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DONALD J. TRUMP

KAMALA D. HARRIS

ELECTION DAY ARRIVES TUESDAY

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The long campaign season ends Tuesday as Election Day finally arrives. The race for president in the Peach State is still neck-and-neck between Donald J. Trump and Kamala D. Harris.

Georgians can still vote early today (Friday) until 5 p.m. After that, one must wait until Tuesday when polls will be open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

“Georgia voters are smashing through every voting record with more than 3 million for early-person voting turnout,” said Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.

As of day's end Thursday, 3.7 million Georgians – 51% of registered voters – had already voted, according to data from the Secretary of State's office.

In Tift County, 10,926 voters have cast ballots in person for a total vote of 11,399 including absentee ballots, according to the state. That represents more than 44% of registered voters in Tift County.

The percentage of voters who have cast ballots as of Thursday night in area counties are: Turner, 49%; Irwin, 49%; Ben Hill, 51%; Cook, 46%; Berrien, 44%; and Worth, 40%.

Contested races on the Tift County ballot include the District 2 seat for Tift County Commission where incumbent Melissa Hughes, a Democrat, faces a challenge from Priscilla Prince, a Republican.

In a special Democratic primary race for the District 1 seat on the Tift County Board of Education, incumbent Marilyn R. Burks faces Ambrose B. King Jr. There is no GOP opposition in that race, so the winner will be seated on the BOE.

In the race for Georgia House District 169 in the General Assembly representing Irwin and Turner counties along with parts of Coffee and Tift counties, two Coffee County women are vying for the seat. Current Rep. Clay Pirkle, R-Ashburn, decided not to run for re-election.

Angie O'Steen, a registered nurse and family farmer, is the Republican in the race, and the Democratic candidate is Theresa R. Rewis, owner of Kay's Bridal and Theresa's Tax Service in Broxton.

TIFT COUNTY COMMISSION DISTRICT 2

MELISSA HUGHES

PRISCILLA PRINCE

TIFT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION DISTRICT 1

MARILYN R. BURKS

AMBROSE B. KING JR.

GEORGIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 169

ANGIE O'STEEN

THERESA R. REWIS

KEMP EXTENDS HURRICANE HELENE EMERGENCY IN TIFTAREA COUNTIES

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Gov. Brian P. Kemp on Tuesday extended the state of emergency for counties still coping with destruction from Hurricane Helene, including counties in the Tiftarea.

"After one of the most destructive storms our state has ever experienced, we know Georgians impacted by Hurricane Helene need every resource available as they continue to recover. That’s why I have extended the existing state of emergency for the hardest hit counties until Nov. 6," Kemp said on social media.

Area counties where the state of emergency continues include Tift, Irwin, Berrien, Ben Hill, Cook, Turner, Worth, Lowndes, Colquitt, Atkinson, and Coffee.

In his executive order, the governor said: "In consultation with state emergency preparedness, economic, and transportation officials, I have determined that the following actions are necessary and appropriate to ensure continuation of the state's storm response and recovery efforts, protect the continued strength of Georgia's economy, and provide for the health, safety, and welfare of Georgia's residents and visitors." 

Meanwhile, a FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) Mobile Disaster Recovery Center remains open in Berrien County through today (Friday). The center at the Carrie Dorsey Library – 315 W Marion Ave., Nashville – is open from 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

The center offers information about the types of assistance available, help with applying for federal assistance, and updates on applications and the appeals process. Individuals may also apply for FEMA assistance by visiting DisasterAssistance.gov, using the FEMA app for mobile devices, and by calling 800-621-3362. 

FEMA assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, as well as other disaster-related needs such as medical and dental expenses. 

To date, FEMA has approved more than $171 million in federal disaster assistance to more than 155,000 Georgia households to help them recover from Hurricane Helene.

More than 230 FEMA staff are visiting communities and going door-to door to help individuals and families apply for assistance.

“The response to Hurricane Helene demonstrates the strength of our federal and local partnerships," said Chris Stallings, director of Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security. "FEMA has come alongside the state in efforts to help our communities regain some normalcy after the storm's devastating impact.

“We encourage all citizens in declared counties who have been affected by Helene to apply for assistance. This support can make all the difference in helping people rebuild their lives,” Stallings said.

TIFTON 'ARTS AFFAIR' BACK THIS WEEKEND

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

The Tifton Council for the Arts has a big "Arts Affair" weekend planned today and Saturday, Arts Executive Director Bruce Green told the Tifton Rotary Club on Wednesday. 

A Children’s Lantern Parade begins at the corner of Fourth Street and Tift Avenue at 6:45 p.m. today, and the kids will walk two blocks to the Syd Blackmarr Arts Center to kick off the festivities.

The Relapse! party band from Albany will begin at 7 p.m. in the parking lot next to Synovus Bank and across the street from the The Syd. Food trucks will provide meals and refreshments.

At 10 a.m. Saturday, the all-day festival officially opens with an Artists’ Market, Authors’ Row, and Bakers’ Row on Love Avenue, food trucks in the Synovus Bank parking lot, and all-day entertainment until 4 p.m.

The entertainment schedule includes Mackenzie Brown at 10 a.m., Song Farmers at 10:30 a.m., Lil Ray Ray at 11 a.m., Albert Culbreath at 11:30 a.m., Apu Inka at noon, Josh Pridemore at 1 p.m., Stephanie Davis at 2 p.m., Joy Johnson at 2:30 p.m., Jay Johnson at 2:45 p.m., and Apu Inka at 3 p.m.

Art demonstrations such as glass blowing, Plein-Air painting, Raku pottery and Poetry on Demand, will be ongoing.

The Arts Affair is made possible in part by a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts. It is a scaled-down version of the "Love Affair," the brainchild of the late Syd Blackmarr, which began on Love Avenue and was held at Fulwood Park for many years. 

“To reproduce the Love Affair would cost $100,000 today,” Green told the Rotary Club.

He said Blackmarr was the manifestation of a message given earlier in the meeting: “It’s not what you do for yourself that will be remembered, but what you do for the community.” 

In honor of Blackmarr's legacy in promoting the arts, the City of Tifton has designated Saturday as "Syd Blackmarr Day" in Tifton.

Green said the arts council has also been focusing on reaching out to the local Latino community. The movie “Coco,” a rich story of about ancestry and culture, was held at The Syd last week. In weeks leading up to La Fiesta del Pueblo in September, The Syd hosted 60 artworks by local Hispanic artists. A movie and discussion about Frida Kahlo was hosted Sept. 16. 

Green was Tifton’s first Main Street director in 1986 when the city first hosted the Downtown Trick or Treat on Main Street at Halloween. He said the event brought some residents to see shops up close that they never took the time to notice before walking the streets with their children in costume and meeting storekeepers giving out candy.   

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Life Lesson from

My Front Porch

What began at 2706 Southern Avenue transformed into 18 Hughes Lane, where the front porch became far more than a simple place to rest. It was a classroom of life’s lessons, a sanctuary for the soul, and a gathering space for heartfelt connections.

There’s something truly special about the front porch at 18 Hughes Lane – it's where memories were made, wisdom was shared, and the community felt like family. My parents and grandparents gathered there regularly, rocking in chairs, exchanging stories, and passing along wisdom that would shape my life. It was on that porch where I learned some of the most important life lessons, lessons that continue to guide me today.

The first and most valuable lesson I received on that porch was how to pray. My grandmother’s voice would rise softly into the evening air as she reminded me, "Just pray for them; God will make it all right." No matter the challenge – whether it was family troubles, disagreements with neighbors, or community issues – faith was always the first response. She taught me that prayer wasn’t just about asking for things; it was about finding peace, gaining strength, and trusting in something greater than ourselves. That porch was where I learned to trust that everything would be okay, even when life didn’t look that way.

It wasn’t just prayer that I learned. The porch was also my first introduction to the art of socializing. Anyone passing by – neighbors, church members, or people from across town – would stop for a chat. We’d talk about Sunday’s sermon, family milestones, and the challenges facing our community. It was a place where walls came down and conversations ran deep. Even when disagreements surfaced, the message remained the same: Talk it out, offer grace, and pray. Those early lessons taught me the power of connection and the importance of listening, both of which are essential in any community.

Today, I carry those lessons with me, and they remain as relevant as ever. Just as my front porch was once a space for meaningful conversations about faith, family, and community, it’s exciting to know that this tradition of gathering continues. Another powerful life lesson is unfolding right before my eyes – not just on my front porch, but in my entire community. Stacey Abrams is coming to town, bringing with her the same spirit of conversation and action that my grandparents instilled in me.

Her visit is a powerful reminder that we must stay engaged. Voting is not just a civic duty; it’s a way to honor those conversations and prayers we’ve shared over the years. It’s a chance to take action on the issues we’ve prayed over and talked through for generations. Just like those evenings on the porch where we discussed our hopes and concerns, voting allows us to have a voice in shaping the future.

The front porch of 18 Hughes Lane may have been the beginning, but the lessons learned there continue to live on. Whether it’s through prayer, conversation, or civic action, the spirit of connection and care for our neighbors carries forward. And now, as we prepare to welcome Stacey Abrams to our community, we have a new opportunity to extend the lessons of my front porch – lessons of engagement, faith, and hope – to make a difference at the ballot box.

Let’s keep the conversations going. Let’s vote, let’s engage, and let’s remember that, just like my grandmother said, "God will make it all right." We just need to show up and do our part.

~ Tift County Commissioner Melissa Hughes

Join Stacey Abrams at 18 Hughes Lane in Tifton, 4-6 p.m. today, Nov. 1.

Please bring your lawn chair.

Paid for by the Committee to Re-Elect Melissa Hughes

Posing with some of the food donated Wednesday to the Tift Area Soup Kitchen are, from left, Fredrica Henry and Faunetta Brown of the Soup Kitchen, Cedric Williams of Coca-Cola United, Darlene Jackson of the Soup Kitchen, Pat McKinnon of the United Way of South Central Georgia, Mike Harvin of Coca-Cola United, and Betty Parson with the Soup Kitchen. 

FLA CHURCH DONATES $10,000 IN FOOD TO

TIFT AREA SOUP KITCHEN

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The United Way of South Central Georgia received nearly $10,000 worth of food Wednesday for the Tift Area Soup Kitchen, located at the Tift County Neighborhood Service Center, 2737 Central Ave. South in Tifton.

Pat McKinnon, president and CEO of the local United Way, said she had applied for $15,000 in food and received $5,000 some time ago. The food was donated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Jacksonville, Fla. It consisted of a variety of frozen meats and vegetables.

Two volunteer drivers from Coca-Cola United in Tifton drove to Jacksonville to pick up the food.

"It was just in time," McKinnon said. "The food supply at the Soup Kitchen was just beginning to run low."

Paid Political Advertisement

Re-Elect Marilyn R. Burks

Member

Tift County Board of Education

District 1

Paid for by Friends of Marilyn Burks

ALABAMA COLLISION CENTER CHAIN ACQUIRES TIFTON BODY SHOP

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Joe Hudson’s Collision Center, based in Montgomery, Ala., has announced the acquisition of Brooks Body Shop in Tifton and Port City Auto Body in Brunswick.

"The addition of Brooks Body Shop and Port City Auto Body in Georgia expands our statewide footprint to 14 locations, reinforcing our commitment to serving this dynamic market,” said Brant Wilson, chief executive officer of Joe Hudson’s Collision Center.

Established in 1989, Joe Hudson’s Collision Center has collision repair facilities in 18 states.

WAWA COMING TO TIFTON

Wawa, a convenience store and gas-station chain, is opening its first location in Georgia on Nov. 14 in Bainbridge, and says it has plans for stores in Tifton, Valdosta, Albany, Brunswick, Jesup, Hinesville, Pooler, and Waycross.

Wawa is a family-owned business headquartered in Wawa, Penn., and is known for its one-stop shopping for gas, coffee, breakfasts, soups, pizza, burgers, and specialty hoagies.

DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES ON HIGHWAY 82

Among the businesses soon opening on U.S. Highway 82 in Tifton are Dunkin', Baskin-Robbins, and Tropical Smoothie Cafe. No opening dates have been announced.

Photos by Bonnie Sayles

GUYS, GHOULS, CREATURES TAKE OVER DOWNTOWN TIFTON

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

For the 38th year on Halloween, Downtown Tifton was filled with hundreds of costumed kids (and some adults as well) for the annual Downtown Trick-or-Treat with local merchants.

The annual tradition is organized by the Tifton Main Street program in cooperation with Downtown businesses and organizations, who offer Halloween candy to the many ghosts, goblins, witches, and assorted creatures who line Main Street and Third Street.

As pictured below, an occasional princess can also be found along with "Alfalfa" from the "Our Gang/Little Rascals" comedy shorts. Alfalfa was among the co-founders of the "He-Man Womun Haters Club," a neighborhood boys' club created to keep out girls.

AMERICAN LEGION HOSTS BLOOD DRIVE

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

American Legion Post 21 in Tifton is hosting an American Red Cross blood drive from noon to 5 p.m. today (Friday) at the Post headquarters at 1224 Moore Highway.

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YOUR GUIDE

TO ACTIVITIES

THIS WEEKEND

IN THE GREATER TIFTAREA

Saturday, Nov. 2, is Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, is a traditional Mexican holiday dating to the year 1400. On this day, it is believed that the souls of the dead return to visit their living family members. Many people celebrate this day by visiting the graves of deceased loved ones and setting up altars with their favorite foods, drink, and photos. In some regions of Mexico, the event is observed over two or three days.

FRIDAY, NOV. 1

• First Friday Concert with Laura Wiley, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Tifton Gardens, Downtown Tifton
• Tifton Arts Affair, children's lantern parade, 6:45 p.m.; free outdoor concert, Relapse! party band, 7 p.m.; Love Avenue, Tifton
• Tift County High Blue Devils football @ Camden County High Wildcats, 7:30 p.m., Kingsland
• Tiftarea Academy Panthers football vs. Valwood Valiants, 7:30 p.m., Panther Pit, Chula

SATURDAY, NOV. 2

• Battles at Irwinville, 53rd Georgia Infantry Company K, 7 a.m., Jefferson Davis Memorial Historic Site, Irwinville
• Laughing Donkey Gravel Invitational, bike ride benefitting Anthony Bateman Scholarship Foundation, 9 a.m., Citgo – 184 Willis Still Road, Tifton
• Downtown Tifton Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-Noon, Tifton Gardens, Downtown Tifton
• Arts Affair Festival, live entertainment, demonstrations, artist market, children's art circus, food trucks,10 a.m.-4 p.m., Love Avenue, Tifton
• Cleaning the Caboose, volunteers needed to clean Fire Ant Express before the holidays, 10 a.m., 238 E. College Ave., Ashburn
• U.S. National Forestry Pageant, 5 p.m., Howard Auditorium, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Tifton

SUNDAY, NOV. 3

• Intro to Glass Blowing Workshop, 11 a.m., Syd Blackmarr Arts Center, Love Avenue, Tifton

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"Marni," a little "Ghostbuster," is the animal shelter's second-longest resident. This sweet girl has also been waiting seven months for her forever family. Marni is full of love to share, loves people, and enjoys playing with other dogs. Come visit her and see other pets available for adoption at the Tift County Animal Shelter on Highway 125 South, open between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. For additional information, call 229-382-PETS (7387).