COVID Hits Hard in Tift, Turner

Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

COVID HITTING HARD IN TIFT, TURNER

BOTH COUNTIES SHOW 3,000+ TOTAL CASES PER 100,000

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

As COVID-19 cases continue to climb in the Tiftarea, Tift and Turner counties show the most widespread infections.

Turner (which includes Ashburn) is recording 3,628 total cases per 100,000 population in the past two weeks, while Tift shows 3,091 total cases per 100,000 during the period; those totals include confirmed and probable (Antigen rapid test) results, according to the Ga. Department of Public Health (DPH).

Because of the numbers, Turner County Schools has announced that it will continue virtual-only instruction until Monday, Jan. 24. Turner Schools went to 100% virtual instruction last week because, it said, the "number of COVID cases for employees and students continues to rise. We are at our all-time highest for the number of cases in the school system and in our county. Safety is our first priority."

When face-to-face instruction resumes, the Turner school system will require masks for all employees and students, who must also wear masks to ride school buses.

The Tift County School System says it constantly monitors the COVID spread within its schools and works closely with local health officials. Tift schools continue in-school instruction and has allowed students to apply for online learning. In Tift County schools, masks are not required but are recommended for unvaccinated students, staff, and visitors.

For the week of Jan. 7-13, the Tift School System says it had 173 students who tested positive for COVID-19, representing 2.25% of the student body. Also, 31 school employees, or 2.7%, had tested positive.

During the past two weeks, the DPH said Tuesday, Tift County reported 623 new confirmed cases and 1,262 total confirmed and probable cases. Tift also has a 42% testing positivity rate. Tift's total confirmed cases are at 5,756 with 143 deaths.

VSU INDUCTS MIKE CHASON INTO ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME

Longtime sports broadcaster Mike Chason of Tifton was inducted Saturday into Valdosta State University Athletic Hall of Fame's Class of 2022.

“Every day is a great day to be alive but some days are greater than others, and this is one of those days,” Chason said in his acceptance speech.

“Calling basketball and football games on the radio and television for Valdosta State has always been a ‘get to’ job rather than a ‘have to’ job for me. When I sit down at the press table before a game, it’s a lot like life: You just never know what’s going to happen on the court in front of you.”

A 1974 Valdosta State graduate, Chason has been the play-by-play voice for VSU basketball since 1990. He was also the play-by-play voice for Blazer football from 1992-97.

Chason has broadcast hundreds of VSU games all over the United States, and some memories stand out.

“Climbing the ladder to cut down a piece of the net after Coach Mike Helfer’s Blazers won their first conference tournament in 2021 will always be special,” Chason said. “When former VSU All-America player Carley Kuhns was coaching the Lady Blazers and beat West Florida in overtime in 2017 for the championship was also a wonderful moment."

Chason noted that he “was on the air when Coach Hal Mumme and the Blazers won their first conference football championship in 1996 and when VSU played in its first Elite Eight in the birthplace of basketball in Springfield, Mass., in 2010 – great days.”

He still calls the home basketball games for VSU, broadcasting two games Saturday afternoon after the induction ceremony when the Lady Blazers and Blazers both swept Mississippi College.

A member of the 1970 graduating class at Lanier County High School, Chason serves as public relations director emeritus at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

'AN EVENING FOR ABAC' RETURNS FEB. 26

Celebrating 50 years of providing scholarships for students at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, "An Evening for ABAC" returns Feb. 26.

Alumni Director Lynda Fisher, coordinator of this year’s event, said the annual gala will include a silent auction, a virtual auction beginning Feb. 23, cocktails, dinner, and entertainment featuring Farewell Angelina, a country band named for a Bob Dylan song.

The black-tie gala begins at 6 p.m. at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center.

“We are so glad to welcome back all our alumni and friends this year,” Fisher said. “I believe the 50th anniversary celebration is going to be a night to remember.”

Community support for the event has been ongoing since 1972 when the ABAC Foundation sponsored a fundraiser featuring singer Anita Bryant to complete funding for the Chapel of All Faiths.

Jodie Snow, ABAC Class of 2000 and now the foundation’s chief operating officer, said scholarship support helps students get an education while incurring minimum debt.

Tickets are $125 for singles and $225 for couples. A portion is tax deductible. For tickets, call 229-391-4895.

KIWANIS AIDS PEANUT BUTTER & JESUS,

TIFT REGIONAL FOUNDATION

The Kiwanis Club of Tifton recently contributed to two local organizations. Kiwanis President Barbara Wilber, center, presents checks to Tony McBrayer, left, with the Peanut Butter and Jesus nonprofit, and to Mandy Brooks, right, with the Tift Regional Medical Center Foundation.

Kiwanis meets the second and fourth Thursday each month at 41 and Main restaurant; potential members are welcome.

YMCA's 20th FATHER-DAUGHTER DANCE RETURNS ON FEB. 4

The Tiftarea YMCA is holding its 20th Annual Father-Daughter Dance on Friday, Feb. 4, at the First Baptist Church Ministry Center on Love Avenue.

Tickets are on sale at the YMCA's main office on Carpenter Road. Until Feb. 1, tickets are $40 per father-daughter couple for YMCA members, and $50 a couple for non-members. On Feb. 1, the price per couple rises by $10.

There is a $15 charge for each additional daughter attending. Tickets are limited.

A staggered event schedule is set for age groups: Third grade and younger daughters may attend from 5-6:30 p.m., or from 7-8:30 p.m. Those daughters in the fourth grade or older attend from 9-10:30 p.m.

For information, call 229-391-9622.

TIFTON

2012 Pineview Ave. Tifton, Ga 31793

TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RIBBON CUTTING

Stinger Media

Jan. 6

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

"Tabitha," a female tabby kitty, is ready for a good home. To adopt Tabitha 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

CITY COUNCIL OK's NEW HIGH SCHOOL

~ JAN. 17, 1916

Tift City Council on Jan. 17, 1916, approved spending $30,000 for constructing and equipping a new high school building. Council also had appointed a committee to survey what streets were to be paved.