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VOLUME 74—NO. 26 Gra d Jury Judge Ws Charges Jury To Prb»a School Dilemma New Grand Jury Named Here Monday; School Problem High On List For Investigation Judge John Davis, presiding over the Superior County Court Monday, charged members of the new grand jury to investigate the school dilemma in the county after review ing the functions of schools systems in the State of Geor gia for the past several years. Judge Davis related how the schools were operated in Chat tooga County under separate dis tricts several years ago until the school operations became too large for each community to finance. He traced the history of the school system to its present stage of operations as the re sponsibility of the entire county under a five-man school board and one superintendent. The Grand Jury as a routine, in the past, has recommended its findings on school matters to the school board for action. However, the new Grand Jury is faced with more than a routine problem. The present school board is deadlocked on most of the issues involving getting the school system on its feet from the viewpoint of meeting state requirments and finances. The Grand Jury has no authority to go beyond recommendations. However, this group is made up of impartial citizens and their recommendations are usually the last word on matters. Paul Cook, father of Attorney Political Opponents fl Janies "Sloppy” Floyd Rep. James "Sloppy" Floyd and Leon King arc two of (he lour candidates now seeking to be elected to the Georgia State \ssemblv as representatives from Chattooga County. Next week: City Judge T. J. Espy, Jr. and F. H. "Pete” Boney. Personal Background James "Sloppy" Floyd. 38 years ol age, born February 4. 1920, in Trion, Georgia. Floyd graduated from Gram mar and High Sehools al Trion. He attended Middle Georgia Junior College. Cochran. Ga. He is a member of the First Baptist Church. Trion. Member of VFW Post 6688; American Le gion Post 129: Trion Lodge 160 F&AM. Trmn Chapter No. 19 Hoyal Arch Mason. He served in US Air Force during World War 11. for' 4*g years He is well-known locally and state-wide in veteran und political circles having been very active m these fields since his discharge from the Air Force in 1946 He is a Past State Commander of the VFW and has served on several national committees. Floyd served as President of the Sevinth District Legislative Association which includes all the 14 eoimt.es In the Seventh Congressloniil District lie has nerved lor six years in the Geor gia Legislature. in the Inst session of the Legislature. he served ns Chair man ol the House Defense and Veterans Affairs Committee, served ns a member of Hie pow erful State of Republic Com mittee and industrial Relations Committee of the House of Rep resentatives Members of the Home tire only appointed Io three eoniiuiHers Rep Floyd maki. Ids home in Irion with his wife. Doris Small wood Floyd, und his three chil dren. Nancy Jim, i» years of age, Susan. 4 years of age. and James H. Jr. 17 months of nge. He is the son of Mrs lassie Parris Floyd, of Trion, and the lute Julumy Floyd. The Summerville N Bobby Lee Cook, was named foreman of the new grand jury. W. K. Cash was named bailiff. Other members of the panel are Corban Whitfield, Robert Bag gett, L. P. Shropshire, J. C. Bark ley, Ralph Holt, Leo Lanier, Sr., Wallace Lanier, Tom Green, W. A. Goebel, E. L. Gray, L. A. Miller. J. L. Salmon, James H. Brimer, Mrs. Frances M. Harris, Claude H. Ratliff, John L. Webster. Homer Simmons, Dennis Cox. Lewis P. Scarboro, Henderson F. Ponder, Billy Locklear and Roy L. Williams. CITY GETS $5,000 LOAN PENDINGTAX REVENUE The Board of Mayor and City Council authorized a $5,000 loan from the Farmers and Mer chants Bank to be placed in the general fund for the city’s oper ations until the new tax reve nue is received at city hall. ik 1 Leon King Leon King is a newcomer in local politics. However, he said he entered the race after he was 1 encouraged to run by friends from every precinct in the county: He is 38 years old. Born and reared In Cherokee County. Cen tre. Ala. King came to Chat tooga County in 1935 and has been a resident since that time. King was educated in the schools til Centre He is married to the former Mary Orval Bagley of Chattooga County. They have one married daughter, Mrs. Randall Graham. King is a past Master of the Blue Lodge. Masons, past high priest Royal Arch and at present lie is the commander of the Knights ol Temple He is also a .Shriner He Is a member ol the Odd Fellows. Elks and a member of the First Baptist Church nt Trion. King stated that lie has pledged himself to serve the pro pie of Chalooga County, im lud Ing stale, county und city oftl ; cialn. "I am not obligated to any individual or faction 1 be lieve in the democratic way of life and feel thul everyone should have a voice In the gov ernment." King made the following statement regarding his candi daney: "I um seeking the seal in the House of Representatives presently held by James 'Sloppy) Floyd. Before milking my amimmrrmeiit I had come to the vnmlu.lim fhal one of the most important problems facing us lo d.iv m ( huttoogu County Is out ■ irnol system In the event 1 am elected ns one of your rep resentatives. I believe the School Board should be elected by the people instead of being ap pointed a- u now Un case. Investigating School Situation Here LOW-RENT HOUSING AVAILABLE SOON .Jam'' . $ 'SOB. '.gKJMK3L). \ vT * '’X • * ** ’ .* ...^•. " ,40! iff - iWßiiir- — & Summerville's low-rent housing project is scheduled to be completed sometime in August and will be available for rent at that time. The four projects here for white and Negro families were con structed at a cost of approximately 5766,195.00. Bryant and Bishop are the contractors. The units are located in four sections of the Summerville area. The largest of the four, pictured above, is located on Oak Street. This project will house 42 tenants. The project located on .Marvin Street will accommodate 22 tenants, The two smaller units, one for while and one lor Negro fam ilies, will house eight tenants each. The units i'or white families is located on I nion Street while the units for Negro families is located on Seventh Street. The lower picture shows a brick duplex which will accommodate two large families. Each apartment contains four bedrooms, etc. Staff Photo—Bill Espy School Board Still Stymied On Consolidating Schools No Action Token on Subligna School After Trion Refuses Students; Lyerly Allowed $3,600 Credit on Laboratory For School By SHEENY WHITE Chattooga County’s school system is still hopelessly entangled in a cob-web of circumstances that may prevent the opening of the schools in September due to the fact tnat the local school board has failed to produce a solu tion to meet State requirements . . . plus the fact that there is no money available for next year’s operations. The local board met again in an emergency meeting last week and again failed to find the an swer to the present dilemma In fact, the board seemed ready to “throw' in the towel” and admit the problem was too big for it to handle. GHANI) JI KY MEETS One school official said he felt sure the new grand jury, which was sworn in Monday, would in vestigate the school matter "1 don’t know how far they 11 go,’ he said, "but 1 imagine they will go pretty deep once they get started.” he added The board held two meetings last Friday, one a called meeting which was held Friday mon and later recessed in favor of an afternoon meeting when the board member. i.ulcd to . on taking a vote on a couple of motions. Discussions reached a point where the board recessed without voting to do so WHITE ABSENT During the morning meeting it appeared the board might come up with a solution to its prob loins . . but one board member. R L. Whin. "i tic :,übhgmi cmnmuiiity. was md pn > nt . . . and the objective died In a sen of words uttered by board mem bers and spectators alike Had Ho.nd Mcmlx i While be. n pn ent the board may have been able to swing n plan whereby Subligna High School would be consolidated with Summerville High and Menlo and Lyerly High would be allowed to operate as separate schools, as they have In the past M C. Hartline, who hud previously said he would favor consolidation before he would allow the schools to close said he would favor such plan as outlined Ibns.v.i 111 did not get the opportunity to vote on the matter. Bill Farrar said he could not go along with the Idea because White was not present to represent his district, it was understood that Hub Dagley SUMMERVILLE, CHATTOOGA COUNTY, GA., THURSDAY, JULY 17, 1958 would join Hartline in this move, With Farrar opposing it. which would have resulted in a tie vote, thus giving Chairman O L. Cleekler a vote. Since Clcckler .suggested the plan there is no reason to think he would have voted against it. Clcckler, as chairman of the board, can vote only when there is a tic on an issue. However, the plan did not work out this way and Farrar made a counter attack with a motion tor the board to adopt the entire plan as recommended by the survey team which culled lor consolidation of all of the high schools with Summerville High His motion was given a second by Bagley. Chairman Cleekler refused to put the mo tion to a vote ' because Mr White Is not present ” Farrar called for Cleekler to put his motion to a vote or resign Cleekler refused to do cither. Other business acted on by the board Included u move by Hart line to rescind his motion to send a delegation composed ol board members, including T J Espy, iJr., attorney tor the board, which had been scheduled to ap pear before the State School I Board in Atlanta lust Monday “MO Multi MOM 1 Chairman Cleekler called on Attorney E py, In his capacity us board attorney, to advise the board on certain legal matters as to a hut the board could and could not d<> in connection with matching hinds with Menlo and Lyerlv to purchase InlKiratory rqmpniriil in bum: those Iwo schools up l<> stale require mviits Judge Espv laid the board he could not personally tell the board what to do but he did explain that the board is now in a position where it can । not borrow any more money plus the fact they cannot exceed cer- < UonUuutd uu Fugs 4 • OLD TIMERS WILL PLAY DALL AGAIN An old -timers exhibition baseball game will be staged here Sunday afternoon before the big Coosa Valley League All-Star game between Sum merville and a hand-picked team composed of players from seven other loop teams. The old timers will take the field about 2 p m. and should be well worn out in time for the regular game slated for 3 p.m. Listed below are some of the old timers who will take part in the exhibition game. Sher iff Fred Stewart, Shorty Cash. David Espy. Jim Mosley. Jim Tedder, John Groce. Rabbit and Clabo Jackson. Buck Rich. Shorty Lawson and several others, from Berryton will be John Cox, David Koonce. Carlton strange. Tob Morri son, Tick Frady, Hot Eye New som and others. NEW MEMBERS OF CHATTOOGA COUNTY GRAND JURY A' _ * < i i M { LJI lTw fin r< M 1 lli i. in the im iiibi f • ol the m>» I li.uiiint.i < limit' Grand Jury which was seated and begun accepting evidence shortly after i by fudge Jolin i» "o tn Hup-rior Court last Mon day morning. Pictured left In right, front row: Homer Simmons. Mrs. I'rances Harris. Wales Goebel. clerk; Henderson F. Ponder. Key W tUuun.. Dcmu. Lu. UiatUburu Lash. batML and Paul SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS CALLED TO TESTIFY IN PROBE FOR ANSWERS PONDER NABBED BY FBI AGENTS N. B. Johnson, special agent in charge of the Atlanta FBI of fice, announced early Wednes day morning the arrest of Rob ert Dean Ponder, age 30, on un lawful flight to avoid prosecu tion charges filed in Kansas City, Mo Ponder was arrested at 11:32 Tuesday night at the Twenty- Seven Drive-In, Crystal Springs, Ga., by FBI agents, GBI agent James P. Hillin and Chief of Police Von Brock, of the Floyd County Police Department. Sheriff Fred Stewart and Deputy Sheriff Paul White gave the Federal officers valuable as sistance in bringing about the arrest of Ponder. The two local officers worked close in hand with the FBI in securing infor mation regarding the move ments of Ponder. A federal complaint was filed in Kansas City by an FBI agent on Monday. July 14. charging Ponder with a violation of Fed eral unlawful flight statute in that on or about July 10, 1958. at Brumley. Mo., Ponder willfully fled from the state of Missouri to avoid prosecution on a charge of armed robbery. The Federal complaint was based on a state armed robbery warrant obtained by the Mis souri highway patrol on Sunday, July 13. Ponder is confined at the Floyd County jail at Rome, Ga and was arrained before the U.S Commissioner there Wednesday. MANHUNT Two Prisoners Escape County Work Camp Here Two Public Work Camp pris oners escaped here Tuesday morning and became the object of a three-state manhunt, ac cording to Sheriff Fred Stewart. Sheriff Stewart was advised of the break by Warden Harry Powi 11 and Stewart alarmed po lice authorities in neighboring Alabama and Tennessee to be on the lookout for the pair. The prisoners were listed as Carl Overdear, 24. and Robert Raines, 26 They were dressed in prison garb when they made their bid for freedom. Overdear was arrested and sentenced recently for striking Deputy Sheriff Paul White while the officer was arresting an other man on Sand Mountain. Overdear is from that section of Alabama. Raines was serving time on assault and battery charges. Sheriff Stewart said Raines was picked up here on a liquor charge at the request of Dalton authorities. Sheriff Stewart radioed Dal ton to bring in bloodhounds in an effort to captMM the <>- caped convicts. However, after two hours of waiting Dalton authorities advised the sheriff tile dogs were needed in tHnt county und could not be* brought to Summerville immediately ews SUBSCRIPTION RATE $2.00 PER YEAH By SHEENY WHITE The new Chattooga County Grand Jury is expected to probe deep into the county school problems while in closed-door session here this week. All members of the local school board, including Supt. Lowell Hix, have been seen entering the portals of the grand jury room. Mayor Authorized To Execute Agreement Mayor Martin H. Copeland has been authorized by the City Council to execute an agreement with Southern Natural Gas Com pany in connection with the company's expansion program which will ultimately bring more natural gas to Summerville and other customers of the company. City Clerk Sam Sitton. Jr., said the city will ask Southern Na tural for additional gas for this winter's operations. Some 800- 1000 applications for natural gas are now on file at the city hall and it is hoped most of these can be filled as the result of the agreement between the gas com pany and the city officials. The agreement with Summer ville. along with a like ?'range - ment with other customers, will allow Southern Natural to get a certificate from the Federal Power Commission to expand its facilities which will make pos sible additional gas for the com pany's customers in the very near future. Order Placed For 100 New Street Markers The City of Summerville is ■ slated to place an order for ap proximately 100 street markers which will be erected for the purpose of identifying the streets I and avenues here which have long been unmarked. The street signs will be erected first in those sections where it will help the post office depart ment to expidite mail delivery. Plans call for erecting the mark ers on the main streets and roads leading in and out of the city. Other markers will be added until the entire street system is marked. TRION REJECTS SUBLIGNA'S BID TO CONSOLIDATE Proposal Fails I'or Lack of a Motion; Local School Board Advised of Action By Letter The proposed move by the Chattooga County School Board to consolidate Subligna High School with Trion High School has been turned down by Trion school and city officials. The following letter was re ceived by Supt. Lowell Hix after the proposal was made to con solidate the two schools. At a meeting of the Trion School Board of Education and the City Council, held concerning admit ting the high school students from Subhgna was discussed "At the call for a motion to ac cept these students, no motion was made Therefore, we will not be able to take them." The let ter was signed by A. J Strick land. superintendent of the Trion Schools. Cook. foreman. Sack row: Billy Locklear, Robert Baggett. Jame H. Brimrr. Lewis P Kcarboru, John L. Webster. E. L. Grey, l^o Lanier. Hr. J. I. Salmon, L. P. Shropshire, ('urban Whitfield. Claude 11. Ratcliff. Wallace Lanier. Tom Greer and L. A. Miller. Staff Photo—bheauv UUila There is every reason to be lieve the Grand Jury will stage an extensive investigation in the recent $300,000 School Bond Issue election. It is understood that two election officers from the Lyerly precinct was called to testify before the group. Indica tions are, from the length of time each witness is questioned, the Jury intends to conduct a full investigation into the election and will attempt to shed some light on why the official results of the election showed the Bond Issue was approved but later de clared to be void when the votes were recounted after the election was contested by a number of Lyerly citizens. The Grand Jury usually fin ishes up its business in a two-day period However, a near record number of witnesses were called to give the Jury evidence on the school matter in addition to the routine cases brought before them. All members of the Chattooga County School Board, at one time or another, were observed waiting outside the Grand Jury room for their turn to testifv. Supt. Lowell Hix was one of the first school officials called to appear before the new Jury. O. L Clcckler, chairman of the School Board was a witness Wednesday afternoon M. C. Hartline. Bob Bagley, Bill Farrar and R L. White were other S'hool Board members s^cn at different times waiting outside the jury room to appear before the Grand Jury The number one problem now faced by the Grand Jury is the problem of being sure Chattooga County's 12-school system will open in September. Unless the Grand Jury comes up with a so lution favorable to all of the Board members there is a defi nite possibility the schools will not open because the State Board of Education has stated state funds in the amount of some $600,000 will be withheld from Chattooga County until the School Board complies with new State school requirements re cently set out by the State De partment of Education. The School Board for the past several weeks has been dead locked on the question of consol idation. At the last meeting of the Board the county school of ficials became hopelessly dead locked on this question and ad journed without setting a future meeting date As late as Wednesday noon some witnesses were excused for the day and were told to return to the Courthouse today, which indicated the Grand Jury may be in session the remainder of the week. EIGHT STREET LIGHTS AUTHORIZED BY CITY The City Council last Monday night authorized the erection of eight street lights hi the city to provide better lighting in the following areas: one on Oak street, two in the Maxey Sub division and one on North Scog gins street.