Monday, April 27, 2026

Heads up for pet parents: An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.*

Spotlight on essay excellence: Phi Beta Sigma’s Theta Sigma Sigma Alumni Chapter has named winners of its 1914 Scholarship Essay Contest, including Gabrielle Mays, honored for defining success in life -- meet the scholarship winners.

Next-gen ag tech showcase: UGA will host the first Southeastern Specialty Crop Technology Conference in Tifton on May 5-6, with live demos of AI sprayers, robotics and drones, plus panels for growers and researchers -- get all the event details.

Community recreation hub reborn: Tift County’s E.B. Hamilton Sports Complex finished a years-long renovation with two 300-foot baseball fields, a new playground, parking and batting cages, and will host bigger tournaments starting in May -- read the full story.

The bill everyone over 50 should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half — this free comparison tool makes it easy.*

Retirees are making moves: After gold's best year in nearly five decades, more folks than ever are moving part of their savings into precious metals. Not all of it... just enough to hedge against inflation. AHG put together a free guide that explains how it works -- grab your copy here.*

Hibachi mood tonight?: When you need a quick, no-fuss upgrade from leftovers, Asahi Express Japanese Steak House & Seafood nails the craveables with hot-off-the-grill hibachi, saucy teriyaki, and plenty of shrimp-and-scallop love. It’s the kind of reliable Tifton go-to you keep in your back pocket... and your belly.

Old-school sweet fix: Mi-Lady Bakery has been Tifton’s third-generation, from-scratch standby since 1959, serving glazed doughnuts, cinnamon rolls, and cupcakes in the morning, then stacked sandwiches on house-baked bread at lunch. For a midweek morale boost, follow the pastry case’s lead and let something sweet choose you.

Sip muscadines downtown: Paulk Vineyards Tifton Tasting Room pours crisp muscadine wines, easygoing flights, and icy slushies inside a cozy, exposed-brick hangout built for lingering with neighbors. Perfect when the week needs a lift, with pours that showcase what the family has been bottling lately.

The slower you walk, the more it works: Tai Chi walking is trending online. Turns out it's centuries old — slow deliberate steps, paced breath, attention on the body. Thirty minutes a day burns fat, lifts your mood, and builds balance. No gym, no treadmill, no pounding on the joints. Take the quick quiz to see if it fits, then use code BASELOCAL for a discount on the coaching plan. *See how it works →

Your homeowners insurance has a blind spot: It covers your house if a tree falls on it. It doesn’t cover your furnace when it quits in January, your AC when it dies in July, or your water heater when it starts leaking on a Tuesday. Those are all classified as "normal wear and tear," and they're 100% on you. American Home Shield can help fill that gap for ~$1/day (even if your appliances and systems are really old).*See what it covers →

Selling your house doesn't have to take months: If you need to sell quickly — because you're downsizing, relocating, or just ready to close this chapter — Liz helps seniors sell their houses fast. As-is. No repairs, no showings, no drawn-out back-and-forth. You pick the closing date. *See how it works →

Unknown-number calls aren't random: Scammers don't just pick numbers out of a hat. They pay data brokers a few bucks and get everything they need to harass you, trick you, rob you, or steal your identity outright. Incogni removes all of your personal info from these data broker sites and keeps an eye out to make sure it stays gone for good. *Get protected →

For women who've been feeling off for years: The fatigue, the weight creeping up, the mood swings, the sleep that won't hold. Turns out most of those "it's just aging" problems are actually caused by hormones, and proper HRT can get you back to feeling like yourself. The catch? You can't get it without a full hormone panel and a doctor who understands what those numbers mean. Most women never get either, but Hone Health gives you both. *See how it works →

🐝 Baby Bees @ Moultrie-Colquitt County Library | Tuesday (4/28) at 10:15 AM – Baby Bees is buzzing with books, rhymes, songs, and tiny instruments, a quick 20-minute fix for littles 0-3 and their parents, caregivers. Expect scarves, puppets, and optional playtime after, which is code for grown-up small talk, coffee deprivation, and surprisingly happy toddlers.

📚 Books & Bubbles @ Margaret Jones Public Library (Sylvester) | Tuesday (4/28) at 10:30 AM – Bring your mini bookworms, ages 0 to 5, for story time with music, bubbles, and playtime that actually tires them out. You get adult chatter while they burn off wiggles. Consider it your weekly sanity check, no babysitter required.

🎨 Multimedia Paint & Play @ The Syd Blackmarr Arts Center (Tifton) | Tuesday (4/28) at 5:30 PM – Main Street Arts Studio hands us grownups a hall pass to make a mess without repainting the kitchen, with a 3D painting class using sculpture paste and acrylics. This month’s piece backs autism awareness, materials included, plus a raffle for handmade earrings or a keychain.

⛺ RecX Outdoor Expo @ Spence Field (Moultrie) | Friday (5/1) at 7:00 AM – Spence Field in Moultrie is going full outdoorsy for the RecX Outdoor Expo, and someone’s leaving with a handmade Hays LTI smoker to make your brisket famous. I’m swinging by the LWL booth, then lingering for gear, tall tales, and wood smoke.

⭐ Preschool Stars @ Moultrie-Colquitt County Library | Friday (5/1) at 10:30 AM – If your tiny roommate is three to five and curious about everything, this storytime is a win. Expect a letter of the day, themed books, songs, and a craft or activity, then optional playtime, which is code for socializing while their brains do cartwheels.

🎨 Arts in Black Festival @ Fulwood Park (Tifton) | Friday (5/1) – Celebrating 40 years, the Arts in Black Festival takes over Fulwood Park with local art, live performances, and food that ruins your willpower in the best way. A first-weekend-of-May tradition where Tifton runs into Tifton, so bring a chair, curiosity, and your small-town wave.

This 4-bed, 3-bath lakefront retreat sits on Lake Blackshear with a covered dock for easy boating and lazy fishing days. Inside, tile and hardwood floors, plus a custom-tile shower, add polish. King-size bedrooms offer spread-out comfort. A party-ready basement fits multiple bunk beds, great for big gatherings or revenue-minded rentals.