Newspaper Page Text
@esuicy
At ¢,:f"4-,,
O oy, O,
A Y
Wy 4 /ISO . ¢
3 A c‘%
4 " "
g ’g"# 4, %
3\ l o / 5
R “ i #or, 2
% o, oS
W @
4"tutul e
VOLUME CIII - NUMBER XXIV
»X( 3 \ i
9 % Ay
* [oy y i N '
b g s ,g‘w'qu
\ . i %" 7 &,h ;g‘»; b 8 W
i ”‘. " o G kel i } ’ \\\%‘“ > i,
‘,,”"‘i ’ ¥ :’,.;} 4 ”“*a
B, i ! ‘ g
* :le g P
L
S W g
\ LYY v 4 ’?:" g 8
’ o .‘IRR, :& 9 i 7 fiz'« o)
V™ I
A P b % ’ i T
FORT 0 SRR . B
i § Akl ' 2 2 3 B Bl Rl A
UPAR VAR TRRRE Rhi LR s 0 oA ' iy o
; | YA “*l’;«% T e b
BN a\‘;’ 72? g A g i S
5 o N AT R TNO : i Lo s
‘R T Z A & 4 gy
& 5 ’,“&%‘gi P b L 4 P } g L
il 5 T R g A P
G Fn R ¢ i 3 i B
“ i '.,..L,(" 3 % ik T
MR7# % b R
4 0 ¥ iy T
» 3 N ; B - . {e ”;
i ik i .54 p %" / . L /'ffij‘,
. o ¥ P / ‘\9 RS o e
o G Wiy vy .1".'.0 N .yt ;
, - A b
B g o ..'o"' Vet s
2 v( 7 y P ’1& 0".."' A » A
? / bt b '.u"' 4 bt \‘ B
G Ty : N PR
TN ih V. S E:
W, e % ' ~5 | A
. £ v .‘g" A v
;;fi : ¢ ' . ‘\‘\fi ¥
ko k- g
g 74 4 .
P o 8 " '
B il L ! .
Staff Photo
“PAW PAW” BUD TUCKER, MENLO, TELLS GRANDDAUGHTER ABOUT INDEPENDENCE DAY
Megan Farrow, 6, Summerville Learns About Meaning Of Patriotism, Flag
Drought Strains Farms;
Parches Lawns, Gardens
Chattooga Air Conditioner Sales Skyrocket
The continued drought in
Chattooga County, combined
with temperatures of more
than 100 degrees last week, has
put a severe strain on most
wells and water systems and
destroyed most of the corn
crop in the area.
Although a chance of
showers was forecast for
Wednesday night and early
this morning, no significant
relief is in sight for J)arched
croFs, lawns, trees and shrubs
or for residents who have dry
wells.
Temperatures during the
first part of the week fell to the
upper 80s or lower 90-degree
readings, giving at least tem
porary relief from 100-degree
plus temperatures that scorch
ed the area most of last week.
The mercury hit 104 degrees at
offices of The Summerville
News last Friday.
Fans and air-conditioners
were selling like the iroverbial
hotcakes afl last week and ear
ly this week. Some stores sold
out of the cooling units.
The forest fire danger in
Chattooga continued to in
crease apace with higher
McConnell Running On Record
Stewart Declines Request For Interview On Sheriff’s Race
Editor's Note: This is the first in a
series of reports on the candidates for
contested races in the Aug. 9 general
primary. The News plans to present in
terviews or stories on each of those can
didates prior to that date. Profiles and
information on the eventual Democratic
nominees and their Republican op
ponents will be featured after tfe
primary and before the Nov. 8 general
election.
Chattooga County Sheriff Gary
McConnell is opposed by Fred Stewart,
Summerville, a ?ormer sheriff. McCon
nell's father, John Frank, ran unsuc
cessfully against Stewart in 1960 before
winning the race in 1964.
The News contacted Stewart on
three occasions to ask him for a
biographical sketch and a statement
amfior an interview so the voters could
be acquainted with his views and his
%erception of the issues in the camtpaign.
e has not availed himself of that
DFCS Meets Needs
--See Page 1-B
Che £ mmerville New
an il 5
temperatures, drier weather
and gusty winds. A new per
mitting system designed to
help reduce fires will go in ef
fec? Friday (see relatefi story).
Many farmers in the coun
ty aé)pear to have been hit even
harder this year than in 1986
“It’s really. the worst we’ve had
because everything is burning up.”
when hay was shipped to the
Southeast by Midwestern
farmers. But since the Midwest
has also been hit by the
drought this year, no Kay is
available from outside the
region. While feed grain prices
have skyrocketed this summer,
farmers are getting less for
their hogs, cattle and eggs.
“It’s really the worst we've
had because everything is bur
ning up,” said Ralph Cook, a
Chattoogaville farmer. This
year's drought is worse than
the record-breaker in 1986, he
said, and very similar to the
dry weather suffered by the
county in 1925, when it went
106 days without rain.
He planted about 50 acres
of corn, he said, and it has
shriveled, turned brown and
died, or has grown only a few
inches in the dusty reg earth,
He had planned to plant about
75 acres of soygeans but
planted only 35 acres and they
probably won't survive
without a quick infusion of
moisture.
He generally tries to
pasture around 300 head of cat
tle, Cook said, but is now down
opportunity
PREVIEW
Stewart said he wanted to see what
McConnell said before consenting to an
interview himself. He was told tiat no
candidate, including McConnell, would
be allowed to see the interviews of their
opponents prior to publication of the
views of aliJ the candidates in a par
ticular race.
Stewart then said he'd been told that
McConnell owned stock in The News.
He was told that he had been given false
information.
The former sheriff was also critical
of previous editors of The News and
their coverage when he was mayor of
Summerville.
Stewart said he'd reach voters in the
county with his own methods.
Therefore, no interview with Stewart
is being published. The interview with
Sheriff McConnell follows in full:
SUMM
— RALPH COOK
Farmer
The News: Your opponent was
defeated by your father in f;&t How do
you view this year’s race between
yourself and your o&ponent in the up
coming campaign? What do you think
the issues in the.campaign should or will
be?
McConnell: I think the issues in any
campaign, particularly in the sheriff's
election this year, are about three or
see McCONNELL, page 16-A
SHERIFF
McCONNELL
Rives Okays Widening
--See Page 3-A
yright 1988 By Espy Publishing Co., Inc. — All Rights Reserved
HATTOOGA COUNTY, GEORGIA — THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 1988
to a herd of 200. He planned to
take 75 of that number to the
sale this week. Farmers are get-
Lin% 30 to 40 cents a pound for
beef, lower than the price of a
year ago, but feed grain prices
are more than twice as high as
they were last summer. Corn
has gone from $2 per bushel to
$4, he said, and soybeans have
gone from $5 last fyall to $10.50
now. Oats cost more than twice
as much as they did last sum
mer, Cook said.
Farmers who have stored
grain, or who irrigate their
grain, probably will do fine, he
said, but most in Chattooga
don’t irrigate or have large
storage facilities.
His company has been los
ing money on each dozen eggs
it has sold since last
November, said George Black
of Black and Meek Poultry
Division, Summerville.
Although higher grain
f)rices have exacerbated the
oss problem, he blamed most
of the problem on an oversupp
ly of eggs caused by a
cholesterol-conscious con
sumer.
see DROUGHT, page 8-A
|A, d g &
U
§ o
: i
Menlo Lions Set Annual
Independence Day Event
Vacation
Chattooga Countians will
join with other patriotic
Americans this weekend to
celebrate Independence Day.
The only organized pro
gram in the county will ap
garently be the annual
arbecue and craft festival on
Saturday at Menlo, sponsored
by the Menlo Lions Club.
Politicians, an auction, door
prizes, music and a Civil War
reenactment unit have been
scheduled to participate in the
day of activities.
ECONOMY
The local economy will also
receive a big boost when most
large local industries give their
employees vacation pay today
or Friday. An estimated
$1.5-million will be put in the
hands of several thousand
employees and area merchants
are offering a number of
4 &
% Li % o s 5 o’. .
: S oy : L B 5 i i
M i o ; vl vl 4 Lok e B H ;
4 .. 5 RO : LT ;
S I o e
% / 7"f . Gl # o e
Pk e BRI 45“’»«3 Gai s h GTe O o S e ‘s
e M L g A e o T A . ke 5
S a"é gsr% ko O T e Tgl % RN
S S, ke o BN
2 S P T SRR ey oA e .
Voo NS A A % S i 7 57 ’?-‘fi\ "
4 e R Gl T Gy A i g
B o s e A I AR BB s % 3
bl Vit A e Rl 2 Bl o i, 2 %
Rsl T Vs 5 : B ]
. o e / TN
L L 3 i . Y o 41
se e ? . B e ee Ui 4 s
: =% o e . s ¢ .
s i i S e % e Ak AR e e i 5 K
e G R e e S R S e S aae s
B ey mé’"e"é"”"’fi"fi%a;%w,a el A T SRR R S"% }
kg ’RI T “”W’Z S ”",W ’«{g‘»‘ o g KW% W, v e T vt y
B B TR e, eey S e R &el A e 3
B M J?g‘w i b U Aol %P e e s R S
Ebid Gt Rna e G B :‘;,,, bl o 7AN g sl A S
A Gl et Shgisr o sPSB & 558 iy TH SAg Ko S s " r
e e e, iSRLGSPI SAR B i 5 g
B »%?;f YMk b S Te:(AR el AT i o " Wt e T s
/*‘&“:«'fi“ i Lol g 6&‘? z»{}, g ARG i L ”:”% TR Y ’ ¢ : et i 5 ¥
P%¥¥AReR e TR e L 4
TN Dmo N L Be Y e oT o TT N S ; o [y
%it B )TN ie I R e 80 d v bz * b ¢ i
sS v Pl Rs v ISR S % A L B 4 2 5G W De b
Al T g e wO, 7St Sr T ¢ X b i
hu 4 7- > * . - Z L 4 5% o s Pk Bt
e : e i ; St e ; : wvfif&?? o
s s o N o ] ; ,_
T i siis " A s PR P By e B o # &
4 Ao s, P, : 5 0 LT RO 4 s A )
S 3 et W : L §
o & MRt i T R BTI o s Z 4 . i B 8 B .o 4 P
% 52 L s s el ad . N s%, h oRO % s si N, o{;
5 of NG O RN 0 se T 3 R 0 L B 7 4
4 ; booiadly v I A RPR L e P N T §ol s -3
o Wg D ; 5 i N R Wit it e o o
i LRI TR A i o e AB T W p g si . b
{ g o bT I ” gbRB W gty b Avv,,};y Sk VP 0B o~ gl e A g ,)3;”:, b
. 5 . e Ko ¥ n sFi % g i -1 A o
g A Glit ko W o TEY B e ‘;&” T 7“4&*” ey b oML Aoy i AETA Rs e g‘m‘g
4 TR Rt L SR oeLl i A R T SR P T '
e Pt Al L B, o % ] ‘éfi% > z‘!?';'v,};‘ R i i L o SR 4 LA
P 8 i WLt . o ke BAT T L d i sbNI s o
s ) [ A i W P T A AL ¥ AR .
o e 80l G w ISR B Badhd ko s Re T e T '
S 0 BLSRR RT AT R LT s P P 285 s v B ST 3 A
Gl NN R g B w 3 A ) Staff Photo
BERMUDA SOD WATERED BY HURLEY BROTHERS FARM IRRIGATION SYSTEM
Greg Hurley Says 10-Year-Old System Has Been Used Extensively In Past Three Years
CCH Future Uncertain
The Chattooga County
Hospital Authority agreed in
formally Monday night tolet a
proposed citizens advisorK
committee come u{i wit
recommendations for keeping
the hospital open.
However, it was also clear
that the Authority intends to
review at least two more dpro
?osals for gettintg the medical
acility out of its financial crisis
if those local efforts falter.
STORMY
The informal decisions
came after a sometimes stormy
joint meeting of the Authority
and doctors in the community.
They also followed a brief
presentation by the owner of
an Atlanta company that had
previously proposed managing
and then buying the hospital
and Oak View I\Fursing Home.
Although the Authority
had not planned to make a deci
sion Monday on whether to
enter into management and
sales contracts with Williams
and Associates, Atlanta, to
manage and then busy the
facilities, the panel's informal
concensus apparently means
that a final Secision on the
future of the hospital has been
pushed back for several weeks
or months. -
BRIEF
Ken Williams made a brief
Pay To Boost Economy $1.5-Million
bargains in this week's edition
of The News in an effort to
snare part of that bonanza.
Fire officials also warned
that possession or use' of
fireworks in Georgia is still il
lefial. although a number of
Chattooga residents probably
will cross the Alabama line to
purchase the devices.
Although Independence
Day will fa%l on next Monday,
most official celebrations will
be held Saturday in Chattooga
and in neighboring counties.
Rome usually has the Nor
thwest Georgia area’s lar%est'
sanctioned fireworks display.
All government offices and
financial institutions will be
closed next Monday in obser
vance of the holiday.
ACCIDENTS
The Georgia State Patrol
has also warned that 14 people
presentation to the hospital's
medical staff — community
physicians — on his
management-purchase pro
posal before responding to
several questions é)om the doc
tors. He then left the meeting.
Williams had offered a detail
ed proposal to the Authority in
earfi)y June and he outlined the
basics of the measure to the
doctors Monday night.
Dr. Herman Spivey, a Sum
merville physician, expressed
reservations about im
provements proposed by
Williams after Wifiiams had
left. Spivey said he was told by
Dr. John Atha of Rockmart
that there was no difference
noted in the Rockmart-Aragon
Hospital after Williams' com-
Eany bought the facility than
efore the Burchase.
He and Dr. Hugh Goodwin,
Summerville, also expressed
doubt about whether making
facilities and equipment
available for out-patient eye
surgery would h%{,p tKe
hospital's finances. Williams
had said that opthamologists
had started conducting out
patient eye surgery at the
Rockmart hos%ital since his
compan&r bought the institu
tion and made improvements
in its physical facilities.
Additional su;:rort staff
would be needed for eye
Pastor Hits Paper
--See Page 5-A
will die and 906 will be hurt in
1,983 accidents in the state
during the 78-hour g\eriod that
will begin at 6 p.m. Friday and
end at midnight next Monday.
Local lawmen have also issued
warnings that they will be on
the lookout for speeders,
drunks and reckless £ivers in
an effort to reduce the danger
of traffic injuries or deaths tiis
weekend.
The forecast calls for hot,
dry weather with only a slight
chance of showers through the
holiday period.
The Menlo Lions Club's In
dependence Day program will
begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at
Lawrence Park in the small
town.
Mike Flippo and the
Fireweed Bandp will present
music throughout the day, said
Wallace Martin, club president.
A wide variety of crafts will
surgery, Dr. Goodwin said.
VISIT ANYWAY
Spivey contended that two
Rome opthamologists cited by
Williams would visit Summer
ville on a regular basis even if
Williams (filclln’t take over
management of the local
hospital.
“I thought the last thing we
wanted to do is to sell the
hospital,” said F. H. ‘‘Pete”
Boney, a Summerville attorney
who moderated a community
meeting on the hospital on
May 24.
“The next to the last
thing,” said Authority member
Sherry Bishop. ‘“The {ast thing
County Audit Not Ready
The audit of Chattooga County’s government won't be
ready by Friday and an extension of the time for submit
ting the document to the State Audit Department was to
be sought this week.
That was the word Tuesday from the office of Jim Fin
ney, Rome, of the county’s auditing firm of Finney and
Moore.
Finney had said earlier this month that the audit was
expected to be ready by the July 1 submission deadline.
However, his secretary quoted Finney as saying Tues
day that the audit probably won’t be ready for another
month, or around July 30. : &
PRICE 25¢
be presented by exhibitors
throughout the day. Door
prizes will be fi}'ven away and
an auction will offer several
valuable items to those pre
sent, he said.
CANDIDATES
Local political candidates
are expected to visit during the
day to munch barbecue and
press the flesh in their pursuit
of votes for the Aug. 9 general
primary.
Chattooga's Company B, a
Civil War reenactment unit,
will sponsor an encampment in
the l;un'k Saturda[\;.'
arbecued chicken and
?ork plates will be available
rom noon to 2 p.m. Advance
tickets are $3.50 and meal
tickets at the park will cost $4.
Advance ducats will be
available from any Lions Club
see MENLO LIONS, page 17-A
we want to do is close the
hospital.”
TWO MORE
The Authority hadn’t
planned to sign a contract
Monday or next week with
Williams, she continued, ad
ding that at least two other
firms or individuals are in
terested in making a proposal
to the panel on the future of the
hospital. They include Georgia
Baptist Hospital and Albany
nursing home owner Davis
King. “Closing is the worst
thing that can happen,” she
said.
Katherine Camp, chairman
see CCH FUTURE, page 10-A