Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021
Tifton, Georgia
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GrapeNew
TIFT HAS 239 NEW COVID-19 CASES
TIFT REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER'S EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT 'SEVERELY OVERCROWDED'
By FRANK SAYLES JR.
Tifton Grapevine
COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Tift County with 239 new confirmed cases in the past two weeks, contributing to Tift Regional Medical Center's (TRMC) emergency department being "severely overcrowded," according to state data.

Tift's 239 new coronavirus cases within two weeks represent 585 cases per 100,000 population, says the Ga. Department of Public Health (DPH). As of Tuesday, TRMC's emergency department remained "severely overcrowded," according to Georgia Hospital Resources' Georgia Coordinating Center.

However, Southwell healthcare system announced that TRMC was no longer on emergency-room diversion as of Sunday but remained on critical-care diversion. That means that the Tifton hospital is once again accepting incoming ambulances but is not accepting new critical patients.

TRMC is the only hospital in the immediate area listed as having a "severely overcrowded" emergency department. The Georgia Coordinating Center lists Dorminy Medical Center in Fitzgerald as simply "overcrowded," and South Georgia Medical Center in Valdosta as "busy."

The emergency departments in Ocilla's Irwin County Hospital, Cordele's Crisp Regional Hospital, and Albany's Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital are listed as "normal" as of Tuesday.

To check the status of emergency departments in hospitals across the state of Georgia, Click Here!

The DPH said Tuesday that Tift County saw a 16.1% COVID testing positivity rate during the past two weeks, and 166 new confirmed coronavirus cases, for a total of 3,822 cases and 104 related deaths.

TIFT SCHOOLS SET NEW QUARANTINE PROCEDURES

The Tift County School System has issued new quarantine procedures. According to the school system, the DPH has issued "updated guidance to schools, recognizing the importance of in-person learning."

The update notes that "Schools may now elect to adhere to different quarantine requirements in order to facilitate in-person learning. These alternative quarantine guidelines can only be followed if the point of exposure is in the school setting and the individual remains asymptomatic.”

Based upon that, Tift County Schools says that quarantine will not be required for "direct contact students or staff who are asymptomatic (no symptoms). These individuals should follow DPH guidelines (wearing a mask, monitor temperature twice per day, social distancing, and washing hands). In the event these individuals become symptomatic or test positive, quarantine will be required."

BEN HILL COUNTY REQUIRES MASKS AT TWO SCHOOLS

Meanwhile, the Ben Hill County School District is mandating masks at two of its schools, based on symptomatic and quarantined students. Starting Tuesday, everyone at Ben Hill Middle School and Fitzgerald High School's College and Career Academy are required to wear masks while inside the building and when they can't avoid close contact.
On Tuesday, Georgia reported 4,385 new confirmed COVID-19 cases within one day with 25 additional deaths. The state has recorded a total of 968,167 confirmed cases and 18,881 deaths from the virus, the DPH said.
TIFTON TO BREAK GROUND ON NEW YOUTH CENTER
The groundbreaking for the City of Tifton's new Youth Center is scheduled at 10 a.m. Thursday at 511 West 17th St. in South Tifton.

“On behalf of the City of Tifton, we are beyond thankful to be breaking ground on the Youth Center project. We’ve been working on this idea for several years now, and to know that soon the families of the surrounding area will have a functional facility to enjoy is very exciting," said Mayor Julie B. Smith.

"I’m grateful to our partners at the Tift County School System for working with us, and especially grateful to our Urban Redevelopment Board for their ongoing work to make a positive impact that will benefit our citizens.” 

City Councilman Johnny Terrell noted that “we have wanted to do something like this in this area for so long. We knew it would happen sooner or later, and I am so proud that this is getting done right now, not only for the citizens of the Third District but also for the City of Tifton itself. This Youth Center is going to be a great asset and a dream come true.” 

The Youth Center is made possible through a $750,000 Community Development Block Grant and additional city funds. The city said it will unveil an artist's rendering of the center and discuss timelines and details at the groundbreaking. 
ABAC WELCOMES STUDENTS
BACK TO CAMPUS
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) welcomed back more than 4,000 students Tuesday. Most of the students this fall are enrolled in four-year degree programs. ABAC began offering bachelor's degree classes in 2008. For 75 years before that, ABAC had only offered a two-year associate's degree.
TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY RECOGNIZES TOP READERS DURING
SUMMER PROGRAM

Alyssa and T.J. Douglas are prize winners in the Tifton-Tift County Public Library's Summer Reading Program which recently concluded. 

Alyssa won second place in her age group for most books read; T.J. was also a top reader in this summer's program.
Evelyn Rigdon, center, and the family of the late Ralph Rigdon accept the George F. Hixon Fellow Award honoring Ralph Rigdon. Presenting the award is Jane Justice, right, president of the Kiwanis Club of Tifton.
KIWANIS GIVES POSTHUMOUS AWARD TO RALPH RIGDON OF TIFTON
The late William “Ralph” Rigdon Sr. of Tifton has been presented posthumously with an international Kiwanis award bestowed upon a Kiwanian who has contributed significantly to the Kiwanis values of serving children in the community and the world at large.

Jane Justice, president of the Kiwanis Club of Tifton, presented the prestigious George F. Hixon Fellow Award at the club's Aug. 5 meeting to Evelyn Rigdon and the family of longtime Tifton Kiwanian Ralph Rigdon in his honor.

The award comes with a $1,000 donation to the Kiwanis Children’s Fund made in Rigdon’s memory.

“The Tifton Kiwanis Club lovingly agreed that Ralph truly emulated the values of Kiwanis both in his commitment to serving the community and in the way he approached his life. He was a very special man who is missed by our club,” Justice said. 

Rigdon, 97, died Aug. 27, 2020. He had owned and operated Rigdon’s Coin-Operated Laundry, which was a 70-year-old family business. In addition to Kiwanis, he was a member of First Baptist Church of Tifton and the American Legion, and was a dedicated volunteer for Meals on Wheels and American Red Cross blood drives.

The Kiwanis Club of Tifton meets at noon on the first and third Thursdays of each month at Tifton’s Hilton Garden Inn. 
LANGDALE FOUNDATION CONTINUES SUPPORT OF 'DESTINATION AG'
The Harley Langdale Jr. Foundation Inc., will extend its support of Destination Ag for three more years at the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College's Georgia Museum of Agriculture.

The "Foundation is very pleased to continue our partnership with ABAC's Destination Ag. We believe it is vitally important to educate our youth about the importance of agriculture and natural resources in their daily lives," said Donnie Warren, the foundation's executive director.

Museum Director Garrett Boone said 36,590 children have attended Destination Ag programming during its first five years. More than 14,000 students are expected to attend Destination Ag classes at the museum during the 2021-22 year.

“ABAC’s Georgia Museum of Agriculture is focused on providing educational opportunities for youth within our region and state,” Boone said. “We are proud to continue our partnership with the Harley Langdale Jr. Foundation, a partnership that allows us to enhance our offerings and provide an experiential agriculture and natural resources educational program taught by ABAC students for Georgia’s youth in pre-k through fifth grade."

Destination Ag serves 12 counties – Cook, Colquitt, Berrien, Lowndes, Tift, Echols, Brooks, Turner, Worth, Irwin, Lanier, and Ben Hill – as well as the Valdosta City schools. In the upcoming sixth year of the program, Destination Ag will focus on Pre-K, and students in the first, third, and fifth grades.
TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK
"Snowball" is seeking a "furever" home. To adopt "Snowball" and to find your next pet, visit the Tift County Animal Shelter from 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).
Pets of the Week are sponsored by:
Branch's Veterinary Clinic
205 Belmont Ave., Tifton, 229-382-6055
TIFTON OUTLAWS 'VELOCIPEDES'
ON CITY SIDEWALKS
– AUG. 10, 1894
Tifton City Council met Aug. 10, 1894, and approved an ordinance ordering that, "after the 15th of this month, no bicycle or velocipede shall be allowed to run on any of the sidewalks of the city, and all violators of this ordinance shall be subject to a fine of not less than $1 and not more than $5."
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