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3axkson Trngrxss-^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.
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Editorials
Thanks for Your Thanks
Like a Broadway cast awaiting
the first edition of the morning
paper to read the critic’s review,
the staff of this paper anxiously
tuned its collective ear to
determine reader reaction to its
Bicentennial edition.
The response has been over
whelmingly favorable, a swelling
chorus of hurrahs and well dones
rising like a tide to drown out any
discordant notes.
Speaking for the staff, to say
that such a response is heartwarm
ing and appreciated would be
putting it too mildy. Such reader
acceptance can result only in a
rededication to continually better
our weekly product.
What a Week It Was
It began with the tolling of
church bells and it ended with the
doggonest fun day Butts countians
have ever enjoyed together and the
youngest celebrant may never live
long enough to see its likes again.
What it was, of course, was
Butts County Week, a spectacular
seven-day salute to the nation on its
200th birthday.
Masterfully planned and flaw
lessly executed, its chief features
were the fun and games that made
participants rather than spectators
out of hundreds of our citizens.
Everybody knows it is lots
more fun to play in a game than to
watch it and the master designers
of this week’s activities capitalized
on this basic psychological fact to
the fullest degree.
The result was the most joyous
celebration the County has ever
seen. It became more than a
celebration of a national holiday. It
was turned into a real folk week, a
The South Has Risen
The old adage about save your
Confederate money, boys, the
South will rise again, is outdated.
The South has risen.
Shortly before, or after, you
read these lines, barring some
major catastrophe, Jimmy Carter
will have been named the
Democratic nominee for President
of the United States.
The age of miracles has not
passed. This is the greatest
political miracle of all times.
As recently as 1950, one can
imagine that Lloyds of London
would have wagered you 10,000-to-l
that a Southerner would not be
nominated for the presidency by
either major political party during
Advance Subscription Rates, Tax Included:
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OFFICIAL ORGAN
BL TTS COUNTY AND
CITY OF JACKSON
six Months $3.91
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As the Bicentennial celebration
will continue throughout 1976, we
will be pleased to reproduce old
pictures, stories, folk lore and
other items of general interest
through the remainder of this year.
These will be used as space, and
time, permits.
We haven’t told one-tenth of the
County’s history. So help us
recollect even more of it in the
months ahead.
And, yes, you can still pick up,
or have mailed, copies of the
Bicentennial issue from the office.
The supply is limited, so
reasonable promptness is suggest
ed.
people’s week when the youngest to
the eldest resident were anxiously
anticipating the next event, all of
which seemed to eclipse the one
before.
Probably the highlight was the
two-mile long parade on Saturday,
one of the climactic events into
which thousands of hours of
preparation of floats, bands,
planners and others had gone.
We believe one safely can
assume that no town the size of
Jackson ever had a more stirring,
or attractive, parade than this one.
When the colors were presented,
the small children-not knowing
what else to do-cheered and their
cheering of the passing flag was as
great a tribute to America as any
orator delivered on July Fourth.
What a week it was. And to
those who worked untiringly in
staging it, we offer the sincere
appreciation of all who witnessed,
or participated, in it.
the Twentieth century. And,
knowing the bitter political winds
that were being stirred up by the
civil rights issues of that period,
possibly few would have taken such
a wager had it been offered.
Just think, a president of the
United States from Plains, Geor
gia. Pass the pot likker and the hoe
cake, boys.
And when the President’s
daughter invades Washington with
those South Georgia boiled pea
nuts, the prediction here is that she
will become the wealthiest capita
list in the nation’s capitol.
Let’s hush all that talk about
the South rising again.
It’s already at the top.
THE JACKSON PROGRESS-ARGUS, JACKSON, GEORGIA
The Last
Straw
BY
VINCENT JONES
(This week’s Last Straw
was first published in the
July 12. 1956 issue of the
Progress-Argus.)
“July is a boy’s month,
coming as it does half-way
between school’s closing and
opening.
June has been frittered
away, the unaccustomed
luxury of sleeping late
having not yet replaced the
nine-month habit of an early
call to breakfast.
August passes too swiftly,
each day bringing the
advent of anew school term
nearer, reducing by one the
number of carefree days
separating him from the time
when his mind must once
more cleave to the logical
and let go the absurd.
But July is a month for
dreaming, for letting the
boyish mind run unfettered
down the untroubled corri
dors of childhood, searching
diligently for those things
that are attractive to blithe
spirits with youthful vigor.
Trekking across a weed
field and alongside a neigh
bor’s hedge row, armed with
a trusty BB and fortified by
the presence of a tail-wag
ging companion, he is one
with Meriwether Lewis and
William Clark searching for
anew passage through
dangerous Indian territory.
Standing on the bank of a
small stream, watching the
minnow bugs darting across
the muddy water with
effortless grace, he peers
around the bend where the
creek suddenly widens and
becomes the mighty Missis
sippi and Huckleberry Finn
sits on the far bank with his
long cane pole.
In his basement labora
tory. the most fundamental
chemical experiment whisks
his mind across the years of
study and research that will
lead to the long hoped-for
chemical cure for cancer to
he found in his test tube.
At play, when he blasts
Pete's change of pace 150 feet
over the Smith’s fence, he
rounds the bases with the
ease and nonchalance of a
Mickey Mantle who has just
powered a World Series
homer into the upper tier of
the most distant bleachers.
There are apple orchards
to be raided, watermelon
patches whose lush fruit
requires the service of a
moon-mad sampler, giggly
girls to be kidded, chums to
be chummy with, errands to
be neglected and parents to
be frustrated.
There are bicycle rides
that must be taken to
faraway places, rickety
wooden bridges whose steel
framework is a challenge to
bare feet, terrapins that need
to be peered at diligently and
overnight camps where
laughter is the price of
admission and to be afraid is
the unforgivable sin.
No creature under God’s
heaven can accomplish all of
these, and a thousand equal
as trivial tasks, with the
verve and spunk and audac
ity of a boy. And there is no
month for accomplishing
them like July.
Even the weather is
tailor-made for this teen-age
tempest. The midday heat is
but a reflection of his heated
passion for living and doing
things. Summer's turbulent
thunderheads are but a
glimpse into the latent power
and glory of the child-man
who is slowly building up
those electric qualities of
character and personality
that shall one day unleash a
new storm over his favored
land.
July is for boys. And their
dreams. And for parents with
forbearance and the long
view who can see the man of
tomorrow lazily trailing his
bare feet in the dust of
today.”
A Stroll Down
Memory Lain*
News of 10 Years Ago
James Randolph (Randy)
Weaver, 12-year-old son of
Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Weaver,
w'as named Camper of the
Week at Camp Safety Patrol
in Cordele.
Dr. R. V. Brandon of
McDonough has been named
Medical Director of the
Westbury Home. Inc. of
Jenkinsburg.
Philip J. Westbury of
Jenkinsburg has been ap
pointed Chief of Staff of the
Georgia Jaycees for the
coming year
Andrew Cook was one of 11
employees named Corporate
Awards Winners by Avon
dale Mills and will get a trip
to New York, a Broadway
musical, and a visit to
Avondale's New York office
for his quality work.
Booker T. Stokes, Jr., son
of Mr. and Mrs. Booker T.
Stokes. Sr. of Route 2,
Jackson, was named a
winner in the 11th annual
Future Farmers of America
farm electrification contest
sponsored by Georgia Power
Company.
Deaths during the w'eek:
Paul Richard Fuller, 53;
Mrs. Homer L. Allen. Sr.. 78.
News of 2(1 Years Ago
Benjamin Stuart Head, of
Defiance. Ohio, son of Judge
and Mrs. George D. Head,
has been promoted to
production manager of the
Central Foundry Division.
Beginning about the
middle of August, sweet
potatoes will be canned at the
Jackson plant of Stokely-Van
Camp.
James B. Knowles is one of
14 Georgia college students
who have been awarded
scholarships by the Cobb
Educational Foundation.
David V. Spencer, princi
pal of the Jackson Elemen
tary School since 1951 and
high man in the recent
primary for School Superin
tendent, has been named by
the Board of Education as
Superintendent to fill the
unexpired term of Supt. A. B.
Duncan, who resigned.
J. Avon Gaston has been
renamed manager and
treasurer of the Farmers
Union Warehouse Cos. for the
1956-57 fiscal year.
Deaths during the week:
William Otis Moore, 80.
News of 30 Years Ago
Redman’s Feed Store,
Malvin Redman manager,
has been awarded a prize of
$25 in the Dr. LeGear’s
Merchandising Display Con
test.
Lt. Col. William Roger
Woodward was recently
promoted to a full colonel.
Canning of peaches in the
Jackson plant of the Pomona
Products Company began
Saturday and will continue
for several weeks. From 250
to 300 workers are employed
on a seven-day basis.
Miss Delia Watkins of New
York and Miss Georgie
Watkins of Rochester, N.Y.
are spending several months
at their summer home at
Indian Springs.
Announcement is made by
Mrs. G. W. Wyatt of the
engagement of her daughter,
Miss Annie Lou Wyatt, to
Alton Geise Potts of Coving
ton, the marriage to take
place in the summer.
Deaths during the week: T.
O. Cawthon, 71.
News of 111 Years Ago
A drought that has held
Butts County in its grip since
early April was broken with
good showers over the
weekend and again the first
THURSDAY, JULY 15, 1976
of the week.
The sum of $166.00 has been
forwarded to the state
headquarters for the Demo
cratic National Campaign, it
is announced by J. W.
O’Neal, chairman of Butts
County.
A delegation of about 25
Macon business men called
upon the State Highway
Board Thursday to urge
immediate construction of a
new highway from Jackson
to Macon along the Ocmulgee
River.
B. K. Carmichael recently
awarded a contract for a
modern filling station on the
corner of McDonough Road
and West Third Street to H.
F. and G. F. Gilmore, local
contractors. The Texas Com
pany has taken a long lease
on the station.
Deaths during the week:
Mrs. Lillie Belle Lane;
George W. Standard, 55:
James Arthur Brown.
News of 50 Years Ago
County Agent H. G. Wiley
will acompany a party of
local girls to Camp Wilkins
next week Among those
making the trip will be
Misses Elsma Morgan. Em
mie Jewel Singley, Sara
Weaver. Mattie Pearl
Weaver. Mary Evans and
Elizabeth Edwards.
A second car of wheat was
shipped from Butts County
last week. Growers whose
wheat made up the car were
W. M. Redman, J. A. Dodson,
Van Jones and J. H. Patrick.
Mrs. Smith Settle was the
gracious host to members of
the Garden club and a few
invited guests at a Rook
party Friday afternoon at
her lovely home on College
Street.
An enjoyable event of
Friday night was a picnic at
Indian Springs given by
Misses Ruby Lane and Mae
Childs, honoring their visi
tors, Misses Sara Weaver,
Mary Evans, Elizabeth
Harkness and Rosalie Ridg
wav. Among those present in
addition to the honorees and
hosts were Evelyn Whitaker,
Louise Woodward, Sara Ruth
Harris, Lillie Woods Minter,
Susanna Foster; Messrs.
Marvin Farrar, Robert
Fletcher. Willie Fletcher.
Frank Harper, Douglas
Glass. Dodson Bankston and
Robert Whitaker. The group
enjoyed bowling and on
Saturday evening a heartdice
party honoring this same
group of young people was
given.
Deaths during the week: H.
T. Thompson, 77, a Con
federate veteran.
I sure have enjoyed my
Bicentennial Edition of the
Progress. In “Section D” the
unidentified employee in the
picture with Mr. Joe Lock
hart and Mr. Bert Carmich
ael is my late father, Roscoe
R. Thaxton, born and raised
in Jackson. He and Mr.
Lockhart were real good
friends and I went to Jackson
High School with Sue
Lockhart. I would appreciate
it if you would identify my
dad in your next edition.
Thank you so much.
Mrs. Evelyn Thaxton Page
1865 Warren Way
East Point,Ga.
French legend has it that
a red man appeared to Napo
leon and foretold his down
fall.
fijiraußßi
By Mrs. Cindy Brown
THE PERFECT CHILD
I reached a monumental
decision recently: the world
is full of perfect children.
How do I know this? I know
this because I have met them
and I know this because these
children’s pefect parents
have told me that THEIR
children are PERFECT.
Perhaps you, too, have had
the honor of being acquainted
with the aforementioned
angels. Why, you can spot
them a mile away - they are
the ones with the parents who
smile through gritted teeth.
! DON’T LIKE the little
boogers!
“Johnny is sooo smart - he
makes straight S’s on his
report card; he pitched 100
no-hitters this year; and he
didn’t have ANY cavities.”
God bless little Johnny. I
wish I could apply a no-hitter
to his backside.
Recreation Day at Avon
dale Park (Monday) would
have to be termed a huge
success. As one fellow so
clearly stated, if anyone
didn't have a good time it
was their own fault.
As we look back, I hope we
can all say we had a great
time, but let’s just think of
how lucky we are to have a
country and a city who care
enough to want people to
have fun.
I would like to personally
thank W’JC.A for its coverage
and promotion of our event;
my Board members who
served as my staff and their
families for the great job
they did and the Recreation
staff for its splendid support.
Boy Scout Troop No. 89 of
Jackson helped by parking
hundreds of cars that passed
through the park. The ladies
who worked in the concession
stand did a remarkable job.
But most of all thank you
all for being a part of our
nation’s 200th birthday cele
bration.
By being with us you
helped support a growing
Jackson-Butts County Recre
ation Department, one that
we all can be proud of.
Recreation is good for a
community and for the
Jackson-Butts County Parks
and Recreation Department.
Hollis Griggs, Director
Jackson-Butts County
Recreation Department
Congratulations on the
Bicentennial edition of the
Progress-Argus. I and my
family have read and re-read
the contents. You and your
staff deserve the com
munity’s thanks for the hard
work in putting it together.
Frank Hearn
ruth at random
By Ruth Bryant
PEARL TREE
So graceful, lithe and debonair,
Your limbs have leaves of green
And flowers, like pearls so rich and rare,
Drop down your branches lean!
Would I could be as innocent
As pearls upon your tree,
But such perfection is not meant
For mortals such as me!
“Lucy is just a doll - she’s
only in the second grade and
she’s doing fourth grade
work; her music teacher
say’s she’s better than
Beethoven, and her Brownie
leader asked her to write a
new chapter for the Girl
Scout handbook.” (I wish I
had some Girl Scout cookies -
I’d stuff’em between her
chords!)
Now, my crew ain’t
perfect. And I thank the Man
on High every night. I am the
type parent who is thankful
for the little things in life:
frogs which DON’T escape
the house; a missing button
which is found; a dirty hand
that DOESN’T touch the
woodwork.
I LOVE imperfect
young’uns. I love ‘em
because they give me
something to look forward to
- no hitters, straight S’s, no
cavities, etc. etc. etc. !
I would like to take this
opportunity to commend all
the citizens of Butts County,
the Recreation Department,
and all the people connected
with the Bi-centennial cele
bration held on Monday, July
5, at the New Park.
I have never seen such
friendliness, spirit, and
laughter gathered in one
place at one time before. This
is the kind of Bi-centennial
celebration that should have
been happening all over the
country on its 200th Birthday.
Being from a large town, I
really enjoyed the home town
atmosphere instead of the
Razzle-Dazzle of the large
cities. Our celebration in
Butts County really showed
what living in America
should be like, and how much
fun it is to be a citizen of this
great country. This is the
American Spirit-all people
gathering together in one
place for a good time with
lots of fun for all ages and all
types of people.
All I can say is what my
children said when they
were getting ready for bed
after it was all over-“WHAT
A BLAST.”
Cecelia Boan
Jackson, Ga.
It is with great pleasure I
wish to congratulate you for
the wonderful Bicentennial
issue of the Jackson Prog
ress-Argus. I know how much
your brother, Doyle, wanted
to print this edition. It does
great credit to both of you.
J. B. Singley
4446 N. Armenia Ave.
Tampa, Florida 33603
Some people believe that
the best way you can get
good luck out of a four
leaf clover is to wear it in
your shoe.