Newspaper Page Text
Mortal*
MY MOTHER and father flew to
Washington, D.C. last week.
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JIM COSE Y EDITOR aScTT*»
ROGER HENDERSON ADVERTISING DIRECTOR I VHjjlU f
SHEILA MARTIN CLASSIFIED MG & PRODUCTION
WYNELLECOSEY OFFICE MANAGER
CATHY PUCKETT STAFF WRITER memsck
Published every Wednesday by The Forsyth County News Company. Second Class Postage paid ot:
Post Office in Cumming, Georgia under Act of March Bth in 1897. Subscription rates in Forsyth and
adjacent counties. $9.36 per year, including State Sales Tax. Other Georgia counties and out-of
state. $12.48 per year, includes soles tax.
107 DAHLONEGA ST.
887 3127
Our Opinions
Asst. Chief Missed
The Cumming City Council last week
voted to retire the badge of the recently
deceased Assistant Police Chief Bonnie
Bennett.
Bennett was • a familiar sight to
everyone in Cumming. His friendly smile
and wave to every car and everyone on
the street was a bright reminder that he
Think Of Business
(Editor’s Note: This editorial appeared
recently in The Houston Home Journal, Perry,
Ga. We are reprinting it but changing the
names ot the county and town to suit our own
situation.)
What do yearbooks, charity drives, drug
abuse calendars, athletic programs, club
books, books published by a number of retired
groups and civic backed music programs all
have in common?
They are all important parts of their in
dividual group’s activities for the year and
most all of them are based on the soundest of
intentions. They are also all dependent on the
local business community for their support.
It is important for business people to look at
the economic aspects of the many projects that
come their way during the year for support
through advertisements in books and donations
of gifts or gift certificates. In doing this, the
merchants find themselves also evaluating the
impact each project makes on the community
and this puts merchants in an unfair position.
Just recently, a merchant told me, “I am
mighty glad this week is almost over because I
got hit at least five times for donations. ”
Such requests are commonplace for Forsyth
County businesses. Everybody has a project
and they all need money to operate. So where
do they turn? To the local business community.
How many times have you heard someone
say, “Hey, let’s ask Mr. so and so, he’s been in
business here a long time and he’s got plenty of
money...besides we buy lots from him...” That
reasoning has at least two falacies.
Poor Mom
Jim Cosey
Now, to begin with, I need to let you know
that my mother is not your average “flying
MARCH 26, 1980 CUMMING, GEORGIA
30130
PAGE 2
cared about the people he served.
He had served in local law enforcement
for some 27 years and was one of those
rare individuals who was loved by
everyone.
The city council, by retiring his badge,
showed their respect for his service to the
city. He will be missed by all.
Just because someone in Cumming or For
syth County owns and operates his own
business doesn’t mean he has plenty of money.
In fact, with the rising costs of doing business,
budgets are tighter than ever before.
There isn’t a business in town that wouldn’t
rather donate to a local cause than pay city,
county, and state taxes, or buy business
licenses, pay workman’s compensation' in
surance, contribute very generously to social
security, pay for hospital insurance for
employees, worry about rent or mortgage
payments and face up to large utility bills each
month. But, merchants have all these ex
penses, plus the rising threat of inflation to bat
tle just to keep their businesses above water.
The really difficult thing for the merchant is
that most groups calling on him for contribu
tions do represent a segment of his customers.
Even if the merchant cannot afford the con
tribution, he is placed in the unfortunate posi
tion that patronage is a two way street.
What is the answer to this rising problem?
Cut out all fund raising projects? Of course not.
Most here in our community are essential and
for a worthy cause but some are not. Each pro
ject is judged on its merit by the group before it
contacts any merchants.
When all these groups are making their pitch
to merchants, they should remember they
aren’t the only ones who need help. Most mer
chants want to do their part, but even more of
them aren’t made of money either.
person.” She is deathly afraid of those big jet
airliners and she doesn’t relish the thoughts of
being way up there above the clouds.
But, due to reasons beyond her control, she
and my father have to travel on a plane about
every six months. I remember flying with my
mother on her first plane trip and when I stood
up to stretch my legs she grabbed me and yell
ed, “Sit down! You’ll rock this thing!”
Anyway, back to this week’s tale. My mother
called from Washington the other night and
was still in a state of shock. She related a story
to me that was not at all funny, but when pictur
ing my mother in my mind I couldn’t help but
laugh. '' >
She said the plane trip from Atlanta was pret
ty smooth. They were getting ready to land in
IWOK9 UP THIS MPRNIN& •
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There is a word in every language that con
notes a mood, a spirit, a feeling, perhaps even a
being. The French call it ambiance, Americans
say it’s atmosphere. Every place has an at
mosphere of one kind or another. Every place
has an atmosphere whether it’s good or not.
The South has always had its atmosphere, a
way which is uniquely regional and yet known
the world over. Heck, even New York has an at
mosphere from which many of us suffer culture
shock when we encounter it, but which many
New Yorkers starve for when they’re removed
from it.
In my travels I’ve discovered the place that
has a super-charged atmosphere. It’s the place
where every Georgia boy who ever wanted to
leave home went to. It’s the place where tradi
tionally things are larger than life.
It’s a place that thinks so large that the
governor conducts policy discussion with Mex
ico regarding oil problems. He says that the
current administration hasn’t handled it, so he
will.
It’s a radio station that ties in with the local
rodeo and sponsors every kind of benefit for
kickers, those folks who like cowboy music.
Texas is the place, an atmosphere that has
created its own country music.
I never knew there were as many cowboy
songs as there are. I really thought that Tex
Ritter, Roy Rogers and Gene Autry had ridden
If the majority of Americans are tired of
working and supporting families who have
been on welfare rolls for generations, why are
more and more people receiving welfare
checks?
If the majority of people are against legaliz
ing immorality, marijuana, abortions, and por
nography, why are these the biggest businesses
in America?
If the majority is upset because food stamps
are “Cadillac Crowd,” why are we silent?
If the majority of families have an income
too high to get grants and loans for their college
age children, why can they not stretch their in
comes far enough to meet the sky-rocketing
costs of living?
If the majority are law abiding, do not steal,
commit crimes, or kill people, why are our jails
and prisons packed beyond capacity?
If the majority is against our government go
ing deeper and deeper in debt, why are our con
gressmen voting to raise the national debt to all
time highs?
If the majority of Americans are against
government red tape, inefficiency, and
Washington and my mother said she was begin
ning to breathe a little easier. She always takes
a pill before the trips to calm her nerves.
So they were coming in for the landing and
the wheels were locked down and things were
going along pretty well. My mother tells the
story this way,- “My ears were popping as we
were coming down and I was feeling relieved at
seeing the earth come up to meet us. The
wheels touched the ground and we were finally
getting ready to land when all of a sudden the
plane shot straight up. I grabbed Pa and
wondered what in the world was happening. We
were back in the air and my back was glued to
the seat.
“About three minutes later the pilot came
over the loud speaker and told us that there had
Sawnee Sam Sex.,.
By
George Robertson. Jr.
Atmosphere
into the sunset. But, would you believe that
Texas has a whole bunch of new cowboys and
they have the music with which to ride.
Mexicans seem to come and go across the
border in spite of the INS (Department of Im
migration and Naturalization Service).
Apparently that agency ranks right up there
in efficiency with many other government
bureaus.
Tex-Mex’s, those Spanish people who were
here prior to the Alamo, contribute significant
ly to the culture. For sure Texas is an in
teresting place. It has an atmosphere of its
own.
In Houston it not only has an atmosphere, it
has a stratosphere. This is rocket city, the mis
sion control for America’s space probe.
Of course, the history of Houston has been
that it was a super-charged town even in the
pre-space age. Then it was and in faot still is,
an oil town. You can go back historically even
before that and find that early Texas prosperi
ty came from cattle, beef for the north and the
westward trail.
Texas always seems to find a way to prosper,
always seems to be economically self contain
ed. It may be because Texas thinks it’s a coun
try. Its entry into the Union came from the in
dependent Republic of Texas. Perhaps, in
dependent thinking is a good influence upon
this land of ours.
Forgotten People
By Julianne Boling
Too Many Whys!
unreasonable spending, why is it still happen
ing?
If the majority of'people are against power
and gas company officials receiving
unreasonable salaries, why is it the Public Ser
vice Commission is allowed to continue to raise
rates?
If the majority of people believe the gas shor
tage is not real, why do we pay more and more
per gallon of gas?
If the majority feel that our government has
let us down in the areas of cancer research, fuel
exploration, and stable economy, why are we
so silent?
If drug addiction and alcohol are not serious
problems in Forsyth County, why are
youngsters being taken to the hospital for over
dosing?
If the marijuana in Forsyth County is not
“good stuff,” how are our youngsters getting
high on it?
If all these things are true, then the
American idea of “the majority rules” is
definitely a thing of the past.
been a mixup in communications and just as
we were coming in for the landing, another
plane was about to take off in the same path. A
near disaster had beenavoided.”
NOW THAT’S a true story!
Later, while thinking about what had happen
ed, I couldn’t help but laugh. I could just pic
ture my mother sitting in her seat, all relaxed
since they were about to land, and then all of a
sudden the plane takes off again.
Poor thing, she must have been terrified. I’U
bet her eyes got big as saucers.
I’m really not making fun of Mom. I sym
pathize with her. If I’d been on that plane,
there’s probably be an added puddle
somewhere!
Mother’s only comment after talking with
her was, “Just think, I’ve got to get back on one
of those things to get back home! ”
But, there’s a happy ending to the story.
Mother and Pa made it back home and she’s
already dreading the next trip in six months.
I told her that she should count her lucky
stars. They could have been hijacked to Cuba.
Her reaction to that comment cannot be
printed!
I’ve always had extremely nice experiences
with flying. It’s always been a beautiful, clear
day with nothing but blue skies. It seems that
everytime my Mom flies there’s a thunder
storm or ice or mixup in connections
somewhere.
One time they were headed for Washington
and had to be rerouted to Maryland due to bad
weather and then there was the problem with
lost luggage, etc. They went for three days with
no change of clothes.
Poor Mom! I really feel sorry for her when it
comes to those plane trips, but without them,
there wouldn’t be a column this week, so thanks
Mom!
+-t-+ *
FORSYTH FACES-Debra and Lloyd Hyder
shooting for silver at Amway Rally... Dennis
Moore getting cranked up for golf season...
Margaret Miller making emergency phone call
to husband... Jody Moses discussing Fourth of
July Parade... Alison Holcomb going “over the
hill”...Sheila Hughes having trouble with phone
caller... Bernice Coker enjoying two ice cream
sundaes at one time... Phil Meadows being
honored at basketball banquet...NanOy
Vaughan saying, “I just can’t believe it! ”
Cathy Puckett
Hair
Doings
When I arrived at the beauty shop, Ann knew
she’d have to muster up all her hair-fixing
training and talents to fill my request df,
“make me beautiful!” >
Now, Ann is noted for being an excellent hair
dresser, and has quite a large clientele, but tak
ing on the challenge of fixing my strange locks
was something else. Taking one look at my
mop, Ann asked me to please leave the beauty
shop lobby and re-enter through the Emergen
cy Entrance.
As she began brushing, washing and even
scrubbing my head, I noticed Ann’s usual
friendly smile and glowing personality soon
began to change. She quit using both her hands
to roll my hair, and started chewing on a couple
of fingernails on her left hand.
While I was under the hair dryer, Ann felt
brave enough to begin the task of giving me a
manicure. “Make my fingernails as pretty as
the lady’s you just finished,” I requested of her.
“I can’t,” Ann replied, “she takes lunch hours
and doesn’t sit around the office all day like you
do chewing on your nails.”
The visit to the beauty shop was a total flop!
Oh, my hair-do was lovely, and my nails were
freshly polished, but for some strange reason
Ann failed to fill my request of making me
beautiful.
Looking into the mirror for a close check of
my new hair style, I began noticing the
overhead light was shining brightly on some lit
tle silver things poking out here and there from
my head. “Where did all this gray hair come
from? I questioned Ann. “Anyone that knows
me knows I don’t have a gray hair in my head,
I’m much too young for that old-age type
business,” I shouted at her.
I was upset to say the least, and began
screaming loud enough to get the attention of
people three blocks away. “I’ll get an attomejr
and sue you for making my hair turn gray,”!
shouted at Ann.
I don’t think she was exactly paying too much
attention to my loud threats, she just kinds
wandered through the beauty shop scratching
her head and mumbling something about mov
ing to a deserted island to get away from it all.
How exciting, I thought, Ann is going to get to
take a nice trip. I do hope she remembers to
send me a post card. And, goodness, I hope she
isn’t gone too long, cause I’m planning to make
it a point to make another beauty shop appoint
ment real soon so maybe next time she can
fulfill my request and make me beautiful!
YotceofthftPflopte
Help Clean Up
Dear Editor:
* ' like to commend the local Kiwanis
Club and their president, Stan Bass, for the
anti-litter campaign they have recently launch
ed for our county. Also, I appreciate the county
and city officials for recognizing this problem
and lending their support.
The problem of dumping garbage along our
county roads has been with us for some time
now. Hopefully we will see a change in the com>
mg weeks as we will be reminded of our litter
problem.
Forsyth Countians have a responsibility to
take pride in their communities and I would
luce to encourage everyone to take part in this
worthwhile campaign. Let’s all remember
April 19 as “Anti-Litter Day” and do our part to
help the Kiwanis Club clean up our county.
LOUIE E. HANSARD .
Cumming
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