$6,000 Reward

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AUG. 11, 2017

Tifton, Georgia

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$6,000 REWARD

OFFERED FOR ARREST, CONVICTION OF ASSAILANTS IN WAFFLE HOUSE DEATH

A total of $6,000 is now being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the persons responsible for the shooting death of a Tifton Waffle House worker, Police Chief Buddy Dowdy told Tifton City Council on Thursday.


JESSE W. HALL

Norcross-based Waffle House Inc. is offering $5,000 in addition to the City of Tifton's $1,000 reward, Dowdy said.

Police are investigating the shooting death of Jesse W. Hall, 30, of Tifton during an apparent robbery attempt at about 1 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, in the parking lot of the Waffle House at 706 West 7th St.

Hall of Tifton was a master grill operator at Waffle House and the father of two sons and a daughter. Another female Waffle House employee was also assaulted at the time. Authorities are looking for two assailants.

"Mr. Hall was at work trying to earn a living as a father of three children when he was shot and killed during what appears to be an attempted armed robbery. There are people out there that know what happened and who did this. We hope that some of those people will come forward with what they know. We cannot get those children their father back; we do hope to offer answers," police said in a written statement.

Anyone with information should call Tifton Police at 229-382-3132.

ABAC'S KING HALL REOPENS

A 78-year-old building took a breath of new life at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College on Thursday when ABAC President David Bridges opened King Hall after a year-long renovation.

" This building has a long history here at ABAC," Bridges said. "It was at one time the library and then, when I was a student here in 1978, it was the home of the agriculture division.

"ABAC has a proud legacy and a very promising future. As the new home to the dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, this building will play a very important role in that promising future."

Constructed in 1939, King Hall contains six classrooms and 12 offices. The $1.8 renovation focused on the interior of the building. The original bricks remain on the exterior. The building now has an elevator for the first time.

Bridges praised the construction and architectural firms for the renovation: "I think they were able to uncover some of the building's original character that had been covered in previous renovations."

Earlier Thursday, Bridges delivered his 12th annual presidential address to the faculty and staff in Howard Auditorium.

"We are getting better prepared students every year," Bridges said. "Our graduation rate is two and one half times the state college average in Georgia. We are doing a lot of things right.

"But we need to continue to look ahead. ABAC can be as good as you want it to be. Moving forward is up to us. It's all about the people in this room and our connection with the students."

New freshmen will move into ABAC Lakeside and ABAC Place on Saturday as a part of the Welcome Week activities. ABAC alumna Louise Hill speaks at the annual freshman convocation on Tuesday . Fall term classes begin on Wednesday .

TIFTON HOSTING BAPTIST LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

The Georgia Baptist Mission Board will present a GO Georgia! statewide church leadership training and conference featuring nationally acclaimed authors, speakers and business leaders. The event will be held Aug. 25-26 at First Baptist Church in Tifton.

GO Georgia will include more than 100 topics and specialized training. More than 100 breakout sessions related to various church leadership roles will be offered.


	CHUCK KELLEY

The keynote address will be from Chuck Kelley, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS). Two years after becoming an ordained minister, Kelly earned a bachelor of arts in philosophy degree from Baylor University. He also graduated with a master of divinity degree and doctor of theology degree from NOBTS. In 1983, Kelley began teaching evangelism at NOBTS, until he became the Roland Q. Leavell professor of evangelism in 1989.

In 1993, he directed the Leavell Center for Evangelism and Church Health, and became the chair of the Pastoral Ministries Division until 1995. The following year, NOBTS elected Kelley as the eighth president of the institution.

FRUIT & NUT CONFERENCE OPENS SUNDAY

The North American Fruit Explorers and the Northern Nut Growers Association are bringing together experts in the field of nut and fruit cultivation for a conference in Tifton.

The 108th Annual Conference of the Northern Nut Growers Association will be held jointly with the North American Fruit Explorers on Aug.13-16, beginning this Sunday, at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center.

The best cultivation techniques for traditional crops grown in the Southeast will be discussed as well as new fruits and nuts that can grow on farms or in backyards.

Activities include an all-day tour of UGA's experimental orchards, Fort Valley State University, the USDA station in Byron and Ellis Pecans in Vienna.

For information, visit www.nutgrowing.org

SENIORS PLAN TIFTON DANCE

Tifton's "Singles Enjoying Life Forever," or "SELF," has a senior dance planned on Friday, Aug. 18, at the Leroy Rogers Senior Center in Tifton.

Doors open at 6 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m. and dancing beginning at 8 p.m.

All Tifton seniors are invited to attend.

SOUTHWEST GEORGIA BANK SPONSORS TMA BREAKFAST

Southwest Georgia Bank, which is currently constructing its Tifton office on Love Avenue, provided breakfast to the Tifton Merchants Association meeting Wednesday at the Tifton Welcome Station. An artist's rendering of the Tifton building is on the table at right. Representing the bank were, from left, Amanda Ammons, vice president; Valerie DiMaggio, business development specialist; and Joy Ledford, vice president.

YOUR WEEKEND

. ..at a Glance

FRIDAY, AUG. 11

Tiftarea Academy Panthers football vs. Robert Toombs Christian Academy, 8 p.m., Tiftarea Academy, Chula

SATURDAY, AUG. 12

Irwin County Farmers Market, 8 a.m., 5th Street, Ocilla
Wiregrass Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-Noon, Ga. Museum of Agriculture, Tifton
Sylvester Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-Noon, downtown train depot, Sylvester
BET Comedy Show/"Grown Folks Night Out," 7 p.m., Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts, Tifton