Woman Killed in Downtown Tifton

Friday, Aug. 12, 2022

Tifton, Georgia

IHeardIt@tiftongrapevine.com ~ 478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

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Photo by Austin Kilby

A 21-year-old Ty Ty woman was shot and killed in her vehicle at the intersection of Fifth Street (Highway 82) and Tift Avenue shortly before 11 p.m. Wednesday.

WOMAN SHOT, KILLED DOWNTOWN IN DOMESTIC INCIDENT;

SUSPECT CHARGED

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

In a domestic incident, a Ty Ty woman was shot and killed at a Downtown Tifton intersection Wednesday night, and a Sylvester man has been arrested and charged following a standoff with police, authorities said Thursday.

At approximately 10:48 p.m. Wednesday, Tifton Police responded to the intersection of Fifth Street (U.S. Highway 82) and Tift Avenue in reference to a shooting victim. Officers found a female sitting in the driver seat of her vehicle with gunshot wounds, Tifton Police said.

The woman was identified as Hannah Beth Patterson, 21, of Ty Ty. Police said she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Tifton Police detectives issued warrants for Demarcus Laquan Brown, 22, of Sylvester. Following an hour standoff, the Worth County Sheriff’s Office arrested Brown on Thursday afternoon, police said.

Demarcus Brown is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, armed robbery, kidnapping, and felony murder, Tifton Police said. He was being held Thursday in the Tift County Jail.

"This incident stemmed from an estranged relationship between Brown and Patterson, which had been broken off by Patterson," Tifton Police said in a statement.

The Tifton Police Department's Investigation Division requested assistance from the Region 15 Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) crime scene specialist. Patterson’s body was transported to the GBI Crime Lab for an autopsy.

The investigation is still active. Anyone with information is asked to contact Tifton Police Detective Lt. Chris Luckey at 229-382-3132 or the Police Tip Line at 229-391-3991.

REGENTS APPROVE 2 NEW BACHELOR'S DEGREES

AT ABAC

STAFF REPORTS

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College will soon offer two new bachelor’s degree programs in agricultural technology management and criminal justice.

The programs were approved during the University System of Georgia (USG) Board of Regents meeting Tuesday.

The agricultural technology management degree will prepare students for technical careers focused on problem solving, systems analysis, and management in the production, processing, or manufacturing of agricultural materials.

Students will combine an understanding of the agricultural, biological, and physical sciences with business, managerial, and technical skills.

The criminal justice degree will be offered as a part of the USG’s eMajor initiative, and students will have the opportunity to complete the online B.S. degree while selecting from one of three tracks: general, law enforcement, or social justice.

When the new degree programs begin, ABAC will have 14 bachelor’s degree programs across its four schools of study. Fall semester classes begin Monday.

Tiftarea Academy seniors gather this week to watch the sun rise on their final year at the school. They plan to gather again to watch the sun set on the school year's last day.

TIFTAREA ACADEMY BEGINS YEAR WITH 630 STUDENTS

STAFF REPORTS

Tiftarea Academy kicked off its 2022-2023 school year Wednesday with more than 630 students enrolled in grades PreK-12.

The independent school in Chula serves students from nine counties throughout the Tiftarea.

Many members of the Class of 2023 gathered at sunrise on the school's track. The students plan to meet again on their last day of school to watch the sunset together.

"We are looking forward to a wonderful, safe, and fun-filled year this year. Some of our grades are at wait-list capacity, and limited spaces remain in others," said Heather Fletcher, development & marketing director.

"From PreK to 12th grade, we promote a safe, family-like atmosphere where learning and development is our utmost priority."

TOTAL COVID-19 CASES RISE IN TIFT BY 287 WITH

2 MORE DEATHS, DPH SAYS

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Tift County's total COVID-19 cases have risen by 287 in the past two weeks, along with two additional deaths, according to the state Department of Public Health (DPH).

That number includes rapid tests and confirmed PCR tests. It represents only those results reported to the health department and do not include at-home testing.

Confirmed PCR tests during the past two-week period totaled 72. There were also two additional related deaths reported in Tift County in the past week.

Tift County’s total positive cases represent 703 cases per 100,000 population, the measure used across the country to compare case rates among communities and states. Tift's testing positivity rate for the two-week period was 27.4%, the DPH said.

Tift has seen a total of 6,579 confirmed cases with 168 confirmed deaths, the DPH said.

The state has recorded a total of 2,164,549 confirmed cases and 32,611 related deaths, the DPH said. There were 26,071 more total cases reported in the past week and 124 additional deaths statewide. There also were 939 COVID-related hospitalizations in Georgia in the past week, the DPH reported.

The state reports COVID-19 data once a week.

That's 50% off on select Gifts and all Jewelry

for the entire month of August.

Downtown Tifton

'CARNIVAL OF KNOWLEDGE' TRIVIA COMPETITION RETURNS SEPT. 20

It’s back! Trivia aficionados are encouraged to get ready for the 22nd annual Howard Center Carnival of Knowledge to benefit Literacy Volunteers of Tifton-Tift County.

The event is returning to the Tifton campus of Southern Regional Technical College at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20, kicking off National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week.

Once again, trivia master David Holmes will conduct the competition, and teams of four to six players will compete against each other simultaneously throughout the event, answering trivia questions. The team sponsorship fee is a donation of $200, to benefit Literacy Volunteers.

As in the past, anyone may sign up to play on sponsored teams by contacting Literacy Volunteers at tiftlv@gmail.com, said Bonnie Sayles, president of the Literacy Volunteers board. Creative team names are encouraged.

“Businesses, civic groups, organizations, or individuals may sponsor teams,” she said. “As always, first-, second-, and third-place teams will receive exceptional prizes.”

Support of this event allows Literacy Volunteers to recruit and train tutors to work with individuals wanting to improve their reading, writing, math, and English speaking abilities. Volunteers are especially needed to tutor adults at the new Bateman Youth Development Center.

Literacy Volunteers also provides transportation to some students attending GED classes at Southern Regional Technical College.

Those wanting to play, sponsor a team, donate a prize, or volunteer may call Literacy Volunteers at 229-391-2527.

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YOUR GUIDE TO ACTIVITIES THIS WEEKEND IN THE TIFTAREA

Today, Friday, Aug. 12, is International Youth Day.

On this day, we celebrate youth across the globe to honor the promising future in today’s society. In addition, the day also brings worldwide awareness to issues that youth face in their lives on a daily basis.

FRIDAY, AUG. 12

Southwell Blood Drive, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Southwell West Campus, 2227 Highway 41 North, Tifton
Bike Night, 7-10 p.m., Tifton Harley-Davidson, 49 Casseta Road, Tifton
Tiftarea Academy Panthers scrimmage with Southwest Georgia Academy Warriors, 7:30 p.m., Panther Pit, Chula

SATURDAY, AUG. 13

Southern Gearheads Cars and Coffee, 8-11 a.m., Prince Chevrolet, 1410 U.S. Highway 82 W., Tifton
Second Saturday Back to School Bash, 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Downtown Tifton

THIS WEEKEND'S

YARD SALE

Multi Family Yard Sale

Friday, Aug. 12, 4-8 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 13, 8-12 p.m.

2621 Hall Ave.

Toys, clothing, bedding, kitchen items, furniture

and much more.

See Map Here

_____________________________________________

TO ADVERTISE YOUR YARD SALE,

yardsales@tiftongrapevine.com or 478-227-7126

Fees are $1 per word, paid in advance

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S DOG OF THE WEEK

"Gremlin" is among the pets available for adoption at the Tift County Animal Shelter on Highway 125 South between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. For additional information, call 229-382-PETS (7387).