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G. PAT HALL JR.
TIFTON BANKING'S EX PREZ INDICTED
G. Pat Hall Jr., 49, of Tifton, former president of Tifton Banking Co. was indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury with six counts of bank fraud and one count of major fraud against the United States.
The Georgia Department of Banking and Finance shut down Tifton Banking Co. in November 2010 because of its poor financial condition. At that time, the bank had not repaid the $3.8 million it received from the U.S.  Department of Treasury's Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP.
The Attorney General's Office and U.S. Attorney Michael J. Moore said Hall is charged for his role in a bank fraud scheme in which he is alleged to have hidden underperforming and at-risk loans from the bank and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC), among others.
They say Hall, president and chief executive officer of Tifton Banking Co. from August 2005 until June 2010, was engaged in a long running scheme to mislead the bank and its loan committee about loans the bank made to local individuals and businesses.
As part of the scheme, Hall allegedly hid past due loans from the FDIC and the Tifton Banking loan committee, which resulted in the bank continuing to approve and renew delinquent loans and loans for which the collateral was lacking. Several of the borrowers eventually defaulted on the loans, resulting in millions of dollars in losses, the federal government says.
Hall also allegedly hid his personal and business interests in at least two of the transactions over which he exercised approval authority. For example, in one instance, Hall allegedly approved several loans to the buyer of his condominium in Panama City Beach, Fla. In doing so, Hall allegedly made several false representations about the loans to the bank's loan committee and failed to disclose his personal interest in the transaction.
When the buyer's loan payments became delinquent, Hall allegedly hid the loans from both the FDIC and state regulators. Hall allegedly received $50,000 from the sale of his condominium in this transaction, which was allegedly funded in full by an unsecured loan to the buyer approved by Hall. The buyer eventually declared bankruptcy resulting in a loss of more than $400,000 to Tifton Banking, federal officials say.
According to court documents, Hall entered a guilty plea on June 20, 2013. He then withdrew his plea on Sept. 30, 2013, entering a not guilty plea. The judge refused the plea at that time, and it was determined the case would be tried in federal court. The U.S. attorney subsequently asked that the case be dismissed without prejudice, since Hall stepped back from his plea agreement, clearing the way for the indictment.
The case is being investigated by the FBI, the Department of Treasury, the Small Business Administration, the FDIC, the Department of Agriculture's Office of Inspector General and the Tift County Sheriff's Office.
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REID LEAVES AS TIFT FOOTBALL COACH; ASST. COACH ANDERS TAKES REINS
Tift County High Head Football Coach John Reid has left to become head coach at Rome High School. Ashley Anders, Tift's assistant coach since 2013, has been named to head the Blue Devils.
"Coach Reid made great improvements to our program and helped to strengthen the foundation of our football
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Coach Reid
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teams," said Tift County Athletic Director Rusty Smith. "We wish him well with his future career."
Rome High School Principal Tygar Evans has called Reid a "turn-around artist." At Tift County High, Reid took over the program in 2012, posting a 2-8 record and following it up with a 5-5 mark in 2013. In 2014, the Blue Devils compiled a 7-4 record, reaching the first round of the Class 6A Playoffs.
"Look at what he did at Tift County. If people will follow them and see what they have done over the last 10 years, and then look at what they've done over the last three since Coach Reid has been there, it's progressively getting better," the Rome principal said, according to the Rome News-Tribune. "The program is turning around. Those were the comments from the athletic director in Tift, and they are in the toughest region in Georgia in 1-AAAAAA and some people say the toughest region in the nation. They made the playoffs in that region. It's very positive what he can do."
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Coach Anders
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Reid's combined coaching record in Tennessee and Georgia is 112 wins and 40 losses.
As for Anders, this is his first head football coaching job. He served as the defensive coordinator at MurrayState University, Georgia Southern University, Valdosta State University and Holmes Community College. He also has coached basketball, baseball and weight lifting.
He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Arkansas -Monticello and his master's from Auburn University where he also worked as a defensive graduate assistant. Anders's wife, Sheri, is a special education teacher at Annie Belle Clarke Primary School.
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TIFT LIBRARY PRESENTS 'SHADY MEADOWS'
The Tifton-Tift Public Library is having a "Reader's Theatre" production at 7 p.m., on Tuesday, Feb. 17, in the   library's adult multipurpose room.
This is a joint effort with the Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts, which is being partially underwritten by the Tifton-Tift County Public Library Foundation.
Four intrepid readers will be bringing you "Shady Meadows," the story of the perfect couple who purchases the perfect little house in the perfect little development. But, all is not as it seems ... and it goes downhill from there.
Performance time is approximately 35 minutes. Coffee and cookies will be available, and donations are appreciated.
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OH MY GOODIES has moved!!!
And we've reopened just in time for Valentine's Day!
 Stop in to see us today in our new location, 137 Love Ave. where MediaCom used to be!
You won't believe the difference! We've been decorating, baking and looking forward to seeing you!
Just two doors down from  our former location. Featured goodies include red velvet, brownie, chocolate with cream cheese, sundae, pecan pie, cream cheese pound cake and Oreo red velvet. 
Also, monkey bread, glazed croissants, cinnamon twists, cinnamon rolls, assorted mini cupcakes and more!
Cakes by Special Order!
We also have a variety of casseroles from which to choose!!!
Hours of operation are: Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Closed Sundays and Mondays
137 Love Ave., Tifton
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ABAC OBSERVING BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Black History Month events are under way at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.
All events are free to ABAC faculty, staff and students with an ABAC ID. The Black History Month events are  also open to the public at no charge.
At 6:30 p.m. Feb. 17, students can come to the Nickelodeon for "Get Fit, Y'all," a motivation and Hip-Hop aerobics class with Reggie the Trainer.
At 11:30 a.m. Feb. 18, an Inspirational Tribute to Our Ancestors will be held in the Donaldson Dining Hall. The Annual Black History Month Awards celebration will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 18 in Howard Auditorium. The event will include a one act play, "A Day without Black People and Wondrous Inventions."
Students can perform an original or borrowed song, poem or speech at the Wording Word on Feb. 24 at 5 p.m. in the Nickelodeon, followed by a Peace Circle of Hope. The month's events will culminate with a cookout and candlelight vigil Feb. 27 at 5 p.m. at the Town Hall.
For information, contact Dean of Students Bernice Hughes, [email protected]
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TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RIBBON-CUTTING:
GABY'S THRIFT STORE
3317 Highway 82 West
FEB. 6, 2015
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AG MUSEUM LOOKS AT
WAR BETWEEN THE STATES
"Brothers Again," a new exhibit commemorating the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War, will open Feb. 26 at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. at the Museum Gallery. Guests will enjoy brief introductory remarks and light refreshments at 6 p.m. Admission to this event is free. It is sponsored by the Museum and by the Baldwin  Players theatre group at ABAC.
Museum Assistant Director and Curator Polly Huff said this exhibit will focus on Civil War artifacts from the wiregrass Georgia area relating to the war, as well as memorabilia from life at the home front.
"The war fundamentally changed America, particularly the South, and its end marked the beginning of many changes, mostly for the better, but some suffering lingered," Huff said. "This exhibit will feature opportunities to explore how the war impacted several facets of life throughout the United States, the South, and particularly south central Georgia."
Huff said a series of lectures and presentations will be presented during the life of the exhibit that look at the issues of the time, including the war itself, as well as politics, slavery, and religion.
As another part of the "Brothers Again" event, the Baldwin Players of ABAC will present "The Whipping Man" by Matthew Lopez, a play set just after Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox. The play examines the issues of slavery, faith, and relationships in a time of upheaval and change.
Performances of "The Whipping Man" will be March 5-7 at 7 p.m. at the Peanut Museum of the GMA.
There will also be an original play, "Brothers, Husbands, and Sons," written by Dr. Brian Ray, professor of English and instructor of theatre, that explores the impact of the war on those Southern family members who remained at home.
For Information, contact Huff, 229-391-5222.
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Special Valentine's Day Dinner
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ANNUAL BIDS FOR KIDS TV AUCTION SET FOR FEB. 28
The Exchange Club of Tifton will host the 22nd annual Bids for Kids Televised Auction on Saturday, Feb. 28 from 5-10 p.m. The special event will benefit area agencies involved in helping to prevent and treat child abuse in Tifton and Tift County.
Jonathan Halstead, Exchange Club president, said that, unfortunately, child abuse is thriving in Tift County.
"When child abuse is discussed, we are more comfortable talking about it in another community. It should make us uncomfortable that it is happening right here because it is unacceptable. It should make us get up and do something. Childhood shouldn't hurt," he said.
The live televised auction will feature more than 200 items that will be offered to the highest bidder. All items will be published in the Feb. 27 edition of The Tifton Gazette. All funds raised from the auction stay in Tift County. Items will include jewelry, gift certificates, home décor, weekend getaways and more.
Exchange Club members are still looking for additional items. If you or your business has an item to donate to the auction, you can call Angela Elder at 229-386-0216.
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Tifton, Georgia
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FEB. 5
Walter Stephens Burgess, 75, Ashburn
Bennie L. Gaskins, 81, Bridgeboro
Doris Tucker Hinson, 93, Sylvester
Eugenia Ann "Jean" Dickson, 89, Nashville
David Wayne Nugent, 73, Alapaha
Hugh Grady McCrimmon, 84, Bonaire
William Woodrow "Woody" Hewett, 75, Fitzgerald
FEB. 6
Nell Copeland, 86, Tifton
Jessica Lynn Johnson Taschwer, 39, Ohio
Harley C. Johns, 68, Fitzgerald
Ophelia Proctor White, 73, Sylvester
FEB. 7
Loan Crosby Goodman, 48, Tifton
FEB. 8
Ann Griffin Hill, 65, Tifton
Carol Smith Rodriquez, 60, Enigma
Myra Grace "Sue" Arnold, 84, Tifton native
Dora Ann McCrimmon, 66, Ty Ty
Pat Stone, 85, Ashburn
FEB. 9
Dan Robert Lockhart, 67, Ty Ty
Carolyn Ann Land Moore, 80, Tifton
FEB. 10
Annie E. Adams Horn, 85, Chula
Clifton Patrick Weatherford, 78, Nashville
FEB. 11
William Terrell Willis, 73, Enigma
Lena Grace "Teeny" Giddens, 99, Nashville
FEB. 12
Charles E. Roberts, 81, Sylvester
Nelle F. Rigdon, 82, Ocilla
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SERVING YOU WITH PROFESSIONALISM
BEFORE, DURING & AFTER THE SALE
$139,000
Pretty, move-in ready home with laminate and vinyl flooring. Three spacious bedrooms, master bedroom with walk-in closet, and master bath with large step-in tub. Large living area and dining room. Mature landscaping in front and back yard, as well as privacy fencing. Large, screened-in back porch. There is a storage building in the back yard, and there is also access to the back yard from the garage.
Don't let this one get away!
 | | Dwana Coleman |
Call Us Today! 229-386-4222
Blue Skies & Sunshine Through Each & Every
Real Estate Transaction!
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