At the awards ceremony are from left, Renée Areng, executive director at Explore Brookhaven; Tyron Spearman, Rosalie Reeder, and Angela Elder of the Tifton-Tift County Tourism Association; and Jay Markwalter, executive director of the Georgia Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus.

TIFTON TOURISM RECEIVES STATE AWARD

FOR TIFTON’S 150th ANNIVERSARY EFFORTS

STAFF REPORTS

The Tifton-Tift County Tourism Association was honored Tuesday with a statewide award for its Tifton sesquicentennial initiative.

The tourism staff received the Al Burruss Award for Creative Expression at a ceremony in Albany’s Chehaw Park during the Georgia Association of Conventions and Visitor Bureaus annual conference.

The Creative Expression Award recognizes an individual or entity that develops a creative community public relations initiative. 

Tifton was cited for its activities during the promotion of the city’s 150th anniversary last year, including the Food Network’s national coverage of the Rhythm & Ribs Festival, the Wiregrass Ball celebrating agriculture, Col. Ralph Puckett Jr. Day recognizing the Medal of Honor recipient, the city’s Rock the Block Birthday Party, the 120-foot Tifton mural that the Tourism Association commissioned, and the Tinsel in Tifton Christmas Celebration.

“We are very proud of our tourism team here in Tifton and Tift County,” said Frank Sayles Jr., chairman of the Tifton-Tift County Tourism Association. "Our staff of Tyron Spearman, Angela Elder, and Rosalie Reeder all do an outstanding job for tourism. We are also very appreciative of our community partners throughout Tifton and Tift County.

“It’s great and entirely fitting that everyone's hard work and daily efforts are being recognized on a statewide basis,” Sayles said.

The “Think Tifton” campaign that markets local tourism has received widespread attention and has become well-known throughout Georgia. In addition to billboards, brochures, and news media marketing, “Think Tifton” is also driving digital traffic on its website and social media.

Monthly website page views exceed 9,500, and social media impressions totaled 134,189 during January.

A variety of Think Tifton souvenirs, T-shirts, and other Tifton items are available for sale at the Spearman Agency office at 148 Ridge Ave. South.

The Tourism Association is governed by a seven-member board of directors: Two appointed by the City of Tifton, two by Tift County, two by the Tiftarea Hospitality Association, and one by the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce.

Sayles and Treasurer William Bowen are the city’s appointees, and Pat Welker and Jonathan Judy are the county’s appointees. Vice Chairman Greg Daniel and John Alec McKinnon represent the hotels/motels, and Melody Cowart represents the Chamber of Commerce on the board.

CREDIT EDUCATION FOCUS OF FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAM

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

Tifton’s Financial Literacy program on Tuesday, to be presented free to the public, will “equip adults and children to make better decisions about credit,” says Dr. Tonja Tift, the program’s coordinator.

The second session in Tifton’s Financial Literacy Initiative’s series of programs will be at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Leroy Rogers Senior Center.

The program is “Understanding Credit Report and Credit Score.” Those wishing to attend may register here.

Dr. Tift, executive director of the Tifton Urban Redevelopment Agency, told the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce on Thursday that 96% of participants in financial literacy programs in other states say they felt an improved ability to manage their finances. And 95% said they would take suggested actions after attending the series. 

Eighty-two area residents attended Tifton’s first Financial Literacy Initiative program Jan. 17. At least 42 people have registered for this Tuesday’s event. 

“What will the literacy initiative do to help the community?” Tift asked. “Business people will have more financially stable customers and more financially stable employees.”

She encouraged Chamber members to send their employees to the program, to be taught by Dr. Yangxuan Liu, an assistant professor at the University of Georgia. Tift said attendees will have access to a counselor to talk them through an online platform after attending the class.

Meetings will continue throughout the year on the third Tuesdays. The classes are free, and refreshments are served. Tifton has been selected by the Georgia Municipal Association and the Federal Home Loan Bank Atlanta for the state’s first Financial Literacy Initiative. 

CHAMBER HONORS STAR STUDENTS, TEACHERS

The Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce recognized local STAR Students and their selected STAR teachers at the Chamber’s monthly meeting Thursday.

The Tift County High School STAR Student is Jozef John Hizon Abantao. His chosen STAR Teacher is Jacob Thompson. Tiftarea Academy's STAR Student is Natalee Grace Medders, and her STAR Teacher is Johnny Branton.

To obtain the STAR nomination, students must have the highest score in one administration of the SAT when taken through the November test date of their senior year, and must be in the top 10% of top 10 students in their class.

ENIGMA WOMAN'S PHOTO GETS FIRST-PLACE IN COMPETITION

STAFF REPORTS

An Enigma woman’s photograph has placed first in the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) photo contest.

Rebecca Railey’s photo entitled “Hands” (seen at left) was the first-place winner in the NACD contest's Agriculture & Conservation Across America adult category.

Another Georgian, Rita Harman of Eatonton, received second-place for her photo entry in NACD’s Close-Up Conservation adult category.

The contest aims to promote conservation education to students in kindergarten through the 12th grade. It was part of Stewardship Week, NACD’s stewardship program that teaches students what it means to be stewards of natural resources.

The award recipients were announced during NACD’s annual meeting recently in New Orleans.

ABAC’S MATRIARCHAL COW ‘PUMPKIN, CELEBRATES 20th BIRTHDAY

While the golden stallion may be the symbol most associated with Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, a four-legged, beloved, reddish-orange bovine also has a special place on the Tifton campus.

ABAC’s students, faculty, and staff were joined Tuesday by alumni and other community partners at the college’s beef unit to celebrate the 20th birthday of “Pumpkin," a Braford cow and the matriarch of the college’s herd.

“Pumpkin has played an important role in not only the operation of our beef herd, but most importantly to student hands-on learning,” said Dr. Mark Kistler, dean of the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

“It’s quite an achievement for a cow to reach 20 years old. The productive life for a beef cow is 8-10 years. Pumpkin has been productive for the majority of her mature life.”

As part of Tuesday’s ceremony, ABAC Alumni Council member Kaytlyn Cobb announced the creation of the first “Spirit of ABAC Award," given to a recipient that embodies the qualities that make the school special. Pumpkin was presented a personalized award as the first recipient.

Dr. Mary Ellen Hicks, animal science professor, and Doug Hicks, beef herd manager, accepted on Pumpkin’s behalf. Also, Pumpkin’s “300” ear tag was officially retired.

“Celebrations like today are what makes ABAC special,” Cobb said. “Thousands of students walk onto this campus each year and leave with a premier education that they acquired from hands-on opportunities and exceptional instruction. For the last 20 years, Cow 300 has faithfully served our students and the beef herd, which is not something that any other institution can boast.”

ABAC President Tracy Brundage said, “She is truly the matriarch of the ABAC herd with 206 calves that trace back to her as daughters, granddaughters, or even great-granddaughters. She has had many photos taken of her, appeared in ABAC recruitment materials, and even appeared on the cover of the United Braford Breeders Magazine.”

RUTH’S COTTAGE SAW RECORD NUMBER IN SHELTER IN 2022

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

Having a new facility equipped with 25 beds, Ruth’s Cottage domestic violence shelter served 316 people in 2022, a record number for the shelter, Nancy Bryan, executive director of Ruth’s Cottage and the Patticake House told the Tifton Rotary Club Wednesday. 

That number included 196 adults and 120 children, the most children served in a year, she said. The domestic violence hotline received 1,150 calls in 2022.

The organization is a private nonprofit serving the judicial circuit of Tift, Turner, Worth, and Irwin counties. 

The facility has a fulltime housing coordinator, a fulltime child advocate, and three fulltime legal advocates to help with requests that come in via the hotline. In 2022, 612 people sought safety protective orders, Bryan said. They help provide safety plans for callers. She said it was a big year with 193 temporarly protective orders granted.

A Latino Outreach Program with a bilingual advocate has more than doubled the number of victims served in that population over last year. 

The Patticake House conducted 112 forensic interviews: 72 were sexual abuse cases, 17 were victims of severe physical abuse, and 21 were child witnesses to domestic abuse. She said a male interviewer works with boys who may not want to talk to a woman interviewer about their abuse experience.

The program has a $1.1 million annual budget. State and federal funds are the source of 69% of funding. Criminals convicted of domestic violence charges are assessed fees and fines that are required to support domestic violence programs.

“A lot of money comes from super speeders on I-75,” Bryan said.

Each county decides on a percentage of its fines that will go to support Ruth’s Cottage and the Patticake House. Tift County gives a flat rate of $58,000 a year; Worth County provides $30,000 a year; Irwin and Turner give a percentage of fees collected. 

The agency is governed by a 21-member board, each of whom is required to be active, Bryan said. The sporting clays fundraiser is planned in April.

The Tifton Tree Board plants live oak trees recently along Central Avenue.

CITY TO CELEBRATE ARBOR DAY;

90 MORE TREES PLANTED RECENTLY

STAFF REPORTS

The City of Tifton plans to celebrate Arbor Day at 11 a.m. next Friday, Feb. 24, on Central Avenue between Second and Fourth Streets where the Tifton Tree Board recently completed its latest tree plantings on city rights-of-way.

In the recent round of plantings, 90 trees were planted in the following locations:

• 21 Live oaks on Central Avenue between Second and Fourth Streets.
• 57 Live oaks on S. Park Avenue between U.S. Highway 82 and 15th Street.
• 6 Live oaks on Third Street at Central Avenue.
• 6 Shumard oaks on the northwest and northeast corners of Love Avenue and Eighth Street.

The plantings were funded by the Downtown Development Authority, and the trees planted by Outdoor Services with the assistance of city personnel. 

Since February 2019, the Tifton Tree Board has been responsible for planting 539 trees along the city’s rights-of-way.

MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION AWARDS TIFTON GRANT TO IMPROVE SAFETY

The City of Tifton has been awarded $16,659.69 through the Georgia Municipal Association's Safety and Liability Management Grant Program.

The program provides financial support to improve employee safety and general public liability loss control efforts through the purchase of training, equipment, or services. Funds are being used to buy safety strobe lights, automated external defibrillator (AED) pads and batteries, and tactical bag supplies for the Tifton Police Department.

Pictured from left are Mayor Julie B. Smith; Emily Davenport, Georgia Municipal Association member services consultant; City Clerk Jessica White; and Interim City Manager Emily Beeman.

LEROY ROGERS SENIOR CENTER CROWNS

KING & QUEEN FOR VALENTINE’S DAY

During a special Valentine’s Day celebration at the Leroy Rogers Senior Center in Tifton, attendees chose a Valentine’s King and Queen.

Each senior attending was allowed to nominate one king and one queen for the honors.

Chosen were Mr. and Mrs. Robert and Catherine North.



The Leroy Rogers Senior Center is a special place for the Norths – it is where they first met.

At the event, the seniors received some sweet treats and even got an opportunity to do a little dancing.

Weekly COVID-19 data released from the

Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) as of Feb. 15:

TOTAL TIFT COUNTY CASES: 6,868 ...................................... TOTAL DEATHS: 173

CONFIRMED TIFT CASES - 2 weeks: 22 ................................... DEATHS - Past week: 0

TIFT POSITIVITY RATE - 2 weeks: 8.7% ........ CONFIRMED & SUSPECTED CASES: 83

TIFT CONFIRMED & SUSPECTED CASES - 2 weeks, per 100K population: 203

_______________________________________________________________

GEORGIA TOTAL CASES: 2,341,378......................................TOTAL GA DEATHS: 34,935

GA CONFIRMED & SUSPECTED CASES - 1 week: 6,933

GA DEATHS - 1 week: 57................................... ......GA HOSPITALIZATIONS - 1 week: 487

YOUR GUIDE TO ACTIVITIES THIS WEEKEND IN THE TIFTAREA

This Friday, Feb. 17, is National Caregivers Day, honoring those who provide personal care – both professionally and selflessly – to those who need it most. While some caregivers are paid professionals, many others offer care to loved ones on a personal level.

SATURDAY, FEB. 18

• Tiftarea Junior Gardeners’ Club, 2-3 p.m., Tifton-Tift County Public Library, Tifton
• Meet & Greet with the NFL’s Rashod Bateman, 3-5 p.m., Anthony G. Bateman Youth Center, Tifton

ADVERTISE YOUR

YARD SALE HERE

TO ADVERTISE YOUR

RESIDENTIAL YARD SALE,

CONTACT US at 

yardsales@tiftongrapevine.com 

or 478-227-7126

Fees are $1 per word, paid in advance

“Brownie” is looking for a good home and is available for adoption today at the Tift County Animal Shelter. Visit Brownie and other pets available for adoption at the Animal Shelter, on Highway 125 South between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. For additional information, call 229-382-PETS (7387).