Covid Hits Youngsters

Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

MORE YOUNGER GEORGIANS GETTING COVID-19, SAYS

STATE HEALTH CHIEF

2.4% OF TIFT PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS OUT WITH VIRUS

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The current COVID-19 surge is affecting many younger people, and more than half of Georgia's recent cases are in K-12 schools, says the state's public health commissioner.

During a press conference Monday, Dr. Kathleen E. Toomey said that "schools are a site with COVID transmission going on, and we’re working hard with the superintendents to try and address these issues."

Tift County children between the ages of 5 and 17 recorded 119 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the two weeks ending Aug. 26, representing 1,647 cases per 100,000 population, according to the Ga. Department of Public Health (DPH).

Tift County public schools released a report Friday showing that 190 of its students, or 2.4%, are currently positive with COVID-19, along with 24, or 2.1%, of school system employees.

The number of daily average cases countywide in Tift are starting to decline, according to data compiled by Emory University. Tift is now showing a daily average of 149 new cases per 100,000 population compared to its all-time high of 219 recorded 10 days ago.

But Tift County's virus transmission is still much higher than that of the state and the nation. Georgia is at a daily average of 86 cases per capita; the U.S. daily average is 49 per 100,000.

During the past two weeks, Tift had 432 confirmed cases representing 1,058 per 100,000, the DPH said. But when rapid test Antigen cases are added, Tift shows 1,000 new cases in 14 days, or 2,449 per 100,000 population.

Tift's testing positivity rate is 22.7% in the past two weeks. The county has a total of 4,511 confirmed cases with 108 related deaths, the DPH said.

On Tuesday, Georgia recorded 6,836 new coronavirus cases within 24 hours, along with 86 deaths and 445 new hospitalizations. The state has recorded a total of 1,091,007 confirmed cases with 19,680 deaths, the DPH reported.

CITY COUNCIL ELECTION SLATE NOW COMPLETE: INCUMBENT QUALIFIES AS WRITE-IN CANDIDATE

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The slate of candidates is now complete for the Tifton City Council election on Nov. 2 as incumbent Johnny Terrell has now qualified as a write-in candidate.

Terrell did not file his candidacy paperwork before the regular qualification period ended Aug. 20. He has served three terms on City Council representing District 4 in South Tifton.

Terrell faces competition for the council seat from Sherrod Thompson and Lester L. Cromer Jr., both of whom had already qualified to be placed on the ballot.

The only other City Council seat up for election this year is the District 1 seat currently held by Wes Ehlers, who previously announced that he is not seeking re-election.

Only newcomer Denny “Josh" Reynolds has qualified for the District 1 seat and faces no opponents in the election.

Early voting will begin at the Tift County Board of Elections Office on Oct. 12, and ends Oct. 29. The last day to register to vote for the municipal general election is on Oct. 4.

Coach Rush Propst with some of the football players who figure in the Netflix series 'Titletown High' focusing on the Valdosta Wildcats' controversial 2020 season, Propst's first and only at Valdosta High School.

NETFLIX REALITY SERIES

FOCUSES CAMERA ON COACH PROPST, VALDOSTA HIGH'S

2020 FOOTBALL SEASON

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

"In a Georgia town where football rules and winning is paramount, a high school team tackles romance, rivalries and real life while vying for a title."

That's how Netflix describes its new docu-drama-reality series "Titletown High" about the Valdosta High School Wildcats football team last year under first-year Head Coach Rush Propst, who left amid a swirl of controversy.

The eight-part series was just released Friday on the Netflix TV streaming platform. It focuses on the football team's players, their school friends, and the controversial Propst, who has left successful coaching positions at Colquitt County High in Moultrie and at Hoover High in Alabama under other contentious circumstances.

In an interview the other day with the Saturday Down South website, Propst said he hopes people approach the TV show with an "open mind" and don't focus on his personal controversy.

"I hope people take an overview of what a high school athlete goes through at a high-pressure program like Valdosta," Propst told the website.

The series is somewhat heavy on the students' relationships with each other – their teammates, girlfriends, etc. – with typical teen drama.

And by the way, you may even recognize some familiar faces, among them Tifton’s Chris Beckham, a longtime radio host of South Georgia football shows.

Titletown High | Official Trailer | Netflix

VIDEO: Watch the trailer for Netflix's Titletown High TV series.

TIFTON'S RANDY CLEMENTS A

NOMINEE FOR GA REALTOR OF YEAR

Randy Clements is representing the Tiftarea Board of Realtors at the Georgia Association of Realtors annual convention this week as a nominee for the Georgia Realtor of the Year.

Clements, broker and co-owner of Advantage Realty Partners in Tifton, has previously served two terms as Tiftarea Board of Realtors president and has also been nominated as Realtor of the Year in 2011 and 2015.

A nomination is considered based upon business accomplishments, civic activity, Realtor board participation, as well as state and national Realtors association activity.

Clements has served on numerous committees on a local and state level, and has been chairman of the State and Local Government Committee, member of the Realtor Political Involvement Committee, and a member of the Brokers Council for the Georgia Association of Realtors. For six years, he served the national association as the federal political contact for Realtors with Congressman Austin Scott's office.

Before his ownership position with Advantage Realty, Clements was a lobbyist with the Georgia Municipal Association and employed with Georgia Power Co. in economic development. He is involved in local non-profit and civic organizations including serving on the Tift County Planning and Zoning Commission, the Tifton Masonic Lodge and Shrine Club, and the Tifton Brother of the Fraternal Order of Elks.

TIFTON

2012 Pineview Ave. Tifton, Ga 31793

TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RIBBON CUTTING

KiKi's Sea and Soul Kitchen

3111 S. Central Ave., Tifton

Aug. 25

SUNBELT AG EXPO

ON SCHEDULE THIS YEAR

After canceling last year's show, the Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition is celebrating its 43rd anniversary show on Oct. 19-21.

More than 1,200 exhibitors are set to display and demonstrate products while welcoming thousands of visitors to the 100-acre show site just outside Moultrie.

Crowned as "North America’s Premier Farm Show" and the largest farm show in the United States with field demonstrations, the Sunbelt Ag Expo brings together all segments of agribusiness including farmers, educators, policy-makers, ag-enthusiasts, and families.

Attendees will see the latest innovations and technology in the agriculture industry. A highlight is the naming of the Swisher Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year.

Also, at the 2021 Sunbelt Expo will be the public unveiling of John Deere’s CP770 cotton picker for the North American market, part of the company's third-generation of round-bale cotton harvesters.

Education is a key component of the show with more than 300 seminars and demonstrations during the three-day event. This year Virginia is the "Spotlight State."

The family-friendly event includes a daily rolling Antique Tractor Parade, the American Grand Finals Stock Dog Trials, and even a Cow Milking Contest.

For more information, see the show's website at www.sunbeltexpo.com

Chi-Town Transit Authority ~ "Make Me Smile."

VIDEO: The Chi-Town Transit Authority performs Chicago’s 'Make Me Smile.'

SOUNDS OF 'CHICAGO'

DANCE TO 'SATURDAY IN THE PARK,' 'COLOUR MY WORLD,' 'MAKE ME SMILE,'

& MORE AT LIBRARY FUNDRAISER

What is billed as the social event of the season – the dinner-dance-concert to benefit the Tifton-Tift County Public Library – features the Chi-Town Transit Authority, a tribute group to the band "Chicago," on Sept. 30 at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center.

Sponsored by the Tifton-Tift County Public Library Foundation as a fundraiser for the library, Chi-Town Transit Authority is an 8-piece group dedicated to reproducing the "Chicago" concert experience.

All of Chicago’s big hits, such as “25 or 6 to 4," "Saturday in the Park," “Colour My World,” and "Make Me Smile,” will be covered in the 90-minute concert.

There is an optional dinner before the show, and a dance floor will be available.

For reserved seating or for show-only tickets, Click Here! A portion of the dinner-show tickets are tax deductible.

FARMERS TO LEARN ABOUT RESEARCH AT COTTON & PEANUT FIELD DAY

ON UGA TIFTON CAMPUS

A joint Cotton and Peanut Research Field Day is set for Wednesday, Sept. 8, on the University of Georgia Tifton campus.

The Georgia Cotton Commission, Georgia Peanut Commission, and the UGA Extension cotton and peanut teams sponsor the event to showcase current research, funded by the respective commissions, in plot-side presentations by the researchers themselves.

The sponsors’ goal is to provide an educational environment for cotton and peanut farmers and give them a chance to directly question researchers and to express concerns about their crops.

Armond Morris and Bart Davis, the respective chairmen of the peanut and cotton commissions, said the event allows participants to interact with other farmers and industry representatives and to observe research programs funded by their checkoff investments.

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

"Baby" (who put Baby in the corner?) is ready for a new home. To adopt "Baby" and keep her out of the corner, visit the Tift County Animal Shelter from 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).

Pets of the Week are sponsored by:

Branch's Veterinary Clinic

205 Belmont Ave., Tifton, 229-382-6055

TIFTON PUBLIC SCHOOL BECOMES TUITION FREE

– SEPT. 3, 1906

When the Tifton Public School opened for the school year on Sept. 3, 1906, the school was tuition free for the first time in its history. There were 450 pupils enrolled as the school opened its doors.