50 years ago: Progress seen in suit settlement

Dublin Courier Herald

By Doug Hall

Before an agreement can be reached in settlement negotiations of the suit challenging Dublin election methods and annexations, the city government will have to determine what conditions it will accept.

Apparently, some headway has been made in that direction.

City Council will probably take up the suit issue again during the regular Council meeting on Monday night. At that time they are likely to agree formally on the city’s bargaining position. Whatever course the city officials may take Monday does not guarantee settlement on the suit. The possibility remains that the city’s stance on the matter may be unacceptable to the two Dublin blacks who brought the class action suit.

Since meeting last week with attorneys for Richard Sheffield and Lavonia Dixon, City Council has been discussing terms on which common ground may be found to settle the suit.

According to sources, attorneys for the two blacks offered five proposals which they would accept. A major point in the bargaining is redistricting of Dublin’s four aldermanic wards which now seems a certainty.

In the past few weeks, workers for legal-aid Attorney Steven Granberg of Macon have “literally conducted a census” of the city, according to Dublin City Attorney James v. Hilburn. The result is in-depth demographic information about Dublin. More than a dozen enumeration districts have been drawn along natural geographic boundaries by the legal-aid workers, and the the white-black population of each enumeration district has been counted. From these enumeration districts, Granberg and his associates have drawn new aldermanic wards.

The redistricting plan drawing most attention from the two sides would create a heavily black First Ward encompassing everything east of Jefferson Street and south of the Hunger and Hardship Creek.

This ward would be 80 or more per cent black. The present First Ward is 72.5 per cent black. 

New lines would be drawn for the other three wards, but the black-white percentages would not change drastically, except in the Second Ward, which would be west of South Jefferson Street. The black population would be over 30 per cent there. Granberg and his associates feel this is a potential growth area in the black community.

As for the at-large system, it appears that the present setup with designated posts is out.

The system being proposed by Granberg would dump all candidates for at-large Council seats in one race with the top three in number of votes being elected. A plurality method would also be used in the ward races with the candidate with the most votes being elected. Runoffs would not be held except in the unlikely event of a tie.

PAIR DIE HERE IN HIGH-SPEED CRASH

Two persons died early Sunday morning in a one car, high-speed automobile crash, just inside the Dublin city limits on Georgia 257 (Dexter Road).

Killed instantly were Thomas William Johnson, 20, driver of the late model Pontiac Ventura, and Patricia Lynn Smith, 18, a passenger in the car.

Police said that Mr. Johnson apparently lost control of his car when it crossed a dip in the highway at a railroad crossing near the Dexter Road-Industrial Boulevard intersection. The car was traveling at approximately 100 miles per hour, police estimated.

A street marker on the southern side of Industrial Boulevard was clipped down and a tree on the northern side of the road was sideswiped but no marks were left on the pavement.

Police believe the car crossed Industrial Boulevard in the air. Also, the careening car snapped a utility pole and brought down power lines in the 500-foot stretch in which it sailed out of control.

The Dublin Fire Department’s rescue unit used gasoline saws to cut the mangled car away from the two bodies.

Funeral services for Mr. Johnson will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday at Union Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery. Rev. Clinton Warnock and Rev. James H. Frost will officiate.

Mr. Johnson was a native of Laurens County but has lived in Newnan for one year.

Miss Smith is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. ALbert Smith of Macon and Mr. and Mrs. John Rudolph of San Diego, California.

Pallbearers for her service will be Danny Baggett, Glenn Tanner, Raymond Stinson, James Giddens, Bobby Giddens, and Sonny Barwick.

The family will receive friends at Townsend Funeral Home tonight from 7:30 to 9:00.

VALIANT FALCONS FALL

Eddie Dudley’s 90-yard run for Dublin’s lone touchdown with 10:16 to play in the final quarter thwarted the upset hopes of the East Laurens Falcons on Friday night at the Shamrock Bowl as the Irish scrambled to a 7-0 victory in the season’s opener for both schools.

Except for Dudley’s 90-yard scamper,the Irish offense sputtered both on the ground and in the air. Dudley also contributed a 40-yard dash in the first half and ended the fray with 156 yards on nine carries.

While the Irish could get no closer to the Falcon goal than the 31 in the first half and to the 27 on the game’s last play, the boys coached by East Laurens Coach Jesse Dyess threatened deep twice, both ending in missed field goal tries by Charlie Joe Thomas.

Just before half time, the Falcons drove 53 yards in 13 plays to the Irish six, only to have Thomas miss a 23-yard field goal as the half time buzzer stopped this budding drive.

Dudley’s 90-yard run for the game’s only touchdown ended with 10:16 of the final quarter left to play. Good blocking at the line of scrimmage and down field helped the senior running back spring clear. Dudley’s total of 156 yards rushing on only nine chances was his career high.

Irish Coach Tom Simonton said that the Irish came out of the fray without any physical injury and indicated the kicking game, including receiving kicks, would come in for more work this week.

Dudley’s 156-yard rushing helped the Irish to 212 yards total and gave him four more yards than all the Falcons running backs combined.

Dublin High officials were happy with the attendance as the home side of the Shamrock Bowl was nearly full and a big portion of the visitor side was well populated.

Indications are that another big crowd will attend the Dublin-West Laurens game next week at West Laurens.

IRISH, EAST LAURENS BANDS DAZZLE

The Dublin High Band and the East Laurens High Band put on great shows for the good crowd that witnessed Dublin’s 7-0 win over East Laurens.

Cecil Pollock is the band director at Dublin, and his musicians staged a lively half-time show. The band has been dubbed the “Fighting Irish Band.”

Majorette captains Kathy Hood and Jan Kibler twirled to “Hijack.” Then 

slowed things down with the popular hit tune, “You and Me Against the World,” with a trumpet solo by Craig Williamson.

The flag work by the flag corps during this number was excellent, which also featured the twirling of Miss Hood.

The percussion section did their “thing,”

Then the “Fight Song”ended the Dublin band performance.

Field commanders were Bert McLees and Connie Mercer.

Archie McAfee directed the East Laurens Band through a short drill. The Falcon musical aggregation were a big boost to their football team, constantly urging them on.

LAURENS BUSING: A WAY OF LIFE

The headlines of newspapers across the country glare with the troubles brought by school busing in Boston, Louisville, and other American cities, but the situation in Laurens County, where 4,400 county students are bused daily (about 90 per cent of the county enrollment) is much different. In the county system, busing is taken for granted, a way of life for rural school children, some who live 20 or more miles from their schools.

And whatever busing there is strictly to achieve racial balance has been obscured by the more basic objective of merely getting students to the classroom.

Laurens County’s school buildings house classes that are grouped according to grades – first, second, and third in one building; fourth, fifth, and sixth in another building, and so on. All students in those grades, no matter where they live, attend those schools. The effect is a balanced racial enrollment. The only line drawn for school attendance is that of the Oconee River,which gives the county schools two geographically district areas, commonly referred to as the east side and the west side. Most students in those areas prefer to attend schools in their area because of location and loyalty.

Laurens County is one of he state’s largest counties in land area, and consequently a huge fleet of buses is needed to transport students. Each day, 63 buses roll 3,391 miles across the county, consuming approximately 700 gallons of gasoline a day. 

There are 81 regular bus routes and 32 express routes which pick up a load of students at a central point and travel non-stop to the school destination. Each of the county’s bus drivers travels approximately 53 miles a day.

The first students step onto the yellow buses about 7:00 a.m. each day. The last ones get off at home generally about 4:30 p.m.

The Laurens County buses were given excellent ratings by the Georgia State Patrol during a check which grounded entire fleets in some counties.

The City school system contracts five buses from a local firm to transport students to Dublin High. Since there is but one senior high in the city, busing here again is not strictly a matter of achieving racial balance, but more for providing transportation.

4-H CLUB WINNERS

Two Laurens County youth recently returned from State 4H Congress with top state honors.

Barbara Harvey, daughter of Mrs. Carrie Mae Cummings and a 10th grade student at West Laurens High, won first place in the FAN Food Fare Project.

Greg Blue, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Pinkney and a student at Dublin High School, won first place in the FAN FOOD Preservation Project. 

Both received a scholarship of $100 from the Georgia 4-H Foundation and membership in the Master 4-H Club.

Three other Laurens County youth won honors.

Winning second place in FAN FOOD Funds was Carol Smith, daughter of Mrs. Pauline Smith and a student at Dublin High School.

Bobbie Smith, daughter of Mrs. Evie Jean Wright and a student at Dublin High School, won second place in FAN Food Preservation. 

Gwen Jones, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Earnest Jones and a student at West Laurens High School, won second in Poultry.

FAN clubs are conducted by the Extension Nutrition Office.

ENGAGEMENTS

Tarpley – Moore

Mr. and Mrs. Hoke Tarpley announce the engagement of their daughter, Robin, to Ricky Moore, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wendell Moore. She is a graduate of Dublin High School and is employed by F.W. Woolworth Company at the Dublin Mall.

Mr. Moore is also a graduate of Dublin High School, and he is employed by J.P. Stevens Co. 

The wedding will be at the Jefferson Street Baptist Church on October 3rd at 8:00 p.m.

No formal invitations will be sent, but all friends and relatives are invited to attend.

Coney – Pittman

Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Coney of Dublin are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Vanessa Sue, to James Charles Pittman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Pittman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ulysses Pittman of Dexter.

The bride-elect is attending West Laurens High School. The groom-elect is a graduate of West Laurens High School and is presently employed at J.P. Stevens.

The wedding will take place at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ulysses Pittman on September 20th at 3:00 p.m. 

No invitations will be sent. All friends and relatives are invited.

Evans – Bailey

Mrs. Ruby Evans of Dublin proudly announces the engagement of her daughter, Ellen, to Doyle Sammy Bailey, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Doyle S. Bailey, of Dublin.

Ellen is the daughter of the late S.T. Evans of Dublin and is a graduate of Dublin High School. She is employed by Uniroyal, Inc. in Dublin.

Sammy is a graduate of East Laurens High School and received his BBA Degree from Georgia College in Milledgeville. He is employed by FBS Homes Inc. of Dublin.

The wedding will be held at Pleasant Springs Baptist Church on October 4th at 5:00 P.M.

No invitations will be sent, but all friends and relatives are invited to attend.

JOSEY “B” TEAM PLAYS THURSDAY

Josey Academy’s “B” football team will meet Washington-Johnson at the Josey Field on Thursday at 8:00 p.m.

Don McLemore is coach of the “B” squad.

The Josey “B” team is made up of sixth, seventh, and eighth grade boys.

Starting lineups at this time appear to be these:

Rickey Shepherd and Tony Hammock – ends

John Williams and Al Spivey – tackles

Morris McLendon and Chris Aaron- guards

Ted Graham – center

Kevin Beacham – quarterback

Harrison Payne and Danny Allen – halfbacks

Cliff Thigpen – fullback

Reserves include

Stacy Hathcock – guard

John Payne – tackle

Kirk Lewis and Chris Pullen – ends

Kirk McLeod and Tommy Curry  – backfield

CHURCH NEWS

Musical Tea

On Sunday, September 22, at 5:00 p.m., the Senior Gospel Choir of Second Baptist Church, Dublin, will observe its anniversary by presenting a Musical Tea.

Featured guests on the program will be the choirs of Jordan Stream Baptist Church, Toomsboro, and the St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Dublin. Ms. Juanita Tucker and Miss Ethel Pittman will also be featured as guest soloists.

The public is cordially invited to attend this program of Gospel Music. We assure you that you will receive a spiritual blessing by attending.

Refreshments will be served.

We are counting on all the choirs of Dublin and Laurens County and our neighboring counties to come out and witness this program.

WMS PROGRAM

The WMS of the New Bethel Baptist Church met at the church on September 20 following a family fellowship in the church social hall

Those present were Mrs. Dickie Johnson, Mrs. T.W. Cauthen, Mrs. J.M. Robertson, Mrs. E.D. Graham, Mrs. Frankie Payne, Mrs. Annie Payne, Mrs. Obelia Clark, Mrs. Tommy Howard, Mrs. James Lord, Mrs. C.D. Tomlinson, Mrs. Earl Lord, Mrs. Fadale Fuller, and Mrs. Vernon Sanders.

The State Mission program was presented by Mrs. Graham and Mrs. Lord in a play, “A Woman’s View of State Missions,” Mrs. Sanders being in charge.

These following officers and committees were elected for the coming year:

President – Mrs. Dickie Johnson

Vice President – Mrs. James Lord

Secretary – Mrs. E.D. Graham

Program Chairman – Mrs. T.W. Cauthen

Missions Study Chairman – Mrs. Vernon Sanders

Community Missions Chairmen – Mrs. J.M. Roberson and Mrs. William Payne

Social Committee – Mrs. Earl Lord, Mrs. C.D. Tomlinson, and Mrs. Jimmy White

Reporter – Mrs. Vernon Sanders

Girls in Action Leaders – Mrs. Lloyd Dominy and Mrs. Billy Johnson

Acteens Leader – Mrs. Randy Hester

The regular meetings during the coming year will be held each Saturday night prior to the first Sunday in each month.

VA Center Program

Members of the choir of the Dublin Zion Hope Church of God in Christ recently presented a program for the Veteran Patients of the Dublin VA Center.

In the group were Alton Jones, Solomon Edmund, Mrs. Rose Jordan, Mrs. Bither Alford, Mrs. Lena Corbett, Mrs. Mamie Edmund, Mrs. Elizabeth Brown, Miss Lynn Edmund, Mrs. Beatrice Pullins, and Mrs. Mozelle Snell.

Also present was Rev. J.C. Edmond. 

DUBLIN LOSES OPENERS

Last year the Dublin “B”team had an undefeated 7-0 season and also the Dublin Junior High team (7th and 8th graders) was unbeaten with a 6-0 mark.

This will not be the case this year, for Peach County’s “B” Team and Junior High teams shut out the two Dublin squads, 10-0 in the B” game played at the Shamrock Bowl and 38-0 in the Junior High played at Ft Valley.

A 32-yard pass play on fourth and 16 put Peach County on the scoreboard in the “B” game with 3:16 to play in the first quarter, and the extra point was kicked. 

In the second period, Peach County added the other three points with a 29-yard field goal. 

Peach County threatened continually, once getting to the Dublin one, but the Dublin defense held fast.

The Dublin offense was ineffective as the “B” boys never threatened the Peach County goal. The closest Dublin came was the Peach 30 where Steve Pierce recovered a Peach fumble, but Dublin fumbled back on the next play.

Michael Berry, with about 45 yards rushing,topped the Greenie attack. Derek Radney and Mike Alligood had a couple of good runs.

Bobby Everly intercepted one Peach pass, while Anthony Harris, James Bagie, Jimmy  Stanley, Henry Thompson, Tommy Dunmon, Ricky Melton, Todd Collins, and Chris Howell played well.

Coach Earnest Wade said his Junior High team played as well as expected but that they were up against a bigger and better organized Peach County team.

“Coach Lovell and I saw some good things and some bad things, some good potentials, and some things we need to change, but the odds were too great against us,” Coach Wade reported.