FIESTA DEL PUEBLO

RETURNS SATURDAY

LARGEST HISPANIC FESTIVAL IN SOUTH GEORGIA

After a two-year absence because of COVID-19, La Fiesta del Pueblo Inc. is presenting the return of the largest Hispanic festival in South Georgia from 10 a.m.-8 p.m., this Saturday at Fulwood Park. 

Since its beginnings in 1996 in the rural town of Omega, La Fiesta has brought the history, culture, and traditions of Latin American countries to Tifton and surrounding areas, said Dina Willis, founder and committee chair.

“Come and celebrate with your family and friends a day of fun, authentic foods, Mariachi music, and folkloric dances,” Willis said. “Admission to the festival and to most of the children’s activities is free.”

The day will be packed with non-stop entertainment by singers and performances, including Mariachi bands, folkloric dancers, and locals from the Mallory School of Dance, Willis said. 

Native foods prepared by vendors will be for sale as well as a variety of arts, crafts, and commercial items. The children’s area will include face painting, children’s crafts, bouncing houses, giant slides, kiddie train rides, a climbing wall, and bungee jumping.

Booths with information about health, education, social services, and community organizations also will be located in the festival area.

“Every year La Fiesta attracts around 11,000 people from more than 23 Georgia counties and an estimate of 10 states,” Willis said. “The festival has been recognized by the Georgia Council for the Arts - Office of the Governor Grassroots Arts program as an outstanding recipient of grassroots funding in previous years, saying that La Fiesta del Pueblo showed how arts can change lives and be used as a tool to strengthen Georgia communities.”

Fiesta del Pueblo is not only a festival promoting culture and traditions from Latin American countries in Tifton and surrounding areas but also feeds the endowment for the Maria Cervantes Scholarship, Willis said.

“Each year, the scholarship is fed from money we receive from vendors and contribution,” she said. “This scholarship fund helps deserving young boys and girls to pay for some of their college tuition in ABAC.”

For details,  visit the La Fiesta del Pueblo Facebook page or Click Here! For additional information, contact Dina Willis at 229-386-0354 or Nancy Carrera at 229-520-7467. 

DISPUTE ARISES AS TIFTON COUNCIL SEEKS TO HIRE INTERIM CITY MANAGER

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

A special meeting of Tifton City Council on Thursday night to discuss hiring an interim city manager resulted in a dispute between Mayor Julie B. Smith and Councilman Lester Cromer Jr.

Cromer questioned whether or not the mayor had a conflict of interest in the issue since Smith is president of the Georgia Municipal Association where current Manager Pete Pyrzenski is going to work when he leaves the city in a few weeks. 

City Attorney Rob Wilmot said there is no conflict of interest in the mayor discussing and voting on a successor to Pyrzenski. Smith disseminated copies of the city charter and read aloud the sections concerning the mayor’s role and conflicts of interest.

“To insinuate that I have a conflict of interest, to me insinuates your mistrust of council, Mr. Cromer, and I want to know how we’re going to deal with it,” the mayor said.

The mayor apologized to the public saying, “I’m sorry .... there’s something going on here."

Vice Mayor Jack Folk moved to hire Michael Stewart as interim city manager. Mayor Smith said that Stewart "lives here” and has been interim manager for many governmental bodies, including in South Georgia.

Cromer said he wasn’t questioning the need for an interim manager after the current city manager leaves but asked, “Have you ever hired someone and never talked to them?"

Smith said that Stewart is in Washington state on business but will submit a proposal with his expectations about the job. The mayor said that all council members will have an opportunity to meet with Stewart.

“This is not a conspiracy,” Smith said. “Tifton is booming right now; we need to carry forward."

Folk noted that they are talking about an interim hire, not a permanent one. Based on Stewart’s resume and his support from Smith, “I don’t feel like I have to talk to him for an interim (position); I trust the mayor and her experience."

Folk amended his motion to merely continuing discussions with Stewart about the interim role. Council approved that with Cromer voting against it.

Council also approved hiring the Mercer Group management consultants for the executive search for a permanent city manager. The mayor said the consultants are highly recommended by other cities, by the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government, and by the Georgia Municipal Association. 

Cromer said he would have liked to review more than one company to hire for handling the city manager search and cast the lone vote against hiring the consultants.

NEW CASES OF COVID-19 CONTINUE DECLINE IN TIFT

New cases of COVID-19 continued to decline in Tift County during the past two weeks, according to data from the Ga. Department of Public Health.

There were 57 total new cases reported, compared to 74 cases reported in the previous two-week period. Tift's testing positivity rate for the two-week period was 9.4% compared to 11.9% previously, the DPH said. 

No additional deaths were recorded in the county, leaving the total at 171.

Tift County’s total positive cases in the past two weeks represent 140 cases per 100,000 population, the measure used across the country to compare case rates among communities and states. 

There have been a total of 6,705 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Tift.

Georgia has recorded a total of 2,234,184 confirmed cases and 33,351 related deaths, the DPH reported. There were 8,063 more total cases reported in the past week and 131 additional deaths statewide. There also were 499 COVID-related hospitalizations in Georgia in the past week, the DPH said.

UNEMPLOYMENT RISES SLIGHTLY IN LOCAL AREA

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Most counties in the Tiftarea saw their unemployment rates inch up slightly during August, according to data released Thursday from the Ga. Department of Labor (GDOL).

Tift County's unemployment rate was 2.8% in August, up from 2.7% in July but below June’s 3.0%. Tift's labor force numbered 21,175 for the month, 212 more than a year ago, the GDOL reported.

August jobless rates in area counties versus the previous month's rates were: Turner, 4.8% vs. 4.2%; Worth, 3.2% vs. 2.7%; Irwin, 4.1% vs. 4.3%; Cook, 3.1% vs 2.9%; Berrien, 3.3% vs. 3.1%; and Ben Hill, 4.5% vs. 4.6%.

Georgia’s August unemployment rate remained at the all-time low of 2.8% for the second consecutive month, the GDOL reported.

State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said jobs in the state reached another all-time high, increasing almost 16,000 from July. Georgia's unemployment rate was nine-tenths of a percent lower than the national August jobless rate of 3.7%.

"We have found that the new normal for job-hunting is less door to door and more virtual connection,” Butler said. "Our agency connects job-seekers with open positions quickly and effectively utilizing Employ Georgia and virtual job fairs benefitting employers and employees across the state."

Job gains included opportunities in educational services, 3,200; professional, scientific, and technical services, 3,000; specialty trade contractors, 2,200; local government, 1,700; durable goods manufacturing, 1,200; transportation and warehousing, 1,000; and health care, 1,000, the GDOL said..

'BIKERS AGAINST CHILD ABUSE’ WORK TO AID VICTIMS, BREAK ABUSE CYCLE

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

According to the Centers for Disease Control, one out of seven children is a child abuse victim, representatives of the Little River Chapter of Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA) told the Tifton Rotary Club on Wednesday.

The estimated cost to society to deal with the effects of child abuse is about $600 billion a year, they said. With “road names” of “Waffle” and “Slinky,” the two speakers, both bikers, shared BACA's mission and told why they became involved.

“Think about that: One in seven out of 30 kids in a classroom,” Waffle said. “When asked why we joined BACA, the simplest answer is: I know how bad it is. I can’t do nothing. I gotta do something.” 

With the slogan, “No Child Deserves to Live in Fear,” BACA has a goal to break the chains of child abuse. BACA is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization that exists to provide aid, comfort, safety, and support for children that have been sexually, physically, and emotionally abused.

The organization’s mission is “to stand ready to lend support to our wounded friends by involving them with an established, united organization. We work in conjunction with local and state officials who are already in place to protect children. We desire to send a clear message to all involved with the abused child that this child is part of our organization, and that we are prepared to lend our physical and emotional support to them by affiliation, and our physical presence,” Waffle said. 

“We stand at the ready to shield these children from further abuse. We do not condone the use of violence or physical force in any manner; however, if circumstances arise such that we are the only obstacle preventing a child from further abuse, we stand ready to be that obstacle,” he said.

BACA members bring the abused child into the chapter and the child only knows them by their road names. They also assign road names to the child to help them feel a part of the group.

“We show them we’re here for you,” Waffle said.

Members of the group often accompany children into court, especially to provide an intimidating presence on the side of the child who may feel afraid to confront their abuser. 

“We will do whatever we can to make them feel safe,” Waffle said. “Our goal is Death to Child Abuse.” 

“Perpetrators are not going to hurt them again,” Waffle said. The kids involved can call their BACA partner any time of day or night. “Law enforcement can’t sit outside the house all night long. We can.” 

“We are not a mentorship,” Waffle said. “We are not to be role models – clearly!”

“We are not a vigilante group,” Slinky added. “We do not go after the perpetrator. Our focus is the child, to break the chain.” 

“Eighty percent of abusers were victims,” Waffle said. “They have to deal with that trauma.” 

Members go through an extensive federal background check, and they must come to regular public meetings. They go through training in how to act with child abuse victims, how to behave in court, and sometimes, how to ride motorcycles with the group. Slinky said he is a semi-retired clinical social worker, and he had to train to be a biker.

“We’re not an ‘MC,' motorcycle club, like Hell’s Angels,” Waffle said. It takes a minimum of a year to be a full-fledged, trained member of the chapter with a BACA back patch on their jackets. 

The Little River Chapter is in Valdosta and serves Tifton along with most of South Georgia. Two of its members are from Tifton, and one member drives to monthly meetings from Waycross. Waffle said there are four chapters in Georgia, including ones in West Atlanta, East Atlanta, and Savannah. 

LIBRARY FOUNDATION HOLDS

ANNUAL FUNDRAISER AT 'THE SYD'

The Kelly/Scott Sextet from Florida wowed the audience Thursday night with jazz at the annual fundraiser for the Tifton-Tift County Public Library Foundation at the Syd Blackmarr Arts Center in Downtown Tifton.

There were even tables outside on The Syd’s grounds where patrons could sit and dine under the stars and watch and listen to the band live on a big screen. 

CASA's VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT FAIR

INFORMS HOW, WHERE TO VOLUNTEER 

Coastal Plain CASA in Tifton is hosting the seventh annual Volunteer Recruitment Fair at 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, at the Syd Blackmarr Art Center.

The event allows local non-profit organizations to inform residents about ways they can serve as a volunteer, said Julie Mitcham, advocacy coordinator with Coastal Plain CASA.

“This is an event that people can quickly walk through and see what non-profit organizations are available to them right here in their area where they can volunteer a small amount of their time,” Mitcham said.

“There’s something to be said about community members coming together, working together, for a great purpose. I think our communities need more people volunteering for the betterment of their town and touching lives.”

She said the Volunteer Recruitment Fair is a good opportunity for people who want to give back to their community and are looking for ways to give their time for a greater purpose.

“This event would also benefit any company that requires volunteer hours for their employees for them to learn how they can obtain those hours,” said Darcie Norton, recruitment and training coordinator with Coastal Plain CASA. People from Irwin, Tift, Turner, and Worth counties will find volunteer opportunities close to their homes. 

For information, call 229-386-9765 or email dnorton@cpcasa.org

Participating organizations include: Alzheimer’s Association of Georgia, Called to Care, Coastal EOA, Coastal Plain CASA, Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia, Hospice of Tift Area, Hospice Care Options, Literacy Volunteers of Tifton-Tift County, Meals on Wheels, Pregnancy Care Center/Women’s First Choice, Regency Southern Care Hospice, Ruth’s Cottage and Patticake House, The Bridge of Tiftarea Inc., the GFWC Tifton Woman’s Club, Toys for Tots/Santa’s Helpers, and the Tifton Council for the Arts.

YOUR GUIDE TO ACTIVITIES THIS WEEKEND IN THE TIFTAREA

Saturday, Sept. 24, is the 50th annual National Hunting and Fishing Day, celebrating the outdoor activities of hunting and fishing while emphasizing conservation. It was first established by President Nixon in 1972 and is marked by outdoor events held throughout the country, including in Georgia, where fishing is free Saturday and no fishing license will be needed on state waters.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 23

• Bark in the Park Festival, 5 p.m., Jeffords Park, Sylvester
• Guided Nature Trail Tour, 6 p.m., Reed Bingham State Park, Adel
• Heather Land Live: The Age Gap Tour, 7 p.m., Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts,Tifton
• Tift County High Blue Devils varsity football vs. Gadsden (Fla.) High Jaguars, 7:30 p.m., Brodie Field, Tifton

SATURDAY, SEPT. 24

• Outdoor Adventure Day/JAKES Day, 7:30 a.m., Paradise Public Fishing Area, Enigma
• 30th Goin’ Hog Wild Car & Truck Show, 8 a.m.- 2 p.m., UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center, Tifton
• La Fiesta del Pueblo, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Fulwood Park, Tifton
• Bark in the Park Festival, 10 a.m., Jeffords Park, Sylvester
• Fitzgerald Fall Festival, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Paulk Park RV Park & Campground, Fitzgerald
• Guided Historical Trail Tour, 6 p.m., Reed Bingham, State Park, Adel

SUNDAY, SEPT. 25

• Valdosta Symphony Orchestra, 3 p.m., Tift County High Performing Arts Center, Tifton
• Skate Day at the Park, 4 p.m., Fitzgerald Skate Park, Fitzgerald

ADVERTISE YOUR

YARD SALE HERE

TO ADVERTISE YOUR YARD SALE,

CONTACT US at 

yardsales@tiftongrapevine.com 

or 478-227-7126

Fees are $1 per word, paid in advance

“Cookie” is among the pets available for adoption at the Tift County Animal Shelter. See this happy girl at the shelter on Highway 125 South between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. For additional information, call 229-382-PETS (7387).