Julys past, 25 years ago.

From the LaGrange Daily News, 1991.

Front Page News

Troup County Awarded $400,000 Grant For Senior Center — The State Department of Community Affairs today announced it has awarded a $400,000 community development block grant to the Troup County Board of Commissioners to help build a new senior citizens center.

The Board of Commissioners will be responsible for the remaining costs of the estimated $800,000 center, although a revenue source has not been announced. The Callaway Foundation has already donated a 3-acre site on Ragland Street for the 12,000-square-foot center.

The Board of Commissioners voted to apply for the grant in October 1990 on the recommendation of the Troup 2000 Committee on Aging, chaired by Neil Rashba and Carolyn Burgess. The Chattahoochee-Flint Regional Development Commission in Franklin put together the grant application and submitted it on April 15.

Design and construction bids will be awarded by the Commission. Officials expressed the hope that the center can be completed by the first of next year.

Mayor Appoints Committee To Study School Consolidation — Mayor Chris Joseph has appointed a 12-member citizens committee which will study the question of whether or not the LaGrange School System should be consolidated with that of Troup County.

The committee is charged with the responsibility of looking into the merger issue to determine if it is feasible and desirable. It will report back to the mayor in December with the recommendation.

Members of the committee include Betty Patterson, Bob Goehring, Oliver Greene, Connie Mansour, Helen Brown, Norma Welch, Jim Bridges, Dr. Steve Teaver, James Cameron, Ed Gore, Betty Kelly and Jill Hamilton.

After the committee is formed it will appoint two additional members of its choice.

Milliken To Build New Education Center — Milliken and Company broke ground Friday for its new LaGrange Center For Continuing Education, a 2,100-square-foot facility to be located on the grounds of the Hillside Plant.

The Center will house a “world class computer-assisted education program,” which will give all Milliken associates the opportunity to receive company-funded instruction in basic education skills or to study in preparation for college courses.

Two certified teachers will be employed to staff the facility, which will serve 300 associates initially. Eventually they expect to serve more and possibly open the center to family members of the associates.

Milliken’s Marie Smith will head up the project. Completion is expected in time for classes to begin this fall.

Parade Veteran — During his distinguished career as a military officer, Lt. Col. James Boddie of LaGrange saw many “parade reviews” but none like the one which will honor him on Thursday.

As grand marshal for this year’s Sweet Land of Liberty Parade, he will lead the way as Troup County youths honor returning veterans of Desert Storm and salute local Vietnam veterans. Since his retirement for the Air Force in 1963, Col. Boddie has devoted much of his time to volunteer service, especially the 4-H Rifle program activities.

In this effort he has coached more than three dozen state champions.

Local Detective Selected For FBI National Academy — LaGrange Police Detective Morris Tatum has been selected to attend the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Police Academy.

Tatum, a 12-year veteran of the LaGrange Police Department, will attend the 167th session at the regional academy in Quantico, Virginia, this September. Tatum attended Mississippi Valley State University and has worked in the criminal investigation division for three years. He also held positions in the patrol, vice and narcotics divisions.

Only 180 officers from around the world are selected for each session, so it is very competitive. Attendance at the academy helps foster a spirit of mutual cooperation among officers in other countries as well.

Local detective Junior Spradlin graduated from the FBINA’s 150th session in 1987.

Troup Grad Awarded Top Textile Scholarship — Teresa Anne Whitney, a June graduate of Troup County High School, has been awarded an Amoco Fabrics & Fibers Company Prestige Scholarship to attend Georgia Tech’s School of Textile & Fiber engineering.

The four-year scholarship totals $14,400 and covers full in-state tuition and miscellaneous expenses. It is granted in recognition of academic excellence, good citizenship, leadership ability and career commitment. Whitney is the second recipient of this scholarship and will enter Georgia Tech in the fall to pursue a bachelor’s degree in textile engineering.

Hogansville Mayor Applauds Hero — Hogansville Mayor Calvin Turbyfield presented a resolution to Marine Lance Cpl. Jeffery Chaffin of Hogansville applauding him on having received the prestigious Naval Achievement Award during the Persian Gulf War.

Cpl. Chaffin was recognized for bravery in combat for volunteering for a dangerous assignment in the early hours of the ground war.