Cops Seek Murder Suspect

DEC. 26, 2017

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126

tiftongrapevine.com

COPS SEEK TIFTON

MURDER SUSPECT

SECOND MURDER IN CITY WITHIN THREE WEEKS

Tifton Police said today they are still searching for a suspect in the shooting death Saturday of a 15-year-old boy in Tifton, the second shooting death in the city in less than three weeks.


	PRITCHETT


This photo of Pritchett was posted to his Facebook page shortly before the shooting.

Police are seeking James Robert Pritchett, 17, of Tifton for malice murder in the death of

Jamiles Taylor, 15, at approximately

3 p.m. Saturday at Peterson's Apartments on

Timmons Drive.

Investigators believe Pritchett is on the run with his girlfriend, Naryah Redding, 15.

About an hour before the shooting, Pritchett apparently posted the following message on his Facebook page: "Homicides Mamas CryinG It Ain't Nun To It"


	REDDING

Pritchett

is considered

armed and

dangerous; if he is spotted, police ask that Pritchett not be approached but instead police

should be called at

229-382-3132.

In another shooting incident Dec. 4,

Kenneth Williams, 26, and Anthony Woods, 29, both of Tifton, have both been arrested and charged in the shooting death of Cedric Brown in Downtown Tifton.

Brown was shot during a hail of bullets at approximately 2:36 a.m. that morning at Third Street and Commerce Way.

In that shooting, Williams is charged with murder, felony murder and two counts of aggravated assault.

Woods is charged with felony murder and aggravated assault, police said.

We're Seeking a

Church Pianist

Tifton First United

Methodist Church

107 W 12th St., Tifton, GA

Tifton First United Methodist Church has an opening for a part-time church pianist.

The pianist is responsible for preparing for and practicing with

the chancel choir, orchestra and ensemble every Wednesday evening for about two hours and for playing at Sunday

traditional services at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., as well as at special services at Christmas, Easter, etc.

Interested persons should contact Angie Carr at musicdirector@tiftonfumc.org

or call 229-382-6100 .

PEANUT CROP EXPECTED

TO BE 'VERY GOOD'

Georgia's peanut crop is the largest in more than 20 years, and " we're probably going to have a very good crop," says a local peanut expert.

"Based on what I've heard and seen, overall, we're probably going to have a very good crop as far as the state average is concerned. We had a very good yield across the state. We had very good grades; the quality was good," says Scott Monfort, peanut agronomist with the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension.

Georgia's dryland peanut crop excelled this year, while irrigated fields lacked in comparison to past years, Monfort said. The result is a crop estimated to average 4,400 pounds per acre. Some 714,168 acres of peanuts were grown last year in Georgia, and 828,000 certified peanut acres were planted this year -- the state's highest amount since the early 1990s.

But Monfort said farmers who irrigate their fields typically yield in the range of 7,000 pounds per acre. This season, they are reporting between 5,500 and 6,500 pounds.

"We had multiple factors working against us from the beginning of the year," he said. A lack of sunlight in June and July, critical months for the development of a peanut plant, may have contributed to decreased yields. Parts of Georgia received at least 20 percent less sunlight than normal in both of those months.

"What does that do overall to blooming? We're trying to figure that out," Monfort said.

Georgia farmers also encountered disease issues. Almost all varieties grown in Georgia, Alabama and North Florida are susceptible to leaf spot .

To learn more about this year's peanut crop and what to expect during next year's growing season, the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center will host the annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show on Thursday, Jan. 18. For information, Click Here!

SYNOVUS-FIRST COMMUNITY BANK

HELPS FUND ABAC SCHOLARSHIPS

Ginger Orton, an agricultural communication major from Ellaville, received an ABAC Foundation Scholarship this fall semester to continue her education at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural


James Morris, market president of Synovus-First Community Bank of Tifton, with scholarship recipient Ginger Orton.

College. Synovus-First Community Bank of Tifton helped to make it possible by its sponsorship of "An Evening for ABAC."

"Being an ABAC scholarship recipient encourages me to pursue excellence in my education," Orton said. "Knowing there is a team invested in myself and other ABAC students' education inspires me to be involved, make good grades and make the community proud as an ABAC student.

"It is incredibly stress relieving to help ease the financial obligation of a college education, allowing me to focus on my academics and campus involvement. Because of donor support, I can graduate on time and pursue graduate school. I am so thankful for ABAC and its network of support."

Synovus-First Community Bank of Tifton is a Platinum Level Sponsor for "An Evening for ABAC" scholarship fundraising event on March 2. For information, contact Deidre Martin at 229-391-4907, or at dmartin@abac.edu

FOUR STAR FREIGHTLINER

RECOGNIZES TOP TECHNICIAN

Four Star Freightliner recognized its top diesel technician recently during the company's annual Year-End Employee Celebration at the Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort.

Kenneth "Woofie" Woodruff, a road technician in the Tifton dealership, was named the top revenue-producing technician for 2017.

Scott Dixon, Four Star's operations manager, made the announcement in front of more than 200 people. Dixon said that previously, technicians only received recognition at the dealership level but he wanted all Four Star technicians to see what was possible.

Woodruff has worked for Four Star Freightliner for five years. He is an A-level technician with all-system certification and expert certification.

Pictured is Jerry Kocan, Four Star Freightliner dealer principal, at left, presenting the award to Woodruff.

Four Star Freightliner provides truck products from Daimler and services with six locations -- Tifton, Valdosta, Albany, Montgomery, Ala., Dothan, Ala. and Tallahassee, Fla.