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VOLUME 91 -‘NUMBER 12
Chatttmga’s Crawford Finds Politics ‘lnteresting’
£ X
What’s it like to be a fresh
man representative in today’s
high-charged game politics?
“Well, not so bad,” accord
ing to Chattooga County’s
Rep. John Crawford, “if you
keep your eyes and ears open
for the first few days.”
Crawford went to Atlanta
for this year’s session of the
General Assembly as Chattooga
County’s first new representa
tive in more than two decades
after the death of the veteran
James (Sloppy) Floyd, who
served as the county’s represen
tative at the State Capitol more
than 20 years, rising to become
one of the most politically
powerful men in state govern
ment.
Rep. Crawford may well
have set a record in getting on
Court
Fines
Heavy
The Chattooga County Pro
bate Judge Court closed 162
cases in March and collected
$8,914.50 in traffic fines and
forfeits.
Driving under the influence
of intoxicants headed the list
of violations with 42 offenses.
Thirty-nine persons were fined
for speeding. Driving without a
license was next with 14 cases
made.
Other cases are listed as fol
lows:
-Permitting a person to
drive while under the influence
of intoxicants, 2;
-Driving with expired
license, 6;
-Driving on a revoked
license, 1;
-Driving without a tag, 2;
-Driving with expired tag,
2;
-Driving with improper tag,
1;
-Driving without a motor
vehicle inspection sticker, 2;
-Driving with expired
motor vehicle inspection
sticker, 7;
-Driving with improper
motor vehicle sticker, 2;
-Reckless conduct with a
motor vehicle, 3;
-Loud muffler, 4;
-Failure to yield right-of
way, 6;
-Improper passing, 1;
—Driving on wrong side of
road, 2;
-Failure to stop for stop
sign, 5;
-Failure to stop for siren
and blue light, 2;
—Following too closely, 2;
—lllegal parking, 4;
—Laying drags, 2;
-Improper brakes, 1;
-Failure to stop at red
signal, 1;
-Suspended sentence, 1;
and
-Fishing without a license,
8.
LOCAL
NEWS
BRIEFS
AREA MEETING
Several local residents are
expected to attend the April
meeting of the Coosa Valley
Area Planning and Develop
ment Commission when it
meets at 11 a.m. today at
Rome’s Ramada Inn.
Tom Murphy, speaker of
the Georgia House of Repre
sentatives, will be the featured
speaker. * *
FIRES REPORTED
The Summerville Police De
partment answered four calls in
a five-day period recently.
On April 1 the Fire Depart
ment was called to a house
trailer on Martin Street at 5:30
a.m.
On April 3 at 9:22 am., the
department answered a call to
the home of Mrs. Lillie Wooten
at 215 Martin St. Damage was
reported to a bed.
On April 4, at 5:35 a.m. the i
fire truck went to a house at
South Congress Street. Exten
sive damage was reported to
one bedroom.
A house was reported a |
total loss on April 5 on Rough
Street on the Lake Wanda
Reita Road. The fire was out ;
of control on arrival of the |
truck. The truck went out at 4
a.m. :
The house was reported >
owned by Betty Hamby of !
Rome.
ehe Smntncruille New
the g ter being elected.
Afi o & ig a special election
on y /, Craw ford was
sw $ < dnesday afternoon
am _£ the job Thursday
me §
£ ’* ou assigned to the
de: % ® floor of the House
us< g o long by Sloppy
Fit,. awfrod was asked.
“No, I was not,” he replied.
That was an aisle seat toward
the front of the chamber and
went to a member with more
seniority. 1 was assigned a seat
in the middle of the row nearer
the back of the chamber.
Seniority does make a dif
ference.”
At 28 years of age, Chat
tooga’s new representative re
flects the growing trend in
politics to elect younger candi-
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Commissioner Harry Powell signs a proclamation
designating April 13-19 as Chattooga County Red
Cross Blood Bank Program Week in Chattooga
County. In his proclamation, the commissioner urged
all citizens of Chattooga County to take part in this
worthwhile program. “It is one of the most beneficial
programs I have ever supported,” Powell said.
Looking on are Mary Woodham, a volunteer worker
Uncollected Taxes Hamper
County Operations-Powell
Uncollected taxes are still
hampering the operation of
county government and county
schools, Commissioner Harry
Powell told The Summerville
News this week.
The commissioner said that
some $146,710 in uncollected
taxes are still on the books for
the years 1970 through 1973.
Powell added that he was in
formed by the tax commis
sioner “about two weeks ago”
that some $200,000 in 1974
taxes remain uncollected.
“Because of that situation,”
the commissioner added, “we
can’t make any plans in this
office. The property tax is the
only source of revenue we
have. Os that money, the
county gets about 47.5 percent
and the school get some 52.5
percent, Powell related.
“I know a lot of people are
LOOK IN MAIL BOX AFTER MAY 9
Tax Rebates Begin Next Month
Chattooga County taxpay
ers should begin receiving tax
rebate checks shortly after May
9, according to information re
leased this week.
John Henderson, Internal
Revenue Service (IRS) director
for Georgia, said today that the
first of 1.4 million tax rebate
checks will be mailed to Geor
gians on May 9.
“The bulk of the mailings
should be completed by the
end of June,” he added.
Henderson said taxpayers
SUMMERVILLE. (TIAT IXXXU COUN I Y. GEORGIA 30747. THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 1975
dates to public office. Os 66
new legislators in the House
this year, only two or three are
younger than John Crawford.
The younger generation is de
termined to, have a voice in
government, and more and
more of them are turning to
politics to express their views.
Rep. Crawford said most
people in the House were very
helpful. “But it takes a while
to find your way around,” he
quickly added.
During the 1975 session, the
General Assembly considered
some 1,200 bills, with almost
800 being passed during the
40-plus-day session.
Rep. Crawford reviewed
some of the most important
legislation passed this year. He
referred to the local-option
COMMISSIONER PROCLAIMS SPECIAL WEEK
out of work and many are
drawing unemployment
checks,” the commisssioner
said. “But, in my opinion,
some 60 percent of the delin
quent taxpayers should be able
to pay their taxes.”
County governments
throughout the state are find
ing it more difficult each
month to meet the growing
needs of its residents. The
county commissioners will take
up some of those problems
when they convene for their
annual convention next week
on Jekyll Island.
“Everything is tightening up
so,” Commissioner Powell said,
“I don’t know if the county
government officials will be
able to solve any of our
problems.”
The commissioner said solu
tions to “our problems” should
who filed returns the earliest
would receive their checks
first. The payments stem from
enactment of the Tax Reduc
tion Act of 1975, which pro
vides for a rebate on 1974
taxes between SIOO and S2OO
for most taxpayers.
IRS will automatically com
pute all rebates, Henderson
said.
“Any rebate adjustment
made by the taxpayer on a
return will only serve to delay
processing and issuance of the
sales tax measure which passed
the House after an amendment
by Crawford was accepted.
That amendment will require
that any money taken in as a
result of a local sales tax be
deducted from the property
tax each year. This, in effect,
will grant some relief to harried
taxpayers, he pointed out.
An alternative to the local
option sales tax is the local
option income tax. County and
municipal governments may
select one of the two methods
to raise additional revenue.
The freshman legislator said
he felt the seven-percent pay
raise for school teachers and
the reduction in the teacher
pupil ratio represented progres
sive legislation.
Crawford said he opposed
in the Red Cross blood program; Summerville Mayor
Evans Scoggins, and Menlo Mayor Pro Tern A. B.
(Bud) Day. Scoggins and Day, along with Trion
Mayor J. C. Woods and Lyerly Mayor Duane Jackson,
have issued similar proclamations. A parade in down
town Summerville Wednesday will place emphasis on
the Blood Bank drive.
begin on a national level. “But
our leaders in Washington
haven’t solved any of the prob
lems yet,” he added.
The changing pattern of
crime in Georgia has prompted
the Association County Com
missioners of Georgia to ad
dress the problem at their
annual meeting.
The county officials have in
vited representatives of the
state’s top law enforcement
agencies to discuss with them
some local defense measures
against armed robbery and
murder, which have lately pro
liferated in rural Georgia.
These violent crimes which
victimize small businesses in
even remote sectors of the
state are greatly on the in
crease, a spokesman for the
commissioners’ association
said. To combat them, county
rebate,” Henderson said. “Such
adjustments could also delay
any refund due.”
About one million Georgia
taxpayers, Henderson added,
will receive checks reflecting
the rebate only. Those include
taxpayers who have already re
ceived their refunds for 1974
or those whose refunds are al
ready in process at IRS.
Another 400,000 taxpayers
will receive checks combining
the pre-school development
(kindergarten) program which
passed during the session.
“I just don’t think the state
can afford it,” he said. “At the
present time, only those five
year-olds who are physically or
mentally handicapped are eligi
ble for the program, but it
must eventually be expanded
to include all five-year-olds.”
The program was vigorously
pushed by Gov. George Busbee
and received top-priority rating
from the governor’s office.
The young farmer-turned
legislator was especially in
terested in a resolution which
was passed, and needs only the
signature of the governor to
become a reality.
That resolution would
law officers and police in small
municipalities must devise
better ways of coordinating
their activities with other
agencies, it was reported.
“Our local sheriffs and
county police have excellent
cooperation from the State
Patrol and GBI when it comes
to investigating a crime, noted
ACCG President Ray Gunnin,
“but we want to give more
attention to defending citizens
against crimes before they
occur.”
The annual convention of
county officials brings together
most of the state’s 599 county
commissioners, tax officials,
administrators and managers of
county government, county
attorneys, wardens, and a
number of sheriff’s.. Some
1,200 county officials are ex
pected for the convention.
their refund with the rebate.
Those checks will show how
much is refund and how much
is rebate.
Under the new legislation,
the maximum rebate is 10 per
cent of the tax liability up to a
maximum rebate of S2OO, re
duced by one percent of ad
justed gross income in excess
of $20,000 up to $30,000.
Taxpayers with adjusted gross
incomes in excess of $30,000
will receive a rebate of SIOO.
change the name of Chattooga
Lakes State Park to James
(Sloppy) Floyd State Park.
VFW Post 6688 took the lead
in urging the name change. The
late Rep. Floyd was instru
mental in obtaining the state
nark for Chattooga County.
Rep. Crawford was named
to the committees on agri
culture, natural resources, and
retirement. Being a farmer, he
is naturally interested in the
Agriculture Committee, and
asked for that assignment.
Chattooga’s new represen
tative believes that an admini
strator should be appointed to
supervise all state courts, and
that the person appointed
should come from outside the
legal profession.
Downtown
Parade Set
Wednesday
The Chattooga County
Chapter of the American Red
Cross and the Chattooga Shrine
Qub will sponsor a parade in
downtown Summerville
Wednesday, April 16, to place
emphasis on the visit of the
Bloodmobile from the Atlanta
Red Cross Regional Center the
following day.
A large group of civic organ
izations and business firms
have agreed to participate in
the parade, according to
Richard White, who is coordi
nating parade plans.
STARTING TIME
Starting time for the parade
will be 5:30 p.m. The units will
form on Lyerly Highway,
travel a short distance along
Rome Boulevard before turn
ing onto downtown Commerce
Street. The parade will move
along the east side of
Commerce Street to First
Street, where it will turn for a
second march through the
downtown area.
Leading the parade will be
the Chattooga High Indian
Band. It will be followed by a
Red Cross float and vehicles
representing many of the
county’s civic organizations,
business firms, local govern
ments, and individuals.
UNITS LISTED
According to White, the fol
lowing will be represented in
the parade:
Chattooga High School,
Kiwanis Club, Summerville
Lions Club, American Legion
Post 129, VFW Post 6688,
Chattooga County Civil
Defense Unit, City of Summer
ville, Chattooga Saddle Club,
Boy Scout units.
Also, Charles Vaughn, J. D.
Hill Funeral Home, Erwin-
Petitt Funeral Home, George’s
Kwik Service, Holly Walker,
Richie’s, Mill End Carpets,
PAIR CHARGED
Jay Russell of Rossville
Boulevard, Trion, and Wanda
Russell have been charged with
selling drugs, according to rec
ords in the Chattooga County
Sheriff’s Department.
Sheriff Gary McConnell said
they are out on bonds of
$15,000 each until the August
term of Chattooga Superior
Court.
John Crawford finds state
politics “interesting,” and is
not at all sorry he decided to
enter politics on the state level.
“Once you find your way
around, get to know other
legislators, establish a reputa
tion for fair play, and learn
how to read a bill, the rest just
falls into place,” he said. “1
find the job rewarding, and am
looking forward to returning
for the 1976 session.”
From all indications, Chat
tooga County’s freshman legis
lator did not fare badly during
his first session in the House
and returned “unscarred” from
the legislative wars.
Chattooga County may well
have another “power” in state
government.
Pledger’s Used Cars, Phil’s Pic
‘N’-Save Shoe Store, Money
Flowers,
MORE UNITS
Also, Wometco Vending
Co., General Telephone Co.,
Jiffy Mart (Menlo), Benny’s
Tri-Sum Food Store, Evans
Texaco Service Station, Penn
ville Fina Service Station, Dry
Valley Church, Chattooga
County Mental Health Associa
tion, Menlo Red Cross Youth,
The Record Shop,
(See next week’s paper for a
special feature on the Blood
Bank program.)
Also, Finland, National Life
Insurance Co., Brimp Warren
Ford, Jackson Chevrolet Co.,
Pesterfield’s, Payton Pharmacy,
Lowry’s Department Store,
Southern 5 & 10, Hurley’s
Food Store, Reece’s Down-
Retail Sales Are
Showing Decline
Retail Sales in Chattooga
County showed a slight decline
during the fourth quarter of
1974 when compared to the
same period the year before.
The comparisons are con
tained in a report just released
by the Georgia Chamber of
Commerce.
During the fourth quarter in
1974, the county’s retail sales
showed a drop from SIO.B
million in 1973 to $10.3 mil
lion in 1974. Total retail sales
for 1974 were listed at 41.7
million.
Other area counties also
showed decreases in retail sales
between the 1973 and 1974
fourth-quarter periods. Catoosa
County was down from $10.6
million to $10.5 million; Dade
was up slightly from $4.3 mil
lion to $4.5 million; Floyd
dropped from $67.8 million to
$67.3 million; and Walker was
down from $24.0 million to
$21.8 million.
The decline in retail sales in
Those who had a tax liability
of less than SIOO will receive a
rebate equal to the tax
liability.
Henderson oointed out that
married persons filing separate
returns will not get a larger
rebate than those filing jointly
since, under the law, the maxi
mum rebate for a married
person filing separately .is
SIOO, and will be reduced by a
percentage of the adjusted
gross income in excess of
SIO,OOO, up to $15,000.
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^y
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town Food Store,
Also, Maryland Fried
Chicken, Piggly Wiggly, Red
ford’s 5 & 10, Goodyear Ser
vice Store, Stansell Furniture
Co., Chattooga High Interclub
Council, CHS Future Business
Leaders of America, CHS
Science Club, CHS Tri-Hi-Y
and Hi-Y,CHS Beta Club,
Also, CHS Political Science
Club, Jay’s Surplus, Turpin
Motors, Summerville Fire
Department, Trion High
School Beta Club, Chattooga
County Forestry Unit, Chat
tooga County Red Cross
Volunteers, Chattooga County
Training Center for Develop
mentally Disabled.
White said the Rome
Shriners have tentatively
agreed to participate in the
parade. An airplane, piloted by
L. D. Ragland of Lyerly, will
fly over the area during the
parade.
the area attributed to the in
creasing number of persons
drawing unemployment com
pensation.
Even Fulton County, which
comprises metropolitan At
lanta, showed a decline in retail
sales for the fourth-quarter
period. Sales were down from
51.075 billion to $1,053 bil
lion.
Retail sales in Georgia
totaled $4.1 billion during the
fourth quarter of 1974 as com
pared with $4.2 billion during
the same period of 1973.
Retail sales in Georgia
counties are estimated by
calendar quarters of business
and are based on Georgia De
partment of Revenue data for
adjusted gross tax amounts.
The figures exclude out-of
state purchases, which relate to
tax use amounts, and indicate
place of sale rather than con
sumer buying power by place
of residence.
Council Seat
Runoff Race
Necessary
A runoff election will be
necessary to decide who will
fill the vacant seat on the Sum
merville City Council.
In Tuesday’s special elec
tion, Hubert Palmer received
195 votes, Frank Price polled
125, and Tommy Baker got 94.
Four votes were voided,
making a total of 418 votes
cast.
The election was to fill Seat
No. 5 on the council, a vacancy
created by the resignation of
Charles Brooks in February.
Some, 1,850 persons are
registered to vote in city elec
tions.
The runoff election between
Palmer and Price will be held
on April 22.