Tifton News, Views, Previews

APRIL 25, 2017

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126

tiftongrapevine.com

TIFT WELL-REPRESENTED

ON NEW RURAL COUNCIL

Several local representatives will be serving on the new Ga. House Rural Development Council that the General Assembly created this session to to improve rural Georgia's economy.

State Reps. Sam Watson, R-Moultrie, and Clay Pirkle, R-Asburn, who both represent part of Tift County, will serve on the council -- Watson as vice chairman. Watson, who represents southwest Tift County, already chairs the


WATSON

House Rural Caucus.


	HOUSTON

Rep. Penny Houston, R-Nashville, who also represents part of Tift County, is among the ex-officio members of the new Rural Development Council because of her role as chair of the Economic Development Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee.

House Speaker David Ralston , R-Blue Ridge, announced the appointments last week. Ralston made the rural council one of his top priorities for this year's General Assembly session.

"Georgia is a growing and prosperous state, and we are thankful for that," Ralston said. "But that prosperity isn't being felt in every community across Georgia. Some of our rural areas are still struggling, and we must do everything we can to help private businesses grow jobs in every corner of our state."

Pirkle said he is " proud to be appointed by the speaker of the House to the House Rural Development Council. In


	PIRKLE

my campaign, I emphasized that I grew up on a farm and that I continue to farm that land as the fourth generation inour family. I've lived in rural Georgia my entire life, and I have a passion to help my neighbors."

Pirkle said the council will not only address economic development but revitalization: "I understand the need and difficulty rural areas in Georgia are having to bring new jobs and growth. It is vital that we work to change this before we lose population in these rural areas in the coming years."

The 15-member council of House lawmakers will look to improve the state's rural economy by focusing on educational achievement, infrastructure needs, access to health care and economic growth incentives. It plans to issue an initial report of findings and recommendations by the end of this year and a follow-up report by the end of 2018.

SONNY PERDUE SWORN IN

AS U.S. AG SECRETARY

Former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue was sworn in as the 31st U.S. Secretary of Agriculture today ( Tuesday, April 25) by Clarence Thomas, fellow Georgian and associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, in a brief ceremony at the Supreme Court building.

The U.S. Senate confirmed Perdue by a vote of 87-to-11 on Monday evening. After Perdue took the oath of office,


USDA photo Secretary Perdue is sworn in Tuesday morning at the U.S. Supreme Court by Justice Clarence Thomas, a Georgia native. Holding the Bible is Perdue's wife, Mary Ruff Perdue.

he addressed employees at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

"The only legacy that I seek is the only one that any grandparent or parent seeks -- to be good stewards and to hand off our nation, our home, our fields, our forests and our farms to the next generation in better shape than we found it," Perdue said.

"Making sure that Americans who make their livelihoods in the agriculture industry have the ability to thrive will be one of my top priorities. I am committed to serving the customers of USDA, and I will be an unapologetic advocate for American agriculture."

During the Senate's vote, Perdue's first cousin, Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga., voted "present" and presided over the voting.

Sonny Perdue, 70, who grew up on a farm in Houston County, will oversee the nation's food and farm programs, while managing a department with more than 100,000 employees.

Georgia Farm Bureau President Gerald Long offered congratulations to the former Georgia governor, saying it is a " great day for Georgia farmers and those connected to the agriculture industry across America."

Perdue is the first U.S. agriculture secretary from Georgia.

TCHS's HOWARD NAMED

NO. 2 STAR STUDENT IN GA


STAR Teacher Jake Alley and Runner-up State STAR Student Mary Kathryn Howard at the state ceremony.

Tift County High School senior Mary Kathryn Howard has been named Runner-up State PAGE STAR Student for Georgia .

She chose her drama teacher Jake Alley at Tift County High as her STAR Teacher.

The announcement naming Howard the No. 2 student in the state was made Monday at the state PAGE (Professional Association of Georgia Educators) STAR Banquet in Duluth.

Howard was presented a $1,000 scholarship. She is a daughter of Drew and Kaylar Howard of Tifton.

Alley of Lenox was presented with a $500 award from the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the $500 Mozelle Christian Endowment Award.

Twenty-three PAGE STAR Student Region Winners were finalists in the culminating event of the annual STAR ( Student Teacher Achievement Recognition) program for high school seniors. Among those 23 finalists, 12 scored 1600 on one administration of the SAT, and all were in the top 10 percent or top 10 of their class.

The search for the State PAGE STAR Student began earlier this year with the naming of 523 local STAR Students from each of the participating public and independent high schools across the state. In turn, those STAR students then recognized the teacher who had the most influence on their academic success as their STAR Teacher.

Bill Zhang, a senior at Fulton County's Northview High School, was named the 2017 State PAGE STAR Student. He named Ashley Ulrich, his AP Language teacher at Northview High, as his State PAGE STAR Teacher.

Miss Rita's School Mobile

This Summer, Take Only Six Weeks to a Better Grade!

Private Tutoring - 401 N. Ridge Ave., Tifton

CALL OR TEXT 941-313-0614

to REGISTER NOW

FOR SESSIONS BEGINNING

JUNE 12 - JULY 21

Miss Rita will be in Tifton on Tuesday, May 30

Call or Text to Register and Make an Appointment

to see Miss Rita for Student Testing and to Obtain Materials

roconnor75@comcast.net

Patience * Persistence

GA & FL Certified Reading Specialist

References available upon request

Pool party on June 24
for registered students & families at Tift County Rec Pool!

Miss Rita's Tutor Room has been operating in Manatee and Sarasota counties in Florida for the past 40-plus years.

She brings to Tifton her teaching talents as a Reading Specialist through Miss Rita's School Mobile, and is eager to build a strong foundation in the youths who are struggling readers.

Other areas of expertise include math, language arts and violin.

Serving the Tiftarea since 2009

TIFTON FIRE DEPT GETS BRAGGING RIGHTS

Members of the Tifton City Fire Department celebrate after winning a softball game over the Tifton Police Department on Monday. The game, sponsored by the U.S. Army Reserves and the City of Tifton, was all in good fun as part of Georgia Cities Week. Army Reserve members grilled hamburgers and provided drinks to the crowd. Both teams played hard, and the police say just wait until next year!

NE CAMPUS SOLOISTS GET TOP STATE SCORES

Seven Tift County High Northeast Campus band students recently received "Superior" ratings -- the highest score possible -- in the Georgia Music Educators' Solo Evaluation.

The students worked individually during the past eight weeks putting in extra after-school time to learn a difficult solo to perform for a judge and receive individual comments and scoring.

After the la st Northeast Campus student performed, the judge commented how much she was impressed at how all of the Tift students were well prepared for the event and performed at such a high level.

In photo on the front row, from bottom to top are: Reyna Balderas, Gloria DelToro and Elizabeth Preciado. In the second row are: Madison Newell, Jha'Lin Pittmon, Daniel Torres and Jonathan Mendoza.

TIFTAREA ACADEMY JV PANTHERS

VISIT UGA SPRING FOOTBALL GAME

The 2017 Tiftarea Academy Junior Varsity Panthers and Coach Danny Acord set out on a team-building journey this past weekend. The team visited Athens to watch the University of Georgia's spring football game.

Several parents helped make the trip possible by carpooling.

The JV Panthers ' next team-building journey begins this summer when they start practice for the upcoming football season .

TIFTONITES DON THEIR DERBY ATTIRE

FOR TRMC FOUNDATION FUNDRAISER

The Golf Club of South Georgia in Tifton may not exactly be Churchill Downs, but one couldn't tell much


	Lindy Dorminy Bengston, left, John Ewing and Connie Ewing

difference last Saturday evening as the Tift Regional Medical Center Foundation hosted a Kentucky Derby Gala to benefit the not-for-profit foundation.

Guests dined, danced and donned their best Derby attire. The "Kentucky Derby Gala" succeeded what used to be known as the "Hearts & Diamonds Gala" fundraiser for the foundation.

Laura Bland, left, with Mandy Brooks

'CARRY THE LOAD STEP-OFF'

TAKES FIRST STEP ON WEDNESDAY

For the fourth consecutive year, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College will host a "Carry The Load Step-Off" event beginning at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 26, and continuing for 24 hours, a prelude to the National Carry The Load Relay that seeks to restore the true meaning of Memorial Day.

The community is invited to participate in the local event, which involves a constant 2.5-mile relay through the campus. The Carry The Load Step-Off culminates in front of Herring Hall at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 27, with a send-off for the eight ABAC students who will participate in the National Carry The Load Relay.

The goal of Carry The Load is to restore Memorial Day's meaning by connecting Americans to the sacrifices of military, law enforcement, firefighters and rescue personnel. Carry The Load was established in 2011 by former members of the Navy's Sea, Air, and Land ( SEAL) teams.

The national relay which begins in West Point, N.Y., on May 1 and ends in Dallas, Texas, on Memorial Day.

ABAC students participating in the national relay this year are Hunter Gainous from Brunswick ; Shannon Kehoe from Myakka City, Fla .; Ginger Orton from Tifton ; Landon Rowe from Ocilla ; Mitchel Sheffield , from Donalsonville ; Dustin Thomas from Plainville ; Collin Vickers from Alapaha ; and Madison Woodson from Jesup .

SERVING YOU WITH PROFESSIONALISM

BEFORE, DURING & AFTER THE SALE

2074 Old Ocilla Road, Tifton, GA

MLS # 126142

MUST SEE: 125.97-acre farm land in excellent location, just minutes from Tift Regional Medical Center, schools, I-75 and Highway 319; all paved road frontage.