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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. One Year, in Georgia $6.24 Six Months, in Georgia $3.91 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 Advance Subscription Rates, Tax Included: TELEPHONE 775-3107 One Year, Out-of-State $7.28 Six Months, Out-of-State $4.16 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?