Carden Summers Wins Senate Seat

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

SUMMERS WINS STATE SENATE SEAT

Carden H. Summers has been elected the new state senator for state Senate District 13 in the runoff special election Tuesday.

In unofficial results Tuesday night, Summers edged Jim Quinn to temporarily fill the seat left vacant by the death of Sen. Greg Kirk , R-Americus.

With all precincts reporting, Summers received 6,273 votes, or 51.96 percent of the vote Tuesday , to Quinn's 5,799 votes, or 48.04 percent . The Senate district encompasses Tift, Turner, Worth, Crisp, Dodge, Dooly and Lee counties , and parts of Sumter and Wilcox counties.

Summers is a Republican former Crisp County commissioner and a real estate broker in Cordele.

He will now represent District 13 in the Senate during this year's General Assembly . A primary election for the seat will be held in May . The general election will be on Nov. 3 for the full Senate term.

Queen Latifah with two of the child actors at Tifton's Town Terrace Motel in this scene from the upcoming film, "The Tiger Rising."

EDITING UNDERWAY ON 'TIGER RISING' FILM

The director and film editors of "The Tiger Rising," the movie that was filmed in Tifton and Thomasville this past fall, have been posting on social media some images from the editing process underway.

Starring Queen Latifah and Dennis Quaid , much of the movie was filmed at Tifton's Town Terrace "Pink Motel" on 12th Street , which was transformed into the "Kentucky Star Motel."

Variety entertainment magazine also recently published an "Exclusive First Look" at "The Tiger Rising" with the photo below of Queen Latifah . The film is expected to be released before the end of the year.

Highland Film Group photo

"Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek with Mark Nasielski, who has close relatives in Tifton.

'JEOPARDY!' – THE QUESTION IS: WHAT CONTESTANT HAS TIES TO TIFTON?

Mark Nasielski , grandson of Dave and Susan Groff of Tifton , and a nephew of Ryan and Denise Gravitt of Tifton , will be a contestant next week on the " Jeopardy!" TV quiz show.

Nasielski will appear on the show on Tuesday, March 10 . The 21-year-old is in his third year in the honors program at the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) . He plays club volleyball and works for a division of the space agency .

He is the son of John and Donna Groff Nasielski.

SEVERE STORMS COULD BE ON WAY

Southwest Georgia could experience flash flooding and severe storms on Wednesday and Thursday , according to the National Weather Service .

The Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch through 7 p.m. Thursday for the counties of Tift, Irwin, Berrien, Turner, Worth, Colquitt, and Cook . Heavy rain and high winds are expected on Wednesday with another round of storms arriving early Thursday with more heavy rain, damaging winds and the possibility of tornadoes .

The rain , however, could help alleviate some of the dry conditions in the region. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center has said that following a fairly dry winter in South Georgia, wet conditions are predicted to persist through May , while temperatures are most likely to be warmer than usual .

TIFT PROBATE COURT JUDGE

ANNOUNCES RE-ELECTION BID

Judge Suzanne Carter Johnson has announced her candidacy for re-election for Probate Court judge of Tift County .

"l am uniquely qualified for the position of Probate Court judge because of the knowledge and experience that I have acquired by serving in that position," said Johnson .

"Georgia probate/estate laws are complex, and I have the experience of conducting estate and guardianship hearings, listening to testimony, reviewing evidence and rendering fair and impartial rulings based on Georgia law. Courtroom experience and judicial integrity are needed for this important position."

Probate Court has jurisdiction over the probate of wills , administration of estates , appointment of guardians and conservators for minors and adults, and ordering evaluations for individuals in a crisis situation because of mental challenges or those with substance abuse issues. Marriage licenses and weapons carry licenses are also issued in the Probate Court office.

Johnson completed all of the educational requirements of the Georgia Probate Court Judges Certificate Program provided by the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the University of Georgia and attends continuing judicial education classes to maintain certification..

As a member of the Council of Probate Judges , Johnson is the newly elected director for District 13 , and will begin serving a two-year term on the council on July 1.

"I enjoy the daily interaction with Tift County citizens and attorneys, and I consider myself fortunate to be able to serve Tift County. I look forward to continuing the excellent service that my staff and I have been able to provide," Johnson said.

Johnson resides in Tifton with husband, David Thomas "Tommy" Johnson , and is a member of First Baptist Church of Tifton and Gleaners Sunday School Class .

TIFTAREA ACADEMY'S LITERARY TEAM WINS REGION CHAMPIONSHIP

Tiftarea Academy's Literary Team on Monday won the GISA Region 3-AAA Championship.

Those placing first in the region were Julie Funk , piano; Kaylee Miller , rhetorical essay; John O'Quinn , extemporaneous speaking; Sellers Veazey , impromptu speaking; Chandler Livingston , spelling; and Sarah Hutto and Elissa Singer , duo dramatic interpretation.

Winning second place in region were Haley Roberson , dramatic oral interpretation; and girls trio, Audrey Young , Meredith Morgan and Allison Carter . Receiving a third place ranking was Whitney Hancock in argumentative essay.

All of the students that placed first or second in region will advance to the state competition at Gordon College on Wednesday, March 18 .

The Literary Team is under the direction of Natalie Rippy, Teresa Sumner, Kay Bowen and Sheri Wyles .

TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RIBBON CUTTING

Affinity Physicians for Women

1493 Kennedy Drive , Tifton

Feb. 27

DAISY Award recipient Shayla Giddens, left, and Carol M. Smith, senior vice president, acute care and chief nursing executive.

TRMC NURSE RECEIVES AWARD

FOR 'EXTRAORDINARY' NURSING

Shayla Giddens , a nurse at Tift Regional Medical Center (TRMC), was recently honored with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses .

Giddens is in the TRMC inpatient wound care department . She was nominated by Annsley Mathis , assistant nurse manager of the department, who said Giddens is "an extraordinary nurse that goes above and beyond for her patients, their families, guests and co-workers on a daily basis.”

In her nomination, Mathis told of Giddens' passion about patient care and the way she connects with her patients . One of her patients became extremely ill and had to be air lifted to Emory to undergo emergency surgery . He recovered well and hoped to make a trip to Disney World with his parents to visit the new "Star Wars" attraction.

"However, the trip had to be cut short due to the patient’s increasing medical bills and financial circumstances ,” Mathis said.

When Giddens learned that the patient and family would not experience their trip as planned, she was determined to make it happen . She worked with a local charitable organization who assisted in funding a three-day trip to Orlando so the patient and his family could enjoy the theme park before Christmas.

“ Shayla is a blessing to so many patients and families ,” Mathis said. “I personally know she is the type of nurse I want taking care of me because she is amazing in so many ways.”

TIFTON COUNCIL BANS 'DISORDERLY HOUSES,'

MARCH 5, 1897

Tifton City Council on March 5, 1897 , passed an ordinance defining "disorderly houses" and prohibiting them within the city .

The mayor and council banned the " keeping or renting ... of any public house where women of loose character are allowed to assemble ; where persons having no visible means of support are allowed to stop ; where gambling is allowed ; where intoxicating liquors are handled or allowed to be handled, contrary to law ... and where fighting and other disorderly conduct is frequent ."

Upon " written notice from the city marshal , such place must be closed at once ."