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Jackson Vtuqzttss-g.tgus J. D. Jones Publisher J9<>B 1935) 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 Tax Relief in the City ... The word broke like a thunderclap last Wednesday morn ing when Jackson residents picked up a copy of their local paper to find they would owe no City taxes for calendar year 1977. By failing to invoke an ad valorem tax for 1977, City fathers lived up to the letter of the local option law which enables the levying of a local sales tax, provided that property taxes are reduced in an amount equal to the revenue thus generated. In the case of Jackson, however, the Mayor and Council went a step further by abolishing the property tax for 1977, although the City’s share of the sales tax revenue did not compensate for the income derived from the ad valorem tax and other sources. The move for the abolitian of City ad valorem taxes, even for one year, was hailed with glee by property owners who have seen their properties escalate in taxable value in direct proportion to the rate of inflation. That the City can forego property tax . income, and still And County , Too While residents of incorporated areas in the County were rejoicing at their 1977 property tax rates, or absence of any as in the City of Jackson, there was welcome news for those living in unincorporated areas as well. The local option sales tax law provides there shall be tax relief in the amount the tax generates for all citizens, for those living both within and without the limits of a city. Residents of Butts County who live in unincorporated areas will have a reduction of 3.86 mills from the tax levied for the maintenance and operation of the County, which means their total 1977 levy will be 23.32 mills, as compared to 27.18 mills for those living in Jackson, Flovilla or Jenkinsburg. City residents do not get a reduction in both their city and county taxes. The law provides that every taxpayer will get relief from either his city or county taxes, but not both. Jackson’s income from the local one-cent sales tax was almost Hail to the Red Devils The Jackson High Red Devils opened their 1977 gridiron cam paign Friday night in Gray against Jones County. Head Coach Tommy Carmi chael feels the Red Devils will be potent on offense, with the defense somewhat suspect at least until some of the new players get some game experience. A Prize-Winning Newspaper f®§ 1977 letter Newspaper Contests Advance Subscription Rates, Tax Included: TELEPHONE 775-3107 ne ear > Out-of-State $7.28 M° n Uis. Out-of-State $4.16 maintain essential City services at a high degree of efficiency, is a tribute to the managerial compe tence of the Mayor and members of the City Council. Jackson is indeed fortunate to have at its helm in these troublous times men who are dedicated to the proposition that every tax dollar the City receives should be spent wisely, and conservatively, to ensure that the taxpayer gets SI.OO worth of service for his tax expenditure. A City with its utilities and all vital services in good condition and that is able to operate without levying a property tax, should be in an advantageous position to attract industry. It is the belief here that both the City and County Development Authorities can capi talize on this added inducement, which is literally frosting on the cake, as industry is as interested in its tax bill as the rest of us. We salute the City fathers on this achievement for the current year and hope that it will be repeated in 1978 and for many years to come. enough to equal anticipated revenue from the property tax and other sources and the City officials are not levying a property tax this year. Flovilla and Jenkinsburg officials have not yet spelled out the form their tax relief will take. Revenue from the local sales tax, which went into effect in April, 1976, is divided four ways, with the County receiving 57.8 per cent, Jackson 35.7 per cent, Flovilla 2.7 per cent and Jenkinsburg 3.6 per cent. Butts County’s tax take from this source was estimated at $177,266.80 for the first year’s operation of the tax and relief in this amount will be granted by the County government to those residents who live in unincorpo rated areas. So both City and County residents will get a measure of tax relief this year. That was the general intent of the local sales tax law when it was enacted and we are delighted to see that the letter of the law is being carried out by local officials. It shapes up as an interesting season and one that will burst into full bloom on Friday, September 9th, when the Red Devils face Manchester in the home opener. We wish JHS victory in its first home game and a season crowned with the success that a great bunch of fellows deserve. THE JACKSON PROGRESS-ARGUS, JACKSON, GEORGIA The Last Straw BY VINCENT IONES Georgia’s no-fault insur ance plan for motorists, passed in 1975 and hailed as a fail safe method of reducing auto insurance premiums, is failing through no fault of anyone other than the framers of the legislation. The law places too heavy a burden for enforcement on the State Patrol which is already understaffed and overworked. Under the terms of the act, every motorist is required to show proof that he owns a no-fault insurance policy before he is allowed to purchase an auto license plate. Many drivers play footsie with this requirement by going to an insurance agent and buying only one month’s protection, then letting the policy lapse. Although the law requires the insurance company to notify the state when a policy has lapsed, the matter is then turned over to the State Patrol which is supposed to send one of its members out to pick up the license plate. It is a job that the State Patrol has neither the stomach nor the manpower to properly handle. Espe cially when the highway death rate in Georgia is up considerably over last year and fast approaching the rate prior to the enactment of the 55-mile speed limit. The task of taking license plates from motorists with out no-fault insurance is one that can more sensibly be handled by the sheriff’s department in each county. The cheating motorist should be required to pay a fine equal to the cost of collection in each instance. A State Senate committee attempting to find the fault in the no-fault plan has been told by the comptroller general’s office that between 600.000 and one million vehicle owners in Georgia do not have the basic auto insurance required by the law. Translated into more posi tive terms, that means that one of every four drivers on Georgia’s highways is driv ing a vehicle without any insurance. The thrust of the legislation when it was enacted was that it would reduce insurance premiums on all autos since every driver would be required to carry a basic amount of insurance. Looking at the record, one finds that although insurance rates did dip slightly, about 15 per cent, the first year, that they have gone up about 40 per cent since, leaving the motorists of the State at least 25 per cent worse off on their insurance premiums than when the legislation was first enacted. No-fault insurance is an other of the good ideas that failed due to faulty enforce ment. In addition to the promise of reduced pre miums, most motorists felt relieved to think that all of the cars owned and driven by Georgians on Georgia roads were insured and that, in the event of an accident, they were protected from taking a financial loss. The concept of the pro gram is sound. It has worked in other states. It will work here when we put some teeth in the legislation and place the responsibility for en forcement at the local level where it belongs. It is a rather damning indictment of our State when we say that one-fourth of our auto owners are liars and cheaters but, faced with the facts, you can’t really call them anything else. Every citizen who believes in the principle of an auto driver being financially responsible for the auto he drives should be interested in making no-fault insurance work by tightening the loopholes and removing the temptation to cheat. After all, there is a 25 per cent chance that the car involved in a collision with yours might be uninsured. A Stroll Down Memory Lane NEWS OF 10 YEARS AGO Herbert Shapard has been elected president of the Butts County Athletic Club; Hugh Glidewell, vice president, and Mrs. Mary Parrish, secretary-treasurer. Two inmates of the Jackson City jail, Billy Williams and James' W. Tingle, both of Jackson, died from smoke inhalation when a smoldering fire burned part of the jail on Monday night. It rained so hard here Monday that a lady ran right out of her shoes, leaving a black patent pump between the newspaper office and City Hall. Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Thurston have returned from an enjoyable, all-expense paid Nassau vacation, thanks to Ken’s suggestion for cost-saving procedures at the Ford Motor Company’s At lanta plant. Mrs. Marie Woods Newton was honor guest at a reception given at the Virginia Avenue Baptist Church where she has been minister of music for 25 years. Through August 23rd, over 36 inches of rain had fallen at the Lloyd Shoals plant of the Georgia Power Company, making it one of the wettest years to date in the County’s history. Deaths during the week: Mrs. William Mitchell Bond, 83: Mrs. Cecil Hardy Dußose; Reginald Bunch, 63. NEWS OF 20 YEARS AGO The Butts County Indus trial Development Board, Inc. has landed a midwestern luggage company as the first industrial tenant to be located on the Hendricks property, which the Board recently acquired. The Butts County Jaycees, sponsoring their fourth In dustrial Day celebration, announce that Senator Her man Talmadge will be the speaker for this year’s event on September 18th. Ronald P. Lane, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lane, of Jackson, was one of only 17 Georgia FFA members re commended for the Ameri can Farmer degree. R. A. Vaughn ginned the County’s first bale of cotton on August 26th and B. J. Smith bought it for 40 cents a pound. A total of 283 children have completed the County’s first learn-to-swim course. Eu gene Prosser was in charge of instruction. Mrs. R. L. Hammond reports an excellent crop of Chinese chestnuts from trees planted in the rear of her Third Street home. Deaths during the week: Arnold Graham Brown, 69; George Wilmer (Shug) Townsend, 55; J. Lawrence McCord; Wiley Samuel Hen derson, 69. NEWS OF 30 YEARS AGO Senator Richard B. Russell has accepted an invitation to speak in Jackson on Armis tice Day. The August term grand jury has recommended that the Board of County Commis sioners not issue any more beer licenses, pointing out “that most of the cases brought before us are for drunkenness.” Rufus Adams, as program chairman, announces that Harry Brown, vice chancel lor of the University System, will speak to the Exchange Club of Jackson on Thursday night. THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 1, 1977 In cooperation with the State Board of Health, City of Jackson officials are con ducting a rat eradication campaign here. Fire caused by lightning burned the attractive Jack son Lake cottage of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Carr late Tuesday afternoon. Harvey Thompson reports he had three mules stuck in a mud hole without food or water for eight days and, when discovered, that they were little the worse for the experience. NEW S OF 40 YEARS AGO Named as delegates to the Kiwanis District convention in Augusta were President P. H. Weaver, E. L. Daniel and W. M. Towles, with N. F. Land and J. S. Robison as alternates. A. P. Squires, manager of the A&P Food Store here, has been transferred to Fort Valley. Roy Herrington, of Macon, will succeed Mr. Squires. Heavy rains are damaging crops locally, with cotton beginning to sprout in the bolls and pimiento peppers bursting open from excess moisture. Mrs. J. E. Lane has resigned as president and P. H. Weaver as vice-president of the Butts County Histori cal and Archaeological Soci ety. The Dixie Theatre is having a daily matinee at 2:30, shows nightly at 6:30 and 8:30 and continuous Saturday showings from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sidewalk paving on Co vington Street, which has been in process for several weeks, is now nearing completion. Deaths during the week: W. F. Crim, 63. NEWS OF 50 YEARS AGO The Macon Telegraph reports that the Ocmulgee River has reached an all-time low there, with the latest reading showing a level of 2.3 feet. Mr. S. H. Thornton has just added a combined ambu lance and hearse to his undertaking equipment. The ambulance is the Meteor type and is finished in monastery gray. All of his equipment is now motor driven and is most complete. A freak in the form of twin eggs was shown here this week by Mr. J. A. Lane. The eggs, laid by an Ancona hen, are joined in the middle and are rather small in size. Fire of undetermined ori gin wiped out two out-build ings and destroyed large quantities of feedstuffs and equipment on the farm of Mr. G. Ridgeway last Wednes day. The management of Ethe ridge-Smith Cos. announced this week that Miss Bettie Carmichael will be in charge of their dry goods depart ment and that Mr. H. S. Downs will be in charge of their shoe department. Among those from Butts County who will enter the Georgia State College for Women at Milledgeville are Misses Jane Etheridge, Su sannah Foster, Sara Carter, Mary Ellie, Glennis Thorn ton, Rosa Ellen Carter, Ruth Smith, Mildred Smith, Mary Julia Sasnett, Ethel' Smith, Bertha McMichael, Mary Evans, and Ruth McMichael. Advertising If advertising can be ac cused of making people live beyond their means, so can matrimony. 4 - %-*W -T-M.M . ■ mom T By Mrs. Csidy Brown Let’s talk about women’s magazines today. I do not like most women’s maga zines—they make me feel inept. As I turn the pages, I see rooms perfectly coor dinated in color and style: I would feel better if a pair of dirty sneakers suddenly appeared right in the middle of the floor! At least the room would look more like home like then. Truthfully speak ing, there have been occa sions when my house looked like it belonged in a magazine. I can well remem ber those times because they occurred so seldom! One instance was the first day we bought our home and to the best of my memory, the only other instance was when I was not working and spent 20 weeks arranging things! There’s another thing about women’s magazines that gripes me and that is those four or five pages in each issue dedicated to a woman’s better looks and self-betterment. Honestly, I have never even heard of some of the ingredients they can come up with for a facial mask. My husband came in the other night and saw me lying on the sofa with a cucumber slice partially over each eye. He didn’t say anything, but as the old saying goes “If looks could S ‘Whatsoever Things' By Donald E. Wildmon IT’S WHERE YOU ARE Some time ago I read in the papers an account of a man in Phoenix, Arizona, who had rented an apartment but couldn’t move into it because he had lost it! Actually, he couldn’t find it. It seems that Charles Rowland had sold his photo-finishing business in Appleton, Wisconsin, and moved to Phoenix. Upon his arrival in Phoenix Rowland checked into a hotel. That same day he found an apartment and paid one month’s rent in advance. However, he drove away without noting the address. After 14 hours of driving around the city to locate the apartment, he notified a local newspaper of his plight. The fellow who had rented the apartment to Rowland read the article and called him at the hotel. It seems that the apartment was just two blocks, a couple of minutes, away from the hotel! Then there was the case of Dr. Ellis Shenken, an ophthalmologist in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dr. Shenken was punched in the eye and as a result he lost one of his contact lenses. Dr. Shenken, unable to find the lens, got fitted for another soon thereafter. But the eye in which Dr. Shenken got punched kept discharging and his new lens kept popping out. It should have. You see, the lens which Dr. Shenken searched for but couldn’t find had been pushed into his eyelid, where it had remained unnoticed! While a student in school, I worked in a grocery store to help defray my expenses. As I was stocking the shelf one day a gentleman kept walking up and down the aisle looking for some product. Finally, he stopped in the section where the product should be located. After looking for quite a while for the product, he asked me if I knew where the product could be found. Reaching to the spot where he had been looking for several minutes, I picked up the product and gave it to him. His comment? “If it had been a snake it would have bitten me.” It wasn’t long after that till I began to search early one morning for my glasses. After searching for several minutes about the house and failing to find them, I began to accuse one of the children or my wife of misplacing them. Seeing I was about to lose what little temper I had, Lynda started searching with me. She came into the room where I was searching and started to speak, only to have a wide grin come across her face. “Go look in a mirror,” she said. I took the hint and suddenly realized that I was wearing the glasses I had been desperately hunting! Isn’t it rather funny sometimes how we can search high and low for something, and then end up finding it in a place where it should have been so simple to find? These four stories could be multiplied by countless individuals who have searched for something only to find it in a place so close by. Now there is a truth here that could be applied to countless realms. But for the sake of simplicity, let’s try just one. Happiness. It’s right where you are, if you can find it. (Join Mr. Wildmon on his 11th tour of the Holy Land. Includes Switzerland, Germany, Belgium. 11 days. Departs Nov. 8. For info, write Box 1398, Tupelo, Miss. 38801.) BUMPER STICKERS Some friends are always around when they need you. ki11...” I believe he honestly thought I had passed out from exhaustion after can ning pickles. Then there are those “How To Manage Your Money” articles and “How to Feed a Family of Ten on Five Dollars per Week”. If I tried to feed my family some of the recipes listed in those articles, I would be banned from the kitchen. Who can live on a week’s worth of tuna cooked ten different ways? And who has the time to spend eight hours a day in the kitchen anyway just to save a dollar? Not me! I believe in tomato sandwiches, snacks, frozen pizza, and May the Saints Preserve all those carry-out chicken places. Colonel Sanders has my heart. I’m sure all of you have seen those articles on “How To Entertain your Children”. Well, I only have this to say: every time I tried one of those ideas, such as “An Easy Way to Fingerpaint”, my children became stran gers. My Hat’s also off to Tonka, Fisher-Price, and Mattel. May they make more and more money. Well, I’m not sure Good Housekeeping would not put their rubber stamp of approval on this article, but I hope my readers will. Long live the Readers Digest! Editor’s Quote Book Never run after your own hat. Others will be delighted to do it. Why spoil their fun? Mark Twain