Tifton area are key points in Elad's plan. Elad services on the Board of Directors for the Tiftarea Greenway Association and the Tiftarea YMCA . She is a member of the Tifton Optimist Club .

"Tifton is my home," Elad said. "That's my way of giving back."

Elad grew up in Cameroon and got her undergraduate degree in agriculture from the University of Jos in Nigeria; she then earned a master's degree in agricultural economics and then a doctorate degree in applied economics from the University of Georgia.

TIFTAREA WRESTLER WINS

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Tiftarea Academy's Jon Luke Owens won the 130-pound weight class at the GISA State Junior Varsity Wrestling Tournament last weekend.

Owens has been undefeated during his state championship season.

His coach, John Adams, is a Tiftarea Academy alumnus in his first year as coach.

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SRTC HONORS 'BEST OF BEST'

Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) on Jan. 24 honored its finalists and the respective institutional winners of the 201 7 Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL), the Exceptional Adult Georgian in Literacy Education (EAGLE), and the Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Education.

Winners were: Ashley Spears of Ashburn, Jimmy Smith of Thomasville and Tammy Bryant of Thomasville. Finalists from Tifton, Moultrie and Thomasville were also represented.

"The annual awards luncheon is an opportunity for us to celebrate our college's 'Best of the Best.' We are very proud of the nominees, finalists and winners of the SRTC Adult Education EAGLE Student of the Year, GOAL Student of the Year (credit program), and Rick Perkins Award of Excellence Instructor of the Year Awards," said SRTC President Dr. Craig Wentworth.

"These students and faculty are to be applauded and commended for their academic and teaching endeavors as well as their contributions to the college and community. We wish each of them the best of luck as they move forward to compete in their respective categories at the regional and state levels," Wentworth said.

RHYTHM & RIBS FEST

SET FOR MARCH 4

Tifton's annual Rhythm & Ribs Barbecue Festival is coming on Saturday, March 4, at Fulwood Park and will combine a day of music and competitive barbecue cooking.

The professional cooking competition is sanctioned by the Georgia Barbecue Association and features teams from around the state. The Backyard competition

has more than tripled in size in recent years.

"The Rhythm & Ribs Festival has something for everyone, and we are expecting another great day in the park," said Angela Elder, event coordinator. "We'll have lots of barbecue teams, dozens of vendors and another impressive lineup of entertainment. We think it will be our biggest day yet."

Headlining the music are:

The Marcus King Band, is becoming one of the country's most sought after live acts, fronted by the 20-year-old phenom who describes the group's music as "soul-influenced psychedelic Southern rock."

Jesse Keith Whitley got his country credentials as the son of Lorrie Morgan and the late Keith Whitley and grandson of Grand Ole Opry legend George Morgan. But Whitley has crafted his own distinctive style as a singer/songwriter.

Based in Athens, the Packway Handle Band has spent the better part of the last decade entertaining bluegrass fans across the country. The quintet has toured with Kid Rock and Foreigner among others.

For information, call 229-386-0216, www.tiftonribsfest.com

TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RIBBON CUTTING

The Tax Lady

1205 North College Ave., Tifton

Jan. 20

'FROZEN OPEN' THAWS ON SATURDAY

The City of Tifton, Tifton Tourism Association and Tifton Disc Golf Club are sponsoring the inaugural "Frozen Open at Fulwood," a Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA)-sanctioned C-Tier singles tournament this Saturday at Fulwood Park.

The one-day disc golf tournament consists of two 18-hole rounds beginning at 9 a.m. after a players meeting, with lunch provided at 12:30 p.m. The second 18 holes will then start, with the awards ceremony immediately following on the Syd Blackmarr Stage at Fulwood Park.

Prizes will be awarded for closest to the pin on two holes, and 40-50 percent of each division will be awarded in merchandise and cash.

Booze Mountaineers from Rome will provide entertainment from 5 to 6:45 p.m., with 41 & Main restaurant's catering truck selling food and adult beverages for patrons at least 21 years old.

The disc golf course was created at Fulwood Park last year.

ANNUAL PLANT & SEED SWAP

SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY

Local residents can get a head start on spring gardening with the sixth annual Plant and Seed Swap on Saturday, Jan. 28, hosted by the Wiregrass Farmers Market at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

The event will take place in the museum lobby from 9:30-11 a.m. There is no admission fee.

All participants can bring plants or seeds to share or just come to find a few new things to try in their yard or garden. No money changes hands; this swap is an outreach event by the Wiregrass Farmers Market.

While attending the plant and seed swap, gardeners will have a chance to also see the newest gallery exhibit, "Back Roads of Georgia 2," which will be open for viewing.

For information on the Plant and Seed Swap, contact Museum Curator/Assistant Director Polly Huff at phuff@abac.edu

TIFT FORESTRY PAGEANT OPEN FOR ENTRIES

The 27th Annual Tift County Forestry and Pine Seedling Scholarship Pageant promoting and protecting the forestry industry, is set for Feb. 25 at the Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts on Main Street.

The pageant is open to contestants in all surrounding counties. There will be a winner and three runners-up named in each age group:

Baby Miss -- birth to 23 months
Teeny Miss -- 2 to 3 years
Tiny Miss -- 4 to 6 years
Little Miss -- 7 to 9 years
Junior Miss -- 10 to 12 years
Teen Miss -- 13 to 16 years
Miss -- 17 to 24 years

The Baby through Junior Miss categories are scored on personality, beauty, gown, poise and overall appearance. The Teen and Miss contestants are scored on gown, public speaking and interview.

No pageant experience is required. The winners will receive the official forestry round crown, custom sash, silver-engraved tray, crowning pin, savings bonds and cash scholarships.

The winners will also receive their entry fees paid to the 78th Annual Miss Georgia Forestry Pageant, which will be held in Tifton during the summer, and the Tift County queens will serve as the host city queens.

Contestants are also eligible to compete in the U.S. National Forestry Pageant.

The Miss Georgia Forestry Pageant is the oldest running scholarship pageant in Georgia. It was started in 1940 to offer educational opportunities while promoting the forestry industry.

The Tift County forestry winners will represent the industry by lighting the turpentine still at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture, Hometown Holidays, fashion shows and ribbon cuttings.

Reigning queens are Baby Miss, Paisley Lindsey; Teeny Miss, Kambree Barnes; Tiny Miss, Abby McDonald; Little Miss, Allie Goddard; Junior Miss, Kylie Barnes; Teen Miss, Lindsey Westberry; and Miss, Kayla Acord.

To enter, call 229-386-2681 or 229-238-2851 or email tiftforestry@yahoo.com