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The Tifton Grapevine WEEKENDER
Local News, Views & Previews
This Week in Tifton, Georgia -- April 5, 2013
A service of Sayles Unlimited Marketing, LLC 229.387.9688 and 229.848.7043
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IMAGES OF TIFTON HORSE
CREATE ONLINE FUROR
Photo by WALB-TV
TIFT COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER GETS CALLS FROM ACROSS U.S.;
SOCIAL MEDIA LIGHTS UP WITH THOUSANDS OF COMMENTS
By FRANK SAYLES JR.
The Tifton Grapevine
When a Tifton woman's 20-year-old horse gave birth to two female foals Easter morning, it was a rare occurrence. However, in this age of social media, it is not unusual for some news to quickly go "viral" online -- and to take a nasty turn.
The Tift County Animal Shelter has been inundated with more than 100 calls from across the United States about the health of the mare who gave birth, who some say seems to be emaciated in televised images.
WALB-TV aired a story about the rare twin birth, and NBC national news picked up the video report. A California-based horse humane society linked the video online and called for action. Some viewers around the nation thought the mare is malnourished, that her ribs are showing, and that authorities should be involved.
"We've gotten calls from just about every state," Regenia Wells, Tift County Animal Control director, told the Grapevine. "Some callers have been very ugly to me. Some have been vicious."
Wells said she has been out to horse owner Lori Tucker's home several times in recent days and that the state agriculture department's equine division also visited on Thursday morning, April 4.
"The situation has been turned over to a vet," Wells said. "The mare and the colts are under a veterinarian's care."
The Horse Plus Humane Society of Bangor, Calif., had gotten on Facebook and asked followers to demand that an investigation be made into the health of the Tifton mare. From there, more than 1,000 comments have been posted about the issue, along with more than 1,400 people sharing the televised images.
"Is Animal Control doing anything?" read one Facebook post. "I am so angry right now."
"No horse should look like that, especially not one that now has to provide for twins," read another post. "The horse is horribly thin."
But some online posts urged caution. "It is not always abuse," one read. "Feeding an old horse like this can be very tricky."
A post from a Tifton resident was more blunt: "You idiots get a life. These people love animals. I know them personally. The mare was in great shape until the end of her gestation period when the strain of her pregnancy with twins pulled her down."
The horse's owner could not be reached for comment on Thursday.
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FOUR-LANE PROJECT
NEARLY COMPLETE ON RDC ROAD
 | Tifton Road Improvements |
RDC Road between U.S. Highway 41 and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College is getting four lanes, offering easier access to both ABAC and the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center. See the video news report above.
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FESTIVAL WEEKEND
Tifton holds two festivals this weekend: the 27th annual Arts in Black Festival kicks off Friday night with the big day Saturday, April 6, at Fulwood park.
And the annual Folklife Festival is also Saturday at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture & Historic Village (formerly the Agrirama) at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.
Arts in Black celebrates arts, music, culture, food and crafts April 5, 6 & 7.
The annual Folklife Festival is 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6, at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture & Historic Village.
The festival showcases South Georgia art and culture. A turpentine still will be fired, among other activities in the Historic Village.
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Chad Smith Singer, Guitarist 7-10 p.m. Half Price Appetizers until 7 p.m. 401 N. Love Ave., Tifton 229.238.2534 Dinner Special: Salmon Orso with Citrus Chutney
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THE 'WHEEL' DEAL
Annual Tour de Tifton bike ride is Saturday, April 6
The fourth annual Tour de Tifton / Ilse Boyette Memorial Bicycle Ride is Saturday, April 6. The fundraiser for Tiftarea YMCA programs helps youth and families in the community and aids a scholarship fund at Tift Regional Medical Center for non-traditional nursing students.
The Tour de Tifton/Ilse Boyette Memorial Ride is a scenic ride on paved roads. There will be an 11-mile beginner's ride, 24- and 45-mile intermediate rides, a 62-mile (100km) "metric" century ride, and for those who are well prepared and up for a challenge, a 100-mile "full century" ride.
Online registration is at www.tiftareaymca.org. You can also register at the Tiftarea YMCA's Westover Road site, near the swimming pool, on Saturday from 7 a.m.-7:30 a.m. There is a registration fee with a multi-rider discount for families.
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PINWHEELS
FOR CHILD ABUSE
AWARENESS
AT TIFT COUNTY COURTHOUSE
April is Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month, and once again pinwheels are placed on the Tift County Courthouse lawn to represent the 502 children abused or neglected in the county last year. The pinwheels were placed on the lawn by students from Horizon Academy, a special-needs school in Tifton.
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This Saturday, April 6: Music by HARRY KING, 6:30 p.m.-10 p.m.
Join Us for Dinner!
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IT'S MARKET TIME!Wiregrass Famers Market opens this Saturday, April 6, at Georgia Museum of Agriculture
The Wiregrass Farmers Market opens for the season on Saturday, April 6, behind the Country Store at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture & Historic Village (formerly the Agrirama).
Open from 9 a.m.-noon on Saturdays, the market is open through October featuring locally grown produce and handmade items.
Special lectures, demonstrations and music are scheduled on selected Saturdays during the market season.
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Snow Cone or Cookie with purchase,
if you tell us
you heard it through the Grapevine!
Try Our Raspberry Chipotle Turkey Drive-Thru Available
on Nine-Grain Bread
Mon-Fri: 7 a.m.-7:30 p.m. / Sat: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
1805 N. Tift Ave., Tifton, Ga. (across from Piggly Wiggly) 229-472-1041
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Resource Expo for folks with disabilities April 30
Disabled residents and their families will have the chance to meet with resource providers April 30 at a Resource Expo.
This is the second year of the Resource Expo. Beth Lewis, one of the organizers, has said many folks with disabilities, including students and their parents, are unsure about resources available to help them with their special needs.
The Expo is from 4-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 30 at the Tift County Recreation Department. There will door prizes and food available.
For information, call 229-402-4362.
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BEFORE, DURING & AFTER
THE SALE.
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Through Each & Every
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Give Dwana Coleman a call: 229-386-4222
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