 GEORGIA SALES TAX HOLIDAY
ON SOME ITEMS FRIDAY & SATURDAY
Folks throughout
Georgia
may
shop Friday and Saturday, July 31 and Aug. 1, without paying a sales tax on many items. The
annual
sales tax holiday is meant to coincide with back-to-school shopping for families.
Local shoppers will also get a break from road construction this weekend; the state Department of Transportation
will suspend construction-related lane closures within five miles of a shopping mall or major shopping district on all interstates and major state routes beginning at 8 a.m. today, Friday, through 10 p.m.  Saturday,.
Exempt from sales tax this weekend
are many clothing items,
including footwear, with a sales price of $100 or less per item.
For example, tax free items you could buy include:
Bathing suits, b
louses, d
resses, d
iapers, h
ats, p
ants, s
hirts, s
ocks and u
nderwear.
However, accessories are not included. That means jewelry, purses, watches, umbrellas, cosmetics, etc., will still have sales tax applied.
Many computers items and electronics are also tax-exempt this weekend, as long as you're purchasing a computer, certain software or computer components for noncommercial or personal use and it's $1,000 or less. Some examples include: Laptops, tablets, monitors, docking stations, hard drives, printers and scanners.
Certain items will still have sales tax added, such as batteries, computer bags, digital cameras, projectors, surge protectors, TVs, etc.
Many school supplies are also tax exempt
as long as the individual items are $20 or less. This includes b
inders, b
ook bags, c
alculators, c
rayons, f
olders, g
lue, i
ndex cards, n
otebooks, p
encils, pens, highlighters and s
cissors.
For a full rundown of taxable and non-taxable items, check out the Georgia Department of Revenue's official list by Clicking Here!
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NEW DROUGHT-TOLERANT TURFGRASS
UGA NAMES LICENSING AGENT FOR 'TifTuf'
The Turfgrass Group has been named the licensing and marketing agent for TifTuf certified Bermudagrass, the new drought-tolerant turfgrass developed by a team of researchers led by Dr. Wayne
Hanna and Dr. Brian Schwartz at the University of Georgia in Tifton.
TifTuf has been in testing at the
UGA Tifton campus since
1993, and was selected for release from a pool of more than
27,700 potential cultivars because of its extreme drought tolerance and high turf quality.
According to
Golf Course Industry
magazine,
Schwartz
said he's seen potential in the
turfgrass since he arrived at UGA in 2009.
"That was a dry year, and I remember
TifTuf keeping its green color while a lot of the other grasses were turning brown," Schwartz said.
"That was when I began trying to figure out why it was so drought tolerant. After three more years of field research in two different soil types, we found evidence that
TifTuf was using less water than
Tifway 419 and
TifSport."
The release of this grass is especially significant now, said
Ken Morrow, co-founder of
The Turfgrass Group. "With the extreme drought conditions being experienced in California and around the United States, there has never been a greater need for a drought-tolerant grass like
TifTuf," Morrow said. "We know it will create sustainable, environmentally friendly lawns, sports fields and golf courses around the country that use significantly less water than other grasses available on the market today," reports
Golf Course Industry magazine.
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SHOP TAX-FREE with
BACK TO SCHOOL SALES
THIS WEEKEND AT THE TIFTON MALL
9 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Friday & Saturday,
July 31 - Aug. 1
COME JOIN THE FUN!
LOTS OF ACTIVITIES!
Check Out Our New
Big & Beautiful
 BACK TO SCHOOL BASH!
Friday, Noon - 3 p.m.: Register to Win Boys' & Girls' Book Bags / Face-Painting / Lots of Games
 KidFest
Saturday, Noon - 3 p.m.: Fashion Show / Refreshments / Games / Bouncy House / & Much More!
50% Off All Kids Clothes
now taking applications for employment, with plans to open in 3 weeks!
Tifton Mall, 458 N. Virginia Ave., Tifton, Georgia
PLEASE SHOP LOCAL AND HELP ALL YOUR LOCAL STORES
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SCHOOL'S BACK IN SESSION!
TIFT TEACHERS AT WORK ON MONDAY; STUDENTS REPORT ON TUESDAY
Where has the summer gone?
On Tuesday, Aug. 4, Tift County students will return to school, ready or not. The Tift County School System has a wealth of back-to-school information on its web site. Click Here to access it.
Also, the calendar of the entire school year can be found by Clicking Here!
For the sixth consecutive year, local residents will gather Saturday morning, Aug. 1, for the "Annual Day of Prayer for Tift County Schools." From 9:30 until 10 a.m., folks will gather at each local school to pray for protection, provision and productivity for all students, parents, faculty and staff members.
Organizers have a Facebook page set up and also ask that residents send an email to tcschoolprayer@gmail.com to alert what school they are visiting for prayer on Saturday morning. That ensures that all schools in the county are covered.
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OPEN HOUSE Monday, August 10 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
223 East 2nd St., Suite B Tifton, Georgia
229-339-3721
Tiftarea Psychiatric and Counseling Services, LLC (TPACS)
is a mental health provider office located in Tifton, Georgia.
Clinical psychologists and therapists use psychotherapy and other counseling skills
to improve emotional and mental health. Psychologists and psychiatrists focus on
t
he evaluation, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of
mental, emotional and behavioral health issues.
Tiftarea Psychiatric and Counseling Services, LLC
specializes in mental health counseling.
Couples / Family / Children & Teenagers / Depression / Substance Abuse / Stress & Anxiety / Grief Counseling
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Pictured from left: Pat McKinnon, United Way executive director; Frank Sayles Jr., vice president; Shamilee Joyner; Kristy Walters; Nancy Bryan; Denise Verdesoto; LaShonda Flanders; Crystal Reese; and Ebony Rowell.
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TIFTON READY TO 'STUFF THE BUS'
The Fifth Annual "Stuff the Bus" school supply drive is underway to help provide school supplies to needy children.
The drive is sponsored by Publix Super Market, Staples Office Supply, Tift County Public Schools, Tifton Needy Children's Fund and coordinated by the United Way of South Central Georgia in Tifton.
Stuff the Bus is being held in two locations this year: Staples parking lot and Publix Plaza, both on Virginia Avenue. The bus is at Staples until Aug. 7, and then heads to Publix Plaza until noon Aug. 17. All supplies collected will be distributed during the school year through the Needy Children's Fund under management of Tift school system social workers.
During the bus supply drive, volunteers will be available between 4 and 7 p.m. each week day to collect donations of supplies. At other times, school supply donations may be dropped off inside Staples and Publix at the customer service desk. Donations will be piled into the bus as the week progresses in an effort to literally stuff the bus with the supplies every child needs to be set up for success in school.
Publix, Staples and the United Way put together the Stuff the Bus initiative to ensure that students have what they need to start the school year. Organizers say it's important to keep every child on pace. Dr. Gina Cox, the student services director at Tift County Public Schools; and Pat McKinnon, executive director for the United Way of South Central Georgia, both agree that the need is great.
For information or to volunteer, contact McKinnon at the United Way, 229-382-2881 or on Facebook, Click Here!
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Kelly Burk and Kelly Helwig in Tifton
Enhancing the Lives of Aging Adults and Their Families
- Companionship
- Transitional Care
- Medication Reminders
- Meal Preparation
- Light Housekeeping
- Respite Care
- Escort to Shopping and Errands
Our services grow as CAREGivers
sm
find new and innovative ways to meet the needs of our clients.
229-396-5243
1810 U.S. Highway 41 N., Suite B
Tifton, GA 31794
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'PINK CUP' CHALLENGE BEING PLANNED
Tift Regional Medical Center's Breast Center is creating its first Pink Cup Breast Cancer Challenge to be held on Sunday, Oct. 11, from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Tift County High School. The purpose is to increase awareness of early detection of breast cancer through a team's participation and provide funding for free mammogram
screenings for those who cannot afford one.
The event's challenges will be fun, competitive and adaptable for all family members. Co-Directors Debra Prince and Cindy Spurlin, both breast cancer survivors, have planned a fun day of challenges and friendly competition to mimic the teamwork necessary for a woman to survive breast cancer.
"Our goal for this first year is to have 10 teams of 10-15 participants" says Spurlin.
Teams will be asked to strategize the placement of their participants in the events that will allow them to achieve the most points for each challenge. Events will include timed activities like relays, obstacle races, bra pong, a scavenger hunt, timed word-search and many other fun activities. At the end of the day, the team with the most points wins "The Pink Cup" trophy and is expected to hold it for one year.
Breast Cancer affects one in every eight women. Research has proven that the best way to fight breast cancer is early detection
The cost of participation is $100 per team member. It can be raised through donations, etc. Each team must have a minimum of 10 and maximum of 15 people.
For information: thepinkcupchallenge@gmail.com or visit Facebook at The Pink Cup Breast Cancer Challenge; Also, you may call or email Cindy at 229-392-1597, cindyrst@yahoo.com and Debra at 229-353-6325, debra.prince@tiftregional.com
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WE HAVE HEARD
so many horror stories lately about rough, and sometimes criminal, treatment of
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Officer Good aids woman in Sylvester.
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people by
police officers. Well, an incident involving two
Sylvester policemen show the
good side we seldom hear about. Last
Saturday,
Sylvester
Patrolman Christopher Good and Sgt. Demetric King stopped to speak with an elderly woman holding a sign seeking assistance outside the
Sylvester Walmart. The two officers decided to pool their own money and bought the woman some groceries. Their act of kindness would have gone unnoticed by the public at large except someone saw it and snapped photos, forwarding them to the Sylvester Police Department. It is one of the many acts of kindness we seldom hear about but which occur regularly involving law enforcement officers.... WALB-TV reported
that many South Georgians are applying for gun carry permits. In Tift County,
the probate court processed 487 applications through June compared to 438 in the same period last year. ... AND A LOOK AHEAD: Former President Jimmy Carter
is scheduled to teach Sunday School this Sunday, Aug. 2, at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains. Carter's lesson will begin at 10 a.m. Doors to the sanctuary open at 8:30 a.m., and an orientation begins at 9 a.m.
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Need your GED?
Call us for free tutoring in Reading, Language, Math. Scholarships Available.
Tifton-Tift County is a Certified Literate Community!
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RUN FOR LOVE 5K & RUN/WALK SUPPORTS
TIFT SCHOOLS' CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS
 The Tift County High and Tift County Middle Schools' cross country teams invite folks to participate in their 26th Annual Run For Love 5K Road Race and 1-mile Run/Walk on Saturday, August 1.
Unlike most 5K races, this one is held in the evening, with the one-mile run/walk beginning at 7:15 p.m. and the 5K race beginning at 7:45 p.m. at the ABAC tennis center.
Participation is a way to support the cross country teams. This is the only fundraiser the team does.
Registration is available online at www.active.com For information, visit https://tiftcountycc.shutterfly.com
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TIFTON-TIFT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RIBBON-CUTTINGS
BranTech Solutions, LLC
Wednesday, July 29
116 E. Third Street
Tifton
Stitchtel Communications
Tuesday, July 28
Tifton
The Academic Resource Center
Business Owner: BWG Investments, Inc.
Monday, July 27
118 East Third Street
Tifton
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REGISTRATION CONTINUES FOR TIFT COUNTY REC FOOTBALL, CHEERLEADING, SOCCER
Tift County Recreation Department registration for football, cheerleading and soccer continues through Friday, Aug. 21.
Recreation Department office hours are Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. at 401 Victory Drive North (across from the VFW) . Phone 229-382-3262 or email recreation@tiftcounty.org for information. 
The fee is $50 for Tift County residents (add $12.50 for out-of-county). Multiple registrants in the same household receive a 10 percent discount. The age control date for flag football, cheerleading and tackle football is the age prior to Sept. 1 of the current year. The age control date for soccer is your age prior to Aug. 1.
Bring a certified copy of your child's birth certificate; activity fee, if applicable;
and complete activity
registration form
. Mail-in
registration with payment is now available.
Registration forms, coach and sponsor applications are available on our website, www.tiftcounty.org
Payment may be made by Visa, MasterCard, debit card, check, telecheck, money order and cash.
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COTTON FARMERS SHOULD CONSIDER RYE
AS A COVER CROP, UGA SAYS
By CLINT THOMPSON
University of Georgia
Georgia cotton farmers can benefit from using rye as a cover crop, according to scientists on the University of Georgia's Tifton Campus.
Along with providing an added defense at planting against glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth, or "pigweed," rye reduces thrips (tiny insects) infestations and could save farmers irrigation expenses.
UGA water resource management specialist Gary Hawkins is an avid supporter of a conservation production system, the process of using a high-residue cover crop in the non-cropping season to conserve the soil, retain soil
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Seth Byrd holds rye on the UGA Tifton Campus.
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moisture, provide a mat that helps with
weed control and other beneficial aspects to building a better soil quality.
A high-residue cover crop is one that produces a large amount of biomass. Crops like cereal ryes, millets or legumes are most often used.
Like all crops, cotton relies on water to grow and produce the yields that farmers need to make a profit. Prolonged dry spells can affect cotton's ability to produce, especially during periods when cotton needs water the most, such as during bloom.
UGA graduate student Seth Byrd is involved in a study to determine whether rye can reduce the amount of irrigation needed to produce cotton. Reduced irrigation would save farmers money, while conserving water.
The costliest weed Georgia cotton farmers encounter every year is pigweed. An estimated $110 million is spent annually to manage this weed that can grow as high as 10 feet tall. Herbicides provide some relief, but UGA scientists fear that their overuse may lead to more herbicide-resistance problems. The weed is so prevalent across Georgia that, although 90-percent control is achieved by herbicides, it's still not adequate for cotton farmers.
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Wonder What's Going On
in the Tiftarea?
Then Subscribe
to
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Tifton, Georgia
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YOUR WEEKEND
...at a Glance
FRIDAY, JULY 31
- Sales Tax Holiday across Georgia
- Back to School Bash, Noon-3 p.m., Beall's Outlet, Tifton Mall
SATURDAY, AUGUST 1
- Sales Tax Holiday across Georgia
- Wiregrass Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-noon, Ga. Museum of Agriculture, Tifton
- Downtown Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Old Train Platform, Tifton
- Annual Day of Prayer for Tift County Schools, 9:30 a.m., various public schools, Tift County
- Stay in School Rally, Noon-3 p.m., Tift County Recreation Department, Tifton
- Belk KidFest, Noon-3 p.m., Belk at Tifton Mall, Tifton
- Run for Love 5k & 1 Mile Run/Walk, 7:15 p.m., ABAC Tennis Center, Tifton
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JULY 23
Phyllis Dawn McMillan, 55, Treasure Island, Fla.
Michael Gavelek, 70, Valdosta
Audrey Mae Holton, 55, Adel
JULY 24
Carol Tucker Byrd, 67, Sycamore
P H Watson, 78, Sparks
JULY 25
Michael B. "Bennie" Godwin, 88, Lenox
Robert Eugene "Bob" Hawkins, 75, Ray City
David C. Cozart, 71, Fitzgerald
JULY 26
Russell A. Gordon, 43, Tifton
Nola Ann Robinson, 81, Nashville
Eileen Teresa Herbst, 81, Fitzgerald
John Harold Grant, 71, Nashville
JULY 27
Jane Webb Grimes, 58, Tifton
Margaret Myers, 89, Sparks
Beulah J. Leggett Crockett, 83, Ashburn
JULY 28
Lennis E. Etheridge, 67, Albany
Darlene Albright, 61, Jacksonville, Fla.
Wallace Glenn Wood, 89, Savannah
JULY 29
Dagoberto Banda, 46, Tifton
James R. "Jim" McCoy, 82, Tifton
Regina Carol Parrish, 42, Fitzgerald
Betty Lavender Dickson, 67, Fitzgerald
Tony West, 46, Sycamore
Lucy Wilkerson, 70, Valdosta
JULY 30
Martha Virginia Rutland, 93, Lenox
Edward Charles "Ed" Willis, 80, Brookfield
Ray Tyler, 72, Fitzgerald
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SERVING YOU WITH PROFESSIONALISM
BEFORE, DURING & AFTER THE SALE
$139,000
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Country living with city conveniences. This great 3-bedroom 2-bath home with detached garage is located on a corner lot in Worth County. Kitchen, eat-in dining room, den featuring wood-burning fireplace with Buck stove insert. Large utility laundry/mud room conveniently adjoins kitchen and has its own private entrance. Two-bay barn for all your outdoor equipment and fishing tackle. A South Georgia stocked catfish pond is located on the west end of the property. This quaint mini farm will make it a pleasure to wet a hook on a Saturday afternoon. Separate fenced-in area for your own garden spot, farm animals and a great pasture for horses, sitting on 3.66 acres. Call today for your private tour.
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Dwana Coleman
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Call Us Today!
229-386-4222
Blue Skies & Sunshine Through Each & Every
Real Estate Transaction!
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