Today's Deadline

OCT. 11, 2016

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126

tiftongrapevine.com

TODAY'S DEADLINE

VOTER REGISTRATION MUST BE DONE BY TODAY;

EARLY VOTING BEGINS OCT. 17

Today, Tuesday, Oct. 11, is the last day to register to vote in this year's presidential and statewide elections.

All voter registration applications must be submitted or postmarked by today. Advance voting begins on Monday, Oct. 17, for the Nov. 8 election.

"It has never been easier to register to vote in our state," said Secretary of State Brian Kemp. "For the first time in Georgia, voters can register to vote or update their information online, via text or by using my office's smartphone app."

Georgians can submit an electronic voter registration application using their Georgia driver's license number or state-issued identification card number on several platforms: To register online, click here; Apple and Android devices can register with the free "GA SOS" mobile app; and smartphone users can also use the

"2VOTE" text messaging pilot project.

And, of course, Georgians can mail in hard-copy voter registration applications today to their county registrar or register in person; in Tift County, the election supervisor's office is at 222-B Chestnut Ave., in Tifton. Call 229-386-7915.

Anyone registering online must have a driver's license or state identification number. Those unsure of their registration status can check it through the state's "My Voter Page," www.mvp.sos.ga.gov, where you may also view and download sample ballots.

More than 6.5 million voters are currently registered in Georgia, according to the Secretary of State's office.

HURRICANE EVACUEES

TIFTON SHELTERS MORE THAN 1,200 DISPLACED PEOPLE

As Hurricane Mathew made its way up the Southern coast last weekend, approximately 1,200 folks fled inland to six makeshift shelters in Tifton. Others filled local hotels, motels and homes throughout the area, bringing the Tifton evacuee total to about 2,000.

Three of the Tifton shelters were operated by the American Red Cross at the Tift County Recreation Department, First United Methodist Church and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. As they filled to capacity, three "Good Samaritan"


Volunteers gather evacuee supplies at Tifton's First Baptist Church.

shelters were also opened at Tifton's First Baptist Church, Northside Baptist Church and the Church of God Campgrounds.

Also, the Georgia Museum of Agriculture allowed its parking lot to be used by recreational vehicles fleeing the storm.

Local residents went into action and gathered food and supplies for the evacuees and spent time with some of them. Local restaurants sent hundreds of meals to the shelters. The Tifton Fire Department visited shelters to allow evacuated children to see and climb onto a fire truck.

The Tift County Emergency Management Agency said it was "overwhelmed by the support that our community shown. The amount of donations and volunteers were amazing and very much appreciated. Thank you for everything that you have


	Fire truck visits evacuees.

done."

In a letter to the editor, Tifton mayor and City Council noted that "people rolled up their sleeves and saw that every detail was attended to for our visitors, from making sure a four year old celebrated her birthday with a special cake to looking after pets for those who brought their beloved animals along. The outpouring of love and attention was awe-inspiring. Large and small acts of kindness were seen at every turn."

The city officials added: "Tifton showed up, stepped up and spoke up for those who were scared, those who needed prayer, those who were lonely, helpless and hungry. ... We, the City Council of Tifton, want to say thank you to all of our citizens. Whether you cooked a meal, delivered supplies, volunteered or just said a prayer, your efforts and love haven't gone unnoticed.

"And that is what makes this town so great -- you. Our hopes are that this spirit of love, selfless giving and camaraderie will shower this community every day. Tifton, you are awesome! Thank you for everything. We couldn't be prouder. You made a difference. You are the best."

FOUNDATION RECOGNIZES ANNIE BELLE CLARK READERS

Meredith Rutland (far left) and Jeanine Webster (far right), both liaisons for the Tift County Foundation for Educational Excellence, present a foundation check to Annie Belle Clark Primary School principal Stephanie Morrow for the Accelerated Reader points earned this summer. Also pictured are top staff reader Amy Whitley and top student reader Payton Bennett.

2002 Slack Drive, Tifton

A variety of home items for sale, including antiques, collectibles,

outdoor antique cast-iron table and chairs, wrought-iron table and chairs,

black wrought-iron rocker chairs, a Sansui amplifier and Technics turntable with two Realistic-Electrostat speakers, modern coffee table, gun cabinet,

antique American Drew tea art, antique small oval coffee table, 3-piece computer desk, tiger oak secretary, and much more!

Estate Sale

Friday & Saturday!

UGA TIFTON RESEARCHER

RECEIVING EXCELLENCE AWARD


	BRENNEMAN

Tim Brenneman, a peanut plant pathologist at t he University of Georgia Tifton Campus , will receive a D.W. Brooks Faculty Award for Excellence in Research at the D.W. Brooks Lecture on Nov. 7 in Athens.

A viewing party is being set up at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center's small auditorium for the event.

Roger Thurow, a veteran foreign correspondent for The Wall Street Journal and an anti-hunger activist, will deliver the guest lecture.

TRMC awarded Blue Distinction for joint replacement

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia has selected the Tift Regional Joint Replacement and Spine Care Center as a Blue Distinction Center for knee and hip replacement.

The Tift Regional Joint Replacement and Spine Care Center is located at Tift Regional Medical Center (TRMC) in Tifton. With a comprehensive educational program, this specialized inpatient unit is specifically dedicated to helping joint

replacement and spine surgery patients overcome pain and restore mobility. The goal is to involve patients and family members in treatment every step of the way to ensure optimal recovery.

Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated healthcare facilities shown to deliver improved patient safety and better health outcomes, based on objective measures that were developed by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies with input from the medical community.

Hospitals designated as Blue Distinction Centers for Knee and Hip Replacement demonstrate expertise in total knee and total hip replacement surgeries, resulting in fewer patient complications and hospital readmissions. Only those facilities that first meet nationally established quality measures are considered for designation as a Blue Distinction Center.

Participating surgeons for elective knee and hip procedures at the Tift Regional Joint Replacement and Spine Care Center include orthopedic surgeons Dr. James Scott, Dr. William Smith and Dr. David Banks with Georgia Sports Medicine.

"We are proud to have achieved this designation because it is a reflection of the skills, hard work and dedication of our surgeons, nurses, therapists and support staff," said Demarius McRae, TRMC Director of Cardiovascular and Orthopedic Services. "The biggest beneficiaries are our patients, who can count on quality care and a quicker return to normal activities."

The center also offers spine care with orthopedic spine surgeons Dr. Edward Hellman with Georgia Sports Medicine and Dr. Mac Sims with Optim Orthopedics.

For more information about the Blue Distinction program, visit www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction. To learn more about the Tift Regional Joint Replacement and Spine Care Center, call 229-353-BONE (2663) or visit www.TRMCortho.com

DOWNTOWN TIFTON'S UNIQUE ADDRESS

HISTORIC

UNION DEPOT APARTMENTS

Unique 1 Bedroom/

1 Bath Apartment @$850

& 2 Bedroom/ 2 Bath

Loft Apartment @ $950

Now Available!

Both with Marble Countertops;

Custom-made Cabinets;

Walk-in Closets; Hardwood Floors; All Appliances, including Washer & Dryer; Secure Entry; and Ample Parking

CHURCH-WIDE

YARD SALE ON SATURDAY

Tifton's First United Methodist Church's Club 55 and Youth are having their Annual Yard Sale this Saturday, Oct. 15 , from 7 a.m.-noon at the

church's Social Hall on Central Avenue.

Items for sale include household items, electronics, baby items, toys, clothes for all ages, books, and much more.

All proceeds are used for the church's mission projects .

"Best-Selling Truck for 39 Straight Years"

511 West 7th Street

(229) 382-1300

griffinford.net

CAST CHOSEN FOR 'THE BIRDS'

Cast members have been selected for "The Birds," the Baldwin Players' upcoming fall production at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

Dr. Brian Ray, director for the theatre troupe, said "The Birds" will be staged in Howard Auditorium at 7 p.m. Oct. 27-29. Because of some of the themes and language, the production may not be suitable for those under age 17.

Written by Greek comic playwright Aristophanes, 'The Birds" has been recognized by critics as a masterful work of fantasy. It was first performed in 414 B.C.E. at the

City Dionysia festival, where it won second prize. The story follows Pisthetairos, a middle-aged Athenian who convinces the world's birds to form a new city in the sky (thereby gaining control over all communications between men and gods), and is himself eventually and miraculously transformed into a bird-like god figure, replacing Zeus as the pre-eminent power in the cosmos.

Cast members include Dylan Bennett as Pisthetairos, Keri Jones as Euelpides/Poseidon, Devun Pitts as Tereus, Lauren Slaughter as Prometheus, Caroline Kirkland as the Commissioner/Princess, Gina Wilson as the Triballian goddess, Nijia Pinkney as Iris and the Statute Seller, Amber Dillard as the messenger, and Angela Ramos-Santodomingo as the Chorus Leader.

The chorus includes Emily Adams, Alicia Anderson, Linda Aycock, Nolan Barbour, Aarian McGee, Meredith McGlamory, Ajoya Monell, Amara Muldrow, Michael Brogdon, Rachel Taylor, Brianna Thomas, Aaliyah Smith and Kaylee Stokes.

ABAC FACULTY GET 'ENRICHMENT FUNDS'

Five faculty members at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College will have proposals funded this year through the college's Faculty Enrichment Fund from the ABAC Foundation.

Recipients are Dr. Leslie Pryor, assistant professor of science in the School of Science and Mathematics; Dr. Thomas Grant, assistant professor of journalism in the School of Liberal Arts; Dr. Jason Scott, assistant professor of forest resources in the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources; Dr. Jay Baldwin, assistant professor of communication in the School of Liberal Arts; and Dr. Thomas Heflin, assistant professor of jazz in the School of Liberal Arts.


	From left: Leslie Pryor, Thomas Grant, Thomas Heflin, Jason Scott and Jay Baldwin.

In its second year, the Faculty Enrichment Fund is a competitive award designed to assist faculty in contributing to and engaging in research, scholarship, and/or creative activities.

Pryor's proposal is to work with two students to study osteocyte cell morphology and bone disease.

"Because the grant will help supply me with the equipment I need to carry out my research, I am optimistic that the funds I am receiving ... will help in the development of more student research opportunities," Pryor said.

Grant will work on the documentary, "Elephants in the Coffee," with two student assistants. "I've been working on the documentary since 2012," Grant said. "It's about the conflict between endangered wild elephants and agriculture in Southern India. I've taken students from ABAC on two study abroad trips to the region, and we've looked at the problem from multiple angles. They've shot video, interviewed people and helped produce the documentary. This grant will allow us to complete the documentary, then show it at colleges, high schools, and science centers in this country and India."

Scott will work with students on a vertebrate inventory for the new Alapaha River Wildlife Management Area operated by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR). "We will be working with the DNR doing vertebrate inventory for a new property in Irwin County," Scott said. "This creates an opportunity for students to form and test scientific questions."

Baldwin will participate in a conference at the Max Planck Institute in Jena, Germany, while conducting a site visit for a proposed study abroad course in intercultural communication. He said the college does an excellent job helping students develop good oral and written communication skills; "but it sometimes leads us to focus too much on questions of how to communicate effectively and too little on questions of what kind of society our communication produces. This grant carves out a little intellectual space for me to consider these kinds of questions from an evolutionary perspective and, hopefully, to integrate some of these ideas back into the classroom."

Heflin will arrange a selection of the music for a professionally recorded CD by the ABAC Concert Band, Jazz Band and Concert Choir. " We hope this recording will document the amazing music program at ABAC, which will further serve as a recruiting tool for the program and the college as a whole," Heflin said.