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This Week in Tifton, Georgia
Sept. 6,
2013
A service of
(478) 227-7126 Sayles Unlimited Marketing, LLC
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TIFTON, GA.
READING CAPITAL USA
From right are: Kaycee Aultman, top summer reader with 573 AR points; Tammy Griffin, education foundation president; Art Marth, Target senior manager presenting a gift certificate; Frank Sayles Jr., board member of both the education foundation and United Way of South Central Georgia; and Mike Brumby, executive director of the education foundation.
READING CAPITAL NEARS
5 MILLION AR POINTS
And Almost 4 Million Books Read
Tifton, Ga., the undisputed Reading Capital of the World, is fast approaching a milestone 5 million Accelerated Reader points after a successful Summer Reading Program.
Since the AR program debuted in 1997, there have now been a total 4,966,494 AR points amassed by readers in Tifton. Readers take a computerized test on books read and are assigned AR points depending upon their knowledge of what they read and the difficulty of the book.
A total of 3,905,477 books have now been read in Tifton through the AR program.
The Reading Capital's Summer AR Program, administered by the Tift County Foundation for Educational Excellence, returned this summer after a one-year hiatus. It was held up in 2012 until contract negotiations were resolved between the Tift County Board of Education and AR parent company Renaissance Learning.
The program was held this summer at the United Way of South Central Georgia's Betty Ro Roach Community Center. "Feedback from readers and staff alike gave rave reviews for
the new venue," says Mike Brumby, the foundation's executive director.
During the summer, not only did students and others once again hone their reading skills but altruistic readers in the program also earned money for school media centers to buy books.
"Thank you to all who grabbed this opportunity to do something for reading in Tift County," Brumby added.
Tifton's "Reading Angel" Terri Nalls, who has run the reading center for all of its 15 years, reports the following strong Summer 2013 numbers:
- 17,388 AR Points earned;
- 4,694 books read with AR tests passed;
- 478 readers/test-takers;
- $2,065 earned and paid out to school media centers.
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TIFTON'S TRAVIS PRATT
GIVES IMPROMPTU
PERFORMANCE AT BANK
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Tifton native Travis Pratt is fresh off two appearances on national television on "America's Got Talent" and is planning a European tour, but he doesn't mind giving fans a small taste of his operatic talent ... even when he's conducting business at a bank.
Pratt, who resides in Houston, Texas, was at a bank recently when staff and customers recognized him and asked him to sing. Pratt, always an ambassador of the Friendly City, gladly obliged, and someone caught it on camera.
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HELPING FOSTER CHILDREN
CASA Training Starts Sept. 9
 Coastal Plain CASA's new volunteer training begins Monday, Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. at the CASA office, 126 First Street. This training course covers everything a new volunteer needs to know to begin advocating on behalf of foster children. The class meets every Monday and Thursday at 6 p.m. for approximately 4 to 5 weeks. Becoming an advocate with CASA means spending a few hours a month helping a foster child find a safe and permanent home.
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SUMMER RAINS AFFECT PEANUTS, COTTON
The Georgia Farm Monitor heads to South Georgia farms to measure the affects of recent rains on several crops, including peanuts and cotton.
Check out the Farm Monitor's video below:
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South Georgia Farmers Deal With Summer Rains
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WHAT DO YA KNOW?
Carnival of Knowledge is Thursday, Sept. 12
Come to the Clarence Smith Conference Center on the Moultrie Tech campus on
 Thursday, Sept. 12, for the 14th Annual Carnival of Knowledge. Sponsored by the Literacy Volunteers of Tifton-Tift County, the event is from 7-10 p.m. The Carnival of Knowledge is a fast-paced trivia game with three-person teams. This year, the Literacy Volunteers are also honoring retired Police Chief Jim Smith, who has served on the LV board for more than 15 years, twice as president. Tickets for a meatloaf supper are $10 each. For more information call 229-382-0505.
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SPECIAL EXCLUSIVE SHOWING
OF MOVIE ON SUNDAY
Limited Seating; Attendees Must RSVP
Chick-fil-A of Tifton invites you and a guest to an exclusive opening weekend showing of
"The Ultimate Life," a sequel and a prequel to the beloved movie, "The Ultimate Gift."
The special showing is at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8, at the Carmike Cinema 6 in Tifton.
There is no cost but attendees must first RSVP because seats are limited, says Denise Gravitt of Chick-fil-A.
To reserve your seat, Click Here!
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'WALK GEORGIA' UNDER WAY
Free Program Urges Exercise
Walk Georgia, a 12-week program to encourage physical activity, is now open for registration.
 "You can compete with people all over the state," says Roxie Price, UGA family & consumer sciences agent at the Tift County Cooperative Extension Office. "It i s not just walking; it is any type of physical activity. You record your minutes and those minutes are converted to miles, online, then you virtually walk across Georgia, learning information about the counties you reach," Price said.
This fall's program runs from Sept. 1 to Nov. 23. For information, Click Here!
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Tift Regional Medical Center is holding a free community seminar to provide information about Lap-Band weight-loss surgery
with three opportunities to attend this fall.
 Christopher Smith, M.D., board-certified general surgeon, will discuss the procedure and eligibility requirements for patients.
The seminar will be presented on
Sept. 21, Oct. 12 & Nov. 16
Tift Regional Community Events Center
located in the Tiftarea YMCA at 1657 S. Carpenter Road in Tifton
Each seminar is from
10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
and is free and open to the public.
To register, call 353-2263
or visit
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PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES
Community Fair on Saturday
The second annual Emergency Preparedness Fair is 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Tift County Recreation Department on Victory Drive.
Sponsored by the Tift County Emergency Management Agency, the fair includes exhibits on such issues as electrical safety, storm safety and railroad safety. There will also be food and door prizes available and an American Red Cross blood drive.
For information, call 229-388-6062.
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Sept. 13 & 14
The 10th Annual Omega Pepper Festival will be on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 13 and 14 at Ponder Park and Omega Clubhouse in Omega.
There will be arts & crafts, food vendors, a kids' amusement park, a 24-foot rock wall, games, contests -- and peppers!
A gospel sing on Friday will be from 5-10 p.m. with Southern gospel music. On Saturday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m., will be a 5K run/1-mile fun walk, parade, Omega Idol contest, music, and fun all day.
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SUMNER EGG FESTIVAL
Sanctioned BBQ Cook-off Sept. 21
The town of Sumner is holding the Sumner Egg Festival on Sept. 21, which includes a Georgia-sanctioned barbecue cook-off and a non-professional cook-off for locals.
Other activities include a parade, a slowest tractor contest, an antique car show, arts and crafts, food vendors, entertainment, a Kids Korner and fastest lawnmower race.
There will be a old-time Western shootout with the "Gunslingers," as well as music and entertainment all day.
On Sept. 14, an Egg Festival Beauty Review is scheduled. Applications can be obtained online from the Sylvester-Worth County Chamber of Commerce.
The festival is nestled among the tall pines of a small South Georgia town where visitors will find much Southern hospitality, the organizers say, and they extend a "Y'all come" to folks throughout the region.
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WALK TO END ALZHEIMER'S
Tifton's fifth annual Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's is set for 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.
Anyone may start a team, join a team, sign up as an individual walker or donate to the cause by visiting www.georgiawalk.org and clicking on Tifton. Fundraising progress may be checked at there or www.alz.org
 Walk to End Alzheimer's is an experience for hundreds of participants in the Tiftarea to learn about the disease and help in the cause. Each walker will join in a ceremony to honor those affected by Alzheimer's disease, a growing epidemic and the nation's sixth leading cause of death.
"There has never been a greater need for the citizens of South Georgia to join in the fight against Alzheimer's disease by participating in Walk to End Alzheimer's," said Donna Martin, Tifton Walk Committee chair and program director at Maple Court Senior Living.
One upcoming fundraiser is Southern Care's Alzheimer's Benefit Sing, BBQ & Dessert Auction, 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27, at Leroy Rogers Senior Center in Tifton. Barbecue plates are $8 with proceeds going to the Alzheimer's Association. Tickets must be purchased by Monday, Sept. 16, from Southern Care Assisted Living, 1934 Whiddon Mill Road, or call 386-2273.
Call 229-388-8219 or 1-800-242-3900 for information. The Alzheimer's Association is at 225 Second St. E., Tifton, GA 31794.
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YOUR WEEKEND
At a Glance....
FRIDAY, SEPT. 6
- Decorator Show House, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Fulwood Garden Center, Tifton.
- Tift County High Football vs. Houston County, 8 p.m., Brodie Field, Tifton.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 7
- Wiregrass Farmers Market, 9 a.m., Georgia Museum of Agriculture, Tifton.
- Downtown Farmers Market, 9 a.m., Old Train Platform, Tifton.
- Bike & Car Show: Rockabilly Edition, 10 a.m., Harley-Davidson, Tifton.
- Emergency Preparedness Fair, 10 a.m., Tift County Recreation Department, Tifton.
- Decorator Show House, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Fulwood Garden Center, Tifton.
- Sheriff's Annual Gospel Sing, 7 p.m., Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts, Tifton.
SUNDAY, SEPT. 8
- Decorator Show House, 1 p.m.-5 p.m., Fulwood Garden Center, Tifton.
- Special Movie Showing, RSVP to Chick-fil-A, 2 p.m., Cinema 6, Tifton.
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Aug. 30
Belvah Alexander, 92, Tifton
Hazel House Coleman, 87, Ashburn
Aug. 31
Jose Manuel Moreno, 58, Tifton
Jean Crosby Hanks, 81, Adel
Donald Wayne Spivey, 66, Foley, Ala.
Beulah Alexander, 91, Tifton
Sept. 2
Patricia Gail Leslie Cone, 65, Omega
Christine Powell White, 75, Douglas
Clarice Brown, 86, Adel
Michael Hornage, 54, Nashville
Sept. 3
Paige Marie Baxley, 28, Chula
Jeffrey Richardson, 63, Irwin County
Sept. 4
Coy E. Glenn Jr., 75, Tifton
Lois Spearman McCrary, 87, Sparks
Patricia Jean Smith Bryant, 78, Tifton
Sept. 5
Bobby Ray Kitchens, 61, Omega
Wilbur Caulie Bennett, 78, Adel
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229-386-4222
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