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VOLUME 87 — NUMBER 32
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The People’s Choice
Officials Set
Atlanta Meet
Commissioner Harry Powell
will join several hundred other
county officials at Atlanta’s
Marriott Motor Hotel Oct. 17
to spend a day and a half doing
their legislative homework to
gether.
The occasion is the annual
Better Informed Public Of
ficials Conference arranged by
the Association County Com
missioners of Georgia.
Its purpose is to help local
elected officials cram for swift
ly shifting developments in pre
legislative committee con
ferences where so much of the
General Assembly’s work is
actually done.
Starting with a luncheon on
Wednesday, county commis
sioners will also hear how they
can employ computers to
facilitate courthouse opera
tions and how they will soon
become involved with federal
manpower programs, assuming
a larger role in the creation and
improvement of employment
opportunities. Also, the joint
Senate and House Local Gov
ernment Revenue Study Com
mittee will discuss with county
officials the prospect for new
sources of income.
The first conference day
closes with a panel of county
attorneys trying to give county
commissioners legal solutions
to some of the problems public
officials encounter. In past
years this “Ask the Attorney”
session has revealed some
fascinating and often comical
-situations in local govern
ment administration.
Thursday morning, Oct. 18,
the BIPO Conference will con
centrate again on pending legis
lation, then open a county
problem clinic local govern
ment’s version of group
therapy. The “doctors” are
county commissioners from
the audience who may be able
2 Tollway Interchanges Possible
A somewhat smallish crowd
was on hand last Thursday at
the Chattooga County Court
house for one of 20 infor
mational meetings being held
throughout the state on the
proposed West Georgia
Tollway.
State Department ot Trans
portation personnel were here
to bring local residents up to
date on the latest develop
ments of the proposed toll way,
which would traverse the west
side of Georgia from the Ten
nessee to the Florida state
lines.
It was pointed out at the
meeting that two alternate
routes are being considered
through Chattooga County,
and that the county would
have either one or two inter
changes, depending on which
alternate is finally approved.
One interchange would be
in the vicinity of the Mountain
View intersection with V S.
Highway 27 east of
Another interchange would be
located on U. S. 27 near the
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THIS IS NATIONAL NEWSPAPER WEEK, OCTOBER 7-13
from their own diverse ex
perience to offer “treatment.”
At least 34 measures now
under consideration by the
Georgia House and Senate will
be reviewed at the BIPO Con
ference. Some are slated for
county support. Some, like the
proposal to require popular
referenda prior to local tax in
creases, will be fought on
grounds of their impracticality.
“We’ll watch closely” other
proposed bills and resolutions,
said Cobb County Commission
Chairman Ernest Barrett, cur
rent ACCG president. Discus-
Continued On Page 14
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LOCAL RESIDENTS DISCUSS PROPOSED TOLLWAY
A group of local residents discuss the
proposed West Georgia Tollway with
personnel from the Department of
Transportation during the informa
tional meeting last week at the Chat-
Chattooga River bridge, if that
route is selected. This inter
change would be in the vicinity
of the Wildlife Lake Road.
A draft of an Environmental
Impact Analysis says that one
proposed route of the road
would pass approximately one
half mile west of Holland, and
would continue to an inter
section with State Road 100.
After crossing that road, it
would follow the east side of
the road, avoiding the Chatta
hoochee National Forest, and
continue to a point near Four
Mile Church.
The road would continue on
an alignment in a northerly di
rection to U. S. 27 at Summer
ville. The tollway would be lo
cated between the Chattooga
River and the existing Georgia
Power Co. easement.
It is expected that the inter
change with U. S 27 east of
Summerville would necessitate
relocation of the Wildlife Lake
Road intersection. Location
and terminus details for the
interchange ramps which may
SUMMERVILLE, CHATTOOGA COUNTY, GEORGIA 30747, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1973
Two Juveniles
Arrested Here
A Rome youth has
been arrested and charged
in connection with the
burglarizing of Pledger’s
Store at Gore, according
to records in the office of
the Chattooga County
Sheriff’s Department.
Records also show that
a Trion youth has been
charged with possessing
marijuana.
The two boys both
juveniles—are scheduled to
be tried Oct. 15 in
Juvenile Court.
Sheriff Gary McConnell
also reported that a
32-year-old Trion man,
charged with statutory
rape, is in Chattooga
County Jail awaiting trial.
tooga County Courthouse. Left to
right: Austin Scoggins, Mayor J. C.
Woods of Trion, Grady Ramey, and Bill
Wilson and Joe Cowart, DOT represen
tatives.
cross the Chattooga River to
intersect existing U.S. 27 will
be studied during subsequent
phases of the project.
The alignment continues
northerly along the east side of
the Chattooga River, generally
adjacent to the existing util
ities. The road would pass west
of Maddox and Selmans lakes
as it approached the junction
point of the second alternate
south of the Mountain View
intersection.
If built according to al
ternate two, the tollway would
cross Armuchee Creek rjrth
east of Russell Field. This line
then parallels U. S. 27 and the
Plantation Oil Co. pipeline
through the forested areas ap
proaching Little Sand Moun
tain. Near the Chattooga
County line, one road closing is
recommended.
Crossing the forested Tay
lor’s Ridge, alternate two re
mains parallel with and adja
cent to U. S. 27 and the Gas
Light Co. facility. After cross
ing the ridge, the alignment is
Rezoning Is
‘Postponed’
A final decision on the re
zoning of property near the
West Summerville city limit
was postponed this week by
the Summerville City Council
after it was learned that legal
technicalities stood in the way
of an immediate council de
cision.
The action was taken at
Monday night’s October meet
ing of the City Council. A
group of nearby residents came
to the meeting to protest the
rezoning of the property from
a residential to a commercial
classification.
directed northward.
The Taylor’s Ridge crossing
presents difficult technical
problems.
The line then proceeds
northward from Milepost
292.5 near Selmans Lake
through generally forested and
hilly terrain. An interchange is
proposed for Mountain View
Road, approximately 1.7 miles
east of Trion. Two roads in this
area are recommended to be
closed.
DOT personnel said the toll
way would be similar to the
interstate system. Speed limits
would be 80 miles per hour in
the lower portion of the state
and 70 miles per hour in north
Georgia. It was pointed out
that the minimum right of way
required would be 300 feet,
with 600 feet as the average.
The proposed tollway
would be approximately 306
miles long and would cost an
estimated $461,000,000 Some
minor roads would be closed if
the tollway is built.
A DOT spokesman said the
The issue, which had be
come somewhat controversial
during the past few weeks, will
be decided at a later date,
when all legal aspects of the
0" Hon arc resolved. Many
residents object to an asphalt
plant being erected at the site.
A letter was read from at
torney Bobby Lee Cook, who
could not be present for the
meeting, asking the council to
deny the request for rezoning
the property. The application
for rezoning was made by
A. W. Headrick.
In other action the council:
-Postponed a final decision
on purchasing a new radio
system for the various depart
ments of city government.
-Tabled a request for a
four-inch water line on Hart
line Hill in Pennville.
Approved a request from
Fire Chief John Echols that the
city donate $50.00 to the Fort
Oglethorpe Fire Department
on a reciprocal service agree
ment.
Agreed to try for one year
a request that city taxes be
billed by the Coosa Valley
Area Planning and Develop
ment Commission. This fee will
be 20 cents for each parcel of
land. It was estimated that
there are 3,200 parcels inside
the city limits.
Approved the granting for
one dollar of a taxi license to
Cecil Barksdale, if it meets
with state requirements and is
approved by the Summerville
Police Department.
-Set a business license fee
of $1 for Calvary Baptist
Church Private School and Day
Care Center.
Mrs. Bert Self was named
superintendent for the Nov. 3
city election. Ralph Brown was
named chief election manager,
with $2.50 an hour to be paid
Continued On Page 14
proposed limited access high
way would provide economic
development and growth to the
west Georgia area. At present,
there is no major traffic flow
through the area.
The latest study states that
the West Georgia Tollway
would be an integral part of
the transportation system of
west Georgia. Not only would
the tollway serve to improve
local and regional accessibility,
it was stated, but it would also
furnish a viable alternative to
1-75 for north-south trips
through the state.
It was pointed out that an
additional need for the pro
posed tollway is generated by
the rapidly increasing volume
of traffic on 1-75.
It must be stressed that no
final decision has been made
on the exact location of the
tollway. The routes described
are only proposed routes, and
one or the other or neither
could be chosen.
3 Candidates
Qualify Early
For Election
Three persons have qualified
as candidates for the city elec
tion scheduled Saturday, Nov.
3, when Summerville voters
will elect a mayor and also
councilmen for Seats No. 1 and
2.
Evans Scoggins was the first
candidate to qualify for the
upcoming city election.
Scoggins was at City Hall Sat
urday morning to throw his hat
into the mayoral race.
Later in the morning, Earl
(Red) Parris qualified as a can
didate for Seat No. 2, followed
later in the week by Tommy
Baker, a candidate for Seat No.
I, now held by Jack Ledford.
The mayoral race was
thrown wide open with the
official announcement last
week that Mayor J. R. Dowdy
would not offer for reelection.
In his statement, the incum
bent mayor said, “I appreciate
the fact that the people of
Summerville have been so nice
to me during my time in office.
I leave with no malice toward
anyone, and will be available to
help in any way 1 can in the
future, if called upon.” Dowdy
will have completed 12 years in
the mayor’s office when his
present term expires Dec. 31.
So far, Scoggins is the only
candidate mentioned for the
race for mayor, and some polit
ical observers predict he will be
the only candidate in that race.
Scoggins, one of Chattooga
County’s most popular citi
zens, is personnel director for
Fabrics America. He has served
with the scouting program in
the county for 32 years and
has spent more than 25 of
those years as a scoutmaster.
In recognition of Scoggins’
community service, a special
day, known as “Evans Scoggins
Day” in Summerville and Chat
tooga County, has been set
aside in his honor.
The mayoral candidate said
that if elected, he “hopes to
work in harmony with the
members of the council” and
to get “the city government on
a more businesslike basis.” To
establish a budget for each
department of city government
is one of his goals, he added.
Terroristic Threat
Received at Riegel
A 47-year-old Trion man
has been arrested and charged
with making a “terroristic
threat,” according to records in
the Chattooga County Sheriff’s
Department.
Sheriff Gary McConnell said
a warrant had been issued in
the name of Charles J. Robin
son Jr. in connection with an
alleged threat to place a bomb
in the boiler room at Riegel
Textile Corp, at Trion.
( he sheriff said Robinson is
in Chattooga County Jail under
a $7,500 bond, and is sched
uled to be tried in the Feb
ruary term of Chattooga
County Superior Court.
11. D. Kingsmore, vice
president of Riegel’s Georgia
operations said, “We are vitally
concerned with the safety and
well-being of our employees. If
at any time we find proof that
any person takes action which
poses a threat or danger to
these employees, or to our
facilities, we would prosecute
that person to the fullest ex
tent of the law.”
Gene Franklin, district
manager for General Telephone
Co., was asked about his com
pany’s ability to trace obscene,
prank, or threatening calls. He
released the following state
ment from General Telephone
Co. of the Southeast:
Obscene or prank telephone
calls are no joke most of them
are considered an abuse of tele
phone equipment under the
law.
What should a person do
who is the victim of an annoy
ance or obscene call?
This question was asked of
H S Hallett, 30 years an agent
with the FBI and now security
A veteran of city govern
ment, O. H. Perry, also an
nounced this week that he
would not be a candidate for
reelection. Perry’s statement
said:
“As I stated before, I will
not be a candidate for reelec
tion to the Summerville City
Council. I would like to thank
the people for the support they
have given me during my years
of serving in city government. I
would especially like to thank
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RIBBON-CUTTING AT LYERLY BANK
Gina Dillard cuts the ribbon to officially open the
new Farmers & Merchants Branch Bank in Lyerly.
The facility opened for business at 9 a.m. Wednesday.
With Gina are James King, vice president-manager of
'the Lyerly branch, and the Rev. Lawrence Burge (R),
nastorof Lyerly United Methodist Church.
director of General Telephone
in seven Southeastern states.
Hallett says the first thing a
victim should do is hang up the
receiver fast and quietly.
“Don’t bang down the receiver
as if you are angry,” he says.
“This may encourage him to
call again.
“The important thing is not
to give the caller any satisfac
tion and of course, no informa
tion, none at all, just hang up
gently, and if he calls again, do
the same thing.”
The security chief of
General Telephone says this
very well may be the end of
the matter and very few second
Resurfacing Project
Scheduled By City
I he resurfacing of portions
of 10 city streets was approved
by the Summerville City
Council at a recent special
meeting, according to Council
man Sewell Cash. Work is ex
pected to begin within the next
week or 10 days.
The project, involving some
8,649 feet, will cost an esti
mated SIB,OOO. and will be
paid from revenue sharing
funds, Cush said.
Road Builders, Inc., with
home offices in Nashville,
Tenn., has been awarded a con
tract to resurface portions of
the following: Lee Street,
Georgia Avenue, Bittings
Avenue, Sixth Street, Ceme-
PRICE 15c
Rep. James (Sloppy) Floyd
and Commissioner Harry
Powell for their cooperation. I
am proud of the accomplish
ments we have made.”
Perry is also a former Sum
merville mayor.
Potential candidates have
until noon on Oct. 20 to
qualify for the three races. The
election will be held at the City
Hall on Saturday. Nov. 3. Polls
will be open from 7 a.m. until
7 p.m.
calls are made.
Except for the scar left or
memory of the victim, “usually
female,” most obscene calls are
not repeated. The caller is
usually busy picking other
victims out of the phone book,
possibly someone who doesn’t
hang up so fast.
What to do should the call
be repeated? Perhaps repeated
many times at unforeseen
moments? Hallett says the
thing to do is contact the busi
ness office of the phone com
pany.
In some cases, if it appears
the caller may be intending
Continued On Page 14
tery Street, Edmondson Street,
Oil Mill Road, and Sturdivant
Street.
The project is being spear
headed by members of the City
Council. Councilman Cash said
that when the present project
is completed, approximately
10.5 miles of city streets will
have been resurfaced within
the past 1 8 months.
Cash added that the up
coming resurfacing project will
be the first such project the
city has paid for from its own
funds in several years. Other
projects were secured through
the efforts of Rep. James
(Sloppy) Floyd and from
urban renewal funds.