Newspaper Page Text
JJacksnn progress-Argua
Volume 103 Number 2
Retail Sales in Butts County
Soared in 1975 Third Quarter
Retail sales in Butts
County for the third quarter
of 1975 skyrocketed to a 13.1
percent increase over the
comparable period in 1974,
according to a survey by the
Georgia Chamber of Com
merce.
This sales increase far
outpaced the results in
neighboring counties, many
of which showed a decline in
sales volume from the 1974
figures, as the accompanying
chart illustrates.
For the third quarter in
1975* retail sales in Butts
County totalled $8,487,000 as
compared with $7,505,000 for
the same period in 1974,
marking an increase of 13.1
per cent.
Meanwhile, retail sales in
Sales Tax Here Still 3 Perceni
There have been many
misconceptions about the
implementation date of the 1
cent sales and use tax passed
by Butts County voters last
September, according to W.
A. Duke, Butts County
Commissioner.
Evidently some mer
chants, and possibly some
shoppers as well, felt the tax
would go into effect on
January l, but such is not the
case, Duke pointed out.
The legislative act which
permitted the county-wide
referendum of last Septem
ber 16, at which time voters
endorsed the 1 cent sales tax
increase by a vote of
717-to-466, has some flaws
which hopefully will be
corrected by the 1976 General
Assembly, Duke said.
Until such time as the
defects in the current law are
corrected, and until the Butts
Last Rites For A. C.
Freeman Held Sunday
Funeral services for
Arthur Clinton Freeman, Sr.,
80, were held Sunday
afternoon at 3 o’clock at
Haisten Chapel with the Rev.
Donald L. Folsom, pastor of
the First Baptist Church of
Jackson, officiating.
Mr. Freeman, a highly
esteemed Butts County busi
nessman, died suddenly at
his Monticello Highway
home on Friday morning, the
victim of an apparent heart
attack.
Although retired from the
business community, his
interest remained active in
his extensive farm land
holdings and in the develop
ment of large real estate
projects in the vicinity of his
home.
In earlier years, he was the
successful owner of a planing
mill located on the site of
what is now Jackson’s
Industrial Park.
Born in Jasper County
High Winds Cost Butts Minor Harm
High winds hit Jackson last
Wednesday morning around
11:00 am. causing much
concern and a small amount
of damage in the area.
DeKalb County reported
gusts of up to 105 miles per
hour. Gusts in Jackson were
estimated at around 65 miles
per hour.
COUNTY 3rd Quarter 3rd QUARTER PERCENT OF
1975 1974 CHANGE
Butts 8,487 7,505 13.1
Clayton 75,796 76,861 -1.4
DeKalb 436,604 433,461 0.9
Fayette 6,538 7,264 -10.0
Fulton 1,047,658 1,090,454 -3.9
Henry 15,896 16,111 -1.3
Lamar 6,109 5,607 9.0
Newton 19,085 17,089 11.7
Rockdale 15,895 16,002 -0.7
Spalding 35,564 34,351 3.5
Georgia were up by 2 per
cent over the 1974 period.
During the third quarter of
1975, Georgia’s retail sales
volume was $4,453,667,000 as
compared to $4,366,791,000 in
1974’s third quarter.
County Commission votes to
implement the 1 cent sales
tax proposal and gives
merchants and shoppers
sufficient notice—probably
90 days—the sales tax in
Butts County will remain at 3
per cent, the Commissioner
said.
Local voters ratified the
sales tax proposal as an
alternative to higher pro
perty taxes, which rose
sharply in 1975.
It has been estimated that
the additional 1 cent levied on
all purchases made in Butts
County at the retail level
would bring in approxi
mately $300,000. Both Butts
County and the City of
Jackson would get more than
one-third of this amount, with
the municipalities of Flovilla
and Jenkinsburg getting
lesser amounts.
Two of the more obvious
August 28, 1895, he was the
son of the late Marcus Louis
Freeman and the late Mattie
Jane Hooper Freeman.
He held memberships in
the First Baptist Church of
Jackson, the local chapter of
Veterans of Foreign Wars
and the Butts County Farm
Bureau.
Survivors include his wife,
Mrs. Sara Smith Freeman of
Jackson; one son, Arthur C.
Freeman, Jr., of Jackson;
one daughter, Mrs. Frances
Breedlove of Anchorage,
Alaska; a brother, W. D.
Freeman, of Jackson; seven
grandchildren and two great
grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Robert
Breedlove, Arthur R. Free
man, Charles Breedlove, Jr.,
David Stancil, Charles
Howell and Robert E. Smith.
Interment was in the
Jackson City cemetery under
the direction of Haisten
Brothers Funeral Home.
The Jackson Electric Of
fice reported two transform
ers knocked out of operation
probably hit by falling limbs.
Approximately seven houses
on the two transformers
inside the city limits were
without electricity for an
hour or more.
Jackson Hardware sus
Oddly enough, some of the
more populous counties in
the middle Georgia area
were the hardest hit by the
sales decline, Fayette re
cording a 10 per cent loss,
Fulton a 3.9 per cent reversal
defects in the present law,
Duke stated, are that
muncipalities would be
bound to reduce property
taxes for only one year and
that federal revenue sharing
funds would be reduced by
approximately the same
amount as the tax would
yield.
Federal revenue sharing
funds must be used by states,
counties and cities for
certain staged purposes and
one use strictly forbidden is
the use of these funds in lieu
of tax revenues in order to
reduce property taxes.
The current law also
provides that collection of the
1 cent sales and use tax
would accrue for one year
before the first rebate was
made, meaning that it will be
1977 at the earliest before any
tax relief can be expected
from this source, Duke
concluded.
J. E. Jones
Wins National
Quality Award
Jefferson Standard of
Greensboro, North Carolina
announces that the coveted
National Quality Award for
1975 has been awarded to J.
E. Jones, CLU, Special
Representative for the Com
pany in Warner Robins,
Georgia.
Mr. Jones, cousin of
Vincent S. Jones and the late
J. Doyle Jones, Jr., has
received special recognition
for having qualified for this
designation for six years.
The highly esteemed
National Quality Award is
granted annually to quali
fying representatives in
recognition of the superior
quality of life insurance
service they have rendered
to the public. The award, in
the form of a certificate, is
made by the National
Association of Life Under
writers and the Life In
surance Agency Manage
ment Association.
tained damage to its front
door when the wind jerked
the door from its hinges and
shattered the top window
pane.
Elsewhere throughout the
county, trees were up-rooted
and limbs were blown down
but no serious damage has
been reported.
Georgia 30233, Thursday, January 8, 1976
and Clayton a 1.4 per cent
decline.
Only Newton, with an
increase of 11.7 per cent, was
anywhere close to the
whopping sales increase
recorded locally.
Taxable sales in Georgia
counties are estimated by
calendar quarters of busi
ness and are based on
Georgia Department of Rev
enue data for adjusted gross
tax amounts.
These figures, compiled
and released by the Georgia
Chamber of Commerce,
exclude out of state pur
chases, and indicate place of
sale rather than consumer
buying power by place of
residence.
mu ij|P
Charles Kinney
Music Minister
Second Baptist
Charles R. Kinney has
accepted the call as Minister
of Music to Second Baptist
Church of Jackson, Charles,
age 30, was orginally from
Phenix City, Alabama. He is
the son of Mr. and Mrs. John
T. Kinney of Phenix City. He
is married to the former Rita
Cawthon, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. L. H. Cawthon of
Jackson. He and Rita have
two children, Robert and
Karen, ages four and two.
Charles is a graduate of
Smiths Station High School,
Smiths, Alabama. He was a
member of Smiths Station
Baptist Church where he
served one year as associate
Sunday School Superinten
dent and two years as
associate music director.
Formerly a member of
Macedonia Baptist Church,
he served there as pianist,
Sunday School teacher and
most recent as a deacon and
the organist.
During his high school
years he received six years
of studies in music for piano.
He is presently a member of
the Jackson Masonic Lodge
and employed by the Georgia
Power Company in Atlanta
working in System opera
tions, Land Dispatching
Center.
Charles has resided in
Auto Tags Now On Sale
As of January 2, 1976 automobile
license plates went on sale at the Tax
Commissioner’s office in the Butts County
Courthouse.
Because of the issuance of new plates this
year, decals will not be sold in the past few
years.
Purchasers must present last year’s tag
receipt to purchase this year's tag.
Those desiring to purchase a Prestige or
Bicentennial tag will be required to fill out an
application which will be mailed to Atlanta. The
tag will then be sent to the purchaser by mail.
Tags may be purchased at the courthouse
between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. each
day. April l is the deadline for purchasing tags.
Celebration, Progress, Tragedy
Made Local Headlines in 1975
The year 1975 found Butts
County 150 years old, and the
celebration of its Sesqui
centennial was marked by
more parading, funning,
frolicking and sheer enjoy
ment than any other event in
the County’s long history.
Naturally, there were
somber news stories as well,
violence and tragedy paid
their usual calls and there
were bright stories of
progress in the County’s
religious, business and civic
spheres. But for sheer drama
the County’s birthday cele
bration topped them all.
With the old timers
remembering the County’s
centennial celebration of 1925
and dreaming perhaps of the
good old days, the young
lions took over and put on an
extravaganza the likes of
which Butts Countians have
never seen.
Dick O’Hara, as president
of the Chamber of Com
merce, served as general
chairman and put all of his
vast talent, vision and
enthusiasm into the project.
He recruited primarily the
young and vigorous to help
him and together they put on
a week-long show that would
have made even Walt Disney
envious.
Bearded men stalked the
streets and jail awaited those
who were not able, or
vanting, to grow a beard;
hoop-skirted ladies with
bonnets were on every street
corner, in every business,
and their smiles were as
colorful as their costumes;
every civic, fraternal and>
religious group in the County
was represented in the
gigantic parade which must
Homecoming
For ISA
Slated Jan. 9
Indians Springs Academy
is having their firest Home
coming, Friday, January 9.
The games will be played
against Piedmont Academy,
beginning with the girls B
team at 5:00. Boys B team at
6:00. Girls Varsity at 7:00.
and the Boys Varsity at 8:15.
During the Varsity games
a Homecoming queen will be
crowned.
After the game, a dance
will be held at the ISA gym. A
local band, Southern Freight,
will provide the music.
Admission will be $4 a couple
and by invitation only.
Jackson for the past ten
years and states that during
this time he has received
much inspiration and en
couragement from his
’’adopted” mother in Jack
son, Mrs. Bertha Perdue.
have stretched for miles. A
giant fireworks display cap
ped the show and left
everyone hoping Dick would
try to top his performance for
the nation’s bicentennial in
1976.
The year began inauspi
ciously with a flu epidemic in
early January that postponed
opening of the county schools
following the Christmas
holidays.
At least 30 Butts County
ladies surprised their hus
bands, and boy friends, by
enrolling in a belly dancing
class. No final figures as yet
on how many flunked the
course.
The Butts County Jaycees
tapped Kenny Norsworthy as
Star Student; Mrs. Ben
W'right, Star Teacher; John
Chiappetta, Young Man of
the Year; and Glenn Smith,
Young Farmer of the Year.
Delta Tank Corp. was a
welcome addition to the
town’s growing list of
industries, thanks to $900,000
loan from the Farmers Home
Administration and the ef
forts of the Development
Authority of Jackson, spear
headed by Maurice Car
michael.
Later in the year. Fabral
Corp.. a subsidiary of Alcan
Aluminum Corp., announced
the purchase of the building
formerly occupied by
Poloron Corp. where it will
manufacture metal roofing
and siding for the farming
industry.
The First Baptist Church of
Jackson completed its mag
nificent, multimillion dollar
sanctuary on the Griffin
Highway, a landmark in the
County’s spiritual growth
and development. It had to
Postal Rates Increase
Effected December 31
Effective at 12:01 a.m.,
December 31, 1975, U. S.
Postal rates increased. The
“Temporary increase”
brought on by the lack of
adequate revenue for postal
operations was effected as
follows: First class mail was
increased from its old 10 cent
rate for the first ounce and
nine cents for each additional
ounce to 13 cents for the first
ounce and 11 cents for each
additional ounce. Postcards
increased from seven cents
each to nine cents each.
Air mail rose from 13 cents
for the first ounce and 11
cents for each additional
ounce to 17 cents for the first
ounce and 15 cents for each
additional ounce. Air post
cards rose from 12 cents to 14
cents each (Air mail postage
will not arrive at its
destination any faster than
First class mail unless the
letter or package weighs
more than 10 ounces).
Third class rates increased
from 10 cents for the first two
ounces and eight cents for
each additional ounce or
fraction thereof to 13 cents
for the first ounce and 10
cents for each additional
ounce. The parcel post rates
increased approximately six
percent.
Controversy over the pro
posed rate increases came
when U.S. District Judge
John J. Sirica issued a
temporary restraining order
on the rates which were
scheduled to become effec
tive December 28. 1975.
Following Sirica's order
the Postal Service appealed
$6.18 Per Year In Advance
share some glory, however,
with the Zion Baptist Church
for its beautiful new edifice
at the intersection of the
Brownlee Road and Barnes
ville Highway. The Jackson
Metodists, also, completed
an extensive renovation of
both the interior and exterior
of their church.
There was a tax payers’
revolt when 1975 property
assessments were an
nounced. The Butts County
Tax Payers Protective Asso
ciation was formed, about 177
strong, and filed a civil suit
against the Board of Tax
Assessors and other County
officials This action tied up
the County’s tax digest
temporarily and the matter
is awaiting final resolution
through the judicial appeals
system.
Butts County voters, faced
with higher property taxes,
voted 717-466 on September
16 to impose an additional 1
cent sales and use tax on all
retail sales within the county
as a means of seeking some
relief from property taxes.
This tax has not gone into
effect as yet.
The Flint Judicial Circuit
got a much-needed new
judge, the Hon. Sam Loyd
Whitmire, of Barnesville.
who was appointed to the
post by Governor George
Busbee.
Scoring its annual success
with the Butts County Fair,
the Jackson Exchange Club
named Mrs. Julia Head as its
Woman of the Year for 1975.
There was violence, too,
the senseless shooting of
Lamar James and James
Brewer, employees of the
Fresh Air Barbecue, during a
robbery attempt, while the
his decision to the U.S. Court
of Appeals for the District of
Columbia which granted a
Postal Service motion to stay
the lower court's order and
allowed the new rates to be
implemented on December
31.
Later the U.S. Court of
Appeals decision was taken
to the Supreme Court which
denied the appeal and upheld
the increase in rates.
Final ruling on the in
crease from the appeals
court is yet to come. The
possibility that the postage
rates may be changed again
or returned to the 1975 rates
still prevails though in light
of the financial troubles that
the Postal Service now faces,
a reduction is highly unlike
ly. A final ruling on the
temporary postage rates
could be as far away as a
year or two.
Jackson Post Office Post
master Tom Webb said that
he personally favored a more
effective rate increase,
”... one that would solve
the financial problems facing
the Postal Service such as a
10 cent increase for First
class mail. With such an
increase post office business
could be carried on an usual
without operating in the
red,” he said.
Mr. Webb went on to say
that the present increase
would solve immediate prob
lems but that it would not
handle future problems and
that more rate increases
would surely follow.
The Postal Service has
claimed that the higher rates
year was still young. And the
tragic deaths of three
persons in two fatal auto
train collisions at a rail
crossing in Jenkinsburg. A
youth was electrocuted at
High Falls during a lightning
storm and there were
drownings to mar enjoyment
of the fun-filled summer.
Not to be outdone by the
churches, several retail
establishments improved
their appearance. Thriftown
underwent a massive enlarg
ing and remodeling program
and Giant Mart completed
and moved into its giant
grocery store just prior to the
year’s end.
The Jackson High Red
Devils proved as mean as
their name, going 9-1 in
regular season play and
being rated the 7th best team
in Class A at season’s end.
Mark Cawthon was named to
the State Class A first team
for his play at a tackle post.
A rash of rabid coons broke
out across the county,
although fortunately no per
son was reported to be bitten
by them.
Sheriff Barney Wilder and
his deputies destroyed two
patches of marijuana grow
ing in abandoned fields
within the County.
And the County lost the
editor of its weekly news
paper. This was only the
second such loss Butts
County had suffered since
1908 when Doyle Jones. Sr.
took over operation of the
Butts County Progress.
The general consensus
seemed to be that, even
though 1975 brought some
areas of advancement, sure
ly 1976 would be better.
are needed to help offset an
anticipated deficit for fiscal
year 1976 of $2.6 billion. It
said that even with the
increases its deficit would
amount to $1.4 billion for the
fiscal year ending June 30.
The new 13 cent stamps are
currently available at the
Jackson Post Office in sheets
of 100 and coils of 500. As of
yet the Jackson Post Office
has not recieved the new
stamps in books or in coils of
100 (the most popular
forms). However, they are on
order and should arrive any
dav.
Open Meeting
To Be Held On
School Project
The Butts County School
System announced today that
it is submitting an applica
tion for approval of a project
to finance a program
designed to raise the level of
achievement in reading and
mathematics throughout the
system. If approved the
project will be financed
under the Emergency School
Aid Act.
The public is invited to an
open meeting to be held at
seven o’clock Monday night,
January 12 in the Conference
Room of the Board of
Education Building. At this
time the details of the
proposed project will be
discussed and questions,
comments and suggestions
will be welcome.