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3acfeson Vrvqv2ss-£,vgus 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 al 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. One Year, in Georgia $6.24 Six Months, in Georgia $3.91 Editorials A President's Last Hurrah Former President Gerald Ford, the consummate conserva tive, pulled a Jekyl and Hyde act a few days before leaving office and decided to bestow healthy pay raises upon his former Congres sional colleagues, the federal judiciary and the top echelon of the federal bureaucracy. Safely beyond reach of the voting constituency and happily in sight of his favorite golf course, the ex-president evidently felt that such generosity would have a minimal backlash and a maximum effect on his future political aspirations. For who, among those receiving such a financial gift, would ever forget the greatness of him who bestowed it? The pay schedule proposed by the former chief executive for Congressmen and other top federal officials provides pay raises of from 5 to 30 per cent. Members of Congress would have their pay raised from the present $44,600 to $57,500, a whopping 28.9 per cent increase. Judges of federal district courts would come out slightly better, with raises from $42,000 to $54,500, an increase of 29.8 per cent. Using a technique devised by that master legislative maneuver ed ex-president Lyndon Johnson, the Ford proposal will become effective February 20th unless President Carter, the House or the Senate intervenes. President Carter, anxious to make friends with the federal establishment after cursing them roundly during the campaign, has A Fireside Chat Dressed casually in a sweater before an open fire in the White House library, President Carter made the first of a series of reports to the people on what he proposes to do as our new leader. He came across for what he is, a good, studious, Christian gentle man who looked the part of a South Georgia peanut farmer in from his fields, relaxing before the fire and anticipating a quiet evening of reading or television. That evident ly is the image he desires to project. He wants to be one of us. Which is frightening, in a way. For we know of no one of us who is On Being 105 The Griffin Daily News recently celebrated its 105th year of service to the people of this area and our sincerest congratulations and best wishes go out to Editor-Publisher Quimby Melton, Jr. and his fine staff. The Melton tradition of excellence in editing has been stamped on the Griffin Daily News for over half of its existence. Quimbly Melton, Sr. edited the paper for years and carved a Advance Subscription Rates, Tax Included: TELEPHONE 775-3107 OFFICIAL ORGAN BUTTS COUNTY AND CITY OF JACKSON One Year, Out-of-State $7.28 Six Months, Out-of-State $4.16 given his support to the pay raises. The Senate voted 56 to 42 last Wednesday to kill an amendment by Sen. Allen, of Alabama, to block the increases, with both Senator Herman Talmadge and Senator Sam Nunn of Georgia voting with Allen to kill the raises. The House isn’t likely to turn its back on such largesse, so for all intents and purposes the die is cast in favor of better paid federal servants. But for Congress, ridden with scandals of promiscuous secre taries, kick backs, influence peddling and gift taking, the timing is atrocious. Any central Georgia soybean farmer would have more common sense than to give a newly-elected member of Con gress, who ran for a $44,600 job, a raise of $12,900 even before he could find his seat in the House or Senate. As frustrating as taxpayers find the situation, there is a relatively simple solution. The Congressional raises should be postponed until the next election in 1978 and take effect in January of 1979. Let the other raises go into effect immediately, as they will create little furor. Taxpayers are just naturally suspicious of any elected official who has the authority to, and does, raise his salary during his term of office. With all this pompous talk going around about restoring trust in government, somebody is missing an excellent place to begin. talented enough to direct the complex mechanisms of this country, or who is capable of standing the emotional and mental strains of the job. And, too, if he is going to be one of us, then he must learn to think like one of us. And his decision to pardon the Vietnam draft dodgers certainly didn’t spring from the grassroots of America. On the whole, however, his first fireside chat seemed sincere, well prepared and effective. He is not cut in the Rooseveltian mold as a fireside chatterer, but then neither is anyone else. unique niche for himself in the annals of Georgia journalism. His son has taken the News and broadened its circulation and advertising base, given new inspiration to its editorial and reportorial coverage, and bright ened its face with some fresh pictorial innovations. A good newspaper is a credit to a good town. And vice versa. In this respect, Griffin and the Griffin Daily News complement each other handsomely. THE JACKSON PROGRESS-ARGUS, JACKSON, GEORGIA The Last Straw BY VINCENT JONES Bringing a distasteful dish of unpredictable weather, February comes skidding upon the scene, riding the low-scudding clouds with the reckless abandon of an eight-year-old bike rider descending a 15-year-old’s hill. An interim month, half winter and half-Spring, Feb ruary is an interloper that promises much and delivers little in the realm of good weather. But after January’s paltry sum of pretty days, even February’s hope is better than January’s disap pointment. February ordinarily is winter at the ebb, when soft southerly breezes waft their warmth over the frigid earth and some of the sting is missing from the north wind's fury. On the better days the expectant maple, having waited long for February’s coming, turns its red buds to the warm sun. By month’s end, the first bold narcissus should send its dainty blooms shyly and fearfully from the cover of its protected straw and leaf-enshrouded prison. Occasionally, a foolish pear tree will burst courage ously into bloom, only to meet a cold death reserved for those plants that try to fool mother nature and bloom out of time. Despite the cold, the plant world begins to stir in anticipation. Almost done with their hibernation, the preparation now is for the period of growth that lies ahead. Along the stream banks, the pussy willow will soon nod its graceful boughs, heavy with buds, awaiting the silent signal to burst forth into plush blooms. Sunrise comes earlier and sunset drags noticeably as? the days begin to stretch out towards Spring’s heralded arrival. Gone is the rush of December and January, and the frantic preparation of late fall for winter’s arrival. The days have about them a leisure that January lacked, and none of the urgency that March will bring. On the warmer from the still-chill waters of the pond will rise a vocal salute to the month from the bullfrog who is more inte rested in February’s promise that he is perturbed by her freakish weather habits. Often, on the few sun splashed afternoons, the honey bee will be seen conducting low-level recon naissance flights seeking out the first flower or weed that has dared to send forth the first bloom. The rhythm of the season stirs restlessly in all plant life. Sap, heady and plusing with life, tires of its dormancy and begins to rise in nature’s inevitable se quence of resurrection and death. Not half so wise as the soulless plants that surround him, man often fails to see in February anything save the miserable spell of weather that the month inevitably brings. Like a capricious woman, the month changes its mind with its mood, often deliver ing rain, snow, and sunshine in the same day. When despondent, it has a breath as cold as an iceberg’s bath water and, when gay, it can weave warm, westerly winds and sun-silvered clouds into a weather tapestry that is piclure perfect. But for all its puckish caprice and erratic whimsy, February is an important month weatherwise, signal ling winter’s end and Spring’s beginning. This year, of all years, you may have to look hard for the signs, but they will be there if you search for them-the warmth of the sun-dappled ray on a living room floor; the first cursory flight of a bluebird examining nesting potentials in your yard; the comforting warmth of an THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1977 \) -v ff[ t \ Jiflli WKm^sim A Stroll Down Memory Lane News of 10 Years Ago The Central Georgia EMC has been granted a loan of $745,000 by the Rural Electrification Administra tion to finance construction of 64 miles of new lines to serve 900 more customers. The Butts Education Asso ciation celebrated the 100th anniversary of the first state teacher association with Mrs. Obie Watkins, a retired teacher, Phillip Bryant, present, and Lucia Carr, future teacher, on the program. Miss Jennifer Coleman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Coleman, has been named Jackson High School’s 1967 Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow. Mrs. Robert Brownlee Torbett celebrated her 100th birthday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. B. T. McMi chael of Indian Springs. Mrs. David Settle delight ed members of the Jackson Garden Club with her review of the whimsical book, “How To Tell the Birds From the Flowers.” Davis Wells, president, opened the January meeting of the 6th grade 4-H Club. Vickie Kersey gave the devotional and Debbie Moore read a poem. Deaths during the week: Thomas Add Nutt, Sr., 86; John Robert Whidby, 88. News of 20 Years Ago A large still near Rocky Creek Church in south Butts County was destroyed Satur day by Sheriff V. H. Ham and State Revenue agents. J. Blackman Settle, a former president, traced the movement of Kiwanis Inter national in an address to the Jackson Kiwanis Club Tues day night. The local Kiwanis Club was founded in 1922 with W. A. Dozier as the first president. Mrs. Rebecca Duffey ad vises that the Salk polio vaccine is being provided free at the Health Center. Members of Troop 80, Boy Scouts of America, and Cub Pack No. 80 will attend the Jackson Methodist Church Sunday in observance of Scouting’s 47th birthday. Jackson took two games from Eatonton Friday night, the local girls winning 63-38 with Peggy McElhaney and Sandra Smith each getting 20 points and Faye Mitchell, 17. The boy’s 73-60 win was led by Donnie Caston with 30, Charles Herring, 18, and Barry Jones, 15. The Jackson Senior Class is sponsoring the movie, “A Kiss Before Dying”, with Robert Wagner and Joanne Woodward at the Town Theater on Wednesday. Deaths during the week: Herman Cole, 53. News of 30 Years Ago Dan Hoard has been named superintendent of the Indian Springs State Park. He succeeds V. W. Cole. Mrs. Marion Reeves has won SIO.OO for suggesting ‘‘Southern Scenic” as the name of the Atlanta-to- Jacksonville highway. Miss Carolyn Wells has won the 1947 Chevrolet sedari, top prize in the contest sponsored by veterans in support of the new war memorial building. Butts and Spalding Coun ties will share in the SII,OOO auto left in a sunny spot. February promises as much as it chafes. Let us look for one. while enduring the other. cost of a steel and concrete bridge over the Towaliga River at the Heflin & Price crossing. The members of the Nazarene Church are build ing a Sunday School room adjoining their church on Indian Springs Street. The Par-Teens met Satur day evening, 35 strong, for a treasure hunt. The group then retired to the gym to watch some reels of Popeye, Our Gang and the Three Stooges. Deaths during the week: S. L. Austin, 75. News of 40 Years Ago Arthur Cook, alias Son Tank, has been given a 2V 2 year sentence for voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of Eddie Lee Taylor. E. H. Pace has acquired the Jarrell-Finley building at the corner of Second and Mulberry Streets from Miss Allie Jarrell. The cold storage facility at the Jackson Ice plant has been swamped with meat. The mild winter has not given proper curing time for fresh killed meat and, as a result, the ice plant is full and can accept no more meat. The Pace Beauty Shoppe has moved this week to the Commercial Building. Interest centered here in the announcement that con victed murderer S. J. Scarborough had escaped from a Cherokee county prison. He was serving a life term for the murder of Prof. W. ,C. Wright, former superintendent of schools in Jackson, who was living in Eatonton when killed. The marriage of Miss Louise Nahra, of Douglas, and Mr. George Deraney, of Jackson, took place in Atlanta on Sunday afternoon with about 25 Jackson friends of the groom attending the ceremony. News of 50 Years Ago Members of the Butts County Board of Commis sioners on Monday signed a contract for the paving of the Jackson-Indian Springs road. Tom Vaughn, an Atlanta white man, has been appre hended by City Policeman W. T. Burke and charged with the thievery of several chicken houses in Jackson during October. The Watsonian, published by the Tom Watson Book Company, of Thomson, Georgia, has made its appearance on newstands. It will be published monthly. Mrs. David Settle and Mrs. J. B. Settle entertained 16 guests at a rook party Wednesday afternoon at the beautiful home of Mrs. David Settle on McDonough Road. The occasion honored Mrs. S. B. McLeod, of Grand Rapids, Mich., the guest of Mrs. O. A. Pound. Miss Lollie Carmichael and Miss Ruby Jones will entertain the members of their Sunday school class and expression class, respective ly. on Friday afternoon at the home of Miss Carmichael. The Indian Springs Civic League met last week at Rock Castle. In a debate over tin signs being permitted in the community, the affirma tive team, Mesdames King and Archer, won over the Negative, Mrs. O. H. Torbett and Miss Carrie Collier. FfcirajFH ' By Mrs. Cindy Brown "A VISIT” Unfortunately, I have had unexpected company this week-the flu! I began feeling poorly last Thursday-aches, pains, coughing, sniffing--the whole unwelcome bit. When I went to see my doctor on Friday, my temperature was almost 103 and my IQ was non-existent! I have never had the flu before. I have heard my friends talk about the infamous disease, but I never really knew how bad it could be. And you should see me: my eyes are red; my nose is even larger than usual; my mouth is smaller than usual-it’s all pursed up due to all the acid-fruit drinks I’ve con sumed; and last-my favorite sitting place is covered with ON BORROWING SIOOO Some time ago a friend of mine told a story. It was a story about two women who each went to the bank to borrow a thousand dollars. Because the story so beautifully illustrates the extremes of human nature, I would like to pass it along. The two ladies lived in Atlanta, Georgia. And it so happened that they both banked at the same bank. It was through coincidence and Providence that the story came to light. The first lady went to the bank and in the course of the discussion concerning the borrowing of the thousand dollars, the banker asked her what she wanted the money for. She explained to the banker that she had a wonderful opportunity. The dancing club she was a member of was selling life memberships for only one thousand dollars. She wished to borrow the money to become a life member of her dancing club. And then for the rest of her life, she could dance and dance and dance. The second lady came to the banker and sought to borrow the same amount of money. Asked what she was planning on doing with the money, she told her situation. She said that she was a woman who worked for a moderate salary and never had much money to command. She explained also that she was a member of a certain church in that city, and that her church meant very much to her. Then she told the banker that she had always had a dream--a dream that some day she would be able to give one thousand dollars to her church. She explained to the banker that her church was at a point where the money could be used to great advantage. She knew she would never have a thousand dollars to give to her church. So she wanted to borrow that thousand dollars and give it to her church now while it would do so much good. Two women. Each wanting the same amount of money. But how far apart are the purposes for which they each desired the money! Membership in a dancing club and furthering the work of the Carpenter of men. It is a story of life. A story of selfishness and love, competing with each other for control of the individual. A story of one who wished to borrow money to spend entirely on herself, and a story of one who wished to borrow money to spend entirely on others. Basically, most of us are a mixture of the two. We want to give away and we want to keep. This is the great struggle in the hearts of mankind. There is something in us urging us to wrap our hands around our money and there is something in us urging us to give our money away toward constructive purposes. In a few of us there is proper balance, but in the most of us the desire to keep prevails. The possessions we have are given to us for only a period. We don’t own them, we can only use them. And while we can’t take them with us, the way we use them now is an indication as to the place we will go when we are through using them. ruth at random By Ruth Bryant HAPPY VALENTINES DAY Though we are far apart There’s something in the heart That makes its beating start On Happy Valentines! When we are close near-by There’s something in a sigh That makes the memory spry On Happy Valentines ! And so, though near or far, No matter where we are This loving will not mar Our Happy Valentines! band-aids which are covering all the sites of my penicillin injections! My husband suggested that I move temporarily into the Heart of Jackson motel. (He thinks this would protect him and the children from my illness!) I told him the last time he made that suggestion that I would breathe on him if he didn’t hush. My boss thought I was faking sickness until he saw me. After he took one look, he pulled out his handkerchief, covered his face and ran. The one real advantage I can see is that I have lost 6 pounds! Of course, I don’t recommend having the flu as a fun way to lose weight, but it does get you a lot of attention and sympathy much deserved I might add! ‘Whatsoever Things' By Donald E. Wildmon