The Jackson progress-argus. (Jackson, Ga.) 1915-current, July 23, 1970, Image 1

The Jackson progress-argus., July 23, 1970, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextKarksmt yjftttgrz&z- Artjtts VOL. 97 —NO. 30 Dale McLaren Makes Statement On Mclntosh Trail APDC Dale McLaren, former planning l director for the Mclntosh Trail Area Planning and Development j Commission, said Tuesday that; the organization should make a clean sweep of things and reor ganize. Mr. McLaren issued his state ment to the news media of the five counties involved and to the citizens of Butts, Fayette, Henry, Lamar, and Spalding Counties. The complete text of his state ment is as follows: The Mclntosh Trail Area Plan ning & Development Commission (APDC) is in serious trouble. Ac cording to Griffin Police Records, the Commission’s Executive Di rector, Larry E. Gridley, was ar rested and jailed on July 3, 1970 on a charge of being drunk. Grid ley was arrested again on July 6, 1970, on a charge of being drunk and disorderly. The second arrest was in the APDC’s own office building. The entire Board of Di rectors were aware of Mr. Grid ley’s drinking problem and had been so for quite awhile but didn’t do anything about the matter. Many other infractions have existed, including being in fluenced from outside sources, but the Board of Directors has chosen a policy of remaining “quiet” in order “not to rock the boat.” It is my belief that the Commission will continue to “stumble along the Mclntosh Trail” unless some major changes are immediately made. I recom mend the removal of two direc tors, the clearance of the staff, establishment of a screening com mittee for the hiring of anew Executive Director, allowing the new chief administrator to hire his own staff, and that all fu ture meetings of the Board of Directors be open to the public. I. THE REMOVAL OF TWO DIRECTORS. J. D. “Jim” Arp of Fayetteville and Homer Davis of Griffin must be removed from the Commission’s Board of Direc tors. Since the inception of the Commission, Arp and Davis have either jointly or individually tried to personally run the staff and the Board. In my opinion, the ONLY special privilege that the Chairman has is to preside over the monthly meetings of the Board. The Vice-Chairman has that same privilege whenever the chairman is absent. This normal practice was not followed by Arp or Davis. Both men normally re fused to listen to the staff or other Board members and, al though neither of them were qual ified regional or city planners, made (adverse) planning decis ions. Arp temporarily stepped down from the Chairmanship aft er he was charged with a conflict of interest. Arp is employed by Delta Airlines which opposes the Henry County Airport Site. Fay etteville should replace Arp and the Board should accept Arp’s resignation as permanent. Davis, vice-chairman in 1969, was re jected by the Board and the vice presidency was filled by C. M. “Milt” Daniel of Jackson. Davis offered his resignation to the Griffin Board of Commissioners in November of 1969. The City of Griffin should accept that resig nation now .... and replace Davis immediately. 11. STAFF CLEARANCE. The existing staff should be cleared except for draftsman Kerry Floyd. Mr. Floyd should be re tained permanently and utilized to keep the office open until the new Executive Director is hired. In my opinion, Mr. Floyd is hon est and conscientious and is the best qualified to keep the office in operation. The new administra tor should be allowed the privil ege of hiring his own staff and not be handicapped by a staff not of his own choosing. 111. SCREENING COMMIT TEE. A screening committee should be established to recruit and interview a number of quali fied applicants for the Executive Director position. The Commit tee should recommend three final candidates to the Commission for the Boards final decision. I recommend that several unbiased individuals of good standing be appointed to the Committee. I recommend the following indi viduals or their representatives: 1). Dr. Malcom Little, Chairman, Graduate School of Blanning, Georgia Tech; 2). Dr. Ernest Melvin, Director, Institute of Community and Area Develop ment, University of Georgia, Ath ens; 3). Mr. Frank Hood, Presi dent, Georgia Planning Associ ation (also director of the Com munity Development Division pf the Georgia Power Company, At lanta) ; 4.) Carroll Underwood, Chairman, Georgia Regional Ex ecutive Director’s Association (al so Executive Director, Southwest Georgia Area Planning & Dev. Comm., Camilla). IV. NEW CHIEF ADMINI STRATOR. The new Executive Director should set forth his own program and, under budget limi tations, hire a competent staff to carry out the work. The “new commission” may, like other APDC’s in Georgia, accomplish much for the people of this area. However, the public should be kept informed of the Commis sions activities through an open meeting policy. V. OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS. Since the inception of the Mc- Intosh Commission, too many secret meetings have been held behind closed doors. The public and the news media have seldom been invited or advised as to the date and location of the monthly meetings of the Commission’s Board of Directors. Since the APDC operates solely upon tax dollars, the tax paying public has the right to know what the Com mission is doing at all times. When the APDC places itself under public scrutiny, then its members shall be in a better po sition not to be influenced by outside organizations such as Delta Airlines or large out of the area development corpora tions. IN CONCLUSION, the Mcln tosh Trail Area Planning & De velopment Commission, located at 206 Childers Building, Grif fin, Georgia (Phone 227-3096) should be allowed a fair chance to redeem itself. If the Commis sion chooses a limited clean-up of itself, then it will continue to perform ineptly at the waste of the tax payers money. I recom mend that the Commission im mediately follow the suggestions that I have made. If the APDC doesn’t move quickly, then the Grand Juries of the five counties should make a full-scale investi gation of the Mclntosh Trail Area Planning & Development and all of its records and activ ities since its beginning in 1969. KIWANIS CLUB MAINTAINS TOP TEN RATING The Jackson Kiwanis Club con tinues to maintain its high at tendance average statewide with a 96.5 average for May which keeps the club in the top ten. Three clubs, Fulton Industrial Area, Milledgeville, and West End, tied for first with perfect attendance. Following in order are St. Marys 99.9; East DeKalb 98.3; Decatur 98.0; Morrow 96.8; Jackson 96.5; College Park 96.0 and Marietta 95.2. ACCIDENT SATURDAY INJURES LOCAL MAN Jerry Preston Evans, 19, of Route 1, Jackson was injured about three o’clock Saturday morning when the car he was driving left the road and struck a tree near the home of Mrs. J. O. Gaston on the Four*Points- Stark Road. He suffered injuries to his head and facial lacerations. He was treated at Sylvan Grove Hospital and transferred to the Griff in-Spalding County Hos pital. Heavy damage was reported to the car by the Butts County Sheriff’s Department, who in vestigated the accident. First Baptist VBS Will Start Tuesday The First Baptist Church of Jackson will have its annual Va cation Bible School July 28- August 7. The school will begin each day at 8:30 a. m.-11:30 a. m. On Preparation-Registration Day, July 28, the children will register at 9:00 a. m. and then have a V. B. S. parade through downtown Jackson and parts of the community. The Jackson police and fire department will help in this parade. Vacation Bible School, an ex tended arm of Sunday School, will have as its emphasis Bible teaching, character study, and creative activity. New and up-to date curriculum methods and ma terials will be used. Along with this, all the teachers and workers have been trained and undergone extensive study in preparation for the school. Teenagers will have a Teen College, meeting each night at 7:00 p. m., August 3-7. Then study will include subjects as “Christ: Breakthrough in Under standing,” and “Good News for a Confused World.” There will be recreation and refreshments each night. A recreational highlight of Teen College will be a trip to Six Flags on Saturday, August 8. We cordially invite you to at tend Vacation Bible School at First Baptist Church for a time of study, fun, and enjoyment. A bus route will be run each day before the school on the follow ing schedule: 8:00 a. m.—Green Acres Trailer Park; 8:05 a. m.— National Guard Armory; 8:10 a. m.—lndian Springs St. Trailer Park; (Peters’ Trailer Park); 8:15 a. m.—Davis Trailer Park; 8:20 a. m. —Washington Trailer Park; 8:25 a. m.—Handy Andy. Snapping Shoals EMC To Hear Ben Blackburn Fourth District Congressman Ben Blackburn will be the speak er at the 33rd annual meeting of the Snapping Shoals Electric Membership Corporation, Coving ton, at Salem Camp Ground on Friday, July 24th, at 1:30 o’clock. Salem Methodist Church will serve barbecue for which it has become famous. The serving of barbecue will begin at approxi mately eleven o’clock. Free prizes will be awarded at the annual meeting Friday after noon with the prizes being prin cipally small electric appliances. Registration will begin at 11:30 a. m. The Snapping Shoals EMC office will close for business at ten o’clock Friday morning with emergeftcy calls being received for the remainder of the day at 786-3484. Gridley Has Resigned As Mclntosh Head The Board of Directors of the Mclntosh Trail Area Planning and Development Commission, at a special meeting on July 17th, accepted the resignation of Larry E. Gridley as executive director. Announcement of Mr. Gridley’s resignation and its acceptance by the Board of Directors was made by C. M. Daniel, Jackson, acting chairman of the Mclntosh Trail AP&DC. Mr. Daniel said that, after a brief discussion, the mo tion that the resignation be ac cepted was carried unanimously. Jerry Lacey, secretary-treasurer, was appointed acting executive director by the Board of Direc tors. THURSDAY, JULY 23, 1970 JACKSON, GEORGIA 30233 County 12 Pints Short Blood Quota The summer doldrums again jinxed the July visit of the Blood mobile with 100 pints of blood being collected Monday on the county’s quota of 112 pints. How ever, John Billy Long, blood re cruitment chairman, viewed the showing as “most creditable” and feels that the 12 pint deficit would more than be made up at the next visit of the Bloodmobile in the fall. Despite his optimism, Chairman Long said that the county will be placed on probation with the deficit to be made up at the next visit or else the blood program locally could be in serious trouble. There is every likelihood, Mr. Long said, that) if the county failed to meet its quota on the third visit, which will probably be set for the spring of 1971, the county could ostensibly be placed on the credit card system. The visit of the Bloodmobile Monday at the National Guard Armory was the first visit of the new fiscal year with the county then being in good standing and excel lent shape as far as eligibility is concerned. Chairman Long expressed sin cere thanks and appreciation to those who offered blood, to the volunteer workers who staffed the visit and to the stores and merchants who donated items of food for the canteen. As usual, members of the Jackson Business and Professional Women’s Club spearheaded the volunteer work ers who assisted. Among those tvere Mr. Mercer Hodges, Mrs. 'Mercer Hodges, Mrs. Hugh Glidewell, Mrs. Maude Watkins, Mrs. Genevive Bailey, Miss Charlene Brownlee, Miss Antionette Brownlee, Mrs. Cath leen Knight, Mrs. Martha Long, Miss Chloe Hearn, Mrs. Van Free man, Mrs. Bertha Perdue, Mrs. Arthur Cleveland, Mrs. Julia Har ris, Mrs. Jane Weaver, Mrs. Sara Caldwell, Miss Grace Fu qua, Mrs. Loretta Browning, Mrs. Martha Morton, Miss Dottie Lev erette, Miss Susan King, Mr. Bill Thaxton, James Biles. Among those offering blood were Horace L. Cawthon, Carl ton Williams, Edward L. Hough taling, Josephine Tiller Colbert, Chester Evans, Sylvia L. Gilbert, Frank Fountain, Richard V. Mere dith, David P. Ridgeway, Miss Helen Thornton, Perry Ridgeway, Joe W. Fincher, David P. Ridge way Jr., Glen Mangham, John M. Lawton. Glen Hobbs, Lou Ellen Henry, Charles E. Rooks, Fred Raney, Virgie Raney, Doris Singley, Bar bara Maddox, Marion H. Duke, Merrell Price, Jerald Dean Es sler, Marvin Mangham, Michael Morgan, Fred L. Moore, Norma Evans, Banks Weaver, Ruth Ash, Lewis Cawthon, Clyde Herbert, Steve Jett. Patsy B. Jett, Becky Glidewell, Bobby Jackson, Ronald Tingle, Jimmy Long, Florigene Moore, Jeanette C. Bunch, Jean Sum mers, M. E. Taylor, Bertha Mae Stewart, Richard Young, Brenda Williamson, John G. Yawn, Wil liam E. Limbrick, Henry L. As bury, Ronnie Wells. Claude Maddox, Peggy O’Neal Nolan, Ruth Batchelor, Onita Cross, Max Perdue, Donald L. Folsom, Robert Reese, Benjamin O. Williamson, Franklin Washing ton, Peggy Holland, John W. Browning Jr., Earl Hurst, Ruth Ball, Ricky Beauchamp, William E. Parker, Velma Webb Davis. Carlton Morris, Sara Craig, Dorothy Price, Johnny Autry, Betty Jean Bugg, Charles R. Kenney, Lucile J. Smith, Rita El len Kenney, Catherine Stanik, W. Stanley Nelson, Daftner Fincher, Robert L. Fincher, Jerry Thaxton, Joel Cawthon, Eugene Mitchell, John Billy Long, F. Wayne Wash ington, Joseph Tiller, Patricia Starr, John Wesley Cook. Rogers Starr, Eailey Crockarell, John Arthur Webb, Mary Anne Leverette, Clifford L. Sanvidge, Harold McMichael, Jack R. New man, Patricia Evans Peek, Oscar Young, Wayne Byars, Corine S. Clark, William O. Leverette, Don ald Curtis Bristol, Douglas Tornado Rips Small Area Of Jackson Lake On Sunday jL ) ± aftfL 1., T 1 , aji>jlCmr ,JL it'iMli’iftiif'n ~ TORNADO DAMAGE —The force of the tornadic winds that struck a small area of Jackson Lake about 4 o’clock Sun day afternoon is obvious from the three pine trees that were sheared off some 12 to 25 ft. above ground level at the cottage of John W. Schroeder. One of the treetops brushed against the cottage inflicting some damage.—Photo by Brenda Williamson. TREE CRUMPLED CAR —A 1969 Oldsmobile was one of the victims of the storm’s fury that struck Jackson Lake Sunday afternoon. The car, belonging to Mrs. Nita Morris of Macon, was parked adjacent to the cottage of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Schroeder when two trees fell across the car, inflicting considerable damage. The tornadic winds did much damage to a small area of Jackson Lake about 4 o’clock Sunday afternoon.—Photo by Brenda Williamson. Over 5,200 Can Vote In County Monday, July 20th, was the deadline for voters to become eligible to cast a ballot in the September 9th primary and in the General Election in November. Registration over the state closed on that date. Butts countians were not idle since the compilation of all militia districts in the county shows a total of 5,206 voters will be eligible to exercise their fran chise in the above mentioned pri mary and general election. According to Mrs. Mary Will Hearn, tax collector and deputy registrar, and A. Lamar Weaver, chief registrar, over 5,200 voters have registered which places the registration at the high water mark in the county’s history. Broken down by precincts, the registration is as follows: Buttrill, 237; Coody, 124; Dub lin, 27; Flovilla arid Indian Springs, 433; Iron Springs, 99; Jackson and Pepperton, 3925; Towaliga, 167; Worthville, 184. Mrs. Hearn said that about 10 transfers have been received through the mail in the last day or so which brings the county total to 5,206. Brooks. Mrs. Frances Holston, Dr. F. M. Holston, Robin James, Ola Mae Grier, Louis E. Watkins, Benjamn R. Branan, Kenneth Batchelor, Phillip Bunch, Walter R. Henry, Doyle Jones, Jr., Riley Tingle, Peggi Tingle, Anna Louise Cawthon, John Allen Moore, Dolly Ann Sims. Jack Flynt To Speak At CGEMC Annual Meeting The Honorable John J. Flynt Jr., of Griffin, Sixth District Con gressman, will be the featured speaker at the 33rd annual mem bership meeting of The Central Georgia Electric Membership Cor poration on Wednesday, August 5, at Indian Springs State Park. Registration will begin at 9:00 a. m., and the program will start at 10 o’clock. Three directors will he elected to serve three year terms each beginning August 5. These direc tors will represent the following areas: Butts County, Monroe- Bibb Counties, and Spalding-La mar Counties. According to this year’s report, Manager Bob Armstrong states that The Central Georgia EMC has 1*936 miles of line in parts of 14 counties and serves 9,808 members. The average member uses 549 kilowatts of electricity per month which accounts for a total of 72,613,534 kilowatts sold in fiscal year June 1, 1969 to May 31, 1970. The total revenue received was $1,400,959.41 for last fiscal year. Ad valorem tax paid in 1969 was $41,579.99. Quimby Melton, Jr., editor of the Griffin Daily News, will be master of ceremonies. Group singing will be led by Steve Jett, music director for the First Baptist Church in Jackson, accompanied by Mrs. Gervin Lewis of Jackson. A barbecue lunch will be served immediately following the meeting. Advance tickets may be purchased at $1.50 each at the Co-op Office. • $5.00 PER YEAR IN ADVANCE A small but violent tornado, or at least winds of tornadic veloci ty, struck certain areas of Jackson I ake late Sunday afternoon, up rooting trees and snapping off large trees, both pine and hard wood, like so many match sticks, damaging several vehicles when trees toppled over on them, and destroying several docks which were also damaged by falling trees. The area struck by the twister which appeared out of the south west, traveling in a northeasterly direction, was generally that area near Barnett’s Bridge, extending northeastward and across the lake into Jasper County. Several large trees were uprooted in the area immediately adjacent to Barnett’s Bridge. Particularly hard hit was the point across the lake from the site of the old Jackson Lake Inn on which the cottage is owned by the John W. Schroeder family. As many as eight or 10 trees, many of large dimensions, were either cut off by the fury of the wind or uprooted, with two fal ling atop a ’69 Oldsmohile belong ing to Mrs. Nita Morris of 2970 Victoria Circle, Macon. Mrs. Mor ris and daughter, Cindy, were v -iting the Schroeders at the time the storm struck. A least two trees were blown against the cottage, inflicting some damage. The dock was split in half by a tremendous pine which fell across it with the boat and a portion of the dock floating out into the lake. Damage was also extensive on the same point to the William Maynard cottage and lot. Exten sive damage was reported to the Paul Stovall lot, Clarence E. Myers lot arid that belonging to Mrs. Helen Ham of Jackson. The storm was spawned by a weak cool front that moved across Georgia Saturday night and Sunday triggering a rash of wind and electric storms amid heavy rainfall. Roads were blocked by falling trees, electric service was disrupted by trees and limbs falling across power lines with telephone service in many areas of the lake also seri ously curtailed by the falling trees and limbs. Personnel of the Central Georgia EMC and the Snapping Shoals EMC of Cov ington worked around the clock to restore electricity to their cus tomers at Jackson Lake and by Tuesday morning most of the linos had been re-energized. Damage to some of the areas had to be seen to be believed and it is generally felt that this was one of the most severe wind storms to strike this area in re cent years. Jaycees Ask That Pets Be Inoculated The Butts County Jaycees are asking all citizens of the county to have their dogs and cats inoc ulated against rabies as a protec tion to the pets and humans. The Jaycees have invited Dr. J. I>. Tanner to Butts County next week to administer the vac cine. The cost will be $2.00 per shot which will cover the cost of the serum and the doctor’s ex penses. In order to facilitate the im munizaton of the pets, Dr. Tan ner will be in several locations throughout the county. Follow ing is his schedule: Monday, July 27th, 5-6 p. m., Minter’s Store, Jenkinsburg; 6-7 p. m., Dean Patrick’s Store, High way 16; 7-8 p. m., Lee Maddox Store, Highway 36. Tuesday, July 28th, 5-6 p. m., Gunter’s Store, Flovilla; 6-7 p. m., Lloyd White’s Store, Stark; 7-8 p. m., Duke’s Store, Coving ton Highway. Wednesday, July 29th, 5-8 p. m., Youth Center, Jackson.