Possible Homicide in Tift

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

GBI PROBES POSSIBLE HOMICIDE IN TIFT

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Authorities are investigating a possible homicide in Tift County, law enforcement officials said Tuesday.

Seahda Jackson, 46, was found dead Tuesday morning at her residence at 130 Ponce de Leon St., in the south Tifton area, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).

At approximately 9 a.m. Tuesday, the Tift County Sheriff’s Office called upon the GBI to aid in investigating the death. A GBI spokesman said additional details are pending from the agency's Sylvester office.

The investigation is ongoing, and tips can be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online here, or by downloading the "See Something, Send Something" mobile app.

CITY COUNCIL DELAYS ACTION ON FALSE ALARMS,

LETS MASK MANDATE EXPIRE

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Tifton City Council on Monday delayed making a decision on imposing new fines for repeated false fire and police alarms, and decided to allow the city's face-mask ordinance to expire this weekend.

Council postponed a decision until next month on false alarms. Officials said they don’t want to penalize businesses but need to place on a deterrent on those who have faulty alarms that keep going off and are not repaired.

The city is looking at imposing a $250 fine on businesses on their fourth false fire alarm, and a $1,000 fine each time thereafter. Officials said some businesses have repeated false alarms, usually late at night, which cost the fire department more than $15,000 in overtime last year.

False alarms also potentially put fire department personnel and motorists at risk as the department treats each alarm as a real emergency and responds accordingly.

City Manager Pete Pyrzenski said a six-month review showed 166 calls for false alarms with 88 of them after hours. He said the fire chief will work with businesses and use his discretion regarding whether or not they should be fined.

“The fire inspector will go to the businesses after every false alarm to see what it is," said Fire Chief Bobby Bennett. “I hope we don’t write one ticket. ... This is about fixing fire alarms."

Mayor Julie B. Smith said she is OK with the $250 fine but subsequent $1,000 fines on businesses with faulty alarms are “too excessive.” Councilman Jack Folk responded: “Are we trying to get some action on this? Are we trying to get them to do something about it?"

The city proposal would also place a $250 fine each time on businesses for repeated false police alarms beginning with the fourth time. Officials said that costs involved with a police car responding to alarms is much less than with a fire truck responding.

Police Chief Steve Hyman said his department also has issues with repeated false alarms from some businesses, noting that one business has had 66 false police alarms in the past year before repairs were finally made this week.

At Monday's meeting, council decided to let the city’s 30-day face-mask mandate expire Feb. 20 as cases of COVID-19 continue to decline in Tifton. Under state guidelines, a mask ordinance cannot be enforced if the number of cases falls below 100 per 100,000 population.

For the past two weeks in Tift County, there were 83 cases per 100,000 population, according to state health officials.

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TIFT'S COVID-19 NUMBERS CONTINUE TO IMPROVE

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

New COVID-19 cases continue declining in Tift County, according to data from the Ga. Department of Public Health (DPH).

In the past week, Tift County reported 18 new cases and no new deaths, the DPH said.

In the past two weeks, Tift has had 34 coronavirus cases, representing 83 per 100,000 population, the DPH said. The county’s positive testing percentage was 4.1 percent, the lowest in months. Daily new cases average 15 per 100,000, according to Emory University.

Tift County has had a total of 3,325 COVID-19 cases and 90 deaths reported, the DPH said.

Georgia saw 1,872 new cases on Tuesday, with 180 additional deaths and 255 new hospitalizations, the DPH reported. Since the pandemic began, the state has seen 794,349 cases and 14,176 related deaths, according to state data.

PEDESTRIAN DIES AFTER BEING HIT ON U.S. HIGHWAY 82 IN TIFTON

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

A Tifton man died Friday after being struck by a vehicle in a car-pedestrian accident on U.S. Highway 82 near Magnolia Drive.

Eric Lee Horne, 33, of 2907 Wilton Ave., died at Tallahassee, Fla., Memorial Hospital, where he was transported after being struck Friday afternoon, reportedly by a sport utility vehicle (SUV). Horne was on foot.

Tifton Police referred inquiries to the Georgia State Patrol (GSP), which is investigating the accident. Details from the GSP were unavailable at press time.

Horne, a Pennsylvania native, had many friends in Tifton, said his stepmother Becky Horne.

"He was very generous and would give the shirt off his back if you needed it," his stepmother told the Tifton Grapevine. "He loved riding his bike and enjoyed doing carpenter work. His hobbies were riding bikes, doing tattoos and being around his family and friends."

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DAR CHAPTER OBSERVES

'GEORGIA DAY' AT G.O. BAILEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

The Tallassee Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution celebrated Georgia Day, Feb. 12, by presenting a Georgia flag last week to G.O. Bailey Elementary School.

Suzanne Click gave a brief presentation on the founding of Georgia and what the emblems on the flag signify. A small Georgia flag was given to the students, and the pledge to the Georgia flag was spoken.

The students pictured are known as the school's flag team and are responsible for raising and lowering the flags each day.

Members of the DAR pictured behind the students are, from left, Suzanne Click, Bobby Fresh, Loraine Sullivan, and Holly Hall; at far right is Dr. Jamie Dawson, school principal.

TIFTON POLICE NAME ASST. CHIEF

The Tifton Police Department has named Chris Griffin as assistant police chief.

Griffin, a 15-year employee of the Adel Police Department with 29 years of law enforcement experience, was sworn in last week and introduced to Tifton City Council on Monday night.

He was served in various positions in Adel from radio dispatcher to chief investigator, said Tifton Police Chief Steve Hyman.

Griffin, a Nashville native, said he started his career when he was 18 and wanted to work in law enforcement from the time he was a child.

In photo, Griffin, left, is sworn into office by Chief Steve Hyman.

AUTHORITIES CHARGE MAN WITH ARSON IN TIFTON HOTEL FIRE

Authorities have charged a man with arson in connection with a recent fire at a Tifton hotel.

Jason Carlos Montano, 40, is charged with first-degree arson and criminal damage to property, said John F. King, state insurance and safety fire commissioner.

The fire occurred at about 7 a.m. Feb. 1 at the Howard Johnson hotel at 579 Old Omega Road.

“Montano jumped from a second-story window to escape the fire. He was later treated (at Tift Regional Medical Center) for severe lacerations,” King said.

“Working with the Tifton fire and police departments, we have ruled this fire to be arson," he said.

Several rooms at the hotel had smoke and water damage, but the fire was contained to one room. Montano was being held in the Tift County Jail.

SOUTHWELL HONORS ASSOCIATES AT VIRTUAL AWARDS CEREMONY

At a recent virtual awards ceremony, Southwell presented John Brownlee, who recently stepped down as a volunteer board member after 20 years, with the John B. Prince III Distinguished Service Award.

The award recognizes a Southwell associate who is a community leader who uses their influence to enhance the hospital's mission.

Jamie Richardson with information technology was recognized as the Dixon-Dorminy Employee of the Year for Tift Regional Medical Center. Lori Goldinger with the Sylvia Barr Center was named the Southwell Medical Outstanding Employee of the Year.

The recipient of the Jensen-Patrick Nursing Excellence Award, presented by the Tift Regional Medical Center Foundation, was Randy Carr with the Heart and Vascular Center. The foundation also presented the Exceptional Physician Award to Dr. Bridget Asbury with Tifton Woman’s Center/UOG.

The foundation also presented a new award at this year’s ceremony: The Advanced Practice Provider Leadership Award to nurse practitioner Judy Weaver with South Georgia Surgical.

Tift Regional Health System also saluted employees with five, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 years of service. Employees receiving special recognition for 40 years of service were: Kathleen Dunn, laboratory; Steve Simmons, information technology; Helen Sumner, operating room; and Beverly Mallory, oncology.

“This past year, our dedicated healthcare workers have been on the frontlines of the COVID-19 battle,” said Chris Dorman, Southwell president/CEO. “Southwell’s clinicians and support staff have risen to the occasion, caring for the most vulnerable populations. To all of the employees and medical staff members of Southwell, thank you for the sacrifices you make every day, especially during this pandemic."

ABAC SETS BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS

Black History Month activities are underway at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

Among events are:

Black History Month Trivia Night, sponsored by the Residence Hall Association, at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 18 in the John Hunt Town Hall classroom. Other 6:30 p.m. movie nights in the ABAC Lakeside lobby include “Coach Carter” on Feb. 17, and “The Photograph” on Feb. 22.

An African-American Professionals Panel at 6 p.m. Feb. 23 in Howard Auditorium. To maintain social distancing guidelines, the maximum capacity is 50 people, and all attendees must wear a mask. Individuals can also participate via Microsoft Teams.

The HPA/Active Minds organization's Sexual Assault Advocacy presentation at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 24 in Bowen Room 100 For information, contact Dr. Jewrell Rivers at jrivers@abac.edu

“Culture Shock” at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 24 in Bowen 100. Participants will engage in an open dialogue about personal identity, life experiences, and embracing individuality. Prepackaged snacks will be provided for participants. Individuals may also participate via Microsoft Teams.

Open Mic Night, sponsored by IMPACT, at 7 p.m. Feb. 25 in the John Hunt Town Hall classroom. The event will be limited to 30 people.

SMALL BUSINESSES COMPRISE MORE THAN

43 PERCENT OF GEORGIA WORKFORCE

In Georgia, 43.14 percent of all workers –1,677,662 of them – are employed at small businesses, according to a recent analysis.

But out of all states, Georgia is the fourth least dependent on small businesses for employment, say researchers at Construction Coverage, a firm that provides analysis and data-driven research of industry trends.

Here is a summary of some of the research data for Georgia:

Total number of small businesses:176,391
Percentage of total payroll paid by small businesses: 36.45 percent
Total small business payroll per employee: $41,701
Total large-firm payroll per employee: $55,163

For reference, in the United States:

Percentage of employees at small businesses: 47.09 percent
Total number of small business employees: 60,556,081
Total number of small businesses: 5,976,761
Percentage of total payroll paid by small businesses: 40.32 percent
Total small business payroll per employee: $44,777
Total large-firm payroll per employee: $58,996

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses account for 64 percent of net private-sector jobs created since 2005.

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

This young male kitty is seeking a forever home and is available for adoption at the Tift County Animal Shelter. To adopt or see other pets available, visit the 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

'BLIZZARD' HITS TIFTON

– FEB. 17, 1899

The tail end of a blizzard struck Tifton during the week of Feb. 17, 1899, leaving behind four inches of snow. "The thermometer registered half a degree below zero, the lowest ever known here," according to press dispatches of the day. The weather destroyed two-thirds of the area peach crop.