Newspaper Page Text
VOLUME XCIV — NUMBER L
767 Eligible
To Vote In
Trion Today
I'rion's 767 registered
voters go to the polls today,
Jan. 3, to elect a mayor, a city
recorder and three council
members.
Facing each other in the
mayor’s race are incumbent
Jake Woods and Councilman
Donnie Hayes.
Incumbent City Recorder
M. D. Brewster is running for
re-election, opposed by Carl
“Chesty "’ Rags)and. a former
councilman.
Running for the three
council seats are: Hoyt
Williams, who is up for re
election; Don Henderson, who
is also up for re-election; Steve
Dyer, a former Trion
policeman; and Doug Wilson,
a former Trion city recorder.
The top three vote-getters in
the council race will be the vic
tors.
Menlo Council
Stavs Busy
At Session
Menlo City Council install
ed its new officials, approved
Fayment for land purchased
or the city's well and left the
city's millage rate unchanged
from last year during its
regular meeting Tuesday
night. 4
Mayor Kathryn Mac Vane,
City Recorder Theresa
Canada, and new coun
cilmembers Mrs. Jeannie
Mincey and William G.A.
Long were installed into office
at the beginning of the
meeting. Mayor Mac Vane and
Mrs. Canada were re-elected
to their offices. Long and Mrs.
Mincey are replacing Barry
Brown and William Robert
King, who did not run for re
election.
Councilman Lonnie Ward,
following the installation,
reported to the council that
the deed to the land the city's
new well is located on is ready.
The council approved pay
ment of $2,000 to Norman
Tucker for his 100 x 100 feet
area of land and road right of
way.
Next, the council discussed
the city taxes, agreeing to
keep the city's milla%e rate at
5 mills, the same as last year.
In other action the council:
* Appointed William G. A.
Long as Menlo's new city
judge.
* Approved business
license fees at the same rates
as last year.
* Re-hired Mrs. Pat
Shipley as the city clerk.
* Appointed members to
five committees. The commit
tees and members include:
Street Committee: Tommy
Ballard; Beautification Com
mittee: Jeannie Mincey and
William Long; Water Commit
tee: Lonnie Ward and William
Long; Police Committee:
Kathryn Mac Vane and Tom
my Ballard; and CETA Com
mittee: Tommy Luther.
Amoco Leases
So Far Total
7.661 Acres
The oil, gas and mineral
rifihts to over 7,000 acres of
Chattooga County property
have been leased to Amoco
Production Co. or its represen
tatives in recent weeks.
The leases, filed in the
clerk of the court’s office in
the Courthouse, showed that
Amoco as of Friday had ac
cumulated 7,661 acres for
possible oil exploration ac
tivities.
In all, 21 mineral lease
agreements have been signed,
court records showed, but a
few of them represented the
same parcels as co-owners
sometimes signed individual
agreements.
Sportsman Is
Hurt In Subligna
A Dalton man, injured
Tuesday while deer hunting
near Subligna, remained in
fair condition at Floyd
Medical Center in Rome
Wednesday afternoon.
Marvin Ayers, 35, was
taken to Floyd Medical Center
by the Chattooga County
Emergency Medical Service
following the accident. He was
listed in the intensive care
unit (ICU) at Floyd Wednes
day.
Details of the accident in
which Ayers reportedly fell
from a tree-stand were not
available at press time.
Che Summeruille News
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Cloudland Work Continues
A workman trenches near the reservoir in Cloudland as
work continues on a project aimed at improving the
community’s water distribution system. After digging
the trench shown here, 8-inch plastic pipe was install
ed. Inset shows a sign giving the pubi)ic details of the
project.
No Buyers Seen For
Site In Summerville
Fabrics America Group says it has no prospective buyers
willing to purchase its long-idled plant in Summerville.
““We have no prospects right now,”” said Meno Schoenbach,
chairman of the goard of Fzbrics America Group, a few days
after a textile firm which was eyeing the property decided last
month nettonieehmgaat, . . = L 0 o 0
“We have no definite plans,’” said Schoenbach of the facilit
which closed its doors here late in 1977. “I'm working witK
(local chamber of commerce president) Henry Watson to see
what can be done, but there are no definite plans. Fabrics
America is anxious to cooperate with the City to see what we
can do with the proper for the benefit of all of us ... "
Schoenbach saidpseveral months ago that one alternative
miiht be to level the old, existing building, a move that might
make it more suitable for development. (Stevco Knitting Co., a
New-York based textile firm that backed out of negotiations to
buy the buildin?, decided to locate in another unspecified com
munihy which already has a new building on an industrial site,
according to Watson).
“We're trying to find out which way to go (on disposing the
property),” said Schoenbach. ‘‘Sometime by the end of January
we should come to a final decision on what we're going to do
with it."”
The company, he said, would like to ‘‘work out something to
employ people— that would be one of our main objectives.
We're keeping our fingers crossed and hoping something can be
worked out so the building can be used for manufacturing and
employment of people. It's a fine structure; it needs work, but
lends itself to manufacturing operations.”
Proposed Expansion At
Oakview To Be Reviewed
Ben Mosley of Summer
ville, president of the Ap
galachian Georgia Health
ystems Agency, Inc. (AG
HSA), has announced two
meetings to be held on next
Thursday at the Civic Center
in Cartersville.
The first meeting, schedul
ed for 5 p.m., will be a meeting
of the Agency’'s Board of
Directors. Mosley said the
meeting agenda will include
recommendations from the
respective standing commit
tees regarding the 1980-1985
Health Systems Plan; the
1980-1981 Annual Implemen
tation Plan; the Agency's Ap-
Blication for Renewal of Full
esignation; two certificate of
need reviews and one federal
funds review; and the election
of persons to fill five vacant
quitions on the Board of
Irectors.
Reviews to be conducted
include Oakview Nursing
Home's groposal to add 56
beds to their existing facility
at a cost of $717,946; Brown
Memorial Convalescent
Center’'s proposed SBOB,OOO
cost overrun of a previously
approved project to add 100
beds to the nursing home
facility: and a proposal from
the North Georgia Mental
Health Center to establish a
residential treatment facility
for alcohol abusing women
within the mental heaith cat
chment area at a cost of
$171,634.
At 1 flm immediately
following the Board meeting,
SUMMERVILLE, CHATTOOGA COUNTY, GEORGIA 30747, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 1980
By TOM KIRWAN
there will be a public hearing
on the Agency’'s Application
for Renewal of Full Besigna
tion as the Health Systems
Agency for Georgia Health
Service Area 11, which is com
prised of the followinfi North
Georgia counties: Banks, Bar
tow, %lhattool‘ga. Dawson, Fan
nin, Floyd, Franklin, Gilmer,
Gordon, Habersham, Hall,
Haralson, Hart, Lumpkin,
Murray, Pickens, l»?olk,
Rabun, Stephens, Towns,
Union, White and Whitfield.
According to Mosley, the
purpose of this hearing will be
to afford citizens of the area
an opportunity to submit com
ments verbalf'y or in writing
regarding the proposed ap
plication, for consideration by
the Agencg's Board of Direc
tors and Executive Commit
tee in finalizing the applica
tion. A summary of alf com
ments made at the public
hearing and copies of any writ
ten comments will be append
ed to the application prior to
its submission to the U.S.
Department of Health, Educa
tion and Welfare.
Mosley said the renewal
application includes a propos
ed budget and work program
for Fiscal Year 1980-1981, a
statement of the qualifica
tions and composition of the
AG-HSA Board of Directors,
and a detailed progress report
of the Agency's activities dur
ing the current fiscal year in
carrying out the functions of a
fully-designated HSA. A copy
(Continued On Page 3-A)
Many Local Merchants Report
Mixed Christmas Sales Here
By PAM PURCELL
Christmastime buying in Chattooga County
retail stores was about at the same level, or a bit bet
ter, than last year, an informal spot check of local
merchants indicates.
Of 11 merchants interviewed, only three
reported end-of-year business as being off compared
to last year.
“Sales were good for us this year,” said one
general merchandise store manager. ‘‘Any kind of
electronic game sold well. Merlin The Electronic
Wizard (which has six different games and makes
sounds like R2-D2) was the most popular. This was
the second year for Merlin. Last year it wasn't
popular but this year you couldn’t keep one.”
Stereos also sold well, he said. Peopil)e seemed to
be buying more in the entertainment line than in the
usefu{line.
“We had about the same number of last-minute
shoppers as we did last year,” continued the
manager. "I think we would have had more if the
weather had been better. A lot of people wait till the
last minute to shop every year, especially husbands
and fathers that d‘())n't live with tfieir children.”
Meanwhile, another ¥eneral merchandise
manager said his store's sales were a bit off com
pared to last year.
“We had more last-minute shoppers this year,”
he explained. ‘‘The week before Cfiristmas was our
best week. I'd say 90 percent of our sales were the
10 days before Cl{ristmas.
“Bicycles, stereos and electronic games were our
most popular items,” the manager continued. *“We
could have sold a thousand of them (electronic
games) if we'd had them. We couldn’t get anymore
after we sold out. Merlin was the most popular item.
The week before Christmas, I don’t finow of any
store that had Merlin between here and Chat
tanooga. You just couldn’t get one.”
GLITTERINg GOLD
Two local jewelry store managers said that sales
were good for them this Christmas season, especial
ly witfix gold at $513 an ounce before Christmas and
rising.
“We had a nice increase in sales this year com
pared to last year,"” said one manager. ‘“The Satur-
Toy Drive Called ‘Best kver’
The local Christmas Toy
Drive for the Needy was “the
most successful ever,” accor
ding to coordinator Juanita
Ham.
Although one other recent
Trion Council Discusses
Wide Variety Of Topics
Mostly routine matters
were discussed and approved
during the regular monthly
meet.inf of the Trion City
Council last Thursday night.
Town Recorder M.D.
Brewster advised the council
that all but 45 city tax bills
had been ’Faid by tie Dec. 20
deadline. The 45 bills account
for approximately $2,260.24
in unpaid taxes, Brewster
said. The council advised
Brewster to send out the final
tax notices to the 45 residents
the following morning.
Mayor Jake Woods inform
ed the council that he had
heard of no decision from the
Georgia Supreme Court con
cerning an appealed decision
heard by the court on Nov. 19.
The case concerns property
owned by Jerry Westhrooks
whose request to rezone a
Trion lot (}rom residential to
commercial status had been
turned down by the council.
In other action the council:
* Heard from Coun
cilwoman Robbie Camp, who
told the council she had been
asked by a resident of the Oak
Hill Subdivision about the
i)ossibilit.ies of making Oak
{ill an annex to the Town of
Trion. After some discussion,
Mayor Woods said the
residents of Oak Hill would
have to have a petition signed
by all the residents béfore the
matter could be pursued fur
ther.
* Was advised there was a
ossibilit(y that Southern
K’atural 3as Co. would in
crease the city’'s wholesale
price of gas by 18 cents per
1,000 cubic feet (MCF) as of
Jan. 1, 1980. The council
agreed, that if the wholesale
rates are increased, the in
crease will be passed on to
their gas customers.
* Approved business
licenses at the same rates as
last year. The council approv
ed the category of ‘‘retail sales
from a truck’’ being added to
the license fee schedule. The
fee was set at $25. In doing so,
the council dropped separate
license fees for retail rug sales
from trucks and retail
vegetables and fruits from a
truck.
* Was advised by Mayor
Woods that the results from
the Oct. 17-19 Tennessee
year exceeded 1979 in sheer
number of toys, she said,
public response was greater
this season than ever before.
“We had a tremendous
response from local groups
Meter and Repair gas leak
survey of Trion have been
returned. One underground
and nine above-ground gas
leaks—all minor— were found,
according to the survey.
‘Woods Lofd the council that all
the above-ground leaks had
been repaired. The
underground leak, Mayor
Woods said, involves tearing
up about 15 foot of sidewalk
and some of a street near Park
Avenue and Simmons Street.
The leak will be repaired soon,
said Woods.
* Appointed Carl
Williams as the poll manager
for today's town election.
* (Gave the mayor authori
ty to take bids from local
banks to get the best interest
rate possible on SIBO,OOO in
})roperty tax money invested
or a 10-month period. The
council also gave the mayor
[ioee [ vowr [vwow | toes [ voro [ lot | rova | lo7a |o7 | 1978 [ore [1977 Tio] o)
15 L T T
|
| | |
T
—R — L
ke 1 ‘ | | |
‘ 2
/ 55 MPH LIMIT
i WENT INTO EF FECT
As this graph shows, the Chattooga
County highway death rate in 1979 was
the same as it was last year, with a total
of five deaths occurring throughout the
year. The lowest number of fatalities in
the county was in 1966 when two local
day before Christmas was our busiest day, but there
:ivere a good many customers on Friday and Mon
ay.
“Our most popular sales were that of gold
items,"’ she continued. ‘'Solid gold jewelry was what
most pe()fivle wanted. Diamonds and waiches were
also popular. All and all, we can’t complain about
our sales. Of course, we'd like for it (sales) to be bet
ter.”
Another jeweler said, "'Our sales were as good as
last year. We had quite a few last-minute shoppers.
Friday and Saturday were our best days.
“Most anything in gold sold well,”" he continued.
“Gold add-a-beads ang 14 karat chains were very
po?lu.l'ar. Diamond pendants and earrings also sold
well.
Two drug store spokesmen reported differences
in Christmastime income, but they agreed on many
of the items that were most popular. Cologne and
different types of fragrant sets were popular items
among many stores, two local druggists said.
Photograph equipment such as cameras and film
sold well this year. Electric razors were also popular
items this year at one drug store, despite the trend
toward disposable razors, said one manager, who ad
ded that holiday sales were up this year.
One drug store manager said his sales were
“definitely a lot slower’ this year than last. He
blamed the decrease on the recession and the OPEC
induced oil situation.
A fabric store-owner reported that sales were
about the same as last year, with sales slowing down
the week before Christmas.
“1 was surprised; we were busy the day after
Christmas and for two or three days—more so than
usual,”” she commented. “I guess it was people
receiving money for Christmas. We had about the
same number of last-minute shoppers as last year.
They were mostly buying gift certificates.”
gs the representatives of two local furniture
stores contacted, one reported an increase in sales
and the other noted a decrease compared to last
year.
“QOur sales were off by about 20 percent, I'd
say,” explained one. ‘‘Most of our customers bought
earlier in the month. We had a lot of deliveries
and individuals,” Mrs. Ham
said. ‘lt was wonderful to see
so many people get involved.”
In all, she said, between a
150 to 175 low-income families
benefited from the drive. The
authority, if and when needed,
to borrow money at the best
rate available to meet the
monthly expenses of the town.
The borrowed money, the
council agreed, should not ex
ceed SIBO,OOO.
* Approved appointments
to five committees. The com
mittees and members include:
Trion Planning and Zoning
Commission: Celeste
Florence, chairman; Mildred
Allmon Neal; Billy “Jug”
Hayes; Gene Wilbanks and
l‘)ldymd Barrett. Building In
spector: the town recorder and
Billy Henderson; County
Municipal Planning Commis
sion: Elgin Logan and J.C.
Woods. Board of Appeals;
Harold Broome, chairman;
George Scoggins and Jule
Stephens. Chattooga County
Library Board: Grace Sim
mons and Celeste Florence.
Five Fatalities In °79
parents of some 650
children—and possibly
more—received bags of toys
distributed here a few days
before Christmas. Eligible
families are chosen as reci
pients after being referred by
a local agency, Mrs. Ham
said.
A batch of letters sent out
by volunteers netted the drive
over S3OO, she said. Con
tributors included Bob Guffin,
Ed Bryant, Harold Storey,
Billy and Doris Mitchefi,
Garnett's Furniture, Penn
ville Gospel Tabernacle,
Bohanan's, Unity Baptist
Church, Welcome Hill Baptist
Church, New Bethel Baptist
Church, Sumnwrvillo-'l‘:iun
Rotary Club, Church of God of
Prophecy, State Line Baptist
Church and the Women of
Menlo Presbyterian Church,
A number of "“special’’ ef
forts were qun('h(«s) by local
qufis' Mrs. Ham noted. The
3rotherhood group of the
First Baptist (I'fmr('?\ in Trion,
for example, treated 16
youngsters to a restaurant
meal and took them to stores
to buy their own Christmas
presents—valued up to sls
each. The R. A.s of the church
also sponsored a toy drive.
The Lady Shriners helped
three families during the
holidays, while Calvary Bap
tist Church visited 75 families
with presents for the children.
Several high school groups
got into the action, too, accor-
deaths occurred. The worst year on
record in the county in recent years was
1972, with 14 deatfis reported. Informa
tion for this graph was made available by
the Georgia State Patrol.
Christmas Eve, but only one customer in the store.
Last year we were busy up until Christmas; this
{e&;r sq!es started slowing down about two weeks
refore.
Another furniture store reported a 20 to 25 per
cent increase in sales over last year. The manager
explained that there were more television sets and
appliances sold this year than last. Stereos were also
good sale items, he said.
Two local variety store managers contacted
reported a slight increase over last year's sales at
Christmas.
“Our sales were a little bit better this
Christmas,”” commented one manager. "' think the
rain kept most last-minute shoppers from shopping.
It was a good season in gonvrulpfor all items in the
store.”
Another manager reported that his store's
Christmas sales were up Y)y about 12 percent this
year. He said electronic games were very popular,
along with batteries to operate them.
LOAN [)EK‘IANI) OFF
Observed Jerrell McCool, president of the First
National Bank of Chattooga County, “Our loan
demands were down this (?%\ristmas. At the same
time our Christmas clubs were up considerably over
last year. There just wasn't near the traffic on bor
rowing money for Christmas as we usually have.”
Residents, he said, *‘'were either prepared for it or
decided not to have as big a Christmas this year. |
think it was some of all of it—being prepared and
spendin% less.”
Usually a tremendous rush to borrow money
before Christmas is seen, said McCool, "but it
wasn't that way this year. We observed a quieter
Christmas as far as the bank's activities. Some mer
chants said the weather was a factor in it because it
wasn't that cold before Christmas to get people in
the Christmas spirit.”
In talking with the merchants, McCool said, he
found there were fewer customers, but higher pur
chases per customer. He said a lot of the bank’s
customers had also commented that they were able
to find most of what they wanted l()cafiy without
commuting out-of-town. The high cost of gas was
also a big factor in hometown shopping, he added.
IPRICE 20c¢
ding to Mrs. Ham. The ‘{rion
High Beta Club held a food
drive, while the Tri-Hi-Y Club
at the school sponsored a toy
drive, as did the Summerville
Junior Hifh Beta Club. The
Summerville High Key Club
also held a Food-Toy Drive.
The kindergarten group at
Menlo Elementar Scfiool also
sponsored a toy, ({rive.
Georgia Rug Mill donated
an estimated 5450 worth of
stockings filled with goodies,
Mrs. Ham said, and the Chat
tooga Count}y Memorial Home
gave honeybuns which were
distribuwd’./ Super-D gave the
drive all the plastic bags need
ed to organize the distribution
process. Mrs. Ham also cited
the WMU of the First Baptist
Church in Summerville for its
efforts. Also, Eugene McGin
nis donated space above his
drug store as a workshop and
distribution center, she said.
““I'm sure there might have
been some groups Lfiut I've
forgotten to mention here,”
she said. ""'There were so many
people helping that it's easy
to miss recognizing them, and
if 1 did I want them to know
that we are grateful for their
sup&)rt,."
Several individuals were
closely involved in the holiday
project. One local man invited
a poor family home with him
for a holiday meal. Two local
secretaries provided new toys
for a Trion family. And two
other local women helped
sponsor a beauty pageant
from which part of the pro
ceeds went to buy new toys.
Some 30 volunteers helped
organize the toys and
distribute them, Mrs. Ham
said. Playing a very large role
in the drive were members of
the Nutrition Project for the
Elderly, who collected and fix
ed up hundreds of toys. As in
Eust years, Kk mmett McCamy
eaded up the fix-it operation
this year.
“Of course, hundreds of in
dividuals contributed toys,
and without them there
wouldn’t be a toy drive,” said
Mrs. Ham, "It was a wonder
ful toy drive,” she continued.
“The county responded so
well and we were delighted
with the outpouring from the
public.”
Investigator
Visits Thurs.
The insurance field in
vestigator from Insurance
Commissioner Johnnie L.
Caldwell’'s Office will be in
Summerville on Thursday,
Jan. 10, to help with your in
surance problems and ques
tions.
Field Investigator James
B. Kirk Jr. will be in the Cour
thouse from 9 a.m. to 2:30
p.m.