Digital Newspaper for Tifton, Ga., and the Greater Tiftarea

Source: WALB-TV

PRINCIPAL STONE PAID DAUGHTER WITH SCHOOL FUNDS

$3,300 FOR BRODIE FIELD CLEAN-UP AFTER EVENTS

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Suspended Tift County High School Principal Chad Stone paid his daughter, a TCHS student, $3,300 during the 2022-23 school year to clean the Brodie Field stadium after events, according to documents obtained by WALB-TV.

The Ga. Professional Standards Commission (GPSC) on Jan. 11 had suspended Stone's educator certification for 30 days after ruling he had violated three professional standards dealing with misuse of public funds and property, remunerative conduct, and unethical professional conduct.

The GPSC declined to give specifics of its findings "until there is a resolution." Stone tells the Tifton Grapevine that he is appealing the GPSC's decision.

According to the Albany TV station, the "misuse of public funds" refers to Stone paying his daughter with school funds; and the remunerative and unethical professional conduct charges refer to Stone soliciting sales for a golf-cart dealer using his well-known slogan "Better Today Than Yesterday" (BTTY), using students to cut out his "BTTY" decals for a vehicle he was using from a local business, and using school equipment to record a personal video critical of school district leadership that he posted on social media.

Immediately following the GPSC's decision, the Tift County Board of Education (BOE) put Stone on paid administrative leave for 30 days.

Stone denies the charges.

Documents obtained by WALB show Stone paid a total of $3,300 to his daughter between August 2022 and May 2023 for stadium clean-up after football games (checks for $400 or $500 each) and $800 for clean-up of the stadium after the graduation ceremony in May 2023.

"I was given certain directives of 'You could use the money to help with clubs, athletic events, or students at the high school,' and she fell into that category. And I wouldn't have used her had other groups stepped forward to do that," Stone told WALB. He has repaid the money as restitution.

Regarding the students cutting the decals, Stone said it was done after school hours and it was to help promote "an organization that was supporting our school."

The Tift BOE has said it is not renewing Stone's contract after this school year and has already announced an interim principal at Tift County High for the remainder of the school year.

Stone told the Tifton Grapevine that the school district said it will "re-evaluate my employment status for the rest of the year on Feb. 26."

But Stone has admitted that his time as TCHS principal is over. "That door is shut," he said.

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Bill Shelnutt, pictured with his family, is the new head of school for Tiftarea Academy after current head Stacey Bell retires at the end of the school year.

TIFTAREA ACADEMY NAMES HEADMASTER

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Tiftarea Academy in Chula has named Bill Shelnutt as the new head of school. An experienced school leader, Shelnutt will succeed Stacey Bell and assume responsibilities on July 1.

Bell, who has led the private Christian school for eight years, had announced his retirement earlier this school year.

Shelnutt has been involved in school leadership for more than 25 years in Alabama and Georgia. He has been a teacher, a coach, a division principal, and a three-time head of school.

“We believe that Mr. Shelnutt will be a highly competent and confident steward of Tiftarea’s mission; his knowledge of and experience with independent schools, strong interpersonal skills, and values driven leadership style is a strong match for us.” said Board Chair Dr. Scott Fulp.

In his most recent role as head of school at Trinity Presbyterian School in Montgomery, Ala., Shelnutt oversaw stable enrollment during the pandemic. His successful initiatives included instituting tuition insurance, a master teaching schedule, a balanced budget, increased annual fund, successful capital campaign, and numerous facility improvements.

“We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Shelnutt and his family to Tiftarea,” said Kyle Grist, Board of Trustees member. “During his time on campus, he was engaging with faculty, staff, students, and parents. We look forward to the energy and enthusiastic leadership he will bring to Tiftarea Academy.”

Shelnutt received a bachelor's in history from State University of New York-Buffalo; a master's in educational leadership from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta; and an master's in business administration from Reinhardt University in Waleska.

In addition to his experience within schools, Shelnutt has served on independent school boards, taught classes at Independent School Management, led school accreditations, and has developed successful strategic plans for numerous schools.

He is married to Susan, a career teacher and current dyslexia therapist. Together they have twins who will be attending Tiftarea Academy as sophomores in the fall.

Two candle-making classes this week sponsored by Tifton's Main Street program were sold out.

TIFTON MAIN STREET FINDS WAYS TO CONNECT

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The City of Tifton's Main Street program says it is finding success in connecting consumers with Downtown businesses. Its latest initiative, the Monthly Community Activity Program (MCAP), is exceeding expectations.

The first MCAP program, a candle-making class, sold out of tickets in less than two hours. During that class, held Tuesday, two attendees were from Moultrie and one was from Sylvester.

Main Street Manager Hillery Culpepper said the purpose is to connect Downtown Tifton businesses with local residents, even those in surrounding areas, in hopes they continue to come back downtown to shop and dine.

"By offering this class to the public, we were able to connect attendees with five downtown businesses,” Culpepper said. The candle-making class was taught by Little Hippie Chick, hosted at Conger LP Gas, and the tea cups/candle holders were donated by local antique shops (Bula’s Antiques, 3rd & Main Antiques, and Redeemed Thrift Store).

The first candle-making class was so popular, that the Main Street program offered a second class on Thursday, which was also sold out. Through this activity, 32 participants visited downtown.

The online response to the Monthly Community Activity Program has also been overwhelmingly positive.

“We look forward to continuing this idea each month and throughout the year. My goal through this is to partner with different downtown merchants each month and highlight their business in a unique way that will make community members want to attend the class and hopefully continue to come back to Downtown Tifton," Culpepper said.

"We do plan to host additional candle-making classes in the future as a seasonal activity because the need is there for our community to attend, learn, and support.”

TAKING THE 'FIELD' AT SUNDAY'S SUPER BOWL

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

When the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers take the field Sunday in Super Bowl LVIII, some folks in Tifton – "The Turf Grass Capital of the World" – will undoubtedly will be watching the "field" as closely as the game.

Although the turf at Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium won't be a Tifton product, several past Super Bowls – most recently in 2021 – have been played on Tifway 419, a turf grass developed on the UGA Tifton Campus.

This year's Super Bowl field has Tahoma 31 Bermuda grass grown in California. Tahoma 31, developed at Oklahoma State University, was also used in last year's Super Bowl in Arizona. Some players criticized the field conditions last year as being too slippery.

Legendary Super Bowl groundskeeper George Toma told ESPN that last year's field was overwatered and didn’t get enough sun. He also said there wasn’t enough sand in the field's retractible tray to absorb the water, and when tarps were laid over the grass to protect it from half-time show rehearsals, it began to rot.

This year, field officials say they have been conducting tests for weeks and the field is ready for primetime. The turf at Allegiant Stadium is on a retractible tray that weighs more than 9,000 tons. It is being kept outside to be watered and soak up the Las Vegas sun until it’s game time.

According to lawnstarter.com, the process for developing turf for Super Bowls begins 18 to 24 months ahead of time. The turf usually comes from Georgia, Alabama, or California, depending on the game’s location.

Sunday's Super Bowl is expected to be viewed by more than 110 million people in more than 190 countries and territories. The NFL hopes the focus remains on the game on the field rather than on the field itself.

'CHOC-IT-UP' TONIGHT WITH CHOCOLATE TREATS FOR LITERACY

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The 10th annual Choc-it-Up for Literacy will be at 6:30 p.m. tonight (Friday) at ABAC's Georgia Museum of Agriculture Conference Center. 

At the chocolate-tasting event, attendees taste vendors’ chocolate desserts and vote for those with the best taste, best presentation, and most original. Vendors include Cole's Cakery, Jimmy John’s, Logan’s Roadhouse, My Little Cupcake, Panera Bread, Publix, Red Lobster, and Rutland Farms. 

A silent auction with gift certificates and other potential Valentine’s gifts will be ongoing during the event, and admission tickets allow participants to enjoy wine, beer, coffee, and milk with their desserts. A live auction will include local artists’ paintings, Michael Kors luggage, jewelry, brand-name purses, and a stay in a mountaintop cottage in Dahlonega.

Tickets may be purchased online here or at the door. The event is a fundraiser for Literacy Volunteers of Tifton-Tift County and funds provide transportation for GED students to attend Southern Regional Technical College adult education classes and books and materials for English-language tutoring.

The photo above shows a creative heart-shaped chocolate cake that appears to contain shrimp, oysters, chicken wings, and even celery, carrots, and ranch dip, but is made entirely of chocolate by Niki Towns at Edible Embellishments Bakery of Fitzgerald. This cake will be one of the items available for bidding in the live auction.

FLAMINGOS FLOCKING AGAIN IN TIFT

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

The Flamingo Flocking has begun!

Once again, the Tift County Council on Child Abuse is covering local yards with pink flamingos to raise awareness and funds for the prevention of child abuse and neglect. 

Every February, for more than 25 years, flocks of the pink plastic birds have arrived and will appear daily in different yards across the county. Those who find a flock of flamingos inhabiting their yard are asked to pay a small fee to the Child Abuse Council to ensure their safe removal. 

As a bonus, the donor gets to choose the next temporary residence of the birds. On Feb. 1, the flamingos made their first visit to Nancy Bryan, executive director of Ruth’s Cottage domestic violence shelter and the Patticake House.

“It is a pleasure to be the first ‘victim’ of this year’s Flamingo Flocking by the Tift County Council on Child Abuse,” Bryan said. “My whole career has had a common theme of protecting children, and it’s a pleasure to be the first to show my support for all efforts to eliminate child abuse.”

In addition to being a fun way to raise funds for the fight against child abuse, the flocks migrating to homes remind people of the need to protect and serve children. In 2022, there were 269 reports of child abuse and/or neglect in Tift County.

The Tift County Council on Child Abuse is a non-profit organization operated by community volunteers with local financial support. Anyone interested in supporting the prevention of child abuse and neglect in Tift County may call 229-382-5172, or email tiftcochildabusecouncil@gmail.com

TMA COMPLETES OFFICERS FOR NEW YEAR

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Tifton Merchants Association (TMA) elected Angela Elder of Tifton Tourism as TMA treasurer for 2024 at its monthly meeting Wednesday. The association meets at 8:30 a.m. the second Wednesday of each month to discuss ways to promote and attract business and enhance appeal to downtown Tifton. 

Other officers were elected at the January meeting. The new all-female executive committee consists of, pictured from left, President Kirsten McAlpin of Conger LP Gas, Vice President Gina Miller of Country Financial, Secretary Kayla Buhler of Aero Boutique, and Treasurer Angela Elder of Tifton Tourism. 

Members discussed the upcoming Second Saturday Love Local shopping event at 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1. The Tift Theatre will be hosting a Free Valentine’s Craft for kids from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and the theatre will also show the movie "Casablanca" at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. with tickets at 15 cents for adults and 10 cents for kids.

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COVID-19 data released from the 

Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) as of Feb. 7:

TOTAL TIFT COUNTY CASES: 7,223 ....................................... TOTAL TIFT DEATHS: 181

CONFIRMED TIFT CASES - 2 weeks: 36 ....................................... DEATHS - Past week: 0

CONFIRMED & SUSPECTED CASES - 2 weeks: 144

TIFT CONFIRMED & SUSPECTED CASES - 2 weeks, per 100K population: 353 

_______________________________________________________________

GEORGIA TOTAL CASES: 2,433,207

GEORGIA CONFIRMED & SUSPECTED CASES - Past week: 8,920

TOTAL GA DEATHS: 36,228 ................................................... GA DEATHS - Past week: 45 

YOUR GUIDE

TO ACTIVITIES

THIS WEEKEND

IN THE TIFTAREA

Today, Friday, Feb. 9, is National Pizza Day, one of America's favorite foods which, surprisingly, was largely unknown in the U.S. until the late 1940s. That's when immigrants from Naples, Italy, brought the dish with them to New York and Chicago. Also, during WWII, some American soldiers who had served in Italy had become acquainted with pizza. By 1958, the Pizza Hut restaurant was founded in Wichita, Kan.

The modern birthplace of pizza is southwestern Italy’s Campania region, home to Naples, which technically was an independent kingdom until 1861. After it unified with Italy, King Umberto I and Queen Margherita visited Naples in 1889. Legend says the queen fell in love there with pizza topped with mozzarella cheese, red tomatoes, and green basil. Since then, this type of pizza has been called the "Margherita pizza."

FRIDAY, FEB. 9

• "Denim & Diamonds:" Tiftarea YMCA's Father-Daughter Dance, 5:30 & 8 p.m., Ministry Center, First Baptist Church, Tifton
• Choc-it-Up for Literacy, 6:30 p.m., Ga. Museum of Agriculture conference center, Tifton

SATURDAY, FEB. 10

• Tifton's Second Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Downtown Tifton
• Old Movie Day: "Casablanca," adults: 15 cents, children: 10 cents; 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Tift Theatre, Downtown Tifton

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YARD SALE, CONTACT US at 

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Fees are $1 per word, paid in advance

"Pumbaa," is seeking his Valentine – a loving home he can call his very own. Visit this sweet guy and other pets available for adoption at the Tift County Animal Shelter on Highway 125 South, open between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. For additional information, call 229-382-PETS (7387).