Friday, July 31, 2020
Tifton, Georgia
|
|
|
NO UGA vs. GA TECH GAME THIS YEAR
SEC PLANS CONFERENCE-ONLY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
|
|
As with all sports this year,
college football
just won’t be the same.
The
Southeastern Conference (SEC)
on
Thursday
announced a
10-game conference-only
schedule, which means that for the first time since
1925
, the
University of Georgia
and
Georgia Tech
will
not
be facing off on the
gridiron
.
The intrastate and interconference rivals usually meet at the final game of the regular season.
“The 10-game
SEC schedule
provides us the best opportunity to play
football
as
safely
as possible in a
Covid
environment,” said UGA Athletic Director
Greg McGarity
. “It’s disappointing the schedule model does not make it possible to play
Georgia Tech
; however, we look forward to renewing that rivalry in
2021."
The
SEC
is kicking off its football season on
Sept. 26
.
“It was clear in our meeting today that this
delay
would be
beneficial
to our student athletes and promote the safe and orderly return to campus for our student body in August," UGA President
Jere W. Morehead
said
Thursday
.
"Having some
separation
between the earlier
reopening
of our campuses and the later start of the
football season
should be helpful,” he said.
UGA’
s fall semester begins
Aug. 20
.
|
|
GA PAYS OUT $1 BILLION LAST WEEK IN JOBLESS BENEFITS; BUT JUNE
JOBLESS RATE DECLINES
|
|
The
Georgia Department of Labor
(DOL) said
Thursday
it paid more than
$1 billion
in unemployment benefits last week, more than the
$922 million
issued during the past
three years
combined.
The DOL has paid out more than
$11 billion
in state and federal unemployment benefits since the middle of
March
, the department said. The payments include regular state unemployment insurance, federal pandemic compensation and state extended benefits.
Also, the
unemployment
rate for
June
dropped
from the previous month in both the
state
and in
Tift County
, the DOL reported.
“June was the first month to show
positive numbers
in all major indicators since the pandemic started,” said Labor Commissioner
Mark Butler.
“Although it is nice to see the pendulum move in the right direction, we are not naive to the fact that we may see another
tick up
in claims over the next few months. We will continue to work
unemployment claims,
both new and continued, to ensure all Georgians are being taken care of during these unprecedented times.”
The
state unemployment
rate decreased by
1.8
percentage points in June to reach
7.6
percent. A year ago, the rate was
3.5
percent.
Tift County's jobless rate
in June was
5.3
percent, down from
6
percent in May; one year ago it was
3.6
percent.
The
highest
jobless rate in the
Tiftarea
during
June
was in
Turner County
, which recorded
7.6
percent unemployment, an increase from the previous month's
7.1
percent. Last year the rate was
4
percent.
|
|
WFXL-TV photo
Lee Turner in Downtown Tifton exhibiting some of the luminary bags with names and photos of cancer survivors and of those who have succumbed to the disease.
|
|
DOWNTOWN TIFTON TO OFFER 'LIGHTS OF HOPE' HONORING
THOSE TOUCHED BY CANCER
|
|
Downtown Tifton
will join communities across the nation
Sept. 12
by honoring lives affected by cancer and raising funds for the
American Cancer Society
.
Local business owner
Lee Turner
of Tifton, a two-time cancer survivor, is organizing the
Tifton
ceremony of the
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network's
(ACS CAN)
"Lights of Hope Across America.”
Turner is the state lead ambassador for ACS CAN Georgia.
Tifton residents are teaming up with Turner to display, along
Main Street
, up to
400
luminary bags
with the names and photos of cancer survivors and of those lost to the disease.
“We could all use some hope and
community
right now,”
Turner
said. “Now more than ever, cancer patients and their families need to know we’re here for them through these difficult times and beyond. I’m fortunate I don’t need to travel far to build that support and make sure the voices of cancer patients and survivors are heard.”
More than
25
Tift County students have already volunteered to help put out the bags on Main Street. Business owners are volunteering their storefront windows as an additional space to display the bags.
“Working with
Lee Turner
is such an honor. He cares passionately about his community and his dedication to ACS CAN shines through in every way,” said Tifton Mayor
Julie
Smith
.
“Tifton is fortunate to have someone of Lee’s caliber leading the efforts and bringing us closer in securing good health and healing for the cancer community. I look forward to the Lights of Hope Across America display here on
Main Street
.”
Turner’s personal battle with
cancer
and passion to prevent others from receiving a deadly diagnosis is known throughout the community. He faced a difficult 52 years fighting against the disease after being diagnosed at the age of
two
. After losing his mother and grandmother to cancer, Turner dedicated his life to being a voice for cancer patients and survivors.
He has already collected
50
luminary bags in preparation for the
September
event and hopes to have the remaining
350
by
Aug. 31
. To dedicate a Lights of Hope bag, contact
Turner
at
229-848-6123
or at
bulasantiques@yahoo.com
|
|
Yesha Patel receives her award for having the h
ighest exit exam
during the drive-through ceremony on Tuesday.
|
|
SRTC HOLDS DRIVE-THRU PINNING CEREMONY FOR NURSING STUDENTS
|
|
Southern Regional Technical College
(SRTC) held its first drive-through
pinning
ceremony
Tuesday
during which
24
Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) students from the
LPN to RN Bridge
program received nursing pins.
The ceremony commemorates the students’ successful completion of their nursing coursework and clinical rotations. This class of nursing students is also invited to participate in SRTC’s formal graduation ceremony
Dec. 1
, and they will be
Registered Nurses
(RN's) pending the passage of their board exams.
Students receiving pins were: Nestor Nunez Vazquez of
Omega
; Chandler Bearden of
Sylvester
; Kalonty Chaney, Maritza Delgado, Queen Rouse, Dixie Turner, and Kristen Coker of
Tifton
; Rachel Haynes of
Berlin
; Ashley Merritt of
Lake Park
; Jennifer Campos-Alvarado, Taylor Cook, Judy Folsom, Shelly Hagin, Lora Holifield, Ruby Martinez, Savannah Morgan, Jessica Newsome, Brandi Nunes, Kristal Sheffield, Lori Sherling, and Qusanna Sharp of
Moultrie
; and Elizabeth Brunot, Keosha Jackson, and Yesha Patel of
Valdosta
.
At the ceremony, faculty members recognized several students for exceptional achievement:
Yesha Patel
earned the Highest Exit Exam Award with a conversion score of 99.31. The Clinical Excellence Award was given to
Ruby Martinez
. The Colquitt Regional Medical Center Leadership Award was presented to
Kristal Sheffield
, and the Nightingale Award recognized accomplishments of
Taylor Cook
.
SRTC's fall semester begins
Aug. 18
.
|
|
EXCHANGE CLUB AWARDS OFFICER OF YEAR
|
|
Lt.
Kris Stone
with the
Tift County Sheriff’s Office
has received the
“Officer Of The Year”
award from the
Exchange Club of Tifton
.
Stone
is pictured at left with Sheriff
Gene Scarbrough
and Exchange Club President
Danny Hoover
.
"Congratulations,
Lt. Stone
, on your award and
achievements
within The Tift County Sheriff’s Office. Thanks to the
Exchange Club
for their amazing
support
for
law enforcement
," Scarbrough said.
|
|
RED CROSS SEEKING PLASMA FROM THOSE RECOVERED FROM COVID-19
|
|
The
American Red Cross
is seeking people who are fully recovered from
COVID-19
to
donate plasma
to help current patients who are seriously ill or at high risk of serious illness.
You may qualify if you:
- Are at least 17 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds.
- Are in good health and feeling well.
- Have a verified prior diagnosis of COVID-19.
- Are fully recovered and symptom free for at least 14 days, as determined by your medical provider.
|
|
TURNER SHERIFF HESTER NAMED VP
OF GEORGIA SHERIFFS' ASSOCIATION
|
|
Turner County Sheriff
Andy Hester
, at right in photo, was sworn in this week as
vice president
of the
Georgia Sheriffs' Association
.
"It's a great privilege to serve my community and my fellow sheriffs. I want to thank my community for trusting in me as your sheriff. I will continue to represent
Turner
County
here and throughout the state with great honor,"
Hester
said.
At center is
Banks County
Sheriff
Carlton Speed
being sworn in as
president
of the Sheriffs' Association.
|
|
RUTH LEE TO CHAIR GEORGIA COUNCIL ON AGING
|
|
The
Georgia Council on Aging
(GCOA) has named
Ruth Lehmann Lee
of
Tifton
as
chairman
of the council.
Lee
, a longtime
Tifton
resident, has served on the Georgia Council on Aging since being appointed in
2013
by Gov.
Nathan Deal
. She previously served as council vice chair for four years.
The GCOA coordinates the
Coalition of Advocates for Georgia’s Elderly
(CO-AGE) that has more than
1,100
members across Georgia.
GCOA
also organizes
Senior Week at the Capitol
and has been instrumental in obtaining increased funding for home- and community-based services as well as passage of related legislation.
“I look forward to leading the council and further advocating for the needs of
older
Georgians
and increasing the membership for CO-AGE so we can have a louder voice,” said Lee, who retired as oncology services director at
Tift Regional Medical Center
in Tifton where she was previously director of
Hospice of Tift Area
.
Lee was also the executive director of
Hospice of Central Georgia
in
Macon
and past president and treasurer of the
Georgia Hospice Organization Board of Directors
.
She earned a bachelor’s degree from
Tift College
and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from
Albany State College
.
The
Georgia Council on Aging
advocates on behalf of older Georgians and their families to improve their quality of life. Read more about the council at
www.gcoa.org
|
|
FORMER ABAC TENNIS STAR NAMED
HEAD COACH AT MONTANA STATE
|
|
Trey Morris
, a former
tennis
standout at Tifton's
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
(ABAC), was named
head tennis coach
Thursday at
Montana State University
.
Morris
had led Montana State
men's tennis
as the program's interim coach during the
2019-20
season. He played at
ABAC
in
2014
, when his squad finished
third
in the national junior college ranks.
He went on from
ABAC
to
Appalachian State University
, where he earned
all-conference doubles
(2015) and
all-academic (2017) honors
as a student-athlete. Morris served as a
team captain
his senior year and finished his collegiate career with a
44-27
singles record and a
42-23
doubles mark.
Morris has worked as tennis director and associate owner at
Baskin-McGill Tennis Academy
in
Marietta
after serving as its tennis pro. He also worked as an assistant tennis pro at
Tennis Dynamics
in
Marietta
. Morris' college coaching career began as a
volunteer assistant
for the Appalachian State University men's and women's tennis programs.
"I appreciate the job
Trey
did guiding the men's tennis program this season, and I'm happy to remove 'interim' from his title," said
Leon Costello
, MSU athletics director.
"He led the program with
positive energy
, and the student-athletes responded to him in
competition
and in the
classroom
. I'm
excited
for the future of the Bobcat men's tennis program with Trey as the head coach."
|
|
•••••• LAST CHANCE! ••••••
|
|
Tifton’s Locally Owned Digital Newspaper
|
|
Your free subscription allows you to automatically receive our MidWeek and Weekender editions in your in-box, along with occasional sponsored editions.
To Contact Us, Call
478-227-7126
|
|
TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S PET OF THE WEEK
|
|
Your next pet is ready for adoption at the
Tift County Animal Shelter
.
The shelter, located at 278 Georgia Highway 125 S., in Tifton, is open to the public for adoptions from
1-6 p.m. Mondays
through
Fridays
.
For
more
information
,
call
229-382-PETS (7387).
|
|
Pets of the Week are sponsored by:
Branch’s Veterinary Clinic
205 Belmont Ave., Tifton, 229-382-6055
|
|
CORONAVIRUS CLEARINGHOUSE
Important Phone Numbers & Web Sites
|
|
JULY 23
William "Bill" Clarence Murray, 81,
Fitzgerald
Grace Mae Collins, 79,
Sylvester
Bradford "Brad" Thomas Melvin, 46,
Worth County
Settle Folsom, 81,
Adel
Hulin L. Reeves Sr., 89,
Fitzgerald
Elden Thomas Mercer, 67,
Millwood
JULY 24
Amanda Lynn Dean, 33,
Tifton
John Washington Danforth Jr., 69,
Tifton
Janie Mae Knight 55,
Tifton
Elvira Martinez, 86,
Omega
Redona “Maxine” Adamson, 90,
Gainesville
Warren “Alton” Hamlin, 72,
Quitman
JULY 25
Carolyn Louise Plymale Hiscock, 98,
Ty Ty
Susan Beck-Milton, 71,
Tifton
Paula Christine Lokey, 45,
Chula
Wendell Cecil Gregory, 82,
Norman Park
Evelyn Darleen Bazemore Roberson, 79,
Sycamore
Melba Lois Barker, 77,
Valdosta
Josephine Thomas Harper, 82,
Fitzgerald
Fred "Freddie" Meek, 40,
Albany
JULY 26
Myrna Sue Erskine Allen, 78,
Tifton
Manuel Alfonso “Poncho” Martinez 82,
Omega
Tony Tidd, 71,
Tifton
Annette Wright, 81,
Adel
Lavonia Hodges Kinner, 85,
Willacoochee
Raymond Vickers, 84,
Hahira
JULY 27
Wanda June Abernathy Cohen, 77,
Tifton
Clayton Travis Hurst Jr., 55,
Tifton
Sara Margaret Yeomans Kersey, 80,
Tifton
Wayne Shirah, 76,
Adel
Irvin Hank Raines, 62,
Montgomery, Ala.
Sylvia Jean Harper Henderson, 81,
Irwin County
|
|
JULY 28
Billie Steverson, 75,
Alapaha
Harold Hull, 87,
Adel
JULY 29
Michael "Mike" Lavane Gibbs, 62,
Chula
Mary Johnson, 88,
Tifton
Billie C. Scott, 57,
Tifton
Beverly Ann Pafford, 81,
West Berrien Community
JULY 30
Willie Pearl West, 77,
Nashville
|
|
|
We Help Make Your Dreams a Reality!
We’re Experts in the Local Real Estate Market,
finding the Dream for Every Owner.
Open Around the Clock to Serve Your Real Estate Needs,
We do Everything but the Packing!
|
|
Tifton Grapevine
e-published every Tuesday and Friday
Frank Sayles Jr.
Editor & Publisher
Bonnie Sayles
Managing Editor
|
|
|
A Service of
Sayles Unlimited Marketing LLC
,
Tifton, Georgia
|
|
See what's happening on our social sites:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
