MARCH 2, 2018
Tifton, Georgia
478-227-7126
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BEATS & BBQ
TIFTON'S MUSIC, FOOD FEST GETS UNDERWAY
Tifton's annual Rhythm & Ribs BBQ Festival in Fulwood Park kicks off tonight, Friday, March 2, with a concert from 7-10 p.m. by
Farewell Company.
Saturday will be a full day of food and fun in Fulwood, from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. with professional and
backyard barbecue competitions, children's activities, nearly 100 vendors, and 11  musical acts on two stages
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The professional barbecue competition is sanctioned by the Georgia Barbecue Association and features teams from across the state. The "backyard" competition is open to anyone.
Among the
entertainers performing
Saturday is Macon's
Molly Stevens, who was on NBC-TV's
"The Voice" Tuesday night and chose
three-time Grammy winner Kelly Clarkson as her vocal coach on the TV show.
Headlining the free entertainment on the main stage is Memphis-based Southern Avenue, who is touring across the U.S. and Europe and has performed with artists such as Alanis Morissette. Other acts include: Ryn Crider at 10 a.m.; Tyler Neal, 11 a.m.; Justin Spivey Band, 1 p.m.; Mermaid Motor Lounge, 2:30 p.m.; Molly Stevens, 4:30 p.m.; Cris Jacobs, 6:15 p.m.; and Southern Avenue, 8:30 p.m.
On the
Community Stage, there is a Pet Parade at 10 a.m.; and performers Scout, at 11:15 a.m.; Garrett Newell, 12:30 p.m.; and Pinebox Dwellers, 2 p.m. 
Festival organizer Angela Elder said indications are that this year's event will be the largest yet.
"We've had a great response from barbecue teams in the professional division and for the backyard contest," she said.
"We always get great reviews from the teams that have competed here before, and one of the things they like best is having it at a venue like Fulwood Park. And the GBA (Georgia Barbecue Association) has made ours a double points tournament, which has increased the interest with the professional teams."
Teams participating in the competition will not be selling their barbecue, but among the nearly 40 food vendors are several that will be selling barbecue to festival-goers.
With the event attracting thousands of people, shuttle services will be running to help with parking. Throughout the day, shuttles will be making pickups at the Pineapple Post shopping center on the corner of Love Avenue and Eighth Street and in front of First United Methodist Church on 12th Street.
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WORKIN' ON
THE NIGHT SHIFT
Overnight
work continues this week as highway workers prep, pour, flatten and smooth the road as they resurface U.S. Highway 82/S.R. 520 at the intersection of South Main Street in downtown Tifton. The work should be completed within the week or so.
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LESTER POTTS ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY
FOR TIFT COUNTY COMMISSION
Lester Potts, a former member of the
Tift County Board of Education, on
Thursday announced his
candidacy for the Republican nomination for the District 6 seat on Tift County Commission.
The district, currently served by Greg Wood, encompasses the northwest part of the county including Ty Ty and Chula.
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LESTER POTTS
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"I will strive to bring integrity, community and vision to the post and will work for the betterment of Tift County for all residents," Potts said.
"I'm ready to serve
Tift County and work toward a
unified community with
Tifton and
Tift County. We need to
work together and not have two
squabbling entities."
Potts said the "
biggest complaint is the
fire department," since the
county created its
own department, splintering from the previous
joint department with the
City of Tifton. He said the
current configuration doesn't make
sense.
"I want to see the city and county
work together again," Potts said. "I want a
common vision for all of Tift County."
Potts was
elected twice to the
Tift County school board, in
2006 and
2010. He is a
20-year Air Force veteran, was an
instructor and
administrator at the former
Moultrie Tech, has worked on the staff of the
Worth County Board of Education and has worked with the
Mell Baptist Association.
Qualifying for County Commission candidates begins on Monday, March 5, and ends at noon Friday, March 9. The general primary election in Tift County
will be held May 22.
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GIRL CHARGED IN SCHOOL THREATS:
A 13-year-old girl
is charged with making two threats against Eighth Street Middle School on Thursday. A
call came into the school saying, "We are coming. Y'all be ready."
Later, the same student, who was later determined to have made the first call, told officials she received a mobile phone call from someone threatening to bomb the school. Authorities searched and determined the threats were hoaxes. The middle school and Tift County High were also targets of baseless threats last week. ...
LOWERING FLAGS:
Gov. Nathan Deal
has ordered that all state flags be lowered to half staff today (Friday) in honor of the late Rev. Billy Graham, who is being interred today. Deal's executive order lowering flags on all state buildings and grounds is in conjunction with the president's proclamation to lower the U.S. flag today. ... COUNTY DAYS AT THE CAPITOL: Tift County Commissioner Melissa Hughes was among county officials with the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia who gathered Wednesday in Atlanta to met with the governor about county issues. ... MELON GROWERS: Ed Walker of Spring Hill Produce in Tifton has been elected treasurer of the Eastern Cantaloupe Growers Association.
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BALDWIN LIBRARY HAS
'SNAKES IN THE STACKS'
For the
third consecutive year, snakes will be welcome for one day in the Baldwin Library at
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.
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Lane exhibits one of her snakes.
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ABAC hosts "Snakes in the Stacks" at noon March 6.
Dr. Vanessa Lane, assistant professor of wildlife, doesn't plan on releasing any of the reptiles into the aisles of the library, but she will display several non-venomous species from her 40-snake collection.
This event is open to the public.
"Snakes are among the most misunderstood and feared animals on the planet despite the fact that the vast majority of species are harmless and beneficial to humans," Lane said.
"Snakes in the Stacks is a fun event aimed at showing individuals the amazing characteristics and interesting personalities of live snakes in a safe and controlled setting."
The event features a talk and demonstrations, as well as the opportunity for the audience to interact with the snakes.
The event drew a crowd of more 100 people last year.
"We will cover topics on snake anatomy, snake behavior, snake conservation and how to react if you encounter a snake in the wild," Lane said.
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TIFTON'S DANIELLE HICKS TO PERFORM
AT SAVANNAH STOPOVER MUSIC FESTIVAL
The Savannah festival is
three days of live music involving an estimated 71 touring bands and 13 local acts playing almost 90 concerts in 11 venues across the city's Historic District.
Hicks, who now lives in the Savannah area, is a regular performer around coastal Georgia and South Carolina. The Savannah Morning News' entertainment publication says Hicks has "drawn the attention of Savannahians, integrating into the local scene organically behind her blues-based, jazz-infused rock 'n' roll. Hicks' indelible soprano is a commanding force on her debut album "Honey." The Resistance -- Ben Keiser, Ryan Kelly, Ira Miller and Matt Fallin -- form a solid, groove-driven backbeat behind her."
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DINNER THEATRE SHOWCASES
ACCLAIMED MUSICAL
A special dinner theatre musical is coming to the Georgia Museum of Agriculture.
The Baldwin Players of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College will perform "I Do! I Do! I Do! I Do!" on March 8-10 in the museum's conference room. The buffet dinner at 6 p.m. will include a choice of beef or chicken and a variety of sides and dessert. There will also be show-only tickets available with seating beginning at 6:50 p.m.
"When I thought about doing a play as a dinner theatre, to offer Tifton a new
experience from ABAC's Baldwin Players, I immediately thought about this show," said
Dr. Brian Ray, director of the theatre troupe
. "It is a wonderful
family-friendly
play that focuses on love and the wonders of life."
Cast members include Reese Johnson, an agriculture major from Nashville; Jannah Zinkler, a core curriculum major from Sumner; Jeffrey Murray, a core curriculum major from Pelham; Hannah Exum, an agriculture major from Nashville; Patrick Ireland, an ABAC alumnus from Tifton; Hannah Moseley, a rural studies major from Cochran; and Mikayla Crenshaw, an agricultural education major from Milton.
The musical is about marriage with all its ups and downs, and in-betweens. The play follows the lives of a married couple from their wedding day in 1895 to 1945.
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This Summer, Take Only 6 Weeks
to a Better Grade!
Private Tutoring -- 401 N. Ridge Ave., Tifton
Call or Text
941-313-0614
REGISTER NOW FOR OUR SUMMER SESSION
MAY 28 THROUGH JULY 6
Miss Rita with
Miss Rita's School Mobile
will be in
Tifton
during the
last full week of March
to
meet
parents
, who
must make a prior appointment.
Supplies will be distributed at that time.
Certified Reading Specialist.
Other areas of expertise include math, language arts and violin instruction. This is the 4th year for Beginning Violin.
Give your student an edge for the upcoming school year
with personalized tutoring!
A Pool
Party for the students and their families will be held at the
Tift
County
Recreation Department.
A Violin Recital will be scheduled at the end of the summer sessions.
Contact Miss Rita TODAY!
941-313-0614
If the voice mailbox is full, please send a text.
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YOUNG FARMERS CLUB HOSTING
EASTER EGG HUNT FOR CHILDREN
Nothing signals the arrival of spring like a traditional Easter egg hunt, and students in the Young Farmers Club at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College bring that tradition early this year with a community event for children beginning at 9 a.m. March 10 at the Lakeside Lawn.
An educational scavenger hunt focusing on agricultural commodities begins the day. Children will visit information booths from campus organizations where they will get individual  cards stamped for each booth they visit.
"Elementary schools usually do not place emphasis on agricultural education," said Sadie Hobbs, Young Farmers secretary. "Our goal is to show children how agriculture plays a significant role in their daily lives."
After the scavenger hunt, children will get a light meal followed by an egg hunt for those who receive the proper number of stamps on their cards. Individual egg hunts will occur for pee-wee, elementary and middle school ages.
"Our goal is to be advocates for agriculture while simultaneously representing ABAC," Hobbs said.
For information or to RSVP, contact Suzanne Bentley, academic and career coordinator, at 229-391-4815 or sbentley@abac.edu
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Tifton's Locally Owned Electronic Newspaper!
It's Free!
e-published every Tuesday & Friday / to Advertise, call
478-227-7126
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YOUR WEEKEND
.
..at a Glance
FRIDAY, MARCH 2
- "An Evening for ABAC," 6 p.m., UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center, Tifton
- Rhythm & Ribs Kickoff Party, 7 p.m., Fulwood Park, Tifton
SATURDAY, MARCH 3
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FEB. 22 
Glenn Edward O'Connor, 87, Tifton
Glenda Miller Roberts, 76, Tifton
Franklin D. Sumner, 81, Irwin County
FEB. 23
Joyce Brooks Burrell, 73, Sylvester
Marcia L. Duren, 80, Adel
John "J.E." Harrell, 86, Adel
Bobby Taylor, 62, Sparks
FEB. 24
Rhonda Dunn Powell, 63, Omega
Donnell H. Whitaker, 84, Adel
Martha Stinson, 85, Fitzgerald
Albert Julian "Al" Cook, 79, Nashville
Janet Carver Stripling, 82, Irwinville
Jacqueline Burkhalter, 85, Adel
FEB. 25
Selby Glen McMillian Sr., 67, Ocilla
Tom A. Parr, 79, Albany
Colise Hatcher Raines, 93, Sylvester
Randy Cobb, 58, Fitzgerald
Wallace Lewis Jr., 78, Pavo
FEB. 26
William Leon "Bimbo" Harper, 59, Tifton
Marion Max Murphy, 85, Nashville
Talmadge Lamar Sutton, 85, Nashville
FEB. 27
Oscar H. Roberts, 89, Tifton
Herman Lee Autry, 75, Tifton
Margaret Lucille Chapman Carter, 87, Omega
Steve Allen Stone, 52, Nashville
Bobbie L. Dassie, Sylvester
FEB. 28
Edith Angeline Allen, 90, Matthews, N.C.
Georgene B. Harpe, 62, Worth County
Ann Tygart Jones, 89, Nashville
Letha Bailey, 76, Nashville
MARCH 1
Juanita Sumner McAllister, 88, Tifton
Shirley Ann Spradlin Tawzer, 74, Tifton
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Let
D Coleman Realty
find you a home you love to live in!
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FRANK SAYLES JR.
Editor & Publisher
iheardit@tiftongrapevine.com
A Service of Sayles Unlimited Marketing LLC
478-227-7126
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