50 years ago – July 1, 1975: Oconee Raft Race returns to Dublin

Dublin Courier Herald

The stage is set for the second annual Great Oconee Raft Race in Dublin.

Last year more than 150 participants floated down the eleven-mile stretch of the normally tranquil river while hundreds watched along the banks, including packed four-lane bridges across the Oconee at U.S. 80 and I-16.

This year more than twice the entrants are expected as the middle Georgia area catches the rafting fever that brings hundreds of thousands out for the annual Ramblin Raft Race down the Chattahoochee near Atlanta.

As a matter of fact, Larry Patrick, Ramblin Raft Race organizer, has worked closely with the Laurens County Sportsmen Club in putting together this year’s race. Patrick will be an entrant in the Great Oconee.

Plans are also in the works to affiliate the great Oconee race with its famous Atlanta counterpart in 1776. Beginning at Blackshear’s Ferry, near the place one noted historian saysn was the site at which DeSoto crossed the Oconee, the race will end at Fish Trap Cut, site of pre-Columbian Indian mounds, which are listed in the National Registry of Historic Places.

“Although the race is being held purely for fun, personal safety and protection of the natural beauty of the river will be two of our primary concerns,” Griffin Lovett, one of the organizers, stated.

Ben Brantley, chairman of the traffic committee, has woked with state reps., Terry Coleman and W.W. Larsen,  jr. to obtain extra personnel from the Department of Public Safety to provide assistance to Sheriff W.R. Bussell in regulating traffic for the large number of spectators expected.

Coleman and Larsen have arranged with Sgt. Denny Ladson of the Dublin post of the State Patrol to have one of the Public Safety Department’s new helicopters present to control traffic and to keep a watchful eye on the race participants and provide assistance for those who might need help.

Units of the Dublin-Laurens County Civil Defense will constantly control  the river. Local law enforcement agencies will be on hand to assist with spectator crowds that are once again expected to line the course at strategic points.

Coast Guard-approved life preservers will be required for all participants. Rowboats and canoes will be restricted to two persons.

To preserve the environment, all crafts will be required to be equipped with some type of trash receptacle or litter bag. In addition, an Ecological Award will be presented the craft that brings in the most litter collected along the race.

Almost any kind of floatable craft is eligible to enter, except motorized. From inflatable tubes to 128 square-foot or more battleships, there will be nine classifications of rafts competing for the trophies.

Other awards will be given, such as awards for the most original, best engineered, and best decorated rafts.

Oldest and youngest participants will be given awards, and the female dressed in the most original/outstanding costume will be selected. 

Entries will be accepted the day of the race.

DUBLIN EDITOR ELECTED PRESIDENT

The editor and publissher of the Couier Herald, W.H. Champion, was elected President of the Georia Press Association on Saturday at its 89th annual convention. He has served as vice -president a and as treasurer of the Association.

Champion is the second Dublin newspaper editor  who has served the state association as president. 

In 1907, Hal M. Stanley, editor of the bi-weekly Courier-Dispatch, was elected president. He had served in other capacities and subsequently served in various other offices in the then Georgia Weekly Press Association.

The Georgia Press Association today is made up of more than 200 Georgia newspapers, ranging from the largest daily to the smallest weekly.

The Courier Herald editor came to Dublin in 1945. The next year he was named to the Board of Managers of the Association. During the past three decades he was re-appointed three times to the Board in addition to serving as chairman of a number of committees.

Twice Champion was given the Association’s President Award, an award given by a retiring president to the member he names as providing the most valuable service during his term.

The new GPA president told the convention as he accepted the presidency that his efforts would be directed to having the association be of greater service to the members and asked for more extensive involvement in the Association’s activities by the members.

LOCAL AUTHOR HONORED

An autograph tea honoring Dr. Charles “Tommy” Waller and Dr. Ronald G. Killion upon publication of their book, “Georgia and the Revolution” was hosted bythe Laurens County Historical Society at the Laurens County Library from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 22.

Dr. Waller is a native of Dublin, the son of Mrs. Tom J. Pritchett. He was graduated from Dublin High School and attended Mars Hill College. He received his A.B. Degree from Wake Forest University and his M.A. Degree from the Uiversity of Georgia. He has done further graduate work as a Rockefeller Fellow at Yale University and as a Mellon Fellow at the University of Pittsburg, from which he holds the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

At present, he teaches English at the University of Georgia.

“Georgia and the Revolution” is the first Georgia History commemorating the Bicentennial and is an interesting approach to Georgia history. It is divided into two parts, a narrative history and a documentary history. The narrative is easy to read and tells of the period in Georgia history from  1765 to 1782. 

Following the documentary history is a comparative chronology, which helps the reader establish in his own mind the relationship between Georgia, America, and England.

There is also a section containing leading figures of the American Revolution in Georgia.

The “History of Georgia in the American Revolution” has been reviwed as “one of the most readable books ever publishsed on the history of Georgia during the American Revolution.”

It was published by the Cherokee Publishing Co. of Atlanta.

Dr. Waller and Dr. Killion have colaborated on two other books, “Slavery Time When I was a Chillun Down on Marster’s Plantation” and “A Treasury of Georgia Folklore.”

IRISH REELERS’ GRADUATION

The Dublin Irish Reelers held graduation exercises for thiry-four square dancers on Friday night at the Laurens County Agriculture Center.

After twelve weeks of learning the seventy-five basics of Western Square Dancing, the graduates were asked to demonstrate their skills for members of the Dublin Irish Reelers and their guests.

The graduates danced two special dances for the occasion before receiving their diplomas from their instructor, Jerry Vickers, and taking the Square Dancers’s Oath.

Members of the class who graduated were Dwight nd Shirley Smith, Howard and Jo Smith, Ray and Mary Alice Watson, Wendell and Lou Ann Lord, Bob and Bonnie Proctor, Larry and Kathleen Shriver, Henry and Pat Hughes, Billy and Frances Graham, and Steve and Pat Mercer.

The Dublin Irish Reelers are sponsoring a youth group. They are Susan Scott, Dana Bell, Kathy Snyder, David Snyder, Gregg Browning, Rachel Snyder, Jeff Gore, Steve Gore, Connie Phillips, Tim Phillips, Randy Smith, Lisa Smth, Steve Mercer, Jr., Lynn Mercer, Terry Mercer, and Tommy Graham.

COUNTY HOME DEMONSTRATION MEETING

The Laurens County Home Demonstration Council met in the club house with the Progressive Club serving as hostess to the thirty-nine members present for the occasion.

Mrs. J.M. Christian, President, was in charge of the business meeting, assisted by Mrs. James Rawls, serving as Secretary, and Miss Wilma Blankenship, Treasurer.

The devotional was brought by Mrs. Fred Flanders and the prayer by Mrs. Beeman Keen. The group was led in singing by Mrs. W.S. Reese.

The next meeting of the Council will be in October. 

ENGAGEMENTS

Townsend – Vestal

Mr. and Mrs. James E. Townsend of Dublin announce the engagement of their daughter, Deborah Kay Townsend, to Robert Michael Vestal, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alan L. Vestal of McRae.

Miss Townsend received an A.S. Degree in General Education from Middle Georgia College and is a 1975 graduate of Georgia Southern College with a B.S. Degree in Sociology.

Mr. Vestal received an A.S. Degree in Sociology from Middle Georgia College and is a 1975 graduate of Georgia Southern College with a B.S. Degree in Sociology. He is now employed at the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home in Baxley

The wedding is planned for August 16 at 8:00  P.M. in the First Baptist Church of Dublin with a reception following in the church social hall.

All friends anrelatives are invited to attend.

Miller – Fordham

Mr. and Mrs. Talmadge Miller of East Dublin announce the engagement of their daughter, Kathy Miller, to Dean Fordham, son of Mrs. Tollie Smith, Jr. of Dublin and the late Mr. Elton Fordham.

Miss Miller attended East Laurens High School and is presently employed with Oxford of Dublin.

Mr. Fordham is a 1970 graduate of East Laurens High School and is employed at Laurens Memorial Hospital.

The wedding is set for July 18 at 7:30 P.M. at Minter Baptist Church. A reception will follow at the church.

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

Pittman – Hood

Mr. and Mrs. Nelson L. Pittman of Dexter announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Patricia Ann, to Mr. William James Hood, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Hood, Jr. of Dudley.

The wedding will take place on July 5, 1975, at the home of the future bride’s parents at 4 o’clock p.m. A reception will follow.

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

Dixon- Hattaway

Mr. and Mrs. Morris Dixon of Dublin announce the engagement of their daughter, Carolyn Marsha, to Mr. Danny Ray Hattaway, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Hattaway of Dublin.

Miss Dixon is a 1972 graduate of Twiggs Academy. She is a 1975 graduate of Georgia College with a B.S. Degree in Elementary Education. She will be employed by the Laurens County Board of Education this fall.

Mr. Hattaway is a 1974 graduate of Dublin High School. He is presently employed by Rawls Welding and Machine Shop.

The wedding is planned for July 19 at 7:30 p.m. at Poplar Springs North Baptist Church with the reception to follow in the church social hall.

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

Locke -Ballard

Mr. and Mrs. Silas J. Locke of Dublin announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Janice Carol, to David Lewis Ballard, son of Mr. and Mrs. James L. Ballard, also of Dublin.

Miss Locke is a 1975 graduate of West Laurens High School and is presently employed with the Laurens County Board of Education.

Mr. Ballard is a 1972 graduate of Dublin High School and is presently employed with American Cabinet Company.

The wedding is set for July 28 at 3:00 p.m. at the Central Drive Baptist Church, East Dublin. A reception will follow in the church annex.

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

Wood – Brown

Mrs. Melita McCall of Dublin and Mr. Wendell C. Wood,Sr. of Illinois announce the engagement of their daughter, Frances Elaine Wood, to Donald Allen Brown, son of Mr. and Mrs. Glenn W. Brown of Augusta.

Miss Wood was a graduate of Dublin High School and received her degree in Associate Arts.

Mr. Brown is a graduate of the Academy of Richmond County and attended Middle Georgia College in Cochran.

The vows will be spoken at Pine Forest United Methodist Church on July 20 at 3:00 P.M. The reception will follow in the church fellowship hall.

EXPOS PLAY FOR DIVISION LEAD

The Dublin Expos will get a chance at taking over the leadership of the Eastern division of the Middle Georgia Baseball League on Sunday when they play Tennille at Tatnall Feld in a 4:00 p.m. game.

The Expos, now 8-4 after Stevens Pottery, both have 9-4 marks.

Th Expos had to come from behind twice to notch their win over Chester as Chester slapped six hits off Pete Jones in the first three innings and took a 2-0 lead after two. However,the Expos led it with a pair in the third and went ahead, 3-2, in the sixth only to have Chester get their last two runs for a 4-3 lead in th that inning.

Single runs in the seventh and ninth propelled the Expos to their victory as Jones got tougher during the late frames. He allowed only four hits in the last six innings. Jones fanned nine Chester batters and walked only two while going the route.

Expos catcher Kenny Walters slammed a triple and a double, scored twice, and batted in one run in leading the Expo offense.

Ernest Wade connected for two singles and scored one while Jones got the other Expo safety, a single, and also scored. Charles Berry tallied the fifth Expo marker, scoring on the triple by Walters.

The Expos were plagued by inability to hit in the clutch for the second straight game, leaving 12 men on base in their last two games.

FUQUA CERTIFIED

Lt. Wayne Fuqua has been certified to teach police subjects, and eight Dublin rookie policemen have completed a 14-hour mandate training course, Dublin Police Chief Vernon DeLoach announced today. Fuqua completed an 80-hour instructional course at the University of Georgia and is now certified to teach police related courses, DeLoach stated. The lieutenant will now be eligible to instruct all Dublin police officers in courses that are required by state law.

“I’ve been trying to get this ever since I’ve been Chief of Police,” DeLoach noted. He called Fuqua “as good a police instructor as there is in the state of Georgia.”

Only 17 people in Georgia were selected to enroll in the instructional program.

The rookies who completed the mandate training program in Tifton were Sam Porter, Yancey Brown, David Taylor, Kenneth Curry, J.C. Nobles, jr, James Payne, Kim Blue, and Terry Howell.

DUBLIN HIGH HONOR ROLL

Ninth Grade:

Ennis Law, Wyona Cook, Claudia Griggs, Betsy Frost, Connie Hudson, Dree Weaver, Jim Moran, Lee Ann Vaughn, Catherine Gettys, Mike Browning, Raymond Berry, Vickie Lewis, Cheryl Taylor, Katrinia Hosea, Charlene Martin, Richie Hester, Karla Hay, Robin Freeman

Tenth Grade:

Vicki Brantley, Florine Harris, Angela Graham, Rhonda Livingston, Bruce Miller, Cathy Hess, Terry Windham, Janet Hobbs, Anita Woods, Ann Wagner, Karen Carswell, Debra Mullis, Lisa Kisalus

Eleventh Grade:

Theresa Law, Eloise Rozier, Dianne Hammock, Jan Kibler, Raymond Walker, Craig Williamson, Cris Carswell, Judith Griner, Nancy Faircloth, Vicki Browning, Bo Edwards, Bert McLees, Lee Weaver, Patti Barbee, Claudia Bannister, Candy Cochran, Adele Maddry, Linda Jones, Jo Ellen Lowery, David Smith

Twelfth Grade:

Brenda Brown, Betsy Bryan, Kimsey Fowler, Janet Taylor, Kim Fowler, Josie Berry, Jacqueline Armstrong, Calli Patterson, Debbie Hudson, Jan Holliday, Catherine Carruth, Bonnie Garnto, Wanda Hester, Hazel Howell, Barbara Stevenson, Cathy Freeman, Jay Hammock, Linda O’Neal, Patrick Roche, Terry Tindol, Brenda Simpson 

ELKS AUX AT CONVENTION

The Georgia Elks Aidmore Auxiliary held its annual Join Sate Convention with the Georgia Elks Assoiation at Jekyll Island June 12-15.

The local Auxiliary was well represented at the Ladies Luncheon and the Merit Awards Presentation held on Friday.

The Dublin Auxiliary placed third in the District with their scrapbook. Mrs. Joe Wilson, Mrs. John Chamness, Mrs. William Slade, Mrs. F.M. Burch, Mrs. Richard Augley, Mrs. Sherill Wren, Mrs. Douglas Veal, Mrs. R.O. Dixon jr., Mrs. Robert East, Mrs. Marvin Madden, Mrs. Dwight Morgan, Mrs. Bert Whitehead, Mrs. Joel Wright, 

Mrs. Jimmy Smalley, Mrs. Wendell Waters, Mrs. Harvey Stewart, Mrs. Jack Kalada, Mrs. Bobby Moorman, Mrs. Autry Renfroe, Mrs. George Garnto, and Mrs. Marvin Long attended from the Dublin Auxiliary.

ECKLES CLAIMS ROTARY TOURNAMENT

B.B. Eckles, representing the Eastman Rotary Club and a familiar contestant in Middle Georgia golf tournaments, won the Fourth Annual Dublin Rotary Club tournament at the Dublin Country Club with an 18 hole score of 74, two over par.

Two Dublin Rotarians, McGrath Keen and Joe Durant, captured second and third places, both with rounds of 75.

Eight Rotary Clubs in the Dublin area sent golfers to the tournament, which was chaired by N.L. Yates, Jr., Dublin insurance man and a former president of the Dublin Club. 

Seventy-two golfers were in the meet.

Other flight winners:

First Flight – Frank Seaton

Second Flight – Paul Emert

Third Flight – Arden Ellise

Fourth Flight – Al Hopkins

Special prizes went to Don Vaughn, for the longest Drive off No. 9; Paul Griggs, for the shortest drive off No 1; Barron Smith, for closest to the pin on No. 2; Alfred Sams, Jr., Macon, for closest to the pin on No. 11; and to Bush Perry, for closest to the pin on No. 17.

There were many door prizes awarded at the dinner following the tournament.