The Jackson progress-argus. (Jackson, Ga.) 1915-current, December 07, 1972, Image 9

The Jackson progress-argus., December 07, 1972, Image 9

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Newspaper Page TextBen Fortson Regales Kiwanians With Tale of Starling Invasion Georgia’s number one starl ing fighter, Hon. Ben W. Fortson, Secretary of State, kept Jackson Kiwanians and guests laughing for a solid hour Tuesday night, November 28th, as he recounted again his exploits with the horde of starlings that invaded the State Capitol a few years ago. Mr. Fortson was presented by Herman Waits, program chair man, who made arrangements for his visit. Before he began his side splitting tale of the starlings, Mr. Fortson paid the present youth generation a great compliment when he stated with much emphasis that “the young people today are the finest generation ever produced in this country.” He remarked that “they want something to believe in and somebody to believe in and are the most aware generation that I have ever known.” Mr. Fortson began his tale by stating that the sole purpose of his visit was to help Kiwanians laugh a little and to tell how he acquired the cap and gown in which he was attired. To elucidate his story, Mr. Fortson brought two stuffed starlings under glass with him and occasionally made reference to his feathered “enemies.” Because of his personal vendetta against the starlings, Mr. Fortson said that it earned him a Doctor of Ornithology Degree, Summa Cum Laude and sole membership into Phi Birda Kappa. Mr. Fortson for many years served as custodian of the Capitol grounds and began his story in late November when millions of starlings happened out of the west, literally forming a black cloud, that chose the trees of the State Capitol as meeting grounds. Mr. Fortson recalled that the first and second nights the starlings invasion was noted with some awe but that on the third night the first action was taken which consisted of arming about 4f dozen men with shot guns and plenty of shells. Hie first night Mr. Fortson recalled that about 5,000 starlings were killed in a din of blasts that would make a dove shoot like the quiet of a cathedral. The number of casualties did not phase the birds who returned the next night in even greater numbers with another shoot-out resulting in about 8,000 being killed plus the fact that a Constitution reporter had overheard a conversation by Mr. Fortson when he admitted in a moment of weakness that “we need help.” Mr. Fortson said that the story was reprinted in news papers over the world, picked up by radio and television and that soon his office became swamped with more than 1,500 long distance calls and great stacks of letters daily, mostly from person who offered helpful suggestions for the extermina tion of the starlings. Mr. Fortson said that he called Mayor Ivan Allen, Police Chief Herbert Jenkins and contacted Gov. Carl Sanders, all of whom unanimously shouted “do something.” Mr. Fortson said that star lings were introduced to the United States in the late 1880’s by a gentleman who was tired of the English Sparrow and brought 40 starlings over from England. From this almost insignificant beginning the birds have exploded into an estimated four to five hundred million in the United States alone. Mr. Fortson said that a man from Grady County called to say that if they would use empty syrup cans and tie them in a tree that it would frighten the birds away. It was done and Mr. Fortson says that you can still see rusty syrup cans in trees around the capitol. The speaker said that a man from Oregon called to say that they were plagued with starlings also and that they had bought 300 owls to frighten them away. About ten days later the same man called Mr. Fortson to inquire “have you bought the owls?” When informed thpt they had not done so the caller shouted “thank God, don’t do it. The starlings are roosting on the owls.” One particularly humourous incident that Mr. Fortson recalled occurred the second night of the shoot-out when Henry Neal, Assistant Attorney General, was in the capitol alone and had not been informed of the starling shoot. When the blast started, it sounded somewhat like the invasion of France on D Day and so upset Mr. Neal that he was reputedly heard to exclaim “My God they’ve come and I’m the only one here.” He recalled on another occasion a well known Georgian got a good whiff of the starling drippings which, Mr. Fortson testified, when wet could send an offensive odor around that part of the city. It led the man to inquire “is the legislature in session? It sure smells like it.” He recalled the time when a prominent Griffin clubwoman made an appointment with him to discuss the statuary about the capitol grounds. Mr. Fortson told ho* to meet him at Tran Watson and when the good lady arrived the odor was so overwhelmingly strong that the discussion had to be adjourned indoors. Another earnest advisor who offered help suggested that the state try soaking peas in booze and sowing them about the capitol grounds with the hopeful idea that the starlings would partake of the spirited peas, become inebriated so that they could be picked up by the hundreds of thousands and destroyed. Mr. Fortson con ceded the idea was plausible but the state would not go for it. Another caller suggested that the starlings be put on the pill but since they could not be caught this was hardly consid ered feasible. Mr. Fortson said that on the night of the second shoot-out which occurred with several inches of snow on the capitol grounds he spied a shadowy figure pulling something across the grounds and it was his first * imjJr&sSbifffiat “irifloddrfeSs, we’ve killed somebody.” Hie figure turned out to be an elderly Negro man with a crocus sack who was busily picking up dead starlings and stuffing them into his bulging sack. When approached the starling forager said “All my life I’ve wanted enough birds and finally I’ve got them.” Hie third winter during the third invasion Mr. Fortson hit upon the idea that if the birds could be stopped from roosting the first night they might possibly be driven away or persuaded to change their roosting place. Mr. Fortson and cohorts hit upon the idea of using Roman Candles to frighten the birds and it worked perhaps better than anything else. Mr. Fortson became nationally known by reason of photographs in papers ova* the country depicting him blasting away at the starlings with Roman Candles. Sixty-four Kiwanians and guests were present for Mr. Fortson’s “laugh-in”. Among the guests were nine members of the Jackson High Key Club and their sponsor, including Mrs. Geraldine Wright, spon sor, Kenny Smith, Don McKib ben, Terry Moore, Ronnie Jones, Wally Jenkins, Dan Fears, Jr., Auze Dover, Dennis Morgan, and Rex Smith. Other guests were Mrs. Herman Waits, Dan Fears, Ricky Beauchamp, Keith Scruggs, Barry Greenhouse, and James Johns, who accompanied Mr. Fortson. An interclub delega tion from Covington was present and included Bill Dickey, Mel Waggoner, S. J. Morcock and Fred Harwell. Five Jackson Kiwanians attended an interclub meeting in McDonough November 27th, these being Pat Patterson, David Black, Ed Manley, Bob Pinckney and Lee Roy O’Neal. /£doyour\ \NCM/ THE JACKSON PROGRESS-ARGUS, JACKSON, GEORGIA Police Cars, Truck On City Order C. M. Daniel, Jr., chairman of the City of Jackson Police Committee, announces this week that two new police cars have been ordered through the State Purchasing Department for the Jackson Police Depart ment. Announcement is also made by W. O. Ball, chairman of the City Water and Light Commit tee, that anew pick up truck for the City of Jackson Water Department has been placed on order. Both of these vehicles will be paid for in cash, announced Mr. Daniel. Dozens of suggestions to make Christmas merrier for everybody C* - k on your list! Make your selections here—and now. You can depend on your friendly Drug Store ee 0I * ou^anc^n £ va^ue anc * " •? Gift Wrapping courteous helpful service— Christmas time and all the time •'* throughout the year. PERSONAL Friends of Mike Allen will be interested to learn he returned home Wednesday of last week from Middle Georgia Hospital where he underwent surgery. His condition is reported as “doing fine”, friends are glad to know. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Martin visited during Thanks giving week his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Martin, in Jacksonville, Florida. Mr. Mar tin’s father had been ill but is much improved, their friends are glad to learn. Mr. Harvey J. Powell of Monticello was a business visitor to Jackson Thursday afternoon. GIFTS FOR HER Automatic Toothbrush Bathroom Scale Bath Salts and Oils Ball Pen Billfold Camera Candy Cigarettes Clock, electric Compact Cosmetics Dresser Sets Electric Hair Dryer Electric Razor Flashbulbs Flashlight Gift Wrapping Sets Greeting Cards Hairbrush Heating Pad Jewelry Lighter Lipstick Luggage Manicure Set Perfumes Playing Cards Pen and Pencil Set Photographic Equipment Soap Stationery Stocking Stuffers Toiletry Set Wrist Watch Wrist Watch Band GIFTS FOR HIM Alarm Clock Automatic Toothbrush PARRISH DRUG CO. Phone 775-7414 Jackson, Ga. THURSDAY, DEC. 7, 1972 WANTED INFORMATION on 'Drug Pushers' Phone 775-2121 REWARDS PAID AFTER ARREST T. I. P. 775-2121 Ball Pen Barometer Billfold Brief Case Camera Camera Outfit Clock, electric Cigarettes Cigars Compass, Navigator Electric Razor First Aid Kit Flashbulbs Flashlight Fountain Pen Greeting Cards Hairbrush Hair Dressing Hair Tonic Heating Pad Jewelry Sets Key Case Lighter Luggage Manicure Sets Pen and Pencil Set Pipe Playing Carda Photographic Equipment Projection Outfit Shampoos Shaving Supplies Aerosol Lather Bomb Electric Razor After-Shave Lotion Shaving Kits Razor Set Razor Shaving Brush Soaps Stationery Stocking Stuffers Thermometer, Weather Tobacco Humidors Tobacco Pouch Toiletry Sets Travel Kits Vacuum Bottle Wrist Watch Wrist Watch Band GIFTS FOR YOUNGSTERS Baby Food Warmer Baby Gift Set Ball Pen Bath Salts or Oils Billfold Bubble Bath Camera Camera Outfit Candy Film Flashlight Hairbrush Key Holder Manicure Set Pen and Pencil Set Photographic Outfit Powder Mitt Soaps Shoe Polish Set Shampoo Sports Equipment Stationery Stocking Stuffers Toiletry Set Toys Wrist Watch Wrist Watch Band Santa Claus is coming to t Holiday Inn LOCUST GROVE Sunday, Dec. 10, 12 to 4 P. M. Come by and visit with Santa and give him your order for Christmas. Goodies for the children. GIFTS FOR THE HOME Alarm Clock Automatic Toothbrush Baby Bottle Warmers Baby Food Warmer Bathroom Scales Clock, electric Clock Radio Coffeemaker Electric Blanket Electric Hair Dryer Electric Heating Pad Electric Massager Flashlight Heating Lamp Hot Water Bottle Iron, Electric Steam Nursery Lamp Picnic Jug Portable Radio Sandwich Grill Sun Lamp Toaster Vacuum Bottle Vaporizer Weather Recording Instruments Waffle Iron DECORATIONS Artificial Snow Aerosol Bombs Candles Christmas Tree Lights Christmas Tree Stands Christmas Corsages Christmas Wreaths and Mistletoe Door Ornaments Gift Wrapping Paper Gift Ties and Ribbons, Htpe, and Seals Thble Centerpieces Tinsel