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The Summerville News
The Official Legal Organ of Chattooga County
WINSTON E. ESPY DAVID T. ESPY, JR. WILLIAM T. ESPY
PUBLISHER GENERAL MANAGER ADVERTISING MANAGER
TOMMY TOLES
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Address All Mail to: THE SUMMERVILLE NEWS, P. 0. Box 310, Summerville, Ga. 30747
Editorials
Meaning 0f Christmas
Almost 2,000 years ago, a Babe was
born in the obscure village of Bethlehem.
At the time, only a few shepherds and peo
ple in the immediate area were aware that
there was something unusual happening.
The star over Bethlehem led the *‘wise
men’’ of the East to Roman-occupied
Israel. King Herod, fearful that scriptural
prophecies about a new Jewish king would
endanger his rule, set out to destroy all
babies in the Bethlehem area. But Baby
Jesus had been taken to Egypt and safety.
About 33 years later, Jesus was
crucified, again fulfilling prophecy. The
three years he taught on this earth, com
bined with his death and resurrection,
changed the world.
Christmas is ostensibly supposed to be
Open Hearts In Chattooga
A lot of Chattooga County organiza
tions have worked hard this Christmas to
make sure needy youngsters and families
have something to celebrate.
American Legion Post 129, Veterans of
Foreign Wars Post 6688 and its Auxiliary
worked hard to provide a Christmas to 442
children representing 169 families at the
Chattooga County Memorial Home
recently.
The Summerville-Trion Optimist Club
also donated numerous toys to Chattooga
Services (formerly EOA) for distribution
to needy children.
Chattooga County's Emergency
Holiday Workers
During the Christmas and New Year's
holidays, many of us are used to getting
the day off from work as we get together
with our families for food, fellowship and
entertainment.
Usually, we forget those who have to
work on holidays and we often don’t ex
press our appreciation to them.
The list includes sheriff's deputies and
other personnel, policemen, firemen,
From QurEarly il
5
39 YEARS AGO
The following are excerpts from the Dec. 25, 1947 edition of The Summer
ville News.
* * *
ESPY AND JAMES ENTER MAYOR RACE: TOTAL NOW FIVE — Five
men have qualified and announced their candidacy for mayor of the city of Sum
merville in the city election to be held on Jan. 3. The last-minute entrance of
D. T. Espy and Willie James, both Councilmen, into the mayor’s race shortly
before the qualification deadline at noon Thursday brought the race to a climax.
Previously announced candidates for the office are J. E. Baker, A. P. Walker
and Fred Elrod.
א א 4
SUMMERVILLE JUNIOR CLASS BRINGS SANTA CLAUS TO
CHILDREN — Fifteen little boys and girls who otherwise would not have been
paid a visit by Santa Claus this year got more than just a peek at the old gent
Friday afternoon, through the cooperation of the junior class of the Summer
ville High School. Instead of exchanging gifts among themselves, the junior
class decided it would enjoy giving more if they gave to some one who would
not have a very Merry Christmas otherwise. The group took the money which
they would have used in exchanging gifts, and this along with some money
contributed by various merchants, made a tidy sum, which was used for clothing
and toys. Some of the children, all students at Summerville School, had been
barefoot and most of their clothing was threadbare, but they were carried to
a local clothing store Friday morning and completely outfitted. The day’s climax
came in the afternoon when a Christmas party was given by their “‘sponsors,”
the junior class.
a celebration of the birth of Christ but it
is really more of a secular holiday ruled by
Santa Claus, brightly colored lights and
gifts under an artificial or real tree.
Many people prefer to forget that the
Babe grew into manhood and set forth
principles by which man was supposed to
live, and that He was executed because of
His teachings.
In 2,000 years, history has proven that
mankind hasn't changed. We are still in
need of a Savior and we still turn away
from the Truth that can make us free.
When we remember the Babe of
Bethlehem this Christmas, may we also
remember the remainder of His life, His
teachings and His death.
Medical Service or ambulance service
sponsored a ‘‘can-a-thon’ to seek food for
the Chattooga Interagency Council's food
pantry during this holiday season.
Residents opened their hearts and donated
a “‘truckload’ of food in one day.
Many other groups, individuals and
churches remain unheralded but they have
done their part toward helping reach those
in our midst who lack the means to give
gifts to their children or to even provide
a decent meal.
Hearts are more open this time of the
year and it's good to know that Chattooga
Countians care about each other.
Georgia State patrolmen, hospital and
nursing home personnel, telephone
operators, radio personnel and ambulance
service workers, to name just a few.
To those who work so that we may feel
secure and receive emergency help if need
ed, or those who work to make things more
convenient and enjoyable to us, we extend
our thanks and appreciation.
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Viewpoint
By Tommy Toles, Editor
Extra Christmas Gifts
Santa Claus may bring a few extra
gifts in his bag of goodies this year. A con
fidential source indicated he was thinking
about slipping the following gifts under a
few Christmas trees:
Winning football seasons in 1987 for
the Trion High and Chattooga High foot
ball teams.
Good health and a better disposition
for Commissioner Harry Powell. And
maybe even a county financial manager.
A visit from Solomon to mediate the
controversy between the Chattooga Board
of Education and School Supt. Don Hayes.
On July 4th next year, a community
wide Independence Day celebration at
James H. "Sloppy™ Floyd State Park —
complete with a spectacular fireworks
display over the lake.
A tenant for the City of Summerville's
speculative industrial building, one that
would provide at least 70 or 80 new jobs.
A perfect winning season for Georgia
Tech's football team next fall, including a
victory over that ““Doggone’” team to the
east of Atlanta.
For my mother, a new car and a couple
of bricks for her post office, along with a
lot of patience to put up with her only son.
New cars for Scott and Todd and a
$200,000 year for Chip.
A healthy William Andrews and a cou
ple of offensive linemen for the Atlanta
On The Funny Side
By Gary Solomon ;
Christmas ‘Creep’
The week before Thanksgiving [ saw a
local merchant putting up Christmas
decorations in his store and jokingly in
formed him he was guilty of Christmas
Creep. He thought 1 was calling him
names.
No, Christmas Creep is not a person.
It's a term for our tendency to let
Christmas “‘creep” its way into our con
sciousness a little earlier each year.
I discovered the phrase in a recent
newspaper article about American
retailers. The story stated that some com
panies got a head-start on the competition
this year by advertising Christmas items
in September, earlier than ever before.
September?! Yes, Christmas Creep is
alive and well in the good ol’ U. S. of A.
Pretty soon Dec. 26 will be the first day
of the new shopping season.
But Christmas Creep isn't all bad. In
fact, there's a form of it which, if practic
ed year-round, might make this world a
better place to live.
Here's what I mean. For most
Americans, Christmas is a celebration of
brotherhood. We slow down. We speak
kindly to one another. We give to the
needy. We pay attention to people we
otherwise ignore: the store clerk, the
postman, a nameless neighbor or co
worker. **Merry Christmas!" we exclaim to
one another. The greeting has often been
compared to the vacuous, ‘‘Have a nice
day,” but I like to think it conveys greater
sincerity.
At Christmas we put off worries for a
while. We say., “This will wait. T won't let
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Falcons.
A cabin in the woods without a
telephone to allow my sister to get away
from the hectic newspaper business on
occasion.
A bigger covey of quail, a faster eye
and a more accurate shotgun for my
brother-in-law.
For the Big Fish, total success in his
new Atlanta ministry.
Fire ant eradicator for Ted Clark.
A little rest for Aunt Blanche during
her retirement.
Years of joy and contentment for
Charlotte.
A solution to Trion's problems over
water and sewer expansion and develop
ment of its industrial park.
For all the youngsters and kids at
heart, a good Christmas snowfall.
Two year’s adjournment for Congress
or arequirement that 10 laws on the books
have to be removed for every one that’s
enacted.
The firing squad for my Senator or
Congressman who dares promise that “‘tax
reform’ will lower anyone’s taxes.
Happiness for all the subscribers and
advertisers who allow those of us here at
The Summerville News to serve you
year-round.
Merry Christmas.
it get me down. Right now I'm going to
enjoy myself.”
Well, what if we were to let this at
titude — which is the true spirit of
Christmas — ‘‘creep” into our lives all
year? What if every time we started to
blast the store clerk for his petty mistake
or ignore that co-worker, we stopped and
asked ourselves, ‘‘How would I handle this
at Christmas?”’ I believe it would improve
the way we treat each other.
And suppose each time we caught
ourselves on the brink of despondency, we
repeated the words that helped us over
come that same despair at Christmas:
**This will wait. I won't let it get me down.
Right now I'm going to enjoy myself.” I
believe we'd be better persons for doing so.
If this seems like pie-in-the-sky, let me
tell you it works. You see, I suffer the
blahs now and then, too. I get discourag
ed. I lose faith in myself and in others. I
wonder why life treats me so badly.
But then I remember Christmas.
Whether in April or August, I hum a
favorite carol or recall a special holiday
moment or reread the story of Christ’s
birth, and it helps me realize I'm far too
short-sighted. Things change. Today’s not
the end. Tomorrow will be better. Hope is
just around the corner.
Try it yourself. In January when the
bills come and business slows to a crawl,
let Christmas creep in. Count your bless
ings. Be grateful for what you have, not
disappointed by what you lack. Who
knows? You might just find the strength
you need to make it to December.
Guest Column
By Albert B. Saye
Freedom Of Religion
Sept. 17, 1987 will be the 200th anniversary of the Con
stitution of the United States. Notable among the books
on the convention that wrote the Constitution is *‘Miracle
at Philadelphia” by Catherine D. Bowen. It was indeed
a miracle for 13 independent states to form a strong federal
union with the Constitution as the supreme law of the land.
The Constitution was not designed to establish a na
tional government with unlimited power. The powers of
Congress were listed in 18 paragraphs in Article I; the
powers of the President were set forth in Article 11: and
the “‘judicial power” was by Article 111 vested in one
supreme court and other inferior courts.
The Bill of Rights, added to the Constitution in 1791,
placed limitations on the national government, not the
state governments. Amendment I reads: ‘*Congress shall
make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” No one suspected
that in 1986 a federal judge would prohibit the use of a
prayer at the opening of a ball game in Douglas County,
Ga.
Left on their own, for 200 years the states of the
American union did not seriously hamper freedom of
religion. Compared to states in other parts of the world,
the American states were remarkably tolerant. It was on
ly after the United States Supreme Court usurped the
power to dictate to the states in the area of religion that
major problems emerged.
In 1948, the Supreme Court ordered that the petition
of Vashti McCollum for a mandamus to the board of educa
tion in Champaign County, 111., be granted. The local
school had been permitting representatives of Jewish,
Catholic, and Protestant groups to hold classes for 30
minutes each week. Attendance was voluntary, but
McCollum convinced the majority of the Court that her
son needed judicial protection. He was embarrassed to be
in the minority not attending the religious classes.
Experience since 1947 demonstrates that the relation
between church and state is too delicate to be solved by
the Supreme Court. In the guise of neutrality, the Court
sought to enforce religious secularism. Its general rule
seems to be that any recognition of a religious practice is
prohibited, unless the Supreme Court makes an exception.
“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts
absolutely.” It is a dangerous matter to stand idly by and
permit an unrestrained court to eradicate religious prin
ciples from public education in America. Diversity is far
more desirable than judicially enforced uniformity in this
delicate area.
If a constitutional amendment is needed, appropriate
wording might be: ‘“The provision of the First Amendment
that Congress shall make no law respecting an establish
ment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,
shall not be interpreted to be a limitation on the state and
local governments.”
Prqfessor Albert B. Saye is with the University of
Georgia.
News Clips
PLAY ON WORDS
All men are not homeless, but some are home less than
others. — Jax Air News
* * *
OBSERVED
One of the hardest secrets for a man to keep is his opi
nion of himself — Bristol (Va.) Courier
* * *
GOOD ADVICE
A wise man doesn'’t expect to find life worth living; he
makes it that way. — Grit
* * *
DEFINED
Economy — A way of spending money without getting
any fun out of it. — Reader’s Digest
* * *
BE TEMPERATE
Your temper is one of the few things that improves the
longer you keep it. — Kanawha (la.) Reporter
* * *
VALUES
Life is really more what you make it than what you
make. — Waterloo (la.) Courier