Ex-Blue Devil is Receiver of Year

Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

FORMER BLUE DEVIL NAMED BIG TEN'S RECEIVER OF YEAR

Former Tift County High Blue Devil star Rashod Bateman , now a gridiron star at the University of Minnesota , has been named the Big Ten Conference’s Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year , in addition to being a unanimous selection for first-team All-Big Ten.

Bateman is the first Minnesota Gopher to win the award . The sophomore pass catcher leads the Big Ten in receiving yards ( 1,170 ), is tied with a teammate and an Ohio State player for the league lead in passing touchdowns (11), and averaged 20.5 yards per reception in the regular season.

Minnesota will face Auburn on Jan. 1 in the Outback Bowl , the first time the two schools have ever faced each other on the football field .

Bateman was part of the Class of 2018 at Tift County High, where, as a senior Blue Devil , he broke single-season school receiving records with 83 catches for 1,539 yards and 21 touchdowns. He was named First Team All-State and finished his high school career with 139 catches for 2,364 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns.

He is the son of LaShonda Cromer and stepson of Roderick Cromer of Tifton .

The Charles Spencer Elementary School float was awarded Best in Show in Saturday's Tifton Christmas Parade.

MAIN STREET AWARDS TIFTON CHRISTMAS

PARADE WINNERS

The Tifton Christmas Parade on Saturday had a theme of "March of the Toys." The judges have announced the following winners among parade participants :

BEST WALKING GROUP - FLAWLESS DIVAS

BEST IN SHOW - CHARLES SPENCER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

BEST DEPICTION OF THE THEME - DANCERS POINTE

FIRST PLACE OVERALL - LIGHTHOUSE HARBOR CHURCH

SECOND PLACE OVERALL - TIFT COUNTY SCHOOL CHOIR: LADIES CHOICE

THIRD PLACE OVERALL - FAMILY PRACTICE ASSOCIATES

All of the winners received trophies from the Tifton Main Street office.

Southwest Georgia Bank Market President Chad Carpenter, right, and Vice President Joy Ledford, left, present the Southwest Georgia Bank scholarship to ABAC student Katelyn Watson of Ashburn.

ABAC STUDENT FROM ASHBURN RECEIVES SGB SCHOLARSHIP

Southwest Georgia Bank has invested in a gold sponsorship at the 2019 An Evening for ABAC fundraising dinner at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College .

The investment has paid off in a scholarship for Katelyn Watson , a sophomore biology major from Ashburn , who plans to pursue a career in pharmacy after completing her degree.

The next Evening for ABAC is scheduled Feb. 29 . Sponsorship levels include ABAC 1908 Circle for $15,000 , which sponsors six scholarships; Presidential for $10,000 , which sponsors four scholarships; Titanium for $7,500 , which sponsors three scholarships; Platinum for $5,000 , which sponsors two scholarships; and Gold at $2,500 , sponsoring one scholarship.

For information , contact Ric Stewart , annual giving and development coordinator, at 229-391-5234.

ABAC COP NAMED EXCHANGE CLUB'S OFFICER OF YEAR

Sgt. Mickie Tompkins , pictured at left, with the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Police Department has been named 2019 Officer of the Year by the Exchange Club of Tifton.

ABAC Police Chief Frank Strickland , right, joined with Exchange Club Public Safety Chair Regenia Wells , center, to present the award to Tompkins, who has been with the ABAC Police Department for 12 years.

Chief Strickland described Tompkins as diligent and always going above and beyond the call of duty . Tompkins is a member of numerous tactical officer associations , is a certified instructor and is the field training officer for the department. He also served 10 years in the U.S. Army .

CITY PROCLAIMS 'AUSTIN BROWN DAY'

Tifton's mayor and City Council proclaimed last Friday as "Austin Brown Day" in the City of Tifton , recognizing native singer Austin Brown of the internationally renowned a cappella group Home Free .

Brown , pictured second from right, received a copy of the proclamation and a key to the city . Home Free was in town Friday and performed a concert at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center.

Pictured from left are City Councilman Frank Sayles Jr. , Mayor Julie Smith , Brown and Councilman Jack Folk .

GSP HANDLES 37 HIGHWAY WRECKS IN TIFT

State troopers from the Georgia State Patrol's Tifton Post 13 handled 37 traffic accidents resulting in 31 injuries during November in Tift County , the GSP said.

Troopers issued 343 traffic citations in Tift County during November . There were 16 arrests for driving under the influence, 76 citations for speeding, 68 seatbelt violations and 20 child-restraint violations. Troopers also issued 359 warnings to drivers.