Newspaper Page Text
fe'l ©Dunty News
Volume 125 • l^U. 60
© Early County News, Inc.
Murphy Condemns, Kills
Equal Jury Strikes
House Speaker Tom Murphy has ap
parently successfully kept the "Equal
Jury Strikes” bill off the house floor
another year.
Recently blasting the bill as "the
most racist bill” he has ever seen,
Murphy sent the bill to a committee of
lawyers, effectively killing it - against
the wishes of the law-abiding people of
our state.
Criminal defendants would lose an
edge they have in the jury selection
process under the legislation which
approved by the Senate by a 44-10
vote. Currently the defense is able to
excuse 20 jurors without cause in an
effort to pick a jury to their liking. The
prosecution is limited to 10. This
would change and both sides would
each be allowed 10 of these peremp
tory strikes.
Constitution Week
1
The month of February is a very special time for The Peter Early Chapter of
the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution.
Since the year 1955 it has been the privilege of The Peter Early Chapter to
direct special attention to “American History Month.” During the month of
February we are asked to especially appreciate our great country and what it
means to us. This year is even more special to those of us who live in Georgia as
we are celebrating the 250th birthday of our state.
The Mayor Billy Fleming proclaiming February “American History Month in
Blakely.” as Mrs. Sterling Jones (right), Regent of the Peter Early Chapter,
Mrs. Carl Gaulden (left), and Mrs. Robert Norton, (center) watch.
Dr. James Crowdis Run
Scheduled For March 12
The Blakely Rotary Club and the
Blakely-Early County Chamber of
Commerce will host the Dr. James
Crowdis 5000 Meter Run for You Life
on Saturday morning, March 12 at
10:00 a.m. The starting point for the
run will be Blakely’s Court Square,
and registration will begin at 8:15
EST.
The fee for the 5000 meter run will
be $5.00 for those who wish to pre
register and $6.00 for those who
register on the day of the race.
Trophies will be given to the first
place male and female winners. Also
there will be 18 age divisions with
first, second, and third place awards
given in each of these divisions. In ad
dition to trophies and medals runners
will receive T shirts and will be serv
ed free refreshments both before and
Star Students Named at ECHS and SGA
Backers of the bill say this will take
away the unfair advantage given to
defendants, which is a holdover from
colonial days. It will also save coun
ties money since they would be able to
use smaller jury pools. This measure
also does away with the automatic ex
emptions from jury duty that are
available to people in a number of pro
fessions and occupations. All
registered voters would be obligated
to perform jury service and could be
excused only if a judge found that a
genuine hardship existed. This is aim
ed at providing a broader cross sec
tion of jurors.
In opposing the bill, Murphy broke
ranks with a long-time ally, Gov. Joe
Frank Harris, who has proposed the
measure.
after the race.
At 10:45, after the 5000 meter race,
there will be a one mile fun run. There
will be no charge for this run, and the
winners will receive medals.
The Blakely Rotary Club sponsored
the first Heart Fund drive in Early
County in 1953. Richard Grist, presi
dent of Rotary, appointed Dr. James
Crowdis and Dr. Earl Taylor co
chairmen. Dr. Crowdis has continued
to serve as chairman for 28 years and
has done a remarkable job, exceeding
goals and expectations each year.
This year marks the third annual
Heart Fund Run in Early County.
Each year over $500.00 has been
donated to the American Heart
Association from the proceeds of the
race. The goal for this year is SBOO.OO.
Thursday, Feb. 17,1983
Early County - .Blakely, Georgia 31723
February 19 - 26
FFA Week Plans Set Here
The Early Co. High FFA will be
celebrating National FFA Week dur
ing the week of February 19-26.
On Saturday, February 19th, FFA
week posters will be put up in
businesses, bulletin boards will be put
up in the high school lobby and the
middle school, and will have an out
door billboard sign put up.
On Sunday, February 20th, all
members are encouraged to attend
the church of their choice. All FFA of
ficers will attend church as a group at
First Baptist Church. Church bulletin
inserts will be furnished to several
churches in Early County.
On Monday, February 21st, FFA
members will begin a FFA Alumni
Membership Drive, cleanup
designated areas of the school cam
pus and areas of the community,
serve refreshments to teachers, ad
ministrators, and county office per
sonnel to show appreciation for their
support of the FFA. The officers will
have a program over WBBK and will
have radio spots each day of the week.
Several members will be presenting a
Food for America program to a third
grade class at the Early County
Elementary School. Members will
also be encouraged to wear their FFA
jackets each day of FFA Week.
On Tuesday, February 22nd, FFA
officers will present a program at the
Blakely Lions Club. They will have a
night meeting to hold the finals of the
chapter Public Speaking Contest and
the Chapter Farmer Degree initia
tion. The second class of the Food for
America program will be presented.
On Wednesday, February 23rd,
FFA officers will appear on the Gene
Regan Farm Show over WTVY at 1:00
P.M. There will be a page spread in
the Early County News featuring
vocational agriculture and FFA ac
tivities. . Wednesday will also be
“Open House” for the vocational
agriculture department from 9:00
A.M. until 5:00 P.M. Everyone is in
vited to visit the department and have
refreshments. FFA “welcome signs”
will be repainted and erected on main
roads into Blakely.
On Thursday, February 24th, FFA
officers will be on a “Goodwill Tour”
of businesses thanking them for their
support of the FFA. The officers
presenting the Food for America pro
gram will take the third grade class
on a farm tour. FFA members at the
Early County Middle School will pre
sent an assembly program for the rest
of the school.
On Friday, February 25th, an
agribusinessmen’s breakfast will be
served from 7:00 A.M. until 8:00 A.M.
Bobcats Take 17-3 Record
To 1-AAA Tourney Friday
The Early County Bobcats will take
a 17-3 record into this week’s 1-AAA
West subregion basketball tourna
ment in Camilla.
The Bobcats’ first game will be Fri
day night at 8:30 when they meet the
winners of the Thursday game bet
ween Cairo and Mitchell-Baker.
The Bobcats have been led this
season by John Ingram, averaging 27
points per game, and Kent Jackson
The members will have a chapter
meeting with Greg Nobles, State FFA
Vice President, as the speaker.
On Saturday, February 26th,
members will be completing their
school and community cleanup, FFA
Alumni membership, and the painting
and erecting of FFA “welcome
signs".
Over 8,000 other FFA chapters, in
volving nearly one-half million
members, across the nation will also
be celebrating National FFA Week.
The theme for this year is - Vocational
Agriculture, Educating Through Ex
perience.
Vocational agriculture education
and FFA has been a great success in
American education with an em
phasis on learning by doing. By giving
experience to students in agriculture,
they have helped build a work force
dedicated to meet the food needs of
our nation and the world.
FFA Week has traditionally includ
ed George Washington’s birthday in
respect for his great leadership and
his pioneering practices in
agriculture.
The FFA was formed in 1928, and it
promotes leadership, cooperation and
citizenship among high school voca
tional agriculture students. Voca
tional agriculture education in high
school prepares students for a vast ar
ray of careers in agriculture - produc
tion to processing, service to
marketing.
FFA members at Early County High
School are proud of this chapter and
encourages the community to join
with them in their celebration of Na
tional FFA Week.
averaging 9 rebounds, Allen
Calloway, Nora Barnes, Elijah Mc-
Coy, Junior Haynes, and Earl Boozer.
The Bobkittens, suffering through a
rebuilding year, will see tournament
action in Camilla at 4:30 p.m. Thurs
day.
Winners and runners-up in the sub
region tournament will advance to the
region tournament February 24-26 at
Valdosta State College.
The Star Student/Teacher Awards
were given at Southwest Georgia
Academy on Friday, February 11. Dr.
Alex Howell, Jr. made the presenta
tion for the Blakely-Early County
Chamber of Commerce to Ms. Andrea
Patricia Miller of Donalsonville,
Georgia.
Ms. Miller is the 17 year old
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andy H.
Miller. Active in many of Southwest
Georgia’s clubs, Ms. Miller plans to
(Continued To Page 3)
Early County High STAR Student is
pictured at left with STAR Teacher
Mrs. Joanne Shierling, School
Superintendent Ray Knight (Left),
Chamber President Billy McFay, and
Ken Hall (Right).
SGA STAR student Patricia Miller
is pictured at right with STAR
Teacher Martha Jean Jorgan (Left)
and Chamber Executive Director
Nancy Kinsey.
Early Co. High FFA officers (L-R) Steve Jarrett, Melissa Nash, Freddy
Schumm, Allen Busby, Charles Cherry, Chris Jarrett, Lavon Odom, Milton
Evans, Bill Gowan, Roy Murray, Wayne Powell and Tommy Evans look on as
Mayor, Billy Fleming, signs National FFA Week Proclamation.
Bucks Winners
^siiii a mi
> ' wJb
Saturday, February 12 marked the
first drawing for the Blakely Buck
promotion sponsored by the Blakely-
Early County Chamber of Commerce
Merchants Committee.
Approximately 50 people gathered
in front of the Court House steps to
listen to Wayne Foster announce the
winning tickets. Five door prizes were
given away before the main drawing
for SIOO.OO.
Door prize winners were Mr. Ed
ward Balkcom, Mrs. Coreen Pittman,
Ms. Dot Willis, Ms. Nancy Trawick,
and Ms. Michelle Lane. These prizes
were donated by the Early County
USPSI64O6OOOO 25*
News, The Wearhouse, Early Fur
niture Company, Allied Department
Store and Gray’s Jewelry.
Winning SIOO.OO in Blakely Bucks
was Mrs. Helen Dolan. Winning
tickets came from Al’s Shoe Shop,
Harvey’s Supermarket and Geneva’s
Fabrics.
Next week will be another drawing
worth $150.00 in Blakely Bucks plus 21
other prizes from participating mer
chants. Don’t forget to watch and
listen for the clues to find the hat
chets! They’re worth $20.00 to anyone
who finds them.