Newspaper Page Text
iEarlg (Cnuntu News
Volume 124-No. 5
© Early County News, Inc.
$ 7 0,000 Under Last Year
County Budget Os $ 7,763,000 Approved
The Early County Board of Com
missioners adopted a 1982-83 opera
tions and maintenance budget, reflec
ting a decrease of over SIO,OOO from
the previous year’s budget.
A look at the Administrative portion
of the budget:
Board of Commissioners - $12,900,
an increase of $5,700. County Ad
ministrator’s Office- $40,564, an in-
Citizens Os Blakely Donate
Over $4,000 To MD A
The Blakely people did themselves
proud over the Labor Day weekend by
donating and pledging over $4,000 to
the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy
Telethon.
With the help of a lot of people, both
adults and kids, most of the money
was raised with a Skate-A-Thon,
through corporate donations, a “fish
bowl” and telephone pledges.
Numerous volunteers, including
ECHS VICA Club members and the
ECHS Cheerleaders, manned the
District Governor Hunter Safety
Visiting Rotary
This Friday
A. J. (Steve) Andre’, District Gover
nor of Rotary International, No. 690,
of Carrolton, will pay the Blakely Club
an official visit Friday and President
Buck Grist encourages all club
members to be present to greet the
district’s No. 1 Rotarian.
Prior to the Friday meeting, Gover
nor Andre' will hold a club assembly
at the Town & Country on Thursday
evening at 7:30 o’clock. Committee
chairmen are reminded to attend and
bring their reports, President Grist
stated.
Gov. Andre’ was educated in the
Wharton School, University of Penn-
(Continued To Page 14)
Peanut Marketing Options Key ln'B2
Using marketing strategies to their
fullest potential is vital for Georgia
peanut producers if they are to make
the best return possible on their 1982
crop, Georgia Peanut Commission
Coordinator Tyron Spearman said.
“This isn't a year when the grower
should deliver all of his peanuts to his
local buying point and take what the
sheller offers him. He needs to review
all of his options carefully,” Spear
man said.
"We know that $550 per ton on quota
and S2OO per ton on additionals are
minimums that a farmer can receive,
but what about the maximums?
See Football / ^ o ^ ca f S Host / SGA Visits / Packers Host
Games On / / /
Page 6 / Lee County / Pineland / Webb Saturday
crease of $5,297. Tax Commissioner's
Office- $46,340, an increase of $1,220.
Tax Evaluation and Equalizer Office
-$65,177, an increase of $4,319. Board
of Registrar’s Office- $10,916, a
decrease of $584. Other Ad
ministrative Expenses (including in
surance, social security, legal fees,
postage, etc.) $168,700, an increase of
$17,600.
telephones, taking pledges from 9:00
P.M. Sunday until 6:30 P.M. Monday.
To attract interest in the MDA ef
forts here, several bands performed
in the Sawyer Shopping Center park
ing lot and Rick Garton spent 20 hours
on the roof of his restaurant during
the telethon.
After working for over 36 hours
straight on the MDA telethon, the
MDA staff started working at 7:00
P.M. on next year’s MDA efforts.
Course
The Georgia Department of Natural
Resources will conduct a Hunter Safe
ty Class here September 15 and 16.
Students must attend both nights in
order to qualify for certification,
receive their Hunter Safety Cord and
be able to purchase a hunting license.
The classes will be held from 6 P.M. to
9 P.M. Wednesday and Thursday
nights at the Early County Library on
Hwy. 62 west.
Paper Chase
Winners
The 4th Annual Paper Chase 5K
Road Race was held Saturday with 95
runners finishing the run.
Kirk Thomas of Daleville, Ala. set a
new course record by running the
race in a time of 16:13.
Elizabeth Rickell of Ft. Rucker,
Ala. set a new women’s course record
with a time of 19:27.
Overall winners in the Masters
Division were James Handland of
Port St. Joe, Fla. with a 17:48 and
Carol Chester of Blakely with a 29:05
time.
Male Winners
12 & under: Ist - Alex Cameron
-19:39, 2nd - Jerry Lee Hillhouse
-20:08,3rd - Neal Arnold - 27:42.
13-18: Ist - John Reece -17:24, 2nd
-Jocquette Caroil -18:21, 3rd - Miles
Gibson-18:55.
(Continued To Page 14)
“On quotas, if producers start plac
ing peanuts in the loan program, they
should see some premiums offered.
Shelters must have the quota to stay
in business...don’t let shelters tie up
your quota by offering a fair contract
on some of your additionals without
giving you a premium on the quota,”
Spearman said.
Spearman expressed less optimism
for the additional peanuts this year.
“Additionals are a big worry. Early
offers indicate S3OO-$325 per ton, but a
lot of factors can come into play. If
enough of the additional peanuts are
placed into the loan program, and it
Thursday, Sept. 9,1982
Early County - Blakely, Georgia 31723
An overall increase in ad
ministrative expenses of $33,552 is
reflected in the 1982-83 budget.
Summary of Court Costs: Superior
Court - $17,014, a decrease of $2,527.
Probate Court - $45,679, an increase of
$28,432. Other court costs (including
judges, appointed attorneys, jurors,
etc.) $28,432. Other court costs (in
cluding judges, appointed attorneys,
Blakely-Early County Chamber Wins
District Agri-Business Award Again
The Blakely-Early Co. Chamber of
Commerce has been selected District
Winner in the 1982 Georgia Agri-
Business Development and Leader
ship Recognition Program. This
awards program was created to
enhance the development of
agriculture industry in Georgia
through the recognition of Outstan
ding Community Agri-Business
leaders.
Smallest Acreage Since 1915
Peanut Harvest
Time At Hand
Producers across south Georgia are
busy harvesting their first peanut
crop under the new peanut program.
Grown on the smallest acreage since
1915, reports indicate that the crop is
in good condition and should be ade
quate for domestic needs.
USDA has predicted that Georgia
will harvest 475,000 acres with an
average yield of 3200 Ibs/acre. This is
a 16 percent reduction in acreage
from the 1981 harvest and 270 Ibs/acre
more than harvested last year.
Tyron Spearman, coordinator of the
Georgia Peanut Commission, said,
"Our crop prospects are looking good.
For the most part we have had more
than adequate rainfall, and although
some peanuts have been stressed by
disease, insects, or weeds, our
growers have done a good job of con
trolling these problems.
“For the consumers the good
harvest will mean a plentiful supply of
peanuts and peanut butter this fall.”
However, Spearman said that all of
the news is not good for the farmer. In
spite of the acreage cutback, growers
will still have a hard time selling all of
their peanuts at a profitable price.
“On the domestic market, supply
would have to be a substantial por
tion, then we would see the price for
additional peanuts on the export
market rise to about $475, the
minimum resale policy for peanuts
placed into loan.
“Right now it’s a tough battle on the
export market, the dollar is too
strong, interest rates are too high, and
the European buyers intend to wait
until conditions are more favorable
forthem.
“The board of the Georgia Peanut
Commission has recommended that if
growers can’t get a profitable con
tract, they should consider placing a
jurors, etc.) $62,090, an increase of
$6,740.
Public Safety Department budget
figures: Sheriff’s Department
-$168,232, an increase of $16,517. Coun
ty Jail - $148,545, an increase of
$16,097.
Maintenance of Public Buildings
-$87,954, a decrease of $364.
Public Roads and Bridges - $761,433,
The program, sponsored by the
Georgia Extension Service, Georgia
Agri-Business Council and Georgia
Power Company seeks to recognize
community leaders who have made
contributions in such areas as (1)
creating a positive attitude and pride
in Agri-Business Development, (2)
seeking new and expanded markets
for Georgia Agricultural Products (3)
and demand are fairly close. Con
sumption is recovering rapidly from
the shortage caused by the drought
two years ago. Growers will get the
minimum of $550/ton for their peanuts
and may see some premiums offered.
“However, on the export market,
where peanuts, sold as additionals,
have a minimum of S2OO/ton, pro
ducers will find it harder to get a fair
price. They are facing competition
from countries willing to sell cheap
peanuts, a strong dollar caused by
high interest rates, and poor
economic conditions in European
countries.”
Spearman predicted that many
growers will be placing their addi
tional peanuts into the loan program if
they cannot receive a fair price for
them on the market.
It has been a year of transition for
the peanut producer. Never before
has he had to so closely tailor supply
to fit demand. Next year may see
even further cut back in peanut
acreage if the market will not pay a
price to the farmer that will give him
a fair profit on his crop, Spearman
said.
portion of their peanuts into the loan
program. But each grower will have
to decide what portion he can afford to
place into loan based on his financial
situation.
“No one can tell the farmer what to
do, he is his own boss, but remember,
strategic marketing will guarantee
that we will be the peanut farmers of
the future, not the past,” Spearman
said.
Marketing Options
Quota Peanuts - Sell to local shelter
or buying point. GFA (Warehouse
Stored Loan) for $550 per ton - Board
may choose under CCC quidelines to
a decrease of $95,734.
Rural Fire Department - $4,000, a
decrease of SI,OOO.
Public Health Department - $29,925,
a decrease of $1,762.
Agricultural Extension Department
- $20,920, an increase of $3,661.
Forestry Department - SB,OBO,
reflecting no change.
Other Departments (including
promoting efficient energy usage in
Agri-Business.
“Let’s All Pull Together” is the
theme of the entry submitted by the
Blakely-Early Co. Chamber of Com
merce which won over other entries
submitted from Southwest Georgia.
Early Co. will be among five counties
competing for state honors. Judges
will visit Early County on Wednesday,
offer quota peanuts for bid, however,
if no bids, may sell quota for 105 per
cent of quota loan value before
December 31 or 107 per cent after
January 1 plus carrying charges.
ASCS (Farm Stored Loan) for $550
per ton - Fanner must repay loan plus
interest by April 30 or deliver to loan
(GFA) for disposition.
Additional Peanuts - Deliver
against contract which must have
been signed by April 14. Those signing
price-labor contract must negotiate
price or exercise options, (if option
exist), to place peanuts in loan (GFA)
at S2OO per ton. GFA (Warehouse
USPSI64O6O 25^
Public Library, Rescue Unit, APDC,
Food Stamps Program, Mental
Health, Civil Defence, Garbage
Disposal, Planning Comm., Capital
improvements, etc.) - $64,531, a
decrease of $18,096.
The total operating budget for the
1982-83 fiscal year is $1,763,000, com
pared to last year’s $1,773,960.
September 15,1982, to tour and get ac
quainted with the County. The judges
will make a final selection and the
state winner will be announced at the
1982 Georgia Harvest Ball in Atlanta
on October 29.
Congratulations to the Chamber for
winning the Southwest Georgia
District and bringing recognition to
Blakely and Early County.
Store Loan) for S2OO per ton - Board
must resell export additional for edi
ble use at not less than $475 per ton.
Other additional for domestic dr ex
port crushing will be offered for bid
under CCC guidelines. ASCS (Farm
Stored Laon) for S2OO per ton - grower
must be producer/handler to buy
back peanuts placed under farm
stored loan. Buyback must be exercis
ed by January 26 to become a part of
loan additional pool. Producer
handler must pay 105 per cent of quota
level before December 31 or 107 per
cent after January 1.