Newspaper Page Text
VOLUME CVII — NUMBER L
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SERL AL AT i¢ R Ot
Landon Blake Tucker enjois the traditional decorations
for New Year's Day. The happy youngster was 1 year
Quiet New Year’s Likely
Chattooga Countians were
Eetting throufih a mid-week
hristmas celebration this
week and preparing plans for a
New Year’s celebration next
Tuesday night and
Wednesday.
! M::fi' will spend this com
ing weekend through Wednes
day watching a variety of foot
ba.fi bowl famw. Or, in the case
of mani ocal industries that
will work next week, employees
may try to listen to the games
on radio.
Budget Action Set Friday
Chattoo%a County Commis
gioner Jim Parker is exgected
to take final action on the pro
posed 1992 county budget this
comin%Friday.
He has set the time for the
action at 10 a.m. ¥
s:;ipublic hearin ion the pro-
Ko $5.7 million budget was
eld last Friday morn.iniin the
courtroom of the courthouse.
About 25 people showed up
for the session, including
members of the Chattooga
County Library Board.
One reason for the reduc
tion in feneral fund taxes pro
posed for 1992, the commis
sioner revealed in questioning,
is because in prior years the
amount of motor vehicle tax
had been duplicated inadver
tantly. In other words, the
amount for motor vehicle taxes
— some $250,000 — had been
Deadlines Friday
The deadline is 10 a.m. Friday for all news to be publish
ed in next week'’s Jan. 2 edition of The Summerville News.
All news items, includjnghannouncements. wedding and
engagement notices, church events and community ac
tivx(tl;les MUST be at The News office no later than 10 a.m.
Friday.
The newspaßer office will be closed for most of the day
next Tuesday, Dec. 31, and all day on Wednesday, Jan. 1.
i lif‘tiegular newspaper deadlines will resume after the
olidays.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
The ' mmerville News
Ready For The New Year
Yule Gives Way To Celebrations
Traditional New Year's
meals of blackeyed Feas and
greens are likely to find their
way on many tables Wednes
day. Most local businesses and
%([)vernmental offices will close
ednesday in observance of
the holiday.
Local motorists were en
couraged to drive carefully this
Christmas week and during the
New Year’s holidays this com
ing week. Lawmen issuing the
warning included Sheriff Ralph
Kellett, Summerville Police
added to the amount expected
from local dpropert;y taxes,
which already contained the
motor vehicle amount.
CORRECTED
Parker said he learned
about the double entry last
year and corrected it for this
year's budget.
The county has borrowed
about $300,000 to meet its
ob}:'igations so far this year, he
said.
The county posted a budget
shortfall of between $500,000
and $600,000 during the past
two years, he indicated. That'’s
because of the double entry, as
well as the fact that the coun
ty has been unable to collect
taxes on its 1990 and 1991 tax
digests, he said.
Once collections from the
1990 and 1991 digests and
SUMMERVILLE, CHATTOOGA COUNTY, GEORGIA — THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1991
old on Dec. 6. Blake is the son of Scott and Carol Tucker,
Summerville. He has one brother, Brent, 3. (Staff Photo).
Chief Larry Bennett, Trion
Police Chief David Starkey,
and Sgt. Joe Gossett of tg'e
Rome post of the Georgia State
Patrol.
The Georgia State Patrol is
predicting that 12 people will
die and 475 will be hurt in 1,387
accidents in the state during
the 54-hour Christmas holiday
this week. It started at 6 p.m.
Mondtg and was to end at mid
night Christmas.
~ Alpine Community Church
was to host its annual
levies start coming into the
count‘y’s coffers, he said, that
shortfall will be resolved.
LEVY
The county levied about
$2,221,000 in property taxes in
1989, he said, and about
$2,500,000 for both 1990 and
1991.
Michael Veatch, Trion area,
asked how much the county
was owed in delincglent taxes.
Commissioner Parker said
he had been told about $1
million by Hugh Don Hall, tax
commissioner. Hall has an at
tomefi' to do lefial work to col
lect the taxes, Parker said, ad
ding that he ‘“‘wouldn’t be sur
prised”’ if Hall sells some pro
pertlg' to satisfy the back taxes.
arker emphasized that he
could only “encourage” Hall to
collect the taxes since Hall is
also an elected official. The
county commissioner’s office
isn’t responsible for collecting
the taxes, he said.
LIBRARY
At Parker’s invitation,
Susan Stewart, Chattooga
librari; director, told the group
that the county has a chance to
obtain a state grant of
$1,045,000 for a new head
quarters librar¥ during the
1992 session of the Georgia
General Assembly. That would
require the county to match it
with $350,000, she said.
Parker said the local fun-
© Copyright 1991 By Espy Publishing Co., Inc. — All Rights Reserved
Christmas nativity scene
through Wegnesday,
Christmas Day, from 7 to 9
p.m.
Summerville First United
Methodist Church was to hold
a Christmas Eve candlelight
service at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Beersheba Presbyterian
Church was to host a
Christmas Eve candlelight ser
vice and communion at 7:30
p.m. Tuesday.
Beersheba also planned a
see QUIET, page 6-A
ding is not in the 1992 budget
but he hopes to come up with
the money if the state grant is
made available to the county.
Preliminary surve{ work
and state agprova have
already been obtained for the
g‘roposed new library site on
arrar Drive, she said.
see BUDGET ACTION, page 6-A
Trion Sets
Election
On Jan. 2
The post of mayor and
three council seats will be up
for grabs in the Trion Town
election next Thursday, Jan. 2.
Mayor Hoyt Wifl'iams is
facing a challenge from Allen
Plunkett, a retired accountant.
Incumbents Dwight Arden
and Henry Miller are seeking
re-election. Challengers include
former councilmarx;slg;y Boers,
and newcomers Roy Brown,
Robert Overstreet and Jack
Williams.
~ Councilman Frank “Skip
per’’ Stewart didn't seek
re-election.
The top three vote-getters
in the council races will gcome
the new councilmen. Trion does
not have a run-off system.
Property Re-evaluation
Tops 91 Story Listing
Mount Vernon Expansion Boosts Economy
Following are the top stories of 1991 on a monthly basis
from Jan. 1 through June 30. The second six months of
1991 will be featured in the Jan. 2 edition of The Summer
ville News.
* Chattooga Countians enjoyed a safe New Year’s holi
day on the roads with no fatalities or injuries reported in
the county.
* WSAF radio studios burned to the ground early on
Jan. 2. Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies
started an investigation of the blaze.
* The News revealed that Chattooga County schools’
dropout rate declined from 10.3 percent in 1988-89 to 8.8
percent in 1989-90. Chattooga tied for having the 16th
worst dropout rate out of 185 school systems in Georgia.
But that was a drop from sixth in 1988-89.
* John Anthony *“Tony’’ McDaniel of Chattooga Coun
ty won a medal, certificate and cash award from the
Carnegie Hero Fund Commission.
* Commissioner Jim Parker approved a $6.1 million
budget for the county in 1991. He reallocated some ex
penses to various departments due to a $50,000 increase
in the county’s workman’s compensation insurance
premium. The money was taken out of the sanitation
department account.
* Chattooga County Hospital did receive $3,500 per
month through Decemger, 1991 for indigent medical care
from the county. Hospital computer reports had indicated
that no funds had been received after June 30, but
doublechecking the original data revealed the error.
* A new market for paper was obtained for Chattooga
County residents for the new year, meaning that junk mail
and newspaper inserts-could-be -aceepted.
* An attorney for inmates at the Chattooga County Jail
threatened to seek contempt charges against the county
in federal court unless a consent amemfment was signed
by the county attorney. The amendment would require the
county to change the number of daily meals from two to
three and to ofitain the meals from Chattooga County
Hospital or some other mutually acceptable institution.
* The mercury dipped from 71 degrees on Dec. 26 to 32
degrees on the morning of Dec. 27, briefly creating condi
tions for an ice storm atoF Lookout Mountain. But
‘tiemperatures increased slightly later in the day, ending the
anger.
* An off-duty deputy sheriff wounded a Summerville
man who allegedly kicked in the door of the house that a
deputy and another occupant had just entered and fired
several shots. The deputy fired back, wounding the man
in the leg.
* It took three law enforcement agencies to break up
a fight and crowd at a Summerville restaurant. Four peo
ple were arrested.
* Gov.-elect Zell Miller announced that he had appointed
longtime Chattoo?a County Sheriff Gary McConnell ex
ecutive director of the Georgia Emergency Management
Agency (GEMA).
» Si;eriff McConnell on Jan. 9 handed in his resignation,
effective Jan. 11. He was scheduled to assume his new state
duties on Jan. 15. A
* Chattooga County’s unemployment rate increased to
7.6 Bercent in November, up from 6.8 percent in October.
Negotiations about inmate meals at the county jail
between County Commissioner Jim Parker and an attorney
for the inmates continued. G i
* An inmate claimed to have found a suspected mag
got on the beans in the plate supplied to the jail by a local
restaurant. The restaurant owner said someone had
sabotaged the beans.
* Two boaters who left on a trip down the Chattooga
River were found safe at 11:15 p.m. Jan. 6 at the Lyefiy
Dam after a search had been mounted for them along the
river. They were surprised at all the commotion.
* A 2-year-old cl'u'.fii was seriously hurt when he fell out
of his mothet’s car near Trion. e
* Surprise transcripts of secret tapes made by Judith
Ann Nee?ley with her former attorney, Fort Payne, Ala.
lawyer Robert French, showed sexual comments and in
nuendoes between the pair. The transci/iPts came out at a
hearing on a motion for a new trial by Mrs. Neelley’s new
lawyers. Alvin and Judith Ann Neelley Cpled guilty in 1982
of slaying a Floyd County woman in Chattooga County.
Mrs. &eefiley was sentenced to death in Alabama in 1983
in the slaying of a 13-year-old girl.
* Denise Fisher, owner of WSAF radio, announced plans
to put the station back on the air before the end of January.
The station burned to the ground on Jan. 2.
* Inv. Larry Kellett of the sheriff's office announced
that he would run for sheriff in a Feb. 12 special called by
Probate Judge Jon Payne to complete the unexpired term
of Sheriff McConnell. P
* Lt. Jerry Davenport of the sheriff’s department an
nounced he would run for sheriff.
* Sharon Pinion was named director of the Chattooga
County Department of Family and Children Services.
o Sherif?McConnell said he had turned $14,000 in seiz
ed drug money over to the county. He also said $54,000
in comfiamned drug money was in a banking account to be
used only for law enforcement purposes.
* Dan Sweitzer, executive director of Chattooga Coun
ty Hospital, said the facility had a good year in 5990 and
a better year was expected in 1991. He spoke to the
Summerville-Trion Rotary Club.
* A state fire marshal was investigating suspicious fires
at a mobile home on Marble Springs Road.
* Sheriff Gary McConnell said one of his deputies found
29 rocks of suspected crack cocaine after arresting a drunk
driver in a routine traffic st:(r.
* Ken Dawson was named head of the county’s new
recycling center. e
* Chattooga Countians indicated suffport of President
Bush and U. § tro:fs in the Mideast after a massive air
attack was launched against Iraq on the evening of Jan.
%{6, on% day after a deadline for Iraq to withdraw from
uwait.
~ *The News published the names and addresses of
numerous Chattooga Countians serving in the Mideast.
*U.S. flags were erected on Commerce Street in
JANUARY
Summerville.
* A pipeline company indicated concern about possible
terrorist attacks aialu'nst a pipeline in Chattooga County.
* Ron Turner, chief investigator for the sheriff’s office
for nine years, was a;‘)fointed acting sheriff until a new
sheriff could be elected in a Feb. 12 or March 5 election.
* Six candidates had qualified to run for sheriff the day
before the deadline. Tlfiy were Jerry Davenport, Larry
Kellett, Ralph Kellett, Monroe Mathis, Wilburn Ragland
and Jimmy Wilkerson.
* Leroy Massey was elected chairman of the Chattooga
school board.
* Outgoing Sheriff Gary McConnell recalled his years
of service as sheriff and as a deputy with his late father,
John Frank McConnell.
* Prominent businessman John Echols died.
* Folk banjo player Guy Bruce died. So did Shriner
Duward Tomlin.
* Judge Joseph Loggins was named to the Judicial
Council of Georgia.
* The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers still had not
started a flood plain study at the site of a potential new
coungiy"w}andfxll at Chattoogaville.
* Two people were hurt when a county garbage truck
collided with their van.
* Ministers in Chattooga County were seeking and pray
ing for peace prior to the U. S. attack on Iraq.
AR AN AR AN e e
Top 10 Stori
Following are the top 10 news stories in Chattooga
County durini 1991, as selected by The Summerville News.
1. The problems and delays associated with completing
a massive county-wide property re-evaluation program and
completing the 1990 and 1991 tax digests.
2. Chattooga County's continuing gifficulties in trying
to close the existing landfill and attempting to open a new
facility.
3. Mount Vernon Mills Inc. announcing a $63 million
expansion project at Trion, and reporting that it will hire
some 60 more people, and may hire up to 400 more workers
in late 1992.
4. Longtime Sheriff Gary McConnell resigns, and Ralph
Kellett being elected to serve his unexpired term.
. 5. Chattooga County’s Memorial Home burning on Jan.
19.
6. Tim Brown being tried and convicted of the double
slaK/}ng of his estranged wife and an Alpine man in front
of Menlo City Hall in 1990.
7. The U. S. war with Iraq and its effects on almost
every Chattooga Countian.
8. The Georgia Department of Corrections announcing
that it would build two boot camps at Hays Correctional
Institution, Pennville.
9. WSAF-AM radio burns on Jan. 2.
10. Chattooga County’s school dropout rate falls from
10.3 percent to 8.8 percent in 1989-90, as announced in early
1991.
P7cYFe YFe eFr e e A e dede A eAo
* A survey was planned to determine the cost of im
plementing 911 emeréency tek;fi)hone service in the county.
* Georgia Power Co. official David Pool was named to
the Walker Tech board of directors from Chattooga County.
* Trion councilmen seemed to approve a plan for the city
schools to buy two new buses through the county schools.
* Summerville’s City Council agreed to start repaying
a $72,000 loan to the Chattooga Industrial Development
Authority although debate over the issue was warm.
* Legislators spent a quiet first week in the Georgia
General Assembly.
* One person was charged in a drug raid in Summerville.
* A wrecked ambulance had been repaired and was back
in service. The emergency services ‘“‘box’ on another am
bulance was being transferred to a new chassis at a reduc
ed cost to the county.
* Frank *‘Skipper’’ Stewart planned to resign as presi
dent of the Chattooufa Friends of Recycling.
* The Summerville-Trion Optimist Club was named an
honor club and its 'Fresident was named a distinguished
president. Member Tony Jones, Oftimist lieutenant gover
nor, was also cited b{ Optimist International.
* The Chattooga Library was featured in The News.
* The deguty dgrector of the Georgia Department of In
dustry, Trade and Tourism pushed tourism in an address
to the Summerville-Trion Optimist Club.
* Food stamp cases increased in December over
November in Chattooga County.
* A hearing was set before the Summerville City Coun
cil for a suspended police officer.
* Educational changes were predicted by a Geor%ia
Department of Education official who addressed the
Summerville-Trion Rotary Club.
* John Turner, a Chattooga Hixfih School teacher, was
named president of the Summerville Industrial Develop
ment Authority.
* One person was arrested after a fracas at a Chattooga
gedartown basketball game in Summerville. No one was *
urt.
* The Chatt.o?a Coun%‘Memofial Home was destroyed
by fire earlg'oon an. 19. The loss was estimated at up to
$300,000. Some SIIO,OOO in insurance was on the home.
* Gov. Miller gzogosed two boot camgz:or Chattooga
County, both to be built with inmate labor. :
R e e
school programs were in di in Chattooga , ap
parentg' because of a lack of a single person or organiza
tion responsible for implementing the projects.
* No progress was reported on a flood study proposed
see PROPERTY, page 8-A
STILL
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