Newspaper Page Text
THE FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS - THURSDAY, JAN. 6, 1972-
THE 225? NEWS
Established 1908
Tony Maddox, Editor & Publisher
Minor Martin, Advertising Manager
John Reynolds, News Editor
Published every Thursday by The Forsyth
County News Company. Second Class Pos
tage paid at the Post Office in Cumming ,
Georgia, under the Act of March 8, 1897.
Subscription rates in Forsyth and adjoining
counties, $4.12 per year, including state
sales tax; elsewhere, $5.15 per year. Telephone
887-3127.
107 DAHLONEGA ST. CUMMING GEORGIA
30130
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By JOHN REYNOLDS
THE RED RIVER VALLEY
Near Byblos,. the oldest
town in the world, in pic
turesque Lebanon, a river
empties into the Mediterra
nean regularly coloring the
normally blue-green waters
blood-red for several miles in
to the sea.
Legend has it that it is the
blood of Adonis, the hand
some Phoenician god who
was slain by a wild boar at
the river’s source.
Actually, it is the iron con
tent of the soil that is dis
lodged by the increased
current of the river as it
winds its way through the
valley. In early spring, too,
the hills on each side of the
Nahr Ibrahim are dotted with
scarlet anemones drops of
the same divine blood that
flowed from Adonis’ wounds.
They are gathered by tourists
and picnickers, who come
from all over Lebanon to
gather them, giving them a
semi-mystical power.
According to the Greeks
and Romans, Adonis was
born of the incestuous union
of King Cynyras of Cyprus
and his daughter Myrrha,
mother earth who trans
formed herself into a tree be
fore giving birth to him.
On reaching manhood,
Adonis was of such extra
ordinary beauty that the
Gods became jealous of him.
When he and Venus were
hunting, the war god, Mars,
sent a wild boar to kill him in
the cedar forests of Mount
Lebanon, (the Cedars are the
national symbol of Lebanon)
where Adonis often hunted.
From there his blood fell on
the ground (giving rise to the
anemones).
Adonis made his way to
the river and when Venus
bathed his wounds there, the
water was stained red with his
blood.
For centuries after,
occupants of the valley have
kept up ritual dances and
stage rites in Afka every
February, singing dirges and
throwing an effigy of Adonis
GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO HAVE COLOR
Color will be added to the broadcasts of the 1972 Georgia
General Assembly sessions by the state's educational television
network.
ETV first aired the legislative proceedings in 1971 in an effort
to provide public education and public information about the
legislative process. Once again, actual proceedings will be shown
each night.
New equipment added this year will allow the network to
telecast both the House and Senate in color.
Monday through Friday, the sessions will be aired at 10 p.m.
Friday evening the program will be a live-“ Meet The Press'*
forum, which will be taped and replayed on Sunday.
Jim Whipkey of WSB-TV in Atlanta, will provide the narration
with each broadcast, explaining in more detail the provisions
of actual legislation and the procedures used by both Houses in
the legislative process.
House Speaker George L. Smith 11, Swalnsboro, was instru
mental in' initiating this unique use of publicly-owned tele
vision to bring the action of “The Law Maker,” into the homes
of Georgia’s citizens.
Much of the legislative work in preparation for the broad
casts was coordinated by Rep. Larry Thomason of DeKalb
County with an interim legislative cbmmittee and the Georgia
ETV Network.
In June, the ETV Network provided another unique opp
ortunity for Georgians when House and Senate Reapportionment
Committees appeared and answered questions from the live
audience via a toll-free telephone line.
To supplement the 1972 broadcasts, an information booklet
has been prepared for distribution to schools and civic clubs.
The booklet provides a complete history of the program, “The
Law Makers.”
Edward Weston won I I 11(1 J* *Lf '■
SIO,OOO for walking from I
Portland, Maine to v.'
Chicago in 1867. He made '
it in 26 days. —""
into the water in memory of
his death. It is said in the
villages of the valley that
after these often licentious
rites the Adonis worshippers
march up over Mount
Hermon to throw themselves
into Venus’ sacred lake of
Yammone for purification.
Today, bits of the belief
and ceremonies still persist
and an Adonis Festival is now
celebrated each spring, with
folk dancing, plays, proces
sions and picnics. There, the
sick still hang bits of clothing
in the hope of being cured.
The old Roman route up
from the sea past the river’s
main spring and on over the
mountain, intertwining with
the modem road, and passing
near such sites as Mashnake,
the Adonis Temple, where a
huge stone gate and stone
carved figures depict him and
other gods. Higher up are the
ruins of St. George the Blue,
an Adonis sanctuary con
verted .to a church in early
Christian days.
A Baalbeck in miniature
(Baalbeck is a famous reli
gious center in Lebanon and
the seat of the largest body of
Roman ruins left to the
world), it* alko contains a
Byzantine apse and Crusader
walls.
Recent explorations have
brought to light additional
and Up to now, unknown
caves, burial vaults and
chapels, full of ancient in
scriptions and paintings going
back to the pre-Christian
days.
The modem traveller dis
covering Lebanon is in for a
trip of pleasure and interest
when he visits the Red River
Valley where a fascinating
part of the mytivological
world has been brought back
to life.
But does a sip from the
iron-rich Lebanese River
really have the revitalizing
effects that some tourists be
lieve? No one can say for
sure.
PAGE 2
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Aerial view shows 163 acre tract of 10-year phased planned community, Riverbend East.
Bordering the development on the left is the University of Geoigia golf course.
ABOUT PRAYER IN SCHOOLS
The United States Constitution states that Congress shall
make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or pro
hibiting the free exercise thereof; of abridging the freedom of
speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably
to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of
grievances.
THE FEDERAL COURTS ruled this prohibits a school
prescribed prayer and scheduling of a time or place for
voluntary prayer. To me this is absurd. A voluntary prayer
in school is not "The Congress making a law respecting an
establishment of religion.” In plain words, the courts stretched
the Constitution to ban prayer in schools.
NO CHAPELS: If the courts extend their ruling, there
will be no chapels on Army bases and no chaplains. Did our
founders intend for the federal courts to ban voluntary prayer?
Of course not, but it takes a Constitutional Amendment to over
rule the courts.
NOVEMBER 8, 1971: Your U. S. House of Representatives
defeated a proposed Constitutional Amendment which would
have overturned the Supreme and lower court decisions and
allowed voluntary prayer in schools. It stated:
VOLUNTARY PRAYER AMENDMENT: "Nothing contained
in this Constitution shall abridge the right of persons law
fully assembled, in any public building which is supported in
whole or in part through the expenditure of public funds, to
participate in voluntary prayer or meditation.”
WHY THE DEFEAT? Some Congressmen said by voting against
voluntary prayer, they were protecting the Constitution from
"tampering.” ~sut hasn’t the Court already tampered with the
First Amendment? Some just do not want any mention of God
in a religious sense in our schools.
EARLIER it was proposed a non-denominational prayer be
allowed. Few agreed on the form; thus we voted on allowing
voluntary prayer instead. However, many feel the following
is non-denominational:
THE LORD’S PRAYER: "Our Father, Who art in heaven,
hallowed by Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass
against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
evil, for Thine is the kingdom and power and the glory
forever.”
IT IS GOOD to know about others’ faith. While my family is
Methodist, I want my children to hear Catholic, Jewish, Epis
copal, Mormon and other prayers voluntarily given. This is part
of growing up. It reinforces their own faith. Freedom of speech,
even through prayer, does no harm to the First Amendment.
IT IS IMPORTANT that we learn to respect and understand
others’ religions.
NO STUDENT SHOULD be prevented from or forced to
pray, nor should a school board write a required prayer, but
a prayer to open an assembly, even given by someone not of
your religion, violates no one’s rights. To hear others’ views,
even in prayer, does not force one to adopt them.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND why the federal courts
have said the First Amendment allows filthy books, speech and
dirty pictures in schools, but prohibits a voluntary prayer or
the setting aside of a time or place for prayer.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND how Congress and even
the Supreme Court can open their sessions with prayer and then
refuse school children the right to open an assembly with prayer.
IT’S DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND why the National Council
of Churches and so many ministers led the lobbying effort that
helped defeat voluntary prayer.
IT’S DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND how we can proclaim to
be "One Nation Under God” in our pledge andput"ln God We
Trust” on our money and then deny school children the right
to pray voluntarily in school.
IT’S DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND how 162 Congressmen, in
cluding 3 Georgia Congressmen, can vote to deny school children
the right to pray voluntarily in school.
By: Fletcher Thompson
GEORGIA BAPTISTS AUTHORIZE PURCHASE
The Georgia Baptist Convention’s executive committee has
authorized the signing of a contract for purchase of 25 acres of
Atlanta Baptist College property as the site for a Baptist adm
inistrative center.
Executive Secretary-Treasurer Searcy S. Garrison was auth
orized to sign the contract for the purchase at $2,000 per acre
in keeping with an offer made by the college trustees earlier
this year.
Meeting Tuesday at the college in northeast Metro Atlanta,
the committee was informed by college officials and Convention
legal counsel that restrictive covenants had been removed which
would have limited the use of the property.
The proposed building at the college site would house the
Convention’s administrative and promotional staff nowlocatedat
291 Peachtree St., St. NE in downtown Atlanta.
The building project probably will take two years to complete
and may cost $2.5 million estimated.
A record state missions budget of $1,221,004 was approved
for 1972. This includes chaplaincy ministries in hospitals,
prison, and resorts, new church site fund, church building
emergency fund, support of assoclational and area missionaries
in 82 of the state’s 93 associations.
Ten departments of state mission work comprise the Con
vention staff. These departments provided personnel and res
ources which strengthen the work of local churches and assoc
iations.
The committee voted to send a telegram to President Richard
Nixon expressing prayers for divine guidance and for his well
being in his travels to China and Russia.
By-laws for the Georgia Baptist Hospital Commission were
approved in keeping with accreditation procedures. The comm
ission, which operates the Georgia Baptist Hospital in Atlanta
on behalf of the executive committee, had no by-laws previously.
GEORGIA’S GIFTED CHILDREN CITED
Georgia and three other states California, Connecticut
and Illinois have been cited in an HEW report as the only
states having adequate educational programs for the gifted.
The report to the U. S. Congress, by HEW’s Office of Education
indicated a general failure nationally to provide adequate
programs.
U. S. Commissioner of Education Sidney P. Marland, Jr.,
said that the report on the education of gifted and talented youth
is based on a study mandated by Congress under the Elementary
and Secondary Education Amendments of 1969. The report notes
that education for gifted and talented children rates a very
low priority at the federal level and at most state and local
levels. Federal programs and services to this group are almost
nonexistent. Although 21 states have legislation to provide re
sources to school districts for services to the gifted and tal
ented, such legislation represents little more than intent in all
but Georgia and the three other states singled out.
The importance of programs for the gifted was stressed by
Dr. Marland. He said, "Gifted and talented children in later
life often make outstanding contributions to our society, parti
cularly in the arts, politics, business, and the sciences. But
in the United States today, many of these versatile and complex
young people are performing far below their aptitude and.are
among the most neglected of those persons with special educa
tional needs particularly if they come from minority or
disadvantaged groups. Much of their neglect stems from the
comfortable notion that a bright mind somehow Will always make
its own way.”
According to State Superintendent of Schools Jack P. Nix,
Georgia’s program for the gifted operates with 85 professional
staff in 70 school systems throughout die state. Margaret
Bynum, Consultant for the Gifted for the Department of Educa
tion and* Director of the Governor’s Honors Program, says
that the state-supported, program involves only about 5 to 6
thousand of the estimated 25 to 60 thousand gifted and talented
students in the state. She points out that the program is new
only 18 of the 70 systems involved have had a state-supported
program for the gifted for as long as three years, and none
for longer than that.
Bynum says, "We’re pleased with our program, but we need
to extend it much further. We define the gifted as ’those
students whose mental ability as determined by a standardized
mental ability test places them in the upper two to five percent
of the general school population.’ By this definition we need to
reach another 20 to 55 thousand children.” She noted that this
definition is used only as a guideline—talented youth who do
not meet this criterion may also become involved in the pro
grams if their teachers conclude they need it.
Georgia’s program operates with one or more coordinators
or resource teachers in a school district. Coordinators develop
and direct programs for the gifted; resource teachers assist
teachers who have gifted students andprovide them with teaching
materials. In some districts these resource teachers also teach
students directly. Those working under the state program also
establish resource rooms where special materials are made
available to talented children. In one county—Columbia county
in East Georgia--a program has been set up in a bus, making
the resources mobile and more readily available to more
children.
In addition to the program operating through the 70 school
districts, the Department of Education sponsors the Governor’s
Honors Program, an annual summer residential institute for
400 upcoming 11th and 12th-graders who are intellectually gifted
or artistically talented.
Bynum added that Georgia law mandates that all gifted
Georgia children, grades 1 - 12, should be served by the state
program. "If federal funds f9r the gifted become available,”
she said, "we can make good* use of them. We are already
writing up programs for whieh we can apply for federal funds
under a bill that is to be introduced to Congress, probably next
February.”
SCHOOL ROUTE BRIDGES BEING INSPECTED
Federally-required inspections under way on bridges on
secondary, county-maintained roads have turned up almost 400
bridges in such poor shape that Highway Department officials
feel their ability to support the 15-ton weight of a fully-loaded
school bus is suspect.
The Highway Department, therefore, has kicked off a campaign
to close the dangerous bridges to school bus traffic.
The Department has requested school bus route maps from
each county. If these routes are found to cross suspect bridges,
department engineers then re-evaluate the structures, to deter
mine if they can safely carry 15 tons and, if not, what their load
limits are. The counties are then notified of the Department’s
findings. The Highway Department may not order the removal
of school bus routes from bridges on off-system roads, but may
only recommend such action.
The Highway Department has completed bridge re-evaluation
in northern Georgia, and has begun notifying counties there of
the status of their school bus routes. Preliminary inspection
of bridges throughout the rest of the state should be completed
by late December, according to officials.
Later, the Highway Department will remove school bus
routes from any defective bridges found on the State Highway
H?MEFI«T SYSTEM OF //I 1 *
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STATE’S YOUTHS OFFERED MANY ADVANTAGES
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THROUGH GEORGIA POWER COMPANY’S
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
Rewrite By: John A. Reynolds
FFA FARM AND HOME ELECTRIFICATION PROGRAM: The
Future Farmers of America (FFA) Farm and Home Electri
fication Program was originated in 1954 in cooperation with the
VocaUomdAgriculture Service of the State Department of
mZSS A program was formed to encourage the use of
electricity on the farm and in the home, thus bringing greater
efficiency and convenience to the farm family. Any in-school
member of the Georgia Association of Future Farmers of Am
erica who has received farm electrification instruction in
vocational agriculture classes prior to doing the projects re
ported may enter the competition. Projects, which are based on
farm electricity application, are judged on the need for the work
done, the working plan developed, the quality of the work, and
the knowledge of the project.
One-year college tuition scholarships are awarded to the first
and second place state winners. The scholarships may be used
any year the winner desires and at any school in the University ,
System of Georgia. The top state winner also receives
awards from the Georgia Power Company and the Natibnal
FFA Foundation to pay his expenses to the National FFA
convention.
Cash awards also are given to the six top contestants in
each of the state’s four vocational areas. The chapter adviser
of each state winner and adviser of the winning chapter in each
of the four vocational areas are recognized with cash prizes
to pay expenses to the National FFA Convention.
4-H WILDLIFE PROGRAM: Since 1963, Georgia Power has been
sponsoring a 4-H wildlife competition, joining with the Uni
versity of Georgia’s Cooperative Extension Service in support
of the conservation program. As part of the program, 4-H
members at both the senior and junior levels participate in
learning to appreciate the value of wildlife to the state’s
econorr y and the Importance of conserving wildlife.
Each year over 12,000 Georgia 4-H youths participate in such
wildlife projects as learning good management practices for
certain game or fish species, making plaster casts of animal
tracks, raising birds, animals or fish bait, and building bird
houses and feeders.
Georgia Power awards subscriptions to the Georgia Cloverleaf
for cloverleaf and junior projects winners in all Extension dis
tricts and makes cash awards for first, second and third
place junior winners in each district. Other awards include
expense-paid education trips for the first-place district winning
senior to the state 4-H Congress and gift subscriptions to the
National 4-H News to each senior participant.
YOUTH CONFERENCE ON THE ATOM: Each year, seven
outstanding Georgia high school students with a keen interest
in science attend the National Youth Conference on the Atom in
Chicago, Illinois.
Highlights of the four-day meeting include exhibits and demon
strations of atomic power applications and tours of Common
wealth Edison’s Dresden Nuclear Power Plant, the Argonoe
National Laboratory, and the Museum of Science and Industry.
TRANSYLVANIA MUSIC SCHOLARSHIPS: The Transylvania
Music Scholarship program is one of Georgia Power’s most
coveted educational and cultural opportunities. Sponsored in
cooperation with the Georgia Federation of Music Clubs, the
scholarship program enables gifted high school musicians
"a vacation with a purpose” at the Transylvania Music Camp
at Brevard, North Carolina.
Seven $650 scholarships, one from each of the Company’s
seven geographical division, are offered annually to applicants
between the ages of 12 and 18.
5
FHA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: The Future Homemakers of j
America college scholarship competition began in 1965, helping <
to make a college education available to deserving high school!
seniors planning to study home economics at the University
of Georgia. The two-year tuition scholarship provides for six
quarters of study for the winner. To be eligible for the award
a graduating high school senior must be an active member of
the Georgia Association of Future Homemakers of America,
maintain a scholastic average above 80, and show leadership
ability in home, school, and community life.
STUDENT CO-OP PROGRAM: For many years, the Georgia
Power Company has sponsored an engineering student co-op
program in cooperation with various colleges and universities
throughout the Southeast. This program enables young men in
terested in furthering their college education to work three
months in the field in which they are majoring, and attend school
three months on an alternating schedule.
4-H CLUB ELECTRONICS PROGRAM: In 1965 the Georgia
Power Company initiated a 4-41 Club Electronics Program for
junior and senior 4-H Club members. This program offers the
opportunity to study the basics of a challenging subject, compete
for valuable prizes, and possibly evoke interest which may lead
to a profitable hobby or occupation. Winners in each of the
Cooperative Extension Service’s six districts receive an expense
paid trip to Atlanta to the 4-H Club State Congress and an
official 4-H Club Blazer, The award for th e state winner is
an expense-paid trip to Chicago to attend the National 4-H
Club Congress. The state winner, selected from one of the six
district winners, receives a one-year tuition scholarship to any
school in the University System of Georgia.
NORTH GEORGIA ELECTRICIAN’S COURSE: Georgia Power
Company in cooperation with the North Georgia Technical and
Vocational School at ClarkesvUle, initiated a special 14-week
Electrician’s Course. Now expanded to a year’s study, the pro
gram is administered by the Georgia Electrification Council.
Applicants must have a high school education or the equivalent
and pass the school’s aptitude test which indicates natural ab
ilities for electrical work. Students receive a one-year course
of training to prepare for a career in a top-paying trade.
Loans are available to cover room and board for qualified
students wishing to reside on the school grounds.
NORTH GEORGIA ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE SERVICE
COURSE: The Appliance Service Course offered by the North
Georgia Technical and Vocational School in cooperation with the
Georgia Electrification Council, is available to any high school
graduate with reasonably good aptitude in the nechanical and
electrical fields. The program includes training on all house
hold electrical appliances and up-to-date servicing techniques.
AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING FRESHMAN MERIT SCHOL
ARSHIP: A one-year tuition scholarship has been awarded ann
ually to a freshman entering the University of Georgia’s College
of Agriculture. The scholarship is awarded on the basis of high
academic achievement in high school. The student must be
graduated from a Georgia high school.
JACK McDONOUGH EDITORIAL AWARDS: Instituted in 1962,
the Jack McDonough Editorial Award is awarded for the best
editorial on free enterprise in America written by a Georgia
high school junior or senior and published in his high school
newspaper during the current school year. For the winner,
the Georgia Power Company awards a $750 scholarship to the
University of Georgia’s School of Journalism. In addition, the
winner receives a bronze plaque of recognition and a portable
typewriter for himself and one for his teacher.