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Imtai f
VOL. 82—NO. 25
(focal Officers
Arrest Escaped
Federal Prisoners
j' Georgia was safer and three Butts
■ county peace officers were richer
following the capture Thursday of
four escapees from the Federal Pen
itentiary’s honor farm at Panthers
ville. ,
The four prisoners escaped the
farm Wednesday in a truck which
, they abandoned near McDonough
and later stole an automobile near
that city.
Tracing the fugitives to Butts
county, agents from the Atlanta of
fice of the FBI, together with cor
dons of police from Fulton and De-
Kalb counties swarmed into the sec
tion searching for the escapees.
Two of the prisoners, John Sells,
46, of Dayton, Ohio, and Eugene
Ferguson, 28, of Henderson, Ky.,
parked the stolen car on Jackson’s
courthouse square and tried to sell
an auto radio, which they had dis
mantled from the stolen car,.for $lO.
When several citizens became sus
picious of the pair, Butts County
Deputy Sheriff L. J. Blown Jr. fol
lowed them to Land’s Crossing where
he stopped their car and arrested
them. Neither of the men were arm
ed or offered any resistance.
Late Thursday afternoon W. L.
Harrison, 24, of Gallatin, Tenn. and
Jake Butler, 28, of Hammond, La.,
kwho had been dropped off in the
Fsoutherp part of the county by their
confederates, were spotted by Fred
Jlammond who phoned Jackson’s as
sistant chief of police, E. H. Polk.
Polk, accompanied by Jackson Po
lice Chief Clem Thaxton, arrested
Jthe pair about 7 p. m. in front of the
"H. O. Smith home on the Jackson-
Barnesville highway. Chief Thaxton
said that neither of the men were
armed or gave any resistance to their
arrest. •
Rewards of SSO each were posted
for the four men, so officers Thaxton
and Polk should collect that amount
each, while Deputy Sheriff Brown
stands to be in SIOO for outwitting
two of the desperadoes.
All four of the escapees were
serving short sentences and had but
a few months to go before being re
leased. When their cases are heard in
federal court, they face up to a max
imum of five yeaips each on the es
cape charges, plus the’ stolen auto
mobile count.
W. M. Towles
Shows-Battle
Tested Sword
One of the interesting sidelights
of the Cos. “A” reunion Saturday
was a five-generation-old sword dis
played by W. M.. (Bill) Towles of
Atlanta.
A former member of the Jackson
Rifles before joining the Marines
for duty in World War I, Towles said
the sword —actually a rapier—was
first worn by his great-grandfather
l who served as a Lieutenant Colonel
fin the Mexican War of 1836.
The sword, believed to be of gov
ernment issue, is thought to have
Jmen issued to Col. Towles about
*3O, making it at least 125 years
old.
During the Civil War, Bill Towles’
grandfather, Capt. Adam F. Towles,
commanded Cos. “A” of the 30th.
Georgia Regiment, wore the sword
with valor until wflunded at the Bat
rte of Chickamauga.
~The sword was presented Mr.
Towles by his father, the late C. A.
Towles of Butts county .
Remarkably well preserved for its
age, the sword is in good condition
and Mr. Towles says he intends to
keep it that way and hand it down to
each succeeding Towles generation.
Kiwanis Benefit
Card Party Set
Tonight, June 23
All is in readiness for a gala Ki
wanis Benefit Card Party tonight at
8 o’clock at Woman’s Clubhouse.
The party, given under the auspices
of the Jackson Kiwanis Club, is to
raise funds to permit the local civic
club to send a delegate to the Kiwan
is International Convention in Cleve
land, June 26-30.
Prizes galore will be one of the
features of the evening, with approx
imately 40 gifts having been donated
by Jackson merchants. There will
be door prizes, prizes for high scor
ers in the bridge and canasta games,
and Bingo prizes will be awarded to
conclude the evening’s entertain
ment.
Admission to the benefit party is
SI.OO per person and tickets may be
purchased at the door. Refreshments
will be served during intermission.
The public is cordially invited to at
tend.
At the program Tuesday evening,
the Rev. G. A. Briggs, pastor of the
First Baptist Church, spoke to the
Kiwanians on the , topic, “Summer.”
Mr. Briggs pointed out that summer
is the time for growth of plants and
animals and he queried very pointed
ly, “Why should not man, created in
the image of God, also grow during
this period?” His talk was thought
provoking, revealing much prepara
tion, and was well received by the
attentive members.
Blackman Settle was wished happy
returns on his birthday during the
week. Carlton Johnson, the guest and
co-worker of Guy Bearden, of Beard
en Auto Parts, was a welcome visi
tor. The attractive _ floral arrange
ment on the officer’s table was the
gift of Mrs. Harry Ball.
Farm Bureau To
Hear Mrs. Howard
Jolly on June 30
Hie Cedar Rock Farm JJureau
Chapter will have Mrs. Howard Jolly
as their special guest at the regular
meeting on Thursday evening, June
30, at North Butts Clubhouse.
Mrs. Jolly has recently been named
as a director in the state organiza
tion, representing the Fourth Dis
trict. This is the first opportunity
for her to meet with County
Farm Bureau members.
Farm Bureau members from other
chapters are invited and urged to at
tend and let her know that Butts
County is with her. There will be
special music on the program.
Those attending are asked to bring
a covered dish or a picnic lunch and
enjoy the fellowship. Cedar Rock will
furnish drinks. The date, time and
place is Thursday, June 30, 7:45 p.
m., North Butts Clubhouse.
TWO BUTTS GIRLS
GAIN EXPERIENCE
AT CARROLL MEET
Two very young 4-H Club girls
represented Butts county in the Dis
trict Achievement meeting in Car
rollton June 15-17 and returned
home with the determination that
they are going back to the district
meet in the years ahead and will
come home a winner.
The girls are Shirley Hooten, 14,
senior 4-H’er of Jenkinsburg, and
Beverly Ingram, 13, junior 4-H’er.
Shirley won an award of excel
lence and was in competition with
girls who had already won in district
clothing several times. Beverly re
ceived an award of merit and this
was her first time to participate in a
District 4-H Achievement contest.
JACKSON, GEORGIA, THU KM) AT, JUNKERS,. 1965
Streets To New
Schools, Armory
Soon To Be Paved
Butts County Representative B.
H. Hodges announced Tuesday that
the State Highway Department has
approved paving projects leading to
the new Jackson grammar school
building, the new $93,000 National
Guard Armory, the Butts County
Fair Grounds and to the new Butts
County Negro high school being erec
ted in Jackson .
According to Rep. Hodges, these
projects were approved by . the high
way board only this week ahd should
be let to contract before long.
Jackson and Butts county officials
will be asked to cooperate in the
work and it may be that the state
will require the local governments to
do the grade work, Rep. Hodges ad
vised.
Butts county citizens are delighted
to hear such news, as the roads to
the present school buildings and fair
grounds are regular quagmires in
wet weather, and await impatiently
the signal for work to begin.
Local Carriers
To Attend State
Meet on Sunday
The Georgia Rural Letter Carriers
Association will hold its annual state
convention at Epworth By the Sea
on St. Simons Island, beginning Sun
day, June 26, and extending through
June 29.
Butts county’s rural carriers will
be represented at the state meeting
by M. W. Carmichael, president of
the Fourth District Car/iers Associa
tion and Mr. and Mrs. Harry Ridge
way and their children, Janie and
Martin.
State president G. C. Barnhill of
Glenwood has announced that all
business sessions have been schedu
led for the mornings, leaving the
afternoons free for fun, frolic, boat
ing, tennis and other beach activities
offered by Georgia’s famous chain
of Golden Isles.
National President Warren G.
Bledsoe of Georgetown, Ga., and
other outstanding speakers will ad
dress the convention during the
three-day meet.
A. B. Duncan To
Attend NEA Meet
In Chicago July 3
A. B. Duncan, superintendent of
Butts County Schools, has been elec
ted delegate from the Fourth District
to attend the 93rd National Educa
tion Association Convention in Chic
ago July 3-9. The Butts County edu
cator plans to attend.
William Henry Shaw, Columbus,
president of the Georgia Education
Ass6ciation, has been named chair
man of the Georgia delegation.
District delegates are: First Dis
trict, Mrs. Alice Arden, Savannah;
Second District, W. R. Bragg Jr., Al
bany; Third District-East, E. J. Har
rell, Hawkinsville; Third District-
West, M. J. Perkins, Richland; Fifth
District, Mrs. Dorothy H. Floyd, At
lanta; Sixth District, Roy Yelton,
Wrightsville; Seventh District, Lloyd
H. Gray, Cedartown; Eighth District,
Donald E. Gerlock, Valdosta; Ninth
District, Berry Floyd, Clayton; and
Tenth District, Maurice B. Thomp
son, Madison.
Principal speakers at the conven
tion will include Miss Waurine Walk
er, president of the NEA; Harold
Stassen, Director of Foreign Opera
tions Administration, and Adlai
Stevenson, former Democratic presi
dential candidate.
Reunion Saturday
Proves Best In
Cos. ‘A” History
Approximately 350 members, for
mer members, their wives and sweet
hearts were present Saturday even
ing as Cos. “A” of the Georgia Na
tional Guard held its most successful
reunion in its long history.
Meeting in the present armory, in
shadow range of the new $93,000
armory going up across the street,
the group reminisced over delectable
plates of barbecue to the music of
the Company string band.
After W. M. (Bill) Totvles of At
lanta gave the invocation, Mayor W.
M. Redman welcomed the visitors to
Jack Son.
Major General H. D. Russell of
Macon made the main address of the
evening, being presented by Briga
dier General E. Smith Settle of Jack
son. „ . • J>
Gen. Russell recited several hum
orous incidents in the Company’s his
tory and gave a brief historical
sketch of the 30th Division. He point
ed out that it was a battalion of the
Division that broke the back of the
Nazi plunge in the Battle of the
Bulge.
Cos, “A” was organized in Febru
ary of 1902, being known then as
the Jackson Rifles. Capt. W. C.
Brya it was in command, T. H. But
trill vas Ist Lt. and Dr. R. A. Frank
lin, 2nd Lt.
Members of the Company in 1916,
it was called into service for
duty, in World War I*, were hosts for
the barbecue. Gen. George Mallet,
president of the Jackson Rifle Hold
ing Cos., made all the arrangements
for the food and'rendered invaluable
service in organizing the reunion.
Daktfd and Harry Ridgeway con
tacted all former members of the
Company and were instrumental in
rounding up out-of-town ex mem
bers.
Judge C. W. Woodward, of Rock
ville, Md., and E. L. Dozier of North
port, Ala., were former members
present who traveled the farthest
distance for the reunion.
Cowan’s Grocery
Goes Self-Service;
Has Opening Sale
The grand opening of the newly
remodeled A. G. Cowan’s Grocery
has been set for Friday and Satur
day, June 24-25, with special prices
and free door prizes adding interest
to the event.
The new look has come to Cowan’s
in a big way. The floor space of the
store has been doubled, anew con
crete parking apron has; been added
and the store has been put on a
complete self-service basis.
No store in Butts county can
boast of more parking space for its
customers than can Cowan’s, located
on Highway 42, just south of the
Jackson city limits, across the high
way from Pepperton Cotton Mills.
During the grand opening sale,
free baskets of groceries will be of
fered as door prizes to customers.
The special prices advertised in this
week’s issue of the Progress-Argus
will be in effect during the opening
sale only.
JACKSON NINE PLAYS
LIVINGSTON HERE ON
SUNDAY AT 2:30 P. M.
The Jackson Baseball team defeat
ed Stuart Sunday 7-3 to hold a 7-1
record for the season. They have won
over Stuart twice, Griffin three
times, Monticello twice, with Eaton
ton handing them their only loss.
Jerry James was the winning
pitcher against Stuart.
The Jackson team will play Liv
ingston Sunday at 2:30 in Jackson.
Legislature Levies 41-Millions In New
Taxes; Some Become Effective July Ist
Joe Sellers Wins
“Camper of Week”
At Lake Blackshear
Joe Sellers, son of Mrs. Ruth Pope
Sellers, had the distinction of being
named “Camper of the Week” at
Gbmp Safety Patrol last week.
' The camp, located near Cordele on
Lake Blackshear, is sponsored by the
VFW under the auspices of the Geor
gia State Patrol. During the summer,
hundreds of boys from all over the
state are taught safety measures for
drivers, pedestrians and school boy
patrolmen, under the guidance of
State Patrol personnel.
Joe Was one of 13 boys from Jack
son attending the camp the past
week, these boys having been spon
sored by local Post No. 5374, Veter
ans of Foreign Wars.
The Butts county campers return
ed Sunday from their week’s stay at
Camp Safety Patrol.
His many friends are congratula
ting Joe on winnu;, ‘his coveted
honor which was awarded to him in
competition with about 350 boys.
•.Those attending from Jackson were
Jack Baynes Jr., Tommie Bostick,
Donnie Faulkner, Marlin Fletcher,
Ralph Harper Jr., Michael Howell,
Wesley Lamar Lynch, Henry McEl
heney, Billy Pelt, Bruce Rowe, Jos
eph Sellers, Bennie Thurston and
Tommie Webb.
Local Jaycees
Attend’ National
Meet In Atlanta
The Butts County Jaycees have
been well represented at the interna
tional convention of the Junior
Chamber of Commerce being held in
Atlanta this week.
C. B. Brown, president of the local
Jaycee chapter, Robert Jones, Bud
Rossey, Joe Brown and other mem
bers of the Butts county chapter
have kept close watch on the goings
on.
On Monday night a large caravan
of local Jaycees and their wives
went up for the get-acquainted party
at the Municipal Auditorium and the
dance that followed, with Tex Ben
eke’s orchestra furnishing the music.
The Jaycees convention was de
scribed as one of the largest in At
lanta’s history, with approximately
6,000 delegates registering for the
concave. It was estimated that the
delegates left Atlanta approximately
$1,000,000 richer.
BARNESVILLE GRADS
ARE INVITED TO
REUNION ON SUNDAY
The alumni of the 6th District
A&M School and the G.I.C. College
of Barnesville are invited to the an
nual picnic to be held at Indian
Springs State Park on Sunday, June
26.
A barbecue dinner at SI.OO per
plate for adults and 50c for children
under 12 will be served.
Those alumni desiring to come and
whb have not yet signified their in
tentions should contact W. T. Baird,
218 S. 11th St., Griffin, Ga., not la
ter than Friday.
DR. RAY TO PREACH FOR
PRESBYTERIANS SUNDAY
Dr. Archie C. Ray, chairman of
Religious Education work in the At
lanta Presbytery, will preach at the
Jackson Presbyterian Church on Sun
day morning at 11 o’clock in the ab
sence of the Rev. Wade Bell, Jr.
who is on vacation.
$3.00 PER YEAR IN ADVANCE
Georgians are to reach into their ’
pockets and come up with $41,000,-
000 in additional taxes annually,
with most of the tax measures enact
ed by the recent special session of
the Legislature to become effective
on July 1.
Chief income producer will be the
changed income tax law which will
not allow deductions of federal tax
payments by individuals and corpora
tions, cuts the corporate rate from
five and one-half to four percent,
increases individual exemptions by
SSOO, with an additional SIOO for
each dependent. It is expected this
measure will produce an added $14,-
000,000.
Increasing the cigarette tax front '
3 to 5 cents a package is expected to
produce $5,000,000. Increasing the
gas tax from 6 to cents a gallon
is expected to bring in another $5,-
000,000.
Raising the beer taft 2 cents a can
is slated to enrich the state treasury
by $3,000,000. Doubling the cost of
auto tags and increasing truck tags
10 percent is supposed to bring inr an
additional $6,000,000.
By putting into effect the $1 anr-j
nual driver’s i'?e. e, about si,#oo,-
000 in revenue is anticipated. Rais
ing the liquor warehouse tax by
$1.25 a gallon, which Gov. Griffin
did by executive order, is expected
to yield an additional $4,000,000.
Several minor levies will bring in
about $2,000,000 more.
The increases on wine, beer, ciga
rettes, gasoline will go into effect
and start producing revenue on July
1. The income tax, driver’s license,
and auto tag increases will not go
into effect until next year.
A resolution adopted by the House
and Senate in the closing minutes of
the session on Friday directed the
manner in which Gov. Griffin, as sole
director of the budget, must spend
the money.
According to the terms of the res
olution the governor has been direc
ted to divide the $41,000,000 in new
revenue in this manner:
Public schools, $17,500,000; Uni
versity System, $4,500,000; teacher
retirement, $500,000; highway, $12,-
000,000; health, $3,000,000; wel
fare, $3,000,000, and prisons and
public safety, $500,000.
If the anticipated revenue failed
to meet the expected $41,000,000
total, the governor was instructed to
cut the allocations op a pro rata
basis.
The Legislature adjourned after
voting approximately 60 percent of
the administration-proposed $65,-
000,000 tax increases. The swift op
position that developed to the pro
posed extension of the sales tax to
personal services killed that levy be
fore either house had a chance to
vote on it.
The new tax measures are expec
ted to cost the people of Butts coun
ty approximately $120,000 in addi
tional taxes annually, or about sl3
for every man, woman and child on
a pro rata basis.
SOCIAL SECURITY AGENT TO
BE IN JACKSON JUNE 27
A representative from the Social
Security Administration office at
Macon will be in Jackson in the
grand jury room of the corurthouse
on Monday, June 27, at 9:30 a. m.
and anyone desiring information on
the Old Age and Survivors Insurance
program should call on this rep
resentative.
If you are 65 years old and have
worked in employment covered by
the Social Security Act, or if you
are the nearest- relative of a deceas
ed worker who worked under Social
Security, it may be to your advantage
to see the representative.