Newspaper Page Text
EARLY COUNTY, GA.
Garden Spot Os
GOD'S COUNTRY
VOLUME NO. 110—NO. 51
CITY ELECTION HELD;
INCUMBENTS REELECTED
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Reelected - A. J. Gentry & Guy Dunaway
Incumbents Guy H. Dunaway
and A. J. Gentry were reelected
to seats on the Blakely City
Council for two-year terms, be
ginning January 1, 1970.
At the August 5 election here,
Dunaway received 346 votes for
his second term on the city
council; and Gentry received 278
Ben Thomas, 7,
dies Friday;
services here Sun.
EBenjamin Harvey Thomas, 111,
age 7, the son of Mr. and Mrs.
B. H. Thomas, Jr., died Friday
evening at 8;10 o'clock at Early
Memorial Hospital following a
long illness.
"Little Elen" as he became
known to hundreds of friends
as he fought so courageously,
was stricken more than a year
ago. The long battle to regain
his health had been watched in
tently by the entire community.
He had been carried to various
hospitals and specialists and had
been given every treatment which
could be supplied by devoted
parents. When news of his
passing became known it oc
casioned wide-spread sorrow,
and a large crowd of sorrowing
friends and relatives attended
the last rites held Sunday after
noon in the First Baptist Church
of Blakely, conducted by the pas
tor, Dr. C. D. Horton, and as
sisted by the Rev. Lee Wilson
and the Rev. J. W, Loyless.
Interment was in the Blakely
cemetery, Manry-Jordan Fune
ral Home in charge and follow
ing serving as pall bearers:
Carlton Scarborough, V. L Mc-
Lendon, John D. Rabon and Hal
Hobbs.
The young boy was born
October 31, 1961. He attended
Sunday School at the First Bap
tist Church, and had completed
the second grade at Early Ele
mentary School. In addition to
the parents, survivors include a
sister, Janie Thomas.
A stamp will be issued to com
memorate the Apollo 11 Flight
when man walked on the Moon.
The dye for the stamp was taken
to the moon and brought back by
the astronauts, it will be mixed
with other dye and used in print
ing the stamps, according to
Postmaster J. Emory Houston,
of the Blakely Post Office.
-DANCE-
V. F. W.
Sat. Nite, Aug. 23
9:00 P. M. Till!
Music By
BOBBY & THE
DIAMONDS
Public Invited
Couples Only
€m!| County ^ewo
votes to begin his third term.
Marshal Day tallied 195 votes;
Bill Hudson, 126; and Billy Shef
field, 46.
Alex Howell, mayor, and two
other councilmen, James B. Mur
dock, Jr., mayor pro tern; and
Wayne Foster are holdover mem
bers of the council.
Funeral services
for Mrs Johnson
held in Arlington
Mrs. Florence Griffin Johnson,
80, of Route 2, Leary, widow of
Tom Johnson, died suddenly
at her residence Saturday. A
native and life-time resident of
Calhoun County, she was born
April 30, 1889, the daughter of
William C. Griffin and Lou Jack
son Griffin. She was a member
of the Leary Methodist Church.
Funeral services were held
Sunday afternoon, 3 o’clock, the
Arlington Methodist Church, the
Revs. Joe Kelly, Virgil Lee and
Nelson Wethersby officiating.
Burial was in the Oak Grove
cemetery, Manry-Jordan Fune
ral Home was in charge- Pall
bearers were Luther Timmons,
Jack Timmons, John Hart, Dick
Cook, Jimmy Pounds, Owen Grif
fin.
Only survivor is a sister, Mrs.
J. L. Slocomb, of Leary.
Funeral services
held for
Theo Murkerson
Theo Murkerson, 61, retired
Early county farmer, Route 2,
died early Monday evening at
Early Memorial Hospital follow
ing a long illness- A native
of Early county', he was born
March 11, 1908 and spent his
entire life here. He was a
member of the Zion Freewill
Baptist Church in the Sowatchee
community.
Funeral services were held
Wednesday afternoon in the Zion
church, conducted by the Rev.
D, F. Pelt and the Rev. J. B.
Lovering. Interment followed
in the Sowatchee cemetery with
Manry-Jordan Funeral Home in
charge of arrangement. Active
pall bearers were Pete English,
Glenn Sirmons, Ralph Ellis,
Charles English, Buddy English,
Raymond English, Bill English,
and Bobby Ready. Forming an
honorary escort were Millard
Still, Martin Still, Dennis John
son, Hobart Johnson, Bobby
Davis, H. B. Hasworthy, Lonnie
Chester, John Brown, Sr., Fer
rell Evans, John Lewis Still, and
H. W. Rollins.
Survivors are the widow, Mrs.
Ola Pearl English Murkerson,
one daughter, Mrs. David Still,
Blakely: two brothers, John S,
Murkerson and J. C, Murkerson,
Lake Wales, Florida.
Because of increased demands
for meat, milk and poultry, the
Japanese are now devoting more
efforts to expanding production
of these items.
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia
comprise the Baltic States.
Success to All Who Pay Their Honest Debts — “Be Sure You Are Right, Then Go Ahead”
Large crowd
attends 2nd
Jaycee sing
The Jaycee's Second Annual
All-Night Sing was held in Blak
ely, Saturday night- It drew an
estimated crowd of 3,000 despite
the rainy weather, according to
Robert Campbell, President, and
Norman Chadwell, Ist Vice
President of the Blakely Jaycees.
The proceeds from this event
will go toward a special fund
raising campaign for the handi
capped children of Early County.
This project will aid in the pur
chase of special equipment for
the Early County School Special
Education Departments.
The Blakely Jaycees and Jay
cettes would like to thank all the
people in Blakely and surrounding
areas for their continued support
and cooperation in staging these
sings. Through your partici
pation of ticket sales and the con
cession stand, we were able to
come out ahead even with the
bad weather.
Burke-Bruner Co.
recently locates
in Blakely
Gerald J. Bruner, Certified
Public Accountant, and partner
in the firm of Burke-Bruner
and Company has recently
located in Blakely.
Mr. Bruner is a 1958 gradu
ate of Indiana University, and
prior to his association with
Burke-Bruner and Company, he
was manager in the Atlanta office
of a National Public Accounting
Firm. In 1967, along with Jack
H. Burke, C.P.A., Donalsonville,
Georgia, he organized the exist
ing C.P.A. firm. This firm now
have offices in Donalsonville and
Colquitt. A permanent location
for the Blakely office has not
been established.
Mr. Bruner is married to the
former Mary D. Anderson of
Waycross and, along with their
two daughters, Terry, age 15,
and Tammy, age 11, reside at
411 Lake wood Drive- The Brun
ers are members of the First
United Methodist Church.
Immediately prior to moving
to Blakely, Mr. Bruner managed
the Bainbridge office of Burke-
Bruner and Company.
Joe Brown, 71
dies Wednesday
morning
Joe Brown, 71, a resident of
Route 3, Blakely, died early Wed
nesday morning, August 6, at
Early Memorial Hospital, follow
ing a lengthy illness.
Born in Stewart County, Feb
ruary 18, 1897, he was the son
of the late Joseph Andrew and
Mattie Curlee Brown. He had
resided in Early County for the
past 30 years and was a retired
carpenter and farmer. He was a
member of the Cuba Presbyterian
Church.
Funeral services will be held
at the chapel of Manry-Jordan
Funeral Home in Blakely. In
terment will be in the Bush
cemetery with the Rev. Andrew
H. Lanier officiating. The time
and date will be announced by
Manry-Jordan.
Survivors include: his wife,
Mrs- Edna Amerson Brown, and
two daughters, Mrs. Cliff Taylor
and Mrs. Hilda Batson, all of
Blakely: eleven grandchildren
and four great grandchildren.
"A dramatic example of the
difference between private op
erated railroads and those run
by the government is shown in
the United States’ experience in
World War I and World War
II," observes the Michigan Rail
roads Association. ''The rail
roads were taken over by the
government in World War L Their
losses totaled 52,000,000 A DAY.
And no taxes were paid. In
the second big conflict the rail
roads paid $4,000,000 A DAY
in taxes. That is a difference
of $2,190,000,000 a year with
out even considering the amount
of taxes lost in World War L”
BLAKELY GA.,THURSDAY, AUGUST 7,1969
Commissioners set Lowest
Tax Rate in Early History
Early county commissioners
met Tuesday in regular session
and fixed the tax rate for the year
1969 at 23 1/4 mills, the lowest
in Early County history, and a
3-mill reduction from last year’s
rate- However, Early county
now has its largest tax digest
in the history of the county—
-540,143,050. After homestead
exemptions, the digest shows a
net amount of $35,779,215, the
amount to which the new tax
levy will be applied.
Chairman A. Cl Wilkerson
stated that it was the hope of
the board to lower the millage
even more, but could not due to
the fact that above normal ex
penses will be incurred next year.
Among the major expenses ex
pected for next year is secur
ing right-of-way and moving
houses on the 22 mile Cedar
Springs-Saffold road. Another
22 miles of road will be paved
and this right-of-way is to be
secured. Mr. Wilkerson said
Inter-Club Council
meeting set for
Thursday night
The Inter Club Council will
meet Thursday night at the First
State Bank community room at
8:00 p.m. for the August meeting,
according to W. C. (Buddy) Wil
liams, president. A special in
vitation is extended to those in
terested in the betterment of the
community and the coordination
of programs and projects.
Mrs. Guy King is vice presi
dent of the Inter Club Council,
Mrs- Robert Campbell, secre
tary; Mrs. Verna Sammons,
treasurer.
Members of the Inter Club
Council are: Virgil Jones, A.D.
Wilkerson, Mayor Alex Howell,
and all members of the City
Council and County Commission
ers, W. F. Underwood, Stanley
Houston, Mrs. Mary Jane Powell,
Mrs. Thomas Hartley, Mrs. J.M.
Kitchens, W. S> Aiderman, Mrs.
Bill Hudson, Ashley Temples,
Mrs. G. J. Correll,
Mrs. Lloyd George, Mrs. Cro
zier Batchelor, Davis Still, Ro
bert Campbell, Mrs. Bobby Hen
derson, Mrs. Charles Boyett,
Mrs. Thomas Harvey, J. Frank
Gilbert, Dr. C. D. Horton, A. H.
Lanier, Wayne Foster, Emory
Durham, Marshal Day, and seve
ral members at large.
Rotarians see film
featuring Green
Bay Packers
An interesting film featuring
the Green Bay Packers and
Coach Vince Lombardi was shown
to the members of the Blakely
Rotary Club the past Friday.
The film titled "The Second Ef
fort" was presented by Bob Kelly
and Tom Butler, of Albany,
representatives of the Swift Fer
tilizer Company. The program
was arranged by Rotarian Hal
Haddock. President Pete Under
wood presided over the meeting.
Guests at the meeting included
Ray Knight, Bernard Herring,
Nelson Hattaway, Billy Peters,
John Edgar Underwood, Rex Ho
well and Andy Singletary.
MARKET REPORT
Sales totaling $32,902.99 were
reported at Moseley Livestock
Barn Tuesday as 78 cattle and
478 hogs were sold.
No. I’s sold for 25.30; Light
l's, 24.90; No. 2's, 24.35; No.
3’/, 22.40; No. 4's, 21.00; No.
s's, 20.50; Heavys, 25.65; No.
1 Rough, 21.50; No. 1 Meat Type,
26.00; Light No. 1 Meat Type,
25.30-
For the annual strawberry
festival at Lebanon, Ore-, a
shortcake 16 feet long, 12 feet
wide, eight feet high and weighing
5,700 pounds, was baked.
IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE!
this road work will take place
in every road district in the
county. In addition, Early County
must raise its share of the cost
of building the new health office
building.
The commissioners also fixed
the compensation for the mem
bers o f the board of registrars.
Chairman Joe Sheffield will be
paid $75.00 per month and J. G,
Loyless and Miss Kathleen Smith,
board members sso.ooper month
each. Ordinary Roscoe Hodges
was named as a clerk and he
will be paid $50.00 per month.
Records of the borad of regist
rars will be maintained in the
office of Mr. Hodges, and the
office will be kept open on a
regular basis, Mr. W'ilkerson
stated.
Other matters handled by the
commissioners were mostly rou
tine, and all members were pre
sent, namely: Mr. Wilkerson,
Lemuel Tiner, J. O. Evans, Don
ald McArthur and Jack Sammons.
Lions to hear
Lt. Sammons
speak; Vietnam
** ■
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Lt. J. L. Sammons
A promising program has been
arranged for the Lions Club on
Tuesday, August 12.
First Lieutenant J. L. Sam
mons, Jr., of the Marine Corp
Supply Center in Albany will give
an interesting presentation con
cerning Vietnam.
Lt. Sammons is a Vietnam
veteran and is capable of pro
viding some very interesting
views on the war-
The program will take place
at the Lions regular luncheon on
Tuesday, August 12 at 12:00 noon.
All Lions are urged not to miss
this program.
Hunt Westbrook
honored for 30
years service
A Blakely man, who has com
pleted almost thirty years as a
rural letter carrier in Early
County, retired July 31, 1969,
and was honored in a brief cere
mony at the Post Office here
when Postmaster J. Emory Hous
ton presented an engraved cita
tion from the Postmaster Gene
ral. It reads,
"Honorary Recognition is ac
corded Rolfe Hunt Westbrook for
devotion to duty in the course of
an honorable career in the United
States Postal Service.
This citation, tendered upon
the occasion of retirement from
active duty conveys official com
mendation from the Postmaster
General and a cordial expres
sion of esteem from,co-workers
in the Service. Signed Winton
m. Blount, Postmaster General.”
Mr. Westbrook's wife, Mrs.
Damarys Spears Westbrook and
his son, Spears Westbrook, who
was his substitute on the rural
route were among those present
for the presentation. Co-workers
in the Blakely Post Office pre
sented Mr. Westbrook a gift as
a token of their esteem, Wilton
Howell made the presentation.
HA VE PERFECT SEASON
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Standing left to right: Billy Layton, Robert Houston, Danny Ricketson, Tim Roberts, Terry
Lee Adams, Woody Houston. Kneeling left to right: Cleve Roberts, Joe Mike Moulton, Ronnie
Willis, Art Cheek, Tony Whitchard. Not present for die picture: Freddy Martin, Joe Bryan, Ro
bert Williams.
The Dodgers of the National League in Blakely's Little League Baseball program finished
the regular season play with 14 wins and no losses. They continued their fine display of base
ball and good sportsmanship to defeat the Athletics in the semi-finals and the Red Legs in the
finals of the play off for a perfect season.
The Dodgers will leave Friday at noon for Atlanta to see the Atlanta Braves play the New
York Mets in a twi-night doubleheader and return home Saturday.
Assisting the coaches, Billy Roberts and Vivian Willis on the trip, will be Bill Cheek, Ted
Whitchard, Dan Hanson, and Olin Thompson.
Winning teams
announced at
Howell Field
Winning teams at Howell Field,
Home of Little Boys Baseball,
for the summer were: Indians,
in the Midget League; Dodgers,
in the National League: Giants,
in the American League: and
Qrioles, in the Pony League.
The seasons records, the
semi-final games and the finals
are reported as follows:
Midget League: Cubs, won 11,
lost 5; Indians, won 9, lost 6;
Tigers, won 8, lost 7, Braves,
won 4, lost 12; Semi-finals: Cubs,
0, Tigers, 1, Indians, 4, Braves,
0; Finals: Indians, 12, Tigers, 6.
National League: Dodgers, won
14, lost 0; Red Legs, won 9, lost
5; Athletics, won 3, lost 11;
Senators, won 3, lost 11; Semi
finals: Red Legs, 9, Senators,
6; Dodgers, 10, Athletics, 1;
Finals: Dodgers, 7, Red Legs,
1.
American League: Giants, won
14, lost 2; Yankees, won 12, lost
4; Cards, won 4, lost 12; Red Sox,
won 2, lost 14; Semi-finals;
Giants, 8, Cards, 0; Yankees, 1,
Red Sox, 2; Finals: Giants, 3,
Red Sox, 1.
Pony League: White Sox, won
10, lost 3; Orioles, won 8, lost
5; Pirates, won 6, lost 7; Crack
ers, won 2, lost 11; Semi-finals:
White Sox, 5, Pirates, 4; Orioles,
2, Crackers, 1; Finals: Orioles,
3, White Sox, 1.
JULY WEATHER
SUMMARY
The following is a summary of
local weather conditions for the
month of July, 1969;
TEMPERATURE: Mean maxi
mum, 91.5; mean minimum, 70.
4; mean, 81.0, departure from
the normal, -.1; maximum, 98
on the 2nd, minimum, 68 on the
18th, 20th and 31st.
PRECIPITATION: Total, 10.
25 inches, departure from the
normal, -3.32 inches. Greatest
in any 24-hour observational
period, 2.32 inches during the
24-hour observational period
ending 7 a.m. E. D.S.T. on the
10th. Number of days with .01
inch or more, 22; with .50 inch
or more 7; with 1.00 inch or
more, 5. Total so far this year,
30.19 inches; deficiency, 4.35
inches.
MISCELLANEOUS: Fog on the
3rd, 10th, 20th, 22nd and 31st;
thunder on the 2nd, 3rd, Bth,
9th, 10th, 13th, 17th, 19th, 22nd,
24th, 27th, 28th, and 30th.
LOWREY S. STONE, Observer
U. S, Weather Bureau
Blakely, Georgia
Ben Thomas Medical
Fund Still in Effect
At a time when heartfelt sym
pathy is extended to Mr. and Mrs.
Harvey Thomas in the loss of
their little seven year old son,
Ben, a victim of a malignant
tumor, friends and relatives are
seeking to find the most desir
able place to send a memorial
contribution. Several have in
quired about the Ben Thomas
Medical Fund to learn if it is
still in effect-
Commander of the local VFW,
W. S. Aiderman, was contacted
and he said, "The Dwight-Floyd-
Pyle, Post 5259, VFW will con
tinue to serve as recipients and
custodians of the Ben Thomas
Medical Fund until items such
as hospital bills and patient care
are taken care of. Contribu
tions may be sent to Ben Thomas
Medical Fund, VFW, Post 5259,
Blakely, Georgia 31723.
The fund was established in the
American Legion
and Auxiliary
Con. Aug. 2228
The National American Legion
and Auxiliary Convention will be
held in Atlanta, August 22-28,
1969. The first big event will
be Drum and Bugle Corps Finals
and Parade of Champions.
During the National Convention
in Atlanta, August 22-28, one of
the most spectacular events and
without a doubt the highlights
of the Social Activities will be
the combined Senior and Junior
Drum and Bugle Corps Finals,
and Parade of Champions.
This feature event will be held
in Georgia Tech Stadium (Grant
Field) commencing at 7:00 p.m.
August 24. In addition to this
being the highlight of entertain
ment during the Convention, dur
ing the evening the winners of
four Ford Convertibles, donated
by the Seagram Posts of the
American Legion, will be an
nounced.
STATE PATROL
REPORT
Troopers of the Georgia State
Patrol Post #l4, Donalsonville,
Georgia investigated 6 traffic
accidents, made 21 arrests and
issued 92 warnings in Early
County during the month of July
1969.
In the 6 accidents, 2 persons
were injured and 0 was killed
while the estimated property
'damage amounted to $2,750.00.
PULL FOB BLAKELY
-OB —
FULL OUT
|3.09 FEB ANNUM
spring of this year by the VFW,
after little Ben and his parents
had been fighting this disease
for over a year doing everything
medical science knows to do in
search for a cure- There has
not been a braver seven year old
than Ben, who only a few minutes
before being admitted to Early
Memorial Hospital for the last
time, went for a ride with his
mother. And earlier in the week
until Friday morning he had been
a parent at the Columbus Medical
Center for cobalt treatment.
Throughout his entire illness,
Ben’s adept mind had been kept
busy with books, games, and toys
with only a bright attitude toward
the future, by the whole family.
Ben was indeed blessed- And
those who knew him were blessed
through his courage and man
liness.
Theatre group
sets dates for
The Silver Whistle
"The Silver Whistle ”, an un
usual play for this area in that it
is a comedy, and most plays
presented here are dramatic, will
be presented on the stage at
Mangham auditorium on August
22 and August 23.
A former Broadway play,
the summer Theatre group has
scheduled two performances, to
enable different audiences to see
the play.
The setting of this production
is "an old folks home", where
the leading man, Danny West
brook, plays the part of a big
hearted con-man who promises
to take 25 years off the age of the
guests. Bordering on being a
little risque in places, it will
be an evening packed full of ex
citement. Westbrook's portrayal
of Oliver Erwenter, the lead part,
is similar to the character Ro
bert Preston played in "The
Music Man”.
Mrs. Norman Alexander,
director of "The Silver Whistle”
says the cast has been named
and there is a great deal of en
thusiasm over this play a for
mer Broadway production.
There are 160 calories per cup
of fresh whole milk. According
to home economists with the Uni
versity of Georgia Cooperative
Extension Service, sklmmilkhas;
around 90 calories per cup.
Read the Early County News!