Digital Newspaper for Tifton, Ga., and the Greater Tiftarea

SEVERE STORMS MAY RETURN

By FRANK SAYLES JR,

Tifton Grapevine

Severe storms rolled across the region Thursday with high winds and rain; Tift County fared better than some surrounding areas.

There were a few scattered power outages reported in Tift during the afternoon, as well as some downed power lines off U.S. Highway 319 north near the Irwin County line, Irwin EMC reported.

Wind damage and downed trees were also reported in Ben Hill and Coffee counties, where the National Weather Service noted a possible tornado in the Ambrose area.

The Weather Service forecasts possible severe storms continuing this morning, prompting some schools districts, including those in Worth County and Valdosta city, to close Friday. Colquitt County Schools are on a delayed schedule with buses operating two hours later.

Today's forecast for the Tiftarea has showers with thunderstorms likely with some possibly severe. Highs will be in the lower 80s, and winds may gust up to 25 mph. The chance of rain is 80% in Tifton this morning, the Weather Service said.

During Thursday's storms, at least one multi-vehicle crash occurred along Interstate 75 in Tift County, authorities said.

During the afternoon near Mile Marker 55, a truck struck the median after hydroplaning. A fire/rescue vehicle responded and was in the emergency lane with flashing lights when a tractor-trailer lost control, striking the median and hitting the rescue vehicle, the Georgia State Patrol reported.

The accident temporarily blocked two lanes of traffic. It was unclear if the wreck resulted in injuries.

Mana Nutrition in Fitzgerald plans an expansion to allow the production of enough food products to feed 3 million malnourished children annually across the world.

FITZGERALD PLANT'S $36M EXPANSION TO AID MALNOURISHED KIDS AROUND GLOBE

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

A Fitzgerald operation that produces a fortified peanut paste shipped around the globe to fight malnutrition is undergoing a $36 million expansion.

Mana Nutrition plans a 38,000-square-foot addition to its existing plant that will allow the nonprofit to feed up to 3 million children a year, officials say.

Mana produces ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) composed of peanut paste, milk, and a mix of vitamins and minerals. The "peanut butter on steroids" is then packaged and distributed globally to treat children diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition.

"Our peanut farmers produce the most peanuts in the nation, and our state's beloved product is a key component in RUTF products, which Mana uses to feed over 1 million malnourished children a year," Congressman Austin Scott, R-Tifton, said last week at Mana's expansion announcement in Fitzgerald.

"Mana says 'it takes a village' to combat food insecurity — and in Georgia, it takes a farmer," Scott said.

In a statement, Gov. Brian P. Kemp said: “It’s great to see the amazing work done by hardworking Georgians in Ben Hill County. “We are excited to watch Mana Nutrition serve communities in need worldwide with products from our state’s No. 1 agriculture industry."

Among those attending Mana Nutrition's expansion announcement was USAID Administrator Samantha Power from Washington, D.C. She told the gathering in Fitzgerald that the "work here ... really can't be overstated. But I was really struck in one of the encounters I had on the tour with a young woman named Tina, who is a mom of three.

"And I said, 'What’s it like? What do you tell your kids?' She said, 'I tell my kids all the time about the work we're doing, about the good we're doing.' And then she said, 'You know, I tell my kids you don't have to go to college to be a doctor; I'm saving lives right here at Mana in Fitzgerald, Ga.'

"And that’s just awesome," Power said.

Mark Moore is co-founder and CEO of Mana Nutrition. He said the company is "proud to harness two of Georgia’s greatest strengths – people and peanuts, to serve and feed the world. We are proud that our small, rural community is one of the world’s largest suppliers of ready-to-use food for malnourished children.”

The facility upgrade "will allow us to feed up to 3 million children a year," Moore said. "Hopefully, our effort is an inspiration to others who might not have much, but can do what they can with what they have to make our world a better place.”

TIFTON NATIVE

CYNDI THOMSON CONTINUES COMEBACK

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Tifton native Cyndi Thomson continues her re-emergence into the country music scene.

She recently released her second song this year, returned to the Grand Ole Opry in February after a 23-year absence, performed this past Wednesday night on stage at Nashville's City Winery along with several singers on a "Girls of Nashville" program, and now has announced that she will appear on the CMA Close Up Stage at the Country Music Association's "Fan Fair X" in June.

Fan Fair is a four-day country music festival in Nashville with numerous "meets-and-greets" with country stars. Dolly Parton is headlining this year's event.

Thomson, born and raised in Tifton, spent three weeks at No.1 on Billboard's country music charts a generation ago before deciding to take a break and focus on herself and her family.

In March, she released a new single, "The Georgia in Me," to good reviews, and now has released “Slow Dancing In Jackson, Mississippi,” which she also co-wrote.

"Cyndi Thomson’s return to the spotlight continues to garner excitement and anticipation, with 'Slow Dancing In Jackson, Mississippi' marking another milestone in her musical journey," says BroadwayWorld.com.

"The track showcases Cyndi’s remarkable talent for storytelling and emotional depth, reaffirming her status as one of country music’s most compelling voices. Cyndi is currently in the studio with more announcements and new music to come soon."

Her fans, especially those in South Georgia, are waiting with anticipation.

To hear Cyndi Thomson's latest song, click the image below:

At Thursday's graduation ceremony, from left, are Chad Hancock, vice president of the ABAC Alumni Association; Ivey Cook, the David and Kim Bridges Award recipient; and Dr. Tracy Brundage, ABAC president.

ABAC GRADUATES 350 IN CEREMONIES

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College graduated 350 students during commencement ceremonies Thursday.

Ivey Laine Cook, an agricultural education major from Ty Ty, was awarded the David and Kim Bridges Award, recognizing scholarship, leadership, and citizenship of a graduate receiving a four-year degree.

Cook graduated magna cum laude and has been on the President’s List and the Dean’s List. While at ABAC, she was a member of the Ambassadors, Baptist Collegiate Ministries, Collegiate FFA, Horticulture Club, School of Agriculture and Natural Resources Leaders, Stallion Society, and many others. She was also crowned Homecoming Royalty in 2023.

The ABAC Alumni Association presents the award named for former ABAC President David Bridges and his wife Kim.

Georgia State Supreme Court Justice John Ellington, an ABAC alumnus, was the featured graduation speaker.

Brooke Patry, Student Government Association president, urged her fellow graduates to take the ABAC spirit with them as they leave the campus.

“As we step into the next chapters of our lives, let us carry that spirit and those values with us. I am confident that each of you will achieve remarkable things. Our potential is limitless," Patty said. "Let’s go out into the world and show them what the ABAC spirit is all about: Perseverance, determination, and the commitment to making a difference.”

The University of Georgia's Tifton campus held its graduation ceremonies last weekend.

TIFTON'S THIRD JUDGE TOOK 43 YEARS, DISTRICT ATTY. SAYS

By BONNIE SAYLES

Tifton Grapevine

Tifton Circuit District Attorney Bryce Johnson says he could foresee a time when the Tift Circuit has four trials going simultaneously. He mentioned that it took 43 years to get a third judge in the Tifton Judicial Circuit.

The Tifton Circuit was created in 1903 as an offshoot of the Albany Circuit. The second judge was added in 1980; the Legislature approved a third judge this year.

Johnson compared the differences between 1980 and today. In 1980, there was a district attorney and two assistant D.A.'s in the circuit. Today, there are 10 assistant district attorneys, eight full-time and two part-time, with a total of 36 employees in the judicial circuit, which encompasses four counties.

One of the assistant D.A.'s is funded by Turner County, and the City of Sylvester funds a part-time one to handle the police department. There are 4,520 open cases in the circuit, with Tift providing about 51% of the cases.

“We are averaging about 300 to 400 criminal cases in Tift County that we indict every year,” Johnson said.

Currently, 34 murder trials are pending in the circuit. “Twenty-seven are in Tift County. I don’t really know how to explain that, other than gangs and drugs and people under 25 having access to guns,” he said.

He gives the City of Tifton credit for being proactive in dealing with gang-related crime. The city filed for a $60,000 grant to bring in databases to identify gang members.

The state looks at it as three-pronged approach: prevention, identification, and prosecution, Johnson said. The City of Tifton is working toward initiatives with the D.A.’s office to combat violent crime. The state Legislature and governor have been proactive in creating a gang prosecution unit within the attorney general’s office. 

“If we take time as a community to get involved in the lives of young people, we can make a difference,” Johnson said.

TIFTAREA ACADEMY TO GRADUATE 42 TODAY

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Tiftarea Academy holds its graduation at 6 p.m. today, Friday, at First Baptist Church in Tifton. This is a ticketed event. 

The class, made up of 42 members, has been offered nearly $2.4 million in merit-based scholarships.

At its recent "Almost Alumni Day," the school's seniors wore shirts showing their future plans, including their upcoming universities, technical schools, and professions.

Tift County High School will hold its graduation on Saturday, May 18, at Brodie Field.

TIFT BOE NAMES PRINCIPAL FOR NE MIDDLE SCHOOL

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Tift County Board of Education on Thursday named Meredith "Michelle" Huffman as principal at Northeast Middle School for the 2024-2025 school year.

Huffman has more than 22 years of experience in education in a variety of roles, including classroom teacher, athletic director, academic coach, and school-level administrator.

She is currently serving as an assistant principal with Henry County Schools, where Tift Superintendent Natalie Gore has previously served as an associate superintendent.

Huffman will succeed Jennifer Johnson at Northeast; Johnson takes over as principal at Tift County High School at the end of the school year. Huffman will assume her role at Northeast Middle on June 3.

“I look forward to serving the Tifton community and continuing to nurture the positive culture that has been established at Northeast Middle School,” Huffman said.

STATE COURT HONORS STUDENT FOR MOCK TRIAL ESSAY

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Ava Selph, a student at G.O. Bailey Elementary School, was recently honored for the best essay in the fourth grade concerning this year’s "mock trial" presentation hosted by the Tift County State Court.

State Court Judge Herby Benson presented Ava with a Certificate of Achievement and a gift card for her winning entry, and the Tifton Bar Association recognized her during a Law Day luncheon.

The mock trial is an annual program during which nearly 450 students in Tift County’s fourth-grade classes are given an opportunity to participate. Each class is invited to the state courtroom to present a short play depicting various legal situations that may arise, viewed through the eyes of various characters such as Big Bad Wolf vs. the Three Pigs,  the State vs. Rootin’ Tootin’ Cowboy Woody – who was charged with pushing Buzz Lightyear out of a window in a fit of jealously – and the Three Bears vs. Goldilocks.

Each student is assigned roles in each case, such as judge, defense attorney, juror, bailiff, witness, or other legal participants to help students get an understanding of Georgia’s system of justice and the roles played by each participant.

Each student is requested to write an essay about their mock trial experience, and a winning essay is chosen from those entries.

RECYCLING RETURNS IN TIFTON

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Trash recycling is back in Tifton following a two-week pause as Ryland Environmental relocated to 2508 S. Carpenter Road.

Recycling receptacles are now available at the Carpenter Road location.

Ryland has the contract with the City of Tifton for garbage pickup and recycling.

Local Ryland manager Aaron Sowa recently told Tifton City Council that the recycling program was being well-used and that residents, for the most part, were following guidelines for recyclable materials.

ABAC FILLIES SOFTBALL TEAM WINS MID-ATLANTIC DISTRICT, QUALIFIES FOR NATIONALS

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College's Fillies softball team qualified Thursday for national tournament play in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).

ABAC defeated South Carolina's Florence-Darlington Tech, 9-3, in game three of the Mid-Atlantic district championship.

The NJCAA will release its national championship bracket schedule next week.

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Statewide influenza data released from the 

Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) as of week ending April 27:

Since Seasonal Tracking Beginning Oct. 23, 2023:

TOTAL INFLUENZA OUTBREAKS: 197 ............................................... LATEST WEEK: 1

TOTAL METRO AREA HOSPITALIZATIONS: 4,337 ..............................LATEST WEEK: 4

TOTAL INFLUENZA-ASSOCIATED DEATHS: 57 ................................. LATEST WEEK: 0

In Georgia, influenza is not a reportable condition, with the exception of influenza-associated deaths and outbreaks.

YOUR GUIDE

TO ACTIVITIES

THIS WEEKEND

IN THE GREATER TIFTAREA

This Sunday, May 12, is Mother's Day, a special day set aside to honor mothers throughout the country. The modern Mother's Day observance began when Anna Jarvis of West Virginia successfully initiated Mother’s Day after her mother died. Jarvis organized the first official Mother’s Day celebration in May 1908, and the idea spread. Jarvis lobbied to make Mother’s Day a national holiday, and by 1912, many states, towns, and churches had adopted Mother’s Day as an annual event. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson formally established the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.

FRIDAY, MAY 10

• Prater Music Festival, 6:30 p.m., 301 W. 4th St., Ocilla

SATURDAY, MAY 11

• Wiregrass Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-Noon, Ga. Museum of Agriculture, Tifton
• Adel Daylily Festival, 9 a.m.-3 pm., South Burrell Avenue, Adel
• Second Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Downtown Tifton
• Prater Music Festival, Noon-10 p.m., 301 W. 4th St., Ocilla
• Ladies Sip & Glow Spa Party, 2:30 p.m., Therapeutic Massage & Health Clinic, 223 Central Ave., Tifton
• R&B Karaoke with live performance by Kut Klose, 7 p.m., Tift Theatre for the Performing Arts, Tifton

YOUR YARD SALE

HERE!

TO ADVERTISE YOUR RESIDENTIAL

YARD SALE, CONTACT US at 

IHeardIt@tiftongrapevine.com 

or 478-227-7126

Fees are $1 per word, paid in advance

"Bo Legs" is a a charming pup who has spent the past six months at the animal shelter. Bo Legs may initially appear nervous, but don’t let that fool you — he warms up quickly once he feels comfortable. Come visit him and other pets available for adoption at 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).