TIFTON — Predictions that the world would end in 2012 due to the “Mayan Apocalypse” were false, so we are here to review the news of 2012 and recount the stories of triumph and tragedy and hope and helplessness.

The state of the economy on the national, state and local level again dominated the news in 2012. Unemployment on the local level rose to the double digits but showed signs of improvement as the year progressed. Tifton was saddened to  hear in January that the Love Affair Fine Arts Festival would not be returning in 2012 — in part because of the decrease in funding and “cessation of critical partnerships” in the form of contributions from local businesses and industries that help make the festival possible for many years.

The sting of a down economy and the closure of several local businesses was soothed throughout the year, however, as new businesses announced their planned arrival and businesses already located in Tifton announced their expansion plans. Bell Plantation announced plans to consolidate its production, packaging and distribution operations in Tifton and employ approximately 350 people. Cannon Express announced its opening of a new cross-dock operation and Olive Garden and Kentucky Fried Chicken will soon be open in Tifton. T.J. Maxx, Daylight Donuts, Publix, Snyder-Lance, Inc., Stevi B’s Pizza, two Flash Foods and Bojangles opened here in 2012.

New businesses here and the expansion of others, as well as the location of Tifton’s new Georgia Peanut Commission, the Georgia Museum of Agriculture, Abraham Baldwin College and Moultrie Technical College on I-75, provided hope that even more businesses would locate at the Tifton Mall and downtown area — making Tifton a truly regional shopping hub. Also, the Alzheimer’s Association, Georgia Chapter, opened its office here to assist people with Alzheimer’s and the people who care for them. Grace Recovery home told us of its ministry for women with chemical addictions and announced a new resource and referral center at 400 N. Central Ave.

While the worrisome state of the local economy claimed the Love Affair and threatened organizations such as Meals on Wheels that operate on private contributions, tough times brought out the best in some individuals and organizations. Brumby & White Christmas Tree Farm shipped out 115 Christmas trees for military families. The Salvation Army’s bells could be heard as the organization’s Red Kettle Drive was in full swing. The long-standing Toys for Tots program again provided presents for needy children and the Suitcases for Kids fundraiser provided suitcases with essential items for children who are removed from their homes for one reason or another.

Many personal needs were expressed to reporters at The Tifton Gazette during the year. Grandmother Diane Singletary of Poulan told of how her 20-year-old grandson, Jaxon Singletary of Ty Ty, was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart syndrome just after birth and needed a heart transplant. She said she hoped the article would bring awareness of the need for organ donation. The story of Vivian “Lee” Croft, who grew up in Tifton and now calls Pittsburgh home, told of how she is helping families in Haiti through an American non-profit organization dedicated to Haiti’s most vulnerable children.

Local efforts to make Tifton a better place to live included the continuation of the “One Street At A Time” program, which Tift County Commissioner Melissa Chevers began four years ago. Members of several local organizations, including members of Tift County High School’s Key Club, joined 43 volunteers in August to clean up 17 streets in the area of Beaulah Hill Baptist Church. Stories of teachers, such as Eighth Street Middle School’s Earl Brown, who are working hard inside and out of the classroom to help young people “be great” were inspiring. Rita Ann O’Connor told how she takes her Miss Rita’s School Mobile tutoring services around South Georgia because she is “eager to build a strong foundation in the youth who are struggling readers.”

The David Tyrone Initiative, named after David Tyrone Barnes, 31, who was murdered Jan. 7, announced in July that it was partnering with Operation Building Inclusive Communities of Hope to offer services to local youth to better equip them socially and economically. Barnes was among several people who died at the hands of another in 2012. According to the GBI, Darrell Ward, 42, went to the home of James William Peters Sr. and Shirley Ann Peters on Iniss Road in the Omega area on a Sunday evening in March and shot both of them, then their adult daughter before shooting himself to death. Shots were fired in March in the parking lot of the Chevron on South Central Avenue after an argument between 18-year-old Devin Pickett and 23-year-old Earnest Antonio Jackson Jr. After guns were brandished and shots were fired, Pickett later died at the hospital.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced several days ago a Be On The Lookout for the Adrian Golson, who is wanted in the October Ty Ty shooting death of Arlester Jackson Jr., 35. Authorities had information to believe that Golson was armed and dangerous and urged citizens to use extreme caution and report any information in the case. As of presstime Monday, Golson had not been captured. (Go to www.tiftongazette.com for a story on the case that ran with pictures and a description of Golson.)

Violence that resulted in multiple shooting deaths in a theater and at a school left families mourning, authorities questioning safety precautions and people discussing the Second Amendment and the state of the country’s mental health system. In July, a gunman wearing a gas mask opened fire at a suburban Denver theater at the opening of Batman’s “The Dark Knight Rises.” The gunman killed 14 people and injured at least 50 others. The nation mourned again in December when it learned that 20-year-old gunman Adam Lanza had killed 20 young children and six staff members at a K-4 school in Newton, Conn.

In other local crime news, a Louisiana couple who disappeared in August of 2100 on the eve of their second-degree murder trial for the killing of the woman’s son were arrested in Tifton and sent back to Louisiana to face the court there. In September, a Tift County Superior Court jury convicted Ruby Evans of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault and conspiracy to commit murder in the death of Sunday Blombergh. Evans received a life with the possibility of parole sentence on the murder charge and 10 years on the conspiracy charge. Blombergh’s body was found May 27, 2010 in Colquitt County near the Tift County line.

Weather also made the headlines in 2012. Eleven inches of rainfall in early August caused local flooding and power outages as well as road closures and the evacuation of several homes. Tifton avoided the devastation that left New York and New Jersey paralyzed in October when Hurricane Sandy swept through.

The presidential election ended with Democrat Barack Obama defeating Republican Mitt Romney. The high-profile national election played a role in bringing more local citizens to the polls to vote for candidates running in city and county elections. In the race for Tift County sheriff, D. Gene Scarbrough came in as the victor, defeating Dennis Reese and Steve Wood to replace longtime sheriff Gary Vowell, who announced he would not seek re-election. For Tax Commissioner, Chad Alexander was victorious in his run for the seat against challengers Steve Bruce, Jeff Gibbs, W.A. “Bubba” Harrison and Greg A. Nimmo. Alexander replaces retiring longtime tax commissioner Gene Goode.

Josh Hendrix defeated Barry L. Cutts and Daughtry “Doc” Melton for the position of Tift County’s coroner. Incumbent County Commissioner for District 7 Grady Thompson held on to his seat. He defeated Frankie L. Mathis and Stephen Mullis. For County Board of Education’s District 7 seat, Kim Rutland defeated Todd Gann and in the District 1 race, Kim Ezekiel defeated Langston “Doc” Cleveland. Suzanne Carter Johnson maintained her post as judge of Tift County Probate Court by defeating challenger Ty Taylor.

The year ended with the City of Tifton continuing its operation at the old Fire Hall at 204 North Ridge Ave. after the April announcement that the historic Myon Complex was structurally unsound and would have to be evacuated. The city began the process of having the building renovated in March 2010, with the initial estimate at more than $4 million. Plans for renovations were halted when the cost exceeded available funds and no definite plans have been established, but city officials, including Mayor Jamie Cater, have stated that the city intends to one day locate its offices back at the Myon.

The community mourned the deaths of several people well-known in the Tifton community.

Donna Tillman, a long-time honored employee of UPS and active community volunteer died unexpectedly in February. Tillman served as a P.O.S.T. certified police officer, volunteer firefighter and created “Santa’s Bags,” a charity that collected gifts for needy children.

James Gibbs Patrick Sr., a well-known local farmer, businessman and former member of the Tift County Board of Education, died in late February. Patrick, who was president of Patrick Farms in Omega, was recognized as the South Georgia Agribusinessman of the Year in 2004 and served as a director of C&S Bank and was among the founders of South Georgia Bank in Omega. He served as a deacon at Omega Baptist Church.

Local attorney and community leader Rob Reinhardt’s untimely passing in late June left the legal community, family, friends and other associates reeling. Reinhardt served on the State Bar Disciplinary Board for six years, six years as chairman of that board, and oversaw the construction of the  new State Bar Center in Atlanta while he served as president of that organization 2004-2005. Reinhardt, a Tifton native who practiced at his family’s law firm for years, was known to perform random acts of kindness for people.

In July, the community mourned the death of John Christopher Robinson, 38, who taught music and inspired students in the Tift County School system for 15 years. Robinson died following a battle with cancer.

The community, and particularly employees of this newspaper, lost a dear friend when longtime editor Flo Rankin passed away in late October. Flo left her mark as a journalist, a friend and a leader. The news of her death shocked the community and she remains very much missed.