More Downtown Parking

FEB. 9, 2018

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126

tiftongrapevine.com

These two buildings will be razed, at 325 and 327 Commerce Way, to create more downtown parking. The state has determined the building at right to be of 'historical significance.'

COMMERCE WAY PROJECT MOVES FORWARD

TWO BUILDINGS TO BE RAZED FOR PARKING LOT

Tifton City Council this week OK'd a Memorandum of Agreement with the Ga. Historic Preservation Division to allow the demolition of two adjacent buildings on Commerce Way to create a downtown parking lot.

The state has determined one of the buildings, a vacant structure at 327 Commerce Way owned by downtown businessman Jack Stone and built in 1908, to be of "historical significance." Because of that finding, the city agreed to document the building with photographs and to erect an "interpretive display," or kiosk, at the site to note the history of the structure.

The other building at 325 Commerce Way is currently occupied by Davy Davis' music shop.

The agreement allows the Tifton Downtown Development Authority to move forward with its Commerce Way downtown revitalization plan. The city has received a Redevelopment Fund Grant from the Ga. Department of Community Affairs in the amount of $376,887 for the parking project.

PRAYING FOR TIFTON

Retired Lenox banker and Vietnam War veteran Warren Robinson, at left, was the guest speaker for the first Mayor's Prayer Breakfast in Tifton on Thursday.

Robinson spoke on the difference between belief and faith, and said that simple actions can have lifelong ripples throughout a community.

Mayor Julie Smith hopes the event will become an annual one.

Bonnie Sayles, executive director of Literacy Volunteers of Tifton-Tift County, presents top place awards to Nakia McCoggle, right, with K&K Custom Creations: 'Best Taste,' 'Best Presentation' and 'Best in Show.'

'CHOC-ING IT UP' IN TIFTON

Attendees at the 2018 Choc-It-Up for Literacy selected Tifton's best chocolate Tuesday night at the sixth annual February fundraiser for Literacy Volunteers of Tifton-Tift County at Spring Hill Country Club.

First-time competitor Nakia McCoggle and her crew at K&K Custom Creations was the crowd favorite, taking "Best Taste," "Best Presentation" and "Best in Show."


	Maggie Torres of Fresco Italiano accepts 'Most Original' award.

Another first-timer, Maggie Torres, pastry chef with Fresco Italiano, won "Most Original" with crème brulee, tiramisu and other unique desserts.

Hilton Garden Inn employees, a longtime competitor, won "Greatest Variety."

Other chocolatiers receiving votes in all categories were Cakes by Audrey, Ruby Tuesday of Tifton and Edible Arrangements. BJ Smith at Springhill staffed the event and provided linens, utensils and staff help as a donation to Literacy Volunteers. Espresso 41 provided coffee and cookies.

"Our local chocolatiers made this event delicious, exciting and elegant. We are so happy so many people came out to bid in the silent auction and live auction, and make Choc-It-Up 2018 a success for Literacy Volunteers," said Victor Pires, president of the nonprofit organization.


Courtney Moore, right, with Hilton Garden Inn Employees accepts the 'Greatest Variety' award.

L VTTC helps adults improve their reading and math skills and prepare for the GED test. It also supports Southern Regional Technical College in its Adult Education program and English Language Learners classes and has scholarships to help eligible students pay for GED test fees.

"Whenever we are able to help a student increase his or her educational level, we benefit our community," Pires said.

For information on GED or other tutoring opportunities, contact Literacy Volunteers at 229-391-2527 or email tiftlv@gmail.com . The office is located at Southern Regional Technical College, Tifton Campus, 52 Tech Drive, Tifton GA 31794.

TIFTON'S EUNICE MIXON GETS HONORED AT STATE CAPITOL AS 'DISTINGUISHED OLDER GEORGIAN'

Tifton's grande dame Eunice Mixon was formally honored Thursday at the state Capitol as the Georgia Council on Aging 's 2018 Distinguished Older Georgian.

The Council on Aging wrapped up Senior Week at the Capitol with a reception for Mixon, attended by her family, friends and state officials.

Mixon was also honored Thursday in the state House and in the state Senate, where she was presented with


	Mixon speaks Thursday in the state Capitol.

Senate Resolution 607 recognizing her work and dedication to the state of Georgia.

A retired educator, Mixon spent decades working on behalf of statewide and national political candidates and promoting Tift County, was the Senate's doorkeeper for a dozen years, chaired the state's first Hope Scholarship committee and served 16 years on the State Bar's legal disciplinary board, a position to which she was appointed by the state Supreme Court.

Mixon has served in numerous other organizations and has been honored by the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce, being named to the county's Wall of Fame.

SHERIFF'S OFFICE ARRESTS 97

The Tift County Sheriff's Office reports it made 97 arrests during January, arresting some people on multiple charges.

There were 30 charges filed for drug violations, 23 for probation/parole violations, 20 for property crimes, nine for failure to appear, seven for obstruction of officers, four for crimes against persons, three for fraud, two for child support violations and nine for


	SCARBROUGH

various other non-traffic offenses, said Tift County Sheriff Gene Scarbrough.

He said traffic stops led to the filing of seven drug charges, the arrest of two wanted persons, the filing of five charges of driving under the influence and 26 charges of driving with suspended or revoked licenses.

Deputies conducted 1,938 business and property checks, 347 mobile home park and subdivision checks, and answered 2,986 calls for service. D eputies served 102 warrants, 87 civil papers and 392 subpoenas.

Scarbrough said deputies completed 486 reports, 36 accident reports, issued 915 traffic citations, 190 traffic warnings, verified the home addresses of 62 registered sex offenders residing in Tift County and patrolled 59,470 miles. He said deputies handled 61 transports totaling 5,992 miles and 171 hours.

LENTEN LUNCHES BEGINNING

This year's Community Lenten Lunches begin at noon Wednesday, Feb. 14, at the Leroy Rogers Senior Center with Pastor Wayne Roe of Tifton's First Baptist Church.

Fran Kinchen, director of the Leroy Rogers Senior Center, said the event is a continuation of the annual Tifton Community Lenten Lunch Series designed to bring Christians together from different denominations and traditions during the Easter season.

Beginning on Ash Wednesday and continuing each Wednesday of Lent, the lunches conclude the Wednesday of Holy Week, March 28. A light lunch will be served from noon-12:30, with devotions concluding by 1 p.m. A donation of $3 is requested to help with the cost of the lunches.

Pastor Roe said the Lenten Lunches will continue to be a meaningful, ecumenical worship service, and the response from the community has been enthusiastic. In the past, weekly attendance has averaged 150 to 175 people.

The weekly schedule is: Feb. 14, First Baptist Tifton, Dr. Wayne Roe; Feb. 21, Dayspring Inspirational, the Rev. Cornelius Ponder III; Feb. 28, First Presbyterian, Pastor Jarred Hammet; March 7, Beulah Hill Missionary Baptist, Pastor Christopher Solomon; March 14, St. Anne's Episcopal, the Rev. Lonnie Lacy; March 21, Our Divine Saviour Catholic, Pastor Peter Oyenugba; and March 28, First United Methodist, the Rev. Benjy Varnell.

Easter Sunday is April 1.

POSITION NOW AVAILABLE!

Pianist

Tifton First United

Methodist Church

107 W 12th St., Tifton, Ga.

Tifton First United Methodist Church has an opening for a church pianist.

This is a part-time position.

The pianist is responsible for preparing for and practicing with the chancel choir, orchestra and ensemble on Wednesday evenings for about two hours and for playing at Sunday traditional services at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., as well as at special services.

Interested persons should contact Angie Carr at musicdirector@tiftonfumc.org or call

229-382-6100

ILLNESSES SHUTTER

IRWIN ELEMENTARY

Irwin County Elementary School closed Thursday and remains closed today (Friday) because of a "pattern of sicknesses," the school said.

According to the school's Facebook page, the elementary school is shut down b ecause

of "our school's pattern of sicknesses (viruses and flu) continues to grow, especially among staff members."

School officials said more than 60 students have been out ill along with about a dozen school staff members.

"The cleaning crews will be doing extensive cleaning and sanitizing" while school is closed, officials said.

Irwin County's middle and high schools remain open.

HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS

ATTEND EDUCATION SYMPOSIUM

Tift Regional Medical Center held its second annual Heart and Vascular Symposium on Saturday. The event, which was open to area health care professionals, included speakers from academic institutions such as the University of Florida, Emory University and Augusta University.

Bill Reinhardt, who serves as chief judge in Superior Court for the Tifton Judicial Circuit, discussed common liability issues in Georgia malpractice cases.

The educational event was spearheaded by Tift Regional's cardiovascular physicians.

TIFT COUNTY HIGH STUDENTS TO COMPETE

IN STATE SKILLS COMPETITION

Several students at Tift County High School who won in regional competition last week are headed to state competition in SkillsUSA.

The TCHS student winners are:

FIRST PLACE -- Jamicah Whitehead, masonry; Taylor Williams, plumbing; Larri Hernandez, cabinet making; Rebekah Roberts, first aid/CPR; Justin Bailey, automotive service; Eli Boatner, job skills demo; Keenan Webb, team works; Alex Barlow, team

works; Julio Gutierrez, team works; Bryce McDaniels, welding fab;

Ty Barbee, welding fab; Bryce Gilder, welding fab; Grant Stinson, welding fab.

SECOND PLACE -- Armando Garcia, job skills demo; Kyle Hudgins, T-shirt design; Lainee Conley, prepared speech; Nick Braswell, ext. speaking; Jesus Garcia, quiz bowl; Jackson Bailey, quiz bowl; Blake Smith, quiz bowl; William Clinton, quiz bowl; Owen Willis, quiz bowl.

THIRD PLACE -- Chandler Pitts, carpentry; John Cheek, welding; Lindsey Poore, job interview; Michael Golden, electrical wiring.

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA provides educational programs, events and competitions that support career and technical education.

TRHS NURSE PRACTITIONER

SPEAKING AT INTERNATIONAL

NURSING-HEALTHCARE GATHERING

Dr. Lakesha Williams, internal medicine nurse practitioner and n on-physician


WILLIAMS

practitioner (NPP) coordinator for Tift Regional Health System, has been asked to speak at the Fifth World Congress on Nursing and Healthcare in Toronto in November.

Williams will be addressing the abstract she submitted, "Increasing Awareness of the American Diabetes Association Guidelines for Prediabetes Screening in Asymptomatic Adults to Prevent the Transition from Prediabetes to Diabetes Mellitus."

Last year, she was selected as an associate editor for the Nursing & Healthcare International Journal, a forum for communication and idea exchange for advance nursing practices.