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Che Summeruille News
The Official Legal Organ of Chattooga County Georgia
WINSTON E. ESPY
PUBLISHER
WILLIAM T. ESPY
ADVERTISING MANAGER
GIA o
Ve A 1987
‘9 (2N ’@ e Freedom of
. ‘B! a B Information
°, §~ 3 Award
— Winner
‘:'Ocm‘°
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Address all mail to: THE SUMMERVILLE NEWS, P. O. Box 310, Summerville GA 30747
TELEPHONE (404) 857-2494
Our Opinion
The Catrett Controversy
By most accounts, Jack Catrett had
done a good job this year at Chattooga
County High School. Quite a few parents
and students have been outspoken in their
suppert of steps he has taken at the school
to improve the quality of education. Some
teachers haven't been so complimentary.
But Don Hayes, Chattooga school
superintendent, failed to recommend
renewal of Catrett’s contract. Under state
law, the board of education can’t overrule
the superintendent on such issues.
The superintendent has been roundly
criticized for failing to cite any reasons for
his decision not to recommend Catrett.
While he's taking a lot of heat, Hayes is
on solid legal ground. If he gives a reason,
Catrett might have grounds to challenge
the decision. Since Catrett doesn’t have
tenure, he has no legal recourse if Hayes
doesn't give him one.
The superintendent said his reasons
were professional and not personal. That
may indeed be the case but most laymen
would be hard put to find significant flaws
in the operation of CHS this year.
If personal matters are involved, it
First Federal’s Dilemma
The takeover of First Federal Savings
and Loan Association in Summerville by
the FSLIC (Federal Savings and Loan In
surance Corp.) recently may not have been
totally unexpected but it did catch a lot
of people, including S&L officials, by
surprise.
First Federal has been ailing for almost
three years, perhaps longer. Although it
has remained open for business and no
depositor has lost a cent, it was and is in
solvent. It's not alone in that dilemma.
Some 350 S&Ls across the nation are in
the same sinking boat.
The FSLIC, which is awaiting a bailout
from President Bush and the U. S. Con
gress, has turned management of First
Federal and a couple of hundred more
thrifts over to the Federal Deposit In
surance Corp. (FDIC).
The FDIC, which insures commercial
banks, has plenty of money to take care
of most of its clients. The FSLIC is
another story. Because of the large
number of S&Ls that have become insol
vent, it is broke. That's why it's waiting
to see how much money it’ll get from Con
gress and the President before resolving
permanently the financial problems of
First Federal and other S&Ls around the
country.
The possibility that local depositors
might remove their money from First
Resurrection Sunday
Chattooga Countians this weekend will
observe one of the most meaningful times
in Christianity —the death, burial and
resurrection of Christ.
On Good Friday, they will recall His
horrible death on Golgotha —the place of
the skull. They'll remember and realize
that it is through the shedding of His
blood and His sacrifice that mankind has
hope of living throughout all eternity.
And it is through the resurrection of
Christ that hope is made reality. He con
quered death, hell and the grave and in so
dning. frrotold the ultimate victory of the
forces of God over those of Satan.
It was for man’s sin that Christ died,
nailed to a rough wooden cross. If there
were more reflection on that fact by in
dividuals every day, we would have a
moral revolution in our country.
Obedience to the commands of Christ
shows that we truly love Him, according
DAVID T. ESPY, JR.
GENERAL MANAGER
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At Summerville GA 30747
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Opinions Expressed By
Editorial Columnists Are Not
Necessarily Those of This Newspaper
might be wise for the superintendent and
board to take closer looks at other
educators employed by the system. It
wouldn't be fair to use a double-standard
where Catrett is concerned simply because
he doesn't have tenure. Principles are prin
ciples, regardless of tenure or potentially
messy lawsuits.
We don't know Hayes' reasons for not
recommending Catrett. But we do regret
that this demoralizing problem arose in
the middle of the school year when it seem
ed — on the surface, at least — that things
had taken a turn for the better at CHS.
Despite an initial furor over the situa
tion, the odds are that nothing will be
changed. CHS will have a new principal
next year. We encourage the superinten
dent and the board to investigate poten
tial candidates thoroughly before rushing
into an appointment.
With dropout problems and the con
troversy over the nonrenewal of Catrett’s
contract, the county schools don't need
another mid-term course correction next
year.
Federal is what worries the FSLIC and the
FDIC. That would only worsen First
Federal's problems and make them more
difficult to solve.
President Bush has pledged *‘the full
faith and credit” of the United States to
depositors (with SIOO,OOO or less in a
thrift) who have money in insolvent
thrifts, such as First Federal. If that
pledge means anything, and we're convinc
ed that it does, First Federal depositors
won't lose their savings.
Chattooga County needs a savings and
loan association, preferably First Federal,
which has roots going back to 1956. Most
prospective homeowners had rather deal
with local people and a local institution
when they want to obtain a mortgage than
travel to Rome or LaFayette.
Fred Connell, the FDIC official who is
now running First Federal, said he's deter
mined to get to the bottom of the institu
tion's problems and to preserve its assets
until Congress and President Bush devise
a permanent solution.
In the meantime, all deposits up to
SIOO,OOO are safe, no loans will be “called”
and customers will still deal with local peo
ple when they go in First Federal, Connell
emphasized.
We have no reason to believe
otherwise.
to the Holy Scriptures. That's what this
time of year is all about, remembrance and
rededication.
We encourage you to think on these
things.
et
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News Clips—
SO TRUE
Girls who talk baby talk seldom want
one. — Pensacola (Fla.) Gosport
* * *
GOOD DEED
Make someone happy today. Mind
your own business! — Columbia (S. C.)
Record
* * *
NO WAY
Learn from the mistakes of others —
you don't live long enough to make them
all yourself. — Norfolk (Va.) Chest
TOMMY TOLES
EDITOR
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Saved By Harness
IF A *“SAVED by the belt” club exists,
I ought to be a member.
The seatbelt or, more accurately, the
safety harness on my little Honda kept me
from being critically injured or killed in a
traffic accident recently.
* * *
IT HAPPENED on U. S. Highway 27
north of Rome after I had slowed my car
for an approaching funeral procession. I
glanced in the rear-view mirror and saw a
white car sliding toward me at a high rate
of speed. Before I could even think about
being hit, the collision occurred.
I was slammed back in my seat and
then pitched forward again. It felt like my
car had been struck by the world’s largest
sledgehammer. Everything seemed to
move in slow motion. The front of my vehi
cle turned and twisted to the right as a
result of the collision. It headed over an
embankment toward some trees. I
remember thinking that although I had
survived the initial impact, I was going to
be killed or hurt badly when my little car
crashed into those trees. I was grateful
beyond measure when it stopped
suddenly.
* * *
ANOTHER ODD thought ran through
my mind during the sudden commotion —
I was thankful that I had on clean
underwear. My mother laughed when she
heard that one. Lessons ingrained as a
child fade very slowly.
Sometime during the crash, my
@8 Commentary
Buddy Meets Wrestlers
LAST WEEK, I wrote about the story
offer I couldn’t refuse and how I was look
ing forward to meeting the professional
wrestlers at the matches on Friday. Well,
I met the wrestlers.
Two in particular, Mike Starbuck and
Marc Hill, were supposed to come by the
office for an interview that morning. Rich
Jefferson was to conduct the session,
which suited me fine, because I had some
other assignments, anyway.
* * *
I LEFT FOR those assignments a lit
tle earlier than I had anticipated, because
I was out the door the minute I heard the
wrestlers’ voices in the front office. I
didn’t return until I was sure they had
gone.
After I summoned up enough courage
to return, Rich suggested that I visit the
Gore Community Center to take pictures
of the wrestlers setting up the ring and
getting the place ready. There was no way
I could get out of this one, so I had to
agree.
* * *
HOWEVER, JASON Espy expressed
interest in going with me, which I didn’t
mind at all. Jason's a sturdy kind of guy,
anyway, so I figured he could be useful in
more ways than simply taking pictures.
Upon reaching the center, we crept in
Viewpoint
By Tommy Toles, Editor
eyeglasses disappeared but I didn’t realize
it until later.
* * *
MY SAFETY HARNESS kept me
from crashing into the steering wheel and
windshield, saving my teeth, nose, eyes
and cheekbones, not so mention my rib
cage and chest. It also prevented the
knobs on my radio from turning my right
knee into hamburger. It also kept me from
being tossed about the inside of the car
like a BB in a tin can.
When my little Honda stopped, I
wondered if I had, indeed, survived. I
didn't move, waitingto see if I would start
hurting anywhere. Sure enough, I did
within a few seconds. My back, neck and
head made their presence known.
* * *
THE FLOYD MEDICAL Center
Emergency Medical Service (EMS) remov
ed me from the car after immobilizing my
neck and back and we zipped toward the
trauma center. I later walked out of the
emergency room, thanking the good Lord
that nothing had been broken and that I
hadn’t been “‘totaled.”
Ironically, I had taken an accident
photo at Menlo that same morning of an
elderly couple being removed carefully
from a wrecked car by the Chattooga
County EMS.
* * *
THEN THERE are the collisions with
the insurance companies but that’s
another story . . .
sidle and saw that Starbuck and Hill
weren't around, and I began taking pic
tures. We both got inside the ring to take
some, but just as we did, Starbuck and Hill
charged out at us from nowhere, and it was
at that point that I madi a hasty exit.
* *
JASON DIDN'T quite make it, and the
wrestlers found him guilty by association
with me. When the scuffling noises stop
ped and they finally left, I found Jason ly
ing very still in the ring, and I dragged him
out (not an easy job), and we hightailed it
back to The News office.
Jason said he had been bodyslammed
and had been a victim of the Russian leg
sweep. He wasn't injured badly, and felt
up to going back that night, but at the
matches, Starbuck and Hill called us aside
and said they wanted to see me in the
dressing room after the match for our in
terview. There was no getting out of that
one, either.
* 5 ¥
BUT, SURPRISINGLY enough, the
interview went rather well. They were very
talkative, provided some excellent com
ments (though I can’t print them here),
and even demonstrated some of the
various wrestling moves.
They went through the aforemention
see COMMENTARY, page 6-A
Potpourri t; é
By Rich Jefferson $N
Freedom Of Speech
At Summerville News
IN THE PAST five years | have read papers from New
York City, Baltimore, Washington, D. C., as well as papers
from all parts of Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and
Georgia. I even read one from Maine whose name I
remember only vaguely. I think it was called The Weekly
Beaver's Breath.
We receive papers from Dade, Walker and Catoosa
counties here at The Summerville News, and they are
nothing like the News. Not only are these weeklies nothing
like The News, our paper has other qualities that set it
apart from all other papers I have seen. Let me tell you
about one of those qualities.
* * *
THANKS TO DAVID and Winston E. Espy, and
Editor Tommy Toles, this paper has an outstanding com
mitment to freedom of speech. And my columns are not
Exhibit A. The letters to the editor are. If you sign your
name, and say nothing you or The News can be sued for,
then you'll see your words in print. Friends, that's unheard
of. I have worked for papers that pitched out many let
ters, and held others for months before running them.
Those who write columns for the editorial page go by
the same rules. We sign our names, refrain from libel and
slander, and go for it. Columns are not the editorial voice
of the paper; they express the opinion of the author. As
a member of the writing profession, and a reader of many
newspapers, I am astonished at the freedom of speech I
have at The Summerville News.
* * *
I CANNOT BE any clearer than this: I have seen no
other paper, except perhaps The Washington Times, that
allows people with opinions like mine to speak their minds.
If you consider my column an affliction upon Chattooga
County, please write and say so. If you say something wor
thwhile, instead of recommending that I be branded,
deported, or that I show greater respect for politicians,
I'may respond. There are few things as good as reasonable
debate. Unfortunately any promise to respond has stop
ped some from writing letters.
Let me urge you to exercise your freedom of speech in
The Summerville News. Other things 1 could have writ
ten about this week include the following:
* * *
— NOW THAT President Bush has a pro-abortion
secretary of Health and Human Services, a taxpayer spon
sore.d ball-.out of savings and loans, a pro-Sandinista
foreign pphcy in Central America, and has allowed *‘Drug
Czar™ Bill Bennett to initiate gun control, Bush should
be honest, take the plunge, and (a) admit he is Mikhail
Dukakis in disguise or (b) going to call Mikhail Dukakis
and concede the election.
— Encourgge Trion and Chattooga County school
teachers, administrators, and board members to tell the
State Department of “‘Education’ that QBE is nonsense,
and that if QBE was aimed at making South Georgia
schools better, South Georgia can keep it. Trouble is, when
you tgke any money from the state for buildings, or
anything else, you also accept state control. That's why
some call them the government schools, not
(euphemistically) ““public”’ schools.
* * *
— OTHER POSSIBILITIES in i n at
Amerlcap Hinduism (New Age flufcfl)l.lizi%):lm"grifgl;xts,"
human rights, and Islamic rites for Salman Rushdie, and
%’}l“2 Il)l::?grt:tiwrltefs?on. In a syllogism it goes like this:
Unilad States g?Aom ndependence is the charter of the
e : erica and those in power must uphold
b 8 cthax_'ter, the charter says that all men are *‘endowed
e, it cortan naloable ‘ghts
of rights the countfy \?v:;vfe 5 gv?ilutlon e tl}e(;ry
Ghbile ottice ounded on and are not fit for
i If the l}(l)cal evolutionists will refrain from treating me
e way the Mohammedans are tr ti ie, I'll be
back next week. Or mayh SAGNE TRI s
Verkads” uidl suatl aybe I should write “Darwinian
’ Y get them going.
e
News Clip-
DEFINITION
Charm: :
ing asked afiwali:rf gsttlgg the answer yes without hav
e, questions. — Davisville (R. I.) Busy