50 years ago: Man to swim river to raise funds for heart machine

DUBLIN COURIER HERALD

CHARLIE’S SWIM SET FOR SATURDAY

Charlie’s gotta swim.

Dublin physical therapist Charles Bass was overheard bragging that he would swim from the Oconee River Bridge to Fishtrap Cut if someone could raise enough money to buy a heart machine to be used by Dublin hospitals.

Well, the Dublin-Laurens CB Radio Club took Bass up on his claim, raised the money, and now Charlie’s Gotta Swim.

Sometime this Saturday morning, Bass will slip into the Oconee River north of the bridge and begin the swim, approximately six miles. He should be passing under the river bridge at 10:30 a.m.

“I’ll swim into Fishtrap Cut, or be dragged there – about 2:30,” Bass said.

Several boats will travel along the course of the swim with Bass, but the therapist asked consideration from other boaters. Boats passing too close to the swimmer can cause currents that would make the swimming tough, Bass explained.

The CB Radio Club held road blocks, a dance, and door-to-door collection drives to raise the money to buy the training machine which will be used at Claxton and Laurens Memorial hospitals.

The machine is a mannequin which simulates heart signs by electronic devices. It will be helpful in training hospital personnel to recognize trouble heart signs.

CITY MANAGER WINS TWO ISSUES

By Doug Hall

Dublin City Council voted 4-3 on two issues supported by the city manager: retaining a budget appropriation in the administrative department for hiring a city finance director and purchasing an intoximeter for the police department. The city manager won both votes.

Voting with City Manager Ron McLemore were Louis Alexander, Roy Banks, John Reed Deamer, and Ed Martin.

The opposing faction on both votes was Aldermen Glen Harden, Albert Franks, and Joel Radney.

A motion by Radney to remove “whatever money is appropriated (for a finance director) and put it back into a Council contingency fund” brought this strong response from McLemore:

“I can’t be dictated by Council on how to do a job Council’s way and then I have have the responsibility.”

A memo from city manager announcing that a panel had been established to interview applicants for the finance director post prompted Radney’s motion. The panel is composed of C&S Bank President Jim Park, Morris State Bank President Barron Smith, McDonald’s owner Jack Pezold. and accountant  Bob Thigpen. Interviews are to be conducted on Thursday afternoon.  

The finance director will assume the duties carried out by former City Clerk Lena Opie.    

On the split vote over approving the purchase of a toximeter, AldermanFranks argued that the City Charter purchasing procedure was not followed. He produced xerox copies of an “invoice from Toximeters, Inc. of St. Louis which showed the device, costing $1026.45 was ordered on June 2, shipped July 2, and received by the police department on September 2.”

The Charter requires the city manager to have Council approval to purchases over $500. Council approved the purchase last night 4-3.

The invoice shows that the toximeter was “Sold to City Clerk, City of Dublin” and “Shipped to Police Department VIA: Ga. Bureau of Investigation.”

As expected, City Council adopted a resolution instructing City Attorney James V. Hilburn to seek a suit settlement in the challenge to Dublin election methods which would leave the city with four wards and three at-large aldermen, all elected by plurality. In at-large elections, voters would cast three votes with the top three candidates being elected. Hilburn and attorneys for two Dublin blacks who brought the suit now face the problem of redistricting the four wards in a manner acceptable to both sides of the suit.

The city bargaining position would also demand settlement of challenges to fourteen annexations and probably would ask that councilmen elected under last year’s protested election be allowed to serve a full term to prevent all seven councilmen and the mayor from running this November.

BEER LICENSE GRANTED

     By Doug Hall

The Laurens County Commissioners this morning unanimously granted a package beer license to Joseph Allen at Joe’s Grocery on U.S. 441 North, thus ending the threat of a federal suit to force their action.

Saying that the Commissioners had “no other choice,” Chairman H. Tal Fuqua asked for a motion to issue the license. The motion came from Commissioner Herbert Fordham, who issued this warning to the Allens:

“If we find that you are allowing them to drink on the premises or on those grounds, we have the authority to revoke the license.”

Fuqua said that the threatened suit “puts us in a position of maybe not what we’d like to do but what we’re going to be forced to do.”

The Commission action came after County Attorney Dale Thompson stated, “I don’t think we’d have a chance of winning it in federal court.”

Thompson said that state law makes the issuance of licenses discretionary, but federal law holds:

“Instead of a privilege, when a person meets all criteria, to deprive a license deprives them of their constitutional rights.”

“Apparently, now the application of Mr. Allen is in order and all the rules have been complied with,” Thompson noted.

Mr. Allen’s application had been twice tabled by the Commissioners, once when a large number of residents of the Marie Baptist Church area voiced opposition. Later, it was determined that the application was not in proper form.

Mr. Allen had promised to pursue the license request in federal court, if the Commissioners did not grant it.

Thompson told the Commissioners, “I don’t like it. I don’t think it’s right. I don’t think a federal court judge should try to rule Laurens County.”

He then suggested that rigid planning and zoning regulations might be the only way to keep beer out of areas where it is not wanted.

FIRST FEDERAL MARKS 40th YEAR

First Federal Savings of Dublin will celebrate its 40th anniversary on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday with open house at its newly renovated office. 

A ribbon cutting is planned for 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday.

The Association’s South Jefferson Street office, which was constructed in 1960, has been enlarged to include two new offices and has been completely remodeled and redecorated. A contemporary theme has been used in the building renovation and redecoration.

Founded in 1935 by the late Frank Watkins, First Federal became a division of Atlanta Federal Savings in November 1973.

Before moving to the South Jefferson-Gaines streets corner, First Federal was located in the Carroll Building on the Courthouse Square.

Plans for the new building were designed by Woodhurst and O’Brien, architects of Augusta, the original architects of the building.

James A. Dixon, Vice President and General Manager, has been associated with First Federal since 1955. Mrs. Florene B. cook, Assistant Vice President, has been with the Association for 25 years.

Other officers are John D. Simpson, Assistant Vice President; Eudelle B. Hutcheson, Secretary; and staff members, Martha Strickland, Mahuel Hays, Phyllis Walker, Judy Smith, Thomas Martin, and Jimmy Ellerbee.

The directors are Roderick T. Peacock, Jr., Chairman; Dixon, Richard Z. Graves, Edward T. Hall, R A. Hammond, and Walter A. Waldrep.

For the celebration, First Federal will give away a number of door prizes, with the Grand Prize being a color television set.

POSSUM HOLLOW – MORE THAN JUST FUN

     By Doug Hall

A large group of Laurens County businessmen and other civic-minded people met this morning for breakfast and to discuss the upcoming Possum Hollow Country Fair.

They discovered, if they hadn’t already known, that the enthusiasm for the Fair is becoming just as lively as the ole “Spirit of ’76,” which the fair salutes.

Possum Hollow, a wooded area between Dexter and Chester, should be brimming with folks eating ham and biscuits, and, of course, possum stew.

Local singing groups, notably the Middle Georgia College Ensemble and the Pine Forest Church Choir, will provide entertainment.

America’s heritage will be emphasized: its achievements and traditions, its ingenuity and resourcefulness of its people.

There’s nothing about Possum Hollow which resembles that mushy candy apple-messy cotton candy madness familiar to most country fairs of late.

Possum Hollow will be a genuine American country fair, the kind most folks have only read and dreamed about attending.

What better recommendation could be made?

HOSPITAL IS  RE-ACCREDITED

Laurens Memorial Hospital has been advised by the Joint Commission on Accreditation that it has been awarded a one-year accreditation based on a survey of the hospital conducted in May.

The letter, to Board Chairman Milo Smith Jr., read, in part:

“We believe that you, your hospital staff, and medical staff have the sincere desire to deliver the best care and service possible. It is with this belief in mind that we encourage you to continue your efforts to improve the quality of patient care rendered in your hospital.”

Laurens Memorial Hospital has been accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals since April 19, 1967.

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals is a voluntary non-profit organization established in 1962 by the American College of Surgeons, the American College of Physicians, the American Hospital Association, and the American Medical Association, which surveys hospitals upon request to determine if they meet very exacting standards of performance in rendering patient care.

SORORITY MARKS ANNIVERSARY

The Delta Delta Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi was chartered in February 1960. It is an international organization for women offering opportunities for friendship, development of cultural appreciation, and community service. The Greek letters stand for Life, Learning, and Friendship. 

It held its first meeting of the 1975-76 year on September 8 at the Laurens County Library. Mrs. Lee Henderson introduced the theme for the programs of the year, “The Bicentennial Woman,” and spoke on “Woman: Her Heritage and Her Hope.”

Hostesses for the meeting were Mrs. Jack Brantley and Mrs. Mack Cravey. 

Present were Mrs. Robley Rigdon, Mrs. Jim Handberry, Mrs. Fred Sharpe, Mrs. Bert Whitehead, Mrs. David Stone, Mrs. Charlie Toole, Mrs. Bill Reeder, Mrs. Jack Brantley, Mrs. Lee Henderson, Mrs. Harold Alligood, Mrs. Mack Cravey, and Mrs. Dan Doster.

Officers for the new year are the following:

President – Mrs. Robley Rigdon

First Vice President – Mrs. Harold Alligood

Second Vice President – Mrs. Bill Reeder

Recording Secretary – Mrs. Charlie Toole

Treasurer – Mrs. David Stone

Corresponding Secretary – Mrs. Fred Sharpe

Advisor – Mrs. Bert Whitehead

Parliamentarian  – Mrs. Lee Henderson 

Historian – Mrs. Ricky Williams

E.LAURENS FFA MEETS

The East Laurens High School Chapter, Future Farmers of America held its first meeting of the 1945-46 year on Friday Morning, September 12, in the Vocational Agriculture Classroom.

President Frank Flanders presided, and Vice President Lamar Hodges officially opened the ceremony with the Roll of Officers.

The business session consisted of reports by committee chairmen, who are these:

James Deal – Supervised Farming

Michael Evans – Public Relations

Randy Sammons – Earnings and Savings

John Johnson – Community Service

Al Spivey – Leadership

Frank Flanders – Conduct of Meeting

Joel Gillis- Cooperative Activities

Chris Mimbs – Scholarship

Chip Jackson – Recreation

The officers of the club for the new year are these:

President – Frank Flanders

Vice President – Lamar Hodges

Assistant – Renee Crawford

Secretary – Rickey Sterling

Assistant – William Covington

Reporter – James Deal

Assistant – Larry Dorsey

Treasurer – Raymond Joyce

Assistant – Darrell Norvis

Sentinel _ John Johnson

Assistant – Phillip Garnto

Chaplain – Steve Brinson   

Assistant – Pat Beacham

Delicious homemade ice cream was enjoyed by the group during the social hour after the meeting. The officers were in charge of planning the meeting and serving refreshments.

JOSEY ROLLS OVER BEECHWOOD, 22-6

Josey Academy’s Warriors streaked to their first victory of the season at Marshallville on Friday night, whipping Beechwood Academy, 22-6, behind a powerful running attack.

Halfback Jeff Aaron rushed for 221 yards and halfback Roy Yates for 122 yards as the Warrior offense rolled for 378 yards on the ground.

Coach Barney Hester’s club did not have to pass during the game, but did use the air route for a two-point conversion when Danny Brown passed to Anthony Carter after the first Josey score. 

Aaron faked a punt on this first series of the plays after the opening kickoff; then he ran 50 yards for the six-pointer. Brown’s pass to Carter tacked on the extra two points.

Last week, Josey opened with a 8-6 loss to Barnesville Academy.

Next week Josey will host the strong Gordon-Ivey team at the Josey field. Gordon-Ivey is undefeated, having beaten Samuel Elbert, 8-0, and George Walton, 20-6.

Playing for Josey were J. Aaron, R. Yates, T. Graham, Jim Graham, Jeff Graham, K. Aaron, Owens, Scott, D. Yates, Shepherd, Williams, Carter, Brown and Sapp.

VA RECOGNIZES EMPLOYEES

Service Pins and Special Awards were presented recently to employees of the Dublin VA Center by Harold O. Duncan, Center Director.

Recipients were the following:

Franklin Hall – Nursing Service – Quality Increase Award – Dublin

Willie B. Harrigton, Dietetic Service – 30-Year Service Pin – Dublin

George L. Miller – Medical Administration Service – 25-year Service Pin- Dublin

Donnie Johnson – Nursing Service – Quality Increase Award – Dublin

Hansel Baker, Jr. – Nursing Service — Quality Increase Award – Dublin Eddie Dudley – Nursing Service – Quality Increase Award – Dublin

Virginia N. Murphy – Nursing Service – 10-Year Service PIn – Dublin

Janice W. Buchanan – Nursing Service – 10-Year Service Pin – Dublin

Henrietta S. Baker – Nursing Service – 15-Year Service Pin – Dublin

Harvey J. Sturgis – Nursing Service – 20-Year Service Pin – East Dublin

William F. Nobles – Nursing Service – 25-Year Service Pin – Danville

Booker T. Turner – Building Management Service – 30-Year Service Pin – Dublin

James H. Wiggs – Nursing Service – Quality Increase Award –  Soperton

Shirley A. Williams – Nursing Service, Director’s Commendation – Danville