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Now Circulated Throughout The County
VOLUME 2
From This Corner
By Anthony Grey
■ A Report On The County Work Camp Which
■ Is Well Run And Saving Taxpayers Money
K Clayton County citizens have a work camp of which they can
■be proud, and one which is saving taxpayers much money, and will
■ save increasing amounts in the future
V Thus, in brief, is the evaluation made after a two hour inspec
^Mion of the camp, located just north of Jonesboro, off Highway 54,
Bast Thursday afternoon.
I was not certain what sort of reception I would
receive, visiting the camp unannounced, for there
are camps elsewhere in the state which are not
too happy to greet newspaper reporters. However,
a while back, in a conversation with Commis
sioner Edwin Echols, I was told that he was
personally proud of the camp, and that 1 should
look it over sometimes and report what my im
pressions were.
Warden Riley W. Bakers a tall slender man of
55, was .cordial in his greeting, and there was no pa rt of the camp
which was not opened for view.
He, perhaps more than any one person, is responsible for the
success of the camp, where guards are without guns and where no
prisoner has ever tried to escape, where the atmosphere is at least
as relaxed as at any military camp.
Warden Baker, who spent 23 years with the Federal Penitentiary
in Atlanta and is a native of Clayton County, explained that his
outlook on his work revolved around the philosophy that the men
at the camp, although prisoners, should be treated in such a manner
that their dignity as men is not forgotten . . . that his work was
rehabilitation of the men and that this could not be accomplished
unless they had favorable living conditions and treatment.
Each man serving at the camp draws an assignment according
to what he can do best, when ever possible, Warden Baker said. Thus
a prisoner with 16 years experience in the US. Marines as a cook
serves in that capacity at the camp, preparing meals from a Navy
cookbook with menues which appear very much like those served
in the armed forces.(Cost of feeding the men an adequate healthy
diet averages about 40 cents per day per man.)
The men live in an Army-style barracks, on Army cots. The
barracks were found to be neat, clean, and as confortable as any
similar building on a military reservation.
They work an average of 9 1/2 hours weekdays, a half day
Saturday. In the evening they watch television (the set was loaned
by the family of one of the men) or read (Jonesboro library sup
plies on a rotating basis but contributions will be gratefully accept
ed) or play baseball. (The prisoners fixed up their own ball field,
go each clear evening to play, escorted with one un-armed guard.
The fact that the prison area is unfenced' and no guards carry
guns is the most impressive aspect of the camp's administration.
If the men did not wear white uniforms you would never know
, 'hey were prisoners.
Actually they are carefully selected, most have served the great
est part of their Terms at regular prisons and would not want to
return to that form of confinement. Most men are from ages of 20
to 30, are serving for no more serious crimes than forgery (except
one completing a term for armed holdup.)
Morale seems higher than was found at some military camps
during World Mar Two. And the men are quick to praise their
warden with sincerity, as well as the county commissioners whom
they state have “done many extra things to make this one of the
best camps in the nation-”
One commissioner, in particular, was singled out with the war*
den for his very “humanistic” attitude towards the prisoners . . .
In consequence of all this, the men work hard and thus save
the county large sums each day they work on roadbuilding and other
county chores which could only be accomplished for many times the
sum if free labor was used.
Visiting is allowed twice on Sunday. Families of about 15 men
call each Sunday, visit for up to three hours (unless the man has
been guilty of a minor infraction—the time is then cut) under shade
trees with an unarmed guard in the vicinity.
f Church services are held each Sunday morning, but are not com
pulsary.
Warden Baker, who retired from the Federal Penitentary some
time ago, asked only $250 a month for his full time services, since
he receives a pension from the Government. He indicated that he
was more interested in being given the opportunity to put some
ideas about running a prison camp in operation than drawing a large
salary. He told this writer that over the years he had studied pen
ology at length, had to take a one year course on the subject and
stand a rigid examination. He feels it is paying off now.
His staff is small, consisting of Deputy Warden Olin Williams
and Robert Durden'who is in charge of the plant. Six trusties (in
cluding the cook, and two office clerks) run the camp, freeing the
other men for outside work-
Credit for the activation of the County work camp goes to many
persons, but particularly to state representative (senator-elect) Alvin
I oster who favored the camp against considerable opposition, much
of it non-existant now that the camp is activated and working
out well. Although I strongly oppose some of Mr. Foster’s policies
and actions and will continue to do so, I have always been in favor
of the prison camp, one of the projects he was most interested in
activating.
But more important is the credit due the county commissioners
and an exceptional warden for making the camp such a success.
“We are proud of what we are doing here,” Warden Baker told
this writer, “and we welcome visits from citizens who are interested
either in the rehabilitation of men who run afoul of the law or are
interested in the economic savings to the taxpayers of such a camp.”
Warden Baker said there are few such visitors now, but he hopes
the number will increase in the future.
“We want the citizens to see for themselves how this camp
works,” he said.
PLEASE VOTE FOR HEALTH BONDS TODAY!
The Forest Park News
If you live any where in Clayton County outside Forest Park you may receive
a copy of the Forest Park News in the mail each week at no charge. See and
fill out the coupon at bottom of this page. / THE EDITOR
THE KIWANIS WATERMELON STAND, located nt the
corner of Main and Ash Street, opened last Saturday afternoon for
the season. The stand will serve ice cold watermelon for the fifth
consecutive year to citizens at the hours shown on the sign (upper
left) from now until Labor Day. Proceeds will go to Kiwanis com
munity projects. The club hopes to pay off the remaining indebted
ness of the football field with part of the proceeds this year. Hubert
Petty is president of Kiwanis and former president Bill Lee is chair-
Reflection
By Mary Sysk
The ghostly plow of war cuts deep
and turns up soil unknown, and
rich.
flew spires to God grow from such
sod watered by blood and tears
of man; fruit of his heart and
brain, and hand.
High School Evaluation Committee
Report, Fifth Section of Series
LIBRARY REPORT
The committee commends the
faculty and the administration:
1. For recognizing that the li
brary plays an integral role in
the enrichment of the school pro
gram, and for using the present
facilities to utmost advantage.
2. For providing a well-trained
librarian to organize and make
materials available.
3. For providing every student
with the opportunity for using the
library at a scheduled period, in
addition to the time before and
after school.
4. For the cooperative effort
between teachers and librarian in
the selection of books and ma
terial for purchase and loan.
5. For giving students the op
portunity of learning through the
experience of working as assis
tants, doing typing, charging
books, and other routines, and re
warding these students for their
efforts.
6. For making some use of
other local library facilities to
supplement the book collection.
The committee finds of primary
importance the need for expand
ing the collection of books, per
iodicals and other materials. We
suggest:
1. Increasing funds for the li
brary budget;
2. Asking the assistance of the
service clubs and civic clubs in
projects for contributing worth
while reading materials;
3. Asking cooperation of teach
ers in the various subject fields
in locating and acquiring numer
ous free materials of value, par
ticularly occupational materials;
4. Asking the help of students
and teachers in contributing from
their class room work materials
that might be of permanent value
such as pictures, posters, note
book projects;
5. Investigating the possibility
of securing some materials from
gifts and exchange lists of other
libraries.
6. Increase the number of ma
terials available of current topics
including news magazines, news
maps, globes, etc., and materials
for professional growth.
7- In the way of non-book ma-
For And About The Citizens Os Forest Park
With One Page Devoted To County News
FOREST PARK, GEORGIA, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1956
CARD OF THANKS
The family of Robert Burl
IMcGarity wish to acknowledge
with grateful appreciation, the
many expressions of sympathy
shown by the people of Forest
Park, following the death of their
father.
Fulton County Man
Wins Local Jaycees
Dream Vacation
Winner of the dream vacation
sponsored by the Forest Park
Junior Chamber of Commerce
turned out to be a resident of
Fulton County rather that of
Clayton, as expected.
The Jaycees announced that Mr.
Ed Walter, of 1560 Beecher St.,
Atl., received the all-expense flying
trip to Miami, Jtr. -Walters held
ticket number 760-
The local Jaycees sponsored the
dream vacation event to raise
funds for local community work.
Local Swimming Pool Meets With
Excellent Response from Citizens
The formation of swimming
classes to be held at the Forest
Park swimming pool will probaby
be announced within two weeks
in response to public demand ac
cording to Coach Pat Patterson,
who is in charge of the pool dur
ing the summer.
Coach Patterson told the Forest
Park News that a number of par
ents have requested that such
classes be formed and that he
planned to talk to American Red
Cross officials this w^ek to de
termine if an instructor could be
made available for such classes.
Mr. Patterson indicated that he
would start accepting applications
for such classes until such time
terials the addition of: More
shelving in the work room areas;
a larger card catalog case; a fil
ing cabinet; magazine binders;
newspaper holders; window
blinds; acustic tile ceiling;
8. In order to encourage and
stimulate the students’ reading
interest, the committee suggests
the teachers in various subjects
fields such as English and the
social studies work out more plan
ned reading lists and have copies
available in the library as well
as in their class-rooms.
man of the watermelon committee this year. Standing in center of
photo is “Pat” Sanders, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Sanders of
104 Ash Street, who is serving as a " waiter,” Kiwanian Ernest
Cheaves who will be serving throughout the summer on three
hour tours of duty with other members of watermelon committee.
Mr. Cheaves is talking to two “early-bird” watermelon enthusiasts
—Rev. and Mrs. Hoyt Farr of the Forest Park Baptist Church.
Photo by Grey-
Volunteer Fire Dept. To Sell
Barbecue Tickets Door-To-Door
Commissioners
Release Minutes
Os May Meetings
The Board of Commissioners of
Roards and Revenue of Clayton
County held two meetings during
the month of May and acted on
a number of routine matters.
The first meeting was held on
the firsjk Tuesday of the month
(Mayl) as required by law.
The second meeting was held
on May 17, and was a called meet
ing, since the Board is not re
quired to meet but once a month
acording to the law.
The complete text of the min
utes of the Board, as released for
publication by the commissioners
in order to keep citizens inform
ed of actions, follows:
June 7, 1956
I certify the enclosed are true
and correct copies of the minutes
of the Board of Commissioners of
Continued On Page 2
that he was definitely certain an
instructor would be available. He
indicated that a number of minor
problems nefedecl to be smoothed
out in the operation of the pool
before swimming classes can get
under way. Included are the pur
chase of identification tags for
locker room baskets, purchase of
additional signs for the area and
mirrors for the rest rooms.
“A number of little problems
came up after the pool was
placed in operation,” Coach Pat
terson said, “but we hope to have
all of those solved within a week’s
time.”
Coach Patterson indicated that
public response to the pool has
been excellent thus far. He said
that the pool opened (though not
officially) last Saturday week
(June 2) and, although it was a
cold and somewhat windy day,
twenty-three adults and thirty
five children paid admissions.
According to Coach Patterson,
the following are the receipt re
cords for the first six days of op
eration of the pool: Saturday,
June 2: adults—23, children—3s;
Sunday, June 3: adults—s 3, child
ren 54; Monday, June 4: adults—
-58, children—9o; Tuesday, June
Continued On Page 2
Serious Epidemic Threatens Clayton County; During ■
Ten Days Two Infected Dogs Found, 2 Others Suspected
In a news release late last
week, the Forest Park Volunteer
Fire Department announced that
it will sell tickets for the annual
barbecue Saturday June 30th on
a door-to-basis, and urged citi
zens to support the fire depart
ment as well as partake of an
excellent barbecue and attend the
dance following.
The complete text of the Fire
Department announcement, which
we are pleased to publish follows:
Sometime between now and
June 30th, one of the members of
the Forest Park Volunteer Fire
Department may knock at your
door or approach you on the
street and ask you to purchase a
barbecue ticket from him.
Although this is not the only
method you might obtain a ticket,
the Department feels that some
of you find it inconvenient to
come to the City Hall and pur
chase these tickets, therefore we
wish to make it as convenient as
possible for you.
We have a big day planned for
June 30th and with the added at
traction of the square dance, this
occasion may last well into the
night with plenty of fun for every
body.
The serving will start at 11:00
A.M. and will last until 7:00 P.M.
when the dance will start and
last until almost midnight.
All of you are welcome and we
sincerely hope you will enjoy it.
Remember last year’s delicious
food ? Well, there will be no
change in the quality for this
Continued On Page 2
I
Senior Trip Takes
Class To Florida
By Doris Gibbon
About eleven o’clock Tuesday
night, night, June 5, two Grey
hound buses pulled up to the
school and 49 tired, but happy,
seniors and four chaperones piled
off.
The seniors were returning af
ter a week in Florida and their
senior trip which began the night
of graduation, May 29.
On that night 51 seniors and
five chaperones, Mrs. Jackie
Wells, Miss Martha Peak, Mrs.
DeLois Guiton and Rev and Mrs.
Harold Cochran, left Forest Park
and after riding all Wednesday
with stops at St. Augustine and
Marineland arrived in Daytona
Wednesday afternoon.
They spent the evening on the
beach and the boardwalk with
some going into downtown Day-
Continued On Page 2
Largest Circulation In Clayton County
Inoculations Set For All Parts
of County Beginning Saturday
A “serious rabies epidemic” threatens Clayton County unless citizens act
promptly to have their dogs innoculated, according to Dr. Donald C. Ford,
local veteriarian and operator of Ford Animal Hospital on Old Highway 41.
Dr. Ford said that two dogs have been found in Clayton County within
the last ten days which had rabies, and two others are strongly suspected of
having acquired the infection.
To prevent an epidemic, inoculations have been scheduled for every
community in the county beginning this coming Saturday at the City Hall
in Forest Park. (See complete schedule below.)
Dr Fbrd revealed that three persons in Clayton County are already
assumed to be infected with rabies. He indicated that he was one of these.
Another is the owner of an infected dog which had been brought in for
examination.
third person was a young boy who had been bitten by a puppy des
cribed as extremely vicious” by Dr. Ford. The boy was bitten near his home
which is m the vicinity of Highway 42 in South Clayton County on May 31.
L r. Ford indicated that the puppy had bitten other dogs and that they
are therefore presumed to be infected. They are still at large.
He described the shots necessary if a person is bitten by a rabid dog as
being long, tedious and sometimes fatal.”
Determination that the two dogs were infected was made after brain
tissue from each had been sent to the State Health Labratory in Atlanta.
According to Dr. Ford, rabies
can only be stamped out in Clay
ton County if there is an effective
innoculation program of all dogs.
He indicated that the rabies law
would be strictly enforced by
county and municipal authorities
after the inoculation program was
complete. All unlicenced dogs and
dogs without shots would be pick
ed up and empounded, he said.
Many licenced dogs in the coun
ty have not been inoculated
against rabies recently, if ever,
Dr. Ford said. For example, dur
ing the inoculation program in
Forest Park last March only an
estimated 25 per cent of the dogs
in the community received shots.
Dr. Ford told a Forest Park
News reporter in an interview
that Clayton County had long
been a reservior of infection for
rabies. He said this was attribut
able to public apathy on the part
of some and that the County had
a state wide reputation of having
above the average number of
rabies cases.
According to Dr. Ford, there
were approximatly seven rabies
cases in the County last year.
Dr. Ford said that the state of
Georgia had been “clear” of ra
bies reports during- the past 30
days except Clayton County.
Late Sunday afternoon (June
10) he reported that a dog su
spected of having rabies was pick
ed up at an Ash Street, Forest
Park address. He indicated that
the dog recently had given birth
to several puppies and had bitten
all of them before they were given
away to friends. The puppies, he
Isaid, greatly increased the danger
'of spreading the infection.
As of Sunday evening Dr. Ford
said that there were two confirm
ed cases of rabid dogs and two
County Residents May Receive A Copy of
The Forest Park News Each Week in Mail
Without Charge. Fill out below Coupon
If you would like to receive a copy of the Forest Park
News in the mail each week without charge we will be pleased
to enter your name on our mailing list upon receipt of the
below coupon. Fill out coupon (please print and clip along
broken lines) and mail to us. (Paste on the back of a postcard
if you like.) We will add your name to our mailing list
immediately.
1 Editor
I The Forest Park News -
| P. O. Box 21, Forest Park, Ga.
Dear Sir: Please place the undersigned on your
I mailing list to receive future copies of the Forest Park ■ '
I News. I understand that I will receive the News in the
mail each week free of charge and without any obligation
I whatsoever.
(PLEASE PRINT)'
| Name
Street
City
I 1
NUMBER 7
highly suspicious cases. He an
ticipated others.
He urged all parents to have
their dogs inoculated, report su
spicious dogs and unlicenced dogs
to police or health authorities,
and report incidents where per
sons are bitten by dogs, no matter
how normal the dogs may seem.
Dr. Ford explained that there
were two types of rabies infec
tions in dogs. One type makes dogs
vicious and inclined to bite other
dogs and persons, no matter how
gentle the dog may have been
before infection (usually by be
ing bitten by another dog.)
The second type of infection re
sults in a form of paralysis in
which the dog seems in a stupor,
with its lower jaw hanging agape.
Dr. Ford said that Dr. G. Ray
burn Bartlett, county veterinarian,
would be in charge of some of
the clinics and that he would be
in charge of the balance.
All clinics for inoculation will
be held within nine days in order
that the threat of a rabies epi
demic can be averted as quickly
as possible, since one infected
dog, biting several others, who in
turn infected still others, can start
a chain reaction which would en
danger every dog in a very large
area.
The complete schedule for inoc
ulation of dogs in the various
comunities in the county is given
below. Dr. Ford urged dog owners
to bear the date of the clinic in
his area in mind and make plans
to be on hand at that time.
Charge for inoculation is $1.50
per dog.
Saturday, June 16th, Forest
Park Fire Station ,1-3 P.M.
Continued On Page 2
