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VOLUME 88 — NUMBER 40
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LOCAL VETERANS DAY PARTICIPANTS
Members of Mason-McCauley Post 6688, VFW,
American Legion Post 129, the ladies auxiliaries of
both organizations, and their guests gathered Sat
urday at Chattooga County Memorial Home to
honor their comrades on Veterans Day. Special
guests for the occasion were members of the Geor
gia National Guard and Mayor George Payne of
Menlo. Also present were four veterans of World
Two Charged
For Burglary
Jimmy Wooten, Route
2, Summerville, has been
charged with burglary, ac
cording to Sheriff Gary
McConnell. Records show
that Wooten has been re
leased under bond to the
February term of Chat
tooga Superior Court.
The sheriff reported
that William Ellison of a
Steel Street address, La-
Fayette, has also been
arrested and charged with
burglary. He, too, has been
released under bond.
A total of 103 other
misdemeanor cases were
handled by the sheriff's
department during the
past week.
Fowler Accepts
Pastoral Post
The Rev. Paul B. Fowler has
accepted a call with the Chat
tooga County Presbyterian
Ministries, it was learned here
this week. He will work with
the Rev. George K. Preston.
A native of Pittsburgh,
Fowler was ordained in 1966
and was assistant pastor of
Atlanta’s Westminister Presby
terian Church before going to
Edinburgh, Scotland, to carry
on doctoral work in New
Testament studies.
The Rev. Mr. Fowler is
married to the former Camma
Margaret Cook of Andalusia,
Ala , and they have one son,
Paul Jr., two and one-half years
old.
The Fowlers will move into
the Presbyterian manse at
Trion.
PTA Open House
Summerville Elementary
School PTA will hold open
house from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 21.
Parents are urged to show
their full support by their at
tendance.
Davis, Floyd to Address
Annual Library Meeting
The Cherokee Regional
Library Board will hold its fall
public relations meeting Tues
day. Nov. 21. at Covenant
College on Lookout Mountain.
The dinner is scheduled to
begin at 7 p.m.. and the pro
gram will immediately follow.
Speakers will include Con
gressman John Davis Rep.
James (Sloppy! Floyd, Dr.
Jack P Nix. state superinten
dent of schools, and Bill King
county superintendent of
* h ”The Georgi.
Assembly has helped he
library program greatly in the
past year," a library board
spokesman said. "We .re fortu
nate to have the leadership of
men with vision and ideals to
make our laws."
She S’ltnunrruillr News
Councilman Brooks
Talks About Audit
Summerville City Council
man Charles Brooks Wednes
day released the following
statement to The Summerville
News:
“In reply to Mayor (J. R.)
Dowdy’s statement that the
cost of this year’s audit was
unrealistic and that there were
no discrepancies, I would like
for the public to know the
facts of the events leading to
the audit.
“At one of our first meet
ings, the Mayor made the state
ment that the city was broke,
and some SBO,OOO in debt; that
we needed to raise some
money immediately. He also
wanted the Council to charge a
$2 garbage pickup fee, which
the council refused to discuss.
“At this time, some of the
Council members questioned
the fact that we were broke
and in debt, since they had
understood that the city was in
good shape. After lengthy dis
cussions about the audit, we
decided to take some action. I
first called the gas and water
bonding companies, and was
told by them that we were in
good standing with them and
should be profiting from our
utilities. I requested copies of
the original contract between
the city and these companies.
After going through these con
tracts I found that after certain
requirements were made, these
monies could be spent by the
city at the Council’s discretion.
“I tried to find out how
much money we had and
where it was located. I was told
more than once that the
monies were in Atlanta and
could not be touched I asked
some of the Council who had
served previously, and they had
also been told that the money
was in Atlanta and could not
be used.
“In the meantime, the
Mayor had requested our repre
sentative to give us authority
to double city taxes to 10
A highlight of the meeting
will be the annual report of
library services to the people of
the counties of Chattooga,
Dade, and Walker, which are
served by the regional library
system.
Covenant College may be
reached by taking Highway
239 from Cloudland, turn left
on 143 for two and one-half
miles, then right on 157 to the
college.
Meet Rescheduled
The Nov. 21 meeting of the»
Chattooga County Hospital
Auxiliary has been postponed,
it was announced this week
The meeting has been re
scheduled on Nov 28
SUMMERVILLE, CHATTOOGA COUNTY. GEORGIA THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1972
War I. A slide presentation of the activities of the
National Guard was shown to the group. Shown
above, left to right: Warrant Officer Bill Smith;
Capt. Jerre Field; W. Ray Giles, past department
commander of Georgia who served as master of
ceremonies; VFW Post Commander Tom Johnston;
and Mayor Payne.
mills. I was requested by the
full Council to find another
auditor than the one that had
been used for the past several
years. After checking with
some of the bigger companies,
since it was felt a more
thorough audit was needed, we
found that their price for a
certified audit was out of reach
for a small town. After further
searching and several recom
mendations, we agreed to hire
the J. Bradley Haynes Co. of
Rome, Ga. Mr. Haynes serves
on the State Board of Certified
Public Accountants. This more
than qualifies Mr. Haynes for
any accounting job.
“As the audit got underway,
it became more evident that it
was badly needed, as there
were several discrepancies. The
audit disclosed $50,000 that
was illegally transferred at a
Summerville bank. This was in
consistent with a statement
that the money was in Atlanta.
“The Mayor had stated that
there were no leaks in the gas
system; yet, when our consult
ing engineers reported that we
were losing $47,000 in gas
revenue, the Mayor wanted to
fire him. The audit disclosed
that there was actually
$75,000 in revenue lost. The
audit disclosed some 14 gas
State Panel Plans
Taxpayers’ Relief
Local residents who have
been deeply concerned about
the financial burden imposed
by property taxes and by court
attacks on the method of
financing education will be
interested in an announcement
released this week from the
Governor's office.
Gov. Jimmy Carter has an
nounced that a proposal of the
State and Local Government
Coordination Study would
meet court attacks on educa
tional financing, improve edu
cational opportunities for all
children, and reduce the
portion of educational financ
ing now borne by local prop
erty taxpayers “all without
raising taxes.”
The Governor said he will
ask the 1973 General Assembly
to approve SIS million in new
funds “to help provide a more
equal quality education” for
students in Georgia school
systems, “with little taxable
property" per student
Carter also proposed a
change in the method of com
puting the amount of required
local effort under the
Minimum Foundation Program
for Education (MFPE) in an
effort “to stabilize the local
property tax" for educational
purposes
“Some sls million in new
funds will be used to finance
meters, 70 water meters, and
12,000 feet of pipe un
accounted for. The audit also
disclosed $552,000 in checking
accounts in Summerville. The
audit disclosed $196,235 in
securities in an Atlanta bank.
The audit disclosed $19,000 in
First Federal of Summerville.
The audit disclosed $58,000 in
bonds at City Hall.
“The auditor recommended
that $475,000 be put on sav
ings, which would bring the
city interest of some $28,000
per year. When the Mayor was
questioned about this, his
answer was that he did not
know the money was in
Summerville. He was then
asked how $50,000 could be
transferred and not know
where it was located. He then
stated that he knew it was
there, but didn’t know he
could use it. Yet this money
was transferred to the general
fund. These answers were so
inconsistent 1 felt further ques
tions were futile.
“I feel the audit was well
worth what it cost, as it
brought the city from SBO,OOO
in the red to well over
SBOO,OOO in cash in the black.
“These figures are a matter
of public record, and anyone
can check them.”
‘enrichment’ programs, which
are those not included in
MFPE,” the Governor said.
“This would be the first time
the slate has ever provided
enrichment funds for educa
tion."
Gov. Carter said the two
proposals to change educa
tional financing were made by
the local government study
"with my complete endorse
ment."
As an example of how the
new funding program will
work, the Governor gave this
hypothetical illustration:
“Suppose that one mill of
taxation in the richest school
system in Georgia yielded $26
(Continued On Page 2)
Riegel Announces
Wage IncreaNe
Riegel Textile Corp, has re
. ceived approval from the
' Federal Pay Board of its re
quest to grant a wage increase
to all non-salaried employees in
the Trion division, as well as
Riegel’s other spinning, weav
.ing, and finishing plants.
Employees will be notified
of the new wage rate as soon as
the increase can be calculated,
; it was pointed out.
Long Council Session
Harmonious; 27 Items
On Crowded Agenda
Approval Is Given
For 2 Police Cars
The Summerville City Council waded through a
27-item agenda in approximately three hours during
Monday night’s regular session.
The first hour was taken up with a number of
visitors who presented various requests and problems.
Among these were represent
atives of a local business firm
who requested a loading zone
in front of their store as they
do not have a back entrance.
The question was then raised
whether this-and similar situa
tions-created a fire hazard.
The Council took no action
on the request as it had not
been placed on the agenda for
discussion at Monday night’s
meeting.
Herb Van Nouhuys, a self
employed engineer, appeared
before the Council to explain a
federal regulation that must be
complied with by 1976. This
would require measures to pre
vent or correct corrosion in the
city’s gas lines.
Councilman Charles Brooks
asked why he had not been
informed of this situation
before. Only Mayor J. R.
Dowdy and Councilman Jess
Mitchell said they knew of it.
It was pointed out that some
of this work has already been
done, but there are certain
areas that would not meet the
government standards.
It was agreed that a special
meeting would be arranged be
tween the Council, Van
Nouhuys, and the city’s con
sulting engineer. Bill Edwards.
A motion for final adoption
of an amendment to the zoning
ordinance to change a section
of the Maple Drive area from
R-l to R-2 failed to pass.
The Council approved pay
ment of $8,560 to J. Bradley
Haynes & Co. of Rome for the
recently completed city audit.
In other action the Council:
Approved the purchase of
some $3,000 of equipment for
the Summerville Fire Depart
ment.
-Approved repairs to the
plumbing system at the city
jail.
-Approved the purchase of
two new police cars through
the state for $3,183.80 each.
-Discussed attendance at
the annual Mayor’s Day in
Atlanta.
-Agreed to pay Georgia
Power Co. on a monthly basis.
-Approved a motion to
open Scoggins Street.
-Approved installation of a
sewer line for Allen and Ed-
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NEW CHATTOOGA DISTRICT SCOUT LEADERS
The installation of officers was one of the main
features of the annual Chattooga District, Boy
Scouts of America, meeting Monday night at Penn
ville Elementary School. Shown being sworn in bv
Dave Dellinger, district Scout executive, are, left
mondson Street.
After a lengthy discussion
regarding promoting Roy
Starkey to the position of assis
tant police chief, the Council
tabled this item until a later
meeting.
During this discussion, two
of the councilmen said the
police need to be out on the
street more, and complained
that they watched television in
the police station too much.
Board of Education Holds
Routine Session Monday
It was mostly routine busi
ness for the Chattooga County
Board of Education at Monday
night’s regular session. The
board disposed of some 1 5 to
18 items on the agenda in
about two hours.
The board approved the
borrowing of an additional
$60,000 for general school
operation through January. It
was pointed out that this was
made necessary due to the
present tax situation.
Supt. Bill King said that
ordinarily the school system
would receive a big check from
the tax commissioner in
Deadline Nears
For Qualifying
Potential candidates for
seats on the Menlo City
Council have until 7 p.m. Sat
urday, Nov. 18, to qualify with
either Hester Hurtt, city re
corder, or Mayor George H.
Payne.
Seats to be filled are: No. 3,
now held by A. B. (Bud) Day;
No. 4, now held by R. W. King;
and No. 5, now held by R. A.
Canada.
The election will be held on
Dec. 2.
Teacher Salary Raise
To Face Court Test
Local teachcrs-and those throughout Georgia may get
another chance to be granted the full pay raise approved by
the 972 General Assembly.
The Georgia Association of Educator’s (GAE) suit
against the Federal Pay Board will be heard in Atlanta
Tuesday.
GAE brought suit against the Pay Board in its continuing
effort on behalf of Georgia teachers to reverse the board’s
rulings which have limited teacher raises to 7.5 percent,
even though the General Assembly approved a 12.5-percent
raise.
The Nov. 21 hearing will give association attorneys an
opportunity to present the case for Georgia teachers to the
federal court in the hope of obtaining judicial reversal of
the Pay Board’s action. Pay Board attorneys will also
appear at the hearing.
The GAE suit is one of a series of actions taken by the
association in search of away to get teachers in Georgia the
total raise approved and funded by the General Assembly.
November. “We are not spend
ing any more money,” he said,
“it’s just that the usual tax
revenues are not now avail
able.”
The board also agreed to
hold up Christmas supplements
for teachers and bus drivers
until after the first of the year,
when the tax situation is re
solved.
In other action the board:
-Made plans to comply
with a state law on garbage
disposal.
-Approved the purchase of
a lot in front of Summerville
Elementary School from Jane
Elder Woodard.
-Discussed crowd and
traffic control at Chattooga
High School.
-Signed a maintenance con
tract with Robertshaw
Controls Co. of Atlanta to
regulate and maintain the
heating and air conditioning
systems at the high school.
Tabled action on expand
ing or replacing a storage room
at Summerville Elementary
School as recommended by a
state visiting committee in
1971.
Approved a Head Start
unit at Pennville Elementary
School. This would not add an
additional unit but would in
volve moving one of three units
from Summerville Elementary
to right: James Marks, vice chairman; J. P. Smith,
district chairman; and D. P. Henley, district com
missioner. The Chattooga District is part of the
Northwest Georgia Council, Boy Scouts of Amer
ica.
PRICE IHc
School. This action is subject
to approval by the Northwest
Georgia Economic Oppor-;
tunity Authority, Inc.
-Approved the hiring of
Raymond Bennett and Mrs.
Sarah Duke as bus drivers.
—Discussed adjusting the
school tax millage-which is
now 2114 mills—to conform
with the readjusted tax digest.
-Approved the purchase of
larger First Aid kits for school
buses.
The board approved the
appointment of the following
persons as a Committee for Ex
ceptional Children: Bill King,
Frances Johnston, Georgia
Moore, John Hayes, Elizabeth
Martin, Jack Herring, Clarence
Gilley, and Will Hair.
Present for the meeting
were Chairman Joel Cook and
board members Ray Hall, A. D.
Pledger, W. M. Jackson, and
Roy Camp.
EOA MEETING
The Chattooga County EOA
Coordinating Council will meet
today to elect officers for the
upcoming program year.
The meeting is scheduled to
begin at 5:30 p.m. at North
Summerville Elementary
School.