TIFTAREA PLANS INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The United States is celebrating its 247th birthday on Tuesday, a federal-state-local holiday.

On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, declaring that the states were united in operating freely and dissolving any connection or allegiance to Great Britain.

The day is marked by festivals, picnics, music, and fireworks.

Here in the Tiftarea and around South Georgia, there are numerous opportunities to join our neighbors in celebrating the Fourth of July:

• Tonight (Friday, June 30) the City of Sylvester kicks off the weekend with "Fireworks & Fun" from 6-10 p.m. at the Woodard Center, 709 W. Wallace St. The popular band "Swingin' Medallions" perform beginning at 7 p.m., with fireworks at 9:45 p.m. Food trucks will be available.

• In Tifton, the Wiregrass Freedom Festival is Saturday, July 1, at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture, operated by Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. From 9 a.m.-4 p.m., visitors may ride the 1914 Vulcan steam train into the Historic Village for games and contests representative of Georgia's Wiregrass region of Georgia during the early 20th century. A baseball game, samples of sliced watermelons, cane pole fishing in the grist mill pond, Victorian-era paper firework crafts, and a watermelon decorating contest will add to the atmosphere. There is an admission fee.

• Ray City has an all-day festival on Saturday, July 1, on Patten Avenue beginning at 11 a.m., with live entertainment, multiple vendors, arts and crafts, a watermelon-eating contest, a parade at 6 p.m., followed by fireworks.



• The annual Fireworks on the Flint will be held at 9:30 p.m. Monday, July 3, at Georgia Veterans State Park in Cordele, with fireworks over the water.

• The Town of Enigma has its popular, day-long Independence Day celebration beginning at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 4, at Enigma Park with music, food, fun, and ending with fireworks after dark.

• Fitzgerald has its July 4th celebration Tuesday beginning at 6 p.m. at Paulk Park with watermelon, hot dogs, music by Southern Confessional, and fireworks at 9:15 p.m.

GDOT: HOLIDAY TRAVEL EXPECTED TO BE HEAVY

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is suspending lane closures and sharing the best and worst travel days for the July 4 holiday weekend.

Lane closures are suspended on interstates and state routes beginning at noon today (Friday) until 5 a.m. Wednesday, July 5.

Motorists are advised to plan their trips as heavy traffic is expected, including along metro Atlanta highways and interstates throughout the state. Metro Atlanta interstates are projected to experience heavy and worse-than-normal traffic today along with afternoon congestion on Saturday. 

Heavy congestion is anticipated on Interstate 75 in both southbound and northbound directions both today and Saturday.

GDOT reminds motorists that fireworks displays and other holiday events may cause an increase in traffic and/or road closures. For up-to-date information about travel conditions on Georgia’s interstates and state routes, call 511 or visit www.511ga.org before heading out.

Georgia's 511 is a free service that provides real-time statewide information on Georgia’s interstates and state routes, including traffic conditions, incidents, lane closures, and delays 24 hours a day. Callers may also transfer to operators to request "HERO" road assistance in metro Atlanta or "CHAMP" road service on highways in other parts of the state.

LENOX PLANS VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

The City of Lenox is planning to create a Veterans Memorial Park built beside the Lenox Post Office.

Mayor Henry P. Baker Jr. and Councilman Billy Mauldin are working with retired banker, author, and Vietnam veteran Warren Robinson to make the Veterans Park a reality. Among proposed plans are acquiring a military helicopter to display at the site.

"We have secured a tract of land next to our post office in the heart of town that is easily accessible to all our citizens and visitors. Our park is intended to be a heartfelt expression of our gratitude for the sacrifices made on our behalf by America’s veterans," Robinson said.

"On behalf of the Lenox Veterans Park Committee, I am excited to announce that we are selling brick pavers engraved with the names of veterans to be permanently displayed in the Lenox Veteran's Park. Each brick is being sold for $100, and all proceeds will go towards the cost of building the park," Robinson said.

On social media he noted that "this is an amazing opportunity to honor and pay tribute to the brave men and women who have served our country. By purchasing a brick, you will not only be supporting a great cause, but you will also be leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come."

For information, contact Robinson at wdrobinson@hotmail.com, Councilman Billy Mauldin at 229-546-4252, or Probate Judge Chase Daughtrey at chase.daughtrey@cookcountyga.us

TIFT THEATRE GETS FACELIFT

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Visitors to Downtown Tifton in recent days may have noticed the upgrades to the marquee and lights at the historic Tift Theater for the Performing Arts.

ANS Signs of Adel has installed a new electronic message center on the marquee. On social media, ANS said its technicians have "also meticulously restored the theatre’s iconic neon elements, ensuring that the Tift Theatre shines brighter than ever before. The nostalgic glow of neon will blend seamlessly with the modern brilliance of the electronic message center."

The sign company said it is bringing together the "best of both worlds: Timeless neon artistry and cutting-edge digital signage. It’s a testament to our commitment to preserving history while embracing the future of signage."

The Fox Theatre institute in Atlanta awarded a $70,000 grant to the City of Tifton to help with the theatre upgrades.

ROTARY CLUB PASSES GAVEL

Bonnie Sayles, incoming president of the Rotary Club of Tifton, thanks outgoing president Chris Beckham, who served two terms as Rotary president – the 2001-22 and 2022-23 years. Sayles takes over July 1 for the 2023-24 Rotary year. Beckham and Sayles were recognized during Thursday's Rotary fish fry at UGA-Tifton's Black Shank Pavilion.

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COVID-19 data released from the

Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) as of June 28:

TOTAL TIFT COUNTY CASES: 6,957 ..................................... TOTAL TIFT DEATHS: 177

CONFIRMED TIFT CASES - 2 weeks: 11 ....................................... DEATHS - Past week: 0

CONFIRMED & SUSPECTED CASES: 34

TIFT CONFIRMED & SUSPECTED CASES - 2 weeks, per 100K population: 83

_______________________________________________________________

GEORGIA TOTAL CASES: 2,367,368.

GEORGIA CONFIRMED & SUSPECTED CASES - 1 week: 1,675

TOTAL GA DEATHS: 35,459 ....................................................... GA DEATHS - 1 week: 6

YOUR GUIDE TO ACTIVITIES THIS WEEKEND IN

THE TIFTAREA

Saturday, July 1, is International Chicken Wing Day, celebrating all chicken-wing varieties that have become popular worldwide. Buffalo Wings are said to have been invented in 1961 when a bar owner in Buffalo, N.Y., fried some leftover chicken wings and tossed them in his secret sauce. The first wings restaurant – Wings & Things – opened in 1964 in Buffalo. In 1977, International Chicken Wing Day was established.

FRIDAY, JUNE 30

• "Fireworks & Fun" with the Swingin' Medallions, 6-10 p.m., Woodard Center, 709 W. Wallace St., Sylvester

SATURDAY, JULY 1

• Wiregrass Freedom Festival, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Ga. Museum of Agriculture, Tifton
• Wiregrass Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-noon, Ga. Museum of Agriculture, Tifton
• Fourth of July Celebration, 11 a.m.-10 p.m., 1101 Patten Ave., Ray City

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Fees are $1 per word, paid in advance

“Zipper,” a friendly male, is ready for a new home. To adopt Zipper and to see other pets available for adoption, visit 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).