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3latksmt progress-Argus Volume 103 Number 18 ffttffcT *- H'aA fV-V - ■r* 4j;> Jr '§"TOp6i y%vio ■ . p^fl ijp ' .^™ YARD OF THE WEEK —The home of Mrs. C. F. Singley located on Dempsey Avenue in Jackson was selected as Yard of the Week by the BCABC for its year-round beauty. Photo by Jerry McLaurin. Murder , Kidnap Rampage Ends On 1-75 Here With Four Dead Nine hours of wild terror and senseless killings, which began Saturday about 6 p.m. in Jacksonville, Fla., ended Sunday morning on Inter state 75 near Jackson about 3:10 a.m. when Moses “Pickle Daddy” Pearson, Jr. took his own life. With Pearson at the time as hostages were Mrs. Delores Janda, of Bay Village, Ohio, and her daughters, Jodee, 16, and Kristy, 12. Over 30 law enforcement vehicles were in pursuit of Pearson, who was driving the Janda vehicle, when a road block of two trucks was set up on the interstate. Pearson was fleeing the law officers at speeds up to 120 miles per hour, until Butts County Deputy Bill Barnes rammed his car from the rear, causing it to careen onto the median before coming to rest on a guardrail. Authorities credit Barnes’ action with saving Mrs. Janda’s life, as Pearson fired point-blank at her head at the moment of impact between the two cars. But the bullet ripped past her head and she plunged to the floor board, feigning death. Pearson’s body was brought to Sylvan Grove Hospital by Sherrell Ambu lance Service, where he was pronounced dead upon arri val. The body was then taken to Trimier Funeral Home in Jackson. Pearson, an ex-convict with four pistols, started his robbery, kidnap and murder spree late Saturday after noon in Jacksonville, Fla. and before his death had killed two and wounded seven in Florida and mur dered one and wounded seven in Georgia. The berserk black, 31, with many convictions for rob bery and drug offenses, killed one man and wounded two others about 6 p.m. Saturday at a Jacksonville used car lot. His second victim was killed at a roadside wig shop where he wounded two others in a holdup. Then, police said, he went to a private residence where he wounded three others. Still in Jacksonville, at a drive-in liquor store he jumped into a car driven by three young women and made them drive north into Georgia. At a truck stop near Cordele, one of the hostages alerted police after being permitted to use a restroom. Police were summoned and in the shootout that resulted, Pearson wounded two offi cers and two bystanders. During the melee, two of the hostages escaped and Pearson drove the third to a Pinehurst gas station. In an attempted robbery, Pearson shot and killed the station owner, was wounded himself in the ear, and lost his last hostage. In quick succession, he drove to two other service stations, shooting an attend ant at each. 'Butts County 1776'' Slated For July 4-10 In 1974, Butts Countians, along with many visitors, saw an unbelievable July 4th celebration unfold on the county’s courthouse square. Native sons and daughters of the county witnessed and took part in a colorful extravaganza of arts and crafts displays, music, dan cing, fireworks, eating and enjoyment that surprised all. Then in 1975, folks in this area witnessed a 150 year Butts County birthday cele bration that amazingly top ped the celebration held the year before. It featured the largest parade which had ever graced the streets of Jackson’s fair square which was donned with bearded Brothers of the Brush and costumed maidens remini scent of the days of the county’s birth. As impossible as it may seem, Dick O’Hara, presi dent of the Butts County Chamber of Commerce, Inc., has declared that this year’s celebration of the nation’s 200th birthday will far surpass either of those celebrations preceding it. “The only way that this can be accomplished,” said O’Hara, “is with the same spirit of cooperation that we experienced on the part of Butts Countians during the past two celebrations. “This year we plan to emphasize the individual communities in the county. We have already ordered buttons for residents of Jackson, Jenkinsburg and Proceeding north on 1-75, Pearson rammed into the rear of the 1974 Buick being driven by Leslie Janda, shot Janda in the arm when he stopped and drove off in the car with Mrs. Janda and her two daughters until the shooting orgy finally ended near Jackson early Sunday morning. Pearson had served time in the Springfield, Mo. prison for mail theft and had been arrested eight times in Jacksonville since 1968. Au thorities there consider him a prime suspect in a small grocery store robbery last week where four elderly persons were slain. Flovilla to wear during the celebration. Other communi ties in the area that can guarantee enough pur chasers will also be able to get buttons for their com munity. The buttons identify the wearer as a member of his own community,” said O’Hara. The celebration will begin on July 4 and will continue through July 10 which is the day of the main celebration. The schedule so far includes SI,OOO worth of fireworks on July 4, day-long activities in Avondale Park on July 5, an armory dance on July 7 and a parade and celebration on the square on July 10. “Butts County 1776” will be the theme of Butts County Week celebration. All resi dents are encouraged to dress in 18th century clothing. Beards will not be required this year but they are definitely encouraged. When deciding on costumes, O’Hara asks that all remem ber that our county had a close association with In dians in its recent history and that costumes with that Indian-pioneer theme in mind would be most appro priate. Individuals or organiza tions wishing to obtain more information about the Butts County Week celebration can contact Dick O’Hara at 775-5423. Harry Lewis, chair man of the parade committee can be reached at 775-3108. Sherry Ledford, member of the celebration committee Jackson, Georgia 30233, Thursday, April 29, 1976 PEEWEE BASEBALL STARS TO MEET All boys who signed up for Peewee Baseball will meet at Wallace Field on Monday, May 3, at 5 p.m. Any parent, or player, having any questions should contact Ernest Biles at 775-3367. BICENTENNIAL DAY Butts County School Super intendent W. B. Jones announced Monday that May 11th will be Bicentennial Day in the Butts County Schools. The day will be celebrated by programs in each school and National Bicentennial menus in each lunchroom. Students and staff mem bers will dress in period costumes to help celebrate the 200th anniversary of our nation’s birthday. Brown Agency Is TIC Merit Award Winner Brown Insurance Agency, Jackson, an independent insurance representative, has been honored as a 1976 Merit Award Winner by the board of Time Insurance Company, a life and health insurer. This year 300 of Time’s 4,000 Independent agencies qualified for the award, according to W. E. Jordens, Senior Vice President and Director of Marketing. The Merit Award is presented annually to those agents who have shown exceptional records in the areas of service to clients, product knowledge, and sales activity during the previous year. Time Insurance Company is a Milwaukee-based firm that was organized in 1892. Time is licensed and repre sented in 45 states and the District of Columbia. can be reached at 775-3151. Folk music groups and blue grass groups are wanted for entertainment all day on the square for July 10th. Musicians interested are asked to contact .Wilma Bridges. Voters Tuesday Name Commissioner, Choose Presidential Favorite Butts County voters will make political history on Tuesday, May 4, when they go to the polls to cast their ballots in the first presidential preference primary in the State’s history. Of equal, or perhaps even more, importance to the voters will be the run-off special election to fill Post No. 3 on the Butts County Commission. Mac Collins, Jackson businessman, polled the most votes in the initial contest for this seat, 810, to 748 for Mrs. Walter J. Bennett of Indian Springs. Archie G. Ross received 453 votes. With 5,212 voters qualified to cast ballot^.in the preference primary and the special election, Probate Judge Luther J. Washington is anticipating a stronger turnout than the approxi mate 40 percent who voted in the Democratic Party Sample Ballot PART I FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (Vote for One) □ FRANK AHERN □ BIRCH BAYH D LLOYD BENTSEN □ FRANK BONA □ ROBERT BYRD C JIMMY CARTER □ FRANK CHURCH □ ABRAM EISENMAN □ FRED HARRIS □ HENRY JACKSON □ ROBERT KELLEHER □ ELLEN McCORMACK □ GEORGE RODEN □ MILTON SHAPP □ SARGENT SHRIVER □ MORRIS UDALL □ GEORGE WALLACE PART II DELEGATES AND ALTERNATES Vote for one candidate for each delegate post and each alternate post. DELEGATES ALTERNATES Post 1 Post 1 (Vote for One) (Vote for One) □ GEORGE CAUDELLE □ WILLIAM E. SCOTT (Unpledged) (Pledged to George Wallace) □ JAMES A. MANKIN □ FRANCES M. TEEL (Pledged to Jimmy Carter) (Pledged to Jimmy Carter) □ JIM WILLIAMS _ , „ (Unpledged) *.°. st “ n (vote for One) Post 2 □ DOROTHY REDDING KIRKPATRICK (Vote for One) (Pledged to Jimmy Carter) □ EUGENE W. (GENE) BAKER □ PATRICIA LYNN RAY (Unpledged) (Unpledged) □ WALTER A. FOSTER □ DONNIE F. ROBINSON (Pledged to George Wallace) (Pledged to George Wallace) □ RICHARD J. HALL (Unpledged) □ VIRGINIA W. JACKSON (Unpledged) □ CONNIE PLUNKETT (Pledged to Jimmy Carter) Post 3 (Vote for One) □ FERDINAND ACKERMANN (Unpledged) A □ VAL COX, SR. - (Unpledged) □ RAYMOND HEAD, JR. (Pledged to Jimmy Carter) □ ALMA J. JOHNSON (Unpledged) □ J. A. LANGLEY (Unpledged) □ WESLEY W. (WES) LORD (Pledged to George Wallace) special election of April 13th. Voters on Tuesday will be given either a Democrat or Republican ballot, as they request, in addition to the short ballot for the run-off special election between Collins and Mrs. Bennett. The Republican ballot will allow the voters only a choice between President Gerald Ford or contender Ronald Reagan. No delegates for either candidate will appear on the ballot. The Democratic ballot, however, in addition to the 17 candidates for president-some of whom have withdrawn-will list a slate of delegates in the Sixth District who are either unpledged, or pledged to Jimmy Carter or George Wallace. The Democratic voters will check first their presidential preference $6.18 Per Year In Advance from the 17 names listed, and then vote for delegates either pledged to the candidate of their choice, or unpledged in the event they prefer a candidate other than Carter or Wallace. The vote for delegates is the most important vote on the presidential primary ballot, since it will determine the selection of delegates from the Sixth District who will go to the Democratic National Convention pledged to support their candidate on the first convention ballot to select a presidential nominee. To assist voters in marking their preference ballot, a sample copy of the Democratic ballot is reproduced below. As mentioned above, the Republican ballot will allow only for the choice between President Ford and Ronald Reagan.