50 years ago: City manager eyes DeLoach for new public safety role

Dublin Courier Herald

     By Doug Hall

The Dublin city Manager is strongly weighing a restructuring of City Hall departments which would elevate police Chief Vernon DeLoach to a new position as director of public safety and  promote police Lieutenant Wayne Fuqua to police chief, highly reliable sources said.

DeLoach would oversee the operations of the city police and fire departments, as well as its civil defense facilities.

Contacted on Friday about the changes, City Manager Ron McLemore was at first uncommunicative, but later opened up enough to admit, “There is a lot of discussion going on, but no official action has been taken.”

Pressed as to whether Chief DeLoach and Lt. Fuqua are involved in the plans, the city manager replied. “I have no comment.

“We talk about things every day. I do not have any plans to do anything at this time.”

In response to a report that the change overs were set to take effect one week from Monday,the city manager answered that no time table had been established, and if any changes come, they may be thirty or more days away.

DeLoach acknowledged that he had been in communication with the city manager about possible changes but said nothing official had been decided.

Several law enforcement officers said they had been told that such changes were planned.

If the reorganization comes about, Deloach would control the administrative functions of the 33-man police and 27-man fire men. Plus, he would coordinate the city’s civil defense operations and would be in charge of an emergency communications control center to be installed in City Hall.

Although the police and fire departments would both be under Deloach, if the plan is enacted, policemen and firemen would continue to serve distinctly separate functions without integration of duties as some cities have attempted.

Each department would continue with a chief in charge of the conduct and performance of the department.

Over a telephone conversation, Mayor Robert E. Cochran expressed surprise with the proposal and responded, “I haven’t heard a word about it. I expect to read about it in the Courier Herald.”

Although he stated that he had been excluded from discussions, he hinted, “some of our aldermen may know about it.”

The mayor seemed slightly provoked that he was not informed of the proposals, saying, “I hate to be the last one in town to hear about it.”

Referring to the public safety position, the mayor pointed out “I didn’t know we have that designated in the budget. The payroll may be in the budget, but not as that salary description.”

The extent of McLemore’s planned reorganization of City Hall departments is not known for sure, but it is a safe bet that it will not stop with the creation of a division of public safety.

The city manager has been a strong advocate of professional personnel management and organization since coming to the office. He has conducted a complete revamp of the sanitation department, which has reduced the size of the department from over 40 to less than 25 employees. Also he asked Council for $8,000 in his proposed budget to conduct a management study, although he was turned down.

McLemore’s plans will likely draw questions from councilmen at a budgetary meeting set for Tuesday night.

Questions regarding the effect of the restructuring in dollars and cents are certain to be asked.

McLELLANS RENOVATES

The McLellan Variety store downtown at 100 Jackson Street is undergoing renovation with new departments being added and others expanded.

The activity is in sharp contrast to the business flight in recent years that have left many empty buildings downtown.

“We feel that the opportunity is here for downtown. The present mall located in Dublin justifies doing this. The company feels that the potential is here. We wouldn’t do this if we didn’t think so,” said J. Hay, manager.

The store will remain open during remodeling.

Hay said that all departments will be changed and extra shelves will be put in.

The assortment of merchandise will be broadened.

Departments will be relocated.

A live plant and horticulture department will be installed.

Also, all departments presently located upstairs will be relocated downstairs on the main floor level, making it more convenient for the customer to shop. 

“Our objective is to make it more convenient for our customers to shop.

“Also we’re attempting to give the store a completely new look,” says Hay. McLellans, in downtown Dublin for many years, has been one of the leading variety stores.

About a dozen people have been brought in from other stores to help with the project.

Other area stores are located in Macon, Fitzgerald, and Thomson.

McLellans is associated with J.J. Newberry, McCrory, and H.L. Green stores.

BOOSTERS FEATURE NEW RAIDER COACH

West Laurens sports fans met the school’s new athletic director and head football coach on Thursday night at a meeting of the Athletic Boosters Club.

Tom Wilson, who comes to West Laurens from Pike County High school, told the  group, “My purpose in being here is that I feel like you want a winning program.”

He added,” I feel like with the staff we have we will be able to do this.”

With Wilson were assistant coaches Gregg Williams and Archie McRae. Williams, a newcomer to West Laurens, will be in charge of the offensive line. McRae, who has been with the West Laurens program since its inception, will coach the defensive line.

During the meeting, the boosters approved a plan presented by Wilson which will enable the Raiders to hold a partial nine-day camp at the West Laurens campus.

Under the plan, starting August 11, the Raiders will report to practice at 2 p.m. and will drill for about two hours. A 45-minute “skull session” will follow.

The team will then sit down to a meal provided by the boosters and prepared in the school cafeteria. 

After a short rest, the group will go through a second practice about 6 p.m. and end the practice day at 8 p.m.

The twice-a-day practice session with meals will run through August 21, five days the first week and four the second.

The Boosters also agreed to buy the football team a bullsled for blocking and tackling exercises.

August 18 will be the first day the Georgia High School Athletic Association will allow member teams to dress out in pads,leaving only eleven calendar days before West Laurens opens the season with Jeff Davis at home, August 29.

Some players have been going through voluntary conditioning with Coach Wilson twice a week during the last month. As many as 23 players have shown up for these voluntary sessions.

The Boosters made plans for a membership drive, for program advertising, and for a barbecue to be held at the Homecoming Game.

Booster President Bobby Coleman presided at the meeting.

ROBERT E. LEE IS U.S. CITIZEN AGAIN

Washington, D. C.  (UPI)

President Gerald Ford has corrected a “110 year oversight of American history” and given Confederate General Robert E. Lee his U.S. citizenship.

Ford’s signing a law giving citizenship came about 105 years after Lee’s death in 1870, five years after his surrendering to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox.

But Lee’s family, including Robert E. Lees III, IV, and V were present at the Custis-Lee Mansion near Arlington Cemetery, Lee’s ante bellum home, where Ford, on Tuesday, signed the legislation.

The bill restored Lee’s citizenship rights as of June 1, 1865, the date he first applied for it. “The Bill passed the Senate in April and the House on July 22 by a vote of 407 to 10 with objections from some northern liberals who wanted it to also provide amnesty for Vietnam era draft resisters.

Ford, siting at an old wooden desk as he delivered brief remarks, traced a series of developments that had caused the long delay and said that he was “very pleased to sign” the resolution “restoring posthumously the long overdue full rights of citizenship for Lee.

“This legislation corrects a 110-year oversight of American history,” he said.

The President said that he knew that Lee was devoted to Victory for the South in the Civil War but that Lee realized after the conflict that the North and South had to be reunited.

Lee, Ford said, “sought to show by example that citizens of the South must dedicate their efforts to rebuilding that region of the country as a strong and vital part of the American union.”

YOUNG PEACEMAKERS ON TOUR

Bethlehem Baptist Church proudly announces the first concert tour of “The Young Peacemakers.” The purpose of “The Young Peacemakers,” as well as the purpose of the tour, is to spread and share the Good News of Jesus Christ through music.

The Young Peacemakers will begin their tour on Sunday, August 10, and will return on Thursday, August 14.

The tour will consist of churches in Kibbee, Mt.Vernon, Sylvania, and Darien. They will also have concerts at these Georgia Baptist Centers, Baptist Children’s Home at Baxley and the Baptist Village in Waycross.

On Thursday the group will enjoy a free day on Jekyll Island before  returning.

The members of the group are age thirteen and older.

The vocalists are Andy Beacham, Pat Beacham, Shelia Beacham, Allen Crow, James Deal, Cammie Fennell, Deborah Fennell, Parissa Fennell, Glen Fordham, Vicki Fordham, Melanie Fountain, Skeeter Grizzard, Al Soles, Sue Spivey, Stanley Wilkes, and Martha Williams.

The accompanist is Miss Darla Kight.

Chaperones for the tour are Mr. and Mrs. Donald Fountain.

The director of “The Young Peacemakers” is Michael Hester.

LANDFILL HOURS APPROVED

Opening and closing hours for the county landfill have been set by the Laurens County Commissioners.

The landfill will be open from 6:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8:00 a.m. until noon on Saturday.

Containers will be placed outside the gates for household garbage brought to the landfill after hours. 

Commercial garbage will not be allowed in the outside containers.

Persons who violate the landfill hours will be charged and prosecuted, the commissioners said.

Theo McDonald, county foreman, estimated that the cost of scales for the landfill will be $16,000.

In other business, the commissioners agreed to rebuild the shed at the county work shop, using county employees.

A procedure for buying tires was discussed.

A matching grant with the Civil Defense of $884 was approved for the purchase of a typewriter and other communications equipment.

A meeting with city officials to determine a joint city-county priority list for state highway projects was set for August 19.

TEE LEAGUE CO-CHAMPS

The Giants were co-champs in the Tee League and recently received their trophies. They finished 9-1 for the season.

Players were Scott Anderson, Burt Willis, Clarence Stanley, Mike Howard, Casey Garett, Todd Gay, Paul Baker III, Mike Belote, Anthony Dawson, Allen Baker, David Kersey, and Rob Rigdon. 

The team was coached by Jerry Monroe, and the bat bay was Bobby Thomas.

DUBLIN LOSES SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT

The Dublin Parks and Recreation Department held its Second Annual Men’s Invitational Softball Tournament this past weekend with Robert’s Electrical Supply of Hazlehurst winning first place by defeating Watson’s Amoco of Dudley 14-7.

Sponsor’s trophies were given to the first and second place teams, and individual trophies were given to the first place team.

David Hardy of Vidalia Coca Cola won the leading hitter trophy with a .583 batting average.

IRISHETTES AT CAMP

The  Dublin High School Irishettes are attending the Norman Carter Basketball Camp in Cochran.

They are accompanied by their coach, Joyce Brown.

They have been working hard; they are practicing new rules, like 5 member-full court for girls.

Irishettes at the camp are Ann Hardy, Tanya Cranford, Dree Weaver, Janet Hobbs, Debbie Bateman, Jennie Benefield, Jeanie Massey, Brenda Davis, Angela Smith, Shelia Cauley, Traci Davis, and Tanya Cranford.

HOME RUN HITTERS

The Dublin Parks and Recreation Department’s Recreation Baseball teams participated in the Home Run Derby during the 1975 baseball season.

For each home run hit, the Dairy Queen of Dublin gave each boy a free hamburger and a milk shake.

Home runs hit in each league were these:

Tee League 

Steve Brown, Michael Belote, Tim Watson, David Kersey

Bantam League

Bruce Guyton

Midget League

Jim Smalley, Greg Smith

Junior League

Curtis Perry, David McDonald, Larkin Simons, Mike Alligood, Barry Walker

Keith Hammond (2), Donnie Vinson (2)

Senior League

Stan Stanley

CHURCH NEWS

Evergreen United Methodist Church

Revival services will be held at Evergreen United Methodist Church, August 10 through August 15 at 8:00 p.m.

The guest evangelist is Reverend Tommy Williams, pastor of Gethsemane United Methodist Church, East Dublin.

Rev. Williams attended Jacksonville University of Florida, Southeastern College in Hammond, Louisiana, and the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in New Orleans, Louisiana.

He has made two special study tours to the Middle East and has served as  pastor in seven churches, in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida.

Rev. Williams has conducted revivals and Bible Study Schools in several states.

Evergreen United Methodist Church extends a cordial invitation to you to come and share the week with us.

St.Luke Baptist Church

“Clean up day” will be Wednesday and Saturday, August 1, and August 16.

All members come and bring your own work tools.

Moore Street Baptist Church

The regular monthly sing at Moore Street Baptist Church will be on Saturday, August 9, at 8:00 p.m. Featured singers will be the Hall Sisters from Adrian.

Everyone is cordially invited to attend.

No admission

Second A.B.Church

Sunday, August 10, is Pastoral Day at the Second A.B. Church on Noarth Decatur Street.

Everyone has a cordial invitation to attend each service. 

On Sunday afternoon at 3:00, there will be the celebration of the annual Womens Day with Mrs. C.H. Harris as the featured speaker.

Everyone has an invitation to attend. 

Rev. J.P. Ser, Pastor, says, “Please support the women.”

First United Methodist Church

The Twelve-O-Five to Twelve Thirty  worship service speaker for Wednesday, August 6, is to be Tommy Williams of the Gethsemane United Methodist Church.

The meeting is to be in the social hall of the First United Methodist Church, and the pubic is invited. Lunch follows immediately.

Rev. Ted Griner is the Pastor.

Walnut Creek Baptist Church

Homecoming will be held at Walnut Creek Baptist Church on August 10. Rev. Wesley Long, former pastor, will bring the morning message. Dinner will follow.

Revival will begin on Sunday evening at 7:00 with Rev. Wade Rollins, pastor of the East Side Baptist Church of Macon, as the guest evangelist.

James Price will be leading the singing, which starts at 7:45 p.m. each evening through Friday.

Everyone is invited.

Rev. Carl Byrd is the pastor.

Mt. Pullen A.M.E. Church

There will be a sing at the Mt. Pullen A.M.E. Church on Sunday, August 10, at 8:00 p.m., and on the program will be the Gospelairs and the Gospel Angels of Dublin.

There will be no charge; a free offering will be asked. These funds go to the church

Two prizes will be given away.

Everyone is invited to come.