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VOLUME 79 — NUMBER 29
Poll Workers
Can’t Mark
Ballots
Poll workers can’t help
you mark your ballot Sept.
9, but someone else can.
And you can’t have a bal
lot brought out to your car
for marking.
So said election officials
Wednesday afternoon at a meet
ing of the Chattooga Democratic
Executive committee. The meet
ing was called for the purpose of
opening qualifications for jus
tice of the peace and constable
candidates, but several matters
concerning the Sept. 9 Demo
cratic primary were discussed.
Ordinary Paul Weems reported
on a briefing which he attended
last week in Atlanta on the new
Georgia Election Code. Although
the Democratic Committee will
handle the primary, practically
the same rules apply to it as
apply to the general election
which the ordinary handles.
It was pointed out that no poll
worker will be allowed to assist
any person in marking his bal
lot. However, a person who
will sign a “voters certificate”
stating he is illiterate may ask
someone else to assist him in
marking his ballot. The person
who assists him, however, may
not assist more than 10 persons
that day.
In small precincts where no
one is available under such a
situation, they will just have to
wait until someone arrives who
can assist.
There will be no taking of
ballots out to cars. Persons who
are unable to get out and walk
to the polling place should
obtain an absentee ballot in
(Continued on Page 51
Uncle Ned’s
Notes
Most folks seem to be jest
plain disgusted with the whole
hospital situashun.
They’re sayin “Something
ought to be done.”
But whatever has to be done
of course has to be done
mostly by the hospital board.
It’s up to them to run the hos
pital or if they can’t do it they
ought to get off and let some
body else give it a try.
I guess it won’t be a easy
job for anybody but it’s an im
portant one.
Baptists Plan Sing
Sunday Afternoon
The Chattooga County Baptist Assn, will hold a hymn
sing at 2:30 p. m. Sunday at the air-conditioned South
Summerville Baptist Church.
There will be choirs, quartets, trios, solos and con
gregational singing, states Wayne Groce, Association music
director. And the program will —
be broadcast on radio station
WGTA.
Pianists will include Mesdames
R. E. Snow, Don Gordon, Helen
Hudson, Gordon Green and
Misses Phyllis Spain, Joan Wil
son, Carolyn McClellan. Dianne
Lewis, Annie McClellan, Donna
Sue Cordell and Linda Cantrell
and Frank Lewis Jr.
Organists will include Miss
Mary Frank Erwin, Elizabeth
Jones, Mrs. Bert Brogdon, Mrs.
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Russia a Place of Drabness, Solemnity, Says Surles
Russia is a place of drabness. . .a place of little merriment. . .a place
without beggars.. a place where President Kennedy is highly regarded. ..
a place where children cannot receive religious instruction. . . .
So says Summerville’s Ed Surles who has just returned from a visit
behind the Iron Curtain.
Mr. Surles, an attorney, returned 10 days ago from a three-week trip
with a group of other Georgia business and professional men to Belgium
Sweden, Russia, Poland, Hungary and Germany.
He visited Moscow and Leningrad in Russia, spending about a week
altogether in the Communist motherland.
MY MOST INSPIRING moment,” said Surles, “was when we visited
the Baptist Church in Leningrad.”
He hastened to add that this was not on the tour schedule and that
the government Intourist guide who accompanied the group would not
assist them in any way in finding the church.
Surles, a member of the Summerville First Baptist Church, said that
one member of the Georgia delegation was the pastor of the Athens First
Baptist Church and that he got a taxi to take him to the site which was
located on the outskirts of the city. Later, the minister and Surles went
there for a Sunday service.
“We were cordially greeted,” said Surles, “and given preferred seats
behind the altar. The pastor spoke both English and Russian and he was
most friendly. We felt that we had met brothers in Christianity as in
deed we had.. .”
The choir and congregational singing was impressive and “seemed
Qualifications Open
For JP’s, Constables
To Be Voted On in
Sept. 9th Primary
Candidates began leaping into the justice of the peace
and constable races late Wednesday after qualifications for
these posts were opened.
The deadline is noon Saturday and the fee is $lO.
William Eilenburg and Levi McGraw both quickly
Education
Board to
Meet Friday
Several minor matters were
handled at the Chattooga Board
of Education meeting Tuesday
afternoon, and the session was
continued until 4 p.m. Friday.
Only three members, O. L.
Cleckler, Johnny Bryant and
Robert Hendrix, were present.
All are expected to be present
Friday, it was stated.
The board voted to borrow
$13,500 to pay for the new school
buses being purchased, noting
that it expects to be reimbursed
from the state for most of this.
It was also agreed that the
Menlo Little League could estab
lish a playing field pn the Menlo
School campus.
An inquiry about use of the
Gore School building was tabled.
Lyerly Road
To Get Gas
Service Soon
Natural gas service will soon
be expanded from the Berryton
bridge south to the Georgia Rug
Mill warehouse.
It is hoped the service can be
expanded into Lyerly itself by
next year.
The Summerville mayor and
(Continued on Page 5)
1 Robert Speer, Mrs. Duke Espy,
. Mrs. Guy Scoggins, Debra Wil
i son, Dave Stowe, Marvin Owens
I and Dianne Lewis.
Directors will include: Mr.
: Groce, Bill Dodd, Mrs. E. M.
. Stone, Don Gordon, Charles Wil
l son, Norman McClellan, Emory
Mathis, Willard Brown, O. G.
; Morehead Jr., L. W. Bulman,
i Gordon Green and the Rev. G.
. Emmett Smith.
Bnmmmnlh* Nms
qualified for justice of the peace
in the Summerville militia dis
trict. Each district may elect a
JP and a constable.
The Chattooga Democratic
Executive Committee held a
called meeting Wednesday after
noon after it was learned that
justices of the peace and con
stables could not run in the gen
eral election unless they had
(Da petition of five per cent of
the voters in their area or (2)
1 were nominated in a primary
such as the Sept. 9 Democratic
primary.
Previously, the JP’s and con
stables were elected in a “special
' election” which always coincided
with the general election in No
vember. However, state officials
say this is unlawful under the
1 new Election Code.
Candidates from any district
; may qualify with Chairman Earl
B. Self, Trion Member Douglas
! Baker or Summerville Member
Henry Woods or they may
, qualify from the committeeman
from their district. Persons run
ning for other offices may not
also run for one of these offices,
it was decided. Just as in other
offices, there will be a runoff if
a candidate does not receive a
majority of the votes. This is the
state law.
A. B. Day presided at the
meeting in the absence of Chair
man Self who was away in
court. Members voted to pay
themselves $lO each for the
: meeting.
Registration
At CHS to
Start Wed.
Chattooga County teachers
have only a few days of summer
vacation left—they must report
to the schoolhouse Tuesday.
County students won’t report
for classes until Tuesday, Aug.
25, but Chattooga High School
students must begin registering
next Wednesday. Here is the
schedule:
Seniors—9 a. m.-12 noon, 1-4
p. m. Wednesday, Aug. 19
Juniors—9 a. m.-12 noon, 1-4
p. m. Thursday, Aug. 20.
Sophomores—B a. m.-12 noon
Friday, Aug. 21.
Freshmen—l-4 p. m. Friday,
Aug. 21.
No buses will run for the reg
istration days, says Principal
A. L. Clark.
In the meantime, Trion teach
ers will report Monday, Aug. 24,
and Trion students will report
Thursday, Aug. 27.
SUMMERVILLE, CHATTOOGA COUNTY, GEORGIA, THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 19«4
(An Editorial)
Public Awaits Board
Action on Hospital
Many Chattooga Countians have lost confidence
in the Chattooga Hospital.
This is unfortunate but is not without some justi
fication.
The most, recent evidence of the community’s dis
satisfaction was a July grand jury recommendation
that the facility’s “whole financial structure” be re
evaluated. It was suggested that if the present board
can’t improve the situation it should resign.
In addition, the medical staff of the hospital (com
prised of doctors) has been critical of the administra
tion on several occasions, beginning as early as 1955.
Apparently, some of the doctors suggestions have been
met but there are indications they still feel the hospital
is not adequately run.
And even some hospital board members indicated
a lack of confidence in the facility.
There are several facets to the problem — com
petition from surrounding hospitals, including the one
at Trion; the problem of obtaining personnel; a rapid
turnover of doctors here within the past few years and
fewer doctors here now than in the past; more main
tenance expense now that the hospital is becoming
older; and an apparent lack of efficiency in some
phases of the administration.
Each party involved has its own viewpoint and that
view, unfortunately, is usually that someone else is to
blame for the situation.
What we need is a halt to this business of “passing
the buck”.
We need better cooperation between the doctors
and the administration and both groups should take
immediate steps to brige the gulf that apparently
stands between them.
We need an energetic hospital board that will meet
regularly. Serving on the board is admittedly a thank
less task. There is no compensation and there is often
criticism, even under the best of circumstances. But
members who cannot meet regularly or who are dis
interested should resign and let someone else grabble
with the problems involved.
We need a budgetary system for the hospital. This
simply means planning, not ploddiing. An annual bud
get giving in detail the anticipated expenditures and
income and based on the previous year’s financial re
port is nothing more than good business. A sound fi
nancial record system would inspire confidence from
governing authorities, taxpayers and the public in gen
eral.
The operation of the hospital is the responsibility
of the hospital board and no one else. It is legally and
morally responsible and must take credit when credit
is due and blame when blame is due. The doctors, the
county, the grand jury, the community are only on
lookers. They can make suggestions and they can in
sist on an efficiently run hospital because it is a public
institution.
& But in the final analysis, it is up to the hospital
The public is anxiously awaiting some indication
of what it plans to do about the situation.
Mayor Commends Runners;
Urges Public Support
Summerville Mayor J. R.
Dowdy this week commended
The Ridge Runners on their
program of traffic safety and
urged that the public give its
support toward the club’s efforts
to establish a drag strip.
He said he is “extremely
proud” of the hot rod club for
its “fine efforts in cooperating
with the police department and
to be coming from the heart,” said the attorney. He said he recognized
only one song, “Blessed Assurance.”
The church was packed but most were older people and 90 per cent
were women. Both morning and afternoon services are held but there is
no Sunday School. It is unlawful to give religious instruction to any per
son under 18 in the Soviet Union, said Surles. Through this system, the
government, which is atheistic, hopes to gradually stamp out all religion.
THE CHURCH BUILDING used by the Baptists is owned by the gov
ernment and is rented from it, said the attorney. He noted that he saw a
few Greek Orthodox priests on the streets but that he saw no signs of
other churches or religious services.
Russia is extremely anxious to trade more with the United States,
Surles and his fellow travelers were told by representatives of the Soviet
government. He said that much to the surprise of their Intourist guide,
the vice chairman of the Russian Ministry of Trade, a member of the 100-
man Presidium, talked with them. He was among several who stressed
Russia’s desire to trade more with the U. S. They especially want to sell
this country heavy equipment, it was stated.
Here are some other recollections Mr. Surles has of the trip:
Surprisingly, most Russian families seemed to have television sets.
This may be because the government keeps the prices low in order to
furnish the people with economical entertainment and at the same time
use the TV, whose programs are of course run by the government, for
propaganda purposes.
There are more cars on the streets than he’d expected but most were
other law enforcement officials
to slow down what has in the
past been a dangerous traffic
problem.
The mayor added:
“Reports show they want and
already have done a wonderful
job on their part in working
toward a safe place to live and
work. At the same time the
(Continued on Page 5)
fW ■ *
*Z -
SCENE OF MILLER WRECK (Ph °‘° by Ear ‘ McCon “ U)
... in North Summerville on U. S. 27
Miller Condition Still
Critical; Rileys Injured
Henry Miller, Summervill
in critical condition Wednes
ceived early Saturday.
And several members of
Gore were injured Wednesdt
accident near the John Jones
place. Details were not immed
iately available, but it was re
ported that Mrs. Riley was driv
ing a pickup truck and had her
several children at the time.
Hamp Mosely was the driver of
the pulpwood truck involved. He
was not injured. The Rileys were
undergoing emergency treat
ment at Chattooga Hospital late
Wednesday afternoon.
In the meantime, Mr. Miller
remains at Erlanger Hospital in
Chattanooga where he was taken
early Saturday after being in
volved in a collision in Sum
merville.
Driver of the other car was
Grady Jackson Brady Jr., 21,
Marietta, formerly of Summer
ville. Officers said he was
charged with driving while in
toxicated and driving on the
wrong side of the road. Brady
was released from Chattooga
Hospital after being given treat
ment.
The accident occurred about
5:45 a. m. Saturday on U. S. 27
in North Summerville near the
Trackside Station, just a short
distance from the Chattooga
Hospital.
Sgt. David Starkey and Of
ficer Lamar Head investigated.
They said both cars were a total
loss.
Children’s
Needs to Be
Meeting Topic
Some 30 Chattooga Countians
have been invited to a meeting
Friday night at the Georgia
Power Company in connection
with the needs of children in
the county.
Sponsored by the Georgia De
partment of Family and Chil
dren’s Services (formerly Wel
fare Department), the meeting
was called by the Rev. Solon C.
Couch, who is affiliated with
the department’s Youth Divi
sion.
The Rev. Donald Hyde, Menlo,
pastor of the Menlo group of
(Continued on Page 5)
government owned and used by bureaucrats or were taxis. The average
family doesn’t own one.
The people are far from stylishly dressed. Most women are stocky
and plain. The average man wears a sport shirt and wears the short shirt
tail outside his trousers.
There were no beggars on the streets.
There were no big stores, just many small shops, most of which are
owned by the government. An individual may own an ice cream parlor or
something like that.
During a visit to a railway station, which was not on the Intourist
agenda, Mr. Surles saw a mass of people poorly dressed and with little in
the way of luggage other than paper bags and boxes.
The people were solemn. You saw little laughter. They don’t have the
free and easy spirit which prevails here. They aren’t unfriendly espe
cially; they just aren’t friendly. They will scarcely talk to a Westerner in
the presence of someone else.
The group saw no factories although they asked to do so. They saw
Lenin’s tomb, many museums, the Palace of Congresses inside the Krem
lin walls—said to be one of the two buildings in Moscow air conditioned.
It was the most modern building seen in Russia by the Surles group.
There is no rationing. But prices on most items other than staples
are so high they are in effect “rationed”.
The group saw no Russian soldiers in Poland and Hungary although
they were told there are soldiers in camps outside the cities. They are not
(Continued on Page 5)
A Prize-Winning
Newspaper
1964
Better Newspaper
Contests
e restaurant owner, remained
day from traffic injuries re-
the Charles Riley family near
iy afternoon in a two truck
TAX WORK
ALMOST
COMPLETED
You may soon know what your
1964 Chattooga County tax rate
will be.
Claude Ratliff, chairman of
the Chattooga Board of Tax
Assessors, said Wednesday the
board expects to complete Its
task of setting assessments by
the end of this week.
It is understood that the tax
receiver is nearing the end of
his work of figuring and de
ducting the exemptions after
which time the net digest will be
available. At that time, the
county commissioner and. the
Chattooga Board of Education
are expected to set the tax rate
for this year.
There is a great deal of specu
lation about the new rates in
asmuchas the county has just
completed a property revalua
tion program and the tax rate is
expected to be lowered as a re
sult. Properties are now believed
to generally be set at market
value, this having been the pur
pose of the revaluation pro
gram.
Politics Warms Up; Read About
Candidates and Offices in News
Politics is warming up in Chattooga County, so be
prepared to discuss it with your friends and neighbors.
But most of all, be prepared to vote intelligently.
Read this week and every week between now and
Sept. 9 in The Summerville News something of the
duties of the officers and something of the background
of the candidates.
Several of the offices and candidates are discussed
this week in the series, “The Offices ... The Candidates
...” found inside.
Next week, the state senator and state representa
tive will be discussed.
lOc PER COPY
Read Ad; You
May Win $5
In Merchandise
This is the week!
Yes, this is the week when
four lucky readers will receive
$5 worth of merchandise at
some Summerville store-—if
they follow the rules.
All you have to do is turn to
the Shop at Home page ad in
side and read it closely. If you
find your name listed in one
of the ads, clip out the coupon
and take it to the store in
whose ad your name appears.
The firm will give you $5 off
on any merchandise you buy
or services you receive.
Retaliation
In SE Asia
Proper—Davis
The United States had the
choice of upholding the dignity
and sovereignty of its flag or of
suffering a humiliating insult in
the Viet Nam matter, Congress
man John Davis, of Summer
ville, said this week.
He said the joint resolution
(Continued on Page 5)