Friday, March 13, 2020
Tifton, Georgia
|
|
|
Office of the Governor photo
Gov. Brian Kemp conducts the state's Coronavirus Task Force meeting Thursday in Atlanta.
|
|
'We are in this fight together,' Governor says
CORONAVIRUS CAUSES DISRUPTIONS
AROUND GEORGIA
|
|
By FRANK SAYLES JR.
Tifton Grapevine
Events
moved fast
Thursday
in
Georgia
regarding the
Novel Coronavirus
, or
COVID-19
, with the state's
first confirmed death
, a
worker
at Valdosta's
Moody Air Force Base
testing
positive
, all University System
public colleges closing
for
two weeks
, and the
General Assembly
suspending
its session
indefinitely
.
The
coronavirus-related death
in
Georgia
involved a
67-year-old man
who was hospitalized at
Wellstar Kennestone Hospital
in
Marietta
. State officials said the victim, who
tested positive
for
COVID-19
on
March 7
, had
underlying health conditions
.
As of
late
Thursday
, encompassing a
dozen counties
,
Georgia
has
12 confirmed
cases of
coronavirus
and
19 presumed positive
cases awaiting additional testing.
"REMAIN CALM"
Gov.
Brian Kemp
, at a press conference
Thursday
, said he was
expanding
his
Coronavirus Task Force
with subcommittees
focusing
on
emergency preparedness, economic impact, healthcare decisions
, and the
homeless and displaced populations
.
"As our state continues to address this pandemic, I
urge Georgians
to
remain calm
and
support
their
neighbors
and
communities
. We are
in this fight together
,"
Kemp
said.
The
governor
issued a
“call to action”
to
schools
and
day care centers
, allowing them to
shut down
if
local administrators
think it is
necessary
. "They have all been
freed to take action
as
they deem fit
," the governor said.
Shortly thereafter, the
University System of Georgia
announced that it was
temporarily suspending classes
for
two weeks
.
"Students on campus are asked to
depart campus
by
close
of business
Friday, March 13
, 2020, and to
remain away
from campus
until March 29
," the
University System
said.
Atlanta metro K-12 public schools
also announced they are
shutting down buildings
and
moving classes online
indefinitely.
In
Tift County
, School Superintendent
Adam Hathaway
released a letter
Thursday
noting that
Tift schools
will
continuing operating
on
normal schedules
. "We will continue
working
in
partnership
with the
Georgia Department of Public Health
to
determine if and when closures
are
necessary
," he wrote.
Hathaway
wrote that the
school system
is continuing
"increased sanitation efforts"
including
disinfecting classrooms
, school
common areas
and
buses
.
CORONAVIRUS IN VALDOSTA
In
Lowndes County
, a
Moody Air Force Base worker
in its dining hall
tested positive
for
the Novel Coronavirus
, authorities announced
Thursday
.
Also,
South Georgia Medical Center
in
Valdosta
announced that a
different patient
, who was
transferred
to a
Florida hospital
, has since been
diagnosed
with the
Novel Coronavirus.
Health officials say the
best prevention measures
for all ages against any respiratory virus are:
▪
Wash your hands
often with soap and warm water for at least twenty seconds.
▪ If soap and water are not available, use an
alcohol-based hand sanitizer
.
▪
Avoid touching
your
eyes, nose, and mouth
with unwashed hands.
▪
Avoid close contact
with people who are sick.
▪
Stay home
when you are
sick
.
▪
Cover
your
cough or sneeze
with a
tissue
, then throw the tissue in the trash.
▪
Clean
and
disinfect frequently
touched objects and surfaces.
|
|
'FLAVOR OF GEORGIA'
TIFTON JELLY NAMED FINALIST IN COMPETITION
|
|
A
Tifton
product is one of
30
from
across the state
that judges have
selected
to
compete
in the second and
final round
of the
University of Georgia’s
annual
Flavor of Georgia Food Product Contest.
Apple Fig Pepper Jelly
from
Wisham Jellies
of
Tifton
is a
finalist
winnowed from a field of
117
products; the finalists will compete
April 7
in
Athens
.
The contest is the
state’s proving ground
for
small, upstart food companies
as well as
established products
looking for
recognition or new markets
. This year’s finalists represent all corners of the state.
"Year after year, winners tell me that the
prestige
of the
Flavor of Georgia award
opens doors for
additional business opportunities
, whether they are highlighting a product line, considering expanding into new variations, or launching a new product or company,” said
Sharon P. Kane
, contest coordinator and economist with the
UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences’
(CAES)
Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development.
Finalists
include
Costa Rica Tarrazu Coffee
from
Grassroots Coffee Roasters
of
Thomasville
;
Georgia Fried Peanut Cluster – Vanilla
from
Georgia Fried Peanut Co.
of
Edison
; and
Vanilla Espresso Pecans
from
Goodson Pecans
of
Leesburg
.
|
|
JOBLESS RATES RISE SLIGHTLY
|
|
While the
unemployment rate
rose
slightly in
January
from
December
throughout the
Tiftarea
, the
rates
– for the most – are still
far below
where they were
a year ago
, reports the
Ga. Department of Labor
.
Tift County's jobless rate
for
January
was
3.3 percent
, up from
2.9 percent
in
December
; during January
a year ago
, it was
4.3 percent
, according to the the Labor Department.
In the
Tiftarea
,
Ben Hill County
recorded the
highest
rate at
5.8
percent; it was
7.1
percent
one year ago
.
Irwin's
rate in
January
was
5
percent;
Turner
,
4.7
percent;
Berrien
,
4.6
percent;
Worth
,
3.7
percent; and
Cook County
,
3.4
percent.
The jobless
rate
for
Georgia
held
steady
at
3.1
percent in January, its
lowest level
since the government started keeping track in the
mid-1970s
.
"Over the year, we are still seeing
positive data
, and our
unemployment rates
are still some of the
lowest
ever
on record
,” said Georgia Labor Commissioner
Mark Butler
.
|
|
THIS MONTH'S 'BEAUTY SPOT'
|
|
Keep Tift Beautiful
has recognized the home of
Betty Pope
at
410 16th St.
as Tifton's
"Beauty Spot of the Month."
|
|
UGA HOSTING SOLAR ENERGY SEMINAR
|
|
University of Georgia Cooperative Extension is offering a new seminar, “
Solar Energy in
Rural Georgia: Opportunities for Landowners,” on
March 26 at the
UGA-Tifton Campus Conference Center.
The event, set for
9 a.m.-2:30 p.m., is structured to help
landowners understand the benefits and possible liabilities of hosting
solar panels on their land. The
public is welcome to attend for free, but advance
online registration is required.
Investing in
solar panels as an
energy provider or leasing to outside companies has been a growing topic, and UGA Extension offices are fielding questions about it.
“Landowners should be cognizant of the implications of entering into a
solar lease agreement,” said UGA Extension agricultural economist
Amanda Smith. “With farm margins so tight, producers need to look at ways to manage their costs."
|
|
ABAC SUPPLIES MOST NURSES
IN AREA, ROTARIANS TOLD
|
|
Rhonda Lewis
, the associate program coordinator of the
ABAC School of Nursing
, says that
ABAC graduates
have a
98 percent
pass rate on the nursing board exam, or
National Council Licensure Exam
.
“We turn out
very good nurses
; we supply most of the nurses in our area,”
Lewis
told the
Tifton Rotary Club
on
Wednesday
.
ABAC offers
associate's degree in nursing
for students
straight out
of
high school
.
Lewis
described the
“bridge to the R.N. program”
for students who are licensed practical nurses, respiratory therapists, or emergency medical technicians. These
students
are able to
work locally
while
studying
for their
registered nurse degree
.
“It allows people to
keep their jobs
and
go back
to their
employer
as an
R.N.
” She said
ABAC
is
one of only two programs
in the
United States
that allows
respiratory therapists
to
participate
, so people come here from all over.
“I have a person from
Seattle
and another from
Northern California
,” Lewis said. They found
local jobs
while
pursuing
their
nursing degree
. “We bring people here.”
Lewis
said
nursing
is the
largest single major
at
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
.
Lauren Dotson
, a
senior student
, spoke about her
experience
as a
nursing student
.
“All of my
teachers
have been
super wonderful
," she said. "The teachers really care, they go the extra mile. They really want you to pass. We
need nurses
, because there’s such a
shortage
. Having people that really push you to pass is
something special
. I
love
ABAC
!”
|
|
STOCK FOOD, WATER SUPPLIES IN PREPARATION FOR EMERGENCIES, SAYS UGA EXTENSION
|
|
News of the
coronavirus
has some people feeling uneasy. Building a
supply
of
emergency food and water
will help ease stress and help Georgians
prepare
for
emergencies
,
University of Georgia Cooperative Extension
representatives say.
"
Flash floods, tropical storms, blizzards
, whatever the disaster — it pays to be
prepared
," said UGA Extension food safety specialist
Elizabeth Andress
.
"Every family should have at least a
three-day emergency food supply
to fall back on. If you are concerned about
virus quarantine
, you should plan on a
two-week supply,
according to our public health agencies."
Natural disasters, or the slim chance your family is quarantined by the coronavirus, will prevent you from shopping for supplies. The
size
of your
personal emergency food supply
depends on the
size of your family
and
storage
area. Select
non-perishable foods
that do not require refrigeration, little or no cooking, and little or no water for natural disasters. For quarantine, you can plan on having your utilities.
Include
ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits
and
vegetables
. Add
canned juices, soups
and canned or
powdered milk
. Include
bottled water
for drinking and extra water for mixing powdered milk and diluting the soups. Supply enough
fluids
(milk, juice, water, etc.) so each family member has at least
one gallon per day
.
“A person who's normally active needs to drink at least
two quarts
of water each day, but
hot environments
can
double
that amount,” she said.
Include
staple foods
, like sugar, salt and pepper, too, and
high-energy foods
like peanut butter, jelly, granola bars and trail mix.
|
|
IT'S ATHLETIC TRAINING MONTH
HIGHLIGHTING TRAINERS:
March is
National Athletic Training Month
, and the
Georgia Athletic Trainers Association
(GATA) is recognizing the
athletic training profession
this month. In the
photo
are GATA Southwest Region co-chairs
Donna Kay Sledge
, left, and
Jay Johnson
, right. In the middle is
Lydia Kingry
, 2019 GATA
Student Athletic Trainer of the Year
.
Sledge
is the head athletic trainer at
ABAC
, and
Johnson
is head athletic trainer at
Valdosta State
.
Kingry
, from
Turner County
, played softball for
ABAC
then moved on to
Valdosta State'
s sports medicine program.
...
WOMEN'S HISTORY:
Sigma Alpha Omega Chapter
of
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
is celebrating
Women's History
in
Tifton
at
noon March 25
, at the
Georgia Museum of Agriculture
. For information, call
229-886-1895
.
|
|
YOUR WEEKEND
...at a Glance
FRIDAY, MARCH 13
- Me, Myself & Meditation, 9 a.m., Reed Bingham State Park, Adel
- Wellness Hike, 10 a.m., Reed Bingham Sate Park, Adel
- Food Truck Friday, 4 p.m., Downtown Adel
- St. Patrick's Day Sip and Stroll, 5 p.m., Main Street, Sylvester
- Paint & Sip – Ronald the Rooster, 6:30 p.m., Carnegie Arts Center, Fitzgerald
- "Calendar Girls" play, 7 p.m., Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts, Tifton
SATURDAY, MARCH 14
- Community Care Day, 9 a.m.-Noon, Tift County Recreation Department, Tifton
- Youth Apprentice Information Session, 10 a.m.-Noon, Ga. Museum of Agriculture, Tifton
- South Georgia Wine Festival, 11 a.m., Paulk Vineyards, Wray
- Wiregrass Kids: Pie Day, 1:30 p.m., Ga. Museum of Agriculture, Tifton
- Songfarmers of Tifton, 1:30 p.m., Ga. Museum of Agriculture, Tifton
- Community Covered Dish Dinner, 5 p.m., Irwinville Community Center, Ocilla
- Fire Ant Pageant, 6 p.m., Turner County Civic Center, Ashburn
- "Calendar Girls" play, 7 p.m., Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts, Tifton
SUNDAY, MARCH 15
- Regional Prayer Gathering, 7 p.m., UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center, Tifton
|
|
MARCH 5
Elnita Hendley Thomas, 91,
Tifton
Billy D. Lewis, 77,
Sycamore
Benny Garcia Jr., 92,
Ben Hill County
MARCH 6
Dorothy “Dean” Rudean Fussell Copeland, 77,
Brookfield
Tammy Elaine Bennefield Pierce, 45,
Nashville
Jack Lane Ewing, 81,
Ocilla
MARCH 7
The Rev. James Allen Brooks, 89,
Nashville
Molly Kate Summerlin Johnson, 93,
Tifton
Clayton Leon Layfield, 41,
Rochelle
Tommy Lee Clements, 65,
Ocilla
Elsie Lee Rockwell, 93,
Sylvester
MARCH 9
The Rev. Bobby Ray Christmas, 80,
Tifton
Winnie Ruth Williams Sheppard, 81,
Tifton
Dr. William Morris "Bill" Williams, 80,
Macon
MARCH 10
William “Willie” Nathan Scarbor, 93,
Omega
Jeffrey Dwayne Adams Sr., 61,
Worth County
James Lee Poulos, 70,
Kill Devil Hills, N.C.
|
|
MARCH 11
Minnie Louise Pittman Benson, 95,
Tifton
Wanda Keen, 91,
Tifton
Brenda Joyce Ottoson, 68,
Fitzgerald
MARCH 12
Rhea Roberts, 61,
Nashville
|
|
|
Tifton Grapevine
e-published every Tuesday and Friday
Frank Sayles Jr.
Editor & Publisher
Bonnie Sayles
Managing Editor
|
|
|
A Service of
Sayles Unlimited Marketing LLC
,
Tifton, Georgia
|
|
See what's happening on our social sites:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
