CITY APOLOGIZES FOR HANDLING OF COMEDY SHOW AT TIFT THEATRE

SAYS PERFORMANCE CONCERNS SHOULD HAVE 'BEEN HANDLED DIFFERENTLY'

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

The City of Tifton apologized Tuesday for its handling of a controversial comedy show that had been scheduled at the Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts.

City officials said the theatre should have handled the situation “differently,” and apologized on behalf of the city, which owns and operates the historic theater.

A pair of self-proclaimed conservative comedians, "The Hodgetwins," were scheduled to perform at the Tift Theatre this Friday and announced via emails to those who bought tickets that the show has been moved to a venue in Nashville, Ga., “due to the Tift Theatre choosing to cancel the show because they were uncomfortable with the Hodgetwins' conservative content.” 

The venue was changed to the Berrien County VFW Post 5978, 801 Tifton Highway in Nashville.

“Our Tifton, GA show this Friday, September 16 has been moved to Nashville, GA due to LGBTQ community complaints and conservative content,” the Hodgetwins’ Facebook page states.

City Manager Pete Pyrzenski, when asked by the Tifton Grapevine, said, “We did not cancel the show.” He said, “We do not dictate. We do not censor. We are deeply sorry; it should have been handled differently.”

The Hodgetwins, twin brothers Keith and Kevin Hodge, do stand-up comedy and conservative political commentary. They are known for using strong language and sexually explicit language and actions that some people consider offensive.

“They had a contract. It was a ticketed event that was promoted as an adult comedy show,” Mayor Julie B. Smith told the Tifton Grapevine. She said some folks had contacted the Tift Theater manager about their concerns, who then emailed the promoter about the concerns that were raised.

Both Smith and City Manager Pete Pyrzenski said that any concerns should have been discussed when the show was booked two or three weeks ago and not during the week of the show. 

“I think we messed up,” Smith said. 

A social-media post Monday by the Tift Theatre stated: “We have been in recent communications with the Hodgetwins Live promotor. It is unfortunate that we must announce they have made the decision to change their venue from the Tift Theatre. The promotor and the Tift Theatre will continue bringing in great entertainment locally and are working on the promotion for their next show in the coming weeks. The Tift Theatre welcomes the Hodgetwins in Tifton, Ga., and apologizes for any confusion this may have caused.”

A social-media response from the Hodgetwins called the post a lie and claimed that the theater canceled their show. Theatre Manager Holden Stokes did not return phone calls and emails Tuesday. Neither did the event’s promoter Michael Kelly with Atomic Music.

Mayor Smith said the city believes in freedom of speech. “We didn’t handle this properly. We would like to apologize and move forward to make sure this doesn’t happen again.” 

Smith said she sent an email to the promoter Monday night saying that the theatre was still available and the Hodgetwins were welcome. She said the response was that it would be too confusing to move the show back from Nashville to Tifton.

“We messed up, and we owned up,” Smith said. 

“We don’t try to censor different performers. We trust the (theater) manager to handle the contracts. I don’t like the way this has ended. We are very sorry. We welcome the diversity of the arts and all that means. We will all learn from this and move forward.”

GBI-TIFT COUNTY DRUG PROBE RESULTS IN 4 ARRESTS, $710,000 IN DRUGS

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Four people, including two Tifton residents, have been arrested after a two-month drug trafficking investigation than resulted in the seizure of $710,000 in illegal drugs, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) says.

Travarious Mike, “T Mike,” 27, of Tifton, is charged with one count trafficking fentanyl; Courtney Gear, 47, of Tifton, is charged with one count possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; Makylia Wilcox, 24, of Winder, is charged with one count trafficking fentanyl; and Lamar Watson, 37, of Columbus, is charged with one count trafficking methamphetamine, the GBI announced Tuesday.

Additional arrests and charges are expected, the GBI said.

The GBI’s Southwestern Regional Drug Enforcement Office and the Tift County Sheriff’s Office concluded the two-month drug probe Aug. 30. 

"Great job by the GBI and Tift County Sheriff's Office in taking these drugs and criminals off our streets,” Gov. Brian P. Kemp said Tuesday. "We will not let up when it comes to taking the fight to gangs in our communities."

On the day of the arrests, the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Makylia Wilcox, with passenger Travarious Mike. During the stop, their vehicle was searched and resulted in the seizure of 1.2 pounds of suspected fentanyl. Wilcox and Mike were arrested for trafficking fentanyl and taken to the Crisp County Jail, the GBI said.

The Tifton Police Department stopped a vehicle being driven by Lamar Watson as it was leaving Travarious Mike’s home in Tifton. A search of the vehicle found 16 pounds of suspected methamphetamine. Watson was arrested for trafficking methamphetamine and taken to the Tift County Jail. Watson is also a validated member of the Gangster Disciples criminal street gang, according to the GBI.

Authorities then executed a search warrant at Mike’s Tifton home, resulting in the seizure of five firearms, suspected methamphetamine, suspected marijuana, and suspected crack cocaine. Courtney Gear was inside the home and arrested for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, the GBI said.

A vehicle belonging to Wilcox and parked on Mike’s property was impounded, and a search warrant was obtained, resulting in the seizure of 1.65 pounds of suspected methamphetamine, 5.9 ounces of suspected heroin/fentanyl, suspected crack cocaine, and suspected counterfeit prescription pills, authorities said.

The joint GBI-Tift County investigation netted a total of approximately 17.65 pounds of methamphetamine, 1.2 pounds of fentanyl, 5.9 ounces of heroin/fentanyl, crack cocaine, counterfeit prescription pills, and five firearms.

SPEARMAN SURPRISED WITH AG SCHOLARSHIP NAMED FOR HIM

Tyron Spearman of Tifton has been honored with an agricultural scholarship fund in his name to support students completing their education in UGA’s College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences (CAES).

The National Peanut Buying Point Association, during its recent Pre-Harvest Peanut Meeting, surprised Spearman with the announcement of the "Tyron Spearman CAES Scholarship Fund."

The Peanut Buying Point Association told Spearman that it established the endowed scholarship "along with several companies and individuals who have been touched by your work in the peanut industry."

Robin Singletary, the association’s education committee chairman, said that $50,000 has been pledged to the fund, and the National Peanut Buying Point Association has committed $5,000 annually in support of a freshman agricultural scholarship at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and a junior scholarship at the University of Georgia CAES.

Singletary also presented Spearman with a UGA Certificate of Gratitude recognizing him for his "positive impact on the peanut industry in the state of Georgia. Your career serves as an inspiration example to current students about the value that comes from hard work, passion, and a strong educational foundation from the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.”

Spearman, the executive director of the National Peanut Buying Points Association, was almost speechless at the announcement.

“It was an absolute surprise, and I am appreciative to the leaders of the peanut industry who made this recognition possible. This is a great industry, and it has been my honor to serve the peanut family and consumers who enjoy our nutritious product,” Spearman said. 

He is also editor of the Peanut Farm Market News, a three times weekly newsletter on peanut markets, and is marketing editor of the Peanut Grower Magazine, mailed to more than 8,000 peanut farmers. Spearman was surprised with the Peanut Hall of Fame Award in 2013, which is the highest honor presented in the American peanut industry.

Spearman is president of the Spearman Marketing and Advertising Co. in Tifton, does a daily radio update for the Southeast Ag Net Farm News, and is the coordinator for the Tifton-Tift County Tourism Association. 

He has a long history in the peanut industry, serving for a decade as executive secretary of the Georgia Peanut Commission, helping initiate the American Peanut Council’s Export Promotion program in 1978, serving twice as chairman of the American Peanut Council, and visiting more than 12 countries promoting peanuts.

People interested in supporting the CAES scholarship fund may contact Angela Elder at spearmanagency@friendlycity.net

FITZGERALD MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO DRUG DISTRIBUTION; METH-SOAKED RUG MAILED FROM MEXICO

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

A Fitzgerald man, who was arrested after authorities intercepted two packages at the Atlanta airport containing a meth-soaked rug and crystal meth, has pleaded guilty to drug distribution.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Middle District of Georgia announced Tuesday that Chad Williamson, 42, of Fitzgerald pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court on Sept. 8 to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

Williamson faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years of imprisonment up to a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $10 million fine. His sentencing is expected within 90 days.

According to court documents, two packages containing methamphetamine and addressed to Williamson were intercepted by Homeland Security Investigations at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Parcel Center in March 2021.

The packages were shipped from Naucalpan de Juarez, Mexico, and marked as "religious image" and/or "Bible gift;" one of the boxes contained a methamphetamine-soaked rug, which can be chemically extracted for use. There was also more than 200 grams of crystal methamphetamine in the packages, according to court documents.

“The defendant was part of a larger international network using any means necessary to smuggle methamphetamine into Southwest Georgia; thankfully, federal agents intercepted this deadly drug before it could hit the streets,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary.

“Law enforcement at every level is working to hold high-volume drug smugglers accountable for their activities, which gravely harm our communities by feeding addiction.”

From left are Allen Owens, director of Hope EMS; Mandy Brooks, director of the Tift Regional Medical Center Foundation; and Bobby Bennett, chief of the Tifton Fire Department. 

TRMC FOUNDATION GIVES CPR UNITS TO HOPE EMS, TIFTON FIRE DEPT.

The Tift Regional Medical Center Foundation recently presented two Lifeline Arms to Hope EMS and the Tifton Fire Department. These units are designed to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) en route to the hospital.

CPR is an emergency lifesaving procedure performed when the heart stops beating. Immediate CPR can double or triple the chances of survival after cardiac arrest. With the Lifeline Arm, this device is attached to the cardiac victim and performs effective and continuous CPR throughout transport. 

To learn more, call the Tift Regional Medical Center Foundation at 229-391-3310 or visit www.trmcf.com

Sonny Perdue, chancellor of the University System of Georgia (USG), with ABAC student Bridget Dixon at the USG Foundation Gala.

ABAC STUDENT A FEATURED SPEAKER AT UNIVERSITY SYSTEM GALA 

ABAC agriculture communications major Bridget Dixon was the featured student speaker at the University System of Georgia Foundation Gala on Sept. 9 in Atlanta.

“Bridget did a terrific job representing ABAC. She spoke about the importance of scholarship support in achieving her dream of an ABAC degree. She received praise from all of those attending, including (University System) Chancellor Sonny Perdue and Gov. Brian Kemp,” said Dr. Deidre Martin of ABAC.

CHAMBER JOB EXPO LINKS EMPLOYERS, WORKERS

Approximately 40 employers met with prospective workers Tuesday at the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce’s Job Fair and Career Expo. The event was well-attended at the Tift County Recreation Department.

SOUTHWELL NAMES AMBULATORY FINANCE VP

Southwell has named Amy Manion as the healthcare system’s vice president, ambulatory finance.

“Amy’s duties include review of physician practice financial statements, operating budgets, and physician compensation plans,” said Claire Byrnes, Southwell’s senior vice president, ambulatory operations.

Byrnes said that Manion has more than 15 years of experience in financial planning, accounting, and fiscal analysis. She joins Southwell from Conway Regional Hospital in Conway, Ark., where she was financial planning director and, most recently, controller. 

Southwell includes Tift Regional Medical Center in Tifton, Southwell Medical and Southwell Health and Rehabilitation in Adel, and numerous physician clinics and outpatient centers throughout South Central Georgia.

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

“Dempsey,” a gray female tabby, is available for adoption today at the Tift County Animal Shelter. To adopt Dempsey or other pets, visit the shelter between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).

TIFTON DENTIST BURNED IN 'EXPLOSION'

~ SEPT. 15, 1914

Dr. E.A. O’Quinn was severely burned on Sept. 15, 1914, when a gas burner burst in the laboratory of his dental office in Tifton’s four-story Clyatt Building. Dr. J.D. Leverett was in an adjacent suite of offices when he heard the explosion, rushed into O’Quinn’s office and “threw a rug around Dr. O’Quinn, putting out the flames.” O’Quinn suffered burns on his right side and right arm.