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ilncksn Progress-Argus Volume 104 Number 34 August Grand Jury F h. Vacancies on Tax Boara The August term of the Butts County Grand Jury filled vacancies on the Tax Equalization Board, com mended use of the Butts County Small Claims Court to the public and pursued with County officials the capital needs of the school system and the mental health program. Appointed to the Tax Equalization Board were Tom Taylor, Mrs. Sandra Butterworth and B. Haywood Hodges. Named as alternates were Lovett Fletcher, Stan ley Maddox and Charlie Frank Thurman. The complete text of the grand jury’s presentment for the August term as returned in open court to Judge Sam L. Whitmire are as follows: GRAND JURY PRESENTMENTS AUGUST TERM, 1977 BUTTS SUPERIOR COURT TO: HONORABLE SAM L. WHITMIRE, JUDGE BUTTS SUPERIOR COURT FLINT JUDICIAL CIRCUIT We the Grand Jury, sworn and empanelled for the August Term, 1977, Butts Superior Court, make the following presentments in open Court: In organizing, the Grand Jury elected Raymond A. O’Quinn, Foreman; D. Rich ard Ballard, Clerk; Luke P. Weaver, Assistant Clerk and Joe Norris, Bailiff. We express our apprecia tion to the Honorable Sam L. Whitmire, District Attorney E. Byron Smith and his staff for their assistance to this Grand Jury and for the competent manner in which the Courts are conducted. The Grand Jury returned 14 True Bills, 30 No Bills. We recommend and re spectfully request that the next Grand Jury as the first order of business read the presentments of this Grand Jury after the election of officers and determine what action has been taken. We, the Grand Jury, recommend that the official of the City of Jackson and the officials of the Butts County Commissioners contact the Georgia Highway Depart ment concerning the feasi bility of installing a traffic light at the intersection of U. S. Highway 23 and Georgia Highway 16 East, since this has become a congested area. We, the Grand Jury, following the recommenda tion of the May Grand Jury asked Mr. Max Collins, Chairman of the Butts County Board of Commis sioners, to give us a report on (continued on back page) BUTTS COUNTY SCHOOL CALENDAR 1977-1978 Pre-Planning August 22,23,24 First Day of School August 25 Labor Day-No School Septembers First Month Ends September 22 In-Service September 23 Second Month Ends October 21 End of First Nine Weeks October 28 End of Fall Quarter November 18 Third Month Ends November 18 In-Service November 23 Thanksgiving Holidays November 24,25 Last Day Before Christmas December 20 First Day After Christmas January 3 Fourth Month Ends January 3 End of Second Nine Weeks January 17 Fifth Month Ends January 31 Winter Quarter Ends February 28 Sixth Month Ends February 28 In-Service March 2-3 End of Third Nine Weeks March 22 Easter Holidays March 23,24,27,28 Seventh Month Ends April 5 Eighth Month Ends May 3 Ninth Month Ends May 31 Post-Planning June 1,2,3 Bibb Company, And Driver, Win Suits Against Livestock Owners The Butts County Superior Court was in session three days last week, hearing civil matters, with only one case requiring a jury. Two cases prompted by a highway accident on Decem ber 2, 1975 took the better part of three days. It ended with the Bibb Company winning a judgement of SIB,OOO in its suit against J. Richard Zimmerman and Bob M. Hacker. A companion case, grow ing out of the same accident and tried simultaneously, resulted in a verdict of $28,000 in favor of Seabum Spivey in his suit against I Zimmerman and Hacker. The two cases resulted from a wreck which occurred when a truck, driven by Spivey and owned by the Bibb Company, collided with a number of cows on Hwy. 36, killing several of the animals and severely damaging both the truck and the driver. The grand jury was in session for two days, com pleting its deliberations on Tuesday. Superior Court Clerk David Ridgeway reports the docket for the criminal week, which began Monday, was only moderately heavy. Bill Nelson Named Coach Of the Year Bill Nelson, head coach of the state runner-up baseball team at Jackson High last year, has been selected by the Georgia High School Coaches Association and peer coaches of region 3-A as coach of the year. The award was presented at a banquet held recently in Atlanta. The award is given annually to a coach in each region who the other coaches feel has done the best “all-round job of exemplify ing sportsmanship, leader ship, cooperation and team record.” W. A. Cook Is Sole Owner Of Realty Firm Much interest in Jackson’s business circles was cen tered this week in the announcement by Willie Avery Cook that he has purchased the interest of his former partner, Wayne Barnes, in Piedmont Realty Company, leaving Cook as the sole owner of the Jackson real estate firm. The partnership was dis solved last Friday when papers were signed transfer ring ownership of the firm to Cook. In announcing the pur chase, Cook had high praise for his former partner, saying “A man could never have a better business partner than Wayne Barnes. Our business and personal relationships have always been pleasant and, when the partnership was dissolved, we parted the best of friends.” Piedmont Realty Company was organized by Wayne Barnes and the late Paul Maddox in 1947. Upon Maddox’s death, the late James Buchanan became a partner in the operation of the business until his death. In assuming operation of Piedmont Realty Company, Willie Avery Cook brings into the business 14 years of experience in the real estate field and the reputation of being one of the most astute and knowledgeable realtors in the middle Georgia area. Barnes, who owns a building supply company and has extensive real estate holdings, plans to continue in the real estate field. JHS CLASS 1918 TO MEET SATURDAY CARMICHAEL HOME The Jackson High School Class of 1918 will hold their class reunion on Saturday, August 27th, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Carmichael on McDonough Road. The group will gather at 12:00 noon. Red Devils Open 77 Football Season Friday Night in Gray The Jackson High Red Devils will open their 1977 football season this Friday night in Gray against the Jones County Greyhounds. Jones County fell victim to the Devils last year on the hill in Jackson to the tune of 7-0. However, this year the Greyhounds return 16 of the 22 starters from last year’s team. Coach Garrard says that Jones County will be big up front and sport quick backs and a good passing quarterback. He expects his troops to be up for the game and eager to get revenge for last years loss in Jackson. The Red Devils are also ready for the opener. Coach Carmichael feels that this years team has the potential to improve on last year’s 5-4-1 record. However, this will depend upon the rapid development of some young players in the offensive line and the absence of injuries in the backfield. This year’s team has as Jackson, Georgia 30233, Thursday, August 25,1977 James Mize Buys Jackson Ford Agency Announcement is made this week of the sale of Daniel Ford Sales, Inc. by Milton Daniel, owner, to James H. Mize, of Greensboro. It was the first change in ownership of the local Ford agency, since Milton Daniel purchased the dealership almost 23 years ago when it was operating under the Spencer-Buchanan trade name. At the present time, Mr. Daniel has not announced his plans for the future. ■. iniiM Jim Mize is a native of Franklin County and attend ed the University of Georgia for two years before begin ning a 24-year career as an Air Force pilot. Following retirement from the Air Force with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, he joined the Success Motivation Insti tute in Waco, Texas for six years. In 1973 he returned to Georgia to become partner and general manager of a large American Motors dea lership. In August, 1976 he was named general manager of Roper Ford Sales in’ Greensboro, from which he resigned to purchase the Jackson Ford dealership. Married to the former Ellaine Belvin, of Orlando, Florida, the couple have two daughters, Jane, 18, Jill, 16, and a son, John, 14. Mrs. Mize has recently completed course requirements for a registered nurse, which has been a lifelong goal of hers. The Mizes will move to Jackson as soon as possible and both say they are looking forward to being “Jackson ites” with a great deal of anticipation. JACKSON STUDENTS EARN TIFT DEGREES Among the seven students completing degree require ments at Tift College this summer were Debra Jean Bunch and LaDonna Frances Byrd Smith, of Jackson. many good backs as has ever been on a Red Devil football team. The interior line has made great strides since graduation of the entire front line. According to Coach Carmichael, the Red Devils will have to control the ball while on offense and then play scrappy and hard nosed defense if they are to come away with their first win of the season. Those players to watch this year are as follows: Quarterbacks: Tim Kersey 5' 11”, 160 lb., Jr.; Ronnie Dodson-5’ 8”, 135 lb.. Soph. Halfbacks: Charles Stew art -5’ 9”. 168 lb., Sr.; Reggie Henderson - 6’ 1”, 164 lb., Sr.; Merrill Folsom - 5’ 6”, 148 lb., Sr.; Joe Kersey - 5’ 6”, 130 lb. Soph.; Willie Ward-6 1", 168 lb., Soph.; Joseph Hicks - 5’ 7”, 127 lb., Soph.; Arthur Pye - 5’ 8”, 153 lb., Jr. Fullbacks: Terry Shivers - 5' 10”, 173 lb., Sr.; Mike Barber - 5’ 9", 163 lb.. Jr.; Ricky Cook - 5’ 8", 146 lb.. Jr. Jackson Will Not Levy A Property Tax in 1977 It might not have been June in January of 1977 as the old song goes, what with the extreme cold and gas shortage, but it was Christ mas in August today for hundreds of City of Jackson taxpayers. Jackson Mayor C. B. Brown, Jr. and members of the City Council, in a joint announcement, said there would be no ad valorem tax levied on property within the City limits for 1977 The action, unprecedented in Jackson’s history, was expected to meet with an enthusiastic reception from taxpayers wearied by the continuing battle against inflation and the rising cost of government. In making the announce- Fire Destroys Three Houses In County According to Jackson fire man W. L. Vaughn, a house belonging to John Robert Ransom on Highway 36 about six miles north of Jackson was destroyed by fire Monday morning. No one was injured in the fire. Vaughn said flames were over 50 percent of the house when the fire department arrived and that the fire was contained briefly until the flames broke through the roof. Vaughn also reported that a fire destroyed a house occupied by Vivian Duffey on Fincherville Road about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. No one was injured in that fire according to Vaughn. Another house in the county, this one on Giles Ferry Road, burned about 2:00 a.m. August 17 accord ing to Luther Jones, volun teer fireman with the Flovilla Fire Department. The house belonged to Larry Marsh, and Jones said the house was a total loss—that nothing was saved. No one was home at the time of the fire. Jones added that the house had apparently been on fire for about an hour when the fire truck arrived because the house was about to fall in when he got there. Ends: Jeff Maddox - 6’o”, 140 lb.. Soph.: Scott Smith -5’ 11”, 170 lb.. Sr.; Leon Smith - 5' 10”, 147 lb.. Sr.; Thomas Sims - 6' 4”, 188 lb.. Sr.; Cedric Evans - 5’ 11", 150 lb., Jr.; Ernest Lawrence - 5’ 10”, 130 lb.. Soph.; Barry Brooks - 6' 1”, 184 lb.. Soph. Tackles: Wesley Baker - 6' 0”, 206 lb.. Sr.; Mark Cook -5’ 10”. 183 lb.. Sr.; Terry Smith - 6' 0”. 184 lb.. Soph.; John Freeman - 6’ 3”, 297 lb., ; Bennon Prine - 6’ 2”, 218 lb.. Sr.; Jeff Hurst -6' 4", 190 lb.. Soph. Guards: Cary Maddox - 5’ 9", 155 lb., Jr.; Danny Patterson - 5’ 9", 164 lb., Sr.; John Loftin - 5’ 7”. 138 lb.. Sr. ; Anthony Stewart - 5‘ 9 ”, 160 lb., Jr.; Stan Nelson - 6' 1”, 177 lb., Jr.; Alan Folsom - 5' 5", 170 lb., Soph. Centers: David Wyatt - 5’ 11”, 204 lb., Jr.; Lawrence Biles - 5' 9", 150 lb., Soph. ment, Mayor Brown had high praise for the management practices initiated by the City Council and for the capable and efficient em ployees of the City in its various departments. Although abolition of the property tax was an out growth of, and supported by, income generated by the one cent local sales tax, the City government went beyond revenues stemming from this source in removing the 1977 tax liability from property owners. Hastening to add that the tax windfall might be temporary in nature, Mayor Brown said, “It is our hope that we can continue to operate the City on its current income, without the County Tax Levy Is 27 Or 23 Mills, Depending on Residence Members of the Butts County Board of Commis sioners at a called meeting Friday set the County’s tax millage for 1977 at 27.18 mills for residents of incorporated areas and 23.32 mills for County residents. This compares with the 1976 levy of 24.36 mills for all residents of the County. Most of the increase came about from the Butts Coun ty’s Board of Education request for 12.5 mills for its maintenance and operation fund, up three and one-quar ter mills from the 1976 levy of 9.25 for the same purpose. The County's maintenance and operation levy was down almost one-half of a mill, to 13.8 from 14.317 mills in 1976. Millage levied for other purposes. retirement of school bonds, the state’s one-quarter mill levy and the retirement of County bonds T. Carmichael Wins Coach of Year Award £, ‘Jar ' '' Tommy Carmichael, coach and athletic director at Jackson High, was recently named ocach of the year for Region 3-A in track and cross country by the Georgia Athletic Coaches Associa tion. The award was made at a banquet held in Atlanta. Coach Carmichael’s teams won regional championships in both cross country and track during the past school year. COMMISSIONERS TIGHTEN I P BEER ADVERTISING Members of the Butts County Commission at a called meeting Friday voted to require all beer and wine licensees of the County to remove all outdoor signs advertising their products. Beer and wine dealers are being given 60 days to comply with this order. The action of the local Commission puts the County in compliance with a state law which forbids such advertising. necessity of levying property taxes at some later date, but there are many variables that have to be considered, primarily the inflation rate and the state of the economy. And although it is our intention at the present time to continue a policy of no ad valorem taxes in Jackson, we can not guarantee this as a permanent policy, but will have to review the situation on a year-to-year basis.” The City’s ad valorem tax rate has dropped from 10 mills in 1975 to 5 mills in 1976 to 0 in 1977. Abolition of the tax, which brought in approximately $120,000 in 1975 and $60,000 last year, is expected to have a beneficial effect on retail sales locally as taxpayers remained at approximately the same level. Those residents who do not live in incorporated areas will receive a bonanza from collection of the one cent optional sales tax. and have their tax bills reduced 3.86 mills and computed at the lower 23.32 mills. Residents of Jackson. Jenkinsburg and Flovilla will receive reductions in their 1977 tax bills, which will be granted by each of the municipal governments. The City of Jackson has already announced that it will not levy a property tax for 1977. Butts County Treasurer Billy Sutton said the 3.86 mill reduction for residents living in unincorporated areas was arrived at on the basis that Butts County’s share of the local sales tax would amount to $177,266.80. Butts County receives 57.8 per cent of the Grady Tolen Dies In Hit’n Run Incident According to Sheriff Billy Leverette. a Butts County man. Grady Tolen. Jr.. 19. Route 1, Flovilla was killed when he was struck by an automobile on highway 16 east early Saturday morning. Another man. James Ho ward Clark, 21. Route 1. Flovilla, is in critical condition at Grady Hospital in Atlanta, also the victim of the apparent hit-and-run accident according to Lever ette. Leverette said Joseph Eugene Ingram. 20. Route 1, Jackson, has been arrested and charged with hit-and-run in the incident. Leverette stated that the Sheriff's Department re ceived the call about 4:30 Saturday morning and when they arrived at the scene. Tolen was pronounced dead. He added that Tolen’s body was lying in the west-bound lane of the highway. Clark was lying on the shoulder of the road on the w est-bound side according to Leverette. He was rushed to Sylvan Grove Hospital and then on to Grady Hospital. The incident, which took place about a mile from the Jackson city limits, is still under investigation by the Sheriff’s Department, the Georgia Bureau of Investiga tion and the Georgia State Patrol. 15c Per Copy will have more disposable income to Spend in the market place. Of equal importance is the positive effect the action is likely to have on the efforts of the City and County Develop ment Authorities to attract new industry to Jackson. By abolishing the ad valorem tax for 1977 for City residents, Jackson joins a very' select group of Georgia municipalities that have been able to live within their income without levying prop ertv taxes. Officials of the City, in addition to Mayor Brown, are Councilmen Dawson Bryant. Allen Byars, Roy Goff, John L. Coleman and John Robert Pulliam, from the first through the fifth wards, respectively. total revenue derived from the sales tax. Jackson 35.7 per cent. Jenkinsburg 3.6, and Flovilla 2.7 per cent. The 1977 net digest for the County has been established at 538.973.197, Sutton said, with utilities adding an approximate $7,000,000 to that total. The 1976 net digest was 533.473.817. with $6,797. 875 for public utilities, with properties owned by mem bers of the Taxpayers Protective .Association still in contest and not shown in these totals. Butts County's 1977 digest has not been approved by the State Revenue Department and is subject to a factor, that is. an overall increase of a specified per cent. Should this happen, the Commission would probably take action to cut the millage. keeping the total revenue at the present projected level, Sutton said. Arrest Made For Drug Violation According to Jackson po liceman Rusty Cook, a Madison woman. Barbara Seymour Marshall, was arrested Sunday for violation of the Georgia Controlled Substances Act. Cook said the drug Mrs. Marshall had in her posses sion was unlabeled and had not been analysed at the time. According to Cook, bond for Mrs. Marshall was set at $750.00. j SCHOOLS IN! j 1 |SPEEDING’S OUT !l JOE. THE HOBO. SEZ: ~ t fj > if' 1 ain’t never drawn a welfare check and I don’t intend to, so long as folks will swap a free meal for a lawn mowing or w ood splitting job.