It's a Boo-tiful Week!

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

BOO!

GHOSTS, GOBLINS AND THINGS THAT GO BUMP

IN THE NIGHT ARE HEADING OUR WAY

Halloween is approaching, and it is forecast to be a wet one.

Law enforcement personnel are reminding parents and motorists to be careful Thursday night when children will be out and about trick-or-treating. The rain could make the evening more tricky as the weather will reduce visibility.

Tift County Sheriff Gene Scarbrough says d rivers should slow down and use extreme caution, especially in neighborhoods where children will be trick-or-treating. Children's costumes that are short to prevent trips and falls, are in light colors and/or have reflective tape are safest, the sheriff recommends. He says kids should stay in groups with adults, and someone should carry a flashlight. Consider putting reflective tape on the candy bags too.

Parents are urged to select the safest route for children, who should stay on sidewalks (where available) or on the shoulder of the road facing traffic. Children should avoid walking in the roadway, in alleys or poorly lit areas, and be cautious not to dart from behind parked vehicles or shrubs.

Scarbrough recommends that children should be instructed to stop only at familiar homes where outside lights are on and never go inside a home or car to collect treats. They should not stop at houses that are dark.

A number of churches are holding fall festivals and "trunk-or-treats," which are an alternative to going door-to-door in costume.

Downtown Tifton is also holding its annual, popular Trick-or-Treat on Main Street from 5-6 p.m. Thursday during which downtown businesses offer candy to costumed children. The event will go on rain or shine.

For the more adventurous, The Haunted Theatre continues Wednesday night and Halloween from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at the Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts in Downtown Tifton. Be prepared to be frightened!

Boo!

√ √ √ EARLY VOTING OPEN NOW & ENDS FRIDAY, 8-5 P.M. √ √ √

FRANK SAYLES JR. FOR TIFTON CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 4

KEEP TIFTON MOVING FORWARD! RE-ELECT FRANK SAYLES JR.

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √

MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS SIGN 'REACH' SCHOLARSHIPS

Five Tift County eighth-grade students signed a REACH Scholarship on Tuesday during a ceremony at Eighth Street Middle School .

REACH (Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen) Georgia is a scholarship that begins in eighth grade . REACH scholars are paired with a mentor and an academic coach through high school . Scholars must maintain good grades ( 2.5 GPA in core courses), good behavior and good attendance through middle and high school .

Upon successful completion of the program, qualifying students earn a $10,000 scholarship ( $2,500 a year for up to four years ) toward educational costs at a University System of Georgia or Technical College System of Georgia institution or at an eligible private post-secondary institution .

I n the photo above are the students who signed their scholarships Tuesday: Front row from left are Eighth Street Middle School students Caitlynn Burgess, Jesus Urbina and Arianna Corona ; and Northeast Middle School students Daniel Soto and Vanessa Mota . Back row from left are Eighth Street Principal Chad Stone , Superintendent Adam Hathaway and Northeast Principal Chris Martin .

RICKI READER FOUND!

Following an All-Points Bulletin about the mysterious disappearance of Ricki Reader , the Reading Capital of the World mascot has been located .

The mascot was "accidentally" locked in a storage room at the Tifton Housing Authority , where Ricki was found reading in a corner .

Shaundra Clark with the Housing Authority , at left in the photo with her co-conspirators Charlene Tucker and Valerie Sneed , held Ricki for ransom – more books for the Housing Authority's Book Nook .

Mike and Moppy Brumby of the Tift County Foundation for Educational Excellence gladly paid the "ransom," and Ricki Reader is back and ready for the next chapter in an ongoing adventure .

INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN PIANIST PERFORMS NOV. 14

Known worldwide for his ability at the keyboard , pianist Awadagin Pratt will perform at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College on Nov. 14 as a part of the ABAC Presents! Performing Arts Series.

Arts Connection Director Wayne Jones said the concert begins at 7 p.m. in ABAC’s Howard Auditorium .

“ Awadagin Pratt is acclaimed for his musical insight and intensely involved performances in recitals and symphony orchestras ,” Jones said. “This is a can’t-miss opportunity for South Georgia .”

Born in Pittsburgh , Pratt begin studying piano at the age of six . In 1992 , he won the Naumburg International Piano Competition . Two years later, Pratt was awarded an Avery Fisher Career Grant .

A performer at the White House upon invitation by two presidents, Pratt has played countless recitals throughout the U.S. and at international venues in Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Poland, Israel, Colombia and South Africa.

Limited tickets are available at www.purplepass.com/abac or call 229-391-4895 .

CHAMBER NAMES OCTOBER AMBASSADOR

At the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce’s October membership meeting Thursday at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture , Jody Benson was named as the October Ambassador of the Month and was presented with her certificate by South Georgia Bank’s Chris Cutts , the Chamber’s membership services chair. Benson is the branch manager of Georgia Premier Services in Tifton .

From right, UGA Tifton Assistant Dean Joe West, UGA Provost S. Jack Hu and Tidewater Co. representatives stand in front of one of the tractors donated to UGA Tifton.

LOCAL EQUIPMENT COMPANY PARTNERS WITH UGA TIFTON

A partnership between Tidewater Equipment Co. and the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences has led to the UGA Tifton campus receiving two tractors to aid with field research this fall.

The partnership allows researchers and field managers at UGA Tifton to use the Case IH tractors before Tidewater replaces them with a new set in six months. Joe West , assistant dean for UGA Tifton, said this partnership allows the university to save money and dedicate more resources to science .

One tractor is housed at the Plant Sciences Farm at UGA Tifton , while the other is located at the campus’ Lang-Rigdon Farm , and both are used at multiple UGA research farms in the area.

Both tractors are being used where research is performed on peanuts, cotton and several vegetable crops . The tractors are also used on projects funded by agencies such as the Georgia Peanut Commission, Georgia Cotton Commission and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.