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The Official Legal Organ of Chattooga County
WINSTON E. ESPY DAVID T. ESPY, JR. WILLIAM T. ESPY
PUBLISHER GENERAL MANAGER ADVERTISING MANAGER
TOMMY TOLES
EDITOR
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Address All Mail to: THE SUMMERVILLE NEWS, P. O. Box 310, Summerville, Ga. 30747
Editorials
Dropout Problem Disgraceful
Out of 186 school systems in Georgia,
Chattooga County ranks first in the
number of dropouts. The county system
was first in 1985-86 and in 1984-85, as well
as near the top in the years immediately
preceding those two terms.
It is a shame and disgrace that our
county has the ‘“‘honor” of such a
distasteful distinction. Especially since
Georgia has the fourth highest dropout
rate in the nation.
But more important than the dry, im
personal statistics are the young people
who are quitting school in droves. What
about them? What can be done to keep
them in class until they graduate from the
12th grade?
An in-depth report on the frightening
problem was featured in last week's edi
tion of The News. If it proved anything,
it was that few people have absolute solu
tions to the complex dropout problem.
Still, it's hard to believe that the fac
tors which caused the county school
system to lead the state in dropouts are
unique to Chattooga. @bviously, other
communities are doing something better
than we seem to be able to accomplish. Or
we are failing as a community to take on
the hard tasks required to keep teen-agers
in school.
It's easy for parents to blame teachers
and it's just as easy for educators to place
all the blame on parents. But name-calling
and blame-placing won't solve the pro
blem. And it must be solved if Chattooga
County is going to grow and attract new
business and industry.
The fact is that the vast majority of
teen-agers who quit school before receiv
ing their diploma will stay on the bottom
of the heap economically throughout their
lives. There's a better chance for them to
end up in prison or on some form of
welfare. It's easy to calculate that spen
ding a little more time and money while
they're in school will save thousands of
dollars in the long run. But that doesn’t
mean tossing more good money after bad
or just spending money for the sake of in
flating per ADA (Average Daily Atten
dance) expenditures. A statistical analysis
of Georgia's dropout problem indicates
that more money doesn't necessarily mean
a lower dropout rate.
One factor that seems to reduce the
dropout rate involves more school
counselors. Although the state requires
only one counselor per 500 high school
students or any part thereof, it doesn’t
take a genius to see that that ratio is too
high, especially while Chattooga's dropout
rate is so unreasonably high. It's not
_@From OurEarlyFiles
LIOM U 2SI by
PRESIDENT’'S BIRTHDAY BALL HERE BIG SUCCESS — On Satur
day evening, Jan. 29, the Sturdivant gym was filled with people from all this
and adjoining counties in celebration of the president’s birthday, thus raising
funds for the National Foundation for the Fight Against Infantile Paralysis.
It was a very enjoyable occasion, with prizes being awarded to Frank Agnew
and his sister, Miss Agnew, Trion, for best dancing couple. The ladies’ prize
was awarded to Miss Sara Elizabeth Brinson. Miss Kathryn Henley second
prize in the ticket sales contest, with Miss Eloise Cheek running very close
at third. Funds from personal solicitation amounted to $693 under the chair
manship of Dr. O. A. Selman and assisted by Barbara Murphy. Over S3OO was
cleared on the dance here, the county going over its quota.
HOUSE PASSES LIQUOR BILL BY 105-85 VOTE — ATLANTA — The
House of Representatives Tuesday afternoon adopted the Senate county op
tion liquor bill without amendment, sending this measure to Gov. Ed Rivers
for his signature. If the county votes wet, it automatically legalizes manufac
ture and sale of alcoholic beverages in that county. The bill sets up a scale of
state licenses and excise taxes, and also permits county and city licenses. The
liquor bill was a measure by Representative Thomas, of Chattooga, to legalize
manufacture and sale in 12 counties.
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ridiculous te consider locally paid
counselors for the middle grades or,
perhaps more important, for elementary
school students.
It would be helpful if local industries
and businesses could agree to not hire
teen-agers who quit school to work, and to
let current school-age employees know
that if they drop out of school, they also
will be ““dropping out™ of a job.
Teen-age pregnancy is almost an
epidemic in Georgia and in Chattooga
County. That's another reason teens drop
out of school. Local efforts, such as the
Mayor's Task Force to battle teen
pregnancies, must be supported by more
than just a small number of socially con
scious individuals. Morality has got to
come back in the picture.
Several school systems in Georgia have
innovative programs in place to fight
dropouts. Some are financed by the state
and others by the Appalachian Regional
Commission. A few have been in place long
enough to determine their effectiveness.
Local parents have a major role to play
in the fight against dropouts. In one
respect, they've got to not only ‘‘hope”
that *little Johnny" or “little Susie’ finish
high school, they've got to expect it and
insist on it — even if it means taking away
cars and jobs. In other words, they've got
to take charge of their own households.
Educators also have to develop
workable programs to encourage students
to stay in school.
Since the Chattooga Board of Educa
tion and School Superintendent ad
minister the schools, they must exercise
immediate leadership and develop
methods for making sure more youngsters
receive a high school diploma. Waiting un
til next year will be much too late. Too
much time has already passed.
The community as a whole must get
involved.
Specifically, a local task force compris
ed of a cross-section of citizens should be
organized to develop a broad strategy for
combatting dropouts now and in the years
to come. It wouldn't hurt to include some
former dropouts and high school students
on the task force, in addition to parents,
businessmen and educators. It could be
developed as part of the Chattooga Coun
ty Chamber of Commerce's program for
the coming year or it could be a totally in
dependent and separate project.
The dropout problem in Chattooga
County probably won't be solved over
night but now's the time to get to work on
a program that will encourage teen-agers
to stay in school until they graduate.
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Viewpoint
By Tommy Toles, Editor
Blizzard Of °B7
One of the most beautiful snowfalls in
recent history fell in Chattooga County
last week, bringing to the surface a latent
tendency by most adults to revert to their
pre-school years.
Most didn't want to admit to enjoying
the fluffy snowfall, of course, and a lot
resorted to embarrassed giggles when ask
ed to pose for photographs. But one could
tell from the grins that more than a few
adults had regressed to about age 5.
The silent snowfall left a blanket of
white over the county that caused pines,
shrubs and other evergreens to bow ear
thward. Utility lines sagged from the
weight of between five and eight inches of
snow and several snapped. However, utili
ty crews braved the freezing weather and
service was soon restored without too
much discomfort for local residents.
A few unlucky motorists, not used to
driving on snow, ended up in ditches or off
embankments but apparently no one was
injured. Most such accidents apparently
weren't even reported to police.
Major streets and roads were pretty
clear by Thursday afternoon. The storm
system raced northeast, the clouds parted
and the sun came out. Temperatures mov
ed into the high 30s or low 40s for part of
the afternoon. When that happened, of
course, snow on trees and shrubs melted
quickly. Department of Transportation
and local crews had already scraped most
of the snow off main roadways.
The most interesting thing about the
snow was the fact that there wasn’t a layer
of sleet or ice underneath as is usually the
case in this area. Most snowstorms in Nor
thwest Georgia generally begin with freez
ing rain and sleet, which later changes to
snow. That wasn't the case this time and
On The Funny Side
By Gary Solomon #
News You Missed
As a public service, I occasionally use
this space to bring to your attention im
portant news items you may have missed
in your reading. Because of the crucial
nature of these events, it's imperative you
be aware of them so you can stay fully
informed.
The first item is a report out of
Kingwood, W. Va. It seems that after 477
votes, the eight-member Preston County
Commission is still deadlocked 4-4 over
who will control the commission this year.
Four of the members are challenging the
old leadership of the county. The other
four, as you might guess, are defending the
old leadership. Each of the 477 ballots cast
since Jan. 5 has ended in a 4-4 tie. I pity
the poor fellow who finally changes his
vote. He'll be taking a swim wearing ce
ment shoes before the day’s over.
Another story concerns the 27th an
nual list of the 10 worst-dressed women in
the world. The list is prepared by a dress
designer and fashion ‘‘arbitrator’” known
simply as Mr. Blackwell.
Included in this year’s list are game
show hostess Vanna White, actress
Kathleen Turner, Sharon Gless and Tyne
Daly of television’s ‘“‘Cagney and Lacey,”
CHATTOOGA HIGH SCHOOL LOOKS SERENE AFTER SNOWFALL LAST WEEK
However, County Schools Are Plagued With High Dropout Rate
all the snow was fluffy and almost silky
without a glaze underneath and without
teeth-cracking grains of sleet intermixed.
It made great snowcream.
Youngsters got the day off — and some
the next day, too. A lot of adults used the
snow as an excuse to stay home from work
and catch a few extra winks. Later, of
course, they played in the snow almost as
much as a lot of kids.
A lot of the snowmen (or “‘bears’’) that
sprung up around the county were made
by adults, not children. There's nothing
wrong with that. If I'd had time, I would
have made one myself. And there's
nothing like a good snowball fight to get
the blood circulating.
It was a bit funny that so many peo
ple stayed off the roads. Some were con
cerned about accidents, of course, but I
suspect a fair number of motorists simp
ly wanted to stay home and enjoy the
snow. I drove all over the county, in
cluding Taylor's Ridge and Lookout
Mountain, from around 6:30 a.m. to late
that afternoon, without much trouble. Of
course, I did have a front-wheel drive
vehicle.
A “‘blizzard” once or twice a winter is
fun as long as it doesn’t last too long.
That's why I'm thankful I live in the
South and not in the North.
A second snowstorm failed to
materialize over the weekend, much to the
disappointment of a lot of school-age
youngsters. We received a lot of rain,
which effectively washed away evidence of
last week’s snow. However, the mercury
began falling Monday morning and a few
folks saw some snow flurries before skies
cleared a bit.
and Sarah, Duchess of York, who married
England’s Prince Andrew last year.
The list itself is not as entertaining,
however, as Blackwell's acerbic comments
about each of the “‘winners.” Of Ms.
Turner, for example, he says, ‘‘Some peo
ple paint by numbers. Kathleen must
dress by numbers, but obviously lost
count.” Referring to a photo of Ms. Gless
and Ms. Daly dressed to attend an elegant
Hollywood party, he states, “This is a
wonderful look if you're taking the dog to
the vet.”
And of Sarah, who is reported to have
somewhat expansive hips, he quips, “I
don’t want anyone to think that because
a woman has full hips, she’s badly dress
ed. There’s plenty of ways to cover a full
hip. One of them is to stay in bed.”’ Ouch!
Personally, I want to know more about
a woman than how well she dresses. For
example, an article in February’'s ‘“‘Red
book” magazine names the 10 most wick
ed women on television. Chief among the
evil-doers is one Gina DeMott Capwell of
the soap opera, “‘Santa Barbara,” whose
vile deeds include the following:
“Unable to get pregnant by aging
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Guest Column
By Edwin Feulner
Liberals In ‘Amerika’
What fools are saying is wrong with the ABC mini
series ‘““Amerika’’ says a lot about what’s really wrong
with America.
“Amerika’’ is about life in the United States 10 years
after it is conquered — with minimal bloodshed, apparent
ly — by the Soviet Union. Despite heated opposition from
U. S. liberals, Kremlin officials, the United Nations, and
even some conservatives, ABC is scheduled to air the
fourteen-and-a-half-hour production from Feb. 15 through
Feb. 20.
A brief history is in order. In 1983 ABC aired a
“docudrama,” “The Day After,” about life after nuclear
holocaust. It angered conservatives because it over
simplified things the way liberals generally do. “ Amerika”
was produced, some say, because ABC felt compelled to
produce something to pacify the Right.
“The Day After” implied, for example, that any use
of nuclear weapons would perforce lead to global holocaust,
and wholly ignored what is behind America’s nuclear
deterrent: Moscow's desire to obtain across-the-board
military superiority to further its expansionist designs.
It may be true, as the ‘“‘peace” lobby constantly says,
that Moscow doesn’t want nuclear war any more than we
do. But the occupation of Afghanistan is only the latest
demonstration that the Kremlin still doesn’t shrink from
going all the way to genocide, carried out by the most gris
ly means, in pursuit of its expansionist ends. Soviet
history since the 1917 revolution also shows that the
Kremlin has no qualms about laying waste to scores of
millions of its own citizens.
All that is in addition to the cultural genocide Moscow
carries out wherever it extends its sway. ‘‘Culture” in any
reasonable sense presupposes the freedoms guaranteed in
the U. S. Bill of Rights — such things as freedom of speech
and religion. The very essence of totalitarianism is not only
its destruction of all basic freedoms, but also — and this
distinguishes it from authoritariansm — its attempt to
reshape the minds and spirits of its victims.
That’s why, back when liberal had something to do
with liberty liberals would have been the first to cheer on
those trying to expose and ultimately defeat history’s
most vile form of tyranny. Today, as their rage over
““Amerika’ shows, they’re more interested in opposing
tyranny’s opponents. One can easily enough understand
the Soviet’s unsuccessful attempt to intimidate ABC out
of airing *‘ Amerika,” but opposition from those who pro
fit from the blessings of liberty is shameful, if no longer
surprising.
“Amerika’s"” writer, director, and producer, Donald
Wyre, says he was ‘‘a little dumb” in not anticipating the
firestorm of outrage the show elicited from the Left. ‘I
portrayed the Soviets in a much kinder light than
historically they have articulated themselves in occupa
tional circumstances,” Wyre told The Washington Post.
‘I made a specific effort to portray them more generous
ly than might have been possible.”
Which is another illustration of the futility of trying
to appease the Left. Indications so far are that ‘‘ Amerika’
will generate far more outrage from the Left than ‘“The
Day After” did from the Right. The conservative criticism
of “Amerika,” based on preliminary showings, is based on
what Wyre admits: the Soviets are portrayed as far nicer
guys than they are. They're destroyed freedom in the
show, but the population seems more bored than bitter and
brutalized.
The real trouble with *“ Amerika” is this: With so many
real-life examples of Soviet brutality around, it's wasteful
and silly to resort to fiction. Why not docudramas portray
ing what the Soviets are doing right now in Afghanistan,
for example? Things like bayonetting pregnant women,
raping teenage girls and flinging them from helicopters,
burning women and children alive, boobytrapping toys —
these are only a few of the unspeakably vicious forms of
terror the Soviets are using to terrorize and depopulate
Afghanistan.
As usual, American liberals have things not only
wrong, but topsyturvy.
(Feulner is president of The Heritage Foundation, a
Washington-based public policy research institute).
NOW WE KNOW
It takes two things to conduct a successful political
campaign: hot issues and cold cash. — Grand Rapids Press
* * *
FORGETFUL DAD
A father who encourages his son to follow in his
footsteps has probably foreotten a few. — Quote Magazine