50 years ago – December 30, 1975: Dublin man killed in Tennessee shooting

Dublin Courier-Herald

Newport, Tennessee

Ricky Cochran, 23, of Dublin, Georgia, was one of four left dead after a shooting outburst in a nightclub here.

The spark that touched off the gunfire is still a mystery to authorities in this isolated East Tennessee mining community.

Cocke County Sheriff Tom O’Dell said that the shootout, which occurred in the early hours of  Christmas Day, apparently began as escaped Brushy Mountain Prison inmate Jackie Mack Laymon strode into the crowded Red Lantern Inn.

“He just walked in with no fuss, no argument, no nothin’, and bang,” stated O’Dell. “It happened so fast that no one could see it. It was all over in two minutes.”

Laymon was killed a few seconds later by an unidentified assailant, O’Dell said.

Other victims were identified as Gary Miller and Steve Valentine, both of Newport.

Last March Cochran was charged in Dublin with possession of dangerous drugs, but a mistrial was declared in his trial, according to the Laurens County Sherff Department.

Reported in serious condition at Knoxville Baptist Hospital on Thursday night was James Stinnett, also of Newport. Danny Davis was listed in fair condition.

O’Dell, who spent the day questioning about 30 witnesses to the shootout, said “at least two” suspects will be charged in general sessions court today with murder or attempted murder, but he said that the killings are still a mystery.

It’s hard to get to the bottom of this,” he said. “You talk to somebody, and that leads you right back to someone who’s dead. Most of ’em cleaned each other out anyway.”

He said that he and his men were examining “about eight to 10 “cartridges found scattered around the night club to determine which gun killed whom.

Asked if Laymon had known the victims, O’Dell said:

“Well, they’re kind of in the same clan, and it seems there was a disagreement over something.”

A spokesman at Brushy Mountain State Prison at Petros said that Laymon had been an inmate there, serving 99 years for first degree murder. He said that Laymon escaped sometime in August.

NEW 5-YEAR TAGS GO ON SALE

Five years ago Georgians attached the first license plates to their automobiles, doing away with the old manner of buying tags every year.

Well, time flies, and the five years are up.

Friday, tax offices around the state will begin issuing the first new license tags since 1971.

The new tags take the place of the blue and white tags that have been used for the past five years.

If you still have the car that you bought a tag for five years ago, you have the same tag; or if you have what is called a “prestige” tag, you have to replace it this coming year.

So, when you buy a tag, you get a tag, not a decal to stick on your old tag.

The tags go on sale on Friday, January 2nd, in the Tax Commissioner’s Office.

Laurens County Tax Commissioner R.G.Neal said this morning that to purchase a new tag you must bring with you the name of the insurance company that insures your car (that insurance is required by state law before a tag can be purchased), the tag receipt for your old tag, or at least the  number of your old tag – not the decal, also you must bring money.

To get a new tag for 1976, you must pay the ad valorem taxes – city, county, and state in order to get a a tag.

A new tag will also appear next year when the 1976 Bicentennial tags are sold. This red, white, and blue tag will stay with the owner, as all prestige tags do, for 5 years.

If you forgot to order your prestige tag, it’s too late now, but you can order a bicentennial tag through December 31st by applying to the Tag  Commissioner’s office, fill in our form, and mailing it along with $10 to the State Revenue Department, Motor Vehicle Tag Unit, Atlanta.

CITY’S $145,000 GRANT COMES THROUGH

     By Doug Hall

More than a year after the City of Dublin took the first step toward a Community Development Block Grant, final approval of $145,000 to improve drainage in the Glenwood Park area has been approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The money will be used to install primary storm drainage facilities in parts of the 35-block area south of East Madison Street and east of South Jefferson Street, according to City Manager Ron McLemore.

Work is tentatively scheduled to begin in early spring.

For the next 120 days engineering design work on the project will be underway.

“We don’t know how much we can do. We are receiving proposals now. One of the responsibilities of the engineers will be to decide how much can be done,” McLemore said.

City equipment and labor will be used to complete the project.

The Community Development grant has been McLemore’s baby since he joined he city as an administrative assistant to former City Manager Jack Crane two years ago.

Last winter he initiated a series of neighborhood meetings to determine citizen opinion of improvements needed in the city. Drainage was prominently mentioned at each of a dozen meetings as the first priority.

But when the city applied fora money to make drainage improvements, HUD turned down the request.

The city then applied to use the money to rehabilitate housing, but state Attorney General Arthur K. Bolton ruled that usage of federal funds invalid.

Acting on “inside” information, according to McLemore, the city then quickly reapplied for  the original drainage grant which was approved this week.

The city manager said that an HUD official told him that the drainage grant would be “automatically” funded if the city reapplied, which they did.

The city has also received $26,000 in Community Development money to renovate Oconee High Gym as a recreational facility.

Recently, several public hearings were held to determine priorities for another grant request, but the meetings were poorly attended.

COMMISSIONERS TO PAY INTEREST

The Laurens County Commissioners this morning voted to pay $18,502.50 in interest due banks for money borrowed by the Dublin-Laurens Development Authority and to hold the remainder of the $49,951.09 interest asked by the Authority until their January 6 meeting

The Commissioners had received a letter from the Authority asking for a loan of $49,951.00 to pay interest that is due December 31st. The letter stated that the Authority had no funds to pay the interest as they had spent all their funds “for  the purpose of locating a major industry in Laurens County.”

The Authority, according to its letter, owes the three Dublin banks a total of $17,507.50 on money they have borrowed to buy land for industrial development, and the Bank of Dudley a total of$1,085.00. The remainder of the interest, to total the more than $49,000 due December 31st, is owed to various individuals or estates on property purchased.

The Commissioners expressed concern as to the expenditures of the Authority, citing the $33,515 paid the Authority already this year. The Authority supposedly pays off its obligations through the sale of land to industry that locates here

In other action this morning, attended by First District Commissioner Chairman Tal Fuqua and Second District Commissioner Herbert Fordham, a bid from Charles A. Fountain of Shaddock Creek Farms of $1,800 for a used portable welder was tabled so that the machine can be inspected. 

The Commissioners have received only one bid for the welder.

WATCH NIGHT SERVICES

Shady Grove Baptist Church

Watch Night services will be held on Wednesday night beginning at 9:30. The public is invited to attend.

Rev. James Elliston is pastor

Ranger Grove Church of God in Christ

There will be Watch Night Service at the Ranger Grove Church of God in Christ on Wednesday night at 9:00 p.m. The pastor is asking all members to be present. 

You are invited to come out and be with us.

Pastor Elder Ira Edwards

New Evergreen Baptist Church will render Watch Night services beginning at 7:30 p.m., New year’s Eve, until 12:00. Everyone is invited.

Pastor, Rev. J.K.Smith

Brown Grove A.B. Church

Watch Night services will be held on Wednesday evening beginning at 9:30. The public is invited to attend.

William Chapel Baptist Church

Watch Night Services at William Chapel Baptist Church will begin at 11:00 p.m.

Also, the Senior Ushers are having a New Years supper on Friday night, January 2. Members and friends are cordially invited

Ruby Dudley is President. 

J.K. Smith is pastor.

NSDAR DONATES TO RENOVATION

At the meeting of the Laurens County Historical Society on November 25, Mrs. E.B. Claxton, Jr., Regent of John Laurens Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, presented a check for $500.00 to Mr. Brinson Hughes, President of the Historical Society to be used in the renovation of the old Library building.

The Historical Society plans to restore it as a museum which will be completed during the Bicentennial year, and the John Laurens Chapter pledges to further participate in raising funds for this purpose.

Some seventy-one years ago, through the efforts of Dr. J.H. Duggan, Superintendent J.C. Wardlaw of the Dublin Public Schools, and Mr. Hal M. Stanley, funds in the amount of $10,000 were secured from Andrew Carnegie for the erection of a library building. The only stipulation required from the Carnegie Trust was that the city own the building site and annually appropriate the sum of$1000 or more for its maintenance.

Mr. E.R. Orr, who was then Mayor of Dublin, presented the matter to the City Council. Mr. W.F. Schaufele introduced the ordinance to set aside the triangle bounded by Church Street and Academy and Bellevue avenues as the lot upon which the library could be built and agreeing to the appropriation of $1000 for its support. The ordinance was unanimously passed.

In 1904 the firm of Morgan and Dillon of Atlanta was selected as architects, and Mr. John Kelly of Dublin was given the contract for $10,000. That he did not lose money on this contract was remarkable as considerable water was encountered in making the excavation for the west wall and it required barrel after barrel of cement to close this spring.

The architect, Mr. John Dillon, supervised the construction and praised Mr. Kelly’s work in informing the Board that Dublin was securing a building worth considerably more than the contract price.

At the time that the library was built, the population of Dublin was about 2,000, and there were approximately four hundred books on the shelves.

Mrs. J.C. Manning was the first librarian, but she resigned before the library for formally installed. Miss Lily Hightower was then elected to this position and served faithfully for seventeen years.

The first Board of Directors were F G. Corker, James S. Simons, Jr., A.B. Arnau, H.M. Moore, J.E. Smith, Jr., Hal M. Stanley, Harry G.  Stevens, A.T. Summerlin, and George H. Williams.

The Carnegie Library not only met a great need for cultural advancement in the 

city but was also used for meetings of civic organizations and women’s clubs. Through the years it expanded tremendously – acquiring bookmobiles, initiating story book hour, hosting art shows, and other services.

In 1962-63, the circulation reached 234,121 with 50 volumes, and the building had become too small to serve the public adequately.

When the  new Laurens County Library was completed in 1964 on Bellevue Avenue, the Carnegie Library on the triangle was closed.

It is a treasured landmark of the early history of Dublin and recalls fond memories for many residents.

WEST LAURENS BETA CLUB

Beta Club members elected this year at West Laurens High School are the following:

Michael Coleman

Tim Smith

Greg Lowery

Len McCook

Bryan Miller

Al Daniel

Bruce Weatherly

Jeana Floyd

Robin Jones

Johanna Hickerson

Cathy Snyder

Judy Clements

Gloria Williams

MISSIONARY APPOINTEES

A Commissioning Service for Coy and Theresa Jones, Missionary Appointees to Indonesia, will be held on Sunday, December 28, at the 11:00 A. M. Service at the First Baptist Church of Dublin.

Mr. and Mrs. Coy Jones were among 16 missionaries appointed during the November meeting of the  Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board.

They expect to go to Indonesia where he will be an agricultural evangelist.

He was born and grew up near Chatsworth and was graduated from Clayton Junior College and the University of Georgia.

After three years in the United States Army, he worked in Atlanta and then came to Dublin as Laurens County Agent for the Cooperative Extension Service of the University of Georgia.

Mrs. Jones, the former Teresa Stephens, is a native of Atlanta. She was graduated from Clayton Junior College, and since then has worked as a nurse in Athens and Dublin.

The family includes three children, Stephen, Robyn, and Wendi, and they have been living in New Orleans, where Mr. and Mrs. Jones attended the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

POSTAL RATES TO CLIMB

Washington (UP)

Make sure you get those tardy Christmas cards, thank you notes, and holiday packages to the post office before closing time on December 31 or you’ll be among the first to suffer New Year’s greetings from the Postal Service – higher postage rates.

The higher rates apply to all mail,including a three-cent increase for first-class letters to 13 cents an ounce.

The increase averages 26 per cent for all mail, but first class jumps the highest – 30  per cent.

The last increase, from 8 to 10  cents for first-class mail, came in March 1974.