Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021
Tifton, Georgia
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GrapeNew
'THE TIGER RISING,'
FILM SHOT IN TIFTON, FINALLY HITS THEATERS JAN. 21
By FRANK SAYLES JR.
Tifton Grapevine
Two years after wrapping up filming in Tifton, "The Tiger Rising" with Queen Latifah and Dennis Quaid is scheduled to be released in theaters Jan. 21, and available on demand and digitally on Feb. 8.

Filmed in Tifton and Thomasville, the family adventure-drama's release date was delayed by the pandemic, with the movie's producers opting to wait until theaters were reopened around the country.

"The Tiger Rising" was filmed in the woods around Thomasville and at Tifton's Town Terrace "Pink Motel," which was renamed the "Kentucky Star" for the movie.

Tifton was abuzz with Queen Latifah and Dennis Quaid sightings around town. When filming wrapped up on the evening of Dec. 6, 2019, at the Town Terrace Motel, Queen Latifah, also a producer of the movie, strolled across 12th Street and greeted the Tifton residents gathered there to watch the actors.

Based on The New York Times bestseller by Kate DiCamillo, the film revolves around a young boy (Christian Convery) who discovers a caged tiger in the woods after moving to a rural Florida motel, run by the tiger's mean-spirited owner (Dennis Quaid).

With the help of a wise and mysterious maid (Queen Latifah), and a stubborn new girl in school (Madalen Mills), the boy, who had recently lost his mother, attempts to set the tiger free and, in turn, uncage his own emotional grief.

Watch the movie's trailer below:
CITY HALTS ANY CRYPTOCURRENCY MINING FOR 90 DAYS
By FRANK SAYLES JR.
Tifton Grapevine
Tifton City Council has placed a 90-day moratorium on any construction, establishment, or permitting of cryptocurrency mining operations" within the city.

Monday's action lets the city "slow things down" and have time to "research and evaluate" cryptocurrency mining operations, said Mayor Julie B. Smith.

"I know there's been a lot of discussion," the mayor said. "We want to make sure that any decision this body makes is in the best interests of this community. We want to be sure we are making good, strong decisions that are beneficial for the community and not detrimental."

City Manager Pete Pyrzenski said that no formal proposals have been made to place a cryptocurrency operation within the City of Tifton, but noted that the city has received a few inquiries about tracts of land.

Pyrzenski said the city currently has no guidelines governing cryptocurrency operations.

The city action follows a controversial proposal outside the city in Tift County to rezone 94 acres to allow construction of a cryptocurrency facility. That proposal was initially slated to come before the Greater Tift County Planning and Zoning Commission but was withdrawn after the plan generated controversy and a petition with hundreds of residents opposing it.

Cryptocurrency mining facilities handle digital currency, such as Bitcoin, using specialized, high-powered computers, servers, and software to verify and secure the currency. The operations use a high volume of electrical power. A cryptocurrency facility in Adel has prompted complaints by nearby residents of constant noise coming from the operation, akin to a constant whir of helicopters.
AUTHORITIES NAB TIFTON ROBBERY SUSPECT AFTER CITIZEN TIPS, CHASE
By FRANK SAYLES JR.
Tifton Grapevine
As a result of tips from the public and after a brief chase in Turner County, a Tifton man was apprehended Tuesday afternoon and charged in an armed robbery that occurred early Monday at a Tifton convenience store.

Shawn Learnest Warren, 53, of 75 Palmetta Drive, Tifton, is being held in the Tit County Jail on armed robbery charges, said Tifton Police Chief Steve Hyman.

At approximately 4:14 a.m. Monday, Tifton Police responded to the Friendly Express convenience store at 208 E. 20th St. in reference to an armed robbery. According to the store clerk, a black male had entered the store, walked up to the counter, pointed a handgun, and demanded money from the register and two cartons of cigarettes.

The clerk gave money and cigarettes to the man, who then fled on foot, police were told.

Tifton Police placed a video of the robbery on social media in an attempt to identifiy the suspect. Police received several tips from citizens regarding the man's identity and his possible location As a result of the tips, Tifton Police detectives obtained an arrest warrant and began tracking the suspect. Detectives contacted the Turner County Sheriff's Office and the Ashburn Police Department, who found the suspect in Turner County.

Following a brief chase, the man was detained by Turner County sheriff's deputies and transported to Tifton.

"We were able to get him because Ashburn and Turner deputies helped out," Tifton Police Chief Hyman told the Tifton Grapevine.

"The Tifton Police Department would like to thank all who recognized the person in this video, cared enough for our community's safety, and shared information to assist in his capture," Tifton Police said in a written statement.

"You put many at ease by helping to get this person off our streets and making our community safer. You made a difference. Tifton Police Department would also like to thank Turner County Sheriff's Office and Ashburn Police Department for their assistance in capturing this suspect."
FITZGERALD WINS STATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
The Fitzgerald High Purple Hurricane football team on Friday won its first state championship in 73 years, defeating the Thomasville Bulldogs, 21-7.

Playing in Atlanta, the 2A champions won the school's first state title in football since 1948.

Georgia Public Broadcasting, which aired the state championship games in the various Georgia High School Association divisions, named Fitzgerald Coach Tucker Pruitt as its Outstanding Coach on the GPB All-Finals Team.

Pruitt is in his fifth year as the Purple Hurricane head coach.
COOK COUNTY NAMES NEW HEAD FOOTBALL COACH
In a unanimous vote Monday, the Cook County Board of Education named Dr. Byron Slack as head football coach at Cook High School in Adel.

Slack most recently has been assistant head coach and linebackers coach for the Colquitt County High Packers in Moultrie. Before that, he was head coach at Hillgrove High in Cobb County.

Slack has also served as defensive coordinator and strength and conditioning coach at Lowndes High School, was an assistant coach for 13 years in Camden County, worked in Powder Springs, and has served as defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at Minnesota State.

He received his undergraduate degree from West Georgia, his master’s degree from Auburn University, and his doctorate from Nova Southeastern University. While at Auburn, Slack served as a graduate assistant, working with the strength and conditioning coordinator.

In Adel, he succeeds Jamie Rodgers, who left for a coaching job at Bradford High in Florida.
TIFT SEES 9 COVID CASES,
NO DEATHS IN PAST WEEK
By FRANK SAYLES JR.
Tifton Grapevine
Tift County recorded nine new confirmed COVID-19 cases and no related deaths in the past week, according to data released Tuesday.

In the past two weeks, Tift has seen 12 confirmed cases, representing 29 per 100,000. When rapid Antigen test results are added, Tift had 46 total cases during the period, representing 113 per 100,000, according to the state Department of Public Health (DPH).

Tift's testing positivity rate is 1.8% in the past two weeks. The county has a total of 4,905 confirmed cases with 140 related deaths, the DPH said.

The state has recorded a total of 1,299,629 confirmed cases with 25,990 deaths, the DPH reported. During the 24 hours between Monday and Tuesday, Georgia reported 1,138 new confirmed cases of the virus with 18 related deaths, and 142 new hospitalizations, the DPH said.

The vaccination rate statewide is 52%; in Tift County, 40% of the eligible population is vaccinated, the DPH reported Tuesday.
TIFTON
2012 Pineview Ave. Tifton, Ga 31793
SRTC RECOGNIZES
ADULT ED GRADUATES
Nineteen high school equivalency (HSE) students participated in graduation ceremonies Dec. 7 at Southern Regional Technical College at the Bainbridge campus.

The HSE graduates completed their studies in adult education at the various SRTC campuses, including Tifton.

Pictured are, seated front: Carmetta Cason, Thomasville. Standing, front row from left, Isaac Moore, Thomasville; Kaylee Grace Graham, MoultrieJayden Zavala, Pelham; Alexis Brady, Doerun; Nathanael Diaz Bishop, Bainbridge; Violeta Ramarez, Moultrie; Tanner Christmas, Albany; Dakoda Sanders, HartsfieldBrooklyn Barfield, Pelham; Destiny Durden, DonalsonvilleLana “Mattie” Glover, Bainbridge.

Back row, from left, Ulysee Powell, Tifton; Ashley Fenter, Tifton; Lance Moody, TiftonJoseph Dotson, Thomasville; Stephen Dyes, Moultrie; Jessica Guyton, Sale City; and Ethan Lord, Donalsonville.
From left: Grant Rentz, ABAC natural resources technician; Dr. William Moore, ABAC forest resources department head; Lynn Lovett, Georgia Power area manager; Dr. David Bridges, ABAC president; and Dr. Mark Kistler, dean of the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
GA POWER CONTRIBUTES TO ABAC's FOREST, AN OUTDOOR LABORATORY
Georgia Power recently announced a $25,000 contribution to the ABAC Foundation to support developing the college's forest.

The 1,000-acre forest off Willis Still Road in Tift County is destined to be a vibrant outdoor classroom demonstrating best practices in forestry and natural resources, said Dr. Mark Kistler, ABAC dean of the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College offers a bachelor’s degree in natural resource management with tracks in forestry, wildlife, and conservation law enforcement. The forest is an outdoor laboratory.

"Georgia Power is pleased to provide support for the development of this innovative forestry classroom experience at ABAC,” said Georgia Power Area Manager Lynn Lovett.

“The ABAC program is focused on the vital role of silviculture in sequestration of carbon dioxide and generational transition of timber operations in Georgia. ... We are committed to supporting initiatives focused on sustainability.”
STUDENTS MAY APPLY FOR EMC SCHOLARSHIP
Applicants are being accepted for the $1,000 Walter Harrison Scholarship sponsored by Georgia’s electric membership corporations (EMCs).

The scholarship can be applied to academic expenses at any accredited two- or four-year university, college or vocational-technical institute in Georgia.

“We’re proud to offer financial assistance where possible, and the Walter Harrison Scholarship can help families offset the rising cost of college,” said Danny Nichols, Colquitt EMC general manager.  “To be a good community citizen, we have an obligation to help young people.”

Fourteen Walter Harrison Scholarships will be awarded in 2022 to students with exemplary academic records. Grade-point average, academic standing, scholastic honors, and financial need are considered when determining a student’s eligibility.
Applicants must be accepted or enrolled in an accredited undergraduate degree program, must complete a two-page application, and must write a two-page autobiographical sketch that includes future plans.  The scholarship is available to any college-level student regardless of age. 

Created in 1985 by Georgia EMC, a trade association representing the electric cooperatives in Georgia, the Walter Harrison Scholarship program honors the late Harrison, a pioneer in the rural electricity movement.

Visit colquittemc.com to view and download the application, due by Feb. 1.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY: 

Letters must address local issues only. All letters are subject to editing for brevity, for libelous statements and for egregious language. 

Include your name, phone number and address for verification purposes. Email letters to: IHeardIt@tiftongrapevine.com
ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATION AIDING AREA DOGS, CATS

TO THE EDITOR: CB Animal Welfare, a local animal welfare organization in Tifton owned and managed by Candas A. Bennett, is dedicated to changing legislation, stopping unnecessary euthanasia, rescuing homeless dogs and cats, and encouraging spaying and neutering of pets.

Like most, CB Animal Rescue runs solely on donations from generous individuals and organizations. They consistently have dogs on their property who need food, toys, medical treatment, and more. CB Animal Welfare operates with only a small staff of four, and their mission and goals are to one day not have to rescue because every animal has a good home. But until that day comes, this organization will continue to fight for those animals.

If you'd like to contribute, please donate via PayPal at pawsfureverhome@gmail.com, or their Paws Furever Home Inc. Amazon Wish List. You can send donations directly to them at: CB Animal Welfare, 1147 US Hwy 319 N. Tifton GA 91794. You can also call: 229-322-3564 or email them at: cb.animalwelfare@yahoo.com
Burton Fletcher
Burton Fletcher Foundation for Animals Inc.
Valdosta
TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK
"Charlie," a neutered, declawed male cat, is ready for a good home. To adopt Charlie 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
HOTEL MYON GETS ITS NAME
~ DEC. 14, 1906
A name was chosen for I.W. Myers' new hotel, which was near completion on the site of the former Hotel Sadie on First Street. More than 300 names were offered, and on Dec. 14, 1906, it was announced that Judge Raleigh Eve's suggestion was selected: "Hotel Myon," using the first two letters of Myer's name and the last two letters of Tifton.
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