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Kacksmt /rogress-Argus Volume 104 Number 30 Central Georgia EMC Set 1 Annual Meeting August 3rd “We’ve grown in many ways during forty years”, is this years’ theme for The Central Georgia Electric Membership Corporation. The 40th Annual Members Meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m. on August 3rd at Indian Springs State Park with O. Franklin Rogers as guest speaker. The Central Georgia EMC was chartered on July 11, 1937 just one month after President Roosevelt created the REA Act by Executive Order, and in the two and one-half months after the Electric Membership Act was approved by the General Assembly of the State of Georgia. Mr. T. F. Freeman, president of The Central Georgia EMC board of directors, is the only remain ing charter member present ly serving on the board. The first year’s annual Sen. Banks Addresses B&PW Club Members Monday Night State Senator Peter Banks of Barnesville told the members of the Jackson Business and Professional Women’s Club Monday night that he’s not sure the Equal Rights Amendment will ever be ratified in Georgia. Speaking at the regular dinner meeting of the B & PW Club at the Elder Hotel in Indian Springs, Banks said he feels if the people don’t show what he called “grass roots support” for the ERA, “then it may be just as well that it isn’t ratified.” Banks was sponsor of the ERA in the Georgia Senate during the 1977 legislative session. The amendment was never voted on in the committee because its sup porters felt it would certainly be defeated in the committee vote. In reaffirming his support for the amendment, Banks said its ratification is “a simple matter of justice, dignity and individual justice that women have equal rights under the law.” Local Driver Named Truck Roadeo Winner A Jackson driver was a first place winner in the 1977 Georgia Truck Roadeo for professional truck drivers held last week at the Century Center in Atlanta. Thomas R. McKinnon, a driver for Overnite Trans portation, won first place in the five-axle van category. Mr. McKinnon also captured the pre-trip inspection award sponsored by “Mechanics Illustrated” magazine and accumulated the highest point score of the roadeo. The roadeo is sponsored annually by the Georgia Motor Trucking Associa tion’s Council of Safety Supervisors to promote high way safety. In order to win, a driver has not only to compete in the gruelling road course, but also to pass an exacting written examina tion on safe driving rules, first aid, firefighting and the trucking industry in general. Each of the Georgia winners will compete in the national truck roadeo to be held next month in Kansas City. operating report showed 573 members, 261V4 miles of line, with monthly billing of $1,610.10. The average monthly bill per member at that time was $2.81 and the average monthly kilowatt hour consumption was 48.7 per member. The first lines built were to handle at least 75 kilowatt hours per month per member. In May, 1977 the CGEMC served 13,334 consumers and the cost of power for the CGEMC was $289,324.60. Miles of line now is 2,378 with monthly billings of $414, 368.42. The average May bill per member was $31.08 and the average May kilowatt hour consumption was 701 hours per month per mem ber. Three directors will be elected to serve a three-year term, and one director will be elected to serve a one-year Commenting on other legislation affecting women, Banks said the Senate passed a law stating that a woman’s past sexual history could not be admitted as evidence in a rape trial and repealed a provision of a law stating that a man could not be convicted of rape on the unconfirmed testimony of a woman. Turning his attention to ad valorem tax relief, Banks said there is “no easy solution” to such relief and listed three options for possibly reducing ad valor em taxes. The “circuit breaker” proposal would affect people primarily on fixed incomes in that this proposal would “put a cap on the taxes a person pays and gear it to his individual income.” Banks said another propo sal which might help to bring ad valorem taxes down is one he called the “land use” proposal under which land would be taxed according to its use. Banks said he is Atlanta Gas Light Cos. Buys City's Natural Gas Dept. Pending approval by state and federal regulatory agen cies, the City of Jackson has sold its natural gas distribu tion system to the Atlanta Gas Light Company. In announcing the sale, Mayor C. B. Brown, Jr. said the City will realize $375,000 for the system itself, plus an additional $41,000 for parts, meters and tools. Sale terms, which have been agreed to by both the buyer and seller, must be approved by the Georgia Public Service Commission 4 and the Federal Power Commission. The Atlanta Gas Light Company has been working with both agencies prior to the actual purchase and approval from both is expected to be granted soon, the Mayor added. The Atlanta Gas Light Company is hoping to take over the City's natural gas system by September 1,1977. They anticipate opening an office in Jackson for both service and collection of accounts. Severe weather conditions of last winter, in which the City found itself isolated term. A General Electric Micro wave oven given by Polk Tire and Service Company, in cooperation with The Central Georgia EMC, will be the grand prize. The first 700 members who register will have a choice of receiving light bulbs or a plastic pitcher with four tumblers. The Jackson Exchange Club will be in charge of the Chickenque lunch that will be served immediately follow ing the program. Chickenque tickets will be on sale for $2.75 at The Central Georgia Electric Membership Cor poration - (404 ) 775-7857 - Jackson, until Saturday, July 30, 1977. General Manager R. F. Armstrong urges everyone to attend this special 1977 Members Meeting and to compare the annual report to that of the first one published 40 years ago. opposed to this proposal calling it “unworkable and inequitable.” A third option, according to Banks, would be to raise the state sales tax one percent and return the generated revenue to the counties, divide the revenue between the local government and the school system, or return all of it to the school systems. Banks said that while he favors the “circuit breaker” proposal, he also thinks ad valorem taxes could be reduced by having the state sales tax increased one cent and return the money to the counties by any of the three methods. However, he stated he doesn’t think the sales tax will be approved any time in the near future even though he said he feels most people would probably support the sales tax proposal as opposed to the “circuit breaker” or “land use” proposals. Among those present for the meeting were State Representative Bill Jones and County Commission Chairman Mac Collins. from major natural gas supplies, prompted discus sions of selling the system and the Mayor said that surveys among residential, commerical and industrial users favored such a move. The Mayor and Council have yet to determine how to invest proceeds from the sale, although the Mayor said that the present thought is to retire some of the City’s outstanding bonded indebted ness, so as to reduce payments of both interest and principal. GORDON COLLEGE STUDENTS PRE-REGISTER Gordon Junior College students will pre-register for fall quarter on July 25-29. Students who were enrolled at Gordon last year but who are not taking courses during summer quarter will be allowed to pre-register next week. In addition, new students who plan to enroll this fall are invited to register on July 27-28. ackson, Georgia 30233, Thursday, July 28, 1977 ; iutts County Has Openings For 16 Workers Butts County has received two Title VI contracts from the Georgia Labor Depart ment for the employment of 16 workers. These workers must meet the following qualifications: They must be economically disadvantaged. They must have been unemployed for at least 15 weeks, or They must have drawn out all unemployment benefits or, They must be receiving cash welfare payments, or They have not worked over five weeks out of the last 20 weeks. These workers will be employed at the Butts County Road Department. Applications will be taken from 8:00 a.m. to4:oop.m. on Monday through Friday in the Commissioner’s Office in the Butts County Courthouse. Two Businesses Broken Into On July 19th According to Jackson po liceman Rusty Cook, four juveniles, all of whom are from Jackson, were believed to be responsible for two burglaries at two city businesses July 19. Policeman Bill Nelson assisted Cook in the investi gation and reported that about $50.00 was stolen when the juveniles allegedly en tered Cowan’s Grocery on the Macon Highway through a rear window in the store. Nelson said some beer and cigarettes were also taken and that four youths were taken into custody for questioning after they were spotted by a city policeman riding bicycles along College Avenue with some beer in their possession. Big Chic restaurant on Mulberry Street was also broken into on the night of July 19 and according to Cook only a small amount of money was taken. Cook said the burglars entered through a window in the restaurant. Cook said a hearing for the juveniles will be held this week. A Correction In the July 14 edition of the Progress-Argus. it was re ported in a story about an automobile accident on Old Bethel Road July 10 that Frank Woodward of Atlanta, one of the persons involved in the accident, was the driver and owner of the vehicle. That information was obtained from the Butts County Sheriff's Depart ment. However, information has since been made available that Woodward was not the owner of the vehicle, which was a pick-up truck, and according to Butts County Sheriff Billy Leverette the owner was Tom Bigham, Skyland Mobile Home Subdi vision, Locust Grove. As stated above, it has not been determined if Wood ward was driving the truck and Leverette said the driver of the truck has not been determined because there are conflicting accounts as'to who was driving at the time of the accident. Editor Quimby Melton, Sr. Is Buried Sunday Funeral services for Mr. Quimby Melton, Sr., 86, long time publisher of the Griffin Daily News, were held Sunday afternoon at the First United Methodist Church at 4 p.m. The Rev. Lamar Cherry, pastor, officiated and inter ment was in the Oak Hill cemetery under the direction of Haisten Funeral Home. Mr. Melton, in declining health for years and a patient at The Living Center of Griffin, died Thursday eve ning at the Griffin-Spalding Hospital where he had been taken a day earlier. He purchased the Griffin Daily News in 1925 and was its editor and publisher for many years. His son, Quimby Melton, Jr., returning from duty in the South Pacific during World War 11, joined his father after the war as editor. Born in Chepultepee, Ala., he was the son of Dr. and Mrs. Wrightman Fletcher Melton. Dr. Melton was a journalist, author, lecturer and at the time of his death in 1944, was Poet Laureate of Georgia. A graduate of Emory University, Mr. Melton had a varied career before coming to Griffin. He was office boy in the sports department of the Baltimore newspaper, a cub reporter for the Birming ham, Ala. Ledger, and a teacher and football coach at Allen Academy, of Bryan, Texas, where he won the state championship. He was a former editor of the Americus Times-Record er, city editor of the Atlanta Constitution, publisher of the Birmingham. Ala. Ledger and of the Florida Metro polis. which later became the Jacksonville Journal. During World War I, he served in France as a major and battalion commander in the First Division and was awarded the Silver Star. He was a member of the Griffin Exchange Club and its first Man-of-the-Year honoree, a long time member and teacher of the Men's Bible Class at the First United Methodist Church, and a Senior Vice Command er of the national American Legion. Mr. Melton and his late wife, the former Mary Ellen Davenport of Americus, had two sons, Lt. Fred Melton who was killed in Germany during World War II at the age of 21 and Quimby Melton. Jr., present editor-publisher of the Griffin Daily News. Four grandchildren sur vive, Quimby Melton 111, of Fayetteville; Mrs. Mary Forhand, Lawrenceville; Miss Laura Melton. Athens, and Miss Leila Melton, Griffin. Pallbearers were Cary Reeves. Bill Knight. Ed Eschman, R. O. Linch. Bill Cody, Dr. Lamar King, Dr. H. L. Cochran, Otis Weaver. Sr., Frank Thomas. Bill Thomas. Lewis Thomas and Russell Smith. Honorary pallbearers were W..H. (Bill) Beck. Nathaniel Bailey and Leo Blackwell. The Men’s Bible Class of the First United Methodist Church. Barnett-Harris Post 15 of American Legion, and the Exchange Club served as honorary escorts ROCK ARTISTS TO APPEAR AT MACON COLISEUM AUG. 5 The Graham Central Sta tion. featuring Larry Gra ham. and The Brothers Johnson, will appear at the Macon Coliseum on Friday, August sth. at 8:00 p.m. Progress-Argus Is Named Best Weekly in Community Service Ip * '•|f |j§ W V %il 1 IN RECOGNITION—Mrs. Martha G. Jones, publisher of the Jackson Progress-Argus. is showm receiving a plaque from Bobby Branch, president of the Georgia Press Association, upon the local paper being named first place winner in the Community Service division of the Georgia Better Newspaper Contest. The award was made Friday evening at Jekyll Island during the 91st annual convention of the Georgia Press Association. Red Devils Start Practice; To Open Season Aug. 26 at Gray Appropriately enough the cooler temperatures early in the week signaled the beginning Monday evening of football practice for the Jackson High Red Devils. Jackson High Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Tommy Carmichael also announced an attractive 10-game slate for the Red Devils in ‘77, including five home games against such arch rivals as Hogansville, Monticello. Henry County. Manchester and Pike Coun ty. The Red Devils will kick off their season with a game against Jones County on Friday. August 26th. in Gray. In addition to the head JACKSON HIGH FOOTBALL SCHEDULE 1977 Friday, August 26 Jones County, There Friday, September 2 Open Date Friday, September 9 Hogansville, Here Friday, September 14 Monticello, Here Friday, September 23 Henry County, Here Friday, September 30 Morgan County. There Friday, October 7 Manchester, Here Friday, October 14 Lamar County, There Friday, October 21 Harris County, There Friday, October 28 ..... Pike County, Here Friday, November 4 Open Date Friday, November 11 Mary Persons, There JACKSON HIGH SCHOOL B-TEAM FOOTBALL SCHEDULE 1977 Friday, September 2 Heritage, Here Thursday, September 8 Lamar County, There Thursday, September 15 Morgan County, Here Saturday, September 24 .... Manchester, There Thursday, Sepember 29 Lamar County, Here Thursday, October 6 Heritage, There Thursday, October 13 Monticello, There Saturday, October 22 Manchester, Here Thursday. October 27 Pike County, There GORDON S SUMMER QUARTER IS RECORD Gordon Junior College again broke its previous enrollment record when 523 students enrolled for sum mer quarter. The previous record was 520 last summer. Spalding County has 179 Gordon students this sum mer; Upson, 130; Lamar. 87; Monroe. 36; Butts, 35; and Pike. 32. The remaining students come from several central Georgia counties. Mclntosh trail DIRECTORS MEET The next regular meeting of the Board of Directors af the Mclntosh Trail Area Planning and Development Commission will be held on Thursday, July 28th. at 2:30 p.m in the offices of the Commission, located in the Childress Building in Griffin coach, other members of the coaching staff are Bo Wolfe, of Georgia State: Bill Nelson, of Georgia Southern: James Stancil. of Albany State and the newest addition to the coaching ranks, Jerry Sel lers. of Georgia Southern. Coaches Nelson and Stancil will be in charge of the B-Team. which has sche duled nine games for 1977. including four at home. Coach Carmichael views the current season as a rebuilding one for the Red Devils, whose bid for fame last season was lost amid a series of crippling injuries. The complete schedules of both the varsity and B-Team are as follows: One-cent Tax Revenue Drops Slightly Revenue from the one-cent local option sales tax dropped slightly in June to $16,422.93 according to Coun ty Treasurer Billy Sutton. The one-cent tax brought in just over $17,000 for the county in May. The amount of money collected from the tax on beer and wine increased last month to $6,832.61 from a little more than $5,000.00 in May. Sutton said anew application for a beer and wine license was approved for J & J Grocery in Jenkinshurg The fee for the application was SSOO 00. 15c Per Copy The Jackson Progress-Ar gus won one of the most coveted awards in Georgia weekly journalism at last week’s annual Georgia Press Association meeting, win ning first place in the Community Service competi tion for its circulation class. In announcing the award, the judges complimented the paper on “good presentation of material—excellent sup port of community project. Shows real enterprise over long period of time.” Mrs. Martha G. Jones, publisher. accepted the award for the paper at the Jekyll Island convention. It was the first award the Progress-Argus had ever won in the Georgia Better Newspaper Contests on its very first entry. Weekly and daily newspa pers annually submit entries in a number of categories, community service, typogra phy. sports coverage, etc., which are submitted by the Georgia Press .Association to an out-of-state panel for review and critique. The paper's entry in the 1977 Community Service division of the Better Newspaper Contest centered around the pictorial and editorial support given the Butts County Association for Beautification Through Con servation Committee, which culminated in BCABC's winning first place in the state. The coverage extended from February through No vember of 1976. In the fall of 1976. the Progress-Argus was named a National Blue Ribbon News paper by the National Editorial Foundation, an other signal honor which the paper won for the first time last year. One of the older weekly papers in the state, the Progress-Argus can trace its origin back 104 years to 1873 when the Indian Springs Echo was first published in Indian Springs. The Echo later moved to Jackson and became the Jackson Argus. The Butts County Progress was founded in 1907. In 1913. the late J. Doyle Jones, Sr. purchased the Butts County Progress, after coming to Jackson in 1908 to edit it. and in 1915 he purchased the Jackson Ar gus. combining the names that year into the Jackson Progress-Argus. The paper has been owned, edited and published by a member of the Jones family for the last 62 years. The late J Doyle Jones. Jr. edited the paper for 30 years prior to his death in December of 1975. Mrs Martha G. Jones is presently publisher, and Vincent Jones, editor, of the Progress-Argus. the present editor assuming his duties in March of 1976 JOE. THE HOBO. SEZ: '■* Ji \ W It appears that New York City's immorality is no respecter of class or station in life. The poor broke into stores and looted, while the rich used the darkness to steal away from SIOO,OOO owed the Waldorf Astoria in bar and restaurant tabs.