Decembers past, 25 years ago.

From the LaGrange Daily News, 1990.

Front Page News

LHS Named Georgia ‘School of Excellence’ — LaGrange High School has been named a Georgia “School of Excellence” for 1991 and will be one of Georgia’s three entries in the national secondary schools recognition program, State School Superintendent Werner Rogers announced Dec. 13.

Competition was strong in the program this year because of an increase in the number of applications. All schools are evaluated completely requiring the cooperation of the school leadership teams, teachers, parents and students.

A total of 27 public schools were recognized as Schools of Excellence — nine high schools, nine elementary schools and nine middle/junior high schools.

Georgia winners were chosen by a group of Tennessee educators from 103 applicants.

Milliken Wins State Honor as Top ‘Partner in Education’ — Milliken and Company was honored Dec. 13 by the Georgia Board of Education with the Award of Excellence in Business/Education partnerships.

The award recognizes Milliken’s support of LaGrange and Troup County schools through the Partners in Education program (formerly Adopt-A-School) during the 1989-90 school year.

During that time, Milliken’s LaGrange facilities sponsored 10 individual school partnerships, providing tutors, mentors, special programs, recognition awards for students and teachers and a variety of other services.

Hughes Gets Contract — The Hughes Georgia plant in LaGrange has been awarded another $34 million contract to produce anti-tank missile sub-systems for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, U.S. Rep. Richard Ray announced today.

The contract is a continuation of the $77 million contract Hughes signed on Sept. 28 to produce 1,398 sub-systems for TOW II missiles.

The Bradley Fighting Vehicle is an armored trooper carrier built by FMC in California. The TOW II sub-system is important to the nation’s defense capability and this part of the work is done in LaGrange.

Tree of Peace — A 30-foot tree at the corner of Lafayette Parkway and Davis Road will be lighted Dec. 9 as the “Tree of Peace and Goodwill.”

Re/Max of Troup County made arrangements for the lighting, which is planned in honor of U.S. troops worldwide. The lighting ceremony will be held at 5 p.m. and the public is invited.

Families with service personnel abroad are especially encouraged to attend.

‘Coats for Kids’ Delivered — Members of the LaGrange Civitan Club have completed delivery of 315 “Coats for Kids” collected as a Christmas season project.

The coats were donated by local families and are being given to needy youngsters through the Council of Church Women’s Clothing Closet.

Kiwanis 50th Anniversary — LaGrange Kiwanis Club vice president Mike Wilson presented 50-year service pins to Ed Gore and John Love, the only active charter members of the civic organization which was founded on Dec. 18, 1940, under the sponsorship of the Newnan Club.

The very first Kiwanis Club in LaGrange was founded in 1919, but disbanded five years later. This 50th anniversary was celebrated at the regular luncheon meeting on Dec. 20 at the Ramada Inn.

DAR Honors ‘Good Citizens’ — The local chapter of the National Daughters of the American Revolution has recognized three area high school seniors with their 1990 “Good Citizen” awards.

Martha Evans, DAR committee chairman, presented awards to Ann Duttera, LaGrange High School; Wendy Shierling of Troup High School and LeAnn Woodson of the LaGrange Academy.

It’s a Boy! It’s a Boy! It’s a Boy! — Arlean and David Zeigler are counting their blessings this Christmas, and they add up to at least three more than they had last year.

Mrs. Zeigler gave birth to triplets — all boys — on Dec. 10, at West Georgia Medical Center, the first set of triplets born there since 1982.

Dr. Tony Ma’luf delivered the babies by Cesarean section. The triplets have a 12-year-old sister and a 14-year-old brother who look forward to helping care for their new siblings.