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Sarkscu Vta^vzss-^tgns J. D. Jones Publisher (1908 1955) Doyle Jones Jr. Editor and Publisher (1955-1975) MRS. MARTHA G. JONES PUBLISHER VINCENT JONES EDITOR OFFICIAL ORGAN BUTTS COUNTY AND CITY OF JACKSON 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. Advance Subscription Rates, Tax Included: One Year, in Georgia $6.24 One Year , Oul-of-State ~.57.28 Six Months, in Georgia $3.91 Six Months. Out-of-State $4.16 TELEPHONE 775-3107 Editorials Is Civilization on the Wane? The contagious, toothy smile was missing. Replacing it was the stern look of a leader who was sharing bad news with his people. A grim -faced President Carter faced the blinding lights of the television props, ironic in that they, too, may soon have to be dimmed, and told the United States that it was running out of energy. In a few years, he said, the world will be consuming more energy than it is producing, if energy use and demand increase at their present pace. He didn’t say what would happen then but it takes no genius to figure that the long, slow slide into oblivion would then begin for the entire civilized world. His dramatic pronouncement ended for all time the spurious arguments about whether the oil crisis in this country is for real, or whether certain companies are withholding oil from the domestic market. These questions were once considered valid under the pre vious administration, known for its affinity to big business and big oil interests, but here was a people’s president declaring that the energy crisis in this country was not only genuine, but critical. In calling for an all-out attack on the problem, in asking the American people to make sacri fices in both their personal and business lives, President Carter was placing the credibility of his office at stake. Should he be foolish enough to demand sacrifice when none was in order, or cry wolf when there was none at the door, then his effectiveness as a leader would be lost forever and, in the words of Shakespeare, the rest of his life would be “bound in shallows and miseries.” It is inconceivable that the President, famed for his orderly thought processes and the meticu lous planning and thoroughness with which he researches a subject, could have made a miscalculation in this instance. We, therefore, must assume beyond any reasonable doubt, that the projections he made are accurate and that the energy problems facing this nation are severe, permanent and cannot be A New Vehicle Cranks Up The Development Authority of Butts County has been officially ordained and installed by the Butts County Commissioners as their officially-sanctioned body charged with the economic development of Butts County. Members of the Authority have accepted the challenge and already initiated several projects that NATIONAL NEWSPAPER AttOtUTIQW fmtot im rmMHgi NNA SUSTAINING "* gi MEMBER-1977 resolved without the sacrificial efforts of us all. There will be disagreements, as rightly there should be, among the Congress and the people about his proposals to reduce the energy demand, both in the short and long term. It will be months before Congress can hear from all the special interest groups, listen to the wail of their inconvenienced constituencies and hammer out a bill that will be filled with compromises, exemptions and special privileges for the threaten ed oil industry. Which, hopefully, will be vetoed. But the President has set the tone. He has called for sacrifice and common sense dictates there would be no call unless the need was there. Congress would be well advised to forget party politics, or personal politics, in this matter and get on with the business of attacking a critical problem forthrightly and with unaccustom ed vigor. For generations, this nation has proceeded on the basis that its energy supplies were inexhaust ible. Coal, oil, water and lately, atomic fuel, would always abound and give the country the energy thrust it needed to boost its civilization to the very zenith of its power and prestige. And, now, the President says, we are faced with the loss of that bright hope unless we conserve our diminishing energy sources, locate new ones and become less prodigal in the waste of our nonrenewable resources. We will all squirm, and question, for we have become unaccustomed to sacrifice. Why not rationing instead of high gasoline prices? Would it not be more fair to more people? Why the ban on new dam projects, when hydroelectric power is needed so critically? Yes, we will all be pinched financially, depressed mentally and inconvenienced physically by the programs of energy reduction facing our nation. But we will all respond loyally, in good cheer, and with the firm resolution that the blame for the demise of the American dream shall not be laid at our feet. could have long-lasting effects on the County’s economy. No Authority, or no Commis sion, has power or influence beyond that given it by public support. Suggestions, therefore, are en couraged by Authority members, especially those constructive ones dealing with the economic ad vancement and well-being of our citizens. THE JACKSON PROGRESS-ARGUS, JACKSON, GEORGIA The Last Straw BY VINCENT JONES For your reading pleasure while you are resting from a walk amid the honeysuckle or admiring Spring's first rose on the coffee table, you may wish to feast on these literary tidbits: TIME YOURSELF A certain banker likes to test applicants for positions as teller in the following way: He says, “Here is a check for $63. Please give me that amount in exactly six bills and I don’t want any dollar bills.” If the applicant cannot satisfy him within 30 seconds, he or she does not get the job. If you can do it in less than 10 seconds, you are a genius. If it takes five minutes or more, then you can qualify as an editor. The Queries Editor of the New York Times often publishes fragments of poems, with a request for the name of the author, source, etc. For example: Oh! Ever thus, from child hood’s hour, I’ve seen my fondest hopes decay; I never loved a tree or flower, But ’twas the first to fade away. I never nurs'd a dear gazelle To glad me with its soft black eye, But when it came to know me well And love me it was sure to die. The verses appear in The Fire-Worshippers, a poem written by Thomas Moore, and familiar to anyone who studied classic literature in high school. It can be found in Bartlett's Familiar Quota tions. or in any anthology in any public library. Which raises the natural question, if the learned Times did not know the poem or the poet, or where to find one or the other, how can they know so blamed much about the problems of the New South? Every time we use the expression ‘brought up’ or 'raised', we do so wdth misgivings, fearful less one of our former English teachers remind us that reared' is the correct word. That may be so, according to the English textbooks, but we cannot concede that it is 100 per cent right. The question of useage must be consider ed. There are occasions when the use of ‘reared’ can cause misunderstandings. As, for example, when a man might say of his secretary, ‘she’s a nicely reared girl.’ Which is sure to bring a retort from another fellow of discern ment. 'and she's not so bad in the front, either.’ If someone should ask you to name a man who was the father of four kings, have this little gem ready to parry the question. The answer is Charles Bonaparte, who was a small town lawyer and dead at age thirty-nine. Taller than his famous son, he liked to dress in a velvet coat, embroidered silks and a big wig. The family had originally come from the Italian mainland, and Charles went to Pisa for a college degree. He had polished manners became a good mixer, and was fond of amusements beyond his income. The family was hard up for years before Napoleon achieved his spectacular success and wealth. The father died of cancer before the family luck changed. But the mother, Letiza Ramolino, lived to a ripe age and witnessed the varied fortunes of her children. One became an emperor, three became kings, one became a queen, and two duchesses. It was one of the great suc cess stories of all time. A Stroll Down V. v BK •, Memory Lane News of 10 Years Ago WJGA, Jackson’s first radio station, began its broadcasts at 12 noon on Monday, April 24th. Mrs. Ida Bankston was installed Friday as acting postmaster of Flovilla. Ordination services for Bert Carmichael 111, a native of Jackson, were to be held Sunday evening at the First Presbyterian Church in Ma con. Mrs. Virgil Pace has been unanimously elected presi dent of the Butts County PTA. The Little League baseball season will open next week and the Jackson Exchange Club will have its annual Chickenque at the opening ceremonies. The Henderson High School Band made Superior ratings at the District 111 band festival in LaGrange. The Henderson Band is led by Andrew Buggs, Jr. as band director. News of 20 Years Ago Chairman Lamar Weaver, of the Board of Tax Assessors, announced that a base minimum of $8 an acre will be used in computing the 1957 assessment. In the past the figure had been as low as S6 an acre, Weaver said. Mrs. Julia P. Fletcher has received a cash award of SSO tor a prize-winning sugges tion submitted for work improvement at the Atlanta General Depot. In the Four District Class B literary meet in Manchester, Jackson won three third places, Nancy Findley in shorthand. Suzanna Ridge wav in piano and the one-act play cast. Peggy McElheney won fourth place in typing. Burglars struck twice at Indian Springs’ business houses over the weekend, hitting Pitt's Casino and Hoard and Mullis. M. L. Powell has been named to head the joint City-County Planning Board. Voters in the City of Jenkinsburg will vote in May on the question of incurring an indebtedness of $5,000 for the purpose of paving and improving the City’s streets. News of 30 Years Ago Mrs. Howard Jolly has been elected to attend the national PTA convention n Chicago in June. The Central Georgia EMC was represented at the annual meeting of the Rural Electric Cooperative Asso ciation in Spokane, Washing ton by G. W. Patrick, P. J. Evans and R. F. Armstrong. At the April meeting of the Towaliga HD Club, Mrs. Paul Evans gave the devotional and Mrs. Franklin Maddox w as in charge of the program which included a talk on better lighting by Mrs. Ray Siewert, a piano solo by Betty Hammond and a clothing demonstration by Mrs. Fred Hammond. Butts County ginned 4,053 bales of cotton in 1946, compared to 5,168 bales the previous year, or a decline of 1,115 bales. Tribute will be paid James Stark Gregory, of Indian Springs, by the UDC on Confederate Memorial Day. He is one of only six Civil War veterans still alive in Georgia. Attending the annual County Commissioners As sociation of Georgia meeting in Savannah from Butts County will be P. A. Smith, Chairman, E. P. Colwell, member, and A. F. Taylor, clerk. THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 1977 News of 40 Years Ago Governor E. D. Rivers will be the guest of honor and chief speaker at exercises to be held May 3rd when the Indian Springs State Park officially opens for the 1937 season. Sidewalk paving will begin this week on Second Street from the present postoffice to McDonough Road and on Dempsey Avenue from Third Street to College Street. School children marched to the cemetery to place flowers on the graves of the County’s Confederate veterans, only three of whom are living, R. Van Smith, J. S. Gregory and F. M. Thornton. The Shirley Temple birth day party at the Dixie Theater w'as attended by about 400 youngsters. The Shirley Temple doll went to Earl Jean Couey, while Gwendolyn McMichael and Helen Hudgens won Shirley Temple dresses. The Ball Jar canning contest winners for 1936 have been announced and include Mrs. John Cook, first, $5.00; Mrs. F. L. Maddox, second $3.00; and Miss Willie Woodward, third, $2.00. For the girls, Jewel Biles won first, Evelyn Hays, second, and Louise Snith, third. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Moore near Jenkins burg was burglarized while they were on a trip to Jackson with their grandson, W. T. Evans. Deaths during the week: Mrs. Fannie Barnes, 77; Miss Kate Preston. 93. News of 50 Years Ago In the Sixth District literary and track meet, Jackson High placed fourth in athletics and Miss Lucile Brown won first honor in the recitation contest. Jackson w on four seconds in the track meet, Leslie Pinnell in the 100-yard-dash; Victor Wil son, 120-yard low hurdles; Herald Henderson, pole vault, and Robert Whitaker in the shot put. T. J. Carson has been named commander of the Camp John I. Barnett, United Confederate Vete rans. Other officers are Z. T. Buttrill, J. S. Gregory, J. F. Whitaker, M. L. Duke, J. A. McMichael and A. G. Preston. The Towaliga Consolidated School will close for the spring term on Friday. Faculty members are W. G. Jones, principal, Miss Nellie Gossett, Miss Georgialu Gibson, Miss Mae Childs, Miss Ethel Carter, Miss Cora Bowden. Threatt Moore, Jr. will represent Jackson High and the Sixth District in the state oratorical contest. Miss Mary Ellis and Miss Billie White, two talented pupils of Miss Ruby Jones, will give a recital on Thursday evening. Miss Elsie Curry and Miss Mary Downs complimented the children of their Sunday School of the Methodist Church with an Easter Egg hunt at Watson’s pasture. Deaths during the week: S. Hoy Gentry. 39; J. H. Carmichael, 62; Mrs. Lucy Redman, 68. Editor’s Quote Book Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be un derstood. Marie Curie F^JIFQJRRI By Mrs. CMy Brown THINGSTHAT I HATE TO DO AND WHY I hate to wash dishes because I mess up so many. I hate to try new recipes because my family always says, “What on earth is that?” “Do we have to it, Mother?” I hate to pay bills because I get depressed. I hate to go to the dentist because I am scared of dentists. I hate to get above four feet off the ground because I have a fear of heights. I hate to pay income taxes because I feel like Uncle Sam can make it WITHOUT my money. THE TIME THE TRUTH DIDN’T HURT By Mrs. Bertha Pitts I was a stringy white haired little girl who lived on a farm; a fine place for any child to be raised on, with plenty of milk, butter, chicken, eggs, vegetables, good ole sorghum syrup, plenty of the corn fed hog meat with all the trimmings and all kinds of fruits. Seems I loved the fruit best. It was the first fruit of the season, the May Peach. When cold weather was over, the fruit trees began to bloom. They were the prettiest sight for us all, because it wouldn’t be long before there would be all kinds of fruits. There were four of us girls at home, our ages ranging from 12 to 5 years; I being the 5 year old. After the peaches came, we girls visited the May Peach trees very often, hoping they would soon be getting ripe. Our dad went out to the orchard and noticed the peaches were a pale pink, which I thought was the prettiest color I had ever seen; for I knew it wouldn't be long before we could go eating peaches. Then one day, Papa came into the house and called all four of us girls and said, “Children, the May peaches are getting ripe and I don’t want anyone of you pulling any of them until they are ripe. If you do, I’m going to whip the one that does it.” All of us girls knew not to pull a single one, for our Dad didn’t break too many promises. So one day I went to the peach trees and those pretty peaches tempted me so bad, I tried to reach just one. I thought just one wouldn’t be missed, but I couldn’t reach a single one! Well, I thought, I can get one! I’ll get a box to stand on. Then off to the woodhouse I went to get an apple box (I believe you know what an apple box is. It’s a wooden box with a partition in the middle.) I eased that box out of the woodshed and carried it back to the peach tree. I got on the box, making sure I didn’t put a bit of weight anywhere on the limb and peach so the peaches wouldn’t fall off. I didn’t pull the peaches, as my Dad told us not to do. I woulfi bite one, holding the peach with such tender care. Then, I would go to another one that I could bite standing on my box. This went on to about 5 or 6 peaches and not a one fell off! Then the day came for my Dad to do some more orchard inspecting. My sisters were very sweet to me. They hadn't told on me. And that night, as we were all. seated at the supper table, the lamp seemed to be so bright, at first, as I still can remember ol a special time My plate had been served and every one was quiet and eating, as I hate to get notes sent home from school by my children because I always expect the worst. I hate to put money in a parking meter because I’m chintzy. I hate salesman because I’m too soft-hearted. I hate rainy Mondays because Mondays are bad enough without being rainy. I hate stray dogs because I always want to take them home with me. I hate Mothers of perfect children because I am the envious type! I hate people who have no trouble remembering names, birthdates, etc. Because they are so smart! it was very quiet at our table when meals were served. Then my Dad said very calmly, “I went to the May Peach trees today (we all knew the ones he was talking about) and I found someone has been biting the peaches. I thought I told you not to pull any until they get ripe.” Well, all of us girls looked at each other back and forth and no one said a word. Finally, I had to tell the truth. I said, “Papa, I did, I didn’t pull a one but I bit some and left them on the tree.” I didn’t get the whipping I should have gotten, for my Dad said I didn’t tell them not to bite them. But I knew better! That’s one time the truth didn’t hurt. I guess my Dad had as much fun about that as anything I ever did. He told it on me, lots and lots of times. First let me say that your editorials are great. You reach the heart of the matter in a concise way of which I am envious. They are better than great. Next, I know everyone has written concerning our Presi dent, Jimmy Carter. How ever, I would like to have my say, too. In the famous novel, “Gone With the Wind,” it mentioned, “The South was sinking to its knees.” Well, we have staggered back to our feet to the amazement of many, many people. The word “United” should mean more now than ever before. One man did not create or cause the moral disruption of this country, or the economic crisis, or all of the other crises. So it stands to reason that one man cannot find the solution to the many problems. We, the people, must stand united behind our President. We must shake off the cloak of complacency we have assumed over the years. The adage, “If you can’t beat them, join them”, will have to be done away with if we are going to overcome the disasters we seem to be headed for. To shrug our shoulders and say, “I can’t do anything about it”, is not the right attitude. What one person, one President, cannot do, can be accomplished by people working together toward a common goal for the good of a nation, or in other words, we need to put the capital letters back in UNITED STATES. Jeanette Bunch Cook <Bramar.