50 years ago: July 30, 1974

Dublin Courier Herald

ROBBERY SUSPECTS NABBED
Three Dublin area men who allegedly beat and robbed a Washington County woman at gunpoint yesterday afternoon have been arrested by some quick acting Laurens County Sheriff deputies, the Sheriff Department reported this morning.
The arrests came following an early afternoon armed robbery of Wiggins Service Station in rural Oconee, a small town on Georgia 272 about 23 miles from Dublin in Washington County.
Mrs. Douglas Wiggins, proprietor of the store, was beaten with soft drink bottles during the robbery, a deputy in the Laurens County Sheriff Department said this morning.
Reports from Memorial Hospital of Washington County say that Mrs. Wiggins is in poor condition. Washington County Sheriff J. Euree Curry told the Courier Herald that the woman suffered serious back injuries.
According to Deputy Phllip Pritchett in Dublin, the arrest came shortly after a lookout was posted by Washington County authorities for a green Mustang believed involved in the armed robbery.
The Mustang was first seen when Deputies Philip Coney and Mack Gregory, patrolling on the Buckeye Road, met the car traveling towards Dublin, minutes before the lookout was received.
About 5:30 p.m., three hours following the robbery, the first suspect, Roosevelt Mitchell, Jr, of Dublin, was taken into custody at his home, Pritchett said.
Deputies Yates Ware and Jimmy Taylor joined Coney and Gregory in arresting the trio.
Edward Tatnall of East Dubin was arrested in a club on East Gaines Street, and Willie James Flowers of Dublin was picked up at his home on Florida Street, Deputy Coney said.
The three, Mitchell, Flowers,and Tatnall, have been charged with armed robbery and assault, Pritchett said.
Approximately $500 in cash and a .32 caliber pistol stolen from the store have been recovered, the deputy added.
The three suspects have been turned over to Washington County authorities.

PENNIES NEEDED
Several local businesses are sponsoring promotions to get unused pennies back into circulation.
At the Farmers and Merchants Bank, Downtown and Bellevue offices, with every $2.00 in pennies exchanged for other currency, customers get a .32 ounce soft drink. And, with $24.00 exchanged, the Bank gives a 12 bottle case of the drinks.
Super X Drugs at Dublin Mall is also sponsoring a penny drive.
Morris State Bank displays a sign at its Mall branch saying “Deposit Your Pennies.”
By the way, Allen Thomas of F&M, says hoarding pennies for their copper content is unprofitable and melting the coins down is a federal offense punishable by a prison sentence and a fine. Also, with the current rate of inflation, the real value of the coins decreases the longer they are kept.

SALES SHOW AREA INCREASES
Retail sales in the area for May continue for the most part their upward trend, with Laurens County sales approaching the $10 million mark a month, and Johnson County’s retail sale nearing the $2 million monthly level, according to a report from the Division of Research, College of Business Administration of the University of Georgia.
Sales in Laurens County reached a second all time high and a first for a non-Christmas season when sales zoomed past $9,613,000 in May. The all-time high was set last December when sales passed $11 million. Save for a slight decline in April, Laurens County sales have increased every month this year.
While sales in Johnson County did not set a record, the continued increase is pushing monthly sales to the $2 million mark. In May, the sales topped $1,702,000, the third highest in the county’s history. The highest for Johnson County was the $1.8 million sales in May 1973.
Treutlen County’s sales have been up, then down, for this year, and in May the sales went below the level in April. The total sales were more than $925,000, but below the more than a million dollars in April.
Wheeler County sales went up again in May, topping half a million for the third time this year. The sales exceeded $548,000 in May.
Montgomery County sales topped $702,000, up from the $643,000 level in April.
For the state as a whole, the sales continued the upward trend, totaling more than $1,673,723,000 in May. In April, the previous high for 1974, the sales exceeded $1.57 million.

VARSITY PRACTICE MONDAY
Football returns to Dublin High next Monday, August 5, for, according to Head Coach Tom Simonton, that is the day Fall Practice starts for the Varsity candidates.
“All Varsity players are to report to the Varsity locker room in plenty of time to be ready for practice at 5:30 p.m.,” Coach Simonton announced.
The Dublin mentor said that all Varsity players should bring white shorts, but that jerseys will be issued. Players should bring a lock for use on their locker and have tennis shoes.
Football insurance will cost $12.00 per player.
Practice for members of the “B” team, 9-10 grades, and the 7-8 grade squad will begin at 5:30 p.m., August 26th, Coach Simonton reported.
“The coaching staff has been very pleased with the large number of players who have been working out at the school during the past weeks,” Coach Simonton stated.
“We feel that this good attitude will have a definite carry over effect on our team,” the Dublin coach remarked. “I think we are beginning to get the players who can and will lead us. The players we have are willing to work, and we plan to work harder than any team recently,”Coach Simonton added.

SOUTHERLAND -GARRETTS REUNION
Sunday, July 28th, was the day that the descendants of Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Southerland, Dublin, Georgia, and Mr. and Mrs. M.E. Garrett of Laurens County, Georgia, gathered at Jay Bird Springs for their annual reunion.
Rufus Holiday, grandson of Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Southerland, was in charge of the Reunion.
Those attending were Mr. and Mrs. L.J. Garrett, Dublin; Mr and Mrs. Floyd Southerland, Macon; Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Sammons, Savannah; Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Sammons and family, Columbia, South Carolina; Mr. and Mrs. Ray Garrett and family, Jacksonville, Florida; Mr. and Mrs. Walker Robbins, Savannah; Mr. and Mrs. Edward Watson, Bryan and James, Dublin; Mrs. Maxine Garrett and children, Dublin; Edward Garrett, Atlanta; Mr.and
Mrs. Walter Powell, Glenwood; Mr. and Mrs. Howard Swinson, Wanda, Dana,and Larry Swinson, Glenwood; Mrs. Mavis Foster and family, Eastman; Mrs. Nadine Whitaker, Vidalia; Mr. J.B. Southerland III, Dublin; Mr. A.L. Holiday, Eastman;
Mr. and Mrs. Donald Alligood and family ,Dudley; Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Holliday, Eastman; Charles Swinson, Glenwood, Terry Tindol, Dublin; Randall Powell, Glenwood; Sandra Whitwood, Wisconsin; and Lucile Moore, Glenwood.

FALCONS’ HEAD COACH RESIGNS
Cardon Dalley, one of the best head coaches in East Laurens football history, has resigned the Falcon head coaching position to become head coach at Albany High School. The announcement was made today by Laurens County School Superintendent Billy Johnson.
Negotiations are underway at this time to secure an experienced head coach to replace Dalley, according to Superintendent Johnson. He also stated that an appointment could be expected soon.
Dalley’s resignation leaves only Miss Elizabeth Womble as the sole returning head coach from last year at East Laurens.
Woodrow Billups, last year’s head boys basketball coach, will be replaced by Paul Miller, according to reports, and Jack Sills, who assisted Kendall Brantley with baseball last year, will become head baseball coach, as Brantley has resigned to go into private business.
Tyrone Reynolds, who has coached at Dodge County High, is supposed to come to East Laurens in some coaching capacity, but successors are needed now for Coach Dalley and for Coach Billups.
Dalley said this morning that “leaving East Laurens is one of the hardest things we have faced for the people here have been good to us, and we feel we have a good program started, but the challenge of coaching Albany High School is too big to turn down.”

ELECTIONS SEMINAR
An election seminar to explain the changes that have been made in the Georgia election laws will be held here tonight, July 30th, in the Superior Court Room, according to an announcement made today be Ordinary Ray Camp.
Georgia laws require the holding of the seminar for election holders and others who are interested, and Ordinary Camp has invited all of the election holders and others who are interested to attend the meeting.
He said that the meeting would last approximately one hour.

STUCKEY -SMITH ENGAGEMENT
Mrs. Lottie M. Stuckey of Route 7, Dublin, announces the engagement and forthcoming marriage of her daughter, Joyce, to Henry Lee Smith. The bride-elect is a graduate of the Millville High School and a 1974 graduate of Fort Valley State College with a B.S Degree in Home Economics. She is employed with the Screven County Department of Education, Sylvania, Georgia. Presently, she is a summer employee at Dublin Garment Company.
Henry is the son of Mrs. Gennie Mae Smith and Nelson Smith, Sr. of Dublin. He is a graduate of the Millville High School and is now serving in the United States Air Force in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
The wedding will be on August 17, 1974, at 5:00 p.m. at the Millville Baptist Church. A reception will follow at the home of the bride’s sister, Mrs. Ernestine Strange.
No invitations will be sent, but all relatives, friends, and neighbors are invited to attend.

PIN TALK
The Handicap Mixed Doubles Bowling Tournament ended at Laurens Lanes on Sunday, July 28. For this time of year, it was considered to be very successful, and the local bowlers are to be congratulated for their fine support.
The management of Laurens Lanes appreciated the interest and participation, and announces that the tournament will be run again next summer.
There were 140 doubles entries in the tournament, and based on a ratio of one prize for each ten entries, 14 places made up the prize list.
Following is the prize list:
Autry Renfroe
Trelaine Renfroe 1323
Mke Daily
Athilen Daily 1287
Emory Lake
Linda Lake 1282
Addison Hogan
Resa Williams 1272
Allen Rountree
Resa Williams 1252
Gene Mayo
Venita Mayo 1250
Wendell Bush
Kay Bush 1249
Skip Williams
Resa Williams 1244
Fred Wood
Lucy Hogan 1242
Carl King
Fran King 1225
Jai Sapp
Vernell Helms 1221
Addison Hogan
Lucy Hogan 1217
Wayne Hill
Resa Williams 1216
J.E. Altman
Idell Altman 1214

REV. HARVELL WILL RETIRE
Rev. J.E. Harvell came to Dublin in 1947 and began preaching in a tent. He started the First Assembly of God Church, North Franklin Street, with only five members.
Under his leadership, the church was built and organized in October 1947. The church grew and prospered, and this dedicated servant of God pastored for eleven years.
He then pastored in Tifton and Thomaston, returning to Dublin in June 1970.
He has pastored the First Assembly of God Church for the past four years. He has now resigned from pastoral work and will preach his farewell sermon as pastor of the First Assembly of God Church on Sunday, August 4, at 11:00 a.m.
He is not retiring from the ministry; he will preach revivals and weekend meetings.
During the past four years the First Assembly of God Church has been completely remodeled.
Rev. Harvell would like to thank each one in the Dublin area who has ever contributed to the building of the church.
Rev. and Mrs. Harvell will continue to live in East Dublin.

LOCAL GOLFER FALLS
Dublin’s Ed Griffith, Jr. didn’t fare too well in yesterday’s final round of the Georgia Junior PGA golf championship played over the Dunwoody Country Club in Atlanta, shooting 82 in the 65-player meet.
Griffith, who had an even par on the first day, found the greens fast and skied to a 40-42-82, to end the tourney at 154.
Only seven of the competing golfers in the 17-18 division improved on their scores the second day of competition.

SOUL CITY TEAMS
The Soul City Community Center,Inc., through their Feed-A -Kid Program, will sponsor softball for the children who are participants in the program.
The teams are the following:

1. Tattnall Street
2. Pritchett Street
3. Scottsville
4. East Dublin
5. Mt. Vernon
   The first two games are to be played today starting at 2:30 p.m. with Pritchett Street Park vs. Tattnall Street Park at Pritchett Street Park, and East Dublin vs. Scottsville will play at Tattnall Street Park.
   The teams will play two games per week with each team playing the other only once.
   The playoff and championship games will be August 19, 1974, respectively.
   All games will be played at Tattnall Street Park and Pritchett Street Park.
   The Athletic Program is being directed by Mr. Richard Harris and Mr. Rogers L. Allen.

ELLINGTON REUNION
Descendants of the late Mr and Mrs. Joel Franklin Ellington gathered at the Bethsaida Community Clubhouse on Sunday, July 28th, for the annual family reunion. Mrs. Ellington was Leanda (Dollie) Duncan, and the couple were pioneer citizens of Laurens and Wilkinson counties. A permanent arrangement of flowers had just been put on the graves of Mr. and Mrs. Ellington in Northview Cemetery.
Mrs. A.W. Dominy, Sr., the former Ida Lee Ellington, is the only living one of the twelve children of Mr. and Mrs. Elington, and she was honored at the reunion as Honor Guest.
At noon, a sumptuous dinner was served in the clubhouse. Reverend Heffin, Pastor of Bethsaida Baptist Church, said the blessing. The beautiful flowers on the table were later sent to the hospital to Mr. Joe Kennedy, a member of the family.
A memorial service honored members of the family who had died since last July. They are Gwen Walters, Zenas Fordham, Earl Lake, M.H. Sikes, and Jean Curry.
Mrs. B.H. Claxton (Lynelle Dominy),President of the family group, held a business session assisted by Mrs. Frances Sizemore, Secretary. Plans were made for the reunion in July 1975 in the Bethsaida Clubhouse.
More than a hundred members attended the reunion. Traveling the longest distance were members from Pensacola, Florida, and Callahan, Florida. Others came from Rome, Hazlehurst, Cornelia, Warner Robins, Macon, Milledgeville, Dexter, Dudley, Dublin, and from surrounding counties in the state.

CENTRAL DRIVE REVIVAL
Revival services will begin at the Central Drive Baptist Church in East Dublin on Sunday morning, July 28th, and continue through August 2nd. All evening services will begin a at 8:00 p.m.
Rev. Jimmy Napier of Augusta, Georgia, will be the guest evangelist. He has been Associate Pastor in charge of the Youth Ministry at Silvercrest Baptist Church in Augusta, where his father, the Rev. Marvin Napier, is Pastor.
Jimmy preached in many Youth Revivals as a team with other young ministers in his college years. He and his wife have worked with youth, not only in the Silvercrest Baptist Church, but in other areas of a youth’s life in Augusta.
Mrs. Napier, who majored in this area also, will be at Central Drive also. She has written several hymns and will bring a special message in song during each of the revival services.
Mr. David Beasley and Mr. Lynn Cutler will direct the congregational singing. Mrs. Kathy Beasley will direct the two youth choirs. The singing will be accompanied by Mrs. Doris Powell at the piano and Miss Janice Locke at the organ.
The nursery will be open to care for the young ones in each service.

BICYCLE RODEO
A bicycle rodeo sponsored by the Laurens County 4-H Clubs will be held at the back parking lot of Dublin Mall on Saturday, August 3, beginning at 1 p.m. Eight to ten year-olds are eligible. There will be inspection, safety class, and four riding events.
Applications should be made mailed to the County Extension Office, P.O. Box 2070, Court Square Station, Dublin.

C.B. RADIO CLUB REPORT
Members of the Dublin-Laurens County C.B. Radio Club are ending one of the best months ever.
The Club participated in the Cordele and Washington County Jamborees and enjoyed a cook-out at Lake Tonya. Members brought home several prizes from the Jamborees and added to their collection of trophies. These were the Washington County Trophy for the Tug of War Competition and the Cordele trophy for the Best Dressed Club.
In case you haven’t seen the new outfits of the Club, they consist of Shamrock Green trousers and vest with a shirt.
August is promising many activities. First of all will be the Millen Jamboree to be held at Magnolia Springs State Park, Millen, Georgia. The club will be attending this Jamboree on Sunday, August 4th.
On August 11, the Club will be having the monthly meeting at Dublin City Hall. All members, and most of all any interested C.B’erers, are given a cordial invitation.

SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT IN EAST DUBLIN
By Tony Johnson
The East Dublin Recreation Department, for the first time, is sponsoring an invitational softball tournament tomorrow and Saturday at the East Dublin recreation fields.
According to Don Baker, recreation chairman, 12 teams have entered, representing East Dublin, Dublin, Adrian, Eastman, Cochran, Vidalia, and Rentz.
The doUble-elimination tournament starts at 6 p.m. with two games.
Trophies will be awarded the winning team.
The pairings for tomorrow night’s games are as follows:
6:00
J.P.Stevens Nathaniel Plant vs. Livingston Refrigerator
Adrian homes vs. Midway Motors
7:15
WXLI vs. Eastman Package Store
Vidalia Coca Cola vs. Spires Electric
8:30
Vidalia Smokies vs. J.P. Stevens Dublin Plant
9:45
Colonial Mobile Homes vs Cochran Oil Mill