DEC. 23, 2016
Tifton, Georgia
478-227-7126
tiftongrapevine.com
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TIFTON CITY COUNCIL NARROWS SEARCH
FOR CITY MANAGER
ESG's PYRZENSKI IS FINAL CANDIDATE
Tifton City Council has narrowed the search for city manager to one candidate ~ Pete Pyrzenski, the city announced Thursday night.
Pyrzenski, project director for ESG Operations Inc., currently oversees Tifton's contracted services for public works, utility services and fleet management. Before working for ESG, Pyrzenski served as city manager for the cities of Commerce
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PETE PYRZENSKI |
and Waycross.
He also has served as public works director for the City of Valdosta, general manager of Republic Services and operations manager of Browning Ferris Industries (BFI).
Pyrzenski has a bachelor's in political science from the University of North Florida and a master's degree in public administration from Valdosta State University.
Tifton City Council plans to formally vote on Pyrzenski at the next council meeting beginning at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 9 at City Hall.
Council reviewed more than 60 applications for the job following City Manager Larry Riner's resignation in July after 17 years with the city, nearly five of them as city manager.
"With the knowledge and experience desired by the City Council, Pete Pyrzenski is the top candidate for the position of city manager," the city announced in a press release.
"Over the past few months, Tifton's City Council has been intensively seeking for whom would be the city's next city manager. City Council met numerous times to discuss the needs and best interests for the
City of Tifton, along with each candidate's qualifications," according to the press release.
Hunter Walker, a former Tifton city manager and retired county administrator in Santa Rosa County, Fla., has been serving as interim city manager while assisting with the search.
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"TWO DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS"
A Tifton Christmas Carol
By FRANK SAYLES JR.
Tifton Grapevine
'Twas two days before
Christmas and all through the town,
Folks were still shopping and scurrying around;
The streets were all filled with visitors and friends
Leaving stores with colorful packages to send.
The holiday lights twinkled throughout Fulwood Park,
Except where a thieving Grinch left some areas dark.
The Christmas tree was lit at Tifton City Hall,
And Santa could still be found inside Tifton Mall.
The Christmas forecast was for weather near 80 degrees;
Sweaters replaced by T-shirts and shorts above the knees.
But some roadsides were sprinkled with "South Georgia snow":
Small tufts of cotton blown off trucks from harvests below.
And if seeking a one-horse open sleigh, you're out of luck;
But you're sure to spot an old dog inside a trusty pickup truck.
The churches were ready for a Christmas Eve service,
And kids throughout town were getting excited and nervous;
For Santa soon would be coming down their chimneys
(And that's got to put a squeeze on the old elf's kidneys!).
But please remember the reason for the season
During this time of goodwill and good cheer;
For we should strive to keep Christmas alive
And beating in our hearts throughout the year.
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NEW 2017 PECAN VARIETY
RESISTS DISEASE WELL,
SAYS UGA TIFTON
The
University of Georgia's newest pecan variety will be released next
spring and has shown
good resistance against
scab disease so far, says
Patrick Conner, a horticultural scientist at the
UGA Tifton Campus.
"We always say 'so far' because the scab pathogen does tend to adapt to trees over
 time,"
Conner said. "Currently, this variety has no scab in our sprayed orchards and only trace scab in our unsprayed orchards."
The
Avalon variety has been
patented by UGA, and
four nurseries in Georgia are currently licensed to sell Avalon trees. Conner said the variety is unique because of its
size and quality combined with high scab resistance.
"That combination of big size, high quality and high levels of scab resistance is fairly unique," Conner said. "Most highly resistant cultivars are either small in size, or they don't have the commercial quality we like to see."
The
Avalon variety's biggest benefit is the decreasing number of times growers will have to
spray fungicides, which will
save a lot of money. Conner said that growers of the
Desirable variety, Georgia's most widely grown variety, were spraying
12 to 20 times a season, depending on rainfall.
"This variety would need only a
couple of sprays per year," Conner said. "It's more profitable because you're avoiding the expense of the fungicides."
Pecans are a valuable Georgia commodity, worth more than $361 million in farm gate value in 2015, according to the Georgia Farm Gate Value Report, published by the UGA Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development.
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Christmas is more than presents, lights, and flying reindeer. It's the birth of our Savior and God's hope for the world.
The people of St. Anne's Episcopal Church warmly invite you to worship with them at their Midnight Mass this Christmas Eve.
Doors open at 10 p.m., followed by a Christmas concert at 10:30 p.m.
The Mass begins at 11 p.m.
A Tifton tradition for over 30 years, St. Anne's Midnight Mass
is a
unique way to celebrate the true reason for the season.
Expect candlelight, scripture, and beautiful music featuring
St. Anne's choir and a brass ensemble under the direction
of Minister of Music Stan Smith.
The Rev. Lonnie Lacy,
Rector of St. Anne's, will preach.
A free, festive reception follows in the Parish Hall.
St. Anne's is located at 2411 N. Central Ave. Admission is free.
Seating is offered first come, first served.
A professionally staffed nursery is available at no charge.
For more information, contact the church office at (229) 382-7505
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GA POWER SUPPORTING TIFTAREA YMCA
OUTREACH, MISSIONS PROJECTS
Lynn Lovett, right, area manager for
Georgia Power, presents a check to
TIftarea YMCA CEO
Darian Peavy for Y outreach and mission programs.
"
Georgia Power gives back to the community they serve. Georgia Power is instrumental in helping
Tiftarea YMCA make a stronger community," Peavy said.
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Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries
Tifton First United
Methodist Church
Tifton First United Methodist Church (TFUMC) in Tifton, Georgia, is seeking a full-time Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries. Responsibilities will be focused on 7th grade through college undergraduate. The Director will be expected to work with other staff members under direction of the Senior Pastor.
The successful candidate should possess or be pursuing a bachelor's degree; have experience working with and developing youth and young adult ministries and educational programs; and possess a strong personal faith consistent with the United Methodist tradition.
We are looking for a vibrant, energetic person who can get TFUMC youth and young adults excited about the Lord and can recruit and motivate volunteers to lead and teach under his/her direction.
Available January 2017. Salary will be commensurate with education
and experience.
Please Click Here for a complete job description and application details.
Applications should be received by January 4, 2017.
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SENIORS TO RING IN THE NEW YEAR
Tifton's
"Singles Enjoying Lively Fellowship," or
"SELF," has a New Year's Eve dance on Saturday, Dec. 31, beginning at
7:30 p.m.
As usual, the senior dance will
at the
Leroy Rogers Senior Center
on
Second Street.
All
Tifton seniors are invited to attend.
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"Best-Selling Truck for 39 Straight Years"
511 West 7th Street
(229) 382-1300
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MAGNOLIA GARDEN CLUB CELEBRATES
CHRISTMAS WITH LUNCHEON
Magnolia Garden Club in
Tifton recently met for its
Christmas luncheon meeting at the home of
Julie Hunt.
For entertainment, the members sang Christmas carols, led by Donna Holbrook, Carol Gilbert and Anita Merrill.
A
silent auction was held with items made by members -- which is the club's only money-making project.
Carol Gilbert, co-president, presided at the meeting and
welcomed visitors Nan Roberts and Sharon Webster.
Sue Perry
gave the treasurer's report, and
Merle Smallwood
gave the report from council, reminding members to fill the
bird feeders
at the nursing home.
Judy Evans gave a report for
"Grandma's Gardeners," and members were told that
Anita Merrill is in charge of the Blue Star Memorial Marker Project.
Judy Evans asked the blessing before lunch.
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HOLIDAY LUMINARY TO
LIGHT UP NEIGHBORHOOD
Beginning at dusk today, Friday, Dec. 23, a Christmas luminary will light the area from
Emmett Drive to Love Avenue, and 20th to 30th streets, including Willingham Way in Tifton
.
The
neighborhood invites folks to drive through and experience the candle-lit route.
For information, call
229-894-1374.
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TIFTON ROTARY SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR ETHICS IN BUSINESS AWARD
The Rotary Club of Tifton is seeking nominations for its Tifton Rotary Ethics in Business Award to recognize a local business that has demonstrated exceptional ethical behavior.
Criteria for the award, which will go to a business physically located in Tifton or Tift County, were
developed by a committee of Tifton Rotary Club members. The nominated business must have consistently demonstrated high ethical standards of honesty and  integrity in dealing with employees, customers and contractors while enhancing the economic well-being of the company and providing local jobs, opportunity and profits.
In addition, the business must have participated in activities beneficial to the community beyond the provision of economic benefits of the business and must adhere to fair and truthful business practice reflected in the
Rotary Four-Way Test:
1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIP?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Nomination applications are available from the Tifton Rotary Club, which meets for lunch each
Wednesday at noon at the
Tiftarea Conference Center on
Highway 82, and are on the club's
Facebook page,
Click Here!
Applications must be submitted and received by
Jan. 10, and may be sent to: Tifton Rotary Club, P.O. Box 1354, Tifton, GA 31793.
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SHOW CHOIR GETS ROTARY IN HOLIDAY SPIRIT
The Tift County High School Show Choir performs "Breath of Heaven" and other Christmas selections for the Tifton Rotary Club at a recent meeting. The Rotary Club meets each Wednesday at noon at the Tiftarea Conference Center on U.S. Highway 82. Guests are welcome.
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YOUR WEEKEND
.
..at a Glance
FRIDAY, DEC. 23
- McDonald's-Tift Basketball Invitational:
Tift County High girls vs. Brunswick, 11:30 a.m.;
Tift County High boys vs. Duluth, 8:30 p.m.,
TCHS Gym, Tifton
SATURDAY, DEC. 24 ~ Christmas Eve
-
McDonald's-Tift Basketball Invitational:
Tift County High boys vs. Westover, 5 p.m., TCHS Gym, Tifton
- Midnight Mass, (Prelude Concert, 10:30 p.m.), 11 p.m., St. Anne's Episcopal Church, Tifton
SUNDAY, DEC. 25 ~ Christmas Day
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DEC. 13
Dell M. Dorden, 80, Lanham, Md.
Geneva Elaine Eunice, 66, Columbus
Wanda McCranie Folsom, 72, Adel
Ronnie Stone, 71, Nashville
Angela Marie Manning, 34, Brownfield, Maine
DEC. 15
Rev. James Randell Daniell, 71,
Tifton
DEC. 16
Ruth Pauline Stone, 88, Fitzgerald
Bernard "Bill" Elton Hobby Jr., 52,
Sycamore
Lamar Walls, 69,
Ashburn
DEC. 17
Mary Lois Arrington Cruce, 74, Tifton
Janis Howell Turner, 71, Ty Ty
DEC. 18
Betty D. Hayes,
Powder Springs
Warren Miller, 79, Worth County
Dorothy Jane Leger Sutton, 87, Ocilla
Charles Michael "Charlie" Womack, 69, Adel
Dorothy Jane Hayes, 85, Quitman
DEC. 20
Patsy Jan Sanders Berger, 76, Tifton
Sylvia Dale Harrell, 70,
Tifton
Thelma Inez Woods, 87, Fitzgerald
DEC. 21
Eva Mae Jenkins Hamilton, 81, Tifton
Carolyn Phelps, 66, Adel
DEC. 22
Linda Lee Colson, 57, Fitzgerald
Kenneth Barnes, 53, Albany
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SERVING
YOU WITH PROFESSIONALISM
BEFORE, DURING & AFTER THE SALE
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MLS #
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This 125.97-acre
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Visit Us Online:
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229-386-4222
Blue Skies &
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Transaction!
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www.tiftongrapevine.com
FRANK SAYLES JR.
Editor & Publisher
iheardit@tiftongrapevine.com
A Service of Sayles Unlimited Marketing LLC
478-227-7126
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