16-Year-Old Charged With Murder

Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

GBI ARRESTS

16-YEAR-OLD IN TIFTON HOMICIDE

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

A 16-year-old Tifton youth has been arrested and charged in the shooting that left one Tifton man dead in a vehicle and two other people with gunshot wounds, said the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Izaya Harpe, 16, is charged with felony murder and was being held at a Regional Youth Detention Center, the GBI said.

Shortly after 7 p.m. Nov. 30, Tifton Police responded to a shooting near the intersection of Clay Drive and Ferry Lake Road.

Police found Derrick Wilson, 20, shot dead inside a vehicle. Kaylee Dillard, 18, and Nathan Purvis, 19, were found with gunshot wounds and were taken to Tift Regional Medical Center for treatment, authorities said.

Authorities would not discuss a possible motive for the shootings nor would say if the alleged assailant knew the victims.

The investigation remains active. Anyone with information is asked to contact the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Sylvester at 229-777-2080 or the Tifton Police Department at 229-382-3132. Anonymous tips may be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), or online here.

MEDICAID EXPANSION WOULD AID RURAL HOSPITALS IN CRISIS, MONTY VEAZEY SAYS

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Several more rural Georgia hospitals may close unless action is taken to address the crisis, and the most important step would be to fully expand Medicaid in the state, says Monty Veazey of Tifton, president and chief executive officer of the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals.

“Medicaid expansion in Georgia would pick up about 800,000 lives that are not covered today,” Veazey told Georgia Trend magazine. Although Medicaid reimbursement is low, it provides hospitals with cash flow, he said.

Veazey is featured on the cover of Georgia Trend magazine's December issue looking at how numerous rural hospitals are struggling as hospitals in more populous areas of the state – especially around Atlanta – are expanding in unprecedented numbers.

"Since 2005, nine have closed, making Georgia the No. 6 state in the nation in terms of hospital closings," Georgia Trend recounted. "Recent casualties were Southwest Georgia Regional Medical Center in Cuthbert, the county seat of Randolph County with a population of around 3,500, and Northridge Medical Center, a 90-bed hospital in Commerce."

Veazey told Georgia Trend that Becker’s Hospital Review industry publication estimates that "12 hospitals in Georgia (are) on the brink of closure, so there is more to come. They did not name them, but I can guess which ones they are.”

Georgia is one of 10 states that hasn’t fully expanded Medicaid to make it available solely based on income through the federal Affordable Care Act. In July, Georgia did partially expand its Medicaid program, imposing requirements that require low-income Americans to work, volunteer, study, or train to become eligible.

“Medicaid waivers help but don’t cure the entire problem,” Veazey said. Fully expanding Medicaid availability would reduce the amount of uncompensated care provided at hospitals.

Veazey said the hospital industry looks at the "payer mix": Medicaid, Medicare, self-pay, and patients who are commercially insured. “Those four things make up the component of reimbursement to the hospital.”

Rural areas, which have fewer patients with private insurance, are more reliant on the other elements for reimbursement, Veazey said.

ABAC TO GRADUATE 267

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Two hundred and sixty-seven new graduates of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College will receive their diplomas in ceremonies during the school’s two commencement exercises Thursday.

Campus Communications Coordinator Jordan Beard, who coordinates the ceremonies, said the 10 a.m. event will include graduates from the School of Nursing and Health Sciences and the School of Arts and Sciences. The 3 p.m. event includes graduates from the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Stafford School of Business.

The School of Nursing and Health Sciences will hold its pinning ceremony at noon. All commencement exercises and ceremonies will be held in Gressette Gymnasium.

“Graduation day is one of my favorite days of the year,” said ABAC President Tracy Brundage. “It’s a special day for the graduates, for their families, and for all of us. I’m looking forward to presenting their diplomas as a reward for their hard work in the classroom.”

Cathy Cox, president of Georgia College and State University and an ABAC alumna, will be the commencement speaker at both ceremonies. She earned her associate's degree at ABAC before attending the University of Georgia and Mercer Law School. She practiced law in Bainbridge and Atlanta for 10 years, during which time she was elected to the Ga. House of Representatives and was the first woman to be elected as Georgia’s secretary of state.

GBI PROBES SYLVESTER SHOOTING BY OFFICER

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating an shooting involving a police officer in Sylvester. No one was injured during the incident.

Preliminary information indicates that at about 3 p.m. Dec. 4, a Sylvester Police officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a driver, later identified as Jaylen Walker, 20, of Sylvester.

The man was driving a Hyundai Elantra that had been reported stolen in Sylvester, the GBI said. The driver declined to stop, and the officer shot at the car. Walker was not hit and left the scene traveling on Carter Road, the GBI said.

While trying to escape, Walker crashed the vehicle into a retention pond near Carter Road. He was taken into custody with charges pending by the Georgia State Patrol and the Sylvester Police Department. Walker was taken to the Dougherty County Jail, the GBI said.

This investigation is continuing.

80 RECEIVE GEDs FROM SRTC ADULT EDUCATION

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Eighty students have earned their GED certification through the adult education program at Southern Regional Technical College since July 1.

This is the college's third, consecutive record-breaking year, officials said.

"Thanks to the extraordinary work of our adult ed faculty, staff, and students, we are on target to have our largest group of graduates in SRTC history," the college said on social media.

The GED, or General Educational Development test earns students a high school equivalency credential.

A DOWNHOME CHRISTMAS: TIFTON CELEBRATES

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Tifton officially kicked off the Christmas season Saturday with the lighting of the new LED-lighted trees at City Hall, the annual Christmas Parade, and family activities downtown.

Although the Hometown Holidays Celebration was cancelled this year because of weather, the city still offered residents a chance to gather and celebrate with live music, a s'mores station, food trucks, a mechanical bull, photo spots, and a chance to visit with Santa.

The theme of the Christmas Parade was "A Downhome Christmas," and the winning parade participants were: Best in Show – Chino & Letty's Place, Best Theme – El Metate, and Best Walking Unit – Flawless Divas Dance Company.

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS COMPLETE COLONY BANK LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

More than 40 high school students recently graduated from the Colony Leadership Academy, a year-long leadership program created by Colony Bank.

Upon completion of the program, each student received up to a $1,000 scholarship to the college or university of their choice.

Colony Leadership Academy, available to high school juniors during the last half of their junior year through the first half of their senior year, serves to help students to become familiar with their community while developing skills for active leadership roles.

During the program, students participate in sessions showcasing health and recreation, economic development, arts and culture, public safety, social services, education and government affairs.

This year’s 43 participants represented counties from all over Georgia, including Ben Hill, Bibb, Brooks, Bulloch, Coffee, Colquitt, Coweta, Crisp, Dougherty, Effingham, Gwinnett, Lee, Muscogee, Terrell, Tift, Troup, and Turner.

Since its inception in 2021, Colony Bank's Leadership Academy has awarded more than $100,000 in scholarships to 113 students.

Founded in 1975 and headquartered in Fitzgerald, Colony Bank operates 37 locations in Georgia and has recently expanded to serve Birmingham, Ala., as well as Tallahassee, Fla., and the Florida Panhandle.

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

"Praline," who has been at the animal shelter since June, is crazy playful; she can play for hours on end. Come visit her at the Tift County Animal Shelter and see other pets available for adoption between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at the shelter on Highway 125 South, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).

NEW HOTEL NAMED 'MYON'

~ DEC. 14, 1906

A new hotel approaching completion on Dec. 14, 1906, in Downtown Tifton was named "Hotel Myon." Owner I.W. Myers had advertised for suggested names and more than 300 were submitted. Judge Raleigh Eve submitted the winning name, combining the first two letters of Myers' name with the last two letters of "Tifton."