YOU ARE THERE - FEBRUARY 4, 1976

Tornadic winds ripped through Treutlen: Randall Meeks and company stopped traffic and cleared trees from North GA 29 until the DOT crew arrived. Roofing blew off at the Grady Morris farm on the Wommack Avenue extension.  J. C. Stephens lost over 100 trees at his place on GA 29 N. TV antenna twisted and trees toppled at the Pete Phillips home on Crooked Run Road.

Charles Spencer Worthy was named Hospital Administrator.

The Photo Quiz was the Oliver sign on the metal building facing the northeast end of the courthouse.  Now the lot contains Wesley Crowe's three wooden storage buildings.

Moring's Ben Franklin store advertised 2 boxes of Kleenex 200s for 99 cents. (Ben Franklin stores got Sam Walton started.)

Clayton Stephens, at age 34, had spent many weekends in 1975 visiting thousands of graves in 40 Treutlen cemeteries for his forthcoming book.

"Gone with the Wind" was playing at the New Pal, Feb. 5-11.

J. E. McLendon captured Tuesday night basketball action with the camera.

Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Stevens were operating Soperton Seafood Center at Railroad Avenue and Third Street.

William A. Ricks

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1986 Aerobics Class

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January 29, 1986

Krista Dennard and Vicki Foskey were holding aerobic exercise classes at the First Baptist Church fellowship hall.  Photos like this give me a superiority complex. I have no idea who made the picture, as the camera had been loaned out. The photographer did an excellent job of posing and focusing.  Exposure was good, but he or she probably didn't have enough experience to avoid making the shadow above their heads.  Lots of spots and scratches on the negative mean it was a bad day for whoever was operating the darkroom.  The shot was cropped for publication, but I like the double exposure, caused by a film jam in the camera.  It shows the young ladies and the action.

Others that week: Masons banquet, FFA pictures, snow pictures, basketball, VW off the road near GA 56 Ohoopee River bridge, Ronnie Howell, Soperton Garden Club, and a picture of the comet (gag shot of a can of Comet cleanser in motion.)

William A. Ricks

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(Borrowed from Facebook)

GOING OUT OF BUSINESS SALE

Cox Home Furnishings 

105 SE Main St. 

Vidalia,GA. 

912-537-0136. 

Sale now underway.

To extend thru Feb. or 

until merchandise runs out. 

Furniture,appliances,and 

bedding... LOTS of bedding.

William A. Ricks

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1981 - Something to Cheer About - Our Vikings!

OUR 900TH BLOG POST!

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January 28, 1081

Closing in on the end of the season, and ready for February fantastic action, the Vikings take the court amid vigorous cheering. Probably too small too, see, but Coach Morgan glances up to the scoreboard.

Others that week: Visit to Tommy Heath's hog farm, Mason's banquet, THS students, Cub Scouts, J. W.'s new block building on North Second Street where the library of the 50s had been located, Mrs. Cammack, C. D. Williams house cleared down to the foundation, Lewis Stewart at Lions Club meeting, Mr. and Mrs. Morris, clowning at SPC, excavation on North Third Street at Tiger Creek, Florine Smith, Loveard McMichael, Mrs. Spikes.

This is our first photo scan and blog since updating our iMac to Snow Leopard status: 
OS X version 10.6.6, and it seems to operate a bit faster, but removing dust spots is just as slow and tedious as ever.

William A. Ricks

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1976 Nobody could stay on old Honey Pot!

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January 28, 1976

Wonder if...  If a donkey ball company could be found... If we could round up enough celebrities to ride...  Could we pack the McArthur Gym again like we used to?  Those were the days, could we bring them back just one more time?  Honey Pot was the meanest donkey of all.  Nobody could ride her. Not even Wayne.

Others that: Lot of tombstones, as we were helping Clayton with his cemetery book - some of the names were McCrimmon, Moye, Barwick, O'Brien, Fowler, Williams, Phillips, Gillis.  The Muti-Phasic Clinic, a Wheeler County picture with Billy Clark, Mackie Simpson, Hugh Gillis, and Pete Phillips.  THS: Gloria Burns, 4-H, Governor's Honors, Y Clubs, PTA.

William A. Ricks

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YOU ARE THERE - January 29, 1986

Windsor wrote about "The Last Linotype," a new book about Georgia newspapers, in which it was noted that The Soperton News had the highest circulation compared to county population than any other newspaper in the state - meaning the most popular newspaper. (Old copies from 89 cents to $20 at amazon.com)

Ricks wrote about his "Las Vegas Vacation," his Army experience at the Nevada Test Site.

It was freezing cold with a bit of snow that stuck.

Grand Master Carl W. Dohn was guest of Harmony Lodge at the annual banquet.

In the same year he was president of Southeaster Shrine Association http://www.seshrine.org/pastpresidents.htm

Oscar Toler was the oldest member of Harmony Lodge.

 The ATFA Georgia turpentine producers met in Soperton.

William A. Ricks

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YOU ARE THERE - January 28, 1981

Zippy Mart went out of business.

Windsor wrote about a new book about Murphy's Law.

Ricks wrote about the hostage release as Reagan took office.

Mrs. Jessie Cammack was honored on her birthday.

Mrs. Lila Bush celebrated her birthday.

Teen of the Week was Marsha Warnock.

A new Scout Troop was chartered at the Treutlen County Training Center.

4-H'ers visited Tommy Heath's hog operation.

Johnny B. Johnson qualified for the City Council Post formerly held by Bob Sanford who became Mayor.

William E. Hargraves, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Georgia, was guest of Harmony Lodge at their annual banquet.

William A. Ricks

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YOU ARE THERE - January 28, 1976

972 people received screening for blood pressure, diabetes, and glaucoma by the local health department at the community clubhouse. 180 were asked to visit the health center for further evaluation.

Plant Telephone was due to receive a REA loan for $2 million at relatively low interest.

Windsor wrote about visits from congressional aides: Rebecca Moore Tomlison with Congressman Bill Stuckey's office and Pride Sheahan from Senator Sam Nunn's office.

Ricks wrote about Governor George Busbee's speech suggesting that teachers didn't work hard enough and had time for special tutoring and need to be review every 3 to 5 years for certification.

Gloria Jean Burns was the THS Betty Crocker Family Leader of Tomorrow.

Special rack of ladies suits, slack and sweaters - 60% off at Soperton's downtown Factory Outlet (Soperton News office in 2011).

City of  Soperton endorsed a proposed 4-lane highway from I-16 to pass near Soperton, Vidalia, Hazlehurst and Baxley, Alma, Waycross and Blackshear, and Folkston to Jacksonville.

A full gym howled at the donkey show.

William A. Ricks

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Two Interesting Links

http://en.wordpress.com/tag/soperton-ga/

http://soperton.johnathanleslie.com/

William A. Ricks

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1986 Deer Contest Winners

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January 22, 1986

The Treutlen County Sportsman's Club did a lot for the community while it was in existence. Dr. McNair was the main leader, and J. L. Curl, Jr. was secretary/treasurer most of the time. The monthly meetings were held at Brown's Barn near the 2011 location of Cowboy Carey's, until the barn was burned. After that the meetings were at the community club house, but in 1986 this one was held at the TES cafeteria. The fishing rodeo and the deer contest were the two most popular things the club sponsored. The deer contest winners, left to right: Donnie Hackle - Bambi Award, smallest deer at 65 pounds, Gary Walden won deer stand, Tommy Dykes won buck knife, Gerald Collins won the doe award of $100, and Curt Dornburg won the buck award of $100. Not present was Michael Beasley who won the Big Deer Award with 180 pound and 17 points.

Others that week: Manning Mimbs sportsman of the year, basketball, TPS kids, Conservation Awards, Leon and Johnnie Phillips, MLK poster contest at TES.

William A. Ricks

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1981 Fire at Sears Roebuck House

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January 21, 1981

The information we received back in 81 was that Marvin Flanders had built the Sears Roebuck house in 1921. The Gainer family was living there and burning trash in the backyard when the shed caught fire.  It burned down and the back of the house was scorched.  It's on the corner of US 221 South and Mount Olive Way near Mount Olive Church.
We didn't see the exact model on the sears link, but you may find the images interesting  http://www.searsarchives.com/homes/byimage.htm

Others that week: Sportsman's Club winners, 4-H awards at TES, Darrell Holton's collards, basketball, Clayton with M. L. Calhoun, Judges Douglas, Towson, Warnock, and White, Gene Bowers, Winford Smith, Adine McArthur, Bobby Cammack, Gary Ladue.

The house today, January 21, 2011.

William A. Ricks

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1976 Snow at City Hall

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January 21, 1976

Wonder how long it has been since a boxcar (or carbox) stood on the sidetrack in Soperton? The depot had been transformed and dedicated as City Hall in September 1973 (six months after the really big snow). Mayor Frank Radford had parked his Radford Cleaners delivery vehicle.  Those aren't dust spots on the negative, but snow falling and sticking on the vegetation. Mason's was still operating at their building. Someone is standing at the City Hall door, Becky maybe?

Others that week: Jaycees working in the storm, lots more snow pictures including some at Million Pines, promotion poster for "the silent killers", fire knocker at the forestry unit.

William A. Ricks

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There is NO Safe Dose of Ionizing Radiation

"Any time your child receives an X-ray or a CT scan, there is risk involved (and the risk is much higher from CT scans because the radiation dose is higher; a CT scan of the chest delivers 100 times the radiation of a conventional chest X-ray)."

http://www.foodconsumer.org/newsite/Non-food/Environment/adiation_scans_0120110733.html

I believe that some of my own health problems go back to my Army days when I was exposed to radiation at the Nevada Test Site - America's nuclear testing facility.

William A. Ricks

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YOU ARE THERE - January 22, 1986

Leon Phillips was Treutlen County's Soil and Water Conservation honoree.

The Board of Education approved the annual newspaper subscription campaign with the stipulation that all students of grades 5, 6, and 7 be allowed to participate. Previously the campaign allowed only students of the "top two" classes, as determined by the school,  in each grade level. That was the beginning of the end of the campaigns which started in 1972. It was fun while it lasted!

Manning Mimbs was Sportsman of the Year.

Mrs. Louisa Davis Richards died. She was the widow of the late Willie A. Richards, Sr.  She was a district officer of the Churches of God in Christ.

David Barnhill, THS class of 1962, invented "Win-Right Football" at Tifton.  He based it on what he learned at Citadel: "You don't lie, cheat or steal and you don't tolerate those who do."

This week in local history: January 19, 1854, the Governor of Georgia signed a Land Grant to 948 acres of land to Archibald Gillis.  Most of the land included in the City of Soperton was included in this grant.  (Interesting that early settlers were already living and farming lands along Pendleton creek as early as 1800, but the land that became Soperton was so late being settled.)

William A. Ricks

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YOU ARE THERE - January 21, 1981

Judges attending the Historical Society meeting were Dub Douglas, W. M. Towson, Carlton Warnock, and W. H. White.

M. L. Calhoun received a historic preservation award from Clayton Stephens.

The Sears Roebuck house caught fire but is still standing in 2011. Never heard of it? Do you know where it is?

Nell Absher was named Valentine Sweetheart 1981 by her chapter of Beta Sigma Phi.

Hovie Lister and the Statesmen Quartet performed January 24 with the Hall Sisters at the TES Cafeteria.

Teen of the Week was Kim Carr.

Obituaries included Phillip Roy Sellers, Mary Lariscy, and Tullie Barwick.

Awards and prizes were presented by the Sportsman's Club to Wyman Poole, Jimmy Truett, and Grady Cammack.

Disney's "Song of the South" was playing at the New Pal in Vidalia. (Last time it was released was 1986.  Complete version has never been released by Disney on video, due to racial controversy.)

Darrell Holton grew a tremendous collard plant.  He cropped enough leaves to reveal a full yard of stalk with three good messes left at the top.

William A. Ricks

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YOU ARE THERE - January 21, 1976

Snow fell but quickly melted, but there was enough to justify a page of pictures. Billy and Ronald Poole made front page by chopping firewood in the snow.

Windsor wrote about the week's highlights: Watching "The Other Side of the Mountain", Sportsman's Club catered by Shotgun, Boys basketball team squeaked by Montgomery, the  snow Saturday.

Ricks wrote about the February 1895 blizzard that lasted two weeks.  Even Darien got four inches.

Soperton Jaycees braved the snow Saturday to build sheltered dugouts at the recreation center. It was Jaycee Week and Simons Store honored the young men in their regular ad.

A fire knocker was received from the Forestry Department to be used by county and city.

Early donors on the athletic weight machine included: Billy Braddy, Pete Phillips, W. W. Kea, Gillis Brothers, and Danny Donaldson.

It was Hi-Y and Tri-Hi-Y Week and the Bank of Soperton honored the members at Treutlen High in their weekly ad.

Richard Dennard was selected for 1976 Georgia Leadership Program.

William A. Ricks

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1986 MLK Celebration in Soperton

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January 15, 1986

The annual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday included a poster contest. Left to right: W. O. Little, Eugene Dawson, Rev. James Love, Rev. J. B. Johnson, Mayor Frank Radford, Barbara Mincey, Mary Roberson, and Eloise Phillips.

Others that week: FFA mailboxes, 4-H CPA competition, Jon Hutcheson's scale model of Cumberland Island, basketball, North Second Street, Nursing Home landscaping.

William A. Ricks

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1981 Sacrificing Beauty for Progress

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January 14, 1981

I didn't mind when they cut down those volunteer cherry laurels, and wished they'd gotten all of them, and the chinaberry tree, but it sure broke my heart a little bit when the city employees cut down three huge crepe myrtles that I had enjoyed all my life, almost 37 years at that point. The action was taken in preparation of widening that side of Main Street. In 2011, and now that the crepe myrtles are gone, I wish the city would clear cut the remaining vegetation so there would be a clear view of our beautiful City Hall for Main Street travelers. Soperton Guano Company was doing well with liquid fertilizers, and the old building was in good shape, although the sign was faded beyond recognition.

Others that week: Prize winners at Judy's Fabrics and Sewing, icey photos, Asplundh tree trimming, basketball, Barbara Mullis, Marie Sumner, and Al Colston.

William A. Ricks

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1976 Mighty Mites Banquet

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January 14, 1976

Mrs. Mary Lou Davis and lunchroom staff prepared the banquet meal in honor of the 46 memebers of the Mighty Mites football, all 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students of Treutlen Elementary School. Dr. McNair donated the individual trophies that each boy received, and Richard Dennard donated the team trophy which was presented to TES Principal Augustus McArthur. Coaches Tommy Cullens, Wayne Sumner, and Terry Wright coached the team to a record of 9-4-1.  The names of the players need to be added, so we need help from all of our blog and facebook fans.

Others that week: Basketball, city workers, A. D. Joiner perfect attendance for 20 years at Lions Club, bank driveway, Gene Brooks, 4-H Clothing Club.

William A. Ricks

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YOU ARE THERE - January 15, 1986

Windsor's column - Top 5 Stories of 1985: Jail Renovation, Darby Harris indicted for murder of his parents,  Chamber honored 6 Citizens of the Year (none in 2011), Vikings basketball team went all the way to the final state game, Arson suspected in the burning of Soperton Guano Company and Fowler Warehouse.

It was a slow news week, with time for surveying the Soperton business people. They generally reported a bad year for 1985 and dismal hopes for 86 because of age-old reasons: Low credit, high unemployment, and people going out of town.

Chamber President John Smith emphasized positive features of the community: Winning sports teams, great school bands, the Festival, I-16, industrial park and new or improved businesses such as  Sammie's Bumper to Bumper, Soperton Flower Shop, Charles Johnson's car wash, Lowell Wilkes's liquor store, Corbin's Quik Serve, and the 221 C Store.

Ricks's column was derived from the economic survey, as he quoted tips for maintaining a successful business.

The survey story ended with a merchant's comment: "If things don't change, it's going to be just like Tarrytown."

William A. Ricks

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YOU ARE THERE - January 14, 1981

Windsor's column - Top 5 stories of 1980: Long time Mayor Frank Radford surprised everybody by not running for reelection, R. A. Perry died,  Rev. Gene Brooks resigned after 19.5 years in Soperton, Festival attendance continued increase, Soperton News won more awards in its division for the second straight year.

Ricks wrote some ultra-conservative BS in his column that doesn't deserve repeating.

Sadie Lockear Joubert, 85, mother of Helena Reeves, died at Savannah.

Jessie Hodges was mortician of the year for Georgia.

William A. Ricks

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YOU ARE THERE - January 14, 1976

Windsor's column - Top 5 Stories of 1975 (determined by 671 participants): Death of Mr. Jim Gillis, Cable TV started up, Marijuana growing in local corn field, the 3rd Festival, and the start-up of Radio Station WYOK.

Hospital Administrator Roy Stewart commented on the hospital status. Two new RNs were hired to meet state requirements. Authority Chairman Hugh Gillis had said that the hospital in previous condition couldn't continue unless subsidized by the county. Voters approved a straw poll to subsidize in the amount of $35,000. Administrator Wyndell Standard had resigned.  John Lee became Administrator, but left after a short time, in August.  Stewart was hired in October. Gillis and Jack Ellington had resigned from the Authority.  Financially, Stewart said that the Authority had paid $3,000 on a $18,000 loan and had spent only $10,000 of the $35,000 approved by the voters. 

Ricks wrote about the extraction of his third molar by Dr. Joseph Glawson in Soperton.

Clayton Stephens announced a garage sale at the Fowler-Lawton House, in which everything would be sold except John Lee's car.

City employees were clearing brush and trimming trees.

William A. Ricks

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1981 Glory Days - close-up of crowd

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January 7, 1981

Hi fans!

William A. Ricks

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1970 Bulloch County Hog Farm

I'm thinking that this may have been called the Harville place, but my memory is not as good as it was when the picture was made, and I'm guessing that it was about March of 1970. It would take a big print to show the detail of the sow and pig in the right foreground and to see all the pigs in the shadow of the barn.

If anybody knows anything about this old farm, comments will be appreciated.

William A. Ricks

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1986 Renovated Jail Weight Room

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January 8, 1986

Sheriff Wayne Hooks insisted on regular physical conditioning for himself and his deputies, so when the jail was renovated he had the basement converted to a weight room.
Others that week: 60th anniversary, football award presentations, milking at Montezuma, Miller bass, Murphy McRae.

William A. Ricks

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1981 Glory Days at McArthur Gym

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January 7, 1981

Basketball was back in action after Christmas break, and both teams won easily against Toombs Central. Not a great crowd - nothing like when the Vikings faced the Wheeler County Bulldogs. Great competition back then.

Others that week: More pictures of the ongoing demolition of the C. D. Williams house, city officials sworn in, Sara Cook and the Coca-Cola Cash Caps prize, ambulance at the Allied Store on South Second Street, and Aunt Mabel Burns Williamson's birthday.

William A. Ricks

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1969 Farm House near GA 297

I'm not sure how many trips I traveled between Soperton and Statesboro in the 1960s, but probably two or three hundred, schooling at GSC and working at Rockwell.  This scene was one of the most interesting on the route, and it wasn't far from home, just across the county line of GA 297 over into Emanuel County on GA 46 on the right.  The last time I went that way the house was still there, but falling apart.

To this day I don't know who lived there or who owned the property, then or now.  Low sun can help create interesting photos, and there's plenty of it during the winter. I like the way it shaped the old house, the enhancement of the fresh furrows, the various textures.  I may have even used a tripod, as the details of the water well are quite sharp. The broom sage and other low plants are partially translucent.  To me  the whole scene has a nice "feel".  I worked at it, but it may be just another "happy accident," though.  The house was evidently occupied in the winter of 69, as there is dog looking at the photographer.  Can you find the dog?

William A. Ricks

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1976 Drive-In Banking in Soperton

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January 7, 1976

The girls at the Bank of Soperton worked away as construction was carried around them. The bank already had a night depository and a small drive-up window, but a new big covered window with drawer and pneumatic tube delivery was erected. You can see the finished product today (2011) in the office of Tax Commissioner Marie Sumner.

Others that week: Marie Sumner put on a new metal tag on an automobile for a customer, basketball, somebody's puppy, Aunt Mabel Burns Williamson's birthday at Tarrytown.

William A. Ricks

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YOU ARE THERE - January 8, 1986

One year after a national corrections inspector condemned the Treutlen County jail as "one of the worst, if not THE worst," a $100,000 renovation was completed.  All it cost out of local funds was $15,000.

James R. Holland was appointed Director of Public Relations for AARP. His parents were F. Ross Holland and Eleanor S. Holland of Soperton.

Ad: Due to rent increase Trull's Carpet will close but reopen soon.

Mr. and Mrs. Tyrus Brinson celebrated their 60th anniversary.

Murphy McRae gave up newspaper publishing for the more lucrative world of insurance sales - Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society.

The total in the Deer Contest reached 118.

The FFA made a field trip to Montezuma for a milking experience.

William A. Ricks

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1969 Fall Football at ECI

Sometimes I get bored with the usual routine.  I don't have to do three old pictures every week, but I tell myself that I do.  My time with the newspaper goes back to February 1973, but I was trying to take pictures earlier.  I had already fought the war and was working at Rockwell in Statesboro and saving every nickel to afford the expensive education of Rochester Institute of Technology, beginning in the summer of 1970.

You can see from the picture that some of my pictures improved after going to school, as there are more spots and scratches on the negative than I have time to remove.  Lousy focus on this shot.  Somebody had told me to just wrack it out to infinity for distant shots. (Why mention that; everybody now in 2011 is using automatically focusing cameras?)

I was using a Petri camera that brother Morris left behind when he finished Navy leave and went back to his ship. Enough said.

William A. Ricks

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YOU ARE THERE - January 7, 1981

Srah Cook won $1,000 in the Coca-Cola Cash Caps Contest.  She bought the Coke at McLeod's.

Reggie Evans and Curtis Thigpen were sworn into the City Council, and Bob Sanford became Mayor.

Charles Duncan served interim pastor for First Baptist Church (between Brooks and Byerly).

The "Treutlen Scrapbook" photo was a 1938 dance at the Community House. Suits for the gentlemen; floor-length gowns for the ladies. The wooden walls looked very light before the varnish grew dark.  The juke box in the photo was not a rarity, as it was one of the products distributed by Sparks Specialty Company of Soperton.  Clayton Stephens considered Mr. and Mrs. Sparks as the county's foremost philanthropists. What they gave was out of their own pockets; it didn't come from tax revenues - local, state, or federal. The Sparks building had its office in the building occupied in 2011  by Southern Belles Florist.

Teen of the week: Linda Claxton.

Deaths: Mrs. Ola Spivey, Felton Lee (Skin) Harrison, Archie Ball Johnson.

William A. Ricks

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YOU ARE THERE - January 7, 1976

The Bank of Soperton installed a covered drive-in window with pneumatic tube. There had been a smaller window for drive-up but without all the equipment.

Windsor wrote humorously about the differences in Democrats and Republicans. (Not quite the same as in 2011.)

Ricks wrote about his first cameras - a Kodak Brownie redeemed by Blue Horse trademarks and an Ansco given for graduation, both with fixed focus lenses.

Izod shirts for $16.50 at The Sir Shop. Rather high at the time for a knit shirt. (Consumer Reports once gave top rating to the seven-dollar Target brand.)

Soperton Fish Market on North Second Street was under management - Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Rogers.

Seven birth announcements were published.

William A. Ricks

http://billricksofsoperton.blogspot.com 

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TOP BLOG POSTS

As we enter a new year, we look back at the most popular all-time posts on the Bill Ricks of Soperton blog, ranked in order with #1 at the top. We have no explanation for the choices. Just what the computer says.


Click the title to see the post:

Bonus Photo

May 21, 2010

Agent Orange, Ionizing Radiation, Spontaneous Muta...

Aug 29, 2007

HR 4899 To Cost $81 Billion

Jul 25, 2010

1985 Tri-Hi-Y Girls on Festival Billboard

Oct 22, 2010

The Agent Orange Hearing

Oct 2, 2010

Discussing the "Filibuster"

Dec 18, 2010

1974 Twenty-One Rattlesnakes in a Gopher Hole

Sep 15, 2009

Shinseki Supports Agent Orange Claims

Aug 27, 2010

1985 BIG Rattlesnake

Jul 17, 2010

1985 The Hooks Team on the Job

Aug 4, 2010

William A. Ricks

http://billricksofsoperton.blogspot.com 

Thanks for subscribing to  'Bill Ricks of Soperton'

Once a day delivery to your email box.

See middle box at bottom of the blog.