50 years ago – February 17, 1976: Dublin is something – but what?

Dublin Courier Herald

What is a good slogan for  Dublin?

Macon calls itself the Flag City.

Atlanta is the Dogwood City.

Warner Robins is the International City. 

Soperton is the Million Pines City.

On and On – Dublin is something…but what is it?

The Courier Herald is seeking an appropriate, short (say five words), and catchy slogan for the city.

A committee will be named to select the best, most appropriate, catchiest nickname.

To the one who submits the slogan selected, the Courier Herald will give the $50. The slogan then becomes the property of the city and county.

To tell all who visit here, the slogan will be painted on the side of the building on South Jefferson Street which has been repainted (formerly Western Auto).

To give you time to think up a good slogan and submit it, the contest will be open until 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 29.

BUSBEE IS ST. PAT’S SPEAKER

Governor George Busbee will be the speaker at the annual St. Patrick’s Festival Luncheon on March  10 at the Dublin Country Club, according to Frances Lewis, Festival Dignitaries chairman.

Busbee is expected to address the 1:00 p.m.  luncheon which draws a large crowd each year. Last year’s speaker was U.S. Representative Bo Gin

The luncheon will mark Busbee’s second trip to Dublin as Governor, the first to the St. Patrick’s Festival since taking office.

Last February, the Governor was one of the principal speaker’s at the statewide Sam Nunn’s Appreciation Day here.

Final plans for Busbee’s trip  to Dublin to the Festial have not been announced, and it is not known if he will make any other appearances here.

RETAIL SALES NEAR $170 MILLION HERE

Retail sales in the area  about Laurens County and Dublin last year totaled almost $170 million, according to information from the Division of Research of the School of Business of the University of Georgia.

Sales in all of the counties in the area set new records in 1975 with Laurens County leading the increase with approximately 9 percent increase in 1975 over 1974.

The total sales in Laurens County exceeded $12,290.000, up from the $114 million plus of 1974.

In December last year the sales here set a new monthly record as they topped $12,491.000. The previous high had been in excess of $11 million.

COMMISSIONERS IN BUDGET QUANDARY

The Laurens County Commissioners were literally scratching their heads this morning as they studied the preliminary report of the audit of the 1975 budget requests of the various departments of the county government.

Information, not yet confirmed, is that the county’s operations last year were in the red. Complete information will be available when the audit is presented to the January Term Grand Jury for their approval and release.

This morning the Commissioners continued a day-long session they held last week in an effort to come to some sort of budget for 1976.

The problems stem from the fact that every department is asking increases in their 1976 budgets over 1975. The Commissioners are looking at the deficit for last year and the imminent possibility that income for the county in 1976 will be even less than it was in 1975. 

One thing they seemed to have established thus far: there is little hope that income can be made to match the requests for budgetary increases that have been made by the various departments in the county.

The budget, once completed, by the Commissioners, is to be presented to the Grand Jury. Any disagreements between the Commissioners and any of the departments are supposed be settled by the Grand Jury.

At the present time the January term Grand Jury has been recessed subject to being recalled.

TAG SALES EXCEED 6,500

What is the most popular tag that as been bought thus far this year n Laurens County?

If you guessed “pickup truck,” you would be right, according to information from the office of Tax Commissioner R.G. Neal. The report his office gives goes back to February 11th and gives the number of tags sold through that date.

The $10.00 and $15.00 automobile tags are the next most popular as motorists have bought the new red tags that will have to last for five years replacing the blue ones that have been on cars for the past five years.

The medium weight autos that have the $10.00 tags have 1,219 new tags on them while the $15.00 variety has 1,145 new tags.

Only one $3.00 tag has been sold-that’s for older models, 897 for cars carrying $5.00 tags, and 805 for cars with $7.50 tags. 

In addition to the pickup truck tags, there have been 65 tags sold for trucks with $10.00 tags, 99 for trucks with $15.00 tags, 17 for trucks with $30.00 tags, and 4 for trucks with $30 tags, and 4 for trucks with $30.00 Forest Products tags.

There have been 394 trailer tags of the $5.00 variety sold and 88 for the $ 10.00 trailers.

Seventy-one motorcycle tags have been sold, and 285 permits given.

The total number of tags sold in Laurens County thus far, February 17th, is 6,503.

HMM, WHAT SHOULD WE CALL HIM?

In a little over 14 months, Dublin has seen two city managers and two acting city managers.

Council is currently interviewing candidates to become the third city manager. Two candidates have been interviewed, and a third will be in town soon.

Now a new twist has been put on on the job title:

A letter to the city from Georgia Power Company was addressed:

Mr. Jim Quinn

Temporary City Manager

Quinn is also a candidate for the full-time position.

STORE MUST PAY FINE, ETC.

Dublin City Council on Monday night issued a beer and wine license to a food store which has been charged with selling beer to minors, but the license had several strings attached.

Council asked the North Jefferson Street Zippy Mart to pay the fine for violating the city beer and wine ordinance, forfeit its 1976 license fee, and remove amusement machines from the store in order to get a new license to sell packaged beer and wine.

Store operators were also warned that the next violation will result in the revocation of the license.

Later in the meeting, Council passed an ordinance forbidding amusement machines in stores with packaged beer and wine licenses. The two Zippy Mart locations in Dublin have the game machines in their buildings.

The motion to issue the license to the food store had the blessing of Police Chief Vernon DeLoach and the Council Licensing Committee.

Dr. Joel Radney was the only councilman voting against the license.

In other business, Council set a public hearing on March 1 on the Brookhaven assessment project.

The hearing set for Monday night was delayed because several driveway entrances would be added at the request of T.A. Curry.

A proposal by the acting city manager to  buy 58 trash containers at $13,900 was postponed until the Council could examine the containers.

Acting City Manager Jim Quinn announced that John Purdee has been selected as City Employee of the Month.   

DUBLIN TEAMS DOWN BIBB TECH

Dublin’s Irishettes repeated an earlier triumph over Bibb Tech at Macon last night, 43-38, before the Irish got revenge on the Wolverines for a one-point loss at Dublin recently with a one-point victory of their own, 63-62. The Dublin squads, plus the”B” boys team, go to Ft.Valley now for three games against Peach County.

The 1975-76 season comes to a close a week from tonight for the Dublin teams when they meet the Perry Panthers at the Dublin Gym.                                                                                                                                           

Behind 19-18 at halftime, the Irishettes of Miss Joyce Brown spurted for 17 points while holding Bibb Tech to four to carry a 35-23 lead into the final period. They held their opponents at bay to win by five.

Sheila Cauley made 11 points for the Irishettes who showed a highly balanced attack. Gwen Harmon came through with nine points, Cindi Aaron and Angela Smith with eight each, and Brenda Davis with seven.

In the previous game, played at Dublin, the Irishettes had claimed a 52-51 victory. 

The Dublin record is now 6-13.

The Irish had lost to the Wolverines, 70-69, at Dublin, and as the fourth quarter started with Bibb Tech in fromt, 48-43, it seemed that Dublin would be beaten again.

However, Coach Taylor Lovell’s Irish fought back, tied the gam, then swapped the lead with the  Wolverines several times until with 18 seconds to play and behind by one point 62-61, the Irish started an offense.

With eight seconds remaining, Steve Edwards took the most difficult shot on the floor – a baseline jumper from the corner – and sank it, to give the Irish a 63-62 lead.

Bibb Tech rushed back down the court and put the ball up three times before the Irish claimed the rebound as time ran out

Lorenzo Kates had his biggest night for the Irish, making nine of nine field goal attempts and two of four free throw attempts for 20 points.

Clint Lowther bombed the nets for 18 points and Edwards 16.

Oddly, Dublin committed only two fouls in the entire contest, one each by Kates and Edwards.

Ed White and Greg Rooks did another god job on the boards.

Girls Line Up 

B. Davis 7

Harmon 9

Aaron 8

Smith 8

T. Davis

Weaver

Cauley 11

Massey

Allen

Boys Line Up  

Lowther 18

Kates 20

White 4

Edmond

Edwards 16

Rooks 1

Uliano

Beall

Anderson 4

Allen

Roberts

TRINITY WINNERS OVER TABERNACLE

Trinity Christian’s Crusaderettes and Crusaders were victorious over Tabernacle Christian in Atlanta, the girls winning by a 38-14 margin and the boys taking an overtime thriller, 45-44.

Girls playing:

Rhonda Wood 12 points

Lydia Wilkes 8 points

Tammy Howell 6 points

Deanna Butler 6 points

Edie Tindol 4 points

Amelia Wilkes 2 points

Mychelle Powell

Boys playing:

Al Parker 23 points

Johnny Chappell 8 points

Burt Evans 6 points

Mike Tanner 5 points

Brent Evans 2 points

Joel Yancey 1 point

LITTLE MR. and MISS DUBLIN

Plans for the 1976 Little Mr. and Miss Dublin Pageant have been finalized.

The event, held annually during the Saint Patrick’s Festival, is slated for Monday, March 15, at 6:00 p.m. at the Dublin VA Center Auditorium.

The American Bicentennial will be featured at this year’s event which will be called the Little George and Martha Washington Contest

Boy and girl contestants are required to dress in a costume depicting the Revolutionary Period.

A trophy will be awarded to the winners, according to Mrs. Roy Sabine, Jr., Project Chairman.

The first 25 boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 8 and are residents of Laurens County registering by phone will be accepted as contestants.  

Girl contestants should phone Mrs. Roy Sabine, Jr. at 676-3437.

Boy contestants should call Mrs. Stanley Register at 272-8336.

Registration fee is $5.00 and will be paid at the formal registration.

The Dublin-Laurens Jaycees and Jaycettes are the sponsors for this annual event.

For more detailed information, call 676-329. 

ENTRANTS FOR MISS COLLEEN PAGEANT

Girls, ages 9 through 12, are being sought for the Miss Colleen Pageant to be held on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, at the Dublin Mall.

The first 25 girls in this age group who have an 80 or above scholastic average will be selected by a panel of judges as contestants in the Mall-sponsored contest, according to Kim Walke.

An entry fee of $10 is charged, and the contest is open to girls from the Middle Georgia area.

The winner will receive a $50 savings bond and a trophy. 

The first runner-up will get a $25 bond and a trophy.

To enter, contact Phil Grubb at Belk in the Mall.

For further information, contact Mrs. Walke at 272-8289 or 272-2131.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Mrs. Faye Rozier Chappell will be guest speaker for the morning worship service at the Washington Street Presbyterian Church on Sunday, February 29th, at 11:00 a.m.

Mrs. Chappell is the daughter of Mrs. Marie Rozier, a public school teacher of Laurens County.

Faye attended the Laurens County public schools and Brewton Parker College. During her enrollment at Brewton Parker, she was fortunate to be able to visit the Holy Land.

She is married to Mr. Preston Chappell, a corporal in the U.S. Army, and they reside in Hawaii where he is stationed.

The service is to be conducted by youth of the church as their Youth Sunday Observance.

The public is cordially invited to visit the Church and worship with them.

Buckie T. Robinson and Maggie Reese were united in holy matrimony on January 31, 1976.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hardwick Reese and is a former student of Dublin High School.

The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Robinson. He is a graduate of West Laurens High School.

A reception was held at the home of Mrs. Irma Wright of Route 3, Dublin.

ERIN GARDEN CLUB MEETS

The February meeting of the Erin Garden Club was held at the Laurens County Library with Mrs. Al Lamb, Mrs. Allen Rhodes, and Mrs. Nelson Carswell, Jr. as hostesses.

Mrs. James Garner, President, conducted the business session assisted by Mrs. Julian Reynolds. Mrs. Bob Thigpen was elected Recording Secretary.

Mrs. Earl Vaughn, Mrs. Mike McCarn, and Mrs. Freeman Young were elected as new members.

The Spring Tasters Luncheon will be on Tuesday, May 5.

The Dublin Federated Garden Club Flower Show will be April 28 at the Dublin Mall.

These annual awards were presented:

Mrs. Pete Wicker – most points in horticulture

Mrs. James Garner and Mrs. Doyle Dominy – most points in arrangements

Mr. Butch Wright was the speaker for the meeting and talked on “”Maintaining Your Landscape.”

STATE BETA CLUB CONVENTION

Members of the Dublin High School Beta Club attended the 39th Annual Georgia State Beta Club Convention on February 13-14 at the Marriott  Hotel in Atlanta.

Attending were Craig Williamson, Jo Ellen Lowery, Jan Kibler, Jimmy Williams, and Lisa Kisalus.

Chaperones wwere Mrs. Mildred Lord, club sponsor;Mr. Minton Lorad, and Dra. and Mrs.Robearat Hess.

The theme for the convention this year was “Let Freedom Ring.” Some of the main features on the talent program depicted this theme.

A Saturday night ball brought the convention activities to a good end.