1977 SEPTEMBER 3RD WEEK

THE THS TRI-HI-Y PRESENTED LARGE-TYPE BIBLES TO THE NURSING HOME. LEFT TO RIGHT: MARY JEAN THOMPSON, MARK JOHNSON, MAMIE ALLISON, SUE POWELL AND CAROL BRADDY. BACK: MAE SIMPKINS, GAIL BARCUS, AND ALLAN WELCH.

OTHER PHOTOS THAT WEEK: Football THS defeated Portal 20-0. Opening celebration at Mullis Chevron.

Posted by Bill Ricks of Soperton

1977 SEPTEMBER 2ND WEEK

TREUTLEN ,IN WHITE, DEFEATED WADLEY, 20-6. MARVIN BAKER (2), HUBERT LINDER (49),SHANNON BRITT (55), JOHN KOON (66).

OTHER PHOTOS THAT WEEK: Eagle ScooutsCourt of Honor forAlan Smith and Mike McNair. Birthday party for W. J. Kea, age 92. Roydon Wear interior before open houose.Women's Tennis.

Snapshooter's Note: Never did get the hang of action photos at twilight usingflash at the sync speed of 1/60 second. As I got older I learned not to stand so close to the sideline.

Posted by Bill Ricks of Soperton

Jordon Towns - Winning Pitcher

A VERY SPECIAL SIGN BY THE SIGN MAN

THE SIGN SPEAKS FOR ITSELF, BUT YOU MIGHT WANT TO KNOW THAT THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME OF THE PIONEER LEAGUE WENT TO 16 INNINGS AND JORDON PITCHED FOUR OF THEM. THE OWLZ ARE AFFILIATED WITH THE LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM, AND IT IS ONE OF THE EIGHT "FARM" TEAMS THAT COMPRISE THE PIONEER LEAGUE.

Posted with congratulations to Jordon, the team, his family, and the citizens of Glenwood, GA and surrounding area who love and support athletic competion - By billricksof soperton and THE SIGN MAN.

Caught by Flickr

I don't know how long it has been since a real professional photographer came to Soperton - Perhaps when Tomas Tomaszewski, who did dozens of features for National Geographic. He was in Soperton,as one of the 200 pro who shot the book "A Day in the Life of America."

Recently another real pro came to town, a versatile Atlanta photographer, partly a street photographer. My "Sidewalk Gallery" or "Soperton Picture Show" caught his eye. He made a picture of a picture with interesting results.

You can find it on Flickr:

http://flickr.com/photos/whileseated/1202129503/

His real name is Michael David Murphy:

http://www.michaeldavidmurphy.com/

Michael, I love your work! Wish I was young again. Can't chase goats anymore.

Posted by Bill Ricks of Soperton

New Link to Atomic Veterans RVA

For the convenience of Atomic Veterans, I've added a link for Radiated Veterans of America. Some of these folks are members of NAAV, but it does not apparently have a direct connection with NAAV.
Some veterans are frustrated with the lack of desire by some veteran leaders to actually work to accomplish goals of veterans.

Posted by Bill Ricks of Soperton

New Link to Atomic Veterans.org

For the convenience of Atomic Veterans, I've added a link for Atomic Veterans.org. Some of these folks are members of NAAV, but it does not apparently have a direct connection with NAAV.
Some veterans are frustrated with the lack of desire by some veteran leaders to actually work to accomplish goals of veterans.

Posted by Bill Ricks of Soperton

Atomic Veterans Medal - HR 3471

I ask everyone to spread the news about the attempt of Congress "To provide for the award of a military service medal to members of the Armed Forces who were exposed to ionizing radiation as a result of participation in a test of atomic weapons."

To provide for the award of a military service medal to members of the Armed Forces who were exposed to ionizing radiation as a result of participation in a test of atomic weapons.

(a) Service Medal Required- The Secretary of Defense shall design and produce a military service medal, to be known as the `Atomic Testing Service Medal', to honor members of the Armed Forces who were exposed to ionizing radiation as a result of atomic weapons tests conducted by the United States between 1945 and 1963.
(b) Distribution of Medal- The Secretary of Defense shall issue the Atomic Testing Service Medal to each person who, while a member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty, was exposed to ionizing radiation as a result of atomic weapons testing conducted by the United States between 1945 and 1963. In the case of any such person who is deceased, the medal shall be issued to the next-of-kin of such person.

Please support this legislation to honor those veterans who were victims of the atmospheric testing. Although it will not affect veterans like me, who were exposed in the underground testing in later years,these veterans in their 70's and 80's deserve our respect before they die. It is their Purple Heart.

Call your Georgia Congressman and ask for support of HR 3471

District #, Name, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses for Georgia's 13 Congressmen.

GA-01 Jack Kingston (202) 225-5831 jack.kingston@mail.house.gov (202) 226-2269
GA-02 Sanford Bishop, Jr. (202)225-3631 http://bishop.house.gov/display.cfm?content_id=229 (202)225-2203
GA-03 Jim Marshall (202)225-6531 http://www.house.gov/writerep/ (202) 225-3013
GA-04 Hank Johnson (202)225-1605 http://www.house.gov/writerep/ (202) 226-0691
GA-05 John Lewis (202)225-3801 http://www.house.gov/johnlewis/contact.html (202) 225-0351
GA-06 Tom Price (202)225-4501 http://tom.house.gov/html/contact_form_email.cfm (202)225-4636
GA-07 John Linder (202)225-4272 http://linder.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home (202)225-4696
GA-08 Lynn A. Westmoreland (202)225-5901 http://www.house.gov/writerep/ (202) 225-2515
GA-09 VACANT (202) 225-4101 http://www.house.gov/writerep/ (202) 226-0776
GA-10 Nathan Deal (202)225-5211 http://www.house.gov/deal/contact/default.shtml (202)225-8272
GA-11 Phil Gingrey (202)225-2931 http://www.house.gov/formgingrey/IMA/issue.htm (202)225-2944
GA-12 John Barrow (202)225-2823 http://barrow.house.gov/contactemail.asp (202) 225-3377
GA-13 David Scott (202) 225-2939 http://www.house.gov/writerep/ (202) 225-4628



Letter about the Atomic Veteran's Medal:
September 6, 2007
United State House of Representatives
Washington, DC

Open letter from Kansas to all members,

The American public requests your assistance and support with honoring the Atomic Veterans of unrestricted atmospheric and underwater atomic testing which was conducted between July 16, 1945 and 1963. These veterans patrolled ground zero at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and served with the Navy, Air Force, Army, Marine Corps and National Guard over an 18 year period that would see 235 surface, air and underwater detonations. They would charge ground zero from the trench lines of
the Nevada Test Sites, board vessels of the target fleet, fly through, track and sample the explosive aftermath, collect debris, recording instruments, targets, construct, repair and rebuild test sites and
work to clean up and secure hazardous test sites in the Pacific.

Rarely, and perhaps never before, have the citizens of this nation asked congress to honor a select group of military personnel. The Atomic Veterans and their families have paid a very high price for their service; - service that did not simply end with their release from active duty. For many, the unseen enemy nurturing itself within their bodies would wreak havoc as the debilitating after effects of their exposure in the form of cancers would commence their deadly march through their lives leaving them to wage a very personal battle for survival.

Because of the national security restriction placed upon them and not lifted until 1996, they were prohibited from communicating their despair and needs with the public. Their service and sacrifices are virtually unknown to the average citizen and even you.

This is not a self-seeking request from Atomic Veterans for recognition. This is a unique and heart felt petition of our
Government, by average American citizens of all ages to say "Thank you", on our behalf, to a group of veterans that have served us well and far beyond what we would have ever requested of them.

Kansan's have clearly spoken to this issue. Our Representatives in the US House heard the voice of our citizens, the Kansas membership of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, our State Legislators and Governor. On September 4, 2007 they stood together and introduced HR 3471 cited as the "Atomic Veterans Medal Act of 2007" for us and for your consideration.

We are doing everything within our means to inform the rest of the nation and solicit their support for this bill. We hope in the coming days you will hear from many of your own constituents, but we must understand that time is not a friend when it comes to honoring the atomic veterans still with us today. The vast majority are in their 70's and 80's. Father-Time will not allow us to hold these national treasures close for much longer. We must act soon if this effort is to be anything other than a memorial tribute.

Today, we ask that you extend your hand and support to the Kansas delegation by co-sponsoring HR 3471. Our goal, while bold, is to obtain 435 co-sponsors in the Congressional record for this bill an send an unequivocal "Thank you" message to the Atomic Veterans from a grateful nation. They deserve nothing less.

Respectfully,
Lawrence M. Halloran
Chairperson, KS Committee for Recognition of
American Atomic Test Veterans
414 Rucker Ave.
Mulvane, KS 67110

Posted by Bill Ricks of Soperton

THANK YOU CONGRESSMAN JOHN BARROW!

I am extremely proud of my Congressman John Barrow, who represents the 12th district of Georgia.

You can see on the list below, his co-sponsorship of HR 3282 to close a harmful loophole in Medicare, important for kidney patients everywhere.

The current eight co-sponsors of the legislation are John Barrow (D-GA); William Lacy Clay (D-MO); Maurice Hinchey (D-NY); Tom Latham (D-IA); Michael Burgess (R-TX); Jim Costa (D-CA); Ron Kind (D-WI); and Jerry Weller (R-IL).
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The following came from the PKD website for those who have Polycystic Kidney Disease as I do, but the legislation applies to all kidney patients with ESRD (End Stage Renal Disease).I speak from experience and those with ESRD will soon die without dialysis or a transplant.
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More than 60 percent of PKD patients will develop kidney failure and be forced to rely on dialysis or a transplant to live.

While Medicare covers dialysis indefinitely, in many cases, it will only cover vital immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transplants for 36 months! Once this period ends, transplant patients are forced to find other ways to pay for these expensive medications.

Many cannot afford to continue treatment.
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I am one of those people who cannot afford the drugs, except for one fact. I was drafted into the Army, served honorably, and now the VA provides me with the expensive medicines at a co-pay of $8 per month per prescription. I do not have $10,000 to spend on medicine.
I'm lucky I was drafted. I know examples of people who need a transplant, who are not old enough for regular Medicare. If they are on dialysis, Medicare (through the ESRD provision) will pay $60,000 or more per year, but will not provide up to $24,000 per year to maintain the transplant. Now I ask you, does that make any financial sense? Medicare paid for my medicine for 36 months, and then it ended. Not everybody has been lucky enough to be drafted into the Army.
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You can help end this 36-month limit and make a true difference in the lives of PKD patients nationwide!

Please use the URL below to learn more about the legislation:

http://www.pkdcure.org/site/PageServer?pagename=HR3282

When you speak to John Barrow, please tell him that you appreciate his sponsorship of financially responsible legislation to promote health.

Posted by Bill Ricks of Sopoerton

WHERE LOVE GROWS

I've been reading an advance copy of Cynthia Reese's latest Harlequin novel "Where Love Grows," which is on their top 10 list for small-town novels.

It's about a 32-year-old eligible farmer trying to look after his grandmother, Mee-Maw, and to save the family farm. The heroine, after losing her job in the city, goes to work for her widowed Daddy who has a business checking out suspicious agricultural insurance claims. When she goes to check out things in a southeast Georgia county, she finds that the good-looking farmer to be one of the suspects in a possible scam. Although he knows that an investigator is coming, when they meet (at a children's soccer game) he can't take his eyes off her.

The Reese's late Aunt Lou, who died from cancer, two years ago, is the inspiration for Mee Maw. Old-fashioned, tell-it-like-it is outspoken and practical, and a heart of gold!

Another inspiration for Cynthia was their young daughter's love of a Kenny Chesney song, "She Thinks My Tractor Is Sexy."

Cynthia remarks in the book: "I listened to those lyrics ad infinitum, and I started to wonder about a gal who thinks a farmer is her Prince Charming. Who would she be? What would the farmer be like?
"The real idea for the book took root when I heard a National Public Radio series on farm scams. Now I was raised as a country girl, and the idea that a few so-called farmers out there were messing things up for the rest of the hardworking farmers got my dander up."

No man can really understand a good romance as a woman can, but I'm already to the fifth chapter of an advance copy. I like it a lot, and I feel sure that most women will enjoy it even more.

When you are in Soperton, stop by Soperton Pharmacy, and ask Wesley Crowe if the books are in. (Check out my "picture show" at the Moring windows, too.)

"Where Love Grows" can be ordered from Harlequin, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble on the internet.
It will be on shelves in all Wal-Mart stores sometime during October, but don't count on it being there come November.

Cynthia's other contracted titles:
THE BABY WAIT - Harlequin Superromance April '07
WHERE LOVE GROWS - Harlequin Superromance Oct. '07
LOVE AT INFINITY (WT) - Harlequin Superromance Summer '08
A PLACE TO CALL HOME (WT) - Harlequin Superromance TBA

Contact:
www.cynthiareese.net

Please e-mail this post to all your romance-reading friends.
Thanks!

Posted by Bill Ricks of Soperton

Signs 09/05, 09/06

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LORI BRADDY ON 9-5-07.FROM KATE REESE

WHOA, NELLIE! WE HAVE A RACE FOR MAYOR!

HAPPY 1ST ANNIVERSARY JANENE, TERRY STEVENS

HAPPY BIRTHDAY UNCLE RA-RA. WE LOVE YOU. SEP 6, 2007. BRILEY &MALLIE

IR: Any dose can cause mutation

Although it's two years old, I found the following item this week on the internet, relating to ionizing radiation and the view that even tiny amounts of IR are enough to cause mutation.

Read on:

BEIR VII Released
As the Washington Post and other press sources are reporting, the National Academy of Science's Committee on the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation ("BEIR") has released a long-awaited report on the health effects of exposure to low radiation doses. From the NAS press release:

Specifically, the committee's thorough review of available biological and biophysical data supports a "linear, no-threshold" (LNT) risk model, which says that the smallest dose of low-level ionizing radiation has the potential to cause an increase in health risks to humans. In the past, some researchers have argued that the LNT model exaggerates adverse health effects, while others have said that it underestimates the harm. The preponderance of evidence supports the LNT model, this new report says.

One of NAAV leaders sent a comment to the blog:

Pat Broudy writes ...
My name is Pat Broudy. I am the national legislative director of the National Association of Atomic Veterans. I have listened to the oral presentation by the committee responsible for BEIR VII. There was not one mention by the committee members, nor were there any by the questioners, regarding the several hundred thousand atomic veterans exposed to ionizing radiation by our government during the Cold War. I wonder why that was not an issue, or did the committee consider the men/women deliberately exposed to ionizing radiation, and then sworn to secrecy a "throw-away" segment of society, as well as the Downwinders and uranium miners.

Read it all at:

http://www.daubertontheweb.com/2005/06/beir-vii-released.html

Posted by Bill Ricks of Soperton

1977 SEPTEMBER 1ST WEEK

Holmes Thigpen was a fine man and an outstanding farmer. Fair dealing and hard work was his life. He's shown with some of the products of his hog operation.

Other pix that week:Slim Glisson and his honeybees, Dr.McNair's annual bird hunt, THS beat Bryan County 34-0 in football, John Ellington doing lettering for the scrapbook entry in the Governor's All Star Community contest.

Posted by Bill Ricks of Soperton

Reggie Evans Slept Here

1977 AUGUST 5TH WEEK

Mayoral candidate Reggie Evans may not have been born in a log cabin, but for a while he and all Evans family lived in one of Soperton's oldest houses. It could be seen in a photograph made in 1908. This is how the house appeared 30 years ago, before the Board of Education bought the property and demolished the house. The two hardwood trees are still standing in 2007.
Foreground: The concrete slab for the new Training Center was being finished.

Other pix that wseek:Family Day at Nursing Home, the McLendon's mother cat and kittens, inspiring Jeanne's first column, football practice, Cheryl Peterson employed by the Extension Service, Cub Scouts Stephen Hall and Johnny Sweat, action photos of Cubscouts.

Posted by Bill Ricks of Soperton

RULES OF THE SOUTH
Grits are corn. You put butter, salt, and maybe even some pepper on them. If you want to put milk and sugar on them, then you want Cream of Wheat -- go to Kansas. That would be I-20 west.

NORTH & SOUTH
Save all manner of bacon grease. You will be instructed later on how to use it.
If you hear a Southerner exclaim, "Hey, y'all, watch this," you should stayout of the way. These are likely to be the last words he'll ever say.

YOU KNOW YOU'RE FROM GEORGIA IF:
You install security lights on your house and garage and leave both unlocked.
You know what a "DAWG" is.

ATLANTA
The falling of one raindrop causes all drivers to immediately forget all traffic rules. If a single snowflake falls, the city is paralyzed for three days and it's on all the channels as a news flash every 15 minutes for a week. Overnight, all grocery stores will be sold out of milk, bread, bottled water, toilet paper, and beer.

REMEMBER WHEN
All your male teachers wore neckties and female teachers had their hair done every day and wore high heels?
You got your windshield cleaned, oil checked, and gas pumped, without asking, all for free, every time?
And you didn't pay for air? And, you got trading stamps to boot?

REARRANGED LETTERS

ELECTION RESULTS:
When you rearrange the letters: LIES - LET'S RECOUNT

POSTED BY BILL RICKS OF SOPERTON

Signs Since August 25

HAVE A GREAT DAY TO HAROLD & PEGGY COX

WARNER ROBINS WINSLLWS WITH A WALK-HR BY CARRIKER - 08/26

HAPPY ST BIRTHDAY KELBY. LOVE MOMMY, WANA, DEEDEE, SISSY, BUBBA - 08/30

LADY VIKINGS SOFTBALL TEAM 8-0 RECORD. MCLENDON 16-K'S 2 GMS. FOSKEY PITCHING WELL, TOO - 08/30

LADY VIKINGS SOFTBALL 8-0. UNDEFEATED. MCLENDON 16 K'S IN 2 GMS. FOSKEY PITCHING WELL, TOO - 08/31

HAPPY 8TH BIRTHDAY TRENT MORRIS ON 9-2-07. LOVE YOUR FAMILY 09-01

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DYLAN SLADE. LOVE MAMA, DADDY & HARLEY - 09-01

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TRENT MORRIS TODAY. LOVE YOUR FAMILY - 09/02

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHERYL MORRIS ON 9-4-07. LOVE YOUR FAMILY - 09/03

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHERYL MORRIS ON 9-4-07. LOVE YOUR FAMILY - 09/04

1977 AUGUST 4TH WEEK

NEW TEACHERS OF TREUTLEN HIGH SCHOOL: Shelby Hendriz, Tim Hendrix, Pam Mitchell, Ron Snyder, Eddie Nunley, Harmon Scott, and John Morgan.

Other pictures that week: Treutlen Elementary School new teachers: Pauline Hall, Maurita Ricks, Jan Curl, Lynne Kight, and Rosalie Morgan. Treutlen Primary School new teachers: Marilyn Craft and Betty Austin. Working on the city planning John Lee and Jimmie Sue Mullen, 4-H bikers, Herbet Burns with a double watermelon, ACS memorial to Curtis Wommack.

1977 AUGUST 3RD WEEK

THE TREUTLEN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM OF 1977

Other pictures that week: All the cheerleaders, majorettes, etc. from Picture Day, DNR head Lonice Barrett with Senator Hugh Gillis at Lions Club, Class of 1952 25-year reunion,OldCity Dump cleaned up, Roydon Wear, Ms. Lanford at TG&Y, New training center construction, Bettis & Smith interviewed about Neighborhood Service Center, 4-H Day Camp.

1977 AUGUST 2ND WEEK

Kandi Carter and Bart Evans, seven years old, were ready to enter second grade at TES.

Other photos this week:Majorettes at the rail fence between the Soperton Community House and the J. C. Stephens house, football practice, Dale McDaniel's Pee Wees team with Reggie Evans and Wade Clark, The Morings corner duplicating the camera position of a 1920 picture of the same building, Photos of Troup's Tomb with tall cumlus clouds overhead.