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Tfatk&v in Progress-Argus Volume 103 Number 50 Christmas Lights To Be Judged on Dec. 20 The Garden Club Council and the Jackson Progress- Argus are sponsors of the 1976 Christmas lighting con test for both residences and businesses. This year’s contest will be judged on Monday evening, December 20, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Judging will be continued until final decis ions have been made on the winners. Mrs. Elizabeth Watkins is in charge of securing judges and an nounced this week the judges will be Mr. and Mrs. Bill Craig. Mr. and Mrs. Jim Jones of Forsyth, Peggy Foye, Home Service Super visor, Georgia Power Cos., Macon and Emily Alexand er, retired from the Home Service Department of Geor gia Power Cos., of Forsyth. Mr. Craig is Commercial Marketing Engineer with Georgia Power Company of Play Presented Dec. 10-11 JHS Auditorium The mysterious play, Dark of The Moon, by William Berry and Howard Richard son. will be presented at the Jackson High auditorium Friday and Saturday, De cember 10 and 11, at 8 o'clock. Admission is free. Actor Skip Foster and the Artists in Residence class members will present the play about Witchcraft in the Smoky Mountains. Members of the cast include: Bobby Pinckney as Marvin Hudgens; Jeff Hurst -John the Witch Boy ; Glenda Hardy - Barbara Allen; Jeff Paget - Conjur Man; Tammi Franks - Conjur Woman and Edna Summey; Maurice Ball - Preacher Haggler; Mike Radzik - Uncle Smelicue Jed; Dan Thomas - Mr. Allen; Kelly Gray - Mrs. Allen; Joey Meredith v Hank Gudger; Dee Dee Steverson - Dark Witch; Marsana White - Fair Witch; Elaine Upshaw - Mrs. Bergen; James Butler - Mr. Bergen; Dana Steverson - Mrs. Summey; Jed Wall - Floyd Allen. TWO BUTTS STUDENTS ENTER GORDON Two Butts Countians have completed their applications for admission to Gordon Junior College as new students this Winter Quarter. James A. Elliott and Bobbie Jean Goodman are among 105 new' students out of a total of 1,000 expected to attend classes beginning January 4th. Applications for Winter Quarter are still being accepted. Registration for classes is scheduled for January 3rd. Notice to Subscribers Due to the spiraling costs of all items that go into the production of a newspaper, the Progress-Argus is forced to increase its subscription rates to out-of-state subscribers. Effective January 1, 1977, the subscription rate for readers outside the State of Georgia will be raised to $7.28 per year. The subscription rate for Georgia residents will remain unchanged. Renewal subscriptions for out-of-state subscribers will be accepted at the present rate of $6.24 a year until the new rate becomes effective. Macon. Mr. Jones is owner of April Flowers in Forsyth and his wife, Roger Ann Jones, is Managing Editor of the Macon News. The Mimosa and Jenkins burg Garden Clubs will host a dinner for the judges at the Central Georgia EMC at 6:00 o’clock on December 20. The Cherokee Garden Club will provide transportation dur ing the judging process. The city will be divided into East and West divisions, with identical prizes awarded those homes considered to have the most attractive decorations in both divisions. First prize winners will be awarded $12.50; second prize, $10.00; third prize, $7.50; and fourth prize, $5.00. In addition, the three best decorated businesses will be awarded prizes of SIO.OO, $7.50, and $5.00, respectively. GRIFFIN TECH IS RECEIVING STUDENTS The winter quarter at Griffin Tech will begin on January 4, 1977 and applica tions are still being taken for admission to the school. There are presently open ings in most day and evening programs. An aptitude test is required for students apply ing for the day program. The test, which is not required for evening programs, is given each Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. COLLECTIONS OF ALUMINUM CONTINUE Butts Countians have brought in 7,936 pounds of aluminum to the Flovilla collection station during the past seven months and-- at 15 cents a pound -- received $1,190 for their efforts. Collections in Flovilla of scrap aluminum will be held December Bth and 22nd at the corner of Lee and Heard Streets, between the hours of 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Butts County's 1976 Tax Bills Will Be Late Arriving If you haven’t received your 1976 Butts County tax bill, don’t fret. No one else has received theirs, either. And according to Mrs. Mary Will Hearn, Butts County Tax Commissioner, it may be some time yet before the 1976 tax notices are mailed out. The 1976 tax digest for the County has been sent to the State Revenue Department for approval but, as of Monday, Mrs. Hearn report ed that she had received no word as to the status of the The same rules that applied in past years will be used and include: No formal entry applica tion need be made. Every home within the confines of the contest boundaries will be judged and ribbons placed the same night. Checks will be mailed the next day by the newspaper. The Garden Club Council advised that all homes in Jackson will be judged as well as those on the Griffin Road as far as the W. A. Cook residence. Homes will be included beyond the city limits on Brookwood Avenue, those on the Monticello Highway to the C. E. Washington home and those on Buttrill Road. Homes on the Barnesville highway will be judged as far west as the American Mills plant. County Gets More Praise On Improving The chairman of the Butts County beautification project, Carol Weaver, has received a letter from Frank Craven, chief of forest eduction with the Georgia Forestry Commission, con gratulating the county for winning first place in the state beautification contest. In the letter Craven said he was personally impressed with the following activities and projects: the Queen Contest; the new Jackson and Flovilla parks; the covered dish luncheon; the total involvement of young and old. black and white; and the tour using individual cars. Craven also stated that progressive farm practices used by Butts County farmers and the “sprucing” up of the downtown area were other points which were particularly impressive. County’s digest. If the digest is approved or factored, that is, raised or lowered to meet the State’s criteria, the tax bills will still have to be prepared and mailed out by the Tax Commissioner’s office. For this reason, it will be late December, or even later, before Butts Countians re ceive their 1976 tax bills, Mrs. Hearn said. Taxpayers will have 60 days from the date their bills are post marked to pay their taxes, Mrs. Hearn pointed out. Intangible tax bills, that is, tax on stocks, bonds, mortgages, money, etc., have already been mailed out and December 20th is the usual deadline for their payment. FARM WORKERS SUBJECT TO CENSUS Information about farm work done for pay during the past year and about migra tory farm work will be collected by the Bureau of Census in this area, accord ing to Thomas W. McWhir ter, Director of the Bureau’s Regional Office in Atlanta. Interviewers who will visit house holds in this area include Ms Sherri R. Smith. Jackson, Georgia 30233, Thursday, December 9, 1976 Holiday Season Brings Parking Pains to City Since the Christmas shopp ing season is here and more shoppers are obviously going to be downtown, the mayor, city council and the police department arc asking mer chants and city and business employees to please observe parking ordinances. Mayor C. B. Brown said city officials are asking merchants and those who work in downtown stores and the courthouse to park off the square during the Christmas season to accommodate customers. Brown said he would like to remind everyone there is a parking lot on Oak street in which a person can park free for four hours. “Parking is really critical and with a little cooperation we can alleviate a lot of the problems,” he added. Concerning merchants and employees who may park on the square, there is a blaek-and-yellow parking permit which is issued to one person in a downtown business or office. This permit is good for parking in the area facing the court house and in front of “green” meters. It is never good in front of a place of business unless the person is loading or unloading. There is also a green and white parking permit which is issued to businesses and offices and is good at green meters only. Regarding the need to observe regulations because of the parking problem, the police department has said parking ordinances will be strictly enforced this season. REPORT FROM GRIFFIN STATE PATROL POST Sergeant Hugh Taylor of the Griffin State Patrol Post announced today that his post has investigated seven traffic accidents, made 77 arrests and issued 35 warnings in Butts County during November, 1976. Commenting further Sgt. Taylor said two persons were injured in the seven ac cidents. GOSPEL SINGING AT SECOND BAPTIST A gospel singing slated for Sunday night. December 12, at the Second Baptist Church, beginning at 7:30 p.m. The group to be featured will be the Cava liers. Rev. Arthur Price and the congregation extend a welcome to all who would like to attend. JACKSON GIRL WINS GA. COLLEGE HONOR Miss June Maddox, daugh ter of Mr. and Mrs. Levi Maddox, of Jackson, was one of 33 Georgia College students named to “Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities" for 1976. Students are nominated for this honor on the basis of academic achievement, leadership, and campus involvement. 13 ‘TM&- I#^ J 975 Tax Rebates Stopped Pending Court Hearing Flint Superior Court Judge Hugh D. Sosebee on Monday signed a restraining order that prohibits the Butts County Commissioners from acting on applications for tax relief on 1975 tax bills. The order signed by the Judge temporarily restrains the Butts County Commis sioners from granting relief to those property owners who were not afforded relief by legal process on payment of their 1975 taxes. This group would include primarily, but not be limited to, those taxpayers who were not members of the Butts County Westside To Play for State Championship Westside Christian School recently clinched the North Georgia Championship by defeating Emanuel Christian School 26-20. This victory assured West side a championship game against Derrene Christian Academy from Savannah for the state championship at Milledgeville, December 9 at 11:30 a m. The game against W’estside ended dramatically when Jeffery Kuhn caught a 35-yard touchdown pass from Larry Moody as time ran out. This situation had developed when Emanuel scored with approximately four minutes to go in the game, tying it at 20-20. With possession of the ball, Westside failed to make a first down at the Emanuel 30 and had to turn the ball over. However, an outstanding rush by Billy Hester and Ken Dills forced the Emanuel quarterback to throw a pass that was intercepted by Kevin Youngblood of West side with one minute and 40 seconds to go and with the ball on the Emanuel 30 yard line. Westside then took the ball in for the final touchdown. Gary Grammar was un able to play in the game due to an injury received in practice; however, he is expected to be able to resume play in the state champion ship.game Thursday. ADDRESS SANTA LETTERS t° PROGRESS-ARGUS Following a tradition of long standing, the Progress-Argus will once again publish letters to Santa Claus from Butts County children. Letters should be addressed to Santa Claus, C-0 The Jackson Progress- Argus. and either mailed or hand delivered to the office. Please keep letters as brief as possible in order to conserve space. Every effort will be made to see that all letters which are received will be published. Taxpayers’ Protective Asso ciation, whose members received a 38.4 percent reduction in assessments through arbitration. Those plaintiffs in the injunction petition were Johnny Colwell, Robert Wil liams, Grover McKibben, Robert Lane and John B. Bystricky. Named as de fendants were commission ers D. W. Bailey, W. A. Duke and Mrs. W’alter J. Bennett, along with Mrs. Mary Will Hearn. Tax Commissioner. Judge Sosebee in his ruling said the Commissioners may still receive applications for NEW POSTAL OFFICIAL —Outgoing postmaster Tom Webb is shown with Mrs. Martha Peeples who will fill the vacant post as temporary officer in charge of the Jackson post office until a permanent replacement is found. Jackson Youth Injured In Shooting Incident In City A Jackson youth was shot but not injured seriously during an argument Friday night at Jackson High School. Dennis Strickland, 16. of 976 S Mulberry St., a student at Jackson High, was shot in the leg. He was treated at Griffin-Spalding County Hospital but not admitted. Police arrested Wayne Jester of Route 3. Box 106. Jackson in the shooting and charged him with aggravat ed assault and carrying a pistol without a license. Jester was released on bond. Police reported the inci dent took place in the parking lot in front of the high school auditorium during the time a school dance was in prog ress. However, school offi cials have stressed that even though the shooting took place on school property, it happened outside the area where the dance was being held and they believe was not associated with the dance. Police detective Denny O’Neal said the disagree $6.24 Per Year In Advance a refund, but shall take no action on said applications. The Judge also tempo rarily restrained the Com missioners from doing anyth ing further with respect to the application of the 1976 miliage. The plaintiffs in their petition contended that the 1976 tax levy was illegal and invalid because it did not specify the per cent levied for each specific purpose as required by law. Additionally, the plaintiffs objected to payments being made to taxpayers who did not have their assessments ment had apparently ori ginated earlier at the high school gymnasium but that the confrontation took place at the school auditorium. In other news, police reported a Jackson woman was struck by an unidentified automobile Friday night as she was walking down McKibben Street. Celest Lawrence of 144 Court Street was given emergency treat ment at Sylvan Grove and then transferred to Griffin- Spalding County hospital where she was admitted. The incident is still under investigation according to the police department. Public Meeting To Be Held on ESAA Funds A public meeting will be held December 13 at 7:00 pm at the Board of Education office to discuss a proposal by the Butts County Board of Education to apply for Emergency School Aid Act (ESAA) funds. It approved, these funds w ould be used to continue the "highly successful" mathe matic and reading labora tories in the schools of the county Plans to continue the project in its present form will also be discussed at the meeting. The following community members and students were selected to serve on the 1977 78 advisory committee. David Cleveland. Oscar Watkins. Donnie Phillips. Mrs Jackie Cavender. Jack Little. Byrd Garland. Mrs. Zella Mae Taylor, Hal Latham. Maurice Ball, Angelia Henderson. Debbie Varner. Lee Duffey. and Kicky Long. The committee will meet monthly to discuss and approx e all plans and operations of the ESAA project for taxes for 1975 adjusted through adequate legal pro cedures established by statute. Judge Sosebee’s order set a hearing date as follows: “It is further ordered that each defendant be served immediately with copy of said petition and this order and each of them is required to show cause before the undersigned at the Court house in Jackson, Georgia, at 2:00 o’clock, p.m. on the 10th day of December, 1976, why a temporary' injunction should not be entered in terms of the restraint prayed in the complaint.” Jackson Post Office Has New Postal Official Tom Webb. Jackson's postmaster since 1973, has resigned his position here to serve as postmaster in Roswell. Georgia. Replacing Webb is Martha Peeples who will be the temporary officer in charge of the Jackson post office. Mrs. Peeples explained that her position is only temporary and that a permanent postmaster will be selected through the merit system used by the Postal Service. This process usually takes about three months for the final decision to be made. Mrs. Peeples, who has been with the post office for 11 years, also stated that because she was selected as officer in charge of the post office here, she will be ineligible to fill the perma nent post. She was previously in charge of the Sandy Springs branch office. Webb has w orked with the post office for 15 years. He said he really regrets leaving Jackson because "the people here have been really good to me and my family, but transferring is the only real avenue for advancement." Jenkinsburg Elects Three Councilmen Three seats were filled on the Jenkinsburg city council in the election held Decem ber 4. Those persons elected to the council and their vote totals were Roy Moore, 47; R A. Allen. 43 and James Cooper. 37. These council men will take office January 1. 1977. The unsuccessful candi dates were Susan Norton Street with 16 votes; Lanier Burford. 15; T. E. Huff. 14; Walton Burford. 10; and James Mixon, 10. JOE. THE HOBO. SEZ: My memory gets bad as Christmas nears and the grandchildren tell me what good little angels they have been all during the year.