Newspaper Page Text
VOLUME XCVII - N I*# SR XXVI
City Granted Suit Extension,
Approves Court Record Audit
The Summerville City
Council authorized city at
torney Ben Ballenger to audit
the books of the Recorder’s
Court to determine if the city
owes the state Peace Officers’
Annuity and Benefit Fund
$16,247 in bond forfeitures
dating back to 1970, as charg
ed l’)[y fund officials.
he council’s approval
Monday night came after at
School Board Approves
Lowered 1983 Budget
By PAM PURCELL
The apfiroval of a 1982-83
revised school budget, which
will lower the millafe rate by
an anticipated 2 mills, was the
highlight of the Monday night
meeting of the Chattooga
County Board of Education.
The board also discussed mak
ing ap?)lication for capital
outlay funds.
Board Chairman Joel Cook
told the board that he and
School Superintendent Bill
King had discussed the
amended budget at length
earlier this month. Cook made
a motion to agprove the new
budget an it passed
Money Pledges Honesty
And An ‘Open Mind’
(Editor’s Note: The News
will begin an in-depth series of
interviews with the can
didates for the House of
Representatives in the next
four weeks).
House candidate Jerry
Money, 36, of Orchard Grove
is seeking a seat in the
General Assembly for a se
cond time. He served as
District 5 representative from
1977-79, until he was ousted
by this year’s incumbent can
didate John Crawford.
Money said he would sup
port creation of a state court
in Chattooga County ‘‘if there
were a referendum to let the
})eople decide.” “‘I would be in
avor of it if there were a
referendum because that’s the
way it was taken out,” said
Money.
Chattooga voters rejected
the county’s state court in
1972, but in the last decade
the number of felony cases in
the county has increased
steadily.
The question of construc
tion a state prison in Chat
tooga County has als6 been
another k%y issue this year.
Money said he would support
efforts to locate a prison here.
“] feel it would provide many
jobs and be an economic boost
to the county,’’ he said.
Money, who earlier said he
was undecided about the local
option sales tax, said' this
week he does favor the tax “‘if
it would reduce property
taxes.” ] :
Money (Fointed out that
voters will decide the question
of the local option sales tax in
the Aug. 10 primary and will
vote in November, should the
August vote win approval, if
they want the tax money to go
toward the schools or to tfie
county and cit{ maintenance
and operation budgets. “It’s
ufp to each individual to decide
i theK are in favor of it or
not,’’ he said.
On the question of pari
mutuel betting, Money said he
would not favor the measure.
“I feel the state is not ready
for this and I am opposed to it
morally,” he said.
Both state and national at
tention has been directed
Optimist Club To
Sponsor Health Fair
The Summerville-Trion
?Iptimist Club is sponsoring a
ealth Fair this Sunday, July
18, from 2:30-5 %.m. at the
Summerville ecreation
Center,: . i o
- The Fair will feature blood
pressure checks, a limited eye
exam, oral cancer exam,
The Summeruille News
torneys representing the fund
granted Ballenger a 15-day ex
tension to answer charges
that the city owes the fund
$16,247 in forfeitures, $5,682
in interest charges and
penalties of $4,066.
Attorneys for the Griffin
based fund filed suit in Chat
tooga Superior Court June 11
and would ordinarily expect a
legal ‘‘answer’’ to the charges
unanimously.
The new budfet calls for
$1,064,112 in local effort
taxes. This is an estimated
$200,000 cut in the budget,
Cook stressed. The new
budget calls for an estimated
$197,466 less in local effort
taxes than the 1981-82 school
budget, King said.
(%ook explained that
through the cooperation of the
entire school board,
Superintendent King and Tax
Commissioner Hugh Don
Hall, the cuts in the budget
were possible. The effort by
Hall in collecting back taxes
this year made it possible for
toward the problem of drunk
drivers, an(f politicians and
other community leaders are
fostering the public’s senti
ment.
Several pieces of legisla
tion have evolved in recent
years to ‘“‘get tough” with the
drunk driver. When asked if
he would support stiffer
penalties, Money responded,
“yes.” ‘““There’s got to be
stricter laws and they have to
be enforced.” L
Money said he would firo
pose a law that would allow
the confiscation of a convicted
DUI offender’s car tag for a
“‘certain period of time”’ and a
stiff fine. ‘“‘A second offense
would mean his license would
be revoked,”’ he said. i
~ Although Money said he
favored stiffer DUI penalties,
he does not favor raising the
state’s drinking age to 21. I
wouldn’t favor it because peo-
Ele could get their alcoholic
everages anyway and pass
ing a law would not prevent
it,” said Money.
Money said he has not
changed his stance on han
dgun control — he remains op
posed to it.
“We need for the laws now
(on the books) to be enforced,”’
he said. “We do have laws
now dealing with crimes by
hand%'uns and these need to
be enforced.” : :
The issue of teaching scien
tific creationism along with
the principles of evolution has
drawn national attention. A
bill authored by Rep. Tommy
Smith, D-Alma, requirinfi
state school system to teac
creationism along with evolu
tion never got out of commit
tee this year, despite intense
lobbying efforts.
Money said he was oppos
ed to the measure. ‘I don’t
think the state should man
date what is taught,” said
Money.
State Sen. Bob Bell,
R-Atlanta, has twice tried to
pass a measure creating a
statewide irand ju:ly. but the
measures have failed to be
released from a House com
mittee after passing the
Senate.
see MONEY, page 3-A
weight and height, informa
tion from the American Red
Cross and the American
Cancer Society, and pam
phlets on drugs and im
munizations. .
U—E_v;x"i"&;é is urged to come
%‘m_i participate in the Health
air.
SUMMERVILLE, CHATTOOGA COUNTY, GEORGIA 30747, THURSDAY, JULY 15, 1982
within 30 days after filing.
The fund's attorney in Sum
merville, William Hyden Jr.,
granted a 15-day extension
until July 126, according to
Ballen%er."*v.sf;i;b
Ballenger said Wednesday
he hopes to get the city's
auditing firm, Williams,
Nobles and Franklin of
Cartersville, to conduct the
audit. “‘l'm going to try to get
the board to end the school
gear with a higher endin(g’
alance than anticipated, sai
Cook. It is anticipated that
the cut in the budget will
result in a 2-mill decrease in
school taxes based on last
year’s tax digest, Cook said.
Other news of interest to
the board members came from
Gene Norton with the State
Defiartment of Education. He
talked to the board concerning
the procedures they should
take in making application for
capital outlay funds. The
board hopes to use these
funds in tfie future to build a
see BUDGET, page 3-A
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; \ £5 é o
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(‘:‘\«'E |
JERRY MONEY
Local Chamber Supports
Option Sales Tax Here
The decision to support the
passage of the one-cent local
option sales tax was approved
Tuesday morning by tfie Chat
tooga County Chamber of
Commerce Board of Directors.
The group also saw a program
on the small business develop
ment center. 5 e
Chamber President Bill
Farrar talked with the direc
tors concerning the choming
vote on the one-cent local op
tion sales tax.
Director Arch Farrar Jr.
then exglained briefly to the
group that if the local option
sales tax passed in August, it
will go to the county and ci?’
governments. However, he ad
ed, when the public votes in
November, they will decide if
the county and cities continue
to receive the tax money or if
it all goes to the Trion and
county school systems. The
money brought in by the local
option sales tax will go toward
rolling back taxes, noted Far
rar.
Following some discussion
among the group, the direc
tors unanimously agreed to
supgort the passage of the
local option sales tax in
August. After the August
primary the directors will
decide if they support the
local government or tfie school
systems receiving the money
from the tax. o
Next Meryl King, director
of the small business develop
ment center located in Rome,
gave a brief slide presentation
on the center's program. He
then talked with the directors
about how the center can
assist local small businesses
and the chamber, since it has
been selected as a resource
center.
them to audit it,’”’ said
Ballenger. “‘lf not, I'll have to
go through the records
myself.”
The Summerville attorney
said he will try to complete
the task during the 15-dafi ex
tension period. ‘‘Hopefully, I
can use the auditor so I can
use the testimony in court,”
he said. “I understand the
auditor for the Peace Officers’
Fund went through the
records in three days.”
According to fund officials,
an audit conducted last July
revealed the alleged
discrepancies in the Summer
ville records.
In other action Monday,
the council agreed to study an
amendment drawn up by
Ballenger at the request of
counciflast month that would
allow 24-hour sales of beer and
wine inside the city limits.
Last month, Mary Mon
tgomery of Montgomery's
Produce on Hwy. 27 north re
qluested 24-hour sales, ex
cluding Sunday. Current city
Trion Dawg Days Set
This Weekend In Town
Do you have Dawg Day on
your mind?
"~ Old Timey Dawg Day is
Saturday, Ju{y 17, sponsored
by the Trion 50-Yardp Club.
After months of prepara
tion the gate will open at 9
a.m. on, hopefully, a geautiful
Saturday of fun and games.
There will be sinfing, clog
ging and music all day —
gospe;‘la blue gxiass, roclxi coun
try and just plain popular.
Have you dec{(fef on your
costume, you might win the
trophy for one of the three
groups. Three local people will
judge the Costume Contest,
so make it simple or make it
elaborate — it should be a lot
of fun.
The Craft booths will be an
interesting feature — come
browse. You might start your
Christmas shopping July 17
from the hancfmade items,
wood articles, windchimes,
ceramics, plaques, or dolls.
The baked goods won't last
that long but who can resist
the cakes, cookies and pies.
Try your skill at the Foot
ball Toss, Ring Toss and
Baseball Pitch. Win a prize —
win several prizes.
Who will%e in the Dunking
Booth? Try your skill — make
a bii splash!! Dunk someone
you know.
For the little ones try the
King explained to the
group that the center has a
ree counseling service to
assist small businesses with
problems, as well as sponsor
ing low cost workshops. He
noted that the center also
gives assistance in the legal
maze of starting a small
business and advises the
businessman what type
records he should keep. King
said the center assists the
small businesses in numerous
ways.
‘'see CHAMBER, page 3-A
Unele
Ned
Dear Mr. Editor:
I shore enjoy reading your
pafier, I can keep up with
whats happening and how it
ha[ppens gecause I know yall
tell it like it is. Its sad when
some people who undoubtedly
are affecked by what you write
throw smokescreens to try to
confuse the issue. Keep up the
good work. -
Also I wuld like to thank
the local chamber for doing a
good job trying to bring new
industry into this county. It
seems that sumtimes they get
crittersized for not d)(lning
things to help the local
situashun when in fact like
now, they are working on the
Slock grant for a new in
dustreal park and also talking
with possible new industries.
Yores Truly,
UNCLE N%D '
ordinances require shop
owners to stop beer and wine
sales at 1 a.m. on each night
except Saturday, when a 12
midnight deadline is enacted.
The council opted to table
the action until next month.
Cash, who was absent from
Monday’s meeting, said last
month that should the or
dinance be adopted, it would
take at least two months to be
enacted.
Also on Monday, the coun
cil approved a SSOO expen
diture for the city recreation
department to match a $2,500
state grant for the depart
ment.
In other action the council:
* Voted to purchase a new
five to six-ton air conditioning
unit for the Summerville City
Hall. Estimates for the new
unit range from $13,000 to
$16,000.
* Voted unanimously to
allow for a two-parking-space
loading zone in front of
Downtown Cinema. !
see EXTENSION, page 3-A
Duck Pond to win a prize, or
have their faces painted with
pretty designs.
Outside, the Horseshoe
Tournament will be in full sw
ing with singles and doubles
in double elimination.
Trophies will be presented the
first and second place win
ners.
There will be clowns —
everywhere with balloons that
will fly if released.
Food, crafts, games, and
entertainment. :
And such entertainment —
the schedule includes Close
Harmony, Fireweed, Larry
Maddux and Company, The
Rebels, Calico Kids, The
Wright Family, Genesis,
Justus, and the New Southern
Express. Schedules will be
posted around the area so you
will know when your favorites
will perform.
T‘l)ne Chattooga Ambulance
Service will provide a well
staffed First Aid Station in
case of any problems.
A full day of events, food,
entertainment, prizes and ex
citement. 4 :
Late in the afternoon the
Trion Bulldogs will be auc
tioned. No, the coaching staff
hasn’t decided to restock the
Bulldog team!! The Bulldogs
“auctioned’”’ will be available
for work half-a-day July 24.
Mow your yard, wax your car,
wash the windows or what
have you. Be sure to attend
and pf;ce your bid.
Come early, park in the
Shopping Center parking lot,
attend Dawg Day, stroll down
the sidewalk at the Shopping
Center to see how the mer
chants are supporting OLD
TIMEY DAW(_E: DAY. See
vou Saturday.
Joe Frank Jr. Campaigns Here
You cannot be in two
places at the same time, but if
you're a gubernatorial can
didate and you have a son who
is familiar with your political
Elatform, then it helps to send
bim to the place you cannot
e.
Joe Frank Harris, Jr., the
only child of Georgia lguber
natorial hopeful Joe Frank,
Sr., visited Summerville last
week on one of his many stops
across the state campaigning
for his father. :
The 18-year-old, who just
recently graduated from high
school in Cartersville, where
his family runs a Construction
business, will attend the
University of Georgia in the
fall majoring in business.
The choice of business
seems only natural, according
to Harris. The younger Harris
cites his father’'s years as
chairman of the House Ap
gropriations Committee —the
inancial committee of the en
tire state. He also cites both
his father's and his grand
father’s experience in building
a successful concrete
business, which they sold last
year, from the “firound up,”’
starting out with ‘“‘old con
crete mixers leftover from
World War I 1.”
Politics is nothing new to
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The Miss Summer Pageant was held
recently at the Summerville Junior High
School Auditorium. Those winning in tfie
“Miss Summer’’ division, ages 16 to 20
were (L-R) Lisa Osborne, first runner-up;
County Unemployment Shows
Large Increase During May
Chattooga County’s
unemployment rate rose by
7.6 percent in May, from a
revised 11.5 percent in April
to a preliminary 19.1, Com
missioner of Labor Sam
Caldwell said today.
The jobless rate in Chat
tooga County at this same
time last year was 9.6 percent.
This past May 8,416
residents of Chattooga Coun
ty were employed, but 1,983
others were still unemployed.
In April 8,339 were working
and 1,085 others were jobless.
At this same time last year,
8,550 were working in the
county, but 904 were not.
The state’s unemployment
rate rose slightly in May to
7.4 percent, up from a revised
Harris. ‘‘Daddy ci~ied for
representative when I was
three months old,”’ says Har
ris. ‘‘He’s been there ever
since.”’
Harris said his father has
only had opposition one time
in the 18 years he’s been at the
Capitol and he beat the op
position by 80 percent of the
vote.
Joe ' Frdnk. "Jr. is
knowledgeable of his father’s
Folitical stances, citing quick
y answers to issues such as
prison overcrowding, taxes,
pari-mutuel betting, capital
punishment and women’s
rights.
Harris said his father pro
poses setting up a $1 milYion
revolving fund to help coun:
ties to construct new jails and
alleviate overcrowded condi
tions.
“Daddy is morally oppos
ed to pari-mutuel betting and
wouldn't support it,” said
Harris. “He aggo believes in
swift punishment for
criminals and welcomes the
new federalism.”
Harris has spent most of
his time on the camfiaign trail
from extreme nort eoriia
to the coast since he
graduated in June. He said he
glans to keeg ug the Kace until
e starts school at the univer
sity.
Miss Summer & Court
7.2 in April (reported earlier at
7.1). In Georgia 2,468,995
were on jobs, while 196,493
were still looking for work.
“Initial unemployment in
surance claims are a good
economic indicator of how our
state’s economy is doing,”
Caldwell said, ‘‘and these
claims (initial) are down by
more than 7,000 over the week
(7,767), from 19,835 for the
week ending June 18 to 12,068
for the week ending June 25."
“‘lnitial claims are filed by
people coming in to sign up for
unemployment insurance for
the first time,” Caldwell said.
During the corres?onding
week in 1981, initial claims
totaled 7,258.
In Atlanta initial claims
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T o e A ]
ol N o e e s o o
Joe Frank Harris Jr.
Joe Frank Harris, Jr., 18, has been on the camp?,ilfl:
trail for his father since graduating from Cartersvi
Hi%h School in June. Harris will attend the University
of Georgia in the fall, majoring in business.
Karen Austin, “Miss Summer’’; afid
Hope Nelson, second runner-up and
photogenic winner. (For more pictures,
see this week’s Second Front).
filed drop%ed almost 50 per
cent over the week, from 6,941
recorded for the week ending
June 18 to 3,552 the next
week. And for the correspon
ding week in 1981, initial
claims in Atlanta were at
1,704.
So far this year the
Georgia Department of Labor
has paid out $153,120,731 in
jobless benefits. That is
$65,995,792 more than the
$87,124,939 paid out at this
same time last year.
In order to be eligible for
jobless benefits, galdwell
said, a person must have lost
their jo% through no fault of
their own. The maximum
amount a person can draw in
see INCREASE, page 3-A