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VOLUME XCIV - NUMBER o ' asaassassasasssssssssßaKfissaß ~ aa.ii i.ii. nn nwi .m. .. h (Uh .1 iragrii Q~ U . . H : I B '■ ‘ r^ ** * L > > .. r ‘>,"' ifattSSISBKK^ Ur ^4 .j^^ywCyrWEL, EEI ■■■p \ <4 ' W^Hr ri '♦■IMB 4. A™ JLi f JfJF ' : A££ M® T?i ;~*^ iwKWBBK -' f '^ -^«ai WbTcS^^- ; ~ --’««? a*. ‘k -^■■F - >A » aywA % , — I*l " ? j • * 'Wi ^M^F' t F j&jg' ’^ss i ‘ ? z —— if ^--■r ,7 ■?* : ■ - ^9* ‘■^.M-liO^i^f?' 1 L-W Ji* j I f£K ’jA-^Eg-SKpIEIK ■’yz>\ \A , JO' I rjHßljflßßßß^w^^^ Mrs. Louise Norton and her daughter Mrs. Kate Helms (at top, left), shown here inspecting Christmas handicrafts, were two of thousands of area residents who turned out Saturday for the sixth annual Sum-Nelly in Summerville. Below, a little miss looks as if she’s City To Seek More Funds From County For 2 Depts, A decision to ask the coun ty for a bigger subsidy for two city services that county residents benefit from and the appointment of a permanent chief of police highlighted the October meeting of the Sum merville City Council Monday night. With little discussion, Arlen Thomas was appointed chief of police. He was named to the post temporarily follow ing the recent resignation of Police Chief Bud Gilley last month, and Monday’s deci sion officially makes him the permanent chief. In other action, at the urg ing of Mayor Sewell Cash, the City will ask County Commis sioner Pete Denson for addi tional county funds to run the fire and recreation depart ments. The mayor noted that the council had informally agreed to try to grant employees a cost of living raise at the end of December, but that he wasn't sure where the money could come from. He said that he was against a tax increase to fund a raise for employees. “I’ve looked at every aspect as to where we might cut back,” he said, indicating that he could not recommend any additional cutbacks. He said that “it isn’t fair to the City of Summerville" that the county doesn’t fund at a higher level the city's recreation program and fire department since county par ticipation is heavy in both areas. 3 Qualify For City Election Only three residents have qualified for the Nov. 3 elec tion to fill three Summerville City Council seats. Incumbent Councilmen Hubert Palmer and Dennis Cox have qualified to run for their current seats on the council. Palmer is now com pleting a four-year term and Cox is filling the unexpired council term of Sewell Cash. Earl “Red” Parris, a former councilmember, has also qualified to run for a seat on the city council. Parris is running for Seat 3, now held by Boyd Williams, who told Sum-Nelly A Success Fl » JI A ® ARLEN THOMAS The council directed the mayor to meet with Commis sioner Denson to see if the county would provide addi tional funding for the two city services. In other action the council: * Accepted a $5,185 bid from contractor Gerald D. Bright to install chain link fence and gates around 13 natural gas facilities in Chat tooga and Floyd counties. * Heard Mayor Cash estimate that final approval from the Farmers Home Ad ministration for the city waterworks updating plan should be forthcoming "in a week or two.” Residents who would like to have fireplugs in- The News earlier he will not be entering the race. The qualifying period for the election began Saturday and will run through noon Saturday, Oct. 20. To be eligible for the race a candidate must be at least 21 years old, a resident of Sum merville for at least one year, and be a registered city and state voter. The qualifying fee is SSO. Unregistered city voters can sign up to vote in the elec tion during the qualifying period at City Hall. ®he ^ummenitlk News about to be swept off her feet by a hawk—but the bird is only stuffed. The table, arranged by Shelly Jones of Gore, effered a workshop for youngsters while their parents were shopping at Sum- Nelly. stalled on the street or road who live outside the city limits should contact the city now, Mayor Cash said, so that they can be installed while the system is being overhauled. It was noted that residents re questing a fire plug will have to foot the bill for the hard ware involved. * Agreed, upon the recom mendation of the water system engineer, that a flush valve should be installed at the end of Whitley Drive, where at least two residents have complained of having discolored tap water. The pro blem was blamed on the fact that the line involved is a two inch deadend line where rust deposits apparently ac cumulate. * Agreed to have all the trucks in the natural gas department fitted with amber warning lights so that the trucks are visible while employees are away from the trucks on repair and maintenance calls. F Jr i 4 * ! , hi । i " V -■ f, - I . 1 . X - it- - , I \ ' -adi J| * J * *■ The Summerville City Council last month announced that the city chert pit (shown above) would be sold at public auction Saturday, but the auction has SUMMERVILLE, CHATTOOGA COUNTY, GEORGIA 30747, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1979 Chert Pit To Be Sold Apartments tor The Aged Work On 5-Story Facility Starts Ground breaking ceremonies Monday officially launched construction of a five-story apartment complex for the elderly on Marvin Street. Several local leaders, along with residents who have played a role in the project, were on hand for a short ceremony wherein two spadesful of dirt were tossed, symbolizing the beginning of work on the project. Everett Lunsford, ex ecutive director of the Sum merville Housing Authority, told the group of over 20 per sons who gathered at the site Monday that it has taken three years and nine months to reach the construction phase. He praised those pre sent and many others for help ing to make the project a reali ty- John Bankson, chairman of the Summerville Housing Authority was among several who praised Lunsford for his perseverance regarding the project, which has seen numerous delays because of government approval and financial problems, all of which have been overcome. “Although there were delays, upheavals and pro blems,’’ Bankson said, “Everett never did give up ... until it (the high rise) became a reality.” He also praised the late Harry McGin nis, former chairman of the housing authority, for his es- Blaze Destroys Home; Injuries Are Reported A residence was destroyed and three people injured last Wednesday night by a fire on the Menlo Highway. The eight-room brick home of Charles W. Black was engulfed in flames when firemen arrived shortly after 8 p.m. According to reports, the Blacks had left for church around 6:50 p.m. Wednesday. Sometime around 8 p.m Malcolm Thomas and Boyce Dooley, returning from a trip to Lake Weiss, passed the Black residence and noticed the fire. They stopped the next door and asked that the fire department be contacted. Thomas and Dooley returned to the Black residence where they found several other motorists had also stopped. Several people in the group began moving lawn furniture from a back porch in an attempt to save it. Thomas said he and a young man (name unknown) were removing a lawn settee from the porch when there was an explosion in the house and a nearby wall blew out, causing the roof of the porch to fall on top of them. Luckily, Thomas said, the settee kept the roof off of him and the teen-ager. They were able to crawl out from under the debris to safety. The teen-ager was not seriously injured, according to reports. Thomas, however, badly bruised his left leg and had to be transported to the hospital by the ambulance ser vice. He was admitted for treatment and was released from the hospital Sunday. been postponed, a city spokesman said. The pit is located on the Menlo Highway. forts in connection with the project. The building, once finish ed, will have 58 one-bedroom apartments and two two bedroom apartments. The two-bedroom apartments will be used to house individuals requiring a fulltime nurse or person to live with them. Some 5 to 10 percent of the units will be built to accom modate the handicapped. The one-bedroom apart ments will have a kitchen dinette, living room, bathroom and bedroom, Lunsford said. Qualifications for residents in the housing project will be those “62 years of age or older in the low to medium income bracket and of good character,” he noted. Residents will pay about 25 percent of their gross in come for rent, he said, although very low income residents will be required to pay little, if any, rent. The Department of Hous ing and Urban Development will subsidize the difference between what the renters pay and the payment the local housing authority must make to finance the project, Lunsford explained. The 2.85-acre lot on which the complex is being built is bordered on the east by Scog gins Avenue and on the West by Ramey Avenue. It is estimated the project will take a year-and-a-nalf to Thomas remained at home luesuay, his secretary said, still unable to walk, but feel ing better. Firemen from Summer ville, Menlo and Lyerly battl ed the blaze for some four hours before they were able to extinguish it. During this time another teen-ager (name unknown) was slightly in jured, said reports. He was treated at the scene and released. The fire, along with smoke and water damage, gut ted the three bedroom home, reports said. The cause of the fire and explosion was not reported. The incident has been turned over to State Fire Marshal Ray Meritt for further in vestigation. No foul play is suspected, said a fire depart ment spokesman. That’s All For ‘Warts & AU’ Chattooga native Ben Fulton, who pens this newspaper’s weekly satirical column “Warts & All,” ends his column writing duties today. “I must drop my col umn as I’m accepting an offer to handle public rela tions for a regional com mission,” the Washing ton-based columnist ex plained in announcing his decision. “To continue the column will be a conflict of interest.” i complete. Tommy Toles of Rome is the architect while Buddy Busbin is the general contrac- "r *vi Sp* J 4^ < a 4HC& —*• — -45^^ js -WW* TB^jlwßra '7^ 1 mfn' /SF^^S , * . ' . . , — \ - *„• -* - / r -.-, —•’ -"Zr: A ceremony marking the beginning of construction of the high rise for the elderly was held Monday. At right, in forefront, are (L-R) Summerville Hous ing Authority Vice Chairman Robert Baker Spells Out ^Game Plan’ For County Chamber By TOM KIRWAN Developing a good pro business climate—which in cludes keeping unionized businesses out of the county, buying land for industrial development, and relentlessly searching for prospects—is essential if Chattooga County is to lure new industry here. That, in a nutshell, was what a guest speaker told the quarterly booster breakfast of the Chattooga County Chamber of Commerce Tues day. Addressing the group was Alex Baker, executive director of the Bessemer (Ala.) Area Chamber of Commerce. Baker, a native of Trion, told the breakfast meeting that his chamber of commerce was sluggish just a few years ago, having a budget of $14,000 and largely limited to such ac tivities as “planning retail promotions and Easter egg hunts.” “I’m very much cognizant of the fact that many chambers in the United States are civic organizations,” he said. “In Bessemer, we are not that. We are a non-profit cor poration ... and are a natural in industrial development.” He indicated that the change of attitude at the Bessemer Chamber of Com merce, evolving from being a civic organization to a strong advocate of business and in dustry, has had a tremendous effect. Today, he said the chamber has an annual budget of $425,000 and has in creased membership to 850 from 102 members in only a few years. Raising money to fund the chamber, ne said, “is probably the most touchy subject you face. If a chamber of com merce is to be a success, it needs a strong operating budget.” A large chamber budget, he said, is needed to foot the bill for travel expenses. It is important that the local chamber of commerce be ready and able to send a representative to meet with industrial prospects, he said, rather than merely waiting for the state board of industry and trade to route prospects to the local community. Baker, who spends “two weeks of each month on the road.” credited the Bessemer chamber’s flexible ability to meet with prospective in dustrial clients on short notice as a major factor in his com munity's success in industrial I tor. j The building is being । financed through the sale of j $1,678,620 in tax exempt Ground Breaking Ceremony ■ F * • ALEX BAKER development. Such aggressiveness is needed, he said, because some 4,000 agencies in the South are competing for new in dustries. Baker also said that a hef ty budget is needed to employ a fulltime, professional chamber staff, as is done in Bessemer. £ The Bessemer Area Chamber of Commerce has set its minimum membership fee at $l5O annually—for the smallest businesses in town. “We do not stop at that,” he said, “as we nave another fund we encourage every business person to contribute to after that, with a $750 minimum investment. Os our 850 members, 25 percent are participating in that fund. Banks in Bessemer pay the most in membership dues. The largest bank in town pays SIB,OOO annually in chamber dues; the smallest bank pays SIO,OOO he said. "Banks reap the greatest benefit from new industry in terms of payroll, mortgages and installment loans, he said. Real estate firms also carry a large burden, he said, because “they feel the impact (of industrial development) directly.” He credited a “program of work,” essentially a list of goals drawn up at the beginn ing of each year, as important for a successful chamber of commerce Those goals are then assigned to one of six committees at Bessemer: business development, com munity development, a bonds. The investment bank ing firm of Benton & Com pany in Knoxville is handling the sale of bonds. Floyd, Authority Chairman John Bankson, Board Members Dr. E.P. Hamner and J.R. Burgess and contrac tor Buddy Busbin. manufacturers council, governmental affairs, in dustrial development, and membership and public rela tions. Chamber members are will ing to pay such large member ship fees (which are called “in vestments”) because members are “able to find something to sink their teeth into,” he said. Good, strong leadership is imperative if a chamber is to be successful, he said. All pro spective members of the board of directors at Bessemer are rigorously inter viewed, he said, to ensure the best candidates are chosen. Board members spend up to 15 hours monthly in chamber affairs; officers spend up to 20 hours monthly, he said. The general membership plays an important role in developing a strong chamber, he emphasized. “You need a membership that is willing to go all the way to that wall with the chamber, even on decisions that are controver sial in nature,” he said. As an example, he cited a chamber board decision in Bessemer that companies with union labor would not be encouraged to locate there. The general membership backed that stance, he said. (Continued On Page 14) Local Leaders Tour Hospital The Chattooga County Hospital Authority Saturday began a series of monthly "consumer briefings" at the facility, taking Trion Mayor Jake Woods, Summerville Mayor Sewell Cash, County Commissioner Pete Denson and Chamber President Henry Watson on a tour of the facility. Representatives of the news media were also on hand. After a breakfast at the hospital, the group was shown around the various depart ments of the institution. Charles Williams, chair man of the authority, said the tour was scheduled to allow local leaders an opportunity to see the hospital first hand and to answer questions about its operation. Williams said that in the future a cross section of the community will be invited to go on similar tours. PRICE 20c