Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019
Tifton, Georgia
|
|
|
THE LIGHT THAT
IS CHRISTMAS
|
|
At
Christmas 2019
, we are seeking "
peace
on earth and
goodwill
toward men" as mankind has for centuries. They are ever
elusive
, yet can be
found
in
quiet moments
.
Wars
and
disasters
– both natural and manmade – have occurred around the globe since the very
beginning
. There is
evil
in the
world
as real as the
goodness
that exists. Perhaps we cannot have one without the other, just as we cannot have
sunny days
without
rainy
ones, or even
day
without
night
.
With the problems that abound around us in the world, we could choose to remain
huddled
in
darkness
, shy and fearful, or we can
step out
into the
light
and
boldly face
the world head on. We can choose to see the
good
and the
true
all around us, and to
lend
our
hands
toward making each day a
little better
and a
little brighter
for others.
Christmas
is a time for
joy
, of
merriment
, and it should also be a time for
reflection
. Among the
hustle
and
bustle
of gatherings and gifts and
feasts, let
us find our
quiet moment
of
peace
and
reflect
upon our
blessings
and upon that which
truly matters
in life. In
serving
others
, we ultimately
serve ourselves
.
So, say a
prayer
for those who are
lonely
, who are
sad
, who
grieve
, and who are
huddled
in the
darkness
. Help
pull them
into the
light
and to feel
God's warmth
.
For it is
Christmas
, and it is a time of
hope
and
promise
. And let us
live
each day by the
credo
that
God's work
on
Earth
must truly
be our own
.
– Frank Sayles Jr.
|
|
STATE SEN. GREG KIRK
SUCCUMBS TO RARE CANCER
|
|
State Sen.
Greg M. Kirk
, R-Americus,
died Sunday
morning after a short battle with a rare
liver bile-duct cancer
. His wife,
Rosalyn J. Kirk
, and his family were by his side.
Kirk
, 56, who had
seven
children and
five
grandchildren, was first
elected
in
2014
in
Senate District 13
, which encompasses
Tift, Turner, Worth, Dodge, Dooly, Lee
, and
parts
of
Sumter
and
Wilcox counties
.
He was
chairman
of the
State and Local Government Operations Committee
,
secretary
of the
Health and Human Services Committee
, and a
member
of the
Appropriations
and
Insurance & Labor
committees.
Born in
Americus
, Kirk graduated from
Troy State University
with a
master’s degree
in
psychology
. He was a
licensed professional counselor
and attended
Rehoboth Baptist Church
where he was the
senior pastor
from
1998-2005
.
A lifelong
Republican
, he was a member of the
Sumter County Republican Party
; served as a
board member
of the
Easter Seals Southern Georgia
;
president
of his professional organization,
Licensed Professional Counselors Association of Georgia
; a
board member
of the
Georgia Association of Community Care Providers
; and had been
appointed
to the
Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Services Board
by Gov.
Nathan Deal
in 2011.
Kirk
founded
three successful companies
in South Georgia,
creating
more than
100
jobs. He was
dedicated
to
helping people
with
developmental disabilities
and was a
parent
of an
autistic child
. He
worked
as a
behavioral specialist, case manager, therapist
and in
other capacities
.
He once
hosted
a
weekly talk show
,
“Disabilities Issues and Answers.”
In
November
, Kirk was
awarded
the
Annette Bowling Advocacy Award
by the
Albany Advocacy Resource Center.
Funeral services
will be at
2 p.m. Friday
at
Central Baptist Church
, 190 Upper River Road in
Americus
. The
visitation
will be
noon-2 p.m.
at the church.
|
|
SRTC FOUNDATION AWARDS $49,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS
|
|
For the
2020
spring semester, which begins
Jan. 7
, the
Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) Foundation
awarded
scholarships
to
63
students totaling
$49,150
. The funds
aid
students with
education-related costs
such as tuition, fees, books, classroom and lab supplies.
The
students
awarded
scholarships
were:
Sondra Gordon
of
Baconton
;
Rebecca
Kearns, Savannah Pace, and Hannah Salter
of
Bainbridge
;
Jennifer Cliett, Ashley Hornsby and Sandy Matias
of
Cairo
;
Elizabeth Delk and Cortnie Humphries
of
Camilla
;
Salina Howard
of
Colquitt
;
Anna Batchleor
and
Caylin Dollar
of
Coolidge
;
Jacie Sutto
of
Enigma
;
Jamey Carnline and Lauren Singletary
of
Meigs
;
Zachary Eason and Kristen Miller
of
Monticello, Fla.
;
Julio Alba, Jacob Brinson, Sara Brown, Heather Cooper, Casandra Ellis, Terrell Hall, Brian Hernandez, Haley Reynolds and Melissa Salter
of
Moultrie
;
Jessica Clarke and Karol Kirk
of
Nashville
;
Hannah Watts
of
Norman Park
;
Lydia Baldwin and April Thompson
of
Ochlocknee
;
Amanda Barnes and Dana Boak
of
Pelham
;
Michael Edwards
of
Quitman
;
Amanda Owens
of
Rochelle
;
Brittney Sessions
of
Sale City
;
Colby Bearden and Chandler Bearden
of
Sylvester
;
Brendy Ambrocio, Beysy Ambrocio, Ronald Bryant, Stephanie Griffin, Tiffany Joseph
,
Sonya Joslyn, Patricia Kinsey, Romona Rae Kline, Tony Mathews, Megan McCoy,
Saran Ryan, and Adrainna Smith
of
Thomasville
;
Claire Auger, Mary Brantley, Morgan Carmichael, Amber Cummings, Raynor Kvistad, Kayla Powers, Felicia
Richardson, and Caitlin Tucker
of
Tifton
;
Kinsey Herrin, Jody Stephens, and Stephanie Vinson
of
Valdosta
; and
Deana Dabner and Hanna Harrell
of
Whigham
.
|
|
TCHS DRAMA CLUB MEMBERS
PERFORM FOR CHRISTMAS
|
|
Tift County High School Drama Club
members, from left,
Harley Normand, Julia Ryland, Madison Malcom and Mae Mae Collins
pose after entertaining the
Rotary Club of Tifton
last week with selections from the
"Christmas Spectacular"
and
"MacBeth."
They put the club members in the spirit of
Christmas
by performing
“Breath of Heaven,” “Santa Claus Looking for Rudolph with a Shakespearean Twist,” “Grown Up Christmases”
and
“O Holy Night.”
They were introduced by Drama Director
Jake Alley
.
|
|
FIND YOUR NEXT PET AT
THE TIFT COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER
|
|
Visit "furever" friends at the Tift County Animal Shelter, 1-6 p.m.,
Mondays-Fridays, at
278 Ga. Highway 125 South in Tifton.
|
|
The Rainey Group presents Tift Regional with a check for $15,000 on Dec. 18. From left are Justin Beck, vice president and chief strategy officer; Alex Le, vice president and chief operating officer; Marie Roof, vice president and chief information officer; Kim Wills, senior vice president and chief financial officer; and Mike McPherson of Rainey’s Used Cars.
|
|
RAINEY'S USED CARS DONATES TO TIFT REGIONAL
|
|
Rainey’s Used Cars
made a
donation
of
$15,000
to
Tift Regional Health System
this holiday season.
“Our
mission
at
Rainey’s
is to become the
greatest car company
by becoming the
greatest care company
,” said
Mike McPherson
of
Rainey’s
.
McPherson
said that
Tift Regional
was
chosen
for the donation because of the
healthcare
it provides and its
work
to
support, strengthen
and
serve
the
community
.
|
|
REACH THOUSANDS OF FOLKS IN THE TIFTAREA ~
ADVERTISE IN THE TIFTON GRAPEVINE!
|
|
Call Us at
478-227-7126
Your Locally Owned Digital Newspaper!
|
|
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:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
