Friday, June 4, 2021
Tifton, Georgia
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GrapeNew
TRMC EXPANSION
TO BE COMPLETED
BY MID NOVEMBER
OFFICIALS TELL TIFTON ROTARY CLUB
By BONNIE SAYLES
Tifton Grapevine
The 263,000-square-foot expansion and renovation at Southwell’s Tift Regional Medical Center is on track for completion by the middle of November this year, officials told the Tifton Rotary Club on Wednesday.

The project was started in June 2019 with groundbreaking on the four-story patient tower.

“It will be the tallest building in Tifton,” said Rebekah Hudson with JE Dunn Construction. She, Jeremy Jones with Jones Construction, and Alex Le, chief operating officer for Southwell, discussed progress on the expansion project. In addition to the new construction, 83 portions of the original medical center are being updated and renovated, Jones said.
“Out of 16 phases of renovation, we are on eight through 11,” Jones said. “The longtime challenge of the medical center has been getting from the 20th Street side of the building to the 18th Street side without getting lost,” Jones said. “We’re going to fix that, and make the flow user-friendly for visitors.” 

The current Emergency Room is designed for treating 25,000 a year but sees about 55,000 patients. With the new 48-bed ER on the first floor of the new patient tower, TRMC will be prepared for 80,000 ER visits a year, Le said.

It is on two acres in front of the former entrance to the hospital. The current facility has 20 Intensive Care Unit beds and 12 stepdown beds. The new ICU on the third floor of the patient tower will have 20 ICU beds and 16 stepdown beds. They are retrofitted so that if needed, the stepdown rooms can be converted to ICU in the case of emergencies.

The fourth floor will be a specialized wing for orthopedics with its own rehabilitation gym. It increases the number of the orthopedic beds from 24 to 36. With the extra space, there is more room for closets and storage space for wheelchairs and other equipment for orthopedic recovery.
One whole floor, the second, is dedicated to mechanical equipment, and a new helipad will be able to handle any helicopter, including a Blackhawk. TRMC once had one visit when a military officer had an emergency.
 
The kitchen and dining rooms in the original medical center are undergoing renovation that will double the size of both the kitchen and the server space.

“The cafeteria will be easier to find,” Jones said. The cafeteria and gift shop will be right inside the main entrance. The 20th Street lobby will be for outpatient surgery. 

The expansion project is costing $152 million, Le said: “Ninety million is coming from the USDA; $60 million is being paid for by Southwell.”

All in all, the expansion will add 72 rooms to the campus for a total of 181 rooms, Le said. “It will allow us to decommission all semi-private rooms,” Le said. The old rooms will be redesigned to look like the new ones.

“We are licensed for 181 beds, but we are allowed to have more if needed,” Le said. “We’ll submit for more beds as needed.” 

The new patient tower is designed to support four more floors in the distant future for a total of eight floors. “We’re prepared to fully meet the needs of our community when we open in November and beyond,” said Le.
GBI PROBES SHOOTING DEATH OF MAN BY RAY CITY POLICE IN BERRIEN COUNTY
Authorities are investigating the shooting death on Tuesday of a knife-wielding man by Ray City Police in Berrien County.

Donald Myers, 48, died at a Valdosta hospital after he was shot by Ray City police officers, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Two officers from the Ray City Police Department responded to the 100 block of Pauline Avenue at approximately 6:45 p.m. Tuesday to conduct a wellness check.

There, they found Myers brandishing a knife; he "approached the officers with the knife, and the officers shot Myers," the GBI said in a press release.

The officers performed first aid until emergency medical services arrived, the GBI said.

No officers were injured in the incident, and no other details were released. Myers’ body has been taken to the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the GBI Douglas Office at 912-389-4103 or the Ray City Police Department at 229-455-2501. Tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), and online Here.

Once the investigation is complete, it will be submitted to the Berrien County District Attorney’s Office for review.

The incident marks the 35th shooting involving a police officer that the GBI has been asked to investigate this year and the 17th that has resulted in death.
ABAC GETS $2.1M GRANT
FOR MIGRANT STUDENTS
The U.S. Department of Education recently awarded Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College a $2.1 million College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) grant from the Office of Migrant Education.

Scott Pierce, director of Sponsored Programs at ABAC, said the five-year federal grant provides support to first-year college students of migrant and seasonal workers in agriculture.

The program pays for tuition, room and board, books, and a small stipend for student participants.

“This is a really great program for South Georgia,” Pierce said. “At a funding level at just over $2.1 million over five years, it’s a healthy boost to our local economy. It goes a long way toward meeting the educational needs of our migrant and agricultural communities. We are very proud of our College Assistance Migrant Program here at ABAC.”

CAMP is more than a scholarship. It provides mentoring and tutoring services throughout the year, with additional tutoring for previous CAMP students. Julie Ramirez, an ABAC biology major and a former CAMP student and now serves as a mentor, said, “CAMP is more than just a program to me. It quickly became a family. It has allowed complete strangers to become friends and family.” 

Student Lizbeth Cortez, said that CAMP is "a helping hand, a sturdy shoulder, a rock to lean on, a listening ear through its mentoring, tutoring and guidance service.”

To be eligible, students must meet certain criteria, including they must have worked in migrant or seasonal farm work within the past 24 months, must be a citizen or permanent resident, and must be eligible for federal financial aid. 

For information, contact CAMP recruiter Nancy Carrera at nancy.carrera@abac.edu or at 229-391-4884.
YOUNG WRITERS CONFERENCE TO AWARD $15,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS
High school seniors and currently enrolled ABAC students will be eligible for $15,000 in scholarship money when they participate in the Young Writers Conference (YWC) at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

There is no charge to attend the conference, which will be held virtually via Zoom from 9 a.m.-noon July 17. High school students in grades 9-12 may participate in the YWC as well as current ABAC students. Only high school seniors and ABAC students are eligible for scholarship funds.

The YWC is sponsored by the ABAC Department of English and Communication. Dr. Wendy Harrison, who chairs the department, said the theme this year is “Fantastic Stories and Where to Find Them.”

“This year’s Young Writers Conference will feature three workshops,” Harrison said. “One workshop will guide students to write a poem in the style of Walt Whitman’s ‘Song of Myself.’ Another will teach students to create a digital story, and a final one will focus on aspects of writing fiction, such as the source of ideas for fiction writing and character and plot development.”

Students may register online Here.

For information, contact Harrison at wharrison@abac.edu or call 229-391-4962.
TIFT COUNTY REPORTS 16 NEW CASES
OF COVID-19 IN PAST TWO WEEKS
By FRANK SAYLES JR.
Tifton Grapevine
Tift County has recorded 16 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past two weeks, the Ga. Department of Public Health (DPH) reported Thursday.

During the period, Tift's coronavirus-related deaths remained at 98 since the pandemic began, the DPH said.

Tift County's new confirmed cases translate to 39 per 100,000 population, the DPH reported. The county’s positive testing rate during the two-week period is 3.6%.

Since the pandemic began, Tift has reported 3,469 confirmed cases.

On Thursday, Georgia reported 329 new cases with 20 additional deaths and 67 new hospitalizations. The state has had a total of 896,894 confirmed cases and 18,103 related deaths, the DPH said.
GEORGIA NO. 1 IN WEEKLY EARNINGS GROWTH IN MAY
By FRANK SAYLES JR.
Tifton Grapevine
Georgia led the nation in weekly earnings growth during May with wages growing by an average 4.14%, according to a national business economic report.

Georgia also ranked ninth nationally in hourly wage growth at 2.74% and was third among states in hours worked during May with a growth rate of 1.39%, according to data released this week in the Paychex-IHS Markit Small Business Employment Watch report.

In weekly earnings growth among states, behind Georgia was California at 4.11%. Florida ranked sixth at 3.43%. Illinois ranked last and is the only state with weekly earnings growth below 2%, the report notes.

Wage rates in leisure and hospitality sectors increased significantly in May, with weekly earnings growth up 9.35%. The next strongest sector was construction, up just 3.79%.

But the overall rate of job growth was largely unchanged in May, according to the report. "Small businesses are struggling to return to normal operations and expand due to labor shortages," James Diffley, chief regional economist at IHS Markit, said in a press release.

"At the same time, with more people dining out and travel increasing across the U.S., job growth in the leisure and hospitality industry is rebounding significantly, and wages are too," added Martin Mucci, Paychex president and CEO.

The South remained the strongest region for small-business job growth, more than 1 point above the national index level.

The monthly report analyzes national employment and wage trends, and examines regional, state, metro, and industry sector activity.
TIFT SCHOOLS BEGINS SUMMER FEEDING PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN
The Tift County Schools Nutrition Program began its Summer Feeding Program this week, which will run each Tuesday through July 13.
 
Meals are provided at no cost to children 18 and under. They will be available each Tuesday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. The pickup sites are G.O. Bailey, Matt Wilson, J.T. Reddick, and Omega elementary schools, and Dees Apartments. There are also designated times along bus routes.

Meal bags contain seven days of meals; all items in the bags are either frozen, refrigerated or shelf stable with the exception of a hot sandwich for the pickup day. Preparation instructions will also be included in the bags.

The program will pause June 29-July 3 for Independence Day holidays. 

For information, contact the Tift County Schools Nutrition Program at 229-387-2400.
TIFT COUNTY CANNING PLANT
NOW OPEN BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
The Tift County Canning Plant is now open for the summer by appointment only.

The canning plant, which offers a way to preserve fruits, vegetables, soups, salsas, juices and other foods, is open 8 a.m- 1 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays until July 7. For appointments, call 229-387-2480.

The facility is located In the back of the Agriscience Building behind Tift County High School. To get there, enter the bus entrance off New River Church Road, and the Agriscience Building is the first one on the right.

Services at the Canning Plant include canning, blanching, corn creaming, juicing, and potato peeling. The facility is open to anyone to preserve foods for home use only; no commercial usage is allowed.

Customers must provide their own canning jars, lids, rings and/or freezer bags. A $1 fee per metal quart can is required. Preserving food in a customer's own glass jar costs 15 cents per jar. Corn creaming is 10 cents per ear of corn, and blanching for freezing costs $2 per blanching tray. 

The purpose of the food processing program is to provide instructional services in preparation, processing, and preservation of food products. Agricultural education teachers in the Tift County School System operate the Canning Plant.

The Tift County Food Processing Center is an educational public service provided through the cooperative efforts of the Tift County Board of Education, the Tift County Board of Commissioners, the Tift County Agriculture Education Department, and the Georgia State Department of Education.
Refreshing careers for Tifton area CDL drivers and more. 
Click the link below to apply.
'PLANT THE SEED' RUN KICKS OFF GEORGIA PEANUT FESTIVAL
To kick off festivities for the upcoming Georgia Peanut Festival, the "Plant the Seed" 10K, 5K, and 1-mile fun run/walk is set for Saturday, June 26, in Sylvester.

The run is a partnership between American Legion Post 335 and the Sylvester-Worth County Chamber of Commerce. The event begins a series of events leading up to the annual Georgia Peanut Festival scheduled for the third weekend in October.

The run begins at Sylvester's Jeffords Park. Late registration begins at 6:45 a.m. on race day; the 5K and 10K will begin at 7:30 a.m., with the fun run scheduled to begin about 7:45 a.m.  

Cost for the 5K and 10K is $30 pre-registration, and $35 on the day of the race. Cost for the fun run is $15 pre-registration, and $20 on race day. Pre-registration guarantees participants a T-shirt

Awards will be given to the overall winners as well as age group winners in each race category.

To register, Click Here! For information, call 229-347-0808.
TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RIBBON CUTTING
Team Fearless
May 27
Fitzgerald, Tifton
TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RIBBON CUTTING
WildBarry Clothing Boutique
421 Love Ave., Tifton
 May 28
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YOUR GUIDE TO ACTIVITIES THIS WEEKEND IN THE TIFTAREA
Friday, June 4, is National Donut Day. In 1938, “Donut Day” was established honoring the Salvation Army, which brought a taste of home – donuts – to soldiers in World War I.
FRIDAY, JUNE 4
  • American Red Cross Blood Drive, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Southwell West Campus, 2227 Highway 41 N., Tifton
  • First Friday Lunch Time Adventures, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Carnegie Center for the Arts courtyard, Fitzgerald
  • First Friday, 5-8 p.m., Downtown Tifton
  • "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," 7 p.m., Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts, Downtown Tifton

SATURDAY, JUNE 5
  • Southern Bass Busters Tournament Stage 9, 7 a.m.-Noon, Reed Bingham State Park, Adel
  • Wiregrass Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-Noon, Georgia Museum of Agriculture, Tifton
  • Wall Tapestry 101 Workshop, 2-4 p.m., Turner Center for the Arts, Ashburn
  • "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," 7 p.m., Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts, Downtown Tifton

SUNDAY, JUNE 6
  • "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," 7 p.m., Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts, Downtown Tifton
TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S DOG OF THE WEEK
“Molly" is available for adoption at the Tift County Animal Shelter on Highway 125 S. To see her and other pets available, visit the shelter between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. For more information, call 229-382-PETS (7387).
Pets of the Week are sponsored by:
Branch’s Veterinary Clinic
205 Belmont Ave., Tifton, 229-382-6055  
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MAY 26
John Henry Bearden Jr., 72, Tifton
Linda Bishop Burchett, 82,
Sylvester
Edgar Fry Perry, 69, Ashburn
Robert Wesley "Baby Wes" Maughon, 6 months, Adel

MAY 27
Catherine Elaine Flanders Durden, 85, Tifton
William “Carroll” Waters, 78,
Ray City
Robert F. Fain, 91, Ocilla
Roy C. Moses, 78, Ben Hill County

MAY 28
Stewart G. Carswell Jr., 87, Fitzgerald
Yvonne Pridgen Clark, 83,
Fitzgerald
Nancy Victoria Carlsen, 47,
Adel

MAY 29
Dr. Marvin E. Holtz, 68, Tifton
Mary H. Bradley, 86, Irwinville
Deacon Willie Frank Waters, Sunsweet 
Willie Gorsuch, 75, Macon 

MAY 30
Lucille Ann Griffin, 73, West Berrien

MAY 31
Benny James Goddard, 69, Tifton
Wesley James Thornton, 91,
Worth County
Janet Prescott Greene, 81,
Sylvester
Peggy Holmes Harper, 79,
Irwin County
JUNE 1
Ricardo Martinez Cortez, 67, Tifton
Earl Lee Hill, 77, Ashburn

JUNE 2
Wyman Earl Bryant, 70, Tifton
William “Dean” Layne, 82, Tifton
Sara Jeane Spivey Milam, 95, Tifton
Dessie Mae Bennett, 82, Vanceville
Tifton Grapevine
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Frank Sayles Jr.
Editor & Publisher
Bonnie Sayles
Managing Editor
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