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Karksor Progress-Argus
Volume 103 Number 23
Butts County
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AVONDALE GIFT —In the photo, Bob Betts, Superintendent of Avondale Mills, Indian Springs Plant, is shown presenting
a deed for an eight acre tract of land in the name of Avondale Mills to Dave Bailey, chairman of the Butts County Commission
(center). The land will be used for the construction of a training center for the mentally handicapped of Butts County. Standing
with them are, from left to right: Dean Kelly, Director of the Butts County Day Care and Training Center; Mrs. Kathleen
Pinckney, Treasurer of BARC; Mrs. Walter Bennett, Butts County Commissioner; Arthur Lawson, president of BARC; Mrs.
Kathryn Haisten, chairman of the Training Center Advisory Board; C. B. Brown, Jr., Mayor of Jackson and William A. Duke,
Butts County Commissioner.
Mentally Handicapped
Get Avondale Land
A dream of many years
came a huge step nearer
fruition last week with the
presentation by Avondale
Mills of an eight acre tract of
land on which to construct a
training center for the
mentally handicapped of
Butts County. As Bob Betts,
superintendent of the Jack
son unit of Avondale, turned
over the deed to Dave Bailey,
chairman of the Butts County
Commissioners, he explained
the interest of Avondale in all
persons in Butts County and
their intent for this area to be
used for and by the mentally
handicapped. The 8-acre
tract is located adjacent to
the already developed area
of the Jackson-Butts County
Recreation Park off Ala
bama Boulevard. Now the
big step is financing a
building.
In the early 1960’s Mrs.
Bessie Collins gave leader
ship to the organization of a
Butts County Chapter for
Retarded Children. As long
as health permitted she was
actively involved in money
raising projects and recruit
ing members for the Associa
tion. The two goals at that
time were to get classes in
the public schools and to
develop some type of
workshop center for adults.
As soon as state monies
were available for special
education, Lee Roy O’Neal,
then superintendent of
schools, hired a teacher and
began the first class in the
then Jackson Elementary
School under J. M. L. Comer.
As more state monies
became available more
teachers were hired until
now there is a continuous
program from first grade
through twelfth, including a
unit for the profoundly
handicapped designated the
trainable mentally handi
capped.
The Butts County Associa
tion for Retarded Citizens
has remained active through
the years, not with meetings
but with getting a job done.
Some of the people actively
involved include Mrs. Jan
Grant, Reverend James
Brown, Henry Asbury, J. M.
L. Comer, Miss Vivian
Street, Mrs. Carolyn Thax
ton, Mrs. Nancy McGinnis,
Mrs. Beth Hearn, Mrs.
Kathryn Haisten and Mrs.
Kathleen Pinckney. The
Association has supported
the school program with
scholarships for teachers to
reach certification, and with
budgets for each teacher to
use for additional teaching
materials or special activi
ties for the students. The long
range goal has remained the
center * and workshop for
the profoundly retarded. The
Association is now supported
through the United Fund.
In 1972 monies became
available through the Health
Department, now the Depart
ment of Human Resources,
to establish such centers. An
application was submitted in
April 1972 and later ap
proved. Then began the long
search for a place —a house
suitable. Finally the mem
bership of the Jackson
Presbyterian Church took
the problem into their hands
and offered the use of the old
church manse on Mulberry
Street. All they asked was
that the Association spend
the $125.00 monthly rent on
improvements to the house
and all insurance.
The Butts County Day Care
and Training Center opened
in March 1973 under the
direction of Mrs. Beth Hearn.
Its value to students and
families cannot be measured
in dollars and cents. The
program, the waiting list, the
need for a larger center has
grown with each month.
The late 1974 discussion for
a center adequate for all
needs pre-school, school
age and adult began to
develop. A group of county
and city officials, school
personnel, agency personnel,
interested individuals began
meeting for lunch together to
discuss possibilities. John
Hall of the Department of
Family and Children Ser
vices filed a grant applica
tion for a multi-purpose
center including the handi
capped center. Reports were
encouraging but in the end
the grant was denied.
Doug Durrett of Mclntosh
State Bank accepted chair
manship of a building fund
committee. Civic groups
have cooperated. The money
now on hand toward a
building is in excess of $6,000.
It is estimated that a
building with a minimum of
6,000 square feet adequate
for 60 students is needed.
Conservative estimates are
that such a building will cost
SIOO,OOO.
The DHR has just in
creased enrollment at the
Center of Mulberry Street to
33. This means the planned
Infant Stimulation program
can be emphasized during
the next year. Through this
program children recom
mended by the health
department and doctors can
be given the rich stimulation
in their early months
necessary to overcome their
developmental lag and grow
into self-sufficient adults.
With the donation from
Avondale as a stimulus it is
hoped that the community
will join hands and make the
Center for Handicapped a
reality.
Present officers of the
Butts County Association for
Retarded Citizens, Executive
Board include: President,
Arthur Lawson; Vice-presi
dent, Carolyn Thaxton;
Secretary, Nancy McGinnis;
Treasurer, Kathleen Pinck
ney; and Program Chair
man, Gail Bagby. Other
members include Marcha
Royal and Doris Lummus.
Kitchens Is
Candidate For
Justice Peace
Terry Kitchens has quali
fied as a candidate to
succeed himself as Justice of
the Peace, Jackson militia
district, in the Democratic
primary of August 10, 1976.
Kitchens was elected Dec.
4, 1975 to fill the unexpired
term of Don Montgomery,
who resigned. The unexpired
term to which he was elected
will expire on Dec. 31, 1976.
Kitchens was an outstand
ing athlete during his high
school career at Jackson
High School.
SPECIAL NOTICE
The Bicentennial issue of this paper will be
printed on July Ist.
The special issue will be incorporated into the
regular issue of that week and will be mailed free to
all PAID subscribers. Due to its bulk, it will NOT be
mailed to delinquent subscribers.
Single copies of the Bicentennial issue will be
available at this office at 75 cents each. Copies will be
mailed as requested for $1.25 each.
The regular July Ist issue will be available
singly, at the regular price of 15 cents each.
Jackson, Georgia 30233, Thursday, June 3, 1976
J. R. Smith
To Seek Ga.
House Seat
State Rep. J. R. Smith of
Barnesville has formally
qualified to seek reelection to
the Georgia House of
Representatives from Dis
trict 78.
Smith, a 16-year veteran of
the House of Representa
tives, was accompanied to
the state capitol to qualify by
supporters from throughout
the house district which is
made up of Lamar County
and portions of Butts and
Pike counties.
Smith, a retired Lamar
County businessman, is
chairman of the House
Committee on motor vehicles
and is considered an authori
ty on motor vehicle laws both
in Georgia and nationally.
He is a member of the
< Transportation and Com
munity Affairs Committee of
the Intergovernmental Rela
tions Committee of the
National Conference of State
Legislatures, an organiza
tion that deals in the areas of
county development,
housing, disaster assistance,
aviation, highways and mass
transportation, railroads and
no fault insurance.
In the Georgia House of
Representatives, Smith is
also a member of the
powerful appropriations
committee and the House
Committee on Insurance.
In announcing his candi
dacy to seek reelection,
Smith said: “I appreciate the
confidence the people of the
78th District have shown in
me. And I solicit their
support, guidance and in
fluence in the August 10
primary.”
Mrs. Bennett
Runs For Tax
Commissioner
Mrs. Walter J. Bennett,
age 51, of Indian Springs has
qualified as a candidate for
the Office of Tax Commis
sioner in the upcoming
August 10 Democratic Party.
Mrs. Bennett and her
husband, Joe, moved to Butts
County in 1963 from Macon.
Mr. Bennett has been
employed by Gateway Trans
portation Company for the
past 25 years. They have
three children - Rita, 23, a
Biologist with Richard Rus
sell Research Center, Uni
versity of Georgia, Athens;
Steven, 22, employed by
Fashion Pillows; and Lee, 19,
works for Delta Tank
Corporation.
Mrs. Bennett, the former
Geneva (Jinx) Smith, was
born in Miami, Florida, but
her parents moved to Wilcox
County, when she was a
child. She is a graduate of
Abbeville High School, West
Georgia College, Carrollton,
and Georgia-Alabama Busi
ness College, Macon. She
worked eight years as
private secretary to the
District Manager of Inter
state Life and Accident
Insurance Company, Macon,
Georgia, for the late John M.
Hutcheson as Tax Account
ant, bookkeeper for Hodges
Hardware and Furniture
Company and has operated
Bennett Tax and Bookkeep
ing Service in Indian Springs
for the past ten years.
She was recently elected to
fill the unexpired term. Post
No. 3, Board of Commission
ers, becoming the first
woman in the history of this
county to assume this
position.
Mrs. Bennett stated in
announcing she would not be
a candidate for re-election to
this post-even though she
enjoys the challenge of being
a Commissioner-with her
knowledge of bookkeeping
and taxes, she thought she
could best serve the needs of
the citizens of Butts County
in the office of Tax
Commissioner.
John Sherrell
Is Candidate
For Coroner
John Sherrell has qualified
for a third term as Butts
County Coroner in the
Democratic primary of
August 10, 1976. He was first
elected to the post in 1968 and
has served continuously to
date.
Sherrell. a native Butts
countian, graduated from
Jackson High School and
from the Cincinnati College
of Embalming. He is the
successful owner and opera
tor of Sherrell Funeral Home
and Ambulance Service.
He is married to the former
Margaret Rawls Rooks and
they have two sons, two
daughters and seven grand
children.
The Coroner candidate, a
licensed funeral director and
embalmer, is a member of
the Second Baptist Church, a
member and former past
master of St. John’s Lodge
45, F&AM, American Legion
and Jackson Exchange Club.
He saw foreign service
with the U.S. Army in Europe
and is a graduate of the
Provost Marshall General
Center for Military Police at
Fort Gordon, Ga.
DOBBINS AF BASE HOLDS
OPEN HOUSE JUNE 12
An armed Forces-Com
munity Bicentennial Open
House will be held at Dobbins
Air Force Base in Marietta
on Saturday, June 12, from 10
a.m. to 5 p.m.
The public is cordially
invited to attend.
Commencement Fills Stadium;
Outstanding Students Honored
Parents, relatives, and
friends filled the Jackson
High School football stadium
to capacity Monday evening
to see the Class of 1976
graduate.
Supt. W. B. Jones present
ed diplomas to 135 seniors
May 31, while various
companies, colleges, and
local clubs presented awards
and scholarships to many of
the graduates.
Recipient of the Atlanta
Journal Cup, given to the
student judged best all-round
in academics, extra-curri
cula activities, and com
munity affairs, was Julia
Ann Ridgeway. George Tate,
principal of JHS, presented
the coveted award.
The awards were made in
alphabetical order and went
as follows. Avondale scholar
ship, presented by Bob Betts
went to Mark Cawthon.
Fashion Pillows award was
made by Jack Little and went
to Judy Thompson.
Anita Latham was the
winner of the Georgia Pacific
scholarship which is valued
Commission Seats Begging
As Candidate Rush Slows
After the customary first
day rush to qualify for county
political offices subsided,
qualifying came to an abrupt
stop and candidates for Butts
County political office have
been as scarce as the
proverbial hen's teeth the
past few days.
Through noon Tuesday,
only 12 candidates have
officially qualified for the 10
offices to be filled in the
Democratic primary of
August 10, 1976.
Candidates have until 12:00
noon. Wednesday, June 9. to
qualify with Roy Goff,
secretary of the Butts County
Democratic Executive Com
mittee. Qualifying fees are
Ridgeway Has
Qualified For
Clerk of Court
David P. Ridgeway, Sr.
has qualifed for an endorse
ment term as Clerk of the
Butts Superior Court in the
Democratic primary of
August 10. 1976.
The popular court official
is qualifying for his fifth
successive term, having first
been elected to the office in
1960 and serving continuous
ly since that time.
A native Butts countian. he
attended both the Towaliga
and Jackson High Schools,
graduating from the latter.
Married to the former
Saralyn Churchwell, the
couple has five children, the
youngest of which-Julia
Ann-is valedictorian of the
1976 Jackson High School
class.
Long active in civic and
religious work, he was
named Kiwanis Man of the
Year in 1974 and Young Man
of the Year in 1957 by the
Butts County Jaycees.
The candidate is a former
member of the Butts County
Jaycees, member and form
er president of Butts County
Lions Club and is a member
of the Butts County Hospital
Authority.
He and his family are
members of the Towaliga
Baptist Church, where he is a
deacon. Men’s Bible Class
teacher, Sunday School
Superintendent and BTU
director.
He is a member of the
exclusive Eight-Gallon Club,
$6.24 Per Year In Advance
at $2,000.
Dr. Jerry Williamson,
president of Gordon Junior
College, presented three
awards to JHS seniors:
Robert Merrit, Beth Patter
son, and Jeff Patterson. All
three Honor Graduates plan
to attend Gordon in the fall.
Anne Barnes was the
recipient of the Jackson
Business and Professional
Women’s award which was
presented by out-going presi
dent, Mrs. Mary Will Hearn.
Perry Ridgeway presented
the Jackson Booster Club
Awards to Julia Ann Ridge
way and Robert Merritt, the
valedictorian and saluta
torian respectively.
The Kiwanis Key Club
award was made by Jack
Little and went to Jeff
Patterson; while The Kym
Company awards, presented
by Mrs. Sara Babcock, went
to Reba Kelly and Dale
White.
Virgia Mangham was
honored by receiving the
award from the National
Honor Society. The presenta
tion was made by Mrs. Tyler
set by the County Commis
sion and usually equal three
percent of the salary for the
office being sought.
Never in the history of the
county has the office of
County Commissioner been
so avidly avoided by the
candidates. Normally one of
the most hotly contested
offices in the county, the
three seats to be filled on
Jan. l. 1977 are going
begging, with neither incum
bents, nor newcomers, havng
qulified to date.
The complete list of
candidates having qualified
with Roy Goff at noon
Tuesday is as follows:
Mrs. Hearn To
Offer For Tax
Commissioner
Mrs. Mary Will Hearn has
qualified to succeed herself
as Tax Commissioner of
Butts County in the Demo
cratic primary of August
10th. She w-as first elected to
the office in 1956.
A native Butts countian,
she is the daughter of the late
W. W. Jinks and Mrs. Dovie
Jinks Evett. She has two
children. Mrs. Mary Zane
Sw earingen and Mrs. Norma
Dean Walton, of Jackson.
A graduate of Jackson
High School and Georgia
College in Milledgeville she
has taken a yearly refresher
course in the field of tax work
at the Center for Continuing
Education at the University
of Georgia.
Mrs. Hearn is a member of
the Jackson United Metho
dist Church where she has
been treasurer for 12 years
and a Sunday School teacher
for the same period of time.
She is a charter member of
the Jackson Business and
Professional Women’s Club,
where she was president for
two years and treasurer for
two years, the Magnolia
Garden Club, Jeptha Chapter
No. 252, Order of the Eastern
Star, and secretary-treas
urer for 15 years of The
County Officers Association
of Georgia.
whose membership is limited
to those who have contri
buted eight gallons of blood
to the Red Cross Blood
program.
Garland.
The W. L. Miller award
went to Vanessa Benton and
was made by Curtis Gaye.
Jan Thaxton and Julia Ann
Ridgeway received the
Sylvan Grove Hospital
Awards which were given by
Mrs. Kathleen Knight.
The Danny Thomason
award was presented to
Shirley Carson by Mrs.
Sandra Butterworth.
The Invocation was offered
by Rev. Lannie Smith, pastor
of Towaliga Baptist Church;
while the Benediction was
given by Rev. James
Bohannon, pastor of Flovilla
Baptist Church.
Saluatorian Robert Merritt
gave his address immediate
ly after Rev. Smith, and
Valedictorian Julia Ann
Ridgeway spoke after the
presentation of awards by
visitors as well as academic
departmental awards by Mr.
Tate.
Mrs. Sandra Par tain was
the pianist for both Baccal
aureate and Commence
ment.
Clerk of Superior Court -
David Ridgeway.
County Commissioner -
None.
Tax Commissioner - Mrs.
Walter J. Bennett and Mrs.
Mary Will Hearn.
Coroner - John Sherrell
Justice of Peace - Terry
Kitchens
County Surveyor - Thomas
A. Carmichael, Jr.
Probate Judge - W. E.
(Gene) Blue
Treasurer - None
School Superintendent - J.
M. L Comer and Lee Roy
O’Neal.
Sheriff - Billy Leverette,
Hugh C. Polk and Barney
Wilder.
T. Carmichael
Is To Run For
Cos. Surveyor
Thomas A. Carmichael,
Jr., Butts County surveyor
and athletic director at
Jackson High School, has
qualified to succeed himself
in the Democratic primary of
August 10th.
He is the son of Mr. and
Mrs. T. A. Carmichael, Sr.,
of Jackson, a graduate of
Jackson High School and of
Georgia Tech, where he
received his B.S. and M.S.
degrees in industrial
management. He graduated
from the U.S. Army Signal
Officer School in 1971 and
served overseas in Europe.
Active in religious affairs,
he is superintendent of the
Jackson Presbyterian Sun
day School.
He is married to the former
Janie Ridgeway, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Ridge
way, and the couple has two
daughters, Mary Elizabeth
and Michelle Lee.
GRIFFIN TECH IS NOW
TAKING APPLICATIONS
Griffin Tech’s Summer
Quarter will begin July 7,
1976. Applications are being
accepted for most programs.
Anyone interested in enroll
ing for the Summer Quarter
should contact the Admis
sions Office, P.O. Box 131,
Griffin, Georgia 30223 or
telephone 227-1322.
All programs are approved
for veterans benefits.