Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022
Tifton, Georgia
GrapeNew
POLICE NAB PAIR SUSPECTED OF USING FOOTBALLS TO SMUGGLE DRUGS
AT IRWIN COUNTY DETENTION CENTER
By FRANK SAYLES JR.
Tifton Grapevine
"Two subjects were taken into custody" Friday after footballs containing suspected marijuana, cell phones, and drug-related items were thrown onto the grounds of the Irwin County Detention Center in Ocilla, according to the South Central Drug Task Force.

Authorities did not identify who was apprehended or what charges were filed. The South Central Drug Task Force did not respond to queries by the Tifton Grapevine.

On social media, the Task Force said an investigation was initiated following a previous incident when "contraband ... suspected marijuana, cellular devices, and drug-related objects were thrown within the guard lines at the Irwin County Detention Center."

Authorities said the items were inside a "football that had been stuffed and sewed back up with the contents within."

Then, on Friday, "the same vehicle which was previously involved with disposing the illegal items within the guard lines again approached the detention center and threw three footballs containing suspected marijuana, cell phones with chargers, WiFi devices, drug-related objects, suspected tobacco and other items," the Task Force said.

At that point, Irwin County Sheriff's Office deputies, Ocilla Police officers, and the South Central Drug Task Force stopped the vehicle.

"Two subjects were in the vehicle and an amount of U.S. currency and a loaded firearm were recovered," the Task Force said.

Anyone with information about illegal substances brought to the Irwin County Detention Center may contact the Drug Task Force tip line at 229-468-8449.
ABAC PRESIDENT RECEPTION SET WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
Staff Reports
A community reception for Dr. Tracy Brundage, the new president of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, will be held from 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10, in ABAC's Tift Hall.

Brundage became the 11th president at ABAC on Aug. 1. She began her presidency in her Tifton home after testing positive for COVID-19

“My energy level continues to climb, and I am excited about being on the campus,” Brundage said. “The start of the fall semester is just around the corner, and that’s always a special day, particularly for the incoming freshmen.”

Brundage will be the featured speaker at the annual ABAC Freshman Convocation on Saturday. ABAC student Ivey Cook, an agricultural education major from Ty Ty, will also speak at the event in front of Tift Hall.

“Our freshmen will walk from ABAC Lakeside to the front of campus with the bells ringing from the chapel in the background. We’re looking forward to an impressive event that begins the careers of the Class of 2026," said Trent Hester, ABAC leadership and engagement coordinator.
 
Brundage will speak to the freshmen about making the most of their college careers. Cook will speak briefly on the history of ABAC.
 
Ivey will focus on the achievements of ABAC in the past, and President Brundage will paint a vision of the future for these students,” Hester said.

Fall semester classes begin Aug. 15.
Pictured from left are Drew Dorminey, Georgia Sports Medicine director; Steve Goldman, healthcare science teacher; Ainsley Toews; Alexis Braselton; Tonia Garrett, Southwell VP/chief nursing officer; and Lori Folsom, Southwell assistant VP human resources.
SOUTHWELL AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS
Southwell healthcare system recently awarded scholarships to two recent Tift County High School graduates.

Ainsley Toews recieved the Southwell Scholarship for Future Healthcare Professionals, and Lexie Braselton received the Southwell Sports Medicine Scholarship.

Toews' interest in a healthcare career was sparked by her involvement in the high school HOSA chapter (future health professionals), on Southwell’s Junior Board of Directors, and in Southwell’s Junior Volunteering Program.

Last fall, Toews interned with the high school’s health science department. As a Southwell Junior Board member for two school years, she explored behind-the-scenes activities that make the healthcare system function.

She was elected vice president of the school’s Beta Club, was secretary/committee at large vice president of the Student Council, and was co-president of the DECA Club. She was chosen to represent Tift County High as a member of the Freshman Ambassador Program and Georgia Secretary of State Ambassadors.

Toews graduated with superior honors and will attend George Mason University this fall, majoring in biology.

Braselton was an inaugural member of the Tift County High School Student Sports Medicine Program. She was able to deepen her understanding of sports medicine by observing Southwell and high school athletic trainers performing their daily duties.

Through her involvement in the Sports Medicine Program, she received an opportunity to intern at Georgia Sports Medicine.

Braselton graduated with superior honors and will attend Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College this fall, working toward her desired career in physical therapy.
GROUP SELLING BRICKS FOR DOWNTOWN TIFTON VETERANS PARK
American Legion Post 21 Riders of Tifton are selling engraved bricks to be installed in the Jack Stone Veterans Memorial Park in memory or in honor of veterans, living or deceased. It doesn’t matter where the veteran lived or served.
 
Bricks are $90 each and may have one to three lines of engraving, with up to 20 characters per line. 

Monetary donations are also accepted for the project, whose proceeds go toward the veterans park in Downtown Tifton and American flags hung on downtown street lamps. 

To purchase a brick or to make a donation, see Danny Bailey from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at the Tifton Veteran’s Museum, 119 Love Ave., or call James Slater, director of the American Legion Post 21 Riders, at 715-580-0007
Click Here for Information
RFD-TV FEATURES GA MUSEUM OF AGRICULTURE THIS THURSDAY
Part Two of RFD-TV network's spotlight on the Georgia Museum of Agriculture airs at 9:30 p.m. this Thursday, Aug. 11.

RFD-TV's show "Where the Food Comes From" visited the ag museum in Tifton during the recent Folklife Festival in April. The first part of the visit was broadcast last Thursday. For the two episodes filmed in Tifton, the network altered the show's name to "Where the Food CAME From."

While in the museum's Historic Village, the film crew visited such locations as the blacksmith shop, the turpentine still, the grist mill, and the sawmill, talking with several local residents.
TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK
"Honeysuckle," a female kitty, is among the pets available for adoption today at the Tift County Animal Shelter. Visit the shelter between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).
Pets of the Week are sponsored by:
Branch's Veterinary Clinic
205 Belmont Ave., Tifton, 229-382-6055
STATE OK's PROJECT FOR AUDITORIUM, GYM
AT ABRAHAM BALDWIN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE
~AUG. 11, 1938
ABAC President George H. King received a telegram from Atlanta on Aug. 11, 1938, informing him that final approval has been given to build an auditorium and gymnasium on the ABAC campus, and that bids may be advertised.
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