Blackmarr Named to Wall

FEB. 3, 2017

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126

tiftongrapevine.com

SYD BLACKMARR

ON 'WALL OF FAME'

TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RECOGNIZES LEADERS, VOLUNTEERS AT BANQUET

Syd Blackmarr, Tifton's "Queen of Arts," was named to the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce Wall of Fame on Thursday night at the Chamber's 2017 Annual Meeting and Banquet at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center.


	BLACKMARR

Also honored were Dr. Joe West, recipient of the Stafford Award for excellence in economic development; Christy Kunes, named Prince Business Woman of the Year; Harold Harper, recipient of the John Hunt Entrepreneur of the Year Award; Amanda Brack, recipient of the J. Lamar Branch Award; Curtis Packing Co., recipient of the Rotary Club Ethics in Business Award; and Mayra Contreras, named Chamber Ambassador of the Year.

Blackmarr was the founder of the Arts Experiment Station at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, was a leading force in creating the "Love Affair" fine arts festival, among many other initiatives, and continues to be involved in the local arts scene today.


Award recipients, from left, are: Amanda Brack, Mayra Contreras, Christy Kunes, Joe West, Syd Blackmarr, Harold Harper, and Curtis Packing Co.'s Dan Branch, Earl Branch and Jerry Branch.

West has been the assistant dean of the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences in Tifton since 2007 and has served as chairman of the Chamber of Commerce.

During the meeting, Chamber Chairman Morris Tankersley passed the gavel to incoming Chairman Tyron Spearman.

Join Us for a Romantic Dinner

with Musical Entertainment by the Jerry Moss Trio

Tuesday, February 14

in the Ballroom

Reservations available 6-9 p.m.

BJ's at Springhill is OPEN to the PUBLIC

for this Special Evening!

Join us for this romantic adventure:

BJ's at Springhill
(Located inside Springhill Country Club)

"Where Everyone is Welcome!"

5 E. Springhill Road, Tifton

Call BJ for Reservations: 229-392-2913

AMERICAN TEXTILE CO.

EXPANDS AGAIN IN TIFTON

Officials with American Textile Co. joined board members of the Tift County Development Authority and local elected officials to break ground Thursday on the company's newest facility in Tifton.

When completed, the 384,000-square-foot-facility will serve as a distribution center. The project, located at the Magnolia Industrial Park Phase II on Oakridge Church Road, is expected to be completed this summer.

It will be American Textile's fourth facility in Tifton. The Pennsylvania-based company is the leading supplier of quality mattress protectors, pillow protectors, bed pillows, comforters and mattress pads to large and small retailers in the United States and Canada.

TOPS IN GEORGIA

AG MUSEUM'S GALLERY GETS 2 STATE AWARDS

The Gallery at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture has been named the top nonprofit gallery institution in the state and also received an award for the top special gallery project in 2016.

The agriculture museum gallery, part of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, received the two statewide awards during a recent meeting of the Georgia Association for


Polly Huff with state awards.

Museums and Galleries (GAMG) in Augusta.

"The GMA Gallery has become a leading institution in Georgia with a record of accomplishments and is acting as an important cultural resource in the community," said the GAMG selection committee.

"The gallery has taken an active role in promoting communication and cooperation among other Georgia museums and galleries and has provided on-site outreach programs which have extended the GMA's mission while educating student and adult audiences."

Polly Huff, ag museum assistant director and curator, said the gallery's honors is in recognition of more than 30 exhibits and numerous local and regional partnerships as well as dozens of outreach events which the gallery has hosted since its inception in 2010.

One of those exhibits was an unprecedented partnership in spring 2016 among the gallery, the ABAC School of Liberal Arts, the ABAC School of Nursing and Health Sciences, the Tift Regional Heart and Vascular Center and a private art collector.

Honored as GAMC's Top Special Project of 2016, that collaboration resulted in the "Heart to Heart" event which educated the community about heart disease while showcasing an art exhibit inspired by the miracle of medicine, all while giving a springboard to more than a dozen college art students into the world of juried shows and gallery exhibits.

TIFT HEALTH DEPT PROVIDING

CAR SEATS, EDUCATION

The Tift County Health Department has been awarded a 2017 Car Seat Mini-Grant to provide car seats and education to financially eligible families in Tift County.

The Georgia Department of Public Health, Injury Prevention Program, awarded the

grant, f unded by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety to help keep Georgia's children safe while riding in motor vehicles.

Since 2007, the education, car seats and booster seats provided through the program have prevented serious injuries and death, and have saved more than 300 children involved in crashes, according to the state.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car seats reduce fatal injuries by 71 percent among infants and by 54 percent among children ages 1 to 4 years in passenger cars. But nearly three out of every four car seats are not used properly, placing children at unnecessary risk, the NHTSA says.

The Tift Health Department will work with the Tift County Sheriff's Office to educate parents and caregivers on how to properly install and use car seats. They will also offer car seat inspections and provide car and booster seats to financially eligible families.

Through the program, agencies supporting more than 130 counties are working to keep Georgia's children safe.

For information about the car seat program, call 229-386-8373 or Click Here!

"Best-Selling Truck for 40 Straight Years"

511 West 7th Street

(229) 382-1300

griffinford.net

SRTC RECOGNIZES 704 GRADUATES

Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) held its winter commencement Jan. 26 at the Thomasville High School gymnasium .

Graduation is a day of celebrating and conferring degrees, diplomas, and certificates to students who have completed their respective credit and GED programs of study. The ceremony recognized 704 graduates earning a total of 1,035 awards.

Many graduates received multiple honors as some programs have embedded certificates that are obtained when completing the program in its entirety.

SRTC has campuses in Tifton, Thomasville and Moultrie, and other locations in Grady, Mitchell, Turner and Worth counties.

PEANUT COMMISSION TO

REPORT RESEARCH FINDINGS

The Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) holds its annual Research Report Day on Thursday, Feb. 9, beginning at 9 a.m. at the National Environmentally Sound Production Agriculture Laboratory on the University of Georgia Tifton campus.

The event provides growers and industry representatives a chance to get the latest reports and information on peanut research projects that GPC funded in 2016.

"The commission works to wisely invest peanut farmers' dollars into research projects across Georgia in an effort to reduce production input costs and improve agronomic techniques," says Donald Chase, GPC Research Committee chairman.

"Although some of the findings are preliminary, the projects are exciting, and many times new recommendations or observations are announced."

The GPC, on behalf of Georgia's 3,500 peanut farmers, awarded $423,036 to peanut research facilities in the state last year. This effort funds 30 research projects from UGA and the USDA Agricultural Research Service.

The Georgia Peanut Commission's research programs primarily focus on peanut breeding for higher yield and improved quality; economics; conservation methods; irrigation and water management; pests, weed and disease management; and peanut allergy research.

Church Secretary

Position

Tifton First United

Methodist Church

The position is responsible for running the church office, handling administrative tasks and functions, and supporting the pastor and staff.

The position also schedules events on the church calendar, manages telephone services,

prepares all church mailings, organizes and prepares publications and handles correspondence.

This person serves as the public face of the church and the first line of contact for members of

the church, visitors and newcomers. This person needs to be a flexible, proficient communicator, be able to work as a team player and be able to use office technology.

This is a full-time position and includes benefits. Salary will be commensurate with education and experience.

To be considered, submit your application no later than close of business on February 14, 2017.

Please see http://www.tiftonfumc.org/ for information about Tifton First United Methodist Church.

To apply, submit:

1) a cover letter to include why you are interested in this position;

2) a current resume; and

3) contact information for three references.

Applications and specific questions related to this position should be addressed to:

Tifton First United Methodist Church

Attn: Lisa Forshee

Lead Church Secretary Search Committee

107 W 12th St.

Tifton, GA 31794

Email: lbforshee@gmail.com

SRTC'S VET TECH PROGRAM

RANKED ONE OF NATION'S BEST

The veterinary technology program at Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) was recently named the seventh-rated program in the nation and second in the state by the

Community for Accredited Online Schools for 2016-2017.

Using a proprietary blend of cost, quality and student support services to determine overall rankings, the Community for Accredited Schools online has ranked SRTC's veterinary technology program one of the highest ranking among similar courses of study in the state and nation.

"We were very excited to learn about our program's ranking and are proud to receive recognition for our program and our college," said Dr. Jennifer Mathews, SRTC veterinary technology program chair.

"We continue to look for new ways to improve our students' learning experience and hope our program continues to be recognized for its value, both in Georgia and beyond."

GARDEN BEDS UP FOR ADOPTION

Keep Tift Beautiful invites residents to adopt a garden bed and plant fruit or vegetables at the North Central Community Garden on North Central Avenue in Tifton.

For information, contact Cindy Mathis at 229-391-3950.