Newspaper Page Text
Saxksfln Progrcss-^rgus
J. D. Jones Publisher
<I9OB 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.
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Editorials
Too Much Fighting
President Carter’s crusade for
human rights worldwide and his
exposure of the imperial ambitions
of the Russians, Chinese and
Cubans may not strike an
immediate responsive cord but a
look at the facts will.
Since this nation declared war
on Germany on April 6,1917, a total
of 60 and one-third years have
passed. No less than 723 months
have been ripped from the monthly
calendars of time.
The startling fact remains that
of those 723 months, this nation has
been at war a total of 242 in World
Wars I and 11, in Korea and in
Vietnam. Engaging our forces for
the longest sustained period was
the Vietnam conflict which lasted
nine years.
This means for the last 60 years
of its history, this nation has been
at war over 33 per cent of the time
with its forces actually engaged in
fighting a total of over 20 years.
In the 40 years when it has not
been fighting, a tremendous
Let's Scuttle the Metric
The metric system is a system
of weights and measurements
originated by the French. It is such
a splendid and precise method of
measurement that we believe it
should be confined solely to France
and not shared with the rest of the
world.
Golly, we’ve had the standard
system of weights and measure
ments in this country since its
founding and it is doubtful if 10
percent of our people could tell you
how many pecks are in a bushel,
how many ounces in a gallon or
how many feet in a mile.
When you start throwing
micrograms and kilometers at
them, they will very likely wind up
by not knowing which end is up.
If the world is sadly in need of a
standard system of weights and
measurements, then let it be the
American system that is to be
adopted.
Why does the most powerful
nation in the world have to change
its way of life to conform to every
harebrained scheme that some
America Comes of Age
Recent figures released by the
Bureau of the Census bear out what
many of us far advanced in the
process already knew, that the
population of America is growing
older.
Projections of the nation’s
population to the year 2,000
indicate that the largest gain by
age groups will be in the younger
middle age, 35 through 49, up 72 per
cent, and the next largest in senior
A Prize-Winning
Newspaper
1977
3etter Newspaper
Contests
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amount of its national wealth has
gone to support our national
defense efforts, and those of our
allies.
Small wonder, then, that
President Carter wishes to bring
into focus the moral indignation of
all peace-loving peoples on those
who would once again resort to
armed might to exert their will.
It is the kind of attack the
Russians are not accustomed to,
and cannot ignore. It strikes them
in their most vulnerable spot by
lifting the curtain on their own
sorry record of suppressing human
rights of their own, as well as
Russian enslaved, people.
This nation has been at war too
much, with others, and occasional
ly with itself. It is a time to restore
some peace and sanity to an entire
world that is tired of war and strife.
Perhaps President Carter’s
way may prove more effective than
the policy of detente. It’s time for
all peoples of the earth, Russians
included, to declare a boycott on
war.
one-world do-gooder comes up
with?
Scrapping our standards for
weights and measurements makes
just about as much sense as those
silly, idiotic road signs that dot the
highways that you have to pass at
least three times before you grasp
their meaning. If there are children
at play, or you should yield the
right of way, or if there is a rest
stop nearby, then why don’t signs
say so in plain English, rather than
some supposedly symbolic mod art
work that hopefully will convey the
message.
Is America so deluged with
foreign visitors that our highway
directions have to be reduced to
sign language? Does Rumania, or
Russia, have highway signs printed
in English for our convenience?
We always felt our foreign
policy was aimed at democratici
zing the world, not Europeanizing
America. We dare say some
Congressmen and Senators will be
questioned by their constituents
rather sharply on these two points.
citizens, over 65, where the gain
will be almost 36 per cent. The
country’s population will increase
from the present 216 million to over
260 million.
The only group that will show a
population loss are the young
adults, 20 through 34, which will be
down nearly four per cent.
Preschool, under five, will be up 18
per cent; school age, 5 through 19,
up two per cent, and older middle
THE JACKSON PROGRESS-ARGUS, JACKSON, GEORGIA
The Last
Straw
BY
VINCENT IONES
An adequate facility to
house the mental retardation
programs in Butts County is
a worthy project in search of
a sponsor.
Currently housed in the Mt.
Zion Baptist Church and the
old manse of the Jackson
Presbyterian Church, the
programs are suffering for
lack of space and are
threatened with termination
unless proper facilities can
be provided promptly.
The congregations of both
of the above churches are to
be commended for their
willingness to house the
programs temporarily until
a permanent home could be
found.
Unfortunately, finding the
right sponsor, or agency, to
undertake construction of the
necessary facility has been
difficult.
Interested citizens, private
foundations, city and county
governments, development
authorities, government
agencies and others have lent
a sympathetic ear but little
else.
In Griffin, anew mental
health facility is being built
by the local Jaycee chapter,
assisted by a Small Business
Administration loan. Rental
income from the Georgia
Department of Human Re
sources, the local school
system, and perhaps others,
will be sufficient to retire the
loan.
Other counties in the
immediate area are housing
the programs in old school
buildings, which have |been
renovated to meet the rigid
state requirements.
There are, of course,
limitations on the rental
income such a facility would
generate, although both the
DNR and Butts County Board
of Education would make
desirable tenants.
The capital outlay per
pupil for a retardation center
would be high, if not
exorbitant. There are ap
proximately 43 students
enrolled in the two programs
at the present time. The
estimated $150,000 cost of a
new building would involve
an expenditure of over $3,000
for each pupil.
Time is running out on the
problem, however, and it
must be resolved quickly or
Butts County will close its
two centers presently operat
ing and retreat into the dark
age concept of dealing with
those whose mental faculties
are not considered normal.
It is a problem that
addresses itself to us all. It
has been dealt with to date by
a handful of concerned
people and the programs
carried out by a dedicated
few, both of whom are
worthy of better support
from the populace.
What if the cost-benefit
ratio is considered high?
What if the programs serve
only a small percentage of
our people? The County jail
serves only a few also.
Sylvan Grove Hospital, sub
sidized to a large degree by,
the taxpayers, serves only a
minimum number of our
citizens in a year’s time.
It’s high time we stopped
kicking this problem around
and got on with its solution.
A center for the education,
custodial care, rehabilitation
and vocational training of
our mentally retarded citi
zens of Butts County ought to
be built by the taxpayers of
Butts County.
The Butts County Board of
Education, which must as
sume the lion’s share of this
problem in the future under
new federal guidelines, or the
Butts County Board of
Commissioners, need to sub
mit this question to the
people in a referendum and,
if approved, get on with the
age, 50 through 64, up 24 per cent.
These demographic break
downs are of value to business men
who must chart plans for the future
in terms of just who, and where,
their market will be.
But the encouraging thing is
that we are living longer, if not
THURSDAY. AUGUST 18. 1977
Jr^\
.. t—-. yj T
A Stroll Down
Memory Lane
NEWS OF 10 YEARS AGO
Lawson Farmer and Tom
my Lane, of Barnesville, won
Deer Trail’s first golf
tournament Sunday, with
Bethel Ingram and Doug
Head the runners-up.
A. R. Rosser, of Jenkins
burg, was displaying twin
cantaloupes grown in his
garden this summer.
Mrs. J. W. Mangham, 94, of
Route 4, Jackson, was
honored as being the eldest
lady attending the Central
Georgia EMC’s annual meet
ing at Indian Springs.
Leonard Fitch, of 134
Hancock St., Jackson, was
given a certificate of service
for completing 20 years at the
Atlanta Army Depot.
Mrs. Jane Whitaker Bur
ford was honored for her 25
years of service to the
Central Georgia EMC and
awarded a watch at the
Co-op’s annual meeting.
Mrs. Jeannette L. Nors
worthv. 908 Nelson St.,
Jackson, has received an
award for work improve
ment suggestions at the
Atlanta Army Depot.
Deaths during the week:
Ned J. McCord, 72; James
William (Clatei Collins, 74.
NEWS OF 20 YEARS AGO
Members of the Butts
County Board of Commis
sioners have set the County’s
1957 tax levy at 46‘j mills on
a net taxable digest of
52.310.000.
The Rev. Virgil Bryant
assumed his pastoral duties
this week at the Jackson
Presbyterian Church, com
ing to Jackson from the Oak
Park Presbyterian Church of
Montgomery, Ala.
A review of the Georgia
campaign during the Civil
War was given Kiwanians
Tuesday night by George
Griffin, dean of men at
Georgia Tech.
R. A. Allen and Harold
Cook will be installed as
deacons in the Jenkinsburg
Baptist Church at an ordina
tion service to be held
Sunday. August 25th.
The Butts County Commis
sioners have received a
contract for $20,409.35 from
the State Highway Dept, to
resurface 3.5 miles of Stark
Post Road, extending from
State Route 36 at the Jackson
City limits to Stark.
William J. Funderburk,
son of Mrs. John C.
Funderburk of Flovilla, has
received a second lieute
nant’s commission in the
Army Reserves, after com
pleting his R.O.T.C. training
at Georgia Tech.
Deaths during the week:
Dan D. Carpenter, 44; Mrs.
Laura Dorsett, 92.
NEWS OF 30 YEARS AGO
Mrs. Beth T. Hearn,
president of the Butts County
GEA local unit, will attend
the state-wide workshop for
local unit presidents at
solution to a problem that has
been kicked around for the
past several years.
Making useful citizens
from those unfortunate few
who do not possess the ability
to do it on their own is a
project worthy of the entire
County’s concern and sup
port .
better, with the average life span
for women by 2,000 up four years to
81 and that of men up three years to
nearly 72.
So be nice to the senior citizens
you meet. Soon you will be one of
them and then there will be more of
you all.
Jackson Lake.
Dr. Harry G. Kenney,
pastor of the Palmyra, Mo.
Presbyterian Church, has
resigned his pastorate to
accept a call extended by the
Jackson and Fellowship
Presbyterian Churches.
Mrs. R. Van Smith, of
Flovilla, won an electric
blanket for being the oldest
member present at the local
Co-op’s annual meeting and
G. R. Saunders a bottle
sterilizer for being the
youngest baby of a member.
Richard Wright Watkins,
Jr. will receive the degree of
bachelor of laws at summer
quarter graduation exercises
at the University of Georgia.
Mrs. E. C. Robison was
honored on her 80th birthday
Sunday at a dinner given by
members of the family.
Rev. J. B. Stodghill was
displaying in town this week
a pecan leaf that measured
six inches across and 18
inches long.
Deaths during the week:
Mrs. George Middleton.
NEWS OF 40 YEARS AGO
Miss Emmy Kirkley, of
Calhoun, Ga., has been hired
by the Board of Education to
head the new commercial
department at Jackson High
School.
Butts County youths desir
ing to register for CCC camp
duty are requested by Miss
Elizabeth Towles, Butts
County Welfare Director, to
register now for the October
quota.
Dr. M. D. Collins, state
school superintendent, says
that the stars and stripes will
fly over every Georgia
schoolhouse this fall—or else.
B. H. Hodges has done it
again, ginned the first bale of
cotton on August 16th, one
day earlier than last year.
The bale weighed 450 pounds
and was sold for 13 cents a
pound.
Butts County 4-H Club
members are encouraged to
plant one-tenth of an acre
each in fall carrots.
In the future, the Jackson
A&P Food Store will close at
10 p.m. on Saturday night, it
is announced by A. P.
Squires, manager. This is
done to give the clerks more
time with their families.
Deaths during the week:
Jesse Carter Jones, 74; H. G.
Asbury, 81; Mrs. Ida Laven
der Bridges, 51.
NEWS OF 50 YEARS AGO
George McDaniel sold the
first bait* of cotton of the 1927
season, the Kiwanis Club
buying it at 25 cents a pound,
nine cents above market.
Butts County ginned 7,519
bales in 1926 and a record
17.020 bales in 1918.
Four acres of land between
the Forsyth and Flat Shoals
roads, near the old fair
grounds, has been purchased
by B. H. Meadow of Jackson.
The consideration was listed
as $900.00.
Gov. L. G Hardman has
announced the appointment
of S. J. Smith, Jr., of
Commerce, to be special
attorney for the public
service commission. Mr.
Smith will succeed Col. W. E.
Watkins, of Jackson, in this
post.
Master Julian Fletcher
was the happy little host to
S&fci'
Aug. 15,1977
Dear Mr. Editor:
A lifetime of caring about
people, especially children,
leads me to believe that
people are more important
than roads. I am most deeply
concerned that two of our
County Commissioners, Mr.
Collins and Mr. Briscoe,
apparently fail to understand
the importance of the Child
Development (Day Care)
Center to the future of Butts
County. The quality of life of
ALL citizens is adversely
affected by the ignorance
and lack of training of a few.
In my opinion, it is extremely
short-sighted not to give
every effort to support
adequate day care for
children, for this will pay off
in the future many times. I
commend Dr. Mitchell for his
understanding and support of
the center.
It is easy, when we are
comfortable, well-fed,
housed and clothed, and our
children in good schools, to
believe that everyone who is
not in similar circumstances
is that way because of
shiftlessness. It is hard for
people who live in comfort
able homes to understand the
hopelessness of those who
must struggle for their
existence, or exist on
welfare.
I am very concerned
because as an educator, I see
the quality of public educa
tion declining. I believe that
the quality of a civilization is
measured by the literacy of
its citizens, and that each of
us, whether we have children
or not, has a stake in public
education. Asa psychologist,
I know the importance of the
first five years of life. I see
children coming into kinder
garten, already way behind
those who come from
comfortable homes, where
parents read to them, and
talk to them.
If we really wanted to
straighten out the welfare
mess—Jimmy Carter, are
you listening?—it seems to
twenty boys and girls on
Thursday afternoon in cele
bration of his seventh
birthday.
Announcement is made
this week that Mr. H. W.
Turner, well known Jackson
businessman, will open an
exclusive shoe and gents
furnishing store on the north
side of the court square.
General Motors was adver
tising Chevrolets from $525 to
jjjjjjj
ruth at random
By Ruth Bryant
MASTER ARTIST
The morning sun is flaming
with sunrise on the brink
and God who is an artist
paints all the clouds deep pink!
At noontide in the blue sky
the sun is shining bright
and God who is an artist
paints all the sunshine white!
Oh thou, who art the Master
at all creation’s art
kwp morning, noon and evening
aglow within my heart!
me we should take every
child from a welfare home
and put him in a well-run day
care center. Train the
mothers, and any unem
ployed people, in proper
methods of child care, and
remove them from the
welfare rolls. This would do
more to help public education
and the quality of life in the
whole country than any one
thing I can imagine.
But I’m not running the
country. I’m not even
running Butts County. I’m
only pleading with those who
do, to reconsider, and give
the children a chance. After
the Rev. James and other
concerned people worked to
get our day cane center, it’s
important to give it our
whole-hearted support! It is
my earnest hope and prayer
that the County Commission
ers will reconsider this very
important decision, and that
all concerned Butts Coun
tians will rally to the support
of this center. These mothers
need all the help they can get
in their efforts to be
self-supporting and get off
welfare. Let’s give it to
them!
Sincerely,
Roxilu K. Bohrer
Editor’s Quote Book
Our experience is
composed rather of
illusions lost than wis
dom acquired.
Joesph Roux
have a
nice weekend...
...don't despair
$745; Pontiacs from $775 to
$945; Oaklands from $1,095 to
$1,295 and Cadillacs from
$2,995 to $9,000.
Deaths during the week:
W. J. Bunn, 57.
Doesn’t Pay
Have you heard the one
about the gambler who
drove to Las Vegas in a
SIO,OOO Cadillac and came
back on a SIOO,OOO Grey
hound?