478-227-7126
SEPT. 15, 2017
Tifton, Georgia
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POWER TO THE PEOPLE
SOME TIFT COUNTIANS STILL WITHOUT ELECTRICITY
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As South Georgia continues getting through the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irma, some Tift countians still face a day without electricity.
As of late Thursday, approximately 1,660 people in Tift County were without power, most of them since Monday morning. Georgia Power had electricity restored to all but about 149 customers in Tift County by Thursday night. Colquitt EMC had about 1,500 Tift customers without power. Irwin EMC had 10 customers still without electricity in Tift County late Thursday.
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A lineman works to repair damaged power lines.
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Georgia Power estimates that it will have power restored for all of Tift County by 10 p.m. today (Friday). Colquitt EMC said the majority of its customers would have power restored by Saturday morning. As of late Thursday, Colquitt EMC had a total of 5,400 customers without power throughout its seven-county service area.
As of 10 p.m. Thursday, Georgia Power said it has restored power to a total of 920,000 customers affected by Irma. More than 8,000 personnel are working around the clock as part of Georgia Power's statewide restoration effort to restore power for the approximately 75,000 customers who remain.
On
Wednesday night, a
lineman was
seriously injured while working on a power line in
Ocilla.
Marshal Freeman of Southern Electric Corp. in Fullwood, Miss., was in serious condition after being nearly electrocuted, authorities said.
Freeman is among the
out-of-state electrical workers who have come to
South Georgia to help
restore power to local residents.
Also in town are more than
400 members of the
Georgia National Guard to help the region with clean up.
Bell Plantation in
Tifton, which manufactures
powdered peanut butter among other products, has been
hosting the guard in the company's
40,000-square-foot Tifton warehouse. Cots are lining the warehouse instead of jars of peanut butter. Company owner
J.C. Bell said the
National Guard is welcome to stay in the warehouse as long as it takes to get
debris cleaned up throughout the region.
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An example of storm debris accepted at the Inert Landill.
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Regarding debris, the Tifton-Tift County Inert Landfill is accepting wood waste and yard debris at no cost to residents with a valid Tifton or Tift County ID desiring to haul materials to the Inert Landfill. This is only for Tifton and Tift County residents and not for commercial companies, including landscaping and tree surgeons.
This service will be available through the close of business on Friday, Oct. 6, the City of Tifton announced. This debris cannot be accepted at the Tifton-Tifton County Landfill -- Mitchell Store Road location because of state regulations., the city said.
Yard debris collection efforts are also underway by the city and Golden Waste.
Meanwhile, the
Tift County Emergency Management Agency wants local businesses to know that if they had
damage from the storm, there may be assistance available.
Businesses -- and
homeowners wth
structural storm damage -- are asked to email the EMA at
tiftema@tiftcounty.org
This week's storm has also disrupted classes in the
Tift County Public School District. Students have
missed three days of class.
"We are planning for our students to make up one of those days to keep them from being too far behind." the school district said. "Tuesday, Oct. 10, was originally scheduled to be a parent/teacher conference day. Instead, teachers will meet with parents before/after normal school hours for conferences so that students can be in school on Oct. 10. All students and staff will still have fall break on Oct. 9, but Oct. 10 will now be a full instructional day for students."
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For Information, Call 478-227-7126
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30 PERCENT OF PECAN CROP LOST
BECAUSE OF STORM, UGA PECAN SPECIALIST SAYS
At least
30 percent of Georgia's
pecan crop may be
lost because of
Tropical Storm Irma, says a
pecan specialist at the University of Georgia in Tifton.
"Irma has become the most damaging wind event ever seen by the Georgia pecan industry," says Lenny Wells, associate professor and Extension horticulture specialist for pecans. 
"Roaring through Georgia on Monday with sustained winds of 20-40 mph and gusts reaching from 50-75 mph, Irma brought damage to virtually every pecan orchard in the state, significantly weakening what was a strong 2017 pecan crop. At this point, the most significantly damaged orchards appear to be in the Valdosta area and near Fort Valley, where individual growers report thousands of trees on the ground. Most growers throughout the state report at least some trees blown down in their orchards in numbers ranging from tens to hundreds. Every orchard has limbs broken and a significant percentage of nuts blown off the tree," Wells writes in in the UGA Pecan Extension Blog.
Georgia is the
No. 1 pecan grower in the
United States and accounts for up to
40 percent of the national
output.
Wells says may growers are asking about
salvaging the green nuts blown onto the ground and having them de-shucked. "In most cases, the expense involved in this will outweigh the benefit," he says. "While there are a significant number of nuts on the ground, in most cases the volume will be less than most growers think."
The pecan specialist notes there is "potential for further damage to appear at a later date from nuts getting knocked around in the storm. This often bruises or damages the shuck and affects development or maturity of the nut. ... However, my early observations are that this bruising is minimal. ... but it is still a bit early to tell."
T
he state's pecan industry has suffered a significant blow, Wells says, "but it could have been much worse than it is given the severity of the storm."
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LOCAL STUDENTS NAMED TO SUPERINTENDENT'S STATE STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL
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CLINES
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ADAMSON
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State School Superintendent Richard Woods has selected 142 Georgia students, including ones from Tift and Worth counties, to serve on his 2017-2018 Student Advisory Council.
Throughout the school year, these middle and high school students will meet with Woods to discuss the impact of state policies in the classroom. Members of the Student Advisory Council will also discuss other issues related to education, serve as the superintendent's ambassadors to their respective schools, and participate in service projects.
"Every year, it is so valuable to hear directly from students through my Student Advisory Council," Woods said. "In the past, we have made direct changes based on student
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STORY
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feedback, and I look forward to working with these 142 students who I know will make an impact."
Advisory Council members from Tift County are: Seventh-grader Abby Kate Adamson of Eighth Street Middle School and sophomore Jacqavious Clines of Tift County High School. Day Story, a senior at Worth County High School, also was named to the council.
Members were selected from a pool of more than 1,500 students who applied to serve on the council. Students were chosen based on the strength of their essay answers, which focused on their ideas for public education as well as their community service experience. The students selected attend public schools all over the state.
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SRTC GROWTH OUTPACES GA AVERAGE
Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) has the fourth largest rate of growth statewide when comparing fall 2016 and 2017 enrollment, according to the Technical College System of Georgia.
SRTC's 320 additional students this fall results in a 9 percent increase in the student body, which outpaced the state average of 2 percent. The college also had an increase in full-time equivalency of 10.2 percent.
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WENTWORTH
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"For a college, increasing
enrollment by any amount is no small feat. I want to thank our faculty and staff who work tirelessly to enroll, register and instruct students. It is definitely true that it takes an entire
college community to grow the enrollment and to help students be successful. The enrollment increases are good news for our college as we continue to become a larger and stronger institution and further iterate our mission to developing a
skilled workforce for our service delivery area," said SRTC President
Craig R. Wentworth.
SRTC saw its
total enrollment rise to
3,873 students, with
1,406 of them being dually enrolled. That
program allows high school students to receive Carnegie unit credit from their respective high school and post-secondary credit hours from the college for the same course.
With recent changes to the program, any student enrolled in a Georgia high school who meets the college's dual enrollment and admission requirements is eligible to participate.
SRTC offers more than 148 degree, diploma and certificate programs designed to get students into their desired career, and 27 general education courses that transfer to the University System of Georgia institutions and 19 private colleges and universities in Georgia.
SRTC has instructional sites in Ashburn, Cairo, Camilla, Moultrie, Thomasville, Tifton and Sylvester.
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SUNSET TIFTON SHINES ON BUSINESSES
Four
Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce member businesses gathered to serve as hosts for a
Sunset Tifton Business After Hours event at
Spring Hill Country Club last
Thursday, Sept. 7.
Representatives from
Affinity Physicians for Women, Haley Roberts State Farm, New Hire Solutions and the
Rehabilitation Center of South Georgia had a chance to meet and socialize with other
Chamber members. They also gave away several door prizes throughout the evening.
Sunset Tifton events are held periodically throughout the year as a way for Chamber members to get to know each other better, exchange ideas and become more familiar with
businesses in the community.
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MILITARY SERVICE ACADEMY DAY SET SATURDAY
FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Congressman
Austin Scott
, R-Tifton, will host a
U.S. Military Service Academy Day
at the
Museum of Aviation
in
Warner Robins
o
n Saturda
y, Sept. 16 at 10 a.m., with r
egistration
beginning
at 9 a.m.
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SCOTT
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"Attending a service academy is a real honor and a great opportunity for students to serve our country and obtain a post-secondary education,"
said Scott. "I'm proud to host this event each year, and I encourage all interested students and their families in the Eighth District to join us on Sept. 16 to learn more about our nation's service academies."
Representatives from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, along with representatives from Georgia Military College and University of North Georgia, will be able to explain the nomination process to potential applicants and the requirements for applying to each academy.
Military Academy Day is open to the public. All high school students and their parents may attend. Students who are unable to attend can contact Scott's office for information on the application process.
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TIFTAREA YMCA GOLF TOURNEY HONORS FOUNDER
On Monday, Oct. 30, the Tiftarea YMCA will celebrate the memory of one of its founders with the
Lamar Jackson Memorial Golf Tournament.
Jackson was an integral part of establishing the Tiftarea YMCA and was committed to strengthening the bonds of community. He died March 26.
"Lamar Jackson had a vision in 1998 to provide the youth of Tiftarea a place to participate in activities that were safe and wholesome," said Darian Peavy, CEO of the Tiftarea YMCA.
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JACKSON
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"His visionary guidance and commitment to
the Tiftarea YMCA has made a difference in the lives of many children and families. His legacy will continue through funds raised at the annual golf tournament."
The golf tournament will be at Spring Hill Country Club in Tifton. All funds raised will be devoted for improving the
YMCA's Hunt Park facility and ball fields and
to further develop youth programs.
Joe Pope, YMCA board member and event chairman, said:
"
The tournament committee and myself are very excited about this tournament, and the funds that will be raised to upgrade the facility which will benefit our local youth. Tifton is well known for continued support of the YMCA, and I hope we as a community will continue as we honor our YMCA founder Lamar Jackson.
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10 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Fulwood Park in Tifton
Free Admission
Traditional foods, nonstop performances from The Howard Center Stage, Street Dance
with Quique Fuentes from Atlanta Radio Rumba & non-stop singers from BB&T stage (south side of park);
Children's Area with rides and face painting;
Arts, Educational and Health Exhibits
Sponsors
Platinum
The Howard Women's Health Center
BB&T
Gold
Tifton-Tift Tourism Association
Tift Regional Medical Center
Tenneson Nissan
Tifton Aluminum
Bronze
Quality Produce
Ameris Bank
In-Kind
City of Tifton
Tifton Police Department
Tift County Recreation Department
Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC
Tifton-Tift County Public Library
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AT AG MUSEUM
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College's Georgia Museum of Agriculture is holding t
wo information sessions about volunteer opportunities at 10 a.m. Sept. 16 at the Peanut Museum and at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 19 at the museum atrium.
"Volunteering is very flexible," said Lynn McDonald, volunteer coordinator at the ag museum. "You might be helping out in the Historic Village or assisting with one of our many festivals. Whether you have two hours on a weekday or maybe even one day a  month, we can work with your schedule."
McDonald said benefits for volunteers include free admission and the ability to earn tickets for friends and family.
"On a typical day in the village, you could be sharing the beauty of the Tift House, the wonder of the farm or the treats of the Drug Store. On other days you could be playing games of the 1880s, treating guests to open fire cooking or sharing customs of the past," McDonald said.
"Volunteers are also needed in our Destination Ag program which seeks to educate elementary school children about how agriculture impacts their lives today and the future of
agriculture and natural resources. As a volunteer, you might be sharing about your individual skills or serve as a safety monitor for free play time."
Interested volunteers may contact McDonald before the meeting dates at lmcdonald@abac.edu or at 229-391-5223.
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'RACE FOR CURE' BARREL RACE SEPT. 30
Riders and horses will compete in a "Race for a Cure" Barrel Race on Sept. 30 at the rodeo arena at Abraham Baldwin  Agricultural College to raise funds for the local Alzheimer's Association.
Sponsored by the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity at ABAC, the event begins at 10 a.m. All proceeds from entry fees will benefit the Alzheimer's Association. The event is free for spectators.
The exhibition phase runs from 10 a.m.-12:45 p.m. followed by the Jackpot at 1 p.m. There is a $5 fee for riders in the exhibition round, and a $25 fee for the Jackpot. There will be a poles round available at the end of the Jackpot if enough riders show interest.
Participants can register at the event.
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RURAL AMERICA ART EXHIBIT OPENS SATURDAY
The
Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village
will open a gallery exhibit and outreach program,
"Abandoned Rural America,"
with a reception at
2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16,
in the
Museum Gallery
. The reception is open to the public.
"
Swamp Daisies," one of the Abandoned Rural America
musical partners, will be featured in a
performance during the reception. Several local artists will occupy space in the exhibit and showcase their work on rural
Wiregrass Georgia as guests of Abandoned Rural America.
The exhibition includes photography, paintings, drawings and various 3-D objects, as well as written word, video and traditional music.
The
Abandoned Rural America Exhibition and Outreach can be viewed
Tuesday-Friday from
9 a.m.-3 p.m., and
Saturday from
9 a.m.-4 p.m. beginning
Sept. 19. The exhibit will remain on display at the GMA Gallery until
Jan. 17.
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YOUR WEEKEND
.
..at a Glance
-
Tiftarea Academy Panthers football @ Terrell Academy,
7:30
p.m., Dawson
- Tift County High Blue Devils football @ Parkview High Panthers, 7:30 p.m., Lilburn
SATURDAY, SEPT. 16
- Military Service Academy Day, 10 a.m., Museum of Aviation, Warner Robins
- Volunteer Information Session, 10 a.m., Peanut Museum, Ga. Museum of Agriculture, Tifton
- Biker Sunday, 10:30 a.m., Church of the Nazarene, N. Tift Avenue, Tifton
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SEPT. 7
Frank Turner, 66, Ashburn
SEPT. 8
Kelsi M. Roach, 16, Chula
James Dustin "Dusty" Vassey, 41, Irwinville
Boyd L. "Buck" Outlaw Jr., 78, Sylvester
Charles E. Surrency Sr., 71, Adel
Jan Rowe, 78, Lakeland
SEPT. 9
Robert M. Gephart Sr., 78, Ty Ty
Lennon "Raymond" "Tutt" Jones Jr., 56, Ty Ty
Eula Mae Boney, 84, Ashburn
SEPT. 10
James Micajah "Jim" Paulk III, 69, Nashville
Edward Eugene Ring, 92, Fitzgerald
Norma Copeland Elliott, 81, Ocilla
Delores Jean "Mama Jean" Boyd, 82, Warwick
William "Billy" Busbee, Poulan
Suzanne Aileen Lewis, 78, Nashville
C. F. Brewer Jr., 95, Fitzgerald
Marcia Ann Smith McDuffie, 72, Oakwood
SEPT. 11
Mary "Dot" Swett, 95, Tifton
John C. Kline, 62, Sylvester
John Auer, 75, Sparks
Norman Roberts Sr., 84, Sylvester
SEPT. 12
Ellen McMurrain Young, 70 , Tifton
Betty Plair, 74, Enigma
Jeanne White, 75, Quitman
SEPT. 13
Donald Brown, 84, Bridgeboro
Lillian Bennett, 82, Adel
Lucy Hanks Gabriel, 60, Morven
Larry J. Davis, 71, Fitzgerald
Lillian Floyd, 94, Fayetteville
The Rev. John David Belcher Sr., 99, Quitman
SEPT. 14
Virginia W. Griffin, 93, Tifton
James Lafayette Vickers, 77, Tifton
Edward E. Powell, 89, Ty Ty
Jack Gibbs, 91, Fitzgerald
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SERVING
YOU WITH PROFESSIONALISM
BEFORE, DURING & AFTER THE SALE
59 Chase Circle, Tifton, GA
MLS #
126159
NEW CONSTRUCTION:
New and growing subdivision; 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and split floor plan; 1,650 square feet. Wood and ceramic tile flooring, modern kitchen, 2-car garage and pond access.
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Dwana Coleman
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Visit Us Online:
Call us TODAY!
229-386-4222
Blue Skies &
Sunshine
Through
Each & Every
Real Estate
Transaction!
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FRANK SAYLES JR.
Editor & Publisher
A Service of
Sayles Unlimited Marketing LLC
478-227-7126
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