Early Voting Begins

Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

EARLY VOTING BEGINS IN ELECTION

POLLS ALSO OPEN SATURDAYS

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The 2021 election is underway.

Advance voting began Tuesday for the Nov. 2 election. The local ballots include two Tifton City Council seats, a special election on whether to allow package sales of liquor in the city, and a countywide referendum on renewing the one-cent E-SPLOST for local education.

The ballot is different for voters depending upon where they live. Registered voters in City Council districts 1 and 3 will decide their city representatives, and all voters within the city will decide if Tifton should issue licenses for the packaged sale of distilled spirits.

All voters in Tift County, including the cities of Tifton, Omega, and Ty Ty, will vote on renewing the one-cent Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (E-SPLOST) for capital improvements in the school system.

Early voting continues on weekdays through Oct. 29 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., and from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on two Saturdays – Oct. 16 and 23 – at the Tift County Board of Elections Office in Building B at 222 Chesnutt Ave. in Tifton.

On Election Day, Nov. 2, voters will cast ballots in their home precincts between 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

18 FROM TIFTON, ASHBURN FACE DRUG-TRAFFICKING, FIREARMS CHARGES

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Middle District of Georgia has brought federal charges against 18 people from Tifton and Ashburn as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged drug trafficking in Southwest Georgia.

A federal grand jury recently returned a sealed, 45-count indictment alleging violations of drug conspiracy, drug distribution, drug possession with the intent to distribute, firearm possession by convicted felons, and firearm possession during the commission of drug crimes.

This case is an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation conducted by U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; Georgia Bureau of Investigation; Mid-South Narcotics Task Force; Tifton Police Department; Tift County Sheriff’s Office; Turner County Sheriff’s Office; Crisp County Sheriff’s Office; Ga. Department of Corrections; Georgia State Patrol; and Georgia Department of Community Supervision.

In the indictment, unsealed Oct. 4:

Juanjava Boggerty, 47, of Tifton, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; and five counts of distribution of methamphetamine.

Bradrick Boston, 32, of Tifton, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; two counts of distribution of cocaine base; and two counts of distribution of methamphetamine.

Rafon Carithers, 32, of Tifton, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; one count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute; one count of possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute; one count of possession of heroin with intent to distribute; one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Jehmeil Carmichael, 34, of Tifton, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.

Clenton Davis, 32, of Ashburn, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; one count of possession of heroin with intent to distribute; and one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

Keilaysha Dixon, 22, of Tifton, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; one count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute; one count of possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute; one count of possession of heroin with intent to distribute; and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Vontesha Dixon, 30, of Tifton, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.

Brian Foster, 29, of Tifton, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; and one count of possession of a firearm made in violation of the national firearms act.

Dante Hille, 27, of Ashburn, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; and one count of distribution of methamphetamine.

Darrell Mack, 32, of Tifton, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; and one count of distribution of methamphetamine.

McKevor Mulkey, 31, of Tifton, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; six counts of distribution of methamphetamine; and one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

Dmya Norris, 24, of Tifton, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; one count of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute; and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Tevin Parker, 27, of Tifton, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; one count of distribution of methamphetamine; one count of distribution of a controlled substance; one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; one count of possession of heroin with intent to distribute; one count of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute; one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Rishaun Richardson, 25, of Tifton, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; one count of possession of heroin with intent to distribute; one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Courtney Taylor, 38, of Tifton, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Jala Taylor, 23, of Tifton, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; and one count of distribution of methamphetamine.

Keyuntran Taylor, 21, of Ashburn, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; and one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

Damarius Williams, 24, of Tifton, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; one count of possession of heroin with intent to distribute; and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

TIFTON'S 'MARATHON MAN' DOES IT AGAIN: FINISHES HIS

44th BOSTON MARATHON

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Tift County High teacher Mike Beeman completed his 44th consecutive Boston Marathon on Monday.

Beeman's streak is the seventh-longest in the 26.2-mile Boston Marathon among current participants.

A total of 104 active runners have competed for at least 25 consecutive years, and 11 of them have streaks of least 40 consecutive Boston Marathons. Ben Beach, 72, has the current record of completing 54 consecutive Boston Marathons.

The pandemic did prompt some changes this year.

"It was different in logistics, but Boston is still special," Beeman told the Tifton Grapevine. "The runners were about half in numbers. Masks were mandatory on transportation and the start, but not in the race."

Beeman, who teaches marketing at TCHS and coaches cross country and track, started running in 1971 in order to get in shape for basketball in his high school sophomore year.

DRIVE-THRU LUMINARY HONORS THOSE LOST TO PANDEMIC, OTHER ILLNESSES

Hospice of Tiftarea is hosting a drive-thru Luminary Celebration of Remembrance from 7-9 p.m. Thursday at Southwell's West Campus parking lot off U.S. Highway 41.

“We know that the past year and a half has been very difficult for our community. We have lost many lives from both COVID-19 and other common ailments and illnesses,” said Kathy Moneypenny, bereavement coordinator for Hospice of Tiftarea.

“Because of the pandemic, we have not been able to properly honor and remember those lives in a traditional gathering, so we wanted to host this drive-thru event for the loved ones of those that passed.”

Participants are asked to follow directional signage through the parking lot to view the luminary display. Each luminary represents one of the lives lost throughout the health system in 2020 and 2021.

“We will have around 1,200 luminaries displayed at this event,” said Moneypenny. “While these represent the lives lost in our health system, we encourage anyone who has lost someone and would like to remember them to come.”

TIFT SEES 3 DEATHS IN WEEK,

37 CONFIRMED COVID CASES

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Tift County reported three COVID-19 deaths in the past week with 37 new confirmed cases of the virus, according to data released Tuesday by the Ga. Department of Public Health (DPH).

In the past two weeks, Tift has seen 65 confirmed cases, representing 159 per 100,000, the DPH said. When rapid Antigen test results are added, Tift had 118 total cases during the period, representing 289 per 100,000. There have been eight coronavirus-related deaths among Tift countians during the past two weeks.

Tift's testing positivity rate is 9.3% in the past two weeks. The county has a total of 4,828 confirmed cases with 127 related deaths, the DPH said.

The state has recorded a total of 1,246,100 confirmed cases with 23,512 deaths, the DPH reported. During the 24 hours between Monday and Tuesday, Georgia reported 5,490 new confirmed cases of the virus with 170 related deaths, and 639 new hospitalizations, the DPH said.

According to the DPH, Tift County has a 38% fully vaccinated rate. Statewide, 48% of eligible Georgians have been fully vaccinated.

TIFTON

2012 Pineview Ave. Tifton, Ga 31793

Photos by Frank Sayles Jr.

A large crowd attended the annual Rhythm & Ribs BBQ Festival Saturday in Tifton’s Fulwood Park.

'RHYTHM & RIBS' A SUCCESS

Tifton's Rhythm & Ribs BBQ Festival was a big success Saturday as the event, delayed from March by the pandemic, brought folks back together to "party in the pines."

There was plenty of music and food available, as well as vendors selling a variety of items.

The Georgia Barbecue Association-sanctioned professional barbecue competition brought cooks from around the Southeast, with 319 Q winning the Grand Champion title and taking home $3,000.

In the Backyard Barbecue, or amateur, competition, Whitewater Smokers was the overall Grand Champion, winning a $1,000 prize. Two Toes BBQ came in first in the pulled park category, Butcher & Banker was first in the loin category, and Deez Butts BBQ placed first in ribs.

“Squealbur,” the festival mascot, was featured on the trophies for the best barbecue in the various categories.

Next year's festival is scheduled to return to its normal schedule during the first weekend in March.

Mermaid Motor Lounge performs Saturday on Fulwood Park's Syd Blackmarr Stage during Tifton’s Rhythm & Ribs BBQ Festival.

WHAT KID DOESN'T LOVE A FIRE TRUCK?

Pre-K students at Matt Wilson Elementary School learned about fire safety Tuesday from members of the Tifton Fire Department.

The kids also got an opportunity to ask questions, hold a fire hose and explore the fire truck.

October is National Fire Safety Month.

TIFTON POLICE SWEAR IN OFFICERS

The Tifton Police Department recently held a swearing-in ceremony for Officers Tristan Adams and Jennifer Stalvey, both pictured with Police Chief Steve Hyman, from left.

Both officers have been assigned to a Field Training Officer (FTO) where they will receive on-the-job training with a veteran officer for an additional 12 weeks. Once they have successfully completed the FTO program, they will then begin solo patrolling as Tifton Police officers.

ABAC, VSU PARTNERSHIP AIDS WRITING & COMMUNICATION GRADUATES

A new partnership between Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) and Valdosta State University (VSU) ensures ABAC graduates a direct route to furthering careers in writing and communication.

The partnership grants ABAC graduates, who earn a bachelor of science degree in writing and communication, fast-track consideration for application to VSU's master of arts in communication arts program.

Dr. Matthew Anderson, dean of ABAC’s School of Arts and Sciences, said that VSU's program’s "focus on both theory and applied skills makes it an excellent fit for the ABAC writing and communication B.S. majors who desire an advanced degree. We hope that by keeping our students in the region for their graduate studies, they will be more likely to stick around thereafter and use their skills to help build our rural South Georgia communities.”

For information about the articulation agreement, call 229-391-4962 or email wharrison@abac.edu

ASHBURN RECERTIFIED AS CITY OF ETHICS

Ashburn was among the cities recently recertified as a City of Ethics by the Georgia Municipal Association, which requires cities with the designation to recertify for the program every four years, ensuring that ordinances maintain standards that city officials are regularly reminded of their ethical obligations. Tifton is also a certified City of Ethics.

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BASF SPARKS PLANT FINISHES EXPANSION

BASF Agricultural Solutions in Sparks has completed its $70 million expansion, adding 30 new jobs and bringing its Cook County workforce to 170 employees. The expansion adds a 15,000-square-foot technology facility. BASF produces chemicals for the agriculture industry.

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

"Mystic," a young female kitty, is ready for a good home. To adopt "Mystic" and to see other pets available for adoption, 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 DEDICATES TIFT GENERAL HOSPITAL

– OCT. 17, 1965

The Tift County Hospital Authority held its dedication and open house for the new Tift General Hospital at 3 p.m. Oct. 17, 1965. The new hospital was dedicated to the memory of Henry Harding Tift, Tifton’s founder.