Get Yer Rhythm & Ribs

MARCH 3, 2017

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126

tiftongrapevine.com

BEATS & BBQ

TIFTON'S MUSIC & FOOD FEST GETS UNDERWAY

Tifton's Rhythm & Ribs BBQ Festival in Fulwood Park kicks off tonight, Friday, March 3, with a concert from 6-10 p.m. by local musicians Derrick Dove and Daniel Parrish.

Saturday will be a full day of food and fun in Fulwood, from 10 a.m.-10 p.m., with professional and

backyard barbecue competitions, children's games, arts and crafts vendors, food vendors, and two stages full of entertainment.

The professional competition is sanctioned by the Georgia Barbecue Association and features teams from across the state; the Backyard Competition is open to anyone.

Headlining the entertainment is the Marcus King Band of Greenville, S.C., a band that is getting a growing following across the country. Young songwriter Marcus King's debut album, "Soul Insight," displays rock, blues, psychedelia, funk, soul and improvisation with a distinctly Southern musical accent.

Also performing on the Syd Blackmarr Stage will be Jesse Keith Whitley, Packway Handle Band, "Beat the Drum" with Dr. Arvin Scott, Isaac Corbitt, Heather Gillis Band, Matt Brantley Band and Bonnie Blue .


	MARCUS KING BAND

Jesse Keith Whitley got his country credentials at birth as the son of Lorrie Morgan and the late Keith Whitley and the grandson of Grand Ole Opry legend George Morgan. Whitley has crafted his own distinctive style as a singer/songwriter.

Based in Athens, the Packway Handle Band has spent the better part of the last decade entertaining bluegrass fans across the country. The quintet has toured with Kid Rock and Foreigner, among others, honing its skills to become a true crowd favorite.

On the community stage will be a pet costume contest, a performance by the Carolyn Ellis School of Dance, music by Tifton's own band the Mood Doctors, along with musical performances by Brady Clampitt, Jen Anders and Tanner Strickland, and Jaime Renee and the Walkers.

A special Kids' Zone will feature a zip line, rock climbing wall, mechanical bull and bounce houses.

The free event is brought to the community by the City of Tifton and the Tifton Tourism Association along with 41 & Main Restaurant.

WORTH SCHOOL SUPT. RESIGNS;

BOE APPOINTS INTERIM

KAY MATHEWS LEAVES; LARRY WALTERS ABOARD

Worth County School Superintendent C. Kay Mathews resigned Wednesday, March 1, and an interim leader has been appointed.

In a special, called board meeting Wednesday, the Worth County Board of Education "accepted the


MATHEWS

retirement request of Mrs. Kay Mathews, effective immediately," according to a press release from the Worth County School District.

"The board thanks her for her service and hard work in the district pushing Worth County forward and wishes her the best. We will start the process of a superintendent search immediately."

The Board of Education then appointed Dr. Larry Walters as interim superintendent. Walters was Lee County superintendent for 12 years and most recently was interim superintendent in Sumter County.


	WALTERS

"He brings awealth of knowledge and experience in education to our district. We look forward to his leadership as interim superintendent until our superintendent search is complete," said Butch Jenkins, Worth BOE chairman, in a press release Thursday.

Mathews was nearing the end of her contract ; she had served as superintendent since July 1, 2014.

Mathews had begun her teaching career in 1979 with the Lowndes County School System. She remained in the classroom until 1992 when she was named assistant principal at Sylvester Elementary and Holley Elementary. In 2001, she became principal at A.S. Clark Elementary School in Crisp County.

She has a bachelor of education from Valdosta State College and a master of education degree from Georgia Southwestern.

From left: Ja'Mi Barnes, Emily Dawson, Mary Kathryn Howard, teacher Jake Alley, Noah Pierzchajlo, Jackson Short, Sarah King and Lindsey Tyler.

TCHS LITERARY TEAM TAKES

SECOND IN REGION COMPETITION

The Tift County High School Literary Team earned Second Place overall in the region during recent competition.

In the event, TCHS students Mary Kathryn Howard and Emily Dawson took First Place in the region in Duo Oral Interpretation. Howard is also the TCHS STAR student this year. Teacher Jake Alley, holding the trophy in the photo above, is the TCHS STAR teacher of the year.

Also in the literary competition:

Lindsey Tyler - 2nd Place in Dramatic Oral Interpretation

Noah Pierzchajlo - 2nd Place in Comedic Oral Interpretation

Mary Kathryn Howard - 2nd Place in Argumentative Essay

Sarah King - 2nd Place in Rhetorical Essay

Jackson Short - 3rd Place in Personal Essay

Ja'Mi Barnes - 3rd Place in Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking

5-YEAR-OLD DRIVES VAN

INTO DOWNTOWN WELCOME STATION

SAYS SHE WAS HUNGRY & HEADING TO GET BITE TO EAT

A five-year-old girl, who said she was heading to get something to eat, drove a van into the Welcome

Station/Downtown Development Authority building in downtown Tifton shortly before lunchtime Thursday.

No one was injured nor was there structural damage to the building, officials said.

Apparently, the little girl said she got hungry and located the vehicle's keys as her grandmother slept. The child then drove the van alone from 17th Street to the corner of Fifth and Main streets. As the girl attempted to turn on Main Street, she struck a car and then careened into the Main Street building.

A bench outside the Main Street building helped soften the impact on the structure. None of the vehicles involved in the incident sustained much damage.

Authorities then took the child to lunch at the Tift County office of the Ga. Division of Family and Children Services, or DFCS.

READ ACROSS AMERICA

(and the TIFTAREA ACADEMY CAMPUS)

Haley Crosson's sixth-grade literature class at Tiftarea Academy participated in Read Across America Week earlier this week when the temperatures reached into the 80s.

Taking advantage of the weather, the sixth-graders read their AR books in the sun on beach towels around the school campus.

Mrs. Crosson also allowed the students to wear hats in honor of the book "Cat in the Hat," since Read Across America Week honors the birthday of author Dr. Seuss.

NEW EDITOR SPEAKS AT TIFTON ROTARY CLUB

Stuart Taylor, left, recently named editor of The Tifton Gazette, spoke Wednesday to the Rotary Club of Tifton. At right is Rotary President Jeremy Campbell. The Rotary Club meets at noon every Wednesday at the Tiftarea Conference Center on U.S. Highway 82 next to Applebee's restaurant.

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LOCAL STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN STATE MUSIC EDUCATORS CONFERENCE

Seven Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College voice majors recently auditioned to attend the Georgia Music Educators Association In-Service Conference in Athens.

The


	Front row, from left, Taylor Walker, Stephanie Sheffield, Dr. Sandra Snow, Hanna Ivey, Shana Morman; back row, from left, Taj Bivens, Kyle Robinson and Jay Branch.

GMEA event is comprised of more than 4,100 teachers in the areas of band, orchestra, chorus, general music and piano from elementary school to college level.

Dr. Susan Roe, head of the ABAC Department of Fine Arts, said the seven vocal students participated in the All College Choir with other auditioned students from programs across the state.

The students also had the opportunity to view exhibits that furthered their education in the music industry including music business, education, performance, conducting and many others.

ABAC students attending the conference were Shana Morman, a voice major from Valdosta; Jay Branch, voice major from Tifton; Taj Bivens, voice major from Tifton; Kyle Robinson, voice major from Tifton; Taylor Walker, voice major from Omega; Hanna Ivey, voice major from Sumner; and Stephanie Sheffield, voice major from Moultrie.

The students performed under the direction of Dr. Sandra Snow, professor of choral conduction and music education at the College of Music, Michigan State University.

VETERANS HELP AVAILABLE

Melony Hadden, left, manager of the Tifton office of the Georgia Department of Veterans Service, and Kennesha Lawson represented the department at a Veterans Benefits Workshop in Fitzgerald recently.

The pair discussed benefits available to Georgia's veterans and how to receive assistance from the Department of Veterans Service.

RUN FOR THE NURSES SET APRIL 8

The School of Nursing and Health Sciences at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College will host the sixth annual Run for the Nurses half marathon and 5K events on April 8 to assist in the education of nurses through ABAC scholarships.

The scholarship fund was developed in honor of ABAC graduate Lisa Purvis Allison to assist students who want to become registered nurses. The endowed scholarship is awarded twice a year to assist with final semester expenses to a nursing student who meets the criteria.

The cost is $35 to run the half marathon, and $25 for the 5K run until March 8. Those who register from March 9 to the day of the race will pay $40 to run the half marathon and $30 for the 5K run.

The half marathon and 5K runs begin at 7:30 a.m. on ABAC's front campus. All pre-registered participants will receive a T-shirt and imprinted race bag.

For information, visit www.abac.edu/nursing and click "Run for the Nurses." To register, visit www.active.com

YOUR WEEKEND

. ..at a Glance

FRIDAY, MARCH 3

Rhythm & Ribs BBQ Festival Kickoff Party, 6-10 p.m., Blackmarr Stage, Fulwood Park, Tifton
An Evening for ABAC, 7 p.m., UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center, Tifton

SATURDAY, MARCH 4

Rhythm & Ribs BBQ Festival, 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Fulwood Park, Tifton
Pine Needle Basketry Class, 11 a.m., Ga. Museum of Agriculture, Tifton
Sunbelt Wrestling Tornado Relief Fundraiser, 7 p.m., Cook Middle School, Sparks