Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Tifton, Georgia
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GrapeNew
A MONTH OF MUSIC IN DOWNTOWN TIFTON
MAIN STREET PROMOTES LOCAL 'BATTLE OF BANDS;'
LIBRARY FOUNDATION BRINGS 'LITTLE TEXAS' TO THE TIFT
By FRANK SAYLES JR.
Tifton Grapevine

Downtown Tifton is the place to be for live music during September as the Main Street program sponsors a local "Battle of the Bands," while the Tifton-Tift County Public Library Foundation brings the Grammy-nominated country-rock band Little Texas to the Tift Theatre .

Little Texas , which has won a CMA (Country Music Association) Album of the Year and has sold more than 7 million albums, comes to the Tift Theatre on Thursday, Sept. 19 , to benefit the Public Library Foundation , which is partnering with McAlpin Entertainment to bring the country superstars to Tifton .

Little Texas' opening act will be the popular Shotgun Charlie Walker band at 7:30 p.m. For tickets , Click Here .

Meanwhile, Tifton Main Street is holding a free outdoor "Battle of the Bands" every Thursday night in September with each week's top winners going head-to-head for a cash prize of $1,500 during the finale on Thursday, Sept. 26 .

"It’s exciting to see things happening all around downtown and to see people walk around to enjoy free concerts , and we want to encourage more of this," said Abbey McLauren , downtown development director.

"We’re also hoping this event will help to drive support to downtown’s economic and overall benefit for our merchants and restaurants in the business district . To get in on the fun, bring your lawn chairs or blankets , and enjoy the evening,” she said.

The local bands will be performing each Thursday night downtown during September on the stages at Tifton Gardens and Gateway Park along Main Street . Below is the band schedule , with the three top bands battling on Sept. 26 :
CITY ELECTIONS HAVE
ONE CONTESTED RACE
Qualifying ended Friday for the Tifton city general election on Nov. 5 with only one contested race .

Incumbent City Councilman Frank Sayles Jr. will face newcomer M.Jay Hall in the City Council race to represent District 4 .

Sayles , completing his first term, has a marketing/communications business in Tifton's Historic District. Hall operates a community event venue in South Tifton.

Mayor Julie B. Smith and District 2 incumbent Councilman Jack Folk are seeking re-election without opposition .
Oct. 7 is the last day to register to vote in the general election.

Early voting will be held 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 14-Nov. 1 at the Tift County Board of Elections Office (old gym), at 222 Chesnutt Ave, Building B , located on the corner of 4th Street and Chesnutt Ave.

Election Day voting will also be held at the Tift County Board of Elections Office.

The polls will be open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on election day, Tuesday, Nov. 5.
REP. HOUSTON NAMED TO STATE ECONOMIC GROWTH PANEL
State Rep. Penny Houston , R-Nashville, was recently appointed to serve on the Special Committee on Economic Growth , which will solicit input on potential new industries .

“I am grateful that Speaker (David) Ralston appointed me to serve on this important special committee to enhance economic growth across our state,” said Houston .

“It is crucial that we continue to seek innovative legislative solutions that will bolster our state’s economy and bring new industries to Georgia and to our local communities .”

The committee will look at industries that wish to enter Georgia and would require legislation creating a new regulatory framework . State revenue collected from such new industries could be used to fund specific programs such as education, healthcare and infrastructure.

Houston's House district includes part of Tift County .
SHERIFF'S OFFICE ARRESTS 99 IN JULY
Tift County Sherif's Office deputies during July arrested 99 people, some on multiple charges, says Sheriff Gene Scarbrough .

He said that 40 charges of parole/probation violations were filed, 31 drug charges,  nine obstruction cases, 19 crimes against a person charges, 10  property crimes charges, nine weapons violations and 10 failures to appear with 75 cases being assigned to the Criminal Investigative Division.

Traffic stops conducted by deputies led to eight charges of driving under the influence, four drug charges, 35 individuals having a suspended or revoked driver’s license, nine other non-traffic charges as well as the arrest of four wanted persons and one weapons charge, the sheriff said.

Deputies responded to 3,896 calls for service, conducted 1,668 business and property checks along with 693 mobile home park and subdivision checks. Scarbrough said that deputies served 589 warrants, 85 civil papers and 498  subpoenas.

Deputies completed 188 reports, worked 30 accidents, patrolled 66,644  miles, verified the home addresses of 68 registered sex offenders and issued 1,504  citations with 178 warnings, the sheriff said.

Deputies also provided 81 transports totaling 242 hours and 10,667 miles during the month.
MILITARY SERVICE ACADEMY DAY
SET FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
At 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 14 , Congressman Austin Scott , R-Tifton, will host the Eighth District’s U.S. Military Service Academy Day at the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins.

Representatives from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point , U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, the U.S. Air Force Academy , U.S. Coast Guard Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy , along with representatives from Georgia Military College and University of North Georgia , will be there to explain the nomination process to potential applicants and the requirements for applying to each academy .
 
All high school students and their parents may attend. Students who are unable to attend can contact Scott's Tifton office at 229-396-5175 for information.
 
"I’m proud to host this event each year, and I encourage all interested students and their families in the Eighth District to join us on Sept. 14 to learn more about our nation’s service academies ," Scott said.
TIFTON CONTINUES
GOING TO THE DAWGS

Tifton's 10th University of Georgia bulldog statue , dubbed "Lady," will be unleashed on Wednesday, Aug. 28 , at the Howard Center , 1948 Old Ocilla Road in Tifton.

The UGA dawg statues can be found around town , and each is named and sponsored by a local business or organization .

"Call the Dawgs to Tifton" is an ongoing initiative of UGA Tifton's Agribusiness Club and Collegiate FFA in celebration of the  Tifton campus' 100th anniversary .
PLEDGES, ADOPTIONS NEEDED TO SAVE CATS AT TIFT COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER
A rescue organization has taken an interest in the seven lucky cats pictured here at the Tift County Animal Shelter . 

“We are so excited to have rescue interest , but we need pledges to make it happen ,” said Leah Robbins with Tift Animal Rescue . 

A pledge from a local sponsor tells the rescue organization that if a cat is rescued , someone will donate to help cover costs of the new cat. Rescuers can see how much potential funding an animal has, then determine if they are able to rescue based on the amount.

Rescues are animal safe houses that run off of donations . Those who post a comment with a pledge on the Friends of Tift County Shelter Facebook page will be contacted with instructions on how to donate. Click Here!

“ Pledges help the rescue cover vetting, transportation, food and supplies ,” Robbins said. “ These cats are so close to getting out . Thank you for your generosity . Every single dollar helps save lives.”

Local residents are encouraged to go by the animal shelter and open their hearts to one or more of the many cats and dogs looking for new homes, she said. Many young kittens are also currently available .
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