FEB. 10, 2017
Tifton, Georgia
478-227-7126
tiftongrapevine.com
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TIFTON'S BEST CHOCOLATES!
CHOC-IT-UP ATTENDEES SELECT BEST CHOCOLATE-MAKERS
Attendees at the
2017 Choc-It-Up for Literacy
event
Tuesday night
selected Tifton's best-tasting chocolate desserts and the chocolate-makers with the most creative skills at the fi
fth annual February fundraiser
for
Literacy Volunteers of Tifton-Tift County
at Spring Hill Country Club.
Lee Turner and Michelle Bass with The Cake Diva took first place in the Best Taste category. Second place was Hilton Garden Inn Employees. Tied for third was newcomer
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From left, Bonnie Sayles, Literacy Volunteers director, with Michelle Bass of The Cake Diva and Angela Sykes with Smallcakes.
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to the
competition Edible Arrangements and Smallcakes: A Cupcakery.
Smallcakes
won
first place
in
Presentation
in a landslide for the fourth consecutive year.
Second place in Presentation was
The Cake Diva, and
Edible Arrangements took
third
.
Smallcakes won Most Original. Manager Angela Sykes and her mother decorated the table with a book theme, with named desserts such as "Lemony Snicket" and "Berry Potter."
The Cake Diva (Michelle Bass & Lee Turner)
was
second place
in
Most Original,
and
Hilton Garden Inn Employees
was
third
.
The Cake Diva (Michelle Bass & Lee Turner)
handily won Greatest Variety.
Second place
in
Variety
when to
Smallcakes
, and
third
to
HGI Employees
.
Smallcakes: A Cupcakery took "Best in Show," with the most votes in all categories. A close second was The Cake Diva, and HGI Employees came in third.
Other
chocolatiers
receiving votes in all categories were
La Calentana, Red Lobster and Ruby Tuesday. Espresso 41
provided coffee, and
BJ Smith at Springhill
provided staff and decorations to lend a festive atmosphere to the event.
"Our local chocolatiers made this event delicious, exciting and elegant. We are so happy so  many people came out to bid in the silent auction and live auction and make Choc-It-Up 2017 a success for Literacy Volunteers," said Victor Pires, Literacy Volunteers president. "Thank you to all of our retailers and artists for their contributions."
LVTTC helps adults improve their reading and math skills and prepare for the GED test. It also has scholarships to help eligible students pay for GED test fees, and it supports Southern Regional Technical College in its Adult Education program and English Language Learners classes.
A grant from BB&T is enabling Literacy Volunteers to provide citizenship classes, which began this week at Our Divine Savior Catholic Church.
For information on GED or other tutoring opportunities, contact Literacy Volunteers at
229-391-2527
or email
tiftlv@gmail.com
The office is located at Southern Regional Technical College, Tifton campus.
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TROOPERS GET RAISE IN GA BUDGET REVISION
SENATE OK's 20 PERCENT PAY INCREASE
The state Senate Thursday approved adding $600 million to this year's state budget that gives a 20 percent pay raise to Georgia State Patrol troopers and other state law enforcement officers, which Gov. Nathan Deal had proposed.
Also
Thursday,
Deal announced that Georgia's net tax collections for January increased
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DEAL
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7.5 percent compared to January last year.
The Senate's mid-year budget revision Thursday puts $27.2 million into the state budget for pay raises that affect about 3,300 law enforcement officers, retroactive to Jan. 1. The Senate also agreed to adding $92 million for K-12 student school enrollment growth, and adding $17 million to the "Move On When Ready" program in which high school students also earn college credits.
The budget revision also transfers
$5 million into the Governor's Emergency Fund to help
South Georgia communities recovering from the recent
tornadoes.
The mid-year budget revisions govern state spending through
June 30.
Meanwhile, the governor announced
that Georgia's net tax collections for January totaled $2.2 billion, an increase of $154.1 million compared to January 2016. Year-to-date, net tax revenue collections total nearly $13.06 billion, for an increase of $568.4 million, or 4.6 percent above last year.
Individual income tax collections for the month totaled nearly $1.27 billion, up from
$1.14 billion last year, the governor said.
Also:
- Sales and Use Tax collections for January totaled $1.06 billion, an increase of $33.5 million, or 3.3 percent;
- Motor Vehicle Tag & Title Fee collections increased by $10 million, or 35.3 percent.
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FEMA OPENS DISASTER CENTER IN SYLVESTER
The
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said
Thursday that it is opening a
Disaster Recovery Center today (
Friday) in
Sylvester to help
Worth County residents whose homes or businesses were damaged by the severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding in
January.
The center is located at the
Worth County Community Center, 1310 North Monroe St., just
 north of Worth County High School.
Center hours are: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. -7 p.m.; Saturdays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and closed Sundays.
The center is staffed with representatives from FEMA, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security and the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Survivors can get help applying for federal assistance, learn about the types of assistance available, learn about the appeals process and get updates about applications.
FEMA's
Individual Assistance Program is designed to help survivors with immediate essential needs and to help displaced survivors find a safe, sanitary place to live temporarily until they can return home. Many survivors may have additional needs beyond what can be provided by
FEMA. The agency works closely with state, federal, faith-based and voluntary agencies to help match survivors who have remaining needs with other sources of assistance.
For information, call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362.
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"Best-Selling Truck for 40 Straight Years"
Get Yours Today!
Visit
511 West 7th Street
(229) 382-1300
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ALL SRTC NURSE GRADS PASS BOARD EXAMS
Twenty-two recent graduates from
Southern Regional Technical College's (SRTC)
Practical Nursing program had
100 percent passage on their board exams.
These students recently received word that each person passed their board exams, and each on their first attempt.
"This is a
huge accomplishment for a nursing program, and its students, as the national
 average for ... first-time test takers is 84 percent (according to data from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing for January 2017)," reads an
SRTC press release.
SRTC's total program pass rate is currently
90.7 percent. "Accolades of this kind further emphasize the quality and value of SRTC's practical nursing program," the release reads.
"Hard work pays off as proven by these
22 graduates who passed their boards on their first attempt, giving SRTC a phenomenal 100 percent board-passage rate. During this program, students basically give up their lives and study every day and night in order to be successful in this arduous curriculum," says nursing faculty member
Magan Swilley.
SRTC, which has a
Tifton campus, offers more than
148 degree, diploma and certificate programs that are designed to get students into their desired career, and
27 general education courses that transfer to University System of Georgia institutions and 19 private colleges and universities in Georgia.
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Church Secretary
Position
Tifton First United
Methodist Church
The position is responsible for running the church office, handling administrative tasks and functions, and supporting the pastor and staff.
The position also schedules events on the church calendar, manages telephone services,
prepares all church mailings, organizes and prepares publications and handles correspondence.
This person serves as the public face of the church and the first line of contact for members of
the church, visitors and newcomers. This person needs to be a flexible, proficient communicator, be able to work as a team player and be able to use office technology.
This is a full-time position and includes benefits. Salary will be commensurate with education and experience.
To be considered, submit your application no later than close of business on February 14, 2017.
To apply, submit:
1) a cover letter to include why you are interested in this position;
2) a current resume; and
3) contact information for three references.
Applications and specific questions related to this position should be addressed to:
Tifton First United Methodist Church
Attn: Lisa Forshee
Lead Church Secretary Search Committee
107 W 12th St.
Tifton, GA 31794
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MATT WILSON ELEMENTARY PUPILS
LEARN ABOUT MAGNETISM
Matt Wilson Elementary School fifth grade teacher Sarah Swan recently taught students a lesson on magnetism, making electromagnets with batteries, wires and a nail.
Students learned that electromagnets use electricity to produce magnetism. When the iron core became magnetized, it was able to pick up three paper clips. They also learned that electromagnets are temporary magnets, meaning that they can be turned on and off.
The students noticed that the more wire that was wrapped around the iron core (nail), the stronger the magnetic force.
Pictured are Haley Brannen and Bethany Samuel having fun with their electromagnets.
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COMMUNITY BANKING GROUP
OFFERING COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP
The Julian & Jan Hester Memorial Scholarship has been established by the Community Banking Association (CBA) to assist deserving high school seniors in their first year of college and to promote community banking.
South Georgia Banking Co. (SGBC) is accepting applications for the 2017 Julian & Jan Memorial Scholarship, which awards $1,000 annually to four exemplary high school students who plan to attend a Georgia college, university or technical school beginning the fall semester after high school graduation.
Additionally, the one applicant that SGBC selects as the local winner will be awarded a $500 cash scholarship before moving on to the CBA selection process.
To apply, high school seniors that meet all requirements should return an application to their South Georgia Banking Co. branch or mail it to: SGBC, P.O. Box 1505, Tifton, GA 31793.
Applications must be received by April 3.
For information, call Maghan Campbell at 229-238-0710.
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FAMILY PROMISE MEETS MONDAY,
AIDS HOMELESS FAMILIES
Family Promise of Tift Area is meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday,
Feb. 13, at the
Bethany Missionary Baptist Church,
146 Ty Ty Sycamore Road in
Ty Ty.
Directions:
Take Highway 82 west to Ty Ty, turn right onto N. Pickett Street, go to Oak Street; the church is in the block between Pickett and Oak streets on the right.
Family Promise is a volunteer organization formed to help local homeless families get back on their feet. Interested persons are invited to attend the meeting.
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AARP DRIVER SAFETY COURSE
GIVES SENIORS A REFRESHER
An AARP
driver safety refresher course is scheduled for
9 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 18 at the
Leroy Rogers Senior Center in Tifton.
The course offers up-to-date information about changes in the law, in vehicles, on roads and in ourselves as we age. The course helps boost safety awareness, minimizes crash risk, increases confidence and helps drivers prolong mobility.
Participants can update their driving skills and earn up to a 20 percent discount on auto insurance.
The c
ost is $20 per person, with a $5 discount for AARP members with card.
For information and reservations, call
229-391-3956 or
229-391-9299 or email
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Rotarian Syd Blackmarr, from left, Dr. Joe Turner and Rotarian Frank Sayles Jr., who interviewed Turner during the Rotary Club's meeting Wednesday.
DR. JOE TURNER SHARES LIFE STORIES
Dr.
Joe Turner of
Tifton talked about his life and career
Wednesday during the
Rotary Club of Tifton's weekly meeting.
Turner, a physician and founder of the
Affinity clinic, talked about his arrival in
Tifton in
1964 when there were only
12 physicians. He noted the changes in
medicine through the years, noted that his grandfather also was a physician, and talked about his church and community activities.
A
Rotarian for approximately
40 years, Turner said the
Rotary Club has enabled him to get to know people from all types of businesses around the community.
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ABAC OFFERING ONE-ACT PLAYS
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Two one-act plays with humorous elements will be spotlighted at 7 p.m. Feb. 16-17 on stage in the Chapel of All Faiths at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.
Baldwin Players' Director Brian Ray said this is the first year of offering student-focused  one-act plays to supplement the ABAC theatre program and the regular season of full-length productions.
The first play, "American Coffee" by Victor Bumbalo, is a dark comedy that focuses on a husband and wife arguing over their morning coffee about what they can do to keep from being embarrassed socially by their son and his boyfriend, who are coming home for the wedding of their daughter.
"How To Kill a Mockingbird" by Bradley Walton is the second play, revolving around students working on a project about Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird," although none of them have ever read the literary masterpiece, let alone own a copy of the book.
As they struggle to complete the project, the students come up with a conspiracy theory about the feathered creatures that pose a threat to us all.
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YOUR WEEKEND
.
..at a Glance
- FEMA Disaster Recovery Center opens, 9 a.m., Worth County Community Center, Sylvester
SATURDAY, FEB. 11
- Georgia Day Celebration, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Ga. Museum of Agriculture & Historic Village, Tifton
- "Sam Club, Private Eye, in the Case of the Malted Falcon" mystery dinner theater, 11:30 a.m., Springhill Country Club, Tifton
- "Sock it to 'em with Love" sock drive, 1-5 p.m., Copeland Park, Southern Avenue, Tifton
- "Sam Club, Private Eye, in the Case of the Malted Falcon" mystery dinner theater, 6:30 p.m., Springhill Country Club, Tifton
SUNDAY, FEB. 12
- "Rally for Reading," 1:30 p.m., ABAC Tennis Center, Tifton
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FEB. 3
Rita Kathryn Clough, 71, Adel
Dorece Shiver, 78, Albany
Donease Guthrie, 71, Adel
James Morris, 61, Quitman
FEB. 4
Roger Dale Danforth, 73, Enigma
Annie Ruth Freeman, 99, Omega
Dorothy Wilson Fowler, 83, Sycamore
Sgt. Jonathan Browning, 44, Columbus
FEB. 5
Howard Willis, 70, Doerun
Jack James Warren. 77, Nashville
Betty Wilcox, 71, Adel
Elizabeth Lastinger, 93, Barwick
Irene Hall, 89, Sycamore
William David "Bill" Brown Jr., 85, Fitzgerald
FEB. 6
Martha "Wylene" Matthews Jackson, 90, Tifton
Randy C. Ates, 58, Warner Robins
Billy Wayne Mobley, 67, Tifton
Frances May Allen, 78, Tifton
Paul Buras, 86, Fitzgerald
FEB. 7
Harris Rowe, 75, Tifton
Janice Elizabeth Register Arrington, 75, Lenox
Mae Grubbs Shiver, 91, Sylvester
Betty Dismuke Beall, 91, Adel
Howard Cason Jr., 76, Barney
Lamar Giddens, 68, Irwin County
Jayne W. Fussell, 25, Fitzgerald
FEB. 8
George M. "Papa George" Johnston, 94, Ashburn
Jeremiah "Lottie" Lottyn Bates, 18, Tifton
James Alton Marshall, 86, Tifton
Earl Wayne Fender, 77, Nashville
Charles Lyman Brewer, 86, Fitzgerald
Michael Steven Santee, 46, Fitzgerald
Jessica Lorane Ross, 14, Irwin County
FEB. 9
Henry Calvin "Cal" Lockwood, 92, Fitzgerald
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SERVING
YOU WITH PROFESSIONALISM
BEFORE, DURING & AFTER THE SALE
465 N Mattie Ave., Sycamore, GA
MLS #
127001
PRICED TO SELL: 3 BR, 2 BA home, 1,710 square feet in Turner County.
Double French doors lead to deck. Shop/garage in back yard.
Visit Us Online:
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Call us TODAY!
229-386-4222
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iheardit@tiftongrapevine.com
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478-227-7126
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