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VOLUME XCIV - NUMBER ]
Sale Not Defin s| However
j*
Firm Eyes Fabrics America Property
By TOM KIRWAN
A large, publicly held corporation is
considering buying the old Fabrics
America building, an official of the firm
confirmed this week.
The official, who asked that his and
his firm's identity not be publicly
divulged at this time, said Tuesday that
his corporation is currently negotiating
with Fabrics America Group and that a
decision should be made m the near
future.
“We probably should hear something
(about the firm’s decision) in the next
few days,” said Meno Schonebach,
chairman of the board of Fabrics
Chatterton's
Parole Is
Considered
A decision concerning the
proposed parole of convicted
murderer Roy Dale Chatter
ton will probably be reached
by the State Board of Pardons
and Paroles in early
November , according to
Hearing Examiner Silas
Moore.
Chatterton and Woodrow
Whisman were convicted by a
Chattooga County jury of the
1964 murder of Billy Copeland
of LaFayette.
Whisman was paroled on
June 17, 1977.
Chatterton’s file, Moore,
explained, is currently cir
culating among the five
members of the Board of Par
dons and Paroles in Atlanta.
Each commissioner will study
the case before a decision is
made.
Chatterton is serving a life
sentence for the Copeland
murder computed from Jan.
23, 1965. He has served 14*/2
years. He has been denied
parole six times, according to
Moore.
“I don’t believe he (Chat
terton) has had any
disciplinary reports since last
year (when his case last went
up before the board),” said
Moore. “He has probably been
average in the performance
area since then.”
No public parole hearings
are hela in Georgia. However,
the Board is open to receive
any comments either in writ
ten or oral form, said Moore,
concerning parole reviews.
The two men were con
victed of the crime at a widely
publicized trial at the county
courthouse here.
Authorities believed the
two men were hitchhiking in
Summerville and were picked
up by Copeland, a 47-year-old
mill executive, who was head
ed to Berry School to pick up
his eldest son.
It was alleged that the pan
used a pistol and a knife to
force him to drive to a
desolate area in Haywood
Valley. His body was found
eight days after his disap
pearance in an abandoned far
mhouse.
The two men admitted in
confessions that they had hit
him on the head and left him
still alive after wrapping him
in some wallpaper, tying his
hands and gagging him.
Local Man Is
Cited For Heroism
A Summerville truck
driver who saved the life of
another truck driver in Ken
tucky two months ago has
been cited for heroism by the
Georgia State Patrol and the
Kentucky State Police.
Shortly after midnight on
Aug. 2, at Madisonville, Ky.,
Paul McCullough of Summer
ville, came upon a collision of
two 18-wheelers. The driver of
one of the trucks, John D.
Hartman of Montgomery,
Ala., was injured and trapped
in his burning vehicle.
McCullough pulled Hart
man from the truck seconds
before an explosion complete
ly engulfed it in flames.
Investigating troopers
said Hartman completely
recovered.
In recognition of his life
saving action, Georgia Public
Safety Commissioner Colonel
Hugh Hardison was selected
to make the presentation of
the Kentucky State Police
Meritorious Achievement
Award to Paul McCullough
yesterday afternoon at
Georgia State Patrol Head
quarters in Atlanta.
^ummerutlk New
America Group in a telephone interview
from his Atlanta office fate last week.
“We have been talking with a textile
firm that has shown interest in the plant
and its location,” he said. “It's now a
question whether they will pursue that
interest.”
He told The News that represen
tatives of the two corporations had been
discussing the possible sale of the pro
perty and building for some three or four
weeks.
According to one estimate, if the tex
tile firm, based in New York City,
decides to purchase the building the
development could translate into some
■ Ilw® Ik' -.j"-‘sK
»SE 4 A
Former Homecoming Queens
Former Chattooga High School
Homecoming Queens from the years
1952-1978 were honored Friday night
during the halftime of the Chattooga-
Lakeview football game. Par
ticipating former queens included
(top photo, counterclockwise) Dora
Ann Alexander Lanier, Norma Jean
Holt Maxwell, Calla Mae Peek
Bryant, Mary Frances Barron
Dawson, Carolyn Harris Hall, Joan
Cordle Williams, Alice Ruth Hender-
& fl w u i
& wr* ’ F Wdr'T ug
। * **
Countywide Millage Rate To Drop Slightly
By TOM KIRWAN
The county government
and county school system in
recent days set their tax
millage rates for 1979 —with
the combined millage total be
ing slightly lower than last
year.
The county school board,
meeting in a special session
last week, decreased its share
of its overall tax millage by .4
of a mill.
The school board’s overall
reduction was possible despite
a maintenance and operation
increase to 15.75 mills from
last year’s 15.25 mills because
bond millage was trimmed to
1 mill from last year’s 1.9 mill.
County Commissioner
Wayne Denson announced
yesterday he is setting this
year’s millage rate for the
county at the same level as
last year, 13 mills.
Although the combined
millage rate is dropping this
year, the amount the combin
ed sschool system/county
millage will generate for the
two local governing bodies is
significantly higher than last
year, a comparison of the tax
levies for the two years shows.
Last year the millage rate
for the schools’ maintenance
and operation was to have
generated $646,393; this
year’s millage for the same
purpose, the 1^79 levy shows,
will generate $869,008 or 34.4
percent increase over the 1978
figure.
The tax income required to
pay off school bonds, accor
ding to county documents,
was reduced to $63,413 com
pared to $93,342 last year, or
a 32 percent reduction from
last year.
General county obliga
tions, according to the levies
for the two years, will increase
from $758,713 in 1978 to
SUMMERVILLE, CHATTOOGA COUNTY, GEORGIA 30747, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1979
son Green, Mary Lou Caldwell Ar
nold, Sandra Worsham, Vicki
Williams Jarrett, and Claudette
Ponder Mahan; Also, Nancy Hale,
(bottom photo, first row, L-R) Nancy
Lenderman McConkey, Paula Easter,
Debbie Pickle Floyd and Suzanne
Williams Lanier; (back row) Vickie
Cooper, Elaine High Crouch, Alison
Hawkins Boren, Michelle Parker,
Mamie Clarksulff and Darien^ Hat
cher.
$933,851 in 1979, or a 23 per
cent increase.
Typically only 90 percent
of the taxes owed for a given
year are collected by the tax
due date.
According to the levy
document for this year, the
total combined tax millage of
29.75 mills for the
maintenance and operation of
1979 Millage Statement
Issued By Commissioner
(County Commissioner Wayne Denson
released the following statement yester
day upon announcing the millage rate for
1979. The text follows.—Editor)
“After careful consideration of the
proposed budget for Chattooga County,
for 1980, I have decided to maintain the
existing millage rate of 13 mills for the
maintenance and operation of Chattooga
County.
This millage rate will require certain
tightening of expenses and a more limited
use of Revenue Sharing funds which the
County will receive.
One of the main reasons that I am able
to maintain this present millage rate is
due to the County's receiving approx
imately $150,000 per year on the tax sale
of beer in Chattooga County.
As most of you are aware, we are
presently operating an ambulance service
which requires a great deal of funds in
order to provide for the citizens of this
county. The money produced from the
beer tax along with tne money produced
from the levy allows us to operate this am-
200 to 300 new jobs for the county.
The company official who spoke with
The News credited the Chattooga
Chamber of Commerce with being
helpful in familiarizing him with the area
ana its possibilities in relation to his
firm.
Mayor Sewell Cash and other city of
ficials have also played a role in en
couraging the firm to locate here, accor
ding to a source.
All of the persons familiar with the
situation indicated that it was too early
to be overly optimistic about the
possibility that tne firm could locate
here. But one chamber of commerce
the schools and the county
and the repayment of school
bonds will generate
$1,866,272. Last year, for
those three areas, the total tax
to be generated by the slightly
higher millage rate was
$1,498,448, or 24.5 percent
less than this year.
The fact that more money
is able to be generated with a
member said he was encouraged by
developments and that he felt it was the
closest the chamber has come to date in
its ongoing efforts to bring new industry
into the county.
Fabrics America has been eager to
sell the building and its site since the
closing of the plant here over two years
ago. The asking price, according to
Schonebach, is $435,000.
Schonebach said in an earlier inter
view that his company was considering
leveling the building if no buyer could be
found.
Such a move, he explained, might
make the location more attractive for a
An Evening
Os Queens
Me..
„ . Chattooga High 1978 Homecoming
Homecoming Queen Darlene Hatcher (L) crowns
. Beth Chisolm as the 1979 Homecom-
{fueen ing Queen for Chattooga High School
Friday night. Miss Chisolm is a senior
Crowned at CHS.
smaller millage rate this year
is attributable to digest
growth. In other words, the
evaluation of property in the
county— because, in part, of
improvements to property in
the county— has broadened
the tax base.
For example, the value of
property in the county subject
balance service and make up for deficien
cies in other departments. Without the
use of this beer tax I would have been
forced to raise taxes at least one mill or
more to take care of inflation and the in
creased costs of all services produced by
Chattooga County.
I plan to use a part of the money
received from the beer tax and Revenue
Sharing funds in order to continue our
program of resurfacing and paving of
county roads. I am anticipating a great
deal of help from the State of Georgia:
however, these funds will provide the
necessary matching funds which the
county must pay to receive this.
I realize that any increase in taxes at
this time would impose hardships of cer
tain portions of our people, and I believe
that by tightening the County expen
ditures and making the best use of all
funds I will still be able to provide all of
the present County services in their
capacity as they exist now.
Wayne Denson
Commissioner of Chattooga County”
firm that wanted to build a new struc
ture— or for some other use— such as
ashopping center.
"Logically, if someone had a use for
the building if would be a good buy,”
Schonebach said in late August, noting
that the building has a mammoth in
terior footage— 196,000 square feet—
and that the cost of a similar-sized new
facility would be enormous.
“It would be a very economical
building on the basis of today’s con
struction costs,” he said.
Since the plant’s closing here
negotiations that could have lea to the
safe of the property have twice crumbl-
to taxation for general school
purposes in 1978. was
$39,175,329. That figure, for
1979, has grown to
$55,175,105, a 41 percent in
crease over 1978. The value
of property in the county sub
ject to taxation for the
maintenance and operation of
the county for 1979 was
$71,834,728, an increase of
32.5 percent over 1978’s com
parable figure of $54,194,079.
The figures all taken from
tax levy documents in the two
paragraphs above, are figured
after deducting homestead ex
emptions.
Menlo Methodist
To Stress Past
On Homecoming
Homecoming 1979 at
Menlo United Methodist
Church will be observed Sun
day.
The festivities will follow
an 1880’s theme.
The Rev. Steve Winter will
portray the Rev. William
Jasper Cotter, who served the
Summerville Methodist Cir
cuit in 1848 and again in 1883.
Members and friends of
Menlo Methodist are invited
to participate in the 11 a.m.
worship hour dressed in
1800’s costumes— and even
ride to worship in buggies or
on horseback. Following the
worship service, all are invited
to spread a covered-dish din
ner for an old-fashioned dinner
on the grounds. At 1 p.m. an
exhibit of pictures,
documents, hymnals, and
other historical information of
Menlo and Menlo Methodist
Church will be open for inspec
tion.
The public is invited.
Hospital Renews
FMC Contract
For Management
The county hospital
authority Monday evening
agreed to renew its manage
ment contract with Floyd
Medical Center, briefly
reviewed recommendations
contained in what was
described as the “bare bones”
of a long range plan, and ac
cepted the resignation of
authority member Bill Espy.
At an annual cost of
$55,000, the authority agreed
to continue its management
contract with FMC— an ar
rangement begun in 1977.
Under that contract, FMC
provides the local hospital and
nursing home with ad
ministrators and a host of sup
port services. The first period
of the contractual arrange
ment called for a $60,000 an
nual payment to FMC—
which was lowered to $50,000
in 1978 and raised 10 percent
to $55,000 for next year.
Dr. Herman Spivey said he
was impressed with progress
the hospital and nursing
home haa made under the
management arrangement
with FMC, and Charles
Williams, Authority Chair
man, said the facility was in
the “best shape it's ever been
in.”
Sister Joan Granville, who
2 Vehicles Stolen
In North Georgia,
Found Burned Here
Two stolen vehicles were
recovered— burned— this
weekend in Chattooga Coun
ty, according to sheriff’s
department reports.
A 1976 Pontiac Trans Am
belonging to Frank M. James
of Decatur was recovered on
the Fullerton Road near Chat
toogaviile. The car, valued at
$5,000 had been burned.
Sunday morning deputies
recovered a 1974 GMC four
wheel drive truck belonging to
Jim Dodson of Route 2,
LaFayette. The vehicle, found
in the Narrows, had been
burned and the battery was
stolen. The truck had been
stolen the night before from
Dodson’s residence.
As of Tuesday no arrest
had been made in connection
with the two vehicles.
Accident Claims
Lives Os Trion
Man, 2-Year-Old
A three-car accident south of LaFayette Sunday night claim
ed the life of a Trion man and a 2-month-old Trion infant.
Charles T. Vann, 37, of Route 1 and Jason Brown, infant son
of Mr. and Mrs. Gene Brown of Route 1, lost their lives in the
accident. '
According to a report filed by the Georgia State Patrol,
Vann, driver of a 1973 Dodge Dart, was traveling south on
Georgia Highway 151 around 7:50 p.m. Sunday. At the same
time, his wife Shirley Jean Vann, 33, was traveling north on
Georgia Highway 151 in a 1970 Plymouth Duster. Also travel
ing north, behind the Vann car, was John Bezik of Rome in a
1976 Oldsmobile Cutlass.
A witness in the Bezik car and Mrs. Vann stated that Vann
steered his vehicle over into the northbound lane of the
highway, meeting Mrs. Vann and Bezik head on. Suddenly, the
(Continued On Page 3)
ed, leaving the Lyerly Highway facility
idle.
The building, constructed in the
19205, was the workplace of over 300
area residents when it closed in
September of 1977. With that closing
and that of another local plant, Mon
tgomery Knitting Mill, the unemploy
ment rate here hit the double-digit mark.
Local officials said they are hopeful
the proposed sale of the property
becomes successful so that the county’s
chronically-high unemployment rate can
be reduced— which would strengthen
the county’s economy in general.
holds a Masters Degree in
Hospital Administration,
discussed a report she was
commissioned to do for the
authority outlining its long
range development. The
report recommended, among
otner things, the establish
ment of a committee
specifically charged with long
range planning (or that an ex
isting committee be given
that assignment).
In other action, the
authority “reluctantly” ac
cepted the resignation of
Espy, who has been on the
authority two years. In a let
ter of resignation Espy said he
had enjoyed his term with the
authority and said he had
“never known a more
dedicated group.” He said he
simply didn’t have enough
time to continue his affiliation
with the authority as well as
other duties at the same time.
County Commissioner
Wayne Denson will be asked
to submit three nominees
from which the authority can
choose a replacement accor
ding to bylaw guidelines, the
authority said.
In other action, current of
ficers were renamed to their
posts for another year.
All Seats To
Be Contested
In City Race
Six residents have
qualified for the Nov. 3 elec
tion to fill three Summerville
City Council seats.
Earl “Red"Parris, a former
councilmember, and Charles
A. White Sr. have qualified to
run for a seat on tne council.
They are running for seat 3
now held by Boyd Williams,
who did not qualify to run
again.
Incumbent Dennis Cox has
qualified to run for his current
seat No. 4 on the council. Cox
is filling the unexpired council
term of Sewell Cash. Richard
Lindsay, an elementary school
principal, is also running for
Seat 4.
Incumbent Hubert Palmer
is running for his current seat
No. 5 on the council. Palmer is
now completing a four-year
term on the council. Opposing
him is David Ford, an
employee of Allen’s Hard
ware.
PRICE 20c