Newspaper Page Text
Hie Official Organ
Baker County
Established 1912
VOLUME 27. NUMBER 46.
NINETEEN GRADUATE
ELMODEL HIGH-
Benton Odom Delivers Liter
ary Address At Exercises
Thursday.
The closing exercises of the Elmo
del High School began on Friday
evening with a recital by the pupils
of the music and speech department,
under the direction of "Miss Lois Wi
ley.
The program for Sunday included
the musical processional and reces
sional, prayer by Rev. Marvin Jones,
songs by choir composed of members
of the faculty and patrons of the
school, accompanied by Miss Wiley at
the piano.
Rev. C. V. Leach, pastor of Donal
sonville Presbyterian Church, preach
ed the Baccalaureate sermon, which
was a very inspiring message.
Nineteen candidates passed final
examinations concluding- an eleven
year program of work, which included
seven honor students. First honor
being tied by Marie West and Wessie
Dell Wiley, while Carolyn Craft won
second place; and the other honor
students were Jewel Griffin, Tyler
Godfrey, Pauline Sullivan and Ge
nevia Irvin.
The grammar grades exercises on
Tuesday night were quite a success
when more than one hundred and
twenty-five students had part in the
program.
Class Night for - the senior class
was held Wednesday night, when the
honor students gave a very interest
ing program. Also the seventh grade
composed o f seventeen members,
passed their mark and were presented
their certificates certifying them
ready for high school, which exercises
were very impressive when seventeen
fine youngsters were placed on the
stage in this graduation exercise.
Thursday evening marked the close
of the exercises with the graduation,
when Col. Benton Odom of Newton,
gave the literary address. Mr. Odom
spoke on “The Advantages Os The
Youth Os Today,” which was one - x>f
the most impressive and interesting
addresses of its kind ever presented
to a senior class. Seated on the
stage were the nineteen seniors, with
their sponsor, Miss Florence Sawyer,
the little Mascot, Supt. J. O. Fort and
Mr. Benton Odom. Carolyn Craft
gave the salutatory and Wessie Dell
Wiley and Marie West gave the val
edictory. The diplomas were awarded
by Supt. J. O. Fort, in the absence of
the County School Superintendent
who, at the last moment, could not
be present at the exercises.
Mr. E. H. Cheek, Agricultural Vo
cational teacher, delivered the awards,
Receiving these medals and awards
were Pauline Sullivan, English; Louise
Durham, Mathematics; Marie West,
History; Edith Duke, Vocational in
Economics; Jewel Griffin, Science;
Wessie Dell Wiley, Scholarship; Bush
Sheffield, General Excellence and
Athletics, and James Nix, Citizenship.
At the same time James Nix was
presented a Camp Scholarship for out
standing work in the Future Farmer
Chapter of the school.
This graduating class exceeded any
class ever to graduate in Baker
county, and marks a standard for the
schools in the county and a standard
the patrons of the school should be
proud of: and a standard the entire
county should be proud of. f !. >- ’
Get Drivers License
Here June 13
The State Patrolmen will be in the
Sheriff's office for their last time in
which to issue drivers’ licenses Tues
day, June 13, and anyone who does not
have a drivers license must meet
them at this time in order to stand
an examination. Others who have
drivers license and wish to have them
renewed will not have to stand an ex
amination unless they wish to change
their drivers license to chauffeur’s
license which will be forced to stand
an examination.
Don’t forget that Tuesday, June 13,
will be the last day to stand examina
tion.
Methodists To Hold
Revival Meeting
The revival meeting will begin at
the Methodist church here June 16
(third Sunday). The Rev. Ed Fain,
pastor of the First Methodist Church
of Albany, will assist the pastor, Rev.
J. W. Stipes, in the meeting. Every
body is cordially invited to attend
^his meeting. Make your plans now
to be present.
©hr laker Jaunty Nms
Joe Simmons Has
Appendix Operation
_____ •
Little Joe Simmons, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Jack Simmons, was rushed to
Bainbridge to the hospital early Mon
day morning where he underwent an
operation for appendicitis. Joe was
taken ill Sunday afternoon but was
not thought so serious-until Monday
morning. His many friends will be
glad to know that he is resting fine
since the operation, but will have to
remain in the hospital about two
weeks.
Cotton Blooom Brought
To News Reporter
Robert Phipps, colored farmer who
lives on the Old Phipps farm in the
Bth District of Baker County, brought
the first cotton bloom to the News
reporter. The bloom was found while
he was plowing on Monday, May 29.
He was the first last year to bring in
a bloom. Robert is among the best
colored farmers in Southwest Geor
gia.
High School Boys
Win Scholarships
James Nix, member of the graduat
ing class of the Elmodel High School
last Thursday, and James Duncan, a
junior of the Newton High School,
have been awarded scholarships which
entitles them to one week in the
Jackson Lake Future Farmers Camp
this summer. The award was made
because of their outstanding records
in agriculture.
Nix, an outstanding member of the
senior class of Elmodel High School,
was also awarded a medal for citizen
ship at the graduating exercises of
the school held on Thursday evening.
The certificates of award were
given by Sears, Roebuck & Company
of Atlanta, and read as follows:
“As a reward for outstanding lead
ership and co-operative activities in
his Future Farmers of America chap
ters, for carrying out a worthwhile
supervised practice program, and for
making definite plans for becoming
established in farming. Sears, Roe
buck and Company award this cer
tificate to ( ) of the
( ) F. F. A. chapter,
which entitles the winner to one
week’s stay at the Jackson Lake Fu
ture Farmers camp during the sum
mer of 1939.”
Tree Grows 8 Feet
From Ground In Brick
JEFFERSONVILLE.—We have al
ways heard that grass doesn’t grow
on cement, but here’s something that
pretty nearly does that. The brick wall
in the dividing line at the rear of the
W. M. Jackson and W. J. Gallenmore
stores in Jeffersonville has living in
it a catalpa branch. It thrives and
grows new leaves each spring, yet
is about eight feet from the ground.
A few feet above the catalpa is a dog
fennel which grew to be about 18
inches in height last summer. This
spring it has put out new foliage and
is rapidly growing. On the window
ledges of these stores from the brick
and inortar, spring up weeds in the
summer that appear to live on fresh
-air, sunshine and. rain (when it falls).
Several yards away at the back of
the postoffice, some pungent branches
of mint and a most beautiful blooming
begonia are growing. Miss ’ Fannie
Moore Vaughn, postmaster, says she
has cut the begonia off several times,
but it always grows out again. What
is that strange atmosphere behind
these stores? Perhaps no one will
ever know, but it no doubt does have
life giving qualities!
Car Drives Through
High Wall Os Bees .
ROSWELL.—We are all familiar
with walls of stone, walls of brick,
and even the “Wall of Jerico,” but
there aren’t many who have heard,
much less seen, a wall of bees! But
Palmer Young and F. M. Waters of
Alpharetta did. They were riding
along on the Duluth road the other
day when they suddenly saw a black
object blocking the road. As they
came nearer they found it to be a
dense swarm of bees. Very quickly
they raised the windows of the car
and then drove through the swarm.
According to the two men, the swarm
occupied a space the width of the road
and from the ground up to about five
feet. It might have been a tare sight
to see, but no doubt, you’re glad you
wer nela.t’gno—aficofpwarr 17 28 937
weren’t along.
NEWTON, BAKER COUNTY, GEORGIA, THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 1939.
My Views Os The News
by
John Callaway Otwell
STATE
If ever there is to be a new tax structure for Georgia, this column still
is in favor of a gross income levy. We said so while the Legislature was in
regular session.
But we much prefer what we have to any kind of a sales tax system.
Our gasoline tax is an example of the sales tax at its worst, being one of
the highest rates in the nation .nearly fifty percent of the price of the prod
uct—and we are talking about the State tax alone, not including the Federal
Since we still have the ad valorem system with its accessories, we con
sider the report released at week’s end by the House Economy Committee
the most logical list of recommendations made~by a Georgia legislative body
since we can remember. —
Seems to us that this program, if put into effect, will be a bargain for
the citizenry at SIO,OOO, the cost of maintaining the Committee and its
activities since the Legislature adjourned.
We almost memorized the recommendations so carefully did we study
them. • -?w
Suggesting reductions of more than $1,500,000 annually in operating
costs of various State departments and agencies, the Committee also approved
a recommendation submitted by Revenue Commissioner Grady Head which
would tighten present revenue laws with the prospect of gaining $4,000,000
in income to the general fund.
Thus, according to the Committee’s estimates, we DO NOT need any new
taxes. - ,
Pleased were we to learn that:
In reducing the Forestry Division’s appropriation from $93,300 to $60,000
a year, SIO,OOO annually would be made available for developing paper and
pulp industry in Georgia.
The Entomology Department’s fund for reviving the Sea Island cotton
industry be maintained at $7,500 annually, although the Department’s total
appropriation was reduced from $76,000 to $50,000.
(We do not say that these sums are sufficient for the purposes for which
they are recommended, but there is a degree of satisfaction in the fact that
the importance of the two industries was recognized.
We heartily approve the Committee’s suggestion that the appropriation
of $410,000 from general funds and $400,000 from allocated funds for op
eration of the Revenue Department be repealed, and the agency be paid in
stead one per cent of all revenue collected before the taxes become delinquent
and all of the ten percent penalty collected on delinquent taxes.
This measure, if enacted, probably would make the collectors hustle to
collect and taxpayers hurry to pay. There is nothing like incentive.
The editor of THE WEEKLY LETTER, organ of a Georgia Rotary
Club, last week in writing about “Social Service” said: “The ‘poorhouse’
as an institution of human welfare belongs to the age of sassafras tea for
measles and red flannels for rheumatism.”
We acknowledge that gentleman’s wit and wisdom, but one glance at
the decidedly unbalanced figures of the State Department of Public Welfare
leaves one wondering whether Georgia up to the present time has improved
any upon the antiquated “Over-th-Hills-to-the-Poorhouse” system.
The Economy Committee opinioned that the administrative costs of the
Department “have been and now are grossly excessive.”
The investigators believe that this Department, which last year spent
for administration—salaries and expenses—36 per cent of the State’s total
benefit payments, should operate on ten per cent of State money plus five
per cent Federal money. Computing State and Federal funds for Welfare
last year, 17.6 per cent of the total benefits paid was spent on operating the
Department.
The gentlemen of the Committee suggest that the program be “revamp
ed” if it can not be administered on a ten-five per cent basis.
While it can not be known definitely how much money will be needed
for teachers until early in the fall, the Committee estimates that there will'
be sufficient funds for this item for 1939-40 if the whole economy program is
carried out.
Obviously, there will be need of- legislation on several items in order to
execute the recommendations, and if the assembly meets in the fall, it could
then make minor adjustments concerning school funds.
A
The least-that can be said is that the Economy Committee very effectively
punctured the immediate-special-session-sales-tax balloon. May it never
again become inflated.
A pleasingly sly comment, we think, was that made by Representative
J. Wesley Culpepper, of Fayette County, who said a sales tax bill might get
by at an early extra session; then added that “the candidate who makes re
peal of such a sales tax his platform would be overwhelminly elected in 1940.”
Up to noon on Tuesday there had been reported very little interest shown
by voters in the general election.
Only three of the 33 amendments affect the whole state, and one of the
three—authorizing the coastal highway district (Chatham, Bryan, Liberty,
Mclntosh, Glynn and Camden counties) —is of little interest to citizens resid
ing outside those counties.
NATIONAL
Appearing as a witness last week before the Dies un-American activities
investigating committee, General George Van Horn Moseley, retired, recited
his usual speech about Communists.
That subject is serious enough, we think, and should be thoroughly
treated by the Dies group.
'Taking the witness stand, the General picked up a glass of water, in
>quired, “Is this water all right?” Whereupon an aide brought drinks of water
in a new cup.
If this was intended as drama, we consider the act beneath the dignity
of an Army officer; and if the General was really afraid, we wonder how
such a jittery officer ever reached the grade of nr ajor-general.
Several weeks before this hearing, the witness had expressed the belief
that the Jews might “bump me off.”
The report early this week that Vice President Garner intends seeking
the Democratic nomination at the 1940 convention, even if Mr. Roosevelt
should be a candidate, is an interesting topic in Georgia
There are those who wonder whether so brave a move on the part of Mr.
Garner might lead to a third party.
Perhaps a third party might be preferable to a third term, no matter
whether a third term is sought by the encumbent or by future presidents.
Continued on Last Page
Bethany News
We were absent last week owing
to Tuesday being a holiday. I wish
our Senators and Representatives
would forget about all kinds of taxes
for a while and pass a law for our
mail in the country to be delivered on
Sundays and all holidays by the sub
stitute, then we could do more work
on Monday instead of looking at the
Sunday funnies.
We have had so much rain the last
two weeks that about all we can do
is keep the windows down while it is
raining, then push them up when it
quits so the house won’t mildew.
Mr. Frank Killebrew and J. F. Kil
lebrew drove the school bus to Day
tona Beach, Fla. with the nineteen
graduates of the Elmodel High School.
Mr. and Mrs. Cheek and Miss Saw
yer also went. They left Thursday
night and returned Monday night.
All reported a good time, also a good
coat of sun tan. Bethany school dis
trict had three graduates in the crowd,
Misses Ethel Ray, Marie West and
Mr. Dewaine Phillips.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ethredge and
baby and Miss Howell Ethredge spent
the week-end in Jeffersonville as
guests of Mr. and Mrs. McCants.
Friends of Mr. and Mrs. David
Jones are glad to know their
grandson, “Laney-Boy” Middleton of
Blakely, is recuperating nicely after
an operation for appendicitis last
week. He was on a visit with his
grandparents when taken sick.
Mrs. George Ray was a guest of
Mrs. Sallie Woodard, of Patmos,
Thursday.
Mr. John Ethredge spent the week
end in Brunswick with the other
members of the Georgia Legislature.
Mr .and Mrs. Will Rooks had as
their guests Sunday, Mr. and Mrs. W.
H. Westbrook and Mr. and Mrs. Al
ton Timmons, of Rowena. Miss Lorene
and Betty Jean went home with them
for a few days visit.
Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Ray spent
Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. W. H.
Moore, of Patmos. *
Mra.- Emma Beard and Miss Mavis-
Beard, of Morgan, are visiting Mr.
and Mrs. Frank Killebrew.
Mrs. P. G. Wilkerson had as her
guests Monday, Mrs. Mamie Lou
Parr and children, of Patmos, and
Mrs. Russ Newton, Miss Myra New
ton and Miss Reba Craft.
Mr. Weyman Rooks and James
Odom, of Tifton College, and their
room-mates visited Mr. and Mrs. War
ren Rooks during the week-end.
Mr. Will Rooks and Mr. Frank Kil
lebrew were visitors in Newton Tues
day.
Young Men Conduct
Revival Services
Although weather conditions have
been unfavorable, Rev. Marvin Jones
of Newton and Mr. Carlton Godwin
■of Norman Junior College, have been
holding revival services at the Baker
County Court House. The public is
invited to attend the services which
are held at night only; if one service
is rained out then come to the next.
Enlightening as well as inspirational
subjects, subjects that will be used
other than those announced last
week will be, “Hitch Hiking To
Heaven,” “The Hypocrites’ Hypnbsis,”
and “Evolution Versus Divine Cre
ation.”
The meeting will continue through
Friday night week, June 16. Although
young, these two leaders of worth
while enterprises are giving them
selves to the advancement of God’s
kingdom. Support them by attending
and encouraging them.
Betty Ingrain Doing
Nicely At Hospital
Little Betty Ingram, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Billy Ingram, who re
side on Colquitt Plantation, was car
ried to Phoebe Putney Memorial hos
pital in Albany Saturday for an ap
pendix operation. Her many friends
will be glad to know that she is do
ing nicely and will be able to come
home soon.
All Day Sing To Be
Held At Bethany
There will be an all day sing at
the Bethany church in Baker County
the third Sunday in June.
All singers and lovers of good
music are invited to attend. We have
some good singers, so lets all be pres
ent. It will be on self sustaining
basis—so bring your lunch along.
A County of Good
Farms, Good Schools,
Good Churches and
Good People.
$1.50 A YEAR IN ADVANCE
CLOSING EXERCISES
NEWTON TUESDAY
Supt. Gamble Awards Di
plomas To Three Newton
Graduates.
The Newton High School closing
exercises began on Friday night with
the musical recital under the direc
tion of Mrs. W. P. Mathis.
The Baccalaureate sermon was de
livered at the high school auditorium
Sunday morning at eleven o’clock,
with prayer by Rev. R. H. Forrester.
Rev. Bascom Anthony, of Macon, for
mer Presiding Elder of this District,
delivered the sermon, which was one
of the most impressive ever delivered
here. Songs by choir composed of
members of the faculty and others,
accompanied by Mrs. R. L. Hall at
the piano. A beautiful solo was given
by Mrs. W. P. Mathis.
Three seniors passed the final
mark and were all honor graduates,
Miss Semmie West was first honor
graduate, and second honor was tied
by Miss Catherine Merritt and Miss
Theada Eubanks
The grammar grade exercises were
held on Monday night, which included
the pupils from the first grade
through the seventh. t~, ’’
Tuesday evening marked the grad
uation exercises of the senior class.
Col. Benton Odom delivered the lit
erary address, which address was very
impressive and enjoyed by all. Seated
on the stage were the three seniors,
Supt. T. L. Gamble, E. H. Cheek, C.
S. Adams, Chairman County Board of
Education, and Col. Benton Odom, be
sides the choir composed of the follow
ing, J. R. Rhodes, Mrs. C. S. Adams,
V. T. Akridge, Agnes Preston, Mrs.
J. H. Hall, Mrs. Robert B. Short, Mrs.
Dan Miller, Miss Agnes Bates and
Mrs. W. P. Mathis, accompanied at
the piano by Mrs. R. L. Hall. The
diplomas were awarded by Supt. T. L.
Gamble, in the absence of the County
School Superintendent who, at the last
moment, could not be present at the
exercises.
H. ■Cheek, Agricultural Vo
cational teacher, delivered the award
to James Duncan, who won the Camp
Scholarship for outstanding work in
the Future Farmer Chapter of the
school.
The closing exercises of the school;
was held Friday with a picnic and
barbecue for the entire school, which
was held at the creek, and swimming
was enjoyed during the day.
The Sad iron
The word sad used in connontipn
with iron means heavy or weighty.
It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon
saed, meaning full or sated, and
therefore implying weight.
Albany Theatre
ALBANY, GA.
• THURSDAY - FRIDAY •
» SATURDAY •
• SUNDAY AND MONDAY •
m uwumi er en wwnam —n
• TUESDAY- WEDNESDAY •
■Ki
j|
—COMING SOON—
"DODGE CITY"
* In Beautiful Technicolor
—with—
ERROL OLIVIA
FLYNN DeHAVILAND