Newspaper Page Text
Jackson Trngrcss-^rgus
J. D. Jones Publisher
(1908-1955
Doyle Jones Jr. Editor and Publisher
(1955-1975)
MRS. MARTHA G. JONES PUBLISHER
VINCENT JONES EDITOR
Published every Thursday at 129 South Mulberry Street, Jackson,
Georgia 30233 by The Progress-Argus Printing Cos., Inc. Second Class
Postage paid at Jackson, Georgia 30233.
Address notice of undeliverable copies and other correspondence
to The Jackson Progress-Argus, P.O. Box 249, Jackson, Georgia 30233.
NATIONAL NEWSPAPER
mOCUTION FhlM IMS
Jr-.pr.s.Ej] NNA SUSTAINING
* >,r m MEMBER-1975
One Year 16.24
School Year $5.20
Editorials
Tourism Is Big Business
Observing the throngs that
flocked into Butts County over the
Fourth holidays, one is reminded of
the sage’s observation about how
proximity affects visibility, to wit,
“sometimes one can’t see the
forest because of the trees.”
Perhaps the vision of our
poeple has been dimmed by the
nearness of three of the stellar
tourist attractions in central
Georgia, Indian Springs State
Park, High Falls, and Jackson
Lake.
To have three such splendid
tourist centers in one small county
is a quirk of nature and
circumstance, and an oddity within
itself.
To fail to capitalize on them is
folly of the most apathetic sort.
The south Georgia and Florida
farmers with their alligator pens
and monkey farms have learned
long ago that it is much easier to
pick a Yankee’s tourist dollar than
it is to pick cotton, and a lot more
profitable.
A concerted effort to more
effectively capitalize on these
tourist assets could conceiveably
take two forms.
Legislative support should be
solicited, and obtained, for an
expansion of both Indian Springs
and High Falls.
Both parks are within a 50-60
mile radius of two million people
and yet neither has a golf course.
Indian Springs especially has the
land and the terrain to make an
ideal 18-hole championship course
which, when completed, would
probably be its single most potent
drawing force and generate an
excellent cash flow.
Other state parks in Georgia
have golf courses where the
potential draw within the same
Small Towns Struggle
For Necessary Services
Ask any citizen of one and you
will readily find that small towns
have an awfully lot to offer in living
amenities.
But with only one out of every
three Americans living in towns of
5,000 and less population, the small
town is constantly having to fight to
provide adequate postal service,
rail, truck, bus and other
transportation services that its
people badly need.
The Ford administration has
recently proposed a deregulation of
the interstate trucking industry
that could have deleterious effects
on small town industry specifically
and the public in general.
It stands to reason that many
carriers would drop small town
service, and deliveries, if not
required to maintain such service
Advance Subscription Rates, Tax Included:
TELEPHONE 775-3107
OFFICIAL ORGAN
BUTTS COUNTY AND
CITY OF JACKSON
six Months $3.91
Single Copy 15c
radius would not exceed 100,000, if
that much.
Every governor and every
legislator wants to be popular. A
beautifully-landscaped, well-kept
golf course at Indian Springs would
enhance the popularity of any
politician.
In addition to a golf course, the
potential exists at both parks for an
expanded camping area, additional
cabins and better recreational
facilities for both day and nightime
use.
Closer home, there are
contributions that can be made to
better capitalize on the County’s
tourist attractions.
The Chamber of Commerce
could give thought, and priority, to
the publication of an attractive,
color brochure extolling the virtues
of Butts County as a recreation
center, as well as the induce
ments it can offer to industry. A
County recreation map and
direction signs would be helpful.
With both Atlanta and Macon
mushrooming onto the fringes of
the County, we have been rather
silent bystanders and made little
effort to be selective in the kind of
growth we prefer at a time when it
would seem we still have some
choice in the matter.
Tourism and industry. The two
are not incompatible. Sometimes
having the former can attract the
latter.
Growth and change are coming
to Butts County. Caught between
two dynamic metropolian areas,
the County is going to get a spill
over in both the tourism and
industry categories.
It would seem to be the better
part of wisdom to prepare for, and
actively solicit, the better elements
in each of these spheres of future
growth.
by the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
Legislation incorporating a
general phasing-out of ICC control
over the trucking industry has been
introduced in Congress. It is the
kind of proposal that small towns
across the country should unite
in opposition to and in their
demands that small town America
not be removed from the
transportation mainstream of the
country.
Look no further than the
deteriorating mail service in most
small towns for a reflection of
things to come. Jackson, which
once had six Dasseneer trains, all
offering mail service daily, now
has one in-and-out mail service
each day.
Small towns will have to unite,
and fight, to kill this onerous bill.
THE JACKSON PROGRESS-ARGUS, JACKSON, GEORGIA
The Last
Straw
BY
VINCENT JONES
The Fourth day dawned
dark and drear, with low
flying clouds scudding out of
the southwest portending
rain before noon. By mid
morning, spits of rain
threatened to dampen the
early church goers.
For many driven with
doubts as how to best
celebrate the day, church
offered both a sanctuary and
a solution. For it was here
that the spiritual birth of the
nation began and it is here
that the nation’s spiritual
regeneration must begin.
For hours the marvelous
medium of television offered
interesting vignettes of
Americans celebrating their
200th birthday.
In Greeley, Colorado, there
was the annual Fourth of
July rodeo, with men and
women riders pitting their
skills against the bronc
busters, riding buffalo bare
back and roping steers.
In New York, a flotilla
of sailing ships, naval vessels
and private cruisers created
an exciting panorama
against the towering skyline
of downtown Manhattan.
In New Orleans on Jackson
Square, a jazz combo had
them dancing in the park in a
noisy tribute to both the
birthday of the nation and the
memory of the great Louis
Armstrong, who would have
been 76 on this day.
Skimming across the lakes
of America were the raucous
motorboats followed by the
inevitable skiiers, both acro
batic and rheumatic, and the
cacophony of sound rose
perceptibly with the cheers
and jeers of the onlookers.
In Atlanta a giant parade
was enthusiastically joined
in by the great and near
great and cheered onward by
the huge throngs lining the
parade route.
In Washington, there were
demonstrations and the acrid
smell of pot temporarily
washed from the conscious
ness of many the memory of
those great men whose
memorials gave shadow to
their protests, Washington,
Jefferson and Lincoln.
For many, the day was just
another day from work, an
opportunity to have three
beers before lunch, drink
some stale coffee, find fault
with the wife and younguns
and concentrate on some
more things to gripe about
come tomorrow.
For those whose faces are
lined with years and sorrow,
it was a time to reflect
on remembered laughter and
unforgotten faces, lost for
awhile but always as close
as the nearest memory. For
them, no Fourth would ever
be quite complete again, not
even one so memorable as
this one.
For most Americans it
certainly must have been a
day of rededication. The
valor of the nation’s brave
men and women who died on
foreign battlefields cries out
to us, not for pity or reward,
but for sacrifice and service.
The apple-cheeked youths
of 17 who died at Bunker Hill,
or Verdun, or Hurtgen
Forest, or Hamburger Hill
and who never knew a
sweetheart’s kiss speak
softly to us across the years if
we but listen. Take up the
fight. We bought time for
you. Keep America strong.
Shelter her from her enemies
without and the invidious
corruption of her moral fiber
from within.
What these heroes are
saying, without contradic
tion, is that we made
America great. Not Lincoln,
or Washington, or Jefferson.
But our blood and our
sacrifice even to life itself.
For America is YOU. It is no
weaker, or no stronger, than
you are. Perhaps it is time
for all of us to look into our
collective mirrors.
A Sli'oll ■■
Memory Lane
News of 10 Years Ago
Robert L. Williams, Jr. has
accepted a position as
Administrative Assistant
with the Central Georgia
EMC.
Albert Andrew Cook and
William Ball, of the Indian
Springs Plant of Avondale
Mills, were awarded their
“Zero Defects” awards by
President J. Craig Smith.
Lorie J. Mangham of
Barnesville announced that
Deer Trail Golf Course will
be open for play on Sunday,
July 10th.
Benjamin B. Garland was
elected president of the Flint
Circuit Bar Association at its
annual meeting at the Elder
Hotel.
S. L. (Shorty) Letson has
assumed duties as superin
tendent of the High Falls
State Park.
The Jackson Kiwanis Club
led the state in attendance
for the month of May with
98.5 percent. Henry L.
Asbury was president.
Grady Brooks of Flovilla
found a Coca-Cola bottle with
the inscription: “Nov. 16,
1915. Jackson, Ga.” He says
he can remember when there
were three bottling plants in
Jackson.
Deaths during the week:
Clyde T. Wright.
News of 20 Years Ago
Representing Butts County
at a SSO-a-plate fund raising
dinner for the Democratic
party in Atlanta were Rufus
Adams. V. H. Ham, sheriff
elect, and Bailey Woodward.
The Butts County Bulldog
Club was to hold its third
annual party at the Women’s
Clubhouse with Coaches
Johnny Griffith and John
Rauch from the University of
Georgia featured as speak
ers.
The final step in the Salk
polio vaccine protection—the
third shot—is now being
administered to Butts County
children six months through
19 years of age and pregnant
women before the eighth
month.
Deaths during the week:
Mrs. Katherine Colvin Col
lins, 53.
News of 30 Years Ago
Butts County lost 31 men in
World War 11, according to a
recent poll. Included in the
death count were 22 Army
men, 8 Navy and one Air
Corps.
H. Deraney, Jackson busi
nessman and department
store owner, is having a five
uni t apartment house built on
the corner of Indian Springs
Street and Benton Street,
facing Indian Springs Street.
Anew pipe organ is being
installed at the First Baptist
church. It is a gift from
Clayton Buchanan of Macon
in memory of his father, the
late C. W. Buchanan.
The first cotton bloom of
the season was brought in
June 25 by B. H. Hodges. In
1945, the first bloom was
reported on June 16 by J. S.
Ball.
Mrs. Ethel Ham, Butts
County Health Nurse, said
several families are affected
by a quarantine of polio.
Some dozen children are
quarantined at the Indian
Springs camp ground.
A want adv. showed 210
acres of good Butt County
farm land, six miles from
Jackson, with two old houses
to be closed out at $4,000.00.
Deaths during the week:
Bernie H. Glass, 75.
News of 40 Years Ago
Lee W. Hall, 23, of Atlanta,
drowned in Jackson Lake on
THURSDAY, JULY 8. 1976
July 4 while swimming.
An illicit distillery located
on the Ocmulgee River near
Smith’s Mill and described as
“largest ever found in
Georgia” was raided by U.S.
revenue officers on July 3rd
and destroyed.
The motorboat races on
Jackson Lake over the July
Fourth holidays drew a
crowd estimated at 2,500 to
3.000.
Governor Eugene Tal
madge announced Saturday
that he will run for the United
States senate seat against the
incumbent, Richard B. Rus
sell, Jr.
Deaths during the week: J.
H. Smith, Jr., 59; Robert
Wallace.
News of 50 Years Ago
The Towaliga Baptist
Church will have a centen
nial celebration on Saturday,
July 17. Towaliga Church
was instituted in July, 1825.
No clues have been found
in the burglary of the store of
J. O. Minter of Jenkinsburg.
Aproximately S2OO in mer
chandise was taken from the
store in a robbery last
Wednesday night.
The E. A. Tillery family
had a narrow escape when
the touring car in which
they were returning home
overturned near Loraine,
injuring Mrs. Tillery and one
daughter severely.
Prof. E. C. Westbrook from
the Georgia State College of
Agriculture spoke to a large
group of farmers Thursday
afternoon on the Texas flea
or hopper that is playing
havoc with cotton crops in
this area.
Deaths during the week:
Mrs. W. W. Thaxton, Mrs. W.
A. Maddux, 48, and Mrs.
Hilton Cawthon, 29.
Tb'Tkb Qtit&i/
I am really delighted with
each copy of your paper,
especially with your anniver
sary edition which came
today.
The writer was personally
acquainted with your dear
late father, J. D. Jones, Sr.,
when you boys, the late J.
Doyle Jones, Jr. and yourself
were “kids”—l923-1924.
My late father, J. W. Ray,
was keeper of Indian Springs
Camp Ground from 1922-1928
and I attended Flovilla
School 1923 (and saw my
picture next to Prof. H. G.
McCants in the picture you
used of the Flovilla School in
1923.) I was also a
correspondent for your paper
in 1923 and 1924.1 am now 71,
born Feb. 2, 1905.
James. (Lloyd) Ray
206BarnesvilleSt.
Thomaston, Ga. 30286
JOKE TIME
Have you ever heard the
one the young seminary
student, who was preaching
in Griffin during his vaca
tion, delivered? It was as
follows “Brethren, the
time has come to sever the
tie that binds us. During my
pastorate with you I don’t
think God has loved you
much, not many of you have
died; I don’t think you have
loved each other much, not
many of you have married; I
don’t think you have loved
me much, not all of my
salary has been paid and
what was paid was paid in
rotten apples and worm-eat
en peaches, but the script
ures saith by their fruits shall
ye know them.
“I have a call to a better
field. I go to be chaplain at
the penitentiary, but let not
your hearts be troubled. 1 go
to prepare a place for you.” -
Butts County Progress. April
7, 1911.
--
kT * r *
ON GUARDING ROSEBUSHES
In more than one place in my reading I have come
across a story which I feel is worth sharing. It happened in
Russia several years ago. The Czar came across a sentry
standing at a secluded spot in the palace gardens. The Czar
could not understand the purpose of the guard. The spot had
no military significance and there was no danger to the Czar
in that location.
Wondering about the reason behind the guard’s presence
at that location, the Czar asked him his purpose. “Sargent,
what are you guarding?” Back came a quick reply from the
guard. “I do not know, sir. I was merely assigned to this
position by the captain of the guard.”
The Czar proceeded to call the captain of the guard in
and ask him why there was a sentry in the middle of his
gardens. “I do not know, sir. I was merely told to place a
guard there by the previous captain of the guard.” Becoming
more puzzled and intrigued by the presence of a sentry in his
gardens, the Czar ordered research into the matter.
Those responsible for dealing with research into such
matters were put to work. After some time in searching the
records, they learned that more than a hundred years earlier
Catherine The Great had planted a rosebush at the spot where
the guard stood and ordered a sentry posted at the spot to
protect the plant.
So for more than a hundred years a sentry had assumed
his post, protecting he knew now what-a rosebush which no
longer existed.
How strong-and equally silly sometimes-are some of
our traditions. We accept things past generations have passed
down to us, never pausing long enough to ask why. Now we
must not, in our haste, throw out tradition simply because it is
tradition. To do so would be a very foolish thing. Many
traditions have a solid base and provide an effective purpose.
But we must always be willing to question tradition in
order that we can examine its purpose and usefulness.
Tradition must never be accepted simply because it is
tradition.
Someone has coined the seven last words of an
institution as these: “We have always done it this way.”
Common sense allows us to see that it is not the institution
that lives in the past but the one that is in touch with the
present and planning for the future that remains a vital
element of society. The institution that is ruled by tradition
soon ceases to exist. And rightfully so.
The Galilean encouraged this attitude toward
questioning tradition. On a hillside near the Sea of Galilee, He
told his followers: “You have heard it said, ‘An eye for an eye,
and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, do not take revenge
on one who does you wrong.” Then He spoke again: “You
have heard it said, ‘Love your friends, and hate your
enemies.’ But I say to you, love your enemies ...” We
could go on with the examples, but just a casual reading of the
Gospels will verify the fact that Jesus did not accept tradition
simply because it was tradition.
Let us not be hasty in destroying our traditions, but let
us always be willing to question tradition. Who knows, we
might find a few more dead rosebushes being guarded.
cannichael insurance agency
ruth at random
By Ruth Bryant
COLOUR BEAUTIFUL
In early morning, skies of blue
Are streaked with floating clouds of gray,
As sun comes up, a luscious pink
Heralds the crimson of the day!
At noon, an umbrella of white
Spreads over earth like curds of whey,
And shades of brown dance on the ground
Like little children at their play!
Now with the evening’s setting sun
A blaze of gold reflects each ray,
As dark comes on I can’t forget
This colour Beautiful today!!
‘Whatsoever
Things'
By Donald E. Wildmon