WARNOCK EDGES WALKER IN RUNOFF

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., defeated GOP challenger Herschel Walker in Georgia's runoff election Tuesday.

Walker conceded as 96% of the state’s vote was reported showing Warnock with a 49,000 vote lead. Warlock’s lead continued to grow as more county results were reported. With 97% of votes tallied late Tuesday, Warnock had more than a 55,000 vote lead.

Warnock’s win gives Democrats a 51-49 majority in the U.S. Senate; the current split has been 50-50 in the upper chamber.

In Tift, Walker had once again handily won the county with 8,242 votes to Warnock’s 3,794. A total 12,041 Tift County ballots were cast in the runoff, or 48.23% of Tift’s registered voters, according to the Tift County Board of Elections.

While Walker led in many rural counties, it wasn’t enough to put the former football star over the finish line.

"Thank you Georgia," Warnock told his supporters late Tuesday night. "After a hard-fought campaign, or should I say campaigns, it is my honor to utter the four most powerful words ever uttered in a democracy – the people have spoken."

The Senate runoff was necessary because no candidate had received more than 50% of the vote in the general election on Nov. 8. Warnock was first elected in January 2021 to fill the unexpired term of GOP Sen. Johnny Isakason. Tuesday’s election gives Warnock a full six-year term in the Senate.

Tifton Police investigate shooting at Fulwood Park.

A QUIET NIGHT AT FULWOOD PARK ENDS WITH A GUNSHOT

'WE NEED TO TAKE BACK OUR PARK'

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

Bustling with families and children’s squeals amongst the Christmas lights and decorations, Tifton's Fulwood Park today is a far cry from the silence and solitude two weeks ago when a lone woman, walking her dog and chatting on the phone, suddenly felt compelled to return to her car.

It was shortly after 9 p.m., Nov. 18, the Friday before Thanksgiving. The Tifton resident had been standing under a bright streetlight close to the distinctive round restrooms, near the playground, when an internal voice seemed to say, “Get the dog and get in your car.”

She heeded the directive and walked across the park driveway to her car parked in the semicircle, close to Shelter 12. She put her dog in the car and sat down still talking on the phone.

“Fasten your seatbelt,” the voice seemed to say.

Immediately after doing so, she saw a figure at the side of her car. The doors were locked. A man of about 20 or slightly older was motioning for her to put down her window. She was furious; telling her what to do when she had nothing to do with him. Suddenly, another young man about the same age appeared at the passenger window, motioning again with his hand going in a fast circle for her to roll down the window. Now, they were pulling the door handles. Her dog was between the front seats, barking like crazy. 

She cranked the car and put it in reverse, still angry at someone interrupting her phone call, her privacy. She backed up slowly, because they were so close and she didn’t want to run over their feet. She was looking at the young man to her right, and they made eye contact. Suddenly, he put a gun muzzle against the window and a deafening roar went off. Glass scattered across the seat beside her.

“He shot me!” she said to her friend on the phone at the other side of the world, in Taiwan. Now she backed up furiously and roared out the exit onto Twelfth Street.

“I’ve got to call the police,” she told her friend, ending that call and punching in the number, but in her haste, she dialed the wrong number, the one for emergency in Taiwan. She quickly corrected and called Tift County E-911. The police were on their way, but she was traveling and did not want to return to the park. Instead, she drove to the ER at Tift Regional Medical Center. The police met her there. 

Afraid that she had been hit, was in shock, and didn’t feel it, the woman checked and didn’t find any wounds, although her ears were ringing from the gunshot. She checked her dog, and he was OK too. 

According to the Tifton Police written incident report, an officer examined the woman’s vehicle and observed a bullet hole in the center of the passenger-side front window and “damages to the driver’s side front seat, where the driver’s left shoulder would rest, and damages to the ‘B' pillar in the path of the projectile.”

A bullet fragment found resting in the driver’s seat “contained blue strands of clothing, matching … (the woman’s) jacket. There were additional strands of … jacket in the entry hole in the driver’s seat and the B pillar.” 

The bullet had passed through the jacket she was wearing without striking her.

The police report goes on to note that “subjects were seen running southbound through the park behind the northside restrooms.” Tifton police “checked the bushes, trash cans and the creek … for any discarded items like a firearm.” The search was completed at 12:25 a.m. Saturday with no evidence collected. 

The park is equipped with video cameras, and a review of the footage revealed a figure heading east after the shooting, the police report read. The next day, officers attempted to find nearby houses with video footage but were unsuccessful.

The woman described the young men as appearing to be Hispanic. She said police told her the bullet was a 9mm, which isn’t very common. “What ticked me off was their arrogance. They came with confidence and arrogance to get me to do what they wanted,” she said.

“My whole life, I’ve fought against oppression. I was so mad. The bullet passed close to my ear; I could taste metal.”

The woman involved, who wishes to remain anonymous, said she grew up in an Asian country and recently moved to Tifton, where she teaches in the public schools.

She marvels at the boldness of the attackers. 

“They intended to kill me. I don’t want my life sacrificed because two people out there have a gun in their pocket. It was unsettling. I didn’t believe a human would hurt another human for no reason.” 

She said the look in the young men’s eyes was chilling. “Their attitude was, ‘We have a gun and you’re our slave.’”

People she has talked with say they do not feel safe in Fulwood Park. “This is a public park, and people do not feel safe here. I don’t feel safe,” she said.

When contacted about the incident, Tifton Police Chief Steve Hyman noted that “we patrol the park frequently, during the day and at night. City ordinance prohibits anyone being in the park between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. without prior approval."

With folks enjoying the Christmas lights at Fulwood Park these days, should they be extra vigilant?

“During the holidays, we encourage everyone to enjoy the decorations,” the police chief said, but added: "Whether you are at the park or in line at a grocery store, you should always be aware of your surroundings.”

The woman said she wanted to tell her story to warn others. She wonders how many similar events are occurring “out there,” without people talking about them.

She said she isn’t afraid to return to the park; in fact, she agreed to meet the Tifton Grapevine at a park shelter next to where the event occurred. During the interview, scores of people were walking around the Christmas decorations, and a large group was playing disc golf. Every parking place was taken as she described the horrific events in an empty park just two weeks earlier. 

“I love my freedom more than I love my life,” she said. “Why should I deprive my dog of something that brings him pleasure? I will not let criminals dictate my behavior. I want to take action.

“We need to take back our park. Citizens of this lovely community need to take it back!”

Golfers for the Golden Stallions include, from left, Kole Williams, Gabriel Lewis, Ben Sanders, Coach Larry Byrnes, Brady Kotkiewicz, Brock Barber, and Hagen Marion.

ABAC GOLFERS NAMED ACADEMIC NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

The Golden Stallions golfers of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College recently received the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Academic National Champions plaque from the Golf Coaches of America.

To qualify as an Academic All-America selection, athletes must have at least a 3.25 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale. The Golden Stallions compiled a 3.68 GPA, elevating them to first place in the nation.

The Golden Stallions listed on the plaque are Hagen Marion from Zebulon; Ben Sanders from Thomasville; Brady Kotkiewicz from Dacula; Brock Barber from St. Cloud, Fla.; Kole Williams from Hazlehurst; Gabriel Lewis from Thomasville; Steven Wood from McDonough; and Ian Arnold from Blackshear.

Barber received special recognition as a Srixon/Cleveland All-America Scholar in addition to being an All-Academic selection. To qualify for the recognition, golfers must participate in at least 50% of their team’s rounds, have a stroke average under 77.0, and maintain a minimum GPA of 3.2 or higher

Larry Byrnes took over coaching duties for the Golden Stallions in 2014.

“I decided I would recruit kids with character and work ethic, so then golf and school would take care of themselves -- and that has happened,” Byrnes said. “They have an unbelievable character that I couldn’t speak more highly of.”

The athletes demonstrated excellent work ethic both on and off the field, Byrnes said, adding that he was impressed by how the golfers could play for three or four hours and then complete additional hours of study toward their academic pursuits.

“It's a great reward to be able to be around kids like this for me,” Byrnes said. “I’m honored to be able to do it.”

In the spring golf season, the Golden Stallions won the region tournament, finished second in the district tournament, and wound up in 16th place in the national tournament. Golfstat ranks the current ABAC team 10th in NJCAA District II.

TIFT SHERIFF’S OFFICE CHARGE PAIR WITH THEFT OF $200,000 IN ITEMS FROM TARGET DISTRIBUTION

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The Tift County Sheriff's Office has arrested and charged two Albany residents with stealing more than $200,000 in merchandise from Tifton’s Target Distribution Center and with drug trafficking.

Miracles Desiree Jenkins, 26, is charged with five counts of theft by taking and one count of trafficking in Fentanyl. Arcenio Xavier Lindsey, 34, is charged with five counts of theft by taking and two counts of trafficking in Fentanyl.

An investigation by the Tift County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Division and the Target Asset Protection Operations uncovered the theft of electronics, video games, and other merchandise from the Target facility; the items were then sold online on eBay.

The total amount of stolen items, so far, have been determined to be more than $200,000, authorities said.

With the assistance of the Albany Police Department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Southwest Regional Drug Enforcement Office, search warrants were conducted in Albany in late November. More than $27,000 in merchandise from Target was recovered, as well as a total of 5 kg of Fentanyl and 256 grams of marijuana, the sheriff’s office said.

Brent Bailey and Maria Menounos star in the Tifton-based and Tifton-made Christmas movie to be broadcast on Lifetime TV.

TIFTON LIFETIME TV MOVIE

WILL BE AVAILABLE ONLINE

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

Everyone has been asking – When is the Tifton Christmas movie playing on Lifetime TV?

The movie is “The Holiday Dating Guide,” and the premiere is airing at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17, on Lifetime TV.

Here’s the good news is – it will be available beginning the next day on www.myLifetime.com for streaming.

Brent Bailey, who stars in it, wrote the script, and Brian Herzlinger directed it. Filmed in Tifton, it’s also written to take place here. Actress Maria Menouno’s opening lines in a voiceover are: “This is my home, Tifton.”

Herzlinger said, “I had an amazing time making this film in Tifton with a wonderful local crew and local supporting cast, all of whom stepped up in major ways to help bring this heartwarming and funny holiday story to the screen.”

The movie was produced by ZMA Films (Ann Morrell Koch and Doug Johnson) and Workhorse Cinema’s Alexander Kane of Fitzgerald and Mike Donovan, who lives part-time in Tifton.

Many local residents served as background actors at ABAC, the Peach Barn, the Tift Theatre, and other Tift County locations, so the excitement of seeing our hometown locations on the screen is enhanced by the opportunity to catch glimpses of our friends and neighbors. 

The story is about Abigale Slater (Menounos), a dating coach who is also an aspiring writer whose dream is starting to come to fruition. She has just written her first book on dating in the modern world and is striving to get it published.

Her potential publisher wants to know if her methods actually work. So Abigale vows that she will prove it by making a man fall in love with her by Christmas Eve. 

Other actors include Steve Vinovich, Kelly Lynn Reiter, Ava Paloma, Mason McCulley, Andrea Susan Bush, Jequrey Slaton, Kerry Malloy, Sarah Allyn, Evan Bergman, Victoria Scala, Thomas Wilson Pace, Amadeo Fusca, Michael ‘Big Smooth’ Frazier, Braeden Michael Baldwin, and Buddy Watkins.

TIFTON CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS WITH FESTIVAL, PARADE

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

“Little Drummer Boy,” a cute kitten, is available for adoption today at the Tift County Animal Shelter. To adopt him and to see other pets available, visit the shelter between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).

C.W. FULWOOD ELECTED TIFTON MAYOR

~ DEC. 5, 1899

On Dec. 5, 1899, C.W. Fulwood was elected mayor of Tifton. H.H. Tift, E.P. Bowen, and L.G. Manard were elected to City Council in local elections that week.

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