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Che Summeruville News
~ The Official Legal Organ of Chattooga County —
WINSTON E. ESPY PUBLISHER
DAVID T. ESPY JR. GENERAL MANAGER
TOM KIRWAN EDITOR
WILLIAMT. ESPY ADVERTISING MANAGER
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Address All Mail to: THE SUMMERVILLE NEWS, P. 0. Box 310, Summerville, Ga. 30747
Editorials
Better Labeling Needed
Americans often boast that food and
drug laws in this country protect con
sumers better than consumers are pro
tected in most foreign countries. While
that's true, there are still gaps and
loopholes in U.S. laws. Consumers still
lack much vital information they should
be provided on food and drug containers.
The most glaring oversight is the lack
of adequate information about alcoholic
beverages. Currently a flap over descrip
tions of grape brandies is attracting the
attention of the Treasury Department’s
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and
Firearms. But far more important is the
lack of information on beer bottles and
cans, and malt liquors, as to alcohol con
tent.
The Food and Drug Administration
should require every egg carton, milk car
ton, fresh meat package and packages of
Scouting’s Birthday
On Feb. 39, the Boy Scouts of
America organization is 70 years old and
churches, businesses, troops, and all
types of media are helping the organiza
tion celebrate.
The Boy Scouts was founded by Lord
Robert Baden Powell in July 1907.
It was brought to America from
England in February, 1910. From 22 boys
at Brownsea Island in 1907, the organiza
tion has become the world's largest with
over eight million in the United States
alone. The scout handbook has sold more
copies than any book in history cxcept for
the Holy Bible, and Boy s Life magazine
has the largest circulation of any of its
kind. Over 60 million citizens of the
United States have been influenced by
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other perishable food items to state a date
when the contents will be hazardous to
health.
The current system of allowing pro
ducers and grocers to hide such informa
tion from buyers (with a code) cir
cumvents the intent of the law. What pro
tection is such a system to buyers who
can’t read the secret codes? Sellers don’t
always promptly remove all stale food
from the shelves.
This whole area of dating perishable
food and accurately and completely label
ing contents is an era in which the public
welfare has been neglected to please pro
ducers and marketers. Clear, simple,
health— protection information should be
mandatory on all food and drink con
tainers— and the second session of the
96th Congress, about to get underway,
should see to it.
scouting since its founding.
Several local businesses are offering
free gifts to scouts and leaders this week.
All scouts are urged to go by Hardees in
Summerville and receive a free Roast
Beef Sandwich. Also, The Record Shop is
giving away free records and decals, and
Jay’s Surplus is offering a G.l. can opener
in addition to a 10 percent discount on
merchandise year round. Scouts must
show their registration cards to receive
their gift.
Any boy 11-18 years old who is in
terested in Scouting should visit and join
one of the local Boy Scout troops in Chat
tooga County.
Happy Birthday Scouting!
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Off the Newsdesk
Cadaver In New Clothes
It's a wonder that the folks on the
Channel 9 news team in Chattanooga
don't all have broken arms.
If their limbs aren’t mangled from the
outpouring of self congratulatory back
patting they've been giving themselves
lately, surely an enraged viewer has
stormed the station to twist an arm or
two.
For weeks now area viewers have had
to suffer a handful of unbearable promo
tions on Channel 9 touting their alleged
community involvement, in depth repor
ting, and general know-how.
If the Channel 9 newscasts came
across as anything more than unprofes
sional drivel, this mindless tripe might be
forgiveable. What is irrational about the
station’s promotion is that the newscasts
typically are little more than comic relief.
It is an assault on viewers' in
telligence for anyone to swallow the story
line their spot promotions harbor. For ex
ample, we see the camera zoom in on the
steely-eyed anchorman who with news
copy in hand says to a colleague
something like, ‘'This story has impact.
This story is important to the people of
Chattanooga. I think they're going to en
joy it.”
Letters To The Editor
‘ . . .
Wishful Thinking’
Dear Mr. Kirwan:
The opinion expressed in The Summerville
News in an editorial titled “Carter Rides
Breaking Wave'' seems to be more wishful
thinking than reality.
The most recent polls in lowa show our
president leading two to one, reflecting on the
patriotic rallying of the American people.
Witness the fact that the sl.avesom on
dock workers have refused to load Russian
ships; the recent vote in the United Nations;
the commodities market turnaround after two
days of being closed. The stock market has
raised over 30 points
The humlflu(mn, if any, has bred
humanitarism toward our 50 hostages. Would
you have us declare war and have them be kill
ed by our first overt act?
Referring to high technology shipments:
what administration started detente, and who
brought up the point that Russia should live
up to its commitments in reference to the wars
28 YEARS AGO
The following are excerpts from January 1952 issues of The Summerville
News.
. . -
“A well-known Chattooga County landmark, the Cloudland Park Club
hotel, was destroyed by fire Tuesday."
* - *
“Two-way radio equipment has been purchased by the Summerville Police
Department for the first time."”
* * =
“City Clerk Sam Sitton reported Wednesday that the city's two reservoirs
are practically dry, thereby creating a critical water shortage here.”
* * =
“Seven Chattoogans have been selected for pre-induction examinations on
Aug. 4."”
* = .
“Roy Davis of Calhoun has bought McWhorter-Selman Chevrolet Co., and
has been appointed the local dealer.”
It's as if we are to believe the news
should not be what’s important, but what
viewers will like and be stimulated by.
That we are to believe such a ludicrous
conversation takes place is incredible
enough, but if we are to believe this is the
basis of the Channel 9 news philosophy
we can only assume that they routinely,
sweep under the carpet stories that peo
ple perhaps won't like.
But the most laughable aspect of all is
the hoopla over the adoption of a new
“Channel 9" logo. From all the carrying
on about the uninspired symbol (an ac
quaintance termed it an overgrown
donut), you would think they were mak
ing dramatic changes at the station
rather than simply dressing up the
cadaver in new clothes.
All this crowing over at Channel 9
would be bad enough if a dynamic new ap
proach to the news were in evidence,
where more than amatuerish newscasters
were presenting the day’s events with
more polish than a grade school ‘‘show
and tell” session. But idle bragging—
beating a drum of paper skin, so to
speak— is pretentious, boring and ter
ribly out of place.
impact?
I call to your attention the most recent
figures of the balance of trade. Of course, with
40 or 50 billion going to purchase oil overseas
to supply almost ha%f of our yearly needs, no
administration can balance our budget.
Boycotting the olympic games: in light of
revious statements would you like to go? Or
fiave our cream athletes attend them in
Moscow? I for one would not attend after
Afghanistan!
Speaking of prospects: We are now not
receiving Iranian oil. Looking backwards is
poor criteria for predicting the future. The
coming events seem to precfude that the presi
dent’s position—especially in light of his
“moral equivalent of man on the energy
crisis”—will further improve, and more heat
will be directed toward the Congress and in
such troubled times. I doubt that the nation
will change horses in midstream.
Sincerely,
Charles Elder,
Summerville
ROy
Facing South
a syndicated column
voices of tradition
in a changing region
““More Than Choosing a Roof"”
GREENVILLE, N.C.— Huge old trees stand in
straight lines between the street and sidewalk. Gnarled
limbs make a canopy ¢! deep summertime shade against a
blue sky floating puffy whipped cream clouds. Children
play on the sidewalks and in the yards,
while grownups sit on porch swings, . N
trading drawled comments back and /‘:; =
forth about the day’s happenings. -
Sometimes everyone meets for a "gl!r .g‘ R
covered-dish supper: chicken pastry, . N 5 BE
sweet potatoes, collards, banana pud- .. fi 5
ding e |
These are not memories from a i pn ~ed
senior citizen's past but present-day "% i
scenes in @ rejuvenating
neighborhood— the Higgs neighborhood in Greenville.
Approximately 100 years old, the 50 block area of
Higgs was originally considered a ‘‘good’’ part of town—
until the early 1950 s when East Carolina University
entered a boom period of growth on the other side of the
city, triggering a pattern of development towards the
east, and away from Higgs.
But Higgs has been luckier than most decaying
neighborhoods. The decision made in the early 1970 s to
locate a new medical complex nearby renewed interest in
the neighborhood. A few energetic people began working
together then to salvage the area— people like Donna
Whitley and her artist husband, Kasem Sebti. The couple
bought one of the old houses and rented a house around
the corner to live in while they renovated. They have been
working on the house for about three years now— doing
all the work themselves. They helped to form the Higgs
Neighborhood Association which, among other things,
represents the area before the city council. The Associa
tion has lobbied successfully for new street lights, paved
streets, new water lines and a SIO,OOO grant for a new
park.
Now there are about 300 families living in Higgs— a
mixture of ages, races and incomes. About 30 percent are
homeowners, and many of these have taken advantage of
FHA loans and other government funds either to build
new houses in the area or to renovate older ones.
People buying the older houses have discovered
treasures of workmanship and materials which would be
nearly impossible to afford in a new home today—
features like thick oak plank floors, large rooms, heavy
sills and rafters and deep front porches with room enough
for flowers and swings.
Like a small village, the area is a pleasant mixture of
businesses and homes. The businesses include
restaurants— gourmet dining in an elegantly restored
Victorian home, and a small family-owned deli serving
home style meals— a dentist, a craftsman'’s cooperative,
small grocery stores and a coalition of local artists and
musicians. Donna Whitley points out that the
neighborhood is also within easy walking distance of
East Carolina University, two libraries, an elementary
school, the new hospital and several churches.
One of the most exciting enterprises in Higgs now is
the renewal of the Roxy Theatre, which began life in the
days of segregation as the black movie theatre. It was
closed during the bitter first days of the civil rights strug
gles, but has re-opened recently as an ‘‘arts’ theatre,
presenting original plays, stage shows, concerts, poetry
readings and arts and crafts shows.
But Higgs' rebirth is not nearly complete. There are
still many vacant houses waiting to be bought, for prices
ranging from SIO,OOO to $50,000. And there is growing
interest in esirblishing a new community center.
“Moving into a neighborhood such as Higgs is more
than choosing a roof,”” says Donna Whitley. “'lt is an in
vestment in the past and the future, a dream with a price
tag and way of life that blends all kinds of people and
ages in the traditional manner of our grandparents.”’
—MARGARET E. BUNCH
free lance
Greenville, N.C.
A KILLJOY
Conscience doesn’t keep you from do
ing anything . .. it just takes all the en
joyment out of it.— Golden Gate
- * *
THEY HAVE
Most girls have-a skin they love to
retouch.— Thompson (Ga.) Times