Newspaper Page Text
Brantley County
Rescue Unit
462—5007
VOLUME 50 - NUMBER 50
Mills 8 and 12
County taxes decrease
Education increases
'rhe Board of Commissioners
and the Board of Education
have set the Tax Mills for the
year 1972. The millage levy
for the year is 8 mills and
12 mills respectfully for the
county and education.
The reduction of mills in both
departments from last year is
due primarily to an increase
in the county tax digest.
According to Tax Commiss.
loner, John Wilson, 40 percent
net taxable of the current tax
digest less utilities is sl7,
705, 237. Net taxable lessutili.
ties last year was $13,472,828.
1970 net taxable less utilities
was $13,654,440. Current utilU
ties are $2,710,552 as com*
pared to $2,572,859 for 1971.
Homestead exemption in Br.
antley County took $2,176,525
from the current digest.
Dean completes
investigation of
tax digest
Senator Roscoe E. Dean, Jr.,
announced today that he had
completed a six-months’ Inves
tigation into problems arising
out of the Increase in County
Tax Digests, brought abotitby
the Sales Tax Ratio Study.
Dean had announced in May
that the present? method of de
termining Local Tax Digests
under the arbitrary “sampling
technique ’* was unfair and dis
criminatory. Said Dean, “ Af
ter checking the completed tax
digest in my home county of
Wayne, I find that the tax on
timberland increased 62 per
cent, with tax on real estate
increasing 27 percent.”
Wayne County shows approx,
imately 55,000 acres in culti
vation and 355,000 acres in
timber land. Dean stated he was
“ appalled to find that the
utility companies benefitted
most by the revaluation ”. Ac
cording to figures made avail
able to Senator Dean, the u
tility companies* assessment in
1971 was 29.75 mills, but dr
opped to 21.50 mills in 1972.
Dean said, “ It is apparent
that what is happening in my
county concerning the low mil
lage of utilities is prevalent
in every county in the state.’’
“ It is the average taxpay
er, persons on fixed income,
New Law Halts Swine
Garbage Feeding Jan.l
ATLANTA (PRN) - A new
Georgia law will prohibit the
feeding of garbage to swine
after January Ist and
automatically revoke the
licenses of some 700 garbage
feeding operations affecting
virtually every county in the
state, according to
Commissioner of Agriculture
Tommy Irvin.
“Improp- \ I
erly cooked E
pork fed in EMS
garbage feed
ing operations
is known to
have contri- E^2El
buted to
continuing hog ,KVIPI
cholera outbreaks in the
state,” Irvin said. “It was
determined several years ago
that we could not eradicate
bog cholera completely so
long as garbage feeding
operations were allowed and
the 1970 General Assembly
took action to eliminate such
practices beginning January 1,
1973.”
The Commissioner said the
feeding of garbage to swine
has always been a common
BRANTLEY ENTERPRISE
Brantley County — Land of Forest Products, Naval Stores, Tobacco, Livestock, Honey, Hunting, Fishing — and Progressive People.
THIS WE BELIEVE! IF YOU FIRST SUBMIT, YOU WILL LATER SURRENDER. ”, , , and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore. J* Ephesians6:l3,l4
The Board of Commission,
ers levied 12.4 mills last year
which gave an ad-valorem in.
come of $192,635 for county
purposes. The 8 mill levy this
year will bring $163,320 for
county purposes. This figure
effectively reduces the tax pay.
ers load by $29,315.
The Board of Education lev.
led 11.40 mills for Malntenan
ce and Operations and.6omills
for Board indebtedness. The
M. and O. levy of 11.40 will
give an ad.valorem income of
$232,739. The Board of Edu.
cation levied 12.75 mills last
year for M. and O. which br.
ought an increase of $212,185.
The reduction of 1.35 mills
from 12.75 down to 11.40 for
M. and O. increased the tax
payers load $20,554.31.
and the working man, who are
having to pay higher taxes, and
it is this group about whom I
am greatly concerned”, said
Dean. “ The utilities are get.
ting by without paying their
fair share, which is one prime
example of how the rich are
getting richer and the poor
getting poorer.”
” I think the chickens are
finally coming home to roost,”
said Dean, ” because what I
predicted in May is happen
ing in other counties all over
the state.” Dean stated that he
had been vigorously opposed to
the Sales Tax Ratio Method of
assessing taxes on the county
level, as he had anticipated that
this would cause severe ln^
qulties and place the tax bur
den on those least able to
pay.
In conclusion, Senator Dean
observed, “ I trust that the
Public Service Commission
will do a lot of soul-search
ing before rendering adecislon
on the Georgia Power Com
pany’s request for a rate in
crease. Any firm able to spend
2.3 million on advertising for
one year, plus the added bonus
of lower taxation, does not need
the kind of increase that is be
ing requested by power com
pany officials.’’
practice in Georgia with
several large scale operations
based on garbage pickups from
schools, military bases and
institutions.
“For some years now
Georgia law has allowed the
practice when garbage feeders
were licensed by us and
inspected to see that such
garbage was properly cooked
before feeding, but policing of
the garbage feeding industry
has been difficult to enforce,”
Irvin said. “It is impossible to
have a department inspector
on hand daily to inspect the
garbage cooking of every
garbage feeder in Georgia and
despite our educational
efforts, many have continued
to feed improperly cooked
garbage,” he added.
Irvin said the two year time
lapse between passage of the
law outlawing garbage feeding
and the date for the law to
become effective was provided
so that garbage feeders could
make the necessary
operational changes and
institutions providing garbage
to feeders could arrange for
other means of disposing of
their food scraps.
Batten Mayor
Hoboken elects
new council
Election for Mayor and City
Aiderman was held in the City
of Hoboken Wednesday, Decern,
ber 6.
Mayor J.H. Batten was re.
elected over opponent Clayton
Lee by nearly a two to one
margin. Batten received 179,
while Lee had 79.
Elected to the Aiderman Po
sts were Jesse Moore with
179 votes, J.W. Mercier with
48 Percent
Credit card
votes to cut
Legislation will be introdu
ced in the Georgia Senate in
January to reduce interest
charged on credit payments
in certain areas.
The Senate Credit Card Co
mmittee has approved a mot
ion to draft bills to require
companies to levy interest on
an average daily balance in
stead of a monthly rate, and
also a proposal to cut the
rate of interest charges on so
called cash advance loans.
Under the cash advance sys
tem in operation, companies
may charge interest which am.
ounts to 48 percent. The Cre.
dit Card Study Committee has
voted to cut that figure in
half.
Committee Chairman Roscoe
Dean, of Jesup, praised the
New Hope group
attends meeting
“ It could be that the people
thought that they should pay
the first year only,’’ said a
member of the New Hope Ce
metery Committee. Another
member said, “ some paid
$25.00 the first year and have
not contributed since.’’ Sever
al other comments were made
by members of the cemetery
committee meeting held Friday
PM at the OREMC building.
Mrs. Katie Deßerry, acting
Chairman of the group stated
that families contributing to
the maintenance and up-keep of
the cemetery has fallen off
from 115 the first year to
89 the second year to 85 this
year. She said the contribu
tions has declined an equal
amount.
The New Hope Cemetery Or.
ganization was organized three
years ago and was dedicated
to clean up and maintaining of
the New Hope Cemetery at
Hickox. The Committee re
ceives donations from famil.
ies, relatives, and friends of
those buried at New Hope and
Westberry sues gilman
for millions
by Mike Shane
Wyman Westberry, a former
employe of the Gilman Paper
Company of St. Marys, has fil»
ed a $2.2 million suit against
the company and three offic
ials who he said conspired to
have him murdered.
In his suit filed in U.S. Dis.
trlct court in Savannah, West,
berry accused the following
Gilman officials of plotting to
have him killed: vice president
George Brum ley; attorney Rob.
ert Harrison; and shift super
visor Tommy Thomas.
Westberry also claims he
was fired “ wrongfully ” by
Gilman in September and that
” the acts and conspiracies
of all defendants ” resulted
from his outspoken criticism
THE BRANTLEY ENTERPRISE, NAHUNTA, GEORGIA, DECEMBER 14, 1972
176, Calvin Jacobs 166, Ottis
Gaskin 163, Lawerence Lee
152 and H.H. Colvin with 146.
Candidates receiving votes
but did not win election to
any of the posts were Lester
Lee with 133 and RL. Sapp
had 129.
Hoboken Mayor, J.H. Batten
said ” we will work for the
people andthebettermentofour
community.”
group
charge
Committee’s work and said ,
“ I doubt we would have un.
covered all we did had we not
had the fine caliber of men
we do on this Committee. It’s
composed of businessmen who
have wide experience in the
comsumer credit field.”
Other members of the Cred,
it Card Study Committee in.
elude Senators Joe Higginboth.
am of DeKalb County, Turner
Scott of Thomaston, and w.W.
Fincher of Chatsworth.
Senator Dean said, “ in re
sponse to recent criticism that
some of our Senate committees
don’t work or don’t exist, here’s
proof of a successful working
committee which has labored
long and hard and come up
with proposed legislation to
save consumers thousands of
dollars. ”
oversees the hiring and pay
ing of maintenance personnel
to keep up the cemetery. “ We
feel that the appearance of the
cemetery has been greatly im
proved these last three years,”
said Mrs. Deßerry and we want
to continue the Improvement.
Prior to the organization of
die committee, church mem
bers and individuals assembled
once a year with their hoes
and grass cutting implements
to clean up the church and
grounds. This system proved
unsuccessful over the years.
Mrs. Deßerry said , " if
each family would contribute
SIO.OO each year for each mem
ber burled at New Hope, we
would have adequate funds.
Mrs. Deßerry pointed out that
the grass continues to grow,
the leaves to fall and bushes
close in each year.”
Those desiring to contribu
te to; New Hope Cemetery ma»
ke checks payable to; New Hope
Cemetery Organization and
mail to Mrs. Katie Deßerry
Route 1, Box 16, Nahunta, Ga.
of mill policies and political
activities.
The suit charges that “ on
or about April 9, 1972, de
fendants Brumley, Thomas and
Harrison ... conspired among
themselves to deprive plain,
tiff of his life.
" In furtherance of said con.
spiracy, Brumley, Thomas and
Harrison offered to one Lawer
ence Brown Sr.. a sum of money
if he would kill plaintiff.”
When the company fired
Westberry in September, it cl
aimed the dismissal was be
cause Westberry had ” poured
a substantial amount of toxic
or acidtype liquid on a black
construction employe who was
then using what, until that date
In the early morning hours
on Monday of this week, Sandra
Deloris Brooker lost her life
when the car she was opera
ting collided with a train at
the Trudy crossing near Hor.
tehse.
Local governments
receive payments
Congressman W.S.(Bill) Stu.
ckey, Jr. has announced that
the U.S. Treasury Department
has advised him that on Friday
December 8 the first entitle,
ment payments under the Gen.
eral Revenue Sharing Act will
be mailed to state and local
governments. Rep. Stuckey said
that these first payments will
be for the six months, retro-
Bands to
present
concert
Hie Brantley County Bands
and the B.C.H.S. Choir will
present a combined Christmas
Concert on Thursday evening,
December 14, in the school
cafetorlum.
The program will feature
both old and new Christmas
favorites under the direction
of Mrs. Carolyn Thomas and
Mr. Robert White. Approxi
mately 150 students will par
ticipate in the presentation.
There will be no charge for
admission. The public is cor.
dially invited to attend.
( March 21, 1970 ), had been
a sanitary facility utilized ex
clusively by white employees.
Some 2% years after the
FBI investigated the incident
Gilman stated: ” Ibe evidence
of your culpability in this mat.
ter has just been brought to
our attention.”
Westberry is a friend of Dr.
Carl Drury who unseated Rob
ert Harrison as state legislat.
or some two years ago. Other
friends of Drury also have been
fired from the St. Marys plant
since the local physician began
criticizing the pollution, politi
cal control and economic st
ranglehold which the firm ex
ercises on the people of St.
Marys.
Early Morning Tragedy
Miss Brooker the daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. Wilder Brook
er of Nahunta was pronounced
dead on arrival at the Wayne
Memorial Hospital shortly af
ter the collision occurred.
Troopers said the Brooker
active period from January 1,
1972 to June 30, 1972.
Rep. Stuckey said that these
current figures are effective
as of December 7, and in many
cases reflect either upward or
downward revisions based on
new data received by the Trea
sury Department.
The amount designated for
Brantley County is $43,174.00
while Hoboken will receive
$997.00 and Nahunta will re
ceive $4,911.11.
According to George F. Stew
art, Chairman of theCommlss
ion, the county received the a
mount indicated by Mr. Stu
ckey. Stewart said that the orig
ional amount of funds sched
uled for Brantley has been
reduced considerably. Stewart
said that he has received let
ters from several sources on
Instructions for the use of the
funds.
The Revenue Sharing Funds
are scheduled to be received
by Brantley County over the
50
^>^o
WAINRIGHT SCHOOL DOTS
Miss Leila Higginbotham and
Miss Fannie Manor made a
business trip to Folkston Sat
urday.
Quite a crowd enjoyed the
candy.pulllng at Mr. M.F. Wi
ldes’ Saturday night.
Mr. and Mrs. R.A. Griffin
were the guests of their par
ent^, Mr. and Mrs. W.G. Hig
ginbotham Tuesday evening.
Glad to say quite a number
of our ladies registered this
week.
TWO NEW SCHOOL TRUCKS
F.O. Knox, authorized Ford
dealer has received the new
Cont. page 2 col. 2
OFFICIAL ORGAN BRANTLEY COUNTY AND CITY OF NAHUNTA
car was traveling west on the
county road, while the train
was traveling south.
Miss Brooker apparently ap
plied her brakes and skidded
in to the side of the train. The
Brooker car was totally de-
Special
birthday
celebration
What better way is there to
celebrate Christ’s birthday
than with a party. Special music
is being planned to bring honor
and glory to His Holy name
under the direction of Mrs.
Kathy Brock. Marc Middleton
will present several special
pieces on the piano. Karen
Lewis will narrate an original
program especially written to
include all age groups.
Following the program there
will be an exchange of gifts
for everyone as we ask all
attending to bring a gift for the
occassion.
Refreshments and fellowship
will be offered and, I am sure
enjoyed by all.
So plan to attend and to bring
a friend. Remember that is Sat
urday, Dedember 16 at 7:00
P.M, at the Nahunta United
Methodist Church - on Hwy. 84.
x” js
trucks to be used for convey
ing the children to the Nahunta
and Hoboken consolidated sc
hools.
These trucks will maintained
and operated by the Board of
Education.
WAYNESVILLE ITEMS
Mrs. W. R. Rozier and son,
Neil, and Mr. Ben Rozier sp.
ent Friday in Brunswick.
Mr. M.H. Robinson and fam.
ily motored to Brunswick Fri
day.
Mr. Ben Gibson spent Sat
urday in Brunswick.
Mr. Franklin Crandle of Br.
unswlck spent Sunday with his
Auoclatlon - FountM lUB
molished.
Miss Brooker was a 1970
graduate of Brantley County
High School and was attending
Waycross Ware Tech. She was
on her way to school when the
accident occurred.
Sing is
announced
at church
There will be a Gospel sing
at Grace* Baptist Church Sat
urday, December 16th. Sing
ing will begin at 7:30 p.m.
“ The Gospel Carriers ” fr.
ora Hinesville, Ga. and the
" Harrell Family ” from East
man, Ga. will be the featured
singers. All local talent in
vited.
Pastor, Edwin Dilliard and
members of the church cord,
tally invite all to attend.
Refreshments will be served.
Personals
Mrs. Una Allen is a pat.
lent in the Jesup Hospital.
Mrs. Bertalou Chapman was
the week-encl guest of Mr. and
Mrs. S.K. Allen.
Mr. and Mrs. W. P. Stewart
visited their daughter, Mrs.
Ray Epps In Albany, Ga., over
the week-end.
parents Mr. and Mrs. B.F,
Crandle.
RAYBON SCHOOL
Average for the week. 54,
Perfect spellers In First grade:
Alvin Morgan and Waldo Mor
gan; Second grade: Ruth De.
pratter and Comer Kyser; Th
ird grade: Tommie Morgan, Be.
mice Morgan, Ophelia Lewis,
and Renna Purdom; Fourth
grade: Arnold Morgan, New.
born Morgan, Nora Morgan;
Fifth grade: Martin Brown ,
Ida Mae Morgan, Emory Mor.
gan, Lonnie Lyons; Seventh gr.
ade: Lola Herrin.
Mr. W.T. Purdom, our coun.
ty treasurer, who has been
sick for some time is report,
ed to be improving.
