BERRIEN COMMUNITY RALLIES TO AID CHILDREN HURT IN FARM ACCIDENT

TWO SIBLINGS REMAIN IN HOSPITAL

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Two children, severely injured in a farming accident Wednesday in Berrien County, remain in a Jacksonville, Fla., hospital, and the Berrien community is rallying to aid the family.

Three siblings, children of Alapaha farmer Brandan Rudeseal and his wife Miranda, were injured Dec. 28 while playing inside a cotton module builder on Flat Creek Church Road. The children got hung up in the hydraulic press on the inside of the machine. One child received minor injuries, but the other two, Bryce, 9, and his sister Briar, 4, were resuscitated at the scene and lifeflighted to Wolfson Children's Hospital in Jacksonville.

Bryce is now out of intensive care and is in a "back brace with a neck brace attached for a few fractured thoracic vertebrae,” his mother Miranda wrote on social media. She said he is recovering well but still has a long way to go.

His sister Briar, who had swelling on her brain, has been sedated, resting on a ventilator, and undergoing an MRI, CT scan, and X-rays. Her mother said a CT scan has shown "no injuries to any other organs in her body."

Miranda Rudeseal said she and her husband "have been an emotional roller coaster since we got here but we have kept positive thoughts, and we receive only what we want to because we know who has the final say. God has definitely brought us closer to Him, and it is amazing to really watch him work right before our eyes."

She thanked the community "for literally everything. The amount of love and support for our children has been beyond amazing. We are so blessed to have so many people praying and donating so we can just focus on watching God’s work."

Several online funding accounts have been set up for the Rudeseal family, and the Town of Alapaha said on social media that "an account has been set up at the Bank of Alapaha to help the Rudeseal family as they face the days ahead. Anyone who wishes to help them, please go by the bank. "

A softball tournament is being put together for Jan. 21 in Willacoochee to benefit the family.

A Facebook page set up to offer prayers has already surpassed 1,000 members.

"One of the best things about living in Berrien County is the way the community comes together in whatever way they can when tragedy strikes,” Possum Creek Off-Road Park in Ray City posted on social media.

"We are all joined in prayer right now for one of the sweetest families in Berrien, the Rudeseal family. With that said, Possum Creek, as a part of the Berrien County family, would like to help this family by dedicating our ride the day of Saturday, Jan. 14, to this family. ... Possum Creek, on our next open date Jan. 14, will be accepting monetary donations at the gate for this family."

Photo courtesy of Tiftarea YMCA

Paul Horst placed first with the most charitable donations in the Tiftarea YMCA’s annual Polar Bear Plunge on New Year’s Day. Horst raised funds for the Tift Area Greenways Association.

YMCA’s POLAR PLUNGE RAISES RECORD FUNDS

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

Paul Horst took first place in the 10th anniversary of the Tiftarea YMCA Polar Bear Plunge fundraiser, culminating in a plunge down the slide into the pool at the Stafford Aquatics Center at Hunt Park on New Year’s Day.

The temperatures cooperated by hitting the mid 70s on Sunday, Jan. 1, after a frigid Christmas season with highs in the 20s and 30s.

A longtime plunger, Horst raised $4,825 for the Tift Area Greenways Association (TAGA). According to the rules, TAGA will receive 100% of the funds he raised; other participating organizations split their fundraising donations 50/50, with the Tiftarea YMCA. 

Eleven nonprofit organizations were represented, the most ever, said Jason Bishoff, chief executive officer of the Tiftarea YMCA. A total of $12,075 was pledged, $4,000 more than last year.

In second place with donations, Bennett Harrison, representing Called to Care, raised $2,855. In third place, Bishoff, representing Brother Charlie’s mission, raised $2,800.

Other Polar Bear plungers and the charitable organizations they represented were: Cody Dixon, Peanut Butter & Jesus; Vicki Taft, Hospice of Tift Area; Mac Sims, Tift Animal Rescue; Christy Day, Tiftarea House of Hope; Andy Marzen, Tift County Foundation for Educational Excellence; Kim Moorman, Tifton-Tift County Public Library Foundation; Andrea McLemore, Literacy Volunteers of Tifton-Tift County; and Todd Garner, Dream Center.



Among the Tifton Housing Authority’s '12 Days of Christmas Exravanganza' was a seniors paint party.

HOUSING AUTHORITY CELEBRATES ’12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS’ WITH EVENTS

Throughout December, Tifton Housing Authority’s resident services department hosted its first 12 Days of Christmas Extravaganza to help spread joy, fun, love, and gifts.

The fun continued through Dec. 20 and included arts and crafts activities for all ages, paint parties hosted by Design by Michelle, and bingo, which always brings smiles to senior residents faces as they play for and win prizes.

Housing Authority youth enjoyed bowling, and a drawing was held in which one household from each of the authority's nine properties was gifted a Christmas box filled with goodies. Winners of those gift boxes were, Shirley Cook, Ronnika Porter, Torie Coleman, Debbie Kimble, Kimyada Johnson, Mark Williams, Qunesha Scott, Angelina Fudge, and Kinshasa Bennett.

Tifton city police officers joined together to purchase three bicycles, surprising three children whose names were drawn: Ny ’Kia Greene, Josiah Wilson, and Quentin Ja’ Michael Bennett.

2023’s FIRST BABY BORN IN TIFTON

Tifton’s first baby born in 2023 came into the world at 1:16 a.m. Jan. 1.

Rebecca and Randon Waldroup welcomed their baby girl Reese Matilynn Waldroup at Tift Regional Medical Center on Sunday.

Dr. Greg Rose, founder of TItleist Performance Institute, with Tifton native Melanie Peavy. Rose is frequently featured on the Golf Channel as a leading expert in the treatment of golfing athletes.

TIFTON NATIVE PEAVY COMPLETES MEDICAL CERTIFICATION IN GOLF ASSESSMENT & PERFORMANCE

Tifton native Melanie Peavy recently completed her third and final level of medical certification in golf assessment and performance through the TItleist Performance Institute.

Peavy is a physical therapist in the Jacksonville, Fla., area for Mayo Clinic Spine Center in the evaluation and treatment of the golfing athlete and in the development of Mayo Clinic Florida’s first formal Golf Assessment and Performance program. 

She completed her certification at the TItleist Performance Institute headquarters in Oceanside, Calif., led by its founder, Dr. Greg Rose.

TItleist Performance Institute hosts the most elite athletes in the world for assessment, treatment, and performance recommendations, including the PGA and LPGA tours, NBA, and Major League Baseball, among others.

With her advanced certification, Peavy continues to partner with local golf professionals in the Jacksonville area in the treatment of both recreational and professional golfers.

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

“Oreo,” a black-and-white kitty, is ready for a home. Oreo is available for adoption today at the Tift County Animal Shelter. To adopt and to see other pets available, visit the shelter between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).

LBJ HONORS COL. RALPH PUCKETT OF TIFTON

~ JAN. 4, 1968

On Jan. 4, 1968, Tiftonites learned the news that President Lyndon B. Johnson awarded the nation’s second-highest military honor and presented two other medals in late December to Tifton native Lt. Col. Ralph Puckett Jr. He received his second Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, and his fourth Purple Heart from the president at Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam. Puckett would later receive the Medal of Honor from President Joe Biden.