The Jackson progress-argus. (Jackson, Ga.) 1915-current, November 04, 1976, Image 6

The Jackson progress-argus., November 04, 1976, Image 6

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Newspaper Page TextCity of Helen Revamps Its Business Houses and Outlook What happens after busi ness owners in a small rural community rebuild their town into a picturesque alpine village to create a tourism industry as their last hope for survival? In true storybook fashion, the town thrives immediately and continues to prosper. It’s a perfect example of how private enterprise, without government assistance, can improve business and the community. This is the story of Helen, a town of fewer than 300 people in the foothills of north Georgia. The town is on the the southern border of the Chattahoochee National Forest. The Chattahoochee River winds through the town. The forest and river setting is natural for the alpine village Helen is today. Here’s what happened: In 1968, Helen was a dying community. Lumber cutting that had started as a “Boom” industry around 1912 had gone “bust,” and there seemed to be nothing to keep the town’s forlorn concrete block store buildings from falling into ruin. Helen was another victim of America’s rural-to-urban exodus that saw some 28 million people leave the country side between World War II and 1970. Then a small group of businessmen, looking one winter day in early 1969 out the window of a riverside restaurant at their town’s dreary buildings, decided to remodel to attract the thousands of tourists that visit north Georgia each year. They asked John Kollock, an artist in neighboring Clarksville, to develop anew design for the town. John had served in mountainous Ba varian Germany during the war. He realized the forest river setting of Helen was just the thing for an alpine village and with “before” photos and “after” water color sketches quickly con vinced all concerned to adopt his plan. One businessman, Jim Wilkins, president of Orbit Manufacturing Company the town’s lone industrial firm (ladies’ sportswear) offered to have his building redone first - at his own expense. Revamping started two weeks after John Kollock was called. Every building in town had to be remodeled in the Bavarian motif, or the idea wouldn’t work. You can’t have even one contemporary concrete block structure in an authentic alpine village. But there really was no need to worry about all the town’s business people taking part, because they did readily. And, even more amazing, they all paid their own bill. Not one asked for federal or state assistance. Helen is truly a model of successful private enterprise, of the independent business re sourcefulness that is the backbone of America. Soon all nine of the town’s businesses w.ere remodeled. The city hall was rebuilt and enlarged to hold the fire station, jail, town meeting room, clerk’s office, wel come center, and public library. By 1974, Helen had grown to 25 businesses, all in alpine buildings. Now there are 63 businesses. While each shop owner paid his own remodeling bill, the city installed street lights and planters. The power and phone companies put all lines underground, at their own expense. Possibly Helen’s biggest boost from the rebuilding effort is in jobs. The tourism industry employs many people and without unsightly buildings, storage areas, and pollution of air and water associated with some in dustries. Moreover, Helen’s busi nesses create income while adding to the overall pleasing appearance of the com munity. This is a great advantage in a town where individuals can profit through good business ideas and imaginative manage ment of shops, mostly owned by the people who run them. According to Cliff Hood, city manager, Helen intends to continue to provide a quality community for the thousands of visitors each year. Becoming a tourist trap is out of the question. Shops in town offer such things as quality imports from the Scandinavian coun tries, the Alps, Far East, England, Scotland, the Medi terranean area, and the Phillipines. There are craft and antique shops, a factory outlet for clothing, dress shops, gun, leatherwork, and gift stores, and candy, candle, and cloth and towel shops, among many others. To promote tourism in Helen, the Chamber of Commerce sponsors several events. These include an annual Trout Festival, year ly Helen-Atlantic Balloon Race, and traditional Ger man Oktoberfest during the week ends of September and October. Construction in Helen has progressed greatly in the last 2 years, Hood says. For example, a “New Town” area has been developed. It includes a golf course, racquet club, and many alpine-style buildings for restaurants, motel units, and shops for arts and crafts. This area will be connected to the “Old Town” by a street car system (running on a refurbished rail line) built for the Helen Transit Authority, anew private corporation. Anew theater also is being constructed in the area. The city, Hood says, recently completed a park and playground for children. Equipment in the park was hand-constructed from southern pine timber. A look at Helen’s recent budget figures for required services indicates how suc cessful the rebuilding effort has been. In 1974, the budget was $60,000. It jumped to SIIO,OOO in 1975 and is projected at $148,000 for 1976. The U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Develop ment Service (RDS), the agency responsible for coor dinating federal rural deve lopment activities, believes many small communities with attractive natural as sets could profit by becoming tourist centers. But this takes proper planning, as well as initiative and resourceful ness, to avoid undesirable development. Communities that would like information on recrea tion developments or who would like to know how to get started in the planning procedure may write to Rural Development Service, U. S. Department of Agricul ture, Washington, D. C. 20250. A Classic Symbol f for a Modern Disease For 70 years, the Cross of Lorraine has symbolized the fight against tuberculosis. It still does, and will, until the battle is won. Now, the double-barred cross also .symbolizes the effort against other, ’newer" diseases that are increasing as fast as our technology. Like emphysema. A disease that literally takes your breath away. That costs more than SIOO million each year in disability pay ments. CHRISTMAS SEALS FIGHT EMPHYSEMA contributed by the publisher as a public service THE JACKSON PROGRESS-ARGUS, JACKSON, GEORGIA THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1976 Report from INDIAN SPRINGS By MRS. CLYDE HOARD Steve Bennett left Wednes day for Orlando, Fla. to begin basic training with the U. S. Navy. Lee and Sherri Bennett are visiting their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Bennett and Mr. and Mrs. Carl Finney for a few days before leaving for Tucson, Arizona with the USAF. Mrs. Katie Sue Garland, Locust Grove, Mr. and Mrs. Joe B. Jordan of Elberton and Mr. and Mrs. E. V. McHaffey of Commerce visited Wednesday with Mr. and Mrs. John Webb. Mr. and Mrs. John Webb were luncheon guests Tues day of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Grier, Jr. and Mrs. Robert Grier, Sr. in Griffin. Mrs. Louis Taylor and Winnie Taylor visited rela tives in Crawfordville on Wednesday. Ted McMichael and Miss Kate Smith of Warner Robins were weekend guests of Mr. and Mrs. Frank McMichael. Mrs. Margaret Greer of Dublin spent Friday night at her home here and on Saturday and Sunday she visited Mr. and Mrs. Jeff McMichael in Macon. Stan Hogan visited his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lamar Hogan, and Clay in Dublin on Thursday. Rev. and Mrs. Ed Hoard of Atlanta visited his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Dan Hoard, Thursday. Mr. and Mrs. Bill Hollo way spent Sunday with Dr. and Mrs. Allan Batchelor and family in Bremen. Miss Margaret Love of Jackson spent Friday night with Miss Lisa Taylor. Mr. and Mrs. Joel Crane had as their Sunday guests Bozo and Jim Crane of Macon. Mrs. Minerva Caulder of South Carolina spent the weekend at her home here. Mrs. Neil Mullis and children of Dublin are spending a week with Mr. and Mrs. Danny Hoard and Barrett. Mr. Mullis is attending a convention in Atlanta and will be the guest of Rev. and Mrs. Ed Hoard. Mrs. Joel Crane spent Saturday night in Macon with friends and relatives and on Wednesday night she was guest of Mr. and Mrs. James Adams of Jackson Lake. On Thursday they visited the Governor’s Mansion and other places of interest in Atlanta. FALL SPECIAL WE WILL PAINT $£ fUff ANY CAR ONLY |] 3 thru Nov. 20 with thi ad. / You can’t beat our low cost and J '1 ' | / high quality. Over' 35 ytm) I ’ free estimates WHITE HORSE SEZ: BODY REPAIRS AT SAME LOW COST & HIGH QUALITY ONE DAY SERVICE In By 9 - Out By 5 RIVERSIDE AUTO PAINTING WHITE HORSE LANE OPEN WEEK JACKSON, GA. SAT. S-2 .. u* YS „ PHONE: SUK - *2-2 BA.M 6PM 775.4479 HWY. 36 - 1 MILE EAST OF 1-75 ★ Exterior only -- your choice of solid colors including reds & black U.S. Senator i \ ' Sam Nunn Federal Tax And Estate Reform The President recently signed into law tax reform legislation that is considered by many to be the most com prehensive revision of the Internal Revenue Code since 1969 and possibly since its codification in 1954. I believe that there are many significant provisions that would be of interest to all Georgians. Generally, these new provisions go into effect beginning January 1, 1976. Individual Tax Cuts The bill continues through 1977 the anti-recession reduc tions enacted in December, 1975 which lowered the average family’s tax burden by $140.00 or more per year, Taxpayers are given the op tion to claim a $35 per person tax credit or a credit equal to two per cent of the first $9,- 000 of taxable income ($180), whichever is greater. The standard deduction remains at 16 per cent of ad justed gross income, up to a maximum of $2,400 for singles and $2,800 for joint returns. The minimum stan dard deduction is $1,700 for singles and $2,100 for joint returns. Estate Tax Revisions Significant reforms were enacted in the area of estate taxes and should help in keep ing farm and timber land in production and in reducing the tax burden on heirs. The new law would in crease the present $60,000 es tate tax exemption to $175,- 000 by 1981. This will be done by providing an estate tax credit for estates of in dividuals who die in 1977. The $30,000 tax credit is the equivalent of $131,000 exemp tion and this credit will be in creased by $5,000 per year to $47,000 by 1981, which is the equivalent of $175,000 exemp tion. Furthermore, by replacing the present exemption with a tax credit, the effect will be to provide the greatest relief in the lower estate tax bracket because the credit is applied as a dollar-for-dollar reduc tion in the amount of taxes due. This will result in greater tax savings on small fPRO-lin I LIQUID FEED I Phone 912-994-5132 HATCHER FEED MILLS Forsyth, Ga. $lO free body repair with any paint job. WE HANDLE ! INSURANCE CLAIMS FREE WRECKER SER. if car is not drivable. and medium-sized estates. An equally important provision of the new law relates to valuation of certain real property for estate tax purposes. Under the old law, the value of property includ ed in an estate was the fair market value of that property at the time of death. In deter mining this valuation, a key factor was the “highest and best use” to which the proper ty could be put. The new law would change this by allowing*valuation of property used for farming, woodland, open pastoral space, or the maintenance of historic values on the basis of the property’s value in its current use, provided this does not reduce the value of the estate by more than $1 million. The purpose of these provisions would be to allow the heirs to continue to use the property in the same manner as the former owner. This would be particularly important to individuals that wish to keep family farms in operation. Investment Tax Credit The investment tax credit was extended at a ten per cent level through 1980. Businesses which invest in qualified plant and equip ment may deduct ten per cent of their cost from taxes due. The permanent law contains a seven per cent credit. Anew tax credit of 20 per cent of child care expenses in curred by working parents is implemented by this legisla tion. The second spouse will not be required to work full time in order to qualify and the credit is available, irrespective of the amount of income realized by the fami ly. The maximum credit available is S4OO for one child under 15 or disabled dependent or SBOO for more than one. Divorced or separated parents may qualify and the credit is available if the child care payments are made to relatives. J r -771 E -—5 J| - ryUf -\teeezee! — The rule in using frozen meat should be: first in, first out. one 11x14 Family Color s LIMIT, one per family. Certificate good for married couples, couples with child ren, grand parents or adults living away from home. O'Connell's 5 (/ PORTRAITS 2409 Vi Georgetown Road ajj Cleveland, Tennessee 37311 Phone 615 / 479 ' 7142 Sponsored by Henderson Junior High School And Henderson Junior High Booster Club 100% Profit for the School and Club Advance Appointment Sale Begins November Bth Two or More Subject* required. No single photos will be made. MULTIPLE CHOICE OF PROOFS. 11 x 14 Kodak Color Portrait Photos to be made: December 11 and 12 at Henderson Junior High School FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CALL: MARY N. JONES at 775-2584 OR THE SCHOOL OFFICE - 775-7261. Creative Cookery By Eilene F. Milam What is your favorite part of a pound cake? The outside crust or the inside cakey part? If you like moist delicious cake with a flakey crust, then try this recipe. This is an excellent pound cake recipe, but remember to sift the flour twice. This is important in the texture of the cake. MRS. CRUMLEY’S SOUR CREAM POUND CAKE 'h. cup butter-softened 6 egg yolks-beaten pinch salt >/ 4 teaspoon soda 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 cups sugar 3 cups plain flour pint sour cream 6 egg whites, stiffly beaten 1 teaspoon almond extract Cream butter and sugar, add egg yolks; sift flour twice, once with salt and soda. Add alternately with sour cream to creamed mixture. Add beaten egg whites and flavorings last and fold into mixture. Place batter in a 10 inch greased tube pan. Bake at 300 degrees (pre-heated oven) for 1% hours. After cake is done, turn oven off, but leave cake in oven for another hour. Ifill by Johnny Smolka Progress-Argus Weather Reporter By the way, if you were late for work this past Monday morning, it was probably because you forgot to set your clock back one hour over the weekend. You see we went back to the Old Time Sunday morning. Any how, with that wind whistlin’ the way it was early Sunday morning it was a good morning to catch that extra forty winks. Now for the weather: After a very dry September we just about made up for it in a three day period. That was the 7th, Bth, and 9th day of the month when a total of five inches of rain fell. There wasn’t much more during the month, however, we did pick up an additional two and one quarter inches, which gave us 7.24 inches for the month and 48.08 inches for the year. Lloyd Shoals, on the other hand hasn’t had quite as much of that wet stuff as we have had here at Deer Trail Golf Club, about five miles away. They reported 4.69 for the month and 45.29 for the year. Looking at October, 1975 our rainfall totalled 5.80 for the month and at the end of Otober, 1975 we had 63.08 inches. |\STOP WS DRAFTS-SAVE FUEL! LX*"** original LL/14/ t f£3f£ DOORS PORCHES " * UGH n-EXtWJ- PLAST> e •MtettWAVS' \\\m sw*y ■' UlO INSTALL t \l ink \ m Cut with " VKi*y Ort/r *s!lv af mk.... tcrttni \ At Your Hardware. Lumber and Bldg. Supply Store WARP BROS. Chicago 60651 Pioneers in Plastics Since 1924 Jackson Hardware Portrait s s.oo Name Place of photographing Date Time -h. Soldby WEATHER Our first real frost came on the 19th and the extremely heavy frost, that actually looked like a snowfall, came on the 22nd. That was also the lowest for this Fall and Winter season. It was 32 degrees on the morning of the 22nd. The first frost in 1975 occurred on the 15th, believe it or not, not in October, but November 15th. There was a light snow reported in Atlanta on the 13th of November. As I close out the October Weather Report I must remind you again, that, if you have an unusual weather situation that occurred some time during the past don’t hesitate to call me and let me know about it. Or, you might call the Jackson Progress Argus and they’ll pass the information on to me for the next month’s report. In the meantime, when the next issue comes out on the 4th of November, let me know which part of the County was the coldest. I’m bettin’ on Nevin Duffey. Oh, he moved from the Highway 36 Weather Station. Some body else call me. Well Insulated Well insulated houses have six inches of insulation in the ceiling, three inches in side walls and three inches under the floor.