WTXL photo

Sunday’s tornado downed trees and damaged several homes on Kent Drive in Adel. Winds were up to 115 mph, the National Weather Service reported.

EF-2 TORNADO DAMAGES HOMES; NO INJURIES

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Adel continues to clean up from Sunday night’s EF-2 tornado, which damaged numerous homes and other structures, downed trees, and power lines, but reportedly resulted in no injuries.

The National Weather Service in Tallahassee, Fla., said the tornado touched down near Interstate 75 and lasted eight minutes – from 5:20 to 5:28 p.m. Sunday – until lifting near the Berrien County line.

The heaviest damage was in the Kent Thomas subdivision off Bear Creek Road, according to Cook County officials. Approximately 25 homes were damaged, and structures off Highway 41 also were struck, officials said.

The tornado hit peak winds of 115 mph over a 5.9-mile path, the Weather Service said. The storm’s maximum width was 80 yards.

Ironically, Sunday’s storm was six years to the day of a deadly EF-3 tornado that killed seven people in a mobile home park just south of Adel.

At Thursday’s Georgia Peanut Farm Show in Tifton, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and ex-Gov. Sonny Perdue, right, is inducted into the Georgia Peanut Hall of Fame by Joe Boddiford, Georgia Peanut Commission chairman.

GA PEANUT COMMISSION NAMES SONNY PERDUE TO

GA PEANUT HALL OF FAME

The 46th annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference brought more than 1,500 farmers and industry professionals together Thursday in Tifton for education seminars and to learn about products and services available.

During an awards ceremony, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and ex-Gov. Sonny Perdue was inducted into the Georgia Peanut Hall of Fame. A portrait of Perdue was unveiled and will be displayed in the Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) headquarters in Tifton.

Perdue is currently chancellor of the University System of Georgia. He was the 31st secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 2017-2021 and served two terms as governor of Georgia from 2003-2011.

Among other awards, the GPC named Armond Morris of Tifton as the Outstanding Georgia Peanut Farmer of the Year for District 2. The Media Award was presented to the Peanut Farm Market News, edited and distributed by Tyron Spearman and the Spearman Agency of Tifton.

The Innovator Award was presented to Dr. William D. Branch, a peanut breeder at the UGA Tifton campus. His work has led to an overall increase of nearly 2,000 pounds per acre for peanut farmers and an increase in $325 per acre.

The Research and Education Award was presented to the University of Georgia Peanut Team, which conducts research- and extension-based educational programs for farmers in the areas of peanut breeding, disease, weed, insect management, soil fertility, precision ag, and economics.

CITY OF SPARKS RECEIVES ‘VISIONARY CITY AWARD'

The City of Sparks in Cook County is among nine cities receiving the Visionary City Award from the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) and Georgia Trend magazine.

The awards were presented Sunday during the GMA Cities United Summit in Atlanta. Three cities each earned the award in three categories: Small (population under 4,999), medium (5,000-24,999) and large (25,000 and over).

Each city was recognized for initiatives that increased civic engagement, created community partnerships, and made people proud to call their city home.

Sparks, in the small cities category, is recognized for creating Mobile Library Events, which have improved local literacy rates, promoted local businesses, and increased community engagement, the GMA said.

The events began at Sparks City Hall with books available for all ages, all reading levels, and interests. In addition to reading materials, the Mobile Library provides free printing, faxing, and WiFi to lower-income residents.

Police and fire personnel have been able to introduce themselves to residents through the events, which have become so popular that local businesses have begun to offer food and other goods when the Mobile Library stops by.

Other cities recognized were: Tybee Island for its “Keep Tybee Tidy” campaign; Watkinsville, for creating the Miracle League Ball Field and accessible Playground of Possibilities for children and adults with disabilities; Toccoa, for developing Lake Toccoa Recreational Park; Camilla, for its Camilla Youth Initiative; and Norcross, for being designated a “Bee City USA.”

Also, Valdosta, for creating Unity Park; LaGrange, for the Thread, a pet-friendly, multi-purpose, multi-use trail system; and Douglasville, for its video series “Douglasville Jr.!” to teach children about local government.

EIGHTH STREET FBLA DOES WELL IN REGION COMPETITION

Eighth Street Middle School's Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) swept many categories at the FBLA region competition Friday.

Eighth Street Middle had 22 first-place finishes, 15 second-place finishes, 10 third-place finishes, five fourth-place finishes, and six fifth-place finishes. Fifty-seven students competed in 24 different events

ESMS also won first place in region for largest local chapter membership.

"We have 115 members; it is our biggest year ever with a 27% increase over last year's membership,” said Laural Mullen, the school’s FBLA adviser.

“Eighth Street Middle School students brought their A-games,” Mullen said. “Now, we move on to prepare for state competition, which is a whole new level. We look forward to yet another chapter-best performance.”

Students will test and compete for state honors in February.

ESMS students honored in the region competition were:

First Place

Second Place

Third Place

KEEP TIFT BEAUTIFUL NAMES BEAUTY SPOTS OF MONTH

Keep Tift Beautiful has awarded the Beauty Spots of the Month to a residence and to a business in Tift County.

Jon and Tammie Koran at 7023 Conley Way received the residential designation (pictured above), and Fulp Family Dentistry on Magnolia Drive received the commercial designation (Dr. Scott Fulp is in photo below).

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

“Valentine" is among the cats that need a good home who are available at the Tift County Animal Shelter. To adopt Valentine and to see other pets available, visit the shelter between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).

CAPT. HENRY TIFT MYERS HONORED

FOR 30 YEARS OF AIRLINE SERVICE

~ JAN. 29, 1963

Capt. Henry T. Myers, a Tifton native who served as the personal pilot for Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman, was honored with a surprise anniversary party on Jan. 29, 1963, by a group of friends and the president of American Airlines for Myers’ 30 years of service with the airline, which he joined in 1933 when it was named American Airways. Airline President C.R. Smith presented Myers with a diamond-studded lapel pin denoting 30 years.

During WWII, Myers became an Air Transport Command pilot, and was selected as

President Roosevelt’s pilot, flying him around the world in the plane known as the “Sacred Cow.” When Myers returned to American Airlines in 1948, President Truman said, “I’d want Hank Myers as my pilot even if he were a Republican. I’d rather have a pilot who can fly my plane than a Democrat who can’t."