Bottom Line:
Impactful weather is expected through mid-week and the upcoming weekend. Cold temperatures are forecast Wednesday & Thursday mornings when frost and freeze conditions are likely. Attention then turns to a wet, unsettled pattern Friday through Monday.
Overview:
A widespread light freeze is likely Wednesday morning away from the immediate coast with patchy to areas of frost possible. Chilly temperatures in the 30s are on tap for Thursday morning, though light freezes are forecast to be more isolated. Frost may return, but confidence was not high enough to explicitly mention. Such conditions raise sheltering concerns for sensitive groups. A Freeze Watch could be issued as soon as this afternoon if trends continue.
Rain chances increase on Friday from an area of low pressure passing through the Lower Mississippi Valley. The Day 5 Outlook by the WPC highlights the FL Panhandle and parts of Southeast AL with a Marginal Risk (level 1 of 4) for excessive rainfall - valid Friday AM to Saturday AM. Isolated flooding may occur. More rounds of rain are likely this weekend from additional waves of disturbances, thus making for unsettled weather until Monday. Current forecast amounts are widespread 1-3 inches (isolated 4"+) from Friday AM through Saturday PM.
As Thanksgiving approaches, I am reminded of how fortunate I am to serve Tift County with such an outstanding group of people. The deputies and administrative support staff at the Tift County Sheriff's Office are dedicated, hard-working, and committed to serving our county's citizens. To show them that you value them as much as I do, I encourage you to give them a friendly smile or a kind word to let them know you appreciate them. I am truly fortunate to have them by my side.
I would especially like to extend my sincerest appreciation to the citizens of Tift County. Your efforts to enhance safety and cooperation with our office help make our County a great place to live and work. I am grateful for your assistance through the crime tips hotline, app, website and in person. I sincerely appreciate your commitment to the safety of our community.
My commitment to the citizens of this County has never been more substantial. I will continue to work with you to improve the quality of life for each resident we serve. The support you've shown the Sheriff's Office during 2023 has been overwhelming. I am very thankful.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Sheriff Gene Scarbrough
5th Graders at the G.O. Bailey Elementary School have completed the C.H.A.M.P.S. program taught by personnel with the Tift County Sheriff's Office and graduated this week.
C.H.A.M.P.S., Choosing Healthy Activities & Methods Promoting Safety, is a 12 week course providing Georgia youth the skills, ability and knowledge to be safe, healthy and happy in preparation for a successful life.
Instructor Deputy Sgt. Yuriana Vazquez is pictured with the winners of the Essay & Poster Competition. First place went to Damian Pina, 2nd to Ty Bryan and 3rd to Caroline Askew while the student of the year from G.O. Bailey Elementary was Amarii Edwards.
5th Graders at the Omega Elementary Elementary School had their C.H.A.M.P.S., Choosing Healthy Activities & Methods Promoting Safety, graduation this week.
In the Essay & Poster competition Addison Bennett won with Caleb Lavender 2nd with a tie for 3rd between Allison Sanchez & Chloe Prather. The C.H.A.M.P.S. student of the year at Omega Elementary was Aylin DeLaPaz.
Also taking part in the graduation program along with C.H.A.M.P.S. instructor Deputy Sgt. Yuriana Vazquez of the Tift County Sheriff's Office was State Patrol Trooper and K9 Officer Gus Deanda with his 3 year old German Shepherd drug dog Rex.
This week 5th Graders in several local schools are graduating from the C.H.A.M.P.S. program, Choosing Healthy Activities & Methods Promoting Safety, taught by Tift County Deputy Sheriff Sgt. Yuriana Vazquez.
Pictured is the mascot CHAMP along with Emily Martinez who placed second in the poster and essay contest. Next is First place winner Raelyn Griffin, Tucker Harrison 3rd place, C.H.A.M.P.S. Student of the Year for Matt Wilson, June Harper & Sgt. Vazquez.
Operation Watchful Eye VIII
Thanks to an initiative involving 73 Georgia Sheriffs, 44 sex offenders were arrested and 234 warrants were issued across the state from October 30 - November 6, 2023 for violations of state registration laws. In 2015, the first coordinated effort across the state was launched to conduct residence verifications and compliance checks of registered sex offenders during a specific time period. The coordinated initiative became known as Operation Watchful Eye. Due to the overwhelming success of the original initiative, Georgia's Sheriffs have made this an annual operation and recently conducted Operation Watchful Eye VIII.
The Office of Sheriff is mandated by law to register sex offenders and to keep the public informed of where registered sex offenders reside, work and attend school. Throughout the year, each sheriff's office verifies addresses provided by registered sex offenders. While conducting residence verifications, deputies also assure additional registration requirements are being adhered to.
The purpose of this statewide effort is to create awareness that sheriffs' offices work collectively, network, and actively engage their office by participating in statewide verification checks and other non-compliant matters in order to make our state safer. In numerous counties, deputy sheriffs, U.S. Marshals, U.S. Probation officers and Department of Community Supervision probation/parole officers worked together to verify sex offenders comply with the law.
Preliminary reporting by the 73 participating sheriff's offices reveals 12,092 registered sex offenders, 466 predators and 552 homeless sex offenders are currently living in their counties. During the one week operation, 9,232 residence verifications were conducted, 61 new sex offenders moved into the reporting counties, 189 warrants were issued for residency violations of the sex offender registry, 15 new warrants were issued for violations of the sex offender registry law (other than residency violations), 3 warrants were issued for new sex offenses and 27 warrants were issued for other miscellaneous new charges. More importantly, it was discovered that 577 sex offenders had absconded from their last known address, which will require the sheriff to work with other supporting agencies and track these individuals down.
The Tift County Sheriff's Office verified 89 Registered Sex Offenders including 1 predator and made 114 verification attempts and executed 2 warrants.
Remember, for the protection of your family and neighbors, visit your local sheriff's office website or visit the http://gbi.georgia.gov/georgia-sex-offender-registry for more information on the whereabouts of registered sex offenders in your community.
Tift County Sheriff Gene Scarbrough swore in two new employees yesterday, Deputy Blake Davis and Detention Officer Adam Gray. Welcome to the Sheriff's Office.
Again this year the Tift County Sheriff's Office is participating with WFXL-Fox 31 Albany for their annual Operation Toy Drive. You can drop off new, unwrapped toys in our lobby Monday through Friday from 8am until 6pm thru December 8th. Each of the toys will then be donated to Toys For Tots of Tifton and All Donated Toys will be given to kids in Tifton/Tift County this Christmas Season.
Halloween Safety Tips
Costumes can be both creative and safe. The most important thing is to make sure kids can be seen by drivers. Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors. Masks can obstruct your vision, so choose non-toxic face paint and make-up whenever possible. Carry glow sticks or flashlights so you can see better, as well as be seen by drivers. Cross the street safely at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Look left, right and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross. Put electronic devices down, keep heads up and walk, don't run, when crossing the street. Walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible. Slow down and stay alert. Watch out for cars that are turning or backing up and don't dart out into the street or cross in between parked cars.There are also some very important tips for when you are driving around the holiday:
Driving Around on Halloween
Slowdown in residential neighborhoods. Remember that popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Be especially alert and take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways. Reduce any distractions inside your car, such as talking on the phone or eating, so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.Halloween can be a safe and enjoyable evening for all with some preparation, communication, and diligence. Of course, we will be on patrol and available to you and your children if you need us. As always, dial 911 in case of an emergency.
We appreciate your cooperation,
Sheriff
Gene Scarbrough