WATCH OUT FOR BOYS & GHOULS
WEEKEND FORECAST: BOO-TIFUL BUT SCARY!
As you look around the
Tiftarea today, you may see oddly dressed characters -- some scary, some humorous, some in super hero togs. Since
Halloween is
Saturday, some folks are dressing up for work
 on
Friday. And of course,
Saturday is the big costume day for kids of all ages.
The
Halloween weekend actually began
Thursday night in
downtown
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Scenes from Thursday's Trick-or-Treat on Main St.
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Tifton as hundreds of kids and their parents did the annual
Trick-or-Treat Down Main Street, visiting businesses for
Halloween candy
. There are a lot of activities in the area this weekend involving pumpkins, ghouls, skeletons, ghosts and goblins.
For a traditional celebration this weekend, visit
Trick-or-Treat in the Village with
face painting, apple bobbing, hay and train rides, creepy crawlies from Chehaw Wild Animal Park and a pumpkin patch on Saturday at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural
College. A Fall  Festival is also going on Saturday afternoon at the Tift Theatre.
More scary activities can be found at the Tunnel of Terror at Bell Plantation and at the Haunted Theatre in the evenings at the Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts. See the Weekend Calendar near the end of this Grapevine to get times for these events.
While you're out and about this weekend, law enforcement agencies remind you to watch out for trick-or-treaters, especially after dark. Drive carefully and be alert.
And with Halloween and the end of October, don't forget to turn your clocks back at 2 a.m. Sunday morning, Nov. 1, as we revert to Eastern Standard Time. Our days will turn dark earlier and will become shorter as we creep toward winter, so enjoy these brilliant days of autumn while they last.
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TIFTON CITY ELECTION DOWN TO WIRE
This
Tuesday,
Nov. 3, is election day in the City of Tifton, and today -- Friday, Oct. 30 -- is the last day for early voting.
Two City
Council
seats are up for election but the only contested race is that of mayor. Incumbent Jamie Cater, who has served two terms, is facing District 4 Councilmember Julie Smith for the mayor's post.
The race is too close to call and most likely will be decided by the number of city
voters
who go to the polls. In off-year elections such as this, each vote becomes even more important as just a few votes can determine the outcome.
Also on
the
ballot are two
candidates
running unopposed for City Council. Frank Sayles Jr. is
running
for Smith's District 4 seat, and Jack Folk is seeking the District 2 seat being vacated by Chris Parrott.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday.
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TURNER'S FURNITURE EXPANDING AGAIN
Fortson and
Austin Turner, co-owners of
Turner's Furniture, were joined by a number of local officials and company representatives
Thursday afternoon as they broke ground for the
expansion of the company's
distribution center on
Oakridge Church Road.
The expansion will include
44,000 square feet of
warehouse space and
3,000 square feet of
office space, and is expected to be completed next spring.
"When we built the distribution center 12 years ago, we built it with the idea that we would be able to add on to it,"
Fortson Turner said. "Since then, our business has grown and we've maxed out the space that we're in. This will give us the room we need to accommodate all of our stores."
When the distribution center began operation in
2003, there were six Turner's furniture stores in
South Georgia. Today, as
Turner's Furniture celebrates 100 years in business, there are 10 stores with locations in
Tifton, Albany,
Valdosta, Tallahassee/Thomasville and
Moultrie.
Turner said the expansion will bring more jobs to the area.
Brian Marlowe, president and CEO of the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce and the Tift County Development Authority, said Turner's growth is a result of solid leadership and a future vision.
"Fortson and Austin have successfully added to their family's outstanding tradition and a reputation for being great corporate citizens for 100 years," he said. "The expansion not only represents more jobs coming to our community, but it is a testament to the hard work and dedication that they are known for. We are proud and excited for them."
Jones Construction is the contractor for the expansion, representing another tie to the company's rich history.
Royce Jones built Turner's stores in
Tifton and
Valdosta years ago.
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NOW HEAR THIS: ALLEN
TIBBETTS
IS NEWEST MEMBER OF GA RADIO HALL OF FAME
Lifelong radio broadcaster Allen Tibbetts was inducted into the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame last Saturday, honoring an on-air career spanning 40 years.
 Long known to Tiftarea residents through the Al and Allen Radio Show on WTIF, Tibbetts retired in 2014 from Athens radio station WGMG/Magic 102.
For 16 years on WTIF, starting in 1976, he and Al Cohen commented on all aspects of life and activity in Tift County, using humor to trigger community conversations about government, politics, education and sports.
Tibbetts also provided play-by-play announcing for Tift County High School football during what were known as the glory days under Coach Gene Brodie.
Broadcasters inducted into the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame since the awards began in 2007 include Ludlow Porch, Skip Carey, Pete Van Wieren, Larry Munson, Rhubarb Jones, Gary McKee and Moby of Moby in the Morning.
In 1990, Tibbetts moved to Athens as program director and morning show host for WRFC radio and in 1996 took over as morning host for WGMG/Magic 102.
Five times he was named Favorite Radio Announcer by readers of the Athens Banner Herald.
Tibbetts is married to Beverly Sparks, formerly of Tifton, who recently retired as associate dean of extension for the University of Georgia. Tibbetts is the son of G.W. Tibbetts of Tifton and Monica Giles of Atlanta.
Awards ceremonies were held in Marietta on Oct. 24. The Georgia Radio Hall of Fame headquarters is in St. Marys.
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR NOV. 7
'ARTISTS MARKET
ON LOVE' RETURNING
Art, music, food and food will enliven the grounds and interior of the Tifton Museum of Arts and Heritage on Satruday, Nov. 7, at the second annual Artists' Market on Love.
From 10 a.m.-6 p.m., the museum will be alive with artists from near and far, showing and selling their paintings, turned wood art, original designer jewelry, handsome pottery, hand-dyed scarves and shawls and more.
Music will provide the background for Dave's Bread and Coffee Sidewalk Café, hot-buttered popcorn will entice young and old, and surprises will abound at this popular event. Plan to kickstart your Christmas shopping with the work of talented artists.
Admission is free at the event at 255 Love Ave. in downtown Tifton next to the Tifton-Tift County Public Library.
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ABAC OFFICIAL RECOGNIZED FOR
VETERANS SUCCESS CENTER
Chancellor Hank Huckaby of the University System of Georgia p
resents the Gold Level Chancellor's Service Excellence Award for an Outstanding Individual to Jessica Swords of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.
Swords is the Director of Student Accounts and Veterans Certifying Official at ABAC. She was instrumental in helping to establish the new Veteran Success Center at the Tifton college.
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BALDWIN PLAYERS PRESENTING
'SKIN OF OUR TEETH'
This Halloween weekend, the
Baldwin Players
at
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
is presenting their fall
production of
"The Skin of Our Teeth"
by
Thornton Wilder
. The performances
are nightly
through
Oct. 31
at
7 p.m.
in
Howard Auditorium
on
the ABAC campus.
Admission is free to all ABAC faculty, staff and students; there is an admission fee for the general public.
Wilder, an American playwright and novelist, won three Pulitzer Prizes during his career, including In 1942 for "The Skin of Our Teeth,"
a comedy that takes a look at just what it means to be human.
For information, contact Dr. Brian Ray, Baldwin Players director, at
[email protected]
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We're excited! And we want you to join us for an evening of great entertainment; great food;
and the best of fell
owship.
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Foundation North
presents its
30th Annual Meeting and Banquet
Tuesday, November 10, 2015, at 6:30 p.m. in the Charles Harris Learning Center
on Wiregrass Georgia Tech's Ben Hill-Irwin Campus, 667 Perry House Road in Fitzgerald.
There will be a delicious prime rib dinner with all the trimmings. Your entertainment will be the GiGi's.
Take a journey through the decades with this incredible trio of bombshell female vocalists.
Singing classics from The Shirelles, Ronettes, The Supremes, The Angels, The Chiffons, The Bangles, and more, this group will have your toes tapping, your hands clapping, and memories flooding in.
Tickets are only $50 each ($25 is tax deductible).
We promise you an evening to remember.
Please respond immediately because tickets are going fast! Space is very limited.
Thank you for your support, and we look forward to seeing you on November 10.
For Tickets and Information, contact
Mona Paulk
Executive Director of Institutional Advancement
Ben Hill-Irwin Campus
Office: 229.468.2102
A Unit of the Technical College System of Georgia
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SRTC STUDENTS DISCUSS OPPORTUNITIES AT COMMUNITY CAREER RESOURCE FAIR
Southern Regional Technical College (formerly
Moultrie
Tech)
held
a Community Career Resource Fair on Thursday, Oct. 29, for students at the Tifton Campus. Representatives from local businesses met with students to discuss career opportunities.
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SHERIFF MAKES ARRESTING TALK AT TIFTON ROTARY
Tift County Sheriff Gene Scarbrough presented the program Wednesday, Oct. 28, at the Rotary Club of Tifton. The sheriff, at left in the photo, informed Rotarians about various scams going on the community and how Tift countians need to be vigilant. Pictured at right is Rotarian Dale McGriff.
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 NATIONAL BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH
has been observed during
October, and Tift County High School's
Guidance and Counseling Department and Blue Devil Block advisors presented bullying prevention lessons recently. TCHS also celebrated Unity Day during which students wore orange and took a pledge to stand against bullying of all types. When we stand together, no one stands alone. ... A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR has been named at Southern Care Assisted Living in Tifton.
Emily Leffew had previously
served as resident care director at Renaissance Marquis retirement community in Rome, a sister facility of Southern Care's. She succeeds Frank Sayles Jr., who previously served as administrator.
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FIRST TUESDAY CONCERT: 'PITCHES IN STILETTOS'
Pitches in Stilettos will highlight
"A Night of Woodwinds" at the
First Tuesday Concert Series at
7 p.m. Nov. 3 in the
Chapel of All
Faiths
at
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
. The concert is free.
The
First Tuesday series, now in its
15th year, features regional professional artists on the first Tuesdays of five months during the year. Dr.
Susan Roe, director of Music for the School of Liberal Arts, is the First Tuesday program director.
Sara Eastwood and Dr.
Anastasia Christofakis make up the
Pitches in Stilettos clarinet duo, based in
Tallahassee,
Fla. The twosome formed the clarinet ensemble at
Florida State University. They have devoted their time to promoting awareness of women in the field of music by performing pieces solely from female composers.
Through their performances, Eastwood and Christofakis hope to encourage and inspire women in all art forms to step out and showcase their talents. Pitches in Stilettos celebrates the music of the
21st century by actively promoting and commissioning the works of living composers.
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'COMMUNITY HELPERS' VISIT NORTHSIDE PRIMARY
Northside Primary School's kindergarten classes have been learning about community helpers, and several local community helpers came to visit; among them were representatives of the U.S. Army, Tift County EMS, Tift County Animal Control, Rutland Farms, Tift County Fire Department, Tifton Police Department, Tift County Sheriff's Department and the Forestry Service. In the photo at left, Noelle McCurdy's class visits with the Forestry Service's Smokey Bear, who was a big hit.
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TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
RIBBON-CUTTINGS
Digital Express -
Verizon Wireless Dealer
1805 Tift Ave. N., Tifton
Oct. 27
...................................................................................
Walmart Neighborhood Market
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SENIOR CENTER HOSTING SMART DRIVER CLASS
Tifton's Leroy Rogers Senior Center is hosting an AARP Smart Driver Program for those age 50 and over from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
on
Saturday, Nov. 7, at the senior center's temporary location, 508 South Main St. (The Tifton Welcome Center building.) 
This is a refresher course that provides up-to-d
ate information about changes over time in ourselves, our vehicles and our roads.
This course will help boost safety awareness, minimize crash risk, increase confidence and prolong senior mobility.
Participants may earn up to a 20 percent discount on their auto insurance.
Cost is $20, with a $5 discount for AARP members with card.
For reservations, contact JB or Bob at 229-388-8352 or [email protected]
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YOUR WEEKEND
...at a Glance
FRIDAY, OCT. 30
- Tunnel of Terror, 6-10 p.m., Bell Plantation, Tifton
- "Haunted Theatre: Whitham State Hospital," 7 p.m., Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts, Tifton
- "The Skin of Our Teeth," 7 p.m., Howard Auditorium, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Tifton
- Tift County High Blue Devils football @ Colquitt County High Packers, 7:30 p.m., Moultrie
- Tiftarea Academy Panthers football @ Terrell Academy Eagles, 7:30 p.m., Dawson
SATURDAY, OCT. 31
- Wiregrass Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-Noon, Ga. Museum of Agriculture, Tifton
- Downtown Tifton Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Old Train Platform, Tifton
- Trick or Treat in the Village, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Ga. Museum of Agriculture, Tifton
- Hunter Education Field Day, 9 a.m., Tift County Extension Service Building, Tifton
- Fall Festival, 2 p.m., Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts, Tifton
- Tunnel of Terror, 4 p.m.-midnight, Bell Plantation, Tifton
- Halloween Stroll, for children 12 and under in costume, 5-7 p.m., Tifton Mall, Tifton
- "Haunted Theatre: Whitham State Hospital," 7 p.m., Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts, Tifton
- "The Skin of Our Teeth," 7 p.m., Howard Auditorium, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Tifton
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OCT. 22
Melvina McElroy Saylor, 86, Sumner
Petty Officer 2nd Class Mark Lane Hendrix, 53, Adel
Phillip Sidney Roberson, 68, Fitzgerald
Shirley C. Cribbs, 70, Ashburn
Zelda R. Kinard "Pat Wiley," 90, Lenox
OCT. 23
Syble A. Short Walker, 68, Tifton
James Wallace Montgomery, 78, Ty Ty
Wilda Tanner Headrick, 82, Sylvester
C. Edwin "Ed" Hale, 78, Fitzgerald
Donna Grace Harper, 72, Wilcox County
OCT. 25
Cheryl Jane Willis Walker, 55, Tifton
Geraldo Vargas, 22, Omega
Florence Hughes, 77, Nashville
Robert Crosby, 45, Phenix City, Ala.
OCT. 26
Carolyn Davidson Cottle, 73, Ty Ty
William Eugene "Gene" Smith, 82, Enigma
Jaxon Acie Singletary, 5, Ty Ty
Lou Bradford Bryan, 72, Nashville
Bobby Jean Roberts, 77, Nashville
Lawrence "Dee" Eastridge, 77, Fitzgerald
OCT. 27
Wallace NeSmith, 66, Tifton
Clyde T. Denby, 63, Leesburg
OCT. 28
Mary Heath Griner, 84, Alapaha
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SERVING YOU WITH PROFESSIONALISM
BEFORE, DURING & AFTER THE SALE
Get Back to Nature: Acres of Peace & Serenity
380 Upper Ty Ty Road, Tift County
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Relax and enjoy 218.73 acres surrounded by nothing but nature. This land includes a pecan grove, and plenty of farmland for cattle, horses -- anything your heart desires! Great pastures, partially wooded with small creeks and streams. This property includes a 24x30 metal barn/workshop, and the beautiful three-bedroom/three-bath home located on the corner of Upper Ty Ty and Tifton-Worth County Line Road. Everyone wants a mini farm; the property can be divided to 106 acres encompassing the house, barn and pecan orchard, and 111 acres of pasture -- fenced and cross fenced. Watch the fireflies from your screened-in back porch in the summertime, and gaze at the stars without all the city lights! This property is a must see! You do not want this one to get away!
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Dwana Coleman
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Call Us Today!
229-386-4222
Blue Skies & Sunshine Through Each & Every
Real Estate Transaction!
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