Digital Newspaper for Tifton, Ga., and the Greater Tiftarea

BOE CANDIDATE FILES PETITION FOR NEW ELECTION

AMBROSE KING LOST TIFT SCHOOL BOARD SEAT BY 2 VOTES; ALLEGES IRREGULARITIES

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Ambrose B. King Jr., who lost his primary election for the Tift County Board of Education (BOE) by two votes, has filed a petition in Tift County Superior Court to invalidate the results and schedule a new election.

In his petition, King alleges that the election for the Democratic nomination for the District 1 seat "was full of irregularities and errors that, in total, cast in doubt the election’s results."

Among his allegations are that at least three proper votes were wrongfully rejected; that ineligible voters, including non-district residents, were allowed to cast ballots; that there were irregularities in absentee ballots; and that an initial tally by the Georgia Secretary of State's Office showed a different number than the Tift County Board of Elections' official tally.

King also alleges that there were "issues with voting machines, issues with vote counting, issues with ballot tabulation, and irregularities regarding poll watching."

"Because the irregularities, wrongly rejected votes, and illegal votes in the election exceed the margin of victory of two, the election must be invalidated, and a new election held," King's petition reads. 

In certified results of last week's election, incumbent Tift BOE member Marilyn R. Burks defeated King by a vote of 156 to 154. Burks received 50.32% of the vote to King's 49.68%, according to the Board of Elections.

The District 1 Democratic nominee faces no opposition in November.

King's civil lawsuit is filed against the Tift County Board of Elections and Burks. The suit asks the the case be decided by the court in a bench trial, that the court orders the Tift County Board of Elections to abide by specified protocols to ensure that a new election is properly administered; and that King is awarded litigation expenses and attorneys’ fees.

The suit was filed Wednesday in Tift County Superior Court by King's attorney, Jake Evans of Atlanta.

GA SUPREME COURT SIDES WITH WORTH SCHOOLS OVER EX TEACHER TIBBETTS

By FRANK SAYLES JR,

Tifton Grapevine

In reversing a state appeals court decision, the Georgia Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled in favor of the Worth County School District in a lawsuit filed by John R. Tibbetts. a former teacher.

Tibbetts, formerly of Tifton, was Georgia's Teacher of the Year in 2018 when he served as a Worth County High School economics instructor. The Worth County School District had declined to hire Tibbetts for the 2019-2020 school year because, the district contended, Tibbetts did not return a teacher contract by the deadline.

Tibbetts maintained that he returned the contract online and on time, and that the contract was invalid because it was incomplete with blanks and salary terms missing.

He filed for breach of contract against the school district, maintaining that his previous year's contract was then renewed under state law. A trial court ruled for the district, noting there was no formal teacher's contract between Tibbetts and the district in order to waive sovereign immunity, which makes a school system immune from a lawsuit.

Tibbetts then appealed, and a state Court of Appeals sided with Tibbetts. The Worth School District then petitioned the Supreme Court, which ultimately reversed the Appeals Court saying it erred in waiving sovereign immunity.

"Obviously, I’m disappointed we didn’t get our day in court," Tibbetts told the Tifton Grapevine.

"Ultimately what was argued before the Supreme Court wasn’t so much about the merits of my claim as the existence of sovereign immunity, which was how they got around whether I was rehired or not renewed," Tibbetts said. "From the beginning, I felt I had submitted and had proof of the existence of a contract. The court didn’t agree."

Before he was a teacher, Tibbetts, a Tift County High and a West Point graduate, spent 21 years in the Army. He was serving at the Pentagon when a hijacked plane slammed into the building on Sept. 11, 2001, killing 189 people.

'GLOW PARTY' TO KICK OFF SUMMER READING

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

The Tifton-Tift County Public Library and scores of community volunteers are ready for at least 1,000 children to take over Library Lane for Books on the Block at 7-9 p.m. Saturday.

Once again, the official kickoff of the summer reading program will be a glow-out blow-out party. More than 20 local businesses and service organizations will have glow-in-the-dark items and other giveaways and activities supporting literacy. 

Library activities are free, but some food trucks and vendors will have costs associated with them.

“Dress up as your favorite book character and enter to win at the Coastal Plain Library booth,” Branch Manager Karen Thompson said on social media. “One prize for adults and one for kiddos. Start out front of the library under the rainbow lights and register your family for the reading program,” she said.

Participants will receive a special-event passport page and will be encouraged to visit all booths to fill up their pages with stickers and stamps. People with completed passports will be entered to win a special glow-party prize. 

A Touch-A-Truck event will be behind the library, where first responders and other community helpers will be parked with their vehicles. A car show will be at the end of Library Lane near Tift Avenue.

“We are excited to welcome our community to the library for the summer,” Thompson said. “The staff have worked very hard to offer an outstanding summer reading program, and this amazing event. We could not do it without the fantastic Tifton-Tift County Public Library Foundation and the Coastal Plain Regional Library System. 

“We can hardly wait to get glowing with you!”

TIFT JUNETEENTH MARCH TO HONOR FORMER TIFTON MAN SHOT & KILLED IN FORT VALLEY

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

Tift County's 10th Annual Juneteenth March and Candlelight Vigil will honor Micah McCant, 31, a Tifton native and son of Jadonna Johnson of Tifton, who was shot and killed Sunday night when he went to a middle school graduation party in Fort Valley to pick up his stepdaughter.

Dexter Oliver, 36, of Fort Valley, 36, has been arrested and charged with murder in the incident, according to Fort Valley Police Chief DJ Flores. 

The Annual Juneteenth March in honor and memory of McCant will begin at 10 a.m., Wednesday, June 19, at Community Mortuary, 102 West 13 ½ St., and culminate at the Tift County Courthouse, said organizer Rue’Nette Melton.



Among other Juneteenth-related activities include a field day with youth and adult basketball games and field activities from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday, June 15, at Mott Littman Gym. It will conclude with an adult social at 8 p.m. at the Byrd’s Residence, 4013 Emerson O’Bynes Ave.

The Juneteenth observance includes the 14th Annual Dee & Doc Melton Sr. Cultural Humanitarian/Juneteenth Ball at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, June 22, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Tifton featuring The Kollective Band. 

“We are anticipating visitors from near and far to celebrate with us, expressing their love, appreciation, and dedication to our 2024 humanitarians,” Melton said. “Also, we are giving an educational scholarship to a single parent/student presently attending college.”

TIFT SCHOOLS SETS CLEAR-BAG POLICY FOR ATHLETIC EVENTS

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Beginning with the 2024-25 school year, Tift County Schools will implement a clear-bag policy for all events at athletic facilities.

"The safety of our fans, staff, and student-athletes is our main priority," said Chris Martin, Tift County Schools' athletic director. "This has become a standard around the state, and our new policy is comparable with other schools in our region.”

The clear-bag policy allows only bags at a maximum of 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches or a one-gallon clear plastic resealable bag. Small clutch bags no larger than 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches, bags that are necessary for medical purposes, and diaper bags (with an age-appropriate child present) will be permitted but are subject to search. No other bags or purses that are not clear will be permitted in athletic venues.

"This policy provides our security staff with greater visibility for items being brought into our facilities," said Mark Wynn, system security director. "The decision to create a clear-bag policy was made after careful consideration and discussion among school and district staff. Ultimately, the goal is to create a safer environment."

All items, including clear bags and clutch purses, are subject to search at all gates. No items can be left or stored at the gates, officials said.

Also in the upcoming school year. Tift County High School will once again require students to wear an identification badge similar to those worn by teachers and staff. That policy had been paused since the pandemic.

TIFT COUNTY CANNING PLANT OPENS FOR SEASON ON TCHS CAMPUS

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The Tift County Canning Plant has opened for the 2024 season, operated by agriculture education teachers in Tift County.

Organizers say it is an easy way to process one's own food and to eat healthy by controlling the amount of salt, sugar, and fat in a diet.

The canning plant is located on the Tift County High School campus in the back of the Agriscience Building. Visitors should enter the bus entrance off New River Church Road; the Agriscience Building will be the first building on the right.

Hours of operation are 8 a.m.-noon, Mondays-Thursdays, through July 11; the plant will be closed July 4. To schedule an appointment, call 229-387-2480.

Services available include:

• Wet-Pack Canning

Produce is prepared (peeling, blanching, etc.), placed in quart cans (provided at the facility) or glass jars (not available at the facility), sealed, cooked either under pressure or in a water bath for the appropriate time, and cooled.

• Dry-Pack Canning

Dry foods such as sugar, flour, meal, etc., are placed in either cans or buckets and packed down tightly. An oxygen absorber package is then placed on top, and the bucket or can is sealed.

• Blanching

Foods are exposed to raw steam to stop enzyme reaction, expel respiratory gases, soften tissue, and retain flavor and color in the produce. After blanching, food may be either canned or packaged for freezing.

• Peeling

A mechanical peeler is available to peel produce such as potatoes. Produce may then be further processed for canning or freezing.

• Cooking

Large cooking vats are available for those who wish to cook produce and then package it for freezing. The vats are also used to cook canned products such as soups, boiled peanuts, and fruits.

• Corn Creaming

A Holt Creamer System available for use. The system will cut whole kernel or cream corn. The corn may then be blanched for freezing. All corn should be shucked before arrival.

A variety of vegetables and fruits can be processed. The only cost in fully canning produce is $1.50 per metal quart can or 25 cents per glass jar (glass jars are not provided). Can costs are subject to change. People are asked to inquire before processing.

Blanching for freezing costs $2 per blanching tray, corn creaming is 10 cents per ear of corn.

The Tift County Food Processing Center is an educational public service provided through the cooperative efforts of the Tift County Board of Education, Tift County Board of Commissioners, Tift County Agriculture Education Department, and the Georgia Department of Education.

Renee Smith, left, and her daughter Jade Heath, both of whom adopted a kitten the day before, take home another kitten to foster for the shelter Thursday.

ANIMAL SHELTER HOLDS 'FOSTER HUDDLE'

TO EDUCATE VOLUNTEERS ON ANIMAL CARE

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

About 25 new and seasoned volunteers met at the Tift County Animal Shelter on Thursday for a “Foster Huddle” to learn how they can help the staff care for the many cats, kittens, dogs, and puppies.

Shelter Director Candice Hernandez and foster coordinator Karin Huggins explained the need for foster “parents” to care for vulnerable young pets and those that struggle in the shelter environment. Volunteers toured the shelter and learned about volunteering opportunities.

Foster coordinator Huggins explained that she would help teach anyone fostering how to bottle-feed if necessary and provide medications and subcutaneous fluid injections as needed. 

Hernandez explained that all food and medicine would be provided to foster volunteers. Attendees on Thursday were offered corrugated scratch pads for cats, cat condos, T-shirts, water bottles, and more.

LETTERS WELCOME: The Tifton Grapevine accepts Letters to the Editor on topics of interest to our readership. Letters are subject to editing for length, libel, and inappropriate language.

All letters must include the author's name, along with address and phone number for verification purposes.

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To Contact Us, Call 478-227-7126

Statewide influenza data released from the 

Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) as of week ending May 18:

Since Seasonal Tracking Beginning Oct. 23, 2023:

TOTAL INFLUENZA OUTBREAKS: 198 ............................................... LATEST WEEK: 0

TOTAL METRO AREA HOSPITALIZATIONS: 4,364 ..............................LATEST WEEK: 4

TOTAL INFLUENZA-ASSOCIATED DEATHS: 57 ................................. LATEST WEEK: 0

In Georgia, influenza is not a reportable condition, with the exception of influenza-associated deaths and outbreaks.

YOUR GUIDE

TO ACTIVITIES

THIS WEEKEND

IN THE GREATER TIFTAREA

This Saturday, June 1, is National Barefoot Day, a day to put your best foot forward. There's few things more liberating than walking barefoot on a thick carpet of grass. But National Barefoot Day has more serious origns. An Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 drove many folks toward poverty. In an effort to help those victims, Soles4Souls promoted National Barefoot Day to encourage everyone to donate footwear, be it used or new, that can be given to underprivileged people who desperately need shoes.

FRIDAY, MAY 31

• Summer Reading Kickoff Party, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Jeffords Park, Sylvester

SATURDAY, JUNE 1

• Wiregrass Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-Noon, Ga. Museum of Agriculture, Tifton
• Mother-Son Luau, 6-9 p.m., Leroy Rogers Center, Tifton
• Shelly Belly Comedy: "I Ain't Mad At It" Tour, 7 p.m., Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts, Downtown Tifton
• Books on the Block Glow Party, 7-9 p.m., Tifton-Tift County Public Library, Love Avenue, Tifton

YOUR YARD SALE

HERE!

TO ADVERTISE YOUR RESIDENTIAL

YARD SALE, CONTACT US at 

IHeardIt@tiftongrapevine.com 

or 478-227-7126

Fees are $1 per word, paid in advance

"Paddington" is a friendly guy looking for the perfect home. Come visit him and 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).