Tifton police to host gospel concert this weekend

Published 12:12 pm Wednesday, December 7, 2005

TIFTON — The Gospel Enforcers, the Georgians, Redeemed Trio, The Cleghorns and The Changing Times will headline the Tifton Police Department’s annual gospel concert this weekend.

The concert, a fundraiser for the department’s summer children’s program, will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Georgia Agrirama’s Opry Shelter.

TPD officers take underprivileged children bowling, fishing and to the movies with the funds from the concert, Chief Jim Smith said Wednesday. “We take care of from 40 to 50 kids during the summer and keep them busy during the day for about six weeks,” said Smith. “The school resource officers are primarily the ones who take care of the program.

“A lot of the kids can’t afford to pay, so we foot the bill and even feed them lunch with the help of the United Way.”

Smith said the starting time has been moved up this year so that the concert can last longer without ending late at night. “Some of the entertainers enjoyed it so much they’d keep playing, and it was starting to run late,” He said. “People were having to leave before it was over.”

Tickets for the concert are $13 in advance and $15 at the gate, with tickets for children under 12 for $5 at the gate only. Advance tickets are available from Cornerstone Christian Bookstore in Tifton, The Dove’s Nest in Fitzgerald, Sweet Spirit Bookstore and Guthrie’s Hallmark in Cordele, Barnes Electric in Ashburn, Deriso Drugs in Sylvester, The Christian Bookstore in Warner Robins, The Upper Room in Moultrie and Christian Accents in Eastman.

“We always have a good time and a good turnout,” Smith said. “Many of the businesses that support us give the tickets back to us, and we make them available to nursing homes and assisted living centers so those folks can come out.

“If you love gospel music, you’ll have a great time.”



To contact city editor Florence Rankin, call 382-4321, ext. 209.