TIFTON — Tifton is gearing up to welcome a possible 500 bicycle riders to Tifton Friday for the three-day Georgia BikeFest 2009.
This weekend will be the first time that Georgia BikeFest has been held in Tifton, and locals who are organizing a grand welcome for participants hope it won’t be the last.
“Anytime you bring 1,000 people to Tifton it’s exciting,” said Tyron Spearman of the Tifton-Tift County Tourism Association. “They will be here for three days, eating and sleeping somewhere, and that will be a plus for our economy.”
The Association, Main Street Tifton and the Tift County Recreation Department are coordinating the event. The headquarters for the event will be located at the Tift County Recreation Department, 401 N. Victory Drive, where bikers will register beginning Thursday evening and begin and end their rides each day. Those who register will receive a goody bag full of items donated by local businesses.
Some bikers will camp in the area between the TCRD and Eve Park. Bikers will be able to eat breakfast and lunch at the TCRD’s Multi-Purpose Building, as well as enjoy snacks and drinks along each day’s bike ride.
Friday’s ride, “The Ty Ty Tour de Tift,” is a 50-mile tour of “beautiful, flat farm land in Tift County,” according to the Bike Ride Across Georgia Web site at www.brag.org. Bikers will visit Ty Ty, Omega and Eldorado. On Saturday, participating bikers will ride “The Counting Chickens Ride to Fitzgerald.” A small prize will be given to the rider who counts the most chickens in Fitzgerald. Tifton Mayor Jamie Cater will ride with the group Saturday.
Sunday’s “Where’s Music Row Ride” is to Nashville, which will include visits to Adel, Sparks, Lenox and Eldorado. Each day, bikers have various options that are shorter than the full rides.
BRAG gives each host city $1,000 to assist in the cost to sponsor the event. Rest stops along the ride routes are staffed by local volunteers. There will also be a Tifton Welcome Tent that will provide promotional information for area businesses.
Participants will be entertained Saturday night by “The Shuffler,” Ed Branch’s band, and Denzil Newbern in the courtyard next to Tifton City Hall downtown.
For more information or to volunteer, call Fran Kinchen at 556-7439. To register to participate in the rides, go to www.brag.org.
To contact senior reporter Angie Thompson, call 382-4321.
Local News
Tifton gears up to host bicycle riders
- Local News
-
-
Eighth Street Middle mixes science with Disney
A grant from Lowe's home improvement stores and a Disney corporation science project competition could put Tift County’s Eighth Street Middle School on the map and in the money.
-
Restrictions on political signs lifted
As of now, Tifton citizens are no longer restricted from putting up campaign signs on their property within a specified time frame, says Tifton Mayor Jamie Cater.
According to the city ordinance on political signs, “Unless specifically allowed pursuant to state law, the sign shall not be displayed earlier than 30 days prior to the commencement of the qualifying period immediately prior to the election it concerns nor shall the sign be displayed earlier than 30 days prior to the call for election immediately prior to the referendum it concerns.” - Big yellow school bus stolen in Columbus
-
Ga. House approves revised $18.6B budget
Metro Atlanta would get hundreds of millions dollars in transportation funding while Georgia farmers would get help finding workers they say were driven away by a crackdown on illegal immigrants under an $18.6 billion budget adopted Friday by House lawmakers.
- Rabid 900-pound cow attacks Georgia farmer
-
A lifelong memory: annual Father- Daughter Dance set for Feb. 9
Fathers who are looking to take their daughters out for a night of fun and a memory that will last a lifetime are invited to attend the Tiftarea YMCA’s 10th annual Father-Daughter Dance.
-
Rural communities balk at public broadband bill
Representatives of rural cities and counties across Georgia told a panel of state senators on Thursday that they had to create the broadband networks private providers refused to bring to their communities.
-
Area author releases new inspirational book
A local author, who now resides in Barney, is inviting the community to attend her book signing event from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Lion Chasers Christian Bookstore, located at 118 Second St. East, for the release of her religious and inspirational novel, “Lady in Waiting: For the Promises of God.”
- House expects vote on $18.6B state budget
- Georgia's groundhog predicts early spring
- More Local News Headlines
-
Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges
Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy
NC Police: Mom Injects Chemical Into Baby's IV
Unemployment Rate Down to 8.3%
Komen Reverses Planned Parenthood Cuts
Official: 2nd Teacher Pulled From Calif. School
Obama: Still Far Too Many Americans Need Jobs
GOP: Jobs Numbers Welcome, Can Do Better
Hiring Burst Pushes Jobless Rate Down to 8.3%
Fla. Man Adopts Girlfriend in Legal Battle
More Deaths As Egypt Clashes Continue
Raw Video: Prince William in Falklands
Past Complaint About LA Teacher Comes to Light
Egpyt Protesters Blame Police for Soccer Deaths
'Lucky' 9-Year-Old Receives 6-Organ Transplant
Raw Video: Michelle Vs. Ellen in Pushup Contest
Reaction Heated on Planned Parenthood-Komen Rift
First Person: Will Peyton Manning Stay in Indy?
Madonna Nervous About Super Bowl Halftime Show
Egypt Shaken After Deadly Soccer Riot
