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VOLUME 84 — NUMB
1 lan Is g oposed
For Country Club
And Golf Course
After some two years of dis
cussions, a proposed plan to
build a country club and golf
course in Chattooga County is
now ready.
An ad hoc committee has
taken an option on approxi
mately 275 acres of land on
U. S. Highway 27 North as the
suggested site for the project.
The property has a 350-foot
frontage on Highway 27 just
north of the Pennville Elemen
tary School and includes the
land formerly occupied by the
Trion Fiscal
Budget Close
Last Year
All departments of the
Town of Trion operated ‘very
close to the budget” for the
last fiscal year, Mayor J.C.
Woods revealed after reviewing
the year-end financial report.
At the last meeting of the
mayor and council, unpaid
property taxes were discussed.
The city recorder was auth
orized to take legal action to
collect these taxes.
A discussion was held with
reference to unsightly property
in the town. “We have an
ordinance that requires all
property owners to maintain
their property in an acceptable
condition, and this will be en
forced,” the mayor said.
Plans were made to tar and
gravel Echols and Penn streets
in the near future.
The mayor and council ac
cepted a deed of gift from
Riegel Textile Corp, for Penn
Street.
General Files Injunction
To Allow Rate Increase
General Telephone Co.
Tuesday filed a petition for an
injunction in Fulton County
Superior Court to allow its
three firms in Georgia to put
into effect an increase in rates
totaling $2.94 million.
The legal action, which was
filed simultaneously by the
General Telephone firms,
further asks the court to enjoin
the Public Service Commission
from suspending or otherwise
interfering with the rate in
creases.
The petitions of al) three
firms state that denial of the
telephone rates proposed by
them in March, 1969, would
amount to confiscation of their
property.
The telephone firms say the
rate increases are necessary to
produce the revenues required
to expand and improve tele
phone service.
The firms which comprise
General Telephone’s operations
in Georgia are General Tele
phone Co. of Georgia, the
Georgia Division of the General
Telephone of the Southeast,
the Mutual Teiphone Co., Inc.
The petitions also state that
certain standards, or specifica
tions, concerning telephone
service promulgated in the
commission order on June 18,
1970. denied them the right of
due process, since there was no
evidence presented during the
rate hearings as to whether the
service standards were proper
or what they should be.
The companies say they
were denied the right to pre
sent any evidence concerning
the service standards.
In June, the commission
issued an order which per
mitted the companies less than
half of their original request,
but denied the increases until
the service standards had been
met.
The companies requested
the commission to reconsider
the order, saying the commis
sion erred in allowing an in
crease in revenues, which it
said the companies needed to
improve telephone service, and
at the same time denying the
increase until the telephone
service had been improved.
On July 17, 1970, the com
mission denied General’s
motion for reconsideration.
In the petitions presently
filed in Fulton County
Superior Court, General points
out that it has been over ten
years since the last general rate
increase, in which time, the
cost of virtually all areas of its
operations have increased
Srttnmmnlk Nms
Penn Drive-In Theatre. From
the north end of the highway
frontage, the . property drops
back some 550 feet and ex
tends along the Chattooga
River to the Penn Bridge Road.
The property, which is
owned by the Selman family,
would cost S4OO an acre.
The proposed plan would
provide for the sale of 200
charter memberships for SSOO
each. This fee would entitle the
member to one share of stock
in a non-profit corporation and
an equal opportunity to pur
chase a residential lot that
would be reserved on the peri
meter of the golf course. The
money from the sale of these
lots would be used to make
capital improvements.
First to be built would be a
clubhouse and a nine-hole golf
course that would be later ex
panded to 18 holes. Later ad
ditions would include a swim
ming pool, tennis court, driving
and putting ranges.
The committee hopes that
the clubhouse will have dining
facilities for the members and
their guests.
A meeting will be called in
the near future for those per
sons who have in the past
shown an interest in the coun
try club, to discuss moving
forward with the project.
The committee, which has
held many meetings and has
spent much time on the
project, looked over some
seven or eight sites before
making its selection.
The committee is composed
of F. H. “Pete” Boney,
chairman; Harvey McCollum,
James Richie, Stanley Selman,
Joseph E. “Bo” Loggins, J.P.
Smith, Dr. E. P. Hamner, J. R.
Burgess and LaFaughn Bishop.
“very substantially.”
General says it has suffered
a year’s delay in receiving an
order by the commission,
during which time further in
creases in the costs of its opera
tions have produced deteriora
tion in its earnings.
The three companies say
that their earnings and reve
nues have now declined to a
point where any further delay
in adjustment of rates amounts
to a “daily confiscation” of
their property.
They have requested the
court to permit rates which
would produce the revenues re
quested in their March, 1969,
applications.
General withdrew an earlier
request which would have, if
approved, permitted a much
larger increase in revenues for
all three companies.
The request was withdrawn
because General said it did not
wish to ask for a single step
advance to the required level of
earnings, since resulting tele
phone rates would be “too
much to ask for at one time.”
The gross increase in reve
nues subsequently applied for
was $2.94 million for all three,
the amount General is now
asking the court to allow to
prevent confiscation of its
property.
In its June 18 order, the
Annual Parade Set
Here November 19
This year’s Christmas parade has been tentatively scheduled at
8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19. The event is sponsored each year by
the Summerville Retail Merchants Association.
Plans for the annual Yule parade were made at a meeting of
the directors of the association Tuesday morning.
The directors discussed the potential removal of the traffic
islands on South Commerce Street and agreed to write a letter to
the proper authorities requesting that this action be taken. Also
discussed was the matter of traffic control on U. S. Highway 27.
Emory Parrish, the number two man in the State Highway
Department, has agreed to meet with the merchants group Sept. I
to discuss the problems. All persons who are interested in getting
these islands removed, and in improving the flow of traffic along
Highway 27 are urged to attend the meeting and to let your views
be known.
The SRMA directors also discussed changing the name of the
group to the Summerville Civic Association, an association for
merchants, manufacturers, service organizations, government
personnel and professional people.
Directors present for Tuesday’s meeting were Harvey
McCollum, president; James King, Herman Martin, Nick Stoner,
JT. Morgan, Jr., Frank Agnew, Max Jones, Bill Farrar and
I Woodrow Espy.
SUMMERVILLE, CHATTOOGA COUNTY, GEORGIA 30747, THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 1970
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CANDIDATE IS ROTARY GUEST SPEAKER
Joe Sports, a candidate for comptrol
ler general, was guest speaker at the
weekly meeting of the Summerville-
Trion Rotary Club Wednesday at
Riegeldale Tavern. Sports is a former
executive director of the Democratic
Party of Georgia and served as
sergeant-at-arms at the last Demo-
Increase Suggested
For County Salaries
The Grand Jury for the
August term of Chattooga
County Superior Court sug
gested that the salaries of coun
ty officials and th^ir employees
be brought “in line” with the
present cost of living and with
that of other employees.
Pointing out that county
officials and other county
commission allowed a gross
revenues increase for the three
companies of $ 1.43 million.
E. H. Jared, general manager
of the firm’s Georgia opera
tions, said, “with few excep
tions, General is now meeting
or exceeding the service
standards contained in the
commission’s June order.”
Local Lions Club
To Fete LL’ers
The Summerville Lions Club
will sponsor its annual hot dog
supper for players, managers
and bat boys of the Summer
ville Little League Tuesday,
Aug. 18.
The event will begin at 7:30
p.m. at the Chattooga County
Memorial Home.
Be Sure to See
the Many
Bargains Offered
By Local
Merchants in
Today’s
Back-to*Schoo)
Section
cratic National Convention. From
left: Clyde Davis, who grew up with
Mr. Sports in Douglas, Ga.; Mr.
Sports; Frank Prince, program
chairman for the week; and Richard
Martin, district manager for General
Telephone Co.
employees have not had a pay
raise in the past several years,
that the cost of living has gone
up “considerably” in that time,
and that salaries of other em
ployees in surrounding bus
inesses and industries have’
been raised, the Grand Jury
recommended that “our sen
ator (Billy Shaw Abney) and
our representative (James
“Sloppy” Floyd) look .into
bringing our county officers
and their employees up’to
in line with a salary com- '
mensurate with their duties
and abilities.”
The Grand Jury heard evi
dence on 37 bills of indictment
submitted for consideration.
Os this total, 31 true bills were
returned.
Most of the buildings owned
and operated by Chattooga
County were found to be in
“good” order. Minor repairs or
changes were recommended in
certain areas.
Taking note of a matter of .
growing concern to many Chat- !
toogans, the Grand Jury
recommended that the traffic I
islands “be removed” from
U. S. Highway 27 at its inter
section with the Mountain
View road, “where there has
been several fatalities” and that
“this hazard be corrected
through some other method.”
A letter from the Farmers &
Merchants Bank advised the
jurors that $215,052.80 is on
deposit in the regular account
and $16,505.00 in the bond
account of Chattooga County.
In another area of much in
terest here, the Grand Jury
recognized “an urgent need”
for a rest home in Chattooga
County. Il was pointed out
that there is now on file in the
Chattooga County commis
sioner’s office 57 applications
from persons who would
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FOUR INJURED IN MONDAY ACCIDENT
Chief of Police Griffin Pledger looks
over the smashed front end of an
automobile that crashed into the
brick wall between Shop-Rite Super
market and Dixie Dime Store about
12:15 Monday. The driver of the car
was listed as Freida G. Norton, 17, Rt.
utilize the facilities of a rest
home in the county. The jurors
requested that the State Health'
Department “give favorable
consideration .. . for a rest
home in Chattooga County.”
Other recommendations in
cluded:
That the State Highway
Department allow the City of
Summerville to operate the
traffic control signal on U. S.
■ Highway 27 at Kelly and Sixth
streets and the signal at High
way 48, Jakeville and Penn
streets.
That the State Board of
Corrections furnish the Chat
tooga County Works Camp
with more prisoners.
That the old Chattooga
County Alms House now va
cant be converted into three
apartments for rental purposes,
or for housing governmental
agencies which may be in need
of more space.
That Rep. James
“Sloppy” Floyd, the State
Highway Department, city and
county officials be commended
for their part in the road im
provement projects in Chat
tooga County.
That Ernest Colbert be
confirmed as a notary public
and ex-officio justice of the
peace for the 1484th Militia
District.
In a letter to Gov. Lester
Maddox, the Grand Jury
pointed out that “a most
dangerous situation exists at
Georgia Highway 48 (Menlo
Road) and Lyerly Street.” It
was requested that the railroad
crossing there be widened “so
that a school bus or a 40-foot
trailer (truck) may safely turn
off (Highway) 48 onto Lyerly
Street” and remain in its
proper lane without “necessi
tating that the vehicle back up
in order to make the turn.”
1, Summerville. The driver and three
passengers were carried to Chattooga
County Hospital. Mary Alice Norton
was later transferred to a Rome hos
pital after suffering a fractured
Knee. The driver said the brakes on
her automobile failed.
Rotary Club Speech
Puts Emphasis On
Candidates, Issues
Joe Sports
Is Guest of
Rotarians
A former executive director
of the Democratic Party of
Georgia spoke of his involve
ment in party activities in a
speech here Wednesday.
Joe Sports, who is a can
didate for controller general,
was the main speaker at the
weekly meeting of the Sum
merville-Trion Rotary Club at
Riegeldale Tavern.
The candidate stressed the
importance of public awareness
of candidates and issues and of
the selection of the best qual
ified candidates.
Mr. Sports was introduced
by Frank Prince, program
chairman for the week.
NO CHALLENGE
The former Democratic
Party leader predicted that
there would be “no challenge”
to Georgia’s national conven
tion delegates in 1972, follow
ing some necessary changes in
party rules which are generally
advocated by both leading
gubernatorial candidates.
Speaking of the hazards of
politicking. Sports recalled that
a heavy amplifier fell last week
while he was speaking in Black
shear, Ga. He revealed that on
two occasions an airplane door
flew open, one resulting in
having to make a forced land
ing.
MONEY TIGHT
The candidate also ac
knowledged that fund toeing
has been difficult for political
hopefuls this year due to the
large number of people in
volved in the various races this
year and because of the “tight
money situation.”
A 35-year-old native of
Douglas, Sports now lives in
Decatur. He is a graduate of
Douglas High School and
South Georgia College. He did
additional work at the Ameri
can University in Washington,
D. C.
FORMER EDITOR
Joe Sports’ working back
ground includes five years as
associate editor of the Douglas
Enterprise. He served three
years as special assistant to
Congresswoman Iris Blitch and
three years as director of news
and promotion for an Albany
television station.
He was appointed executive
director of Georgia’s Demo
cratic Party in 1967, a post he
held until February, 1970,
when he resigned to announce
his candidacy for the office of
controller general.
Floyd Will Attend
VFW Convention
James “Sloppy” Floyd will
leave Friday for Miami to
attend the national convention
of the Veterans of Foreign
Wars of the United States.
Floyd is quartermaster for
the Department of Georgia.
Funeral Services Friday
For Pfc Bill Browning
Funeral services for Pfc Bill G. Browning, 23, will be
held at 2 p.m. Friday from the chapel of J. D Hill Funeral
Home with the Rev. A. A. Tanner and the Rev. Charles
Clark otficiating. Burial will be in Johnson Cemetery.
Pte Browning was reported missing in action in Vietnam
July 20, and ofiicial word of his death was received by his
family Aug. 4.
The body arrived at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday at Lovell
Field in Chattanooga. Full military honors will be observed
by military personnel from Fort McPherson in Atlanta.
Pfc Browning left the United States for Southeast Asia
June 15, 1970. He was stationed with the 101st Airborne-
Division at the time of his death.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Ruth Floyd Browning,
whom he married June 2; three children, Beverly, Gwenn
and Tom Browning, mother and step-father, Mr. and Mrs.
Bob Ragland, Route 2, Lyerly; one brother, Rodney Dale
Browning of LaFayette.
J. D. Hill Funeral Home, Inc., has charge of
arrangements.
Outline Given On
Library Operation
The Cherokee Regional
Library Board this week issued
the following statement in ex
planation of the operation of
the libraries in the three coun
ties under its jurisdiction:
“There has been so much
interest in our library building
by the public, whom we serve.
Many have asked how the
Cherokee Regional Library
Board manages the upkeep of
the libraries in the three
counties.
“Here is the setup:
“We work under the Geor
gia Board of Education’s Public
Library Services. This agency
pays the salaries of three
trained librarians, furnishes
$22,000 each year to be spent
for books, and furnishes some
federal money, which is paid in
proportion to the amount
given from county funds. This
amount varies.
“Each of the three county
commissioners pays to a
bonded treasurer such amounts
as they can give. The Georgia
(General Assembly) some ten
years ago passed a law allowing
counties to assess one mill for
the support of libraries. So far,
our three counties have only
paid one-fourth mill to our
region. The school boards of
each county contribute small
amounts, as do the cities and
clubs,
“Each county board sends a
check to the central treasurer.
The director and treasurer pay
rents, utilities and staff salaries
for all branches.
“For 26 years, Chattooga
County has sent the required
amount, though sometimes
John Davis, the late Harvey
Phillips, Mrs. B. W. Farrar, Mrs.
Julia Loop and others have had
to spend the last two weeks of
a month begging money to
meet the payments.
“Mr. Powell, our commis
sioner, has taken a great in-
Rome Center
Will Reopen
Next Monday
The Floyd-Chattooga Mul
tiple Handicap Center in Rome
will reopen for the new year
Aug. 17. All students who at
tended the last session are
urged to begin on that date.
Parents who wish to apply
for admittance of a child may
do so now. Persons from three
years through adulthood and
who are not able to attend
public school because of re
tardation or other handicaps
are eligible to apply.
Applications may be ob
tained from the Health Depart
ment, Department of Family
and Children Services or from
the center itself. A bus is pro
vided for Chattooga County
children. The bus leaves from
the welfare office each
morning at 8 a.m.
The center is operated by
the Chattooga and Floyd
County Association for Re
tarded Children and the North
west Georgia Regional Health
Advisory Council, Inc.
PRICE 10c
terest in this cultural program
since he came into office . . .
The Town of Trion has helped.
The City of Summerville, too,
has great regard for the worth
of education in its program.
“You can see how intricate
this whole program is, and how
necessary and right for the
public'to understand it. The
library board of each county
make up the regional board.
They have to be very alert and
busy to keep it all going
smoothly. We serve more and
more people each year, and
need more money each year.
“We urge all taxing agencies
to consider our growing needs
and be willing to include
libraries in their yearly
programs.”
M Mt
UNE
Hot Line attempts to
answer questions, solve prob
lems, cut red tape and to per
form a public service for the
readers of this newspaper.
Letters must be signed, but
only initials will be used. For
help, dial 857-2494 between
8:30 a m. and 5 p.m. or write:
Hot Line, The Summerville
News. Summerville, Ga. 30747.
We have a neighbor who has
several unused refrigerators in
their yard. Because of the large
number of children in our area,
it could be a dangerous situa
tion. I have heard that the
locks (or catches) on these re
frigerators must be removed if
they are out in the open. Is this
correct? Who has the authority
to enforce this law? Mrs. Y
According to the new Crim
inal Code of Georgia, Section
26-2911, it is a misdemeanor,
under certain conditions, to
leave refrigerators m places ac
cessible to children. If the sit
uation you describe violates
this law, you would have Io
take out a warrant against the
offender. It would then be the
sheriff’s duty to serve the war
rant.
* • *
The street leading to our
house is full of pot holes. I
believe that this is a city street.
We have been trying since last
November to get something
done about getting it repaired.
Why can't the city do some
thing about this terrible situa
tion? B M.
It has not been determined
at City Hall if this is a city
street. A more thorough check
will be made, and if it is legally
a city street, improvements will
be made, Hot Line was told.
HOT LINE REPORT
We urge you to continue
sending us your letters, cards
and telephone calls. If you
have any question, complaint
or would feel better by just
“sounding off,” get in touch
with us and we will give you
some answer. Please restrict
your communications Io items
of general community interest.