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The Monroe County Reporter
marks 50th birthday
1972-2022
After 50 years, Trammell still looks
forward to her Reporter every week
By Diane Glidewell
news® my mcr.net
U ndeniably what has
kept The Monroe
County Reporter
viable through 50
years is the connection it provides
between its readers. One reader
who has been with The Reporter
through all 50 years is Lovena
Trammell. As well as connect
ing her with the people and
happenings in her hometown,
the newspaper has documented
much of the Trammell family’s
history, from births, marriages
and civic activities to business
advertisements and her sons golf
victories and the crowning of her
granddaughters as homecoming
queens.
Lovena grew up in Baxley and
graduated from Appling County
High School. She came to Forsyth
to attend Tiff College, met Olin
Trammell, married at age 20 and
has called Forsyth her home ever
since. She earned her undergrad
uate degree in social studies at
Tiff and her Masters in elementa
ry education at Mercer.
She and her husband operated
Trammell Furniture and Jewelers
on East Main Street during the
1960 s and 1970 s. Lovena became
a registered bridal consultant and
enjoyed helping people plan their
weddings and pick items for their
homes. She said the ads they ran
in the newspaper brought not
only locals but also customers
from surround
ing counties
and towns as far
away as Perry.
Over the years
they continued
to advertise
products from
their farm even
after they decid
ed to close the
retail store.
Lovena
enjoyed saving
articles from
the paper that
documented
her competi
tion in the Mrs.
Georgia contest,
in which she
was a finalist,
and her service
with Lorsyth
Womans Club.
She was also Ms.
Sesquicenten-
nial for Monroe
County and was
in “Who’s Who
Among Ameri
ca’s Teachers” in
2002,2004 and
2005. Lovena
and Olin were active with the
Monroe County Jaycees and
Jaycettes for many years and
enjoyed seeing their activities in
the community, including the
annual county fair, shared in the
Reporter.
The Trammell family has been
lovena Trammel
involved members of Lorsyth
United Methodist Church for
well over 60 years and has fol
lowed the coverage of its com
munity involvement and special
events.
“One of the major parts of life
is church,” she said. “It’s vital
in society. The camaraderie is
important.”
Lovena’s mother-in-law wrote
a book and used many newspa
per articles as she compiled it.
Lovena said the local newspaper
has been a scrapbook of life for
her family over the years.
“I always looked forward to the
paper coming,” she said. “I didn’t
always agree with everything, but
its purpose is to bring informa
tion from all sides and educate
you.”
After the Trammells closed the
furniture and jewelry store, Love
na taught for 19 years at Monroe
Academy, opening another area
of coverage in The Reporter that
she looked forward to over the
years. She has read about her
students and their families over
the years beyond their successes
while in school.
“I like working with people,”
she said. “I have a love for people
and interaction with them.”
As well as documenting
Lovena's son, Sonny Trammell’s,
victories as one of the top junior
golfers in the state, the Report
er also brought her stories of
her children and their friends’
successes in football, baseball,
basketball and more. At one time
Wendell Ramage wrote a profile
of Lovena’s oldest daughter for
the paper; it was something she
saved and clipped to send to
relatives out of town.
“It’s very important to keep
family ties and to pass them along
to the next generation to take
over,” she said as she talked about
the big family gathering of about
65 people planned for Thanksgiv
ing Day, after scaling it back for
the last two years.
Lovena liked the community
“social columns” in the paper,
including the one written by Ms.
Bittick, and the engagement,
wedding, birth and birthday an
nouncements. She said one of her
earliest memories was reading
the local paper with her daddy.
She also enjoys doing the cross
word puzzle in the paper. Lovena
said she will often go out to eat by
herself and finds the newspaper a
good companion to take along.
Lovena recalled being friends
with editor Shelly Shuman as
the Reporter began. Shelly was
a fellow Tift graduate, and her
husband was managing the
Trammell furniture store.
“Shelly was always so smart, so
organized,” said Lovena.
She saved clippings of her
daughter as Little Miss Monroe
County and Junior Miss Mon
roe County and of the party for
Olin’s grandparents on their 50th
anniversary. She saved articles
and pictures from the Reporter
about her granddaughters in
cheerleading and gymnastics and
as Homecoming Queens. Lovena
confessed that she has seldom
had a subscription to The Report
er as she prefers to stop by the
office and pick up a copy when it
is just off the press.
“So many memories!” She said.
j, 9 A fk* Monroe County Reporter Timeline 1972-2022
1972
Nov. 8 • Republican President Rich
ard Nixon carries Monroe County
3-1 over George McGovern. In
the U.S. Senate race, Sam Nunn de
feats Fletcher Thompson in Monroe
and in the state. Miss Rosemary Al
exander, 1 7, is named Mary Persons
homecoming queen. Shelly Shuman
is appointed Reporter news editor.
Nov. 1 5 • Jimmy Pace wins over
Julius Buddy Boy Stroud 475-333
in the largest turnout ever for a
Forsyth city council run-off.
Nov. 22 • The Thanksgiving buffet
at Holiday Inn is $2.50; children
under 1 2 eat free with a coupon.
Trio Manufacturing Company has
announced a wage increase for all
hourly trained employees, the sec
ond in 1 972. Since May 1 899, Trio
has released a payroll every week.
Dec. 6 • Train wreck kills one and
injures two when a box car loaded
with wood chips overturns at
Vaughn Lumber Co. City of Forsyth
adopts first budget ever. It plans
$405,047 for 1973.
Dec. 22 • Commissioners voted to
raise the beer tax from 5 cents to 7
cents per bottle or can.
1973
Jan. 3 • L.A. Lap Ponder throws his
famous baseball over the Monroe
County courthouse for the 1 7th
consecutive year.
Jan. 1 7 • The Reporter will begin
selling papers in racks in several
locations in Forsyth. It does not sell
subscriptions inside Monroe County;
they are $6.1 8 for those living out
side the county.
Feb. 1 4 • A winter storm hits Mon
roe County leaving a record 1 6
inches of snow. Reportedly 1,000
or more motorists were stranded in
the county.
Feb. 28 • The Grand Jury com
mends the commissioners for reno
vating the courthouse and recom
mends the commissioners cooperate
in securing and constructing a new
jail.
1975
Jan. 8 • Georgia Power stops
construction at its 4-unit coal fired
facility near Juliette one of three
sites suspended in belt-tightening
that included the loss of 1,500 jobs
since September.
Feb. 5 • Marion L. White’s auto
repair shop is a total loss in a fire.
Monroe County's new $1 58,000
jail has open house. The food stamp
program in Monroe County grew
from 306 to 430 people from 1 974
to 1975.
Feb. 1 9 • There is controversy
over city streets closing for filming
of Return to Macon County,’ al
though the film crew will spend over
$300,000 in the county. Monroe
County spends $657 per child
for 2,309 students in 1973-74,
down from 2,33 1 students the year
before.
Feb. 26 • Gayle Watson is appoint
ed by the Grand Jury to the Board
of Education, the first woman ever
appointed to the Monroe BOE.
March 5 • The Reporter profiles
Matilda McDowell, 1 1 3, mother of
30, a living, extant encyclopedia of
events since her birth as a slave on
Christmas 1 861.
March 1 2 • Joe Caldwell, 56, of
Juliette was killed when his tractor
overturned between Marvin Bow-
doins Grocery and Homer Cham
bliss store.
March 1 9 • Forsyth council offers
$20 reward for information on
vandals who shot windows in 1 2
downtown businesses with a BB
gun. John Bassett, 24 of Juliette
died from injuries suffered in a freak
wind kiting accident.
March 26 • Damages from the
tornado are estimated at $75,000.
Wayne Edge, a Forsyth city electri
cian, is knocked unconscious when
lightning strikes nearby and runs
down a wire he is holding.
April 9 • Mayor Richard Truitt suffers
a heart attack and is in critical
condition.
April 30 • Monroe County Board
of Education plans to build a com
prehensive high school adjacent to
Mary Persons. GSP trooper James
Danny Ballard and his wife, Judy,
are electrocuted when the citizens
band radio antenna they are install
ing fell across power lines next to
their home on Juliette Road.
May 2 1 • A truck overturns and
peanuts carpet I-75s northbound
lane near the Forsyth rest station.
June 4 • Mayor Richard Truitt s
charges of kickbacks, prostitution,
gambling, drugs and other city vic
es catches the council and county
off guard.
1976
Jan 7 • New Alderman Joe Evans
and returning Aldermen Lamar
Russell and Charles are sworn in
by Attorney Randall Meincke. The
City of Forsyth begins billing with
a new electronic billing computer
purchased for $20,700.
Jan. 28 • The Armed Forces Draft
ends; young men turning 1 8 will no
longer register. City of Culloden
mayor Edd Norris says Culloden
is facing a critical water shortage.
Also, prospects do not look good
for the city in appealing Southern
Railway s decision to discontinue rail
service to it.
Feb 1 1 • 600 Mary Persons juniors
and seniors visit the Tastee-Freez
and get ice cream treats and cokes
as a reward for perfect attendance.
April 1 4 • Myrtice Ivey, 69, is found
brutally murdered in her home with
no apparent suspects or motive.
The Monroe County Bicentennial
C ) FORSYTH DENTAL CENTER
CLELL M. MORRIS, DMD
94 N. Bennett Street
Forsyth, GA31029
478-994-0440
www.forsythdentalcenter.com
WE ARE ALWAYS
ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS
“I CAN EASILY SAY
THAT THE REPORTER HAS
HELPED MY BUSINESS"
I have fond memories of reading the Reporter growing up. To
this day, I look forward to its arrival on Wednesdays. I have
always enjoyed the support it gives the community especially
the local schools. Through my advertisements and the Report
er's articles about my practice, I can easily say that the
Reporter has helped my business. Will and his team have
always been very friendly and helpful. I appreciate Will's integ
rity and journalism skills. I look forward to the next 50 years.
- Dr. Clell Morris