Tifton Considering Juneteenth as City Holiday

Tuesday, April 12, 2022

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

TIFTON DEBATES ADDING JUNETEENTH AS CITY HOLIDAY

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The City of Tifton is debating whether or not to add Juneteenth to the list of holidays for city employees.

Juneteenth is now a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans. It is also often observed for celebrating African-American culture. Originating in Galveston, Texas, it has been celebrated annually on June 19 in various parts of the United States since 1865 and was made a federal holiday last year.

At Tifton City Council's workshop last week, Deputy City Manager Emily Beeman said adding Juneteenth as a holiday for city employees would cost the city a little less than $17,000. If added, it would be the city's 11th paid holiday.

"There are 10 holidays now. Compared to private enterprise, 10 is a lot," said Vice Mayor Jack Folk. "I really don't think we should spend money to make it 11."

Folk suggested allowing employees to decide if they wish to trade a Juneteenth holiday for another city holiday. "We are stewards of taxpayer money," Folk said.

But City Councilman Lester Cromer Jr. said, "Juneteenth for me is a must; it's a must-have (holiday). I'm very adamant about it."

If the city wishes to keep the number of holidays at 10, Cromer suggested removing some other holiday in order to add Juneteenth.

"For me, Juneteenth is very important; it's important for an entire race of people. It's absolutely necessary; it's overdue," Cromer said.

Mayor Julie B. Smith said that she wants the "public to know that this council is very respectful ... of what Juneteenth represents.” She said that she "would rather err on the side of a Juneteenth holiday to be respectful."

Both Smith and Councilman Josh Reynolds suggested removing the day after Thanksgiving as a city-paid holiday if Juneteenth is added to the holiday schedule. They suggested that some city employees could opt to use the day after Thanksgiving as a personal day, if they so choose.

City Manager Pete Pyrzenski, who is currently working on next fiscal year's city budget, said that he will craft some “scenarios" surrounding Juneteenth as a possible city holiday for City Council to consider at next Monday's council meeting.

TIFT REPORTS JUST 1 NEW COVID CASE IN PAST WEEK

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Tift County reported only one case of COVID-19 in the past week and no related deaths, according to data from the Ga. Department of Public Health (DPH).

Tift reported a total of 12 positive cases within two weeks; there were 18 cases during the previous period. The county's cases represent 29 cases per 100,000 population.

During the recent period, Tift's testing positivity rate was 3.9%, down from 4.4%.

Tift has recorded a total of 6,285 confirmed cases with 163 deaths, the DPH said.

The state reported 624 positive cases Tuesday with 15 additional deaths and 76 new hospitalizations. Georgia reported a total of 1,942,592 cases with 31,343 related deaths, according to the DPH.

TIFTAREA ACADEMY DEDICATES

TRACK TO COACH 'SARGE' DORSEY

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Tiftarea Academy on Friday dedicated its athletic track to longtime coach N.E. “Sarge" Dorsey.

The track was dedicated during the annual Sarge Dorsey Youth Invitational track meet.

TA officials said Dorsey has coached generations of Panthers and has given back to the school in multiple ways. He began coaching at Tiftarea Academy in 1973 and helped establish the track program.

In addition to track, Dorsey has coached basketball, tennis, and golf at the Chula school. Although he no longer is the head coach, Dorsey has remained involved with the athletic teams throughout the years.

PLOUGH GALLERY CO-OWNER TO PRESENT CERAMICS WORKSHOP

AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

Mark Errol, co-owner of the Plough Gallery in Tifton, will be a visiting artist at Harvard University in June, presenting a two-day workshop in ceramics.

Kathy King, director of the ceramics program at Harvard, is the ceramics artist who “changed my perspective of what is possible with the material and helped me find my voice,” Errol said.

Originally from upstate New York, Errol has been a ceramics professor at Valdosta State University since 2015. In 2018, he invited King to present a show and workshop at the Plough Gallery, and she, in a way, is returning the invitation.

“Her art speaks to current events and illustrates contemporary ideas,” Errol said.

Of his own work, Errol explained: “I want to make something that challenges people to look beyond the idea of beauty, and work to find wonder.” He wants people to envision ceramics as art rather than decorations.

Errol’s Harvard workshop is entitled “Clay Pots and Color Spots” and is described online:

“In this workshop, Errol will lead us in adding depth and complexity to ceramic surfaces while using low-tech and highly affordable materials,” according to the website description. “The first day of the workshop will feature demonstrations of his thrown and altered forms, and an introduction to surface techniques such as incising, inlay, and paper transfer methods.”

Glenn Josie is co-owner with Errol of Plough Gallery, a contemporary art gallery featuring rotating art exhibits, handmade art, and fine craft by local, regional, and national makers. An ongoing exhibit that opened last weekend is “Grounds & Roots.”

ERYNN ALLISON

JERRY TAYLOR

TWO TCHS STUDENTS RECEIVE

EMORY CHEEK MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

The Sigma Xi-Emory Cheek Memorial Scholarship committee has selected Erynn Allison and Jerry Taylor to receive the scholarship for 2022.

The Sigma Xi-Emory Cheek Memorial Scholarship was created in memory of Emory Cheek, who was a longtime librarian at the Coastal Plain Experiment Station.

The scholarship honors a graduating high school senior, or seniors, with an interest in science and is based on merit and financial need. The scholarship is funded by Emily Cheek, Emory Cheek's daughter.

Allison and Taylor are current Tift County High School students who are graduating this year. Allison will attend Oklahoma State University as an agricultural education major; Taylor will attend Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and wants to become a veterinarian.

The Sigma Xi-Emory Cheek Memorial Scholarship committee selects student recipients each year.

TIFTAREA ACADEMY CROWNS PROM KING & QUEEN

Tiftarea Academy held its senior prom last Saturday night.

Dylan Harbort was named Prom King, and Dillan Rose Ward was crowned Prom Queen at the Prom Walk.

Tift County High School will hold its prom on April 30 at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center.

TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RIBBON CUTTING

Keller Williams Georgia

122 Second St. E., Tifton

April 5

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

"Sydney," a male cat, is among the cats available for adoption at the Tift County Animal Shelter. To adopt Sydney and see other pets available, visit the shelter between 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

TIFTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL RENAMED

FOR PRINCIPAL ANNIE BELLE CLARK

~ APRIL 13, 1944

At the Tift County Commission meeting on April 13, 1944, the Tifton Grammar School was renamed Annie Belle Clark Grammar School in honor of the school's beloved principal. She died four years later in April 1948, at her home in Atlanta.