Augusts past, 50 years ago.

From the LaGrange Daily News, 1966.

Editorials

Parking Still Major Problem — Although work on downtown off-street parking lots in LaGrange has bogged down temporarily, this still remains one of the major problems for the shopping public.

Spearheaded by George Mansour, working through the Chamber of Commerce, the project at first appeared headed toward success. Then, availability of land presented a major problem and for several weeks nothing more has been done on the project.

The creation of off-street parking lots is not something the city would be doing for the merchant, but instead, it is something it would be doing for the public. If LaGrange is to expect to become the center of a wide trade area, it must make it easy for the out-of-town visitor to find adequate parking.

Downtown parking still remains a problem today, a problem that is recognized by both city officials as well as the public. We should not allow the groundwork that has been done in the past few months to become wasted because of a lack of action.

Freedom Of Foolishness — Americans, we in LaGrange too, have been bombarded this past year with a constant barrage of warnings against the perils of smoking cigarettes.

They have responded by puffing their way through 534 billion — an all-time high. Before and during the recent Fourth of July weekend motorists were beseeched to use a little extra care to offset the dangers of holiday traffic.

They obliged by piling up the biggest traffic death toll ever recorded for any summer holiday. What are we to prove by such enthusiastic rejection of efforts to keep us alive and healthy?

That we are indestructible?

Would you believe hardy?

Foolhardy?

Front Page News

New School Will Be Ready By August 29 — The million-dollar Hollis Hand School on Country Club Road will be ready for occupancy when the city school term starts on Aug. 29.

Mayor Gardner Newman reported to the LaGrange School Board Monday that a preliminary inspection of the facility is scheduled Wednesday with a final inspection this Friday. The new school is located on a nine-acre site on Country Club Road, donated by Fuller E. Callaway Jr.

The school will be used to house pupils of Harwell Avenue School, which was destroyed by fire.

Openings Are Available At Vocational School — The Troup County Technical School began the school year today with the first day of orientation and registration. Openings in the following day classes are still available to all persons interested in obtaining additional skills and education.

The classes are electronics technology, automobile mechanics, business education, machine shop, practical nursing and welding. The school will operate under the new G.I. Bill.

Persons who qualify may obtain student deferments from the selected service system. Persons interested in full-time day classes are urged to be at the school at Tuesday at 8:30 a.m.

Students are welcomed by Jack Cox, school director, and Donald Cargill, director of student personnel service.

Lt. Hayes Receives Bronze Star Medal — First Lt. James E. Hayes of LaGrange was recently presented the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service in Vietnam for the period August 1965 to August 1966.

The citation reads in part: “For distinguishing himself by outstanding meritorious service in connection with ground operations against a hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam during the period August 1965 to August 1966.”

Receive Pilgrim Degree Robes — Gilbert Holliday and J. Ralph Matthews were honored this week at the Loyal Order of Moose with the presentation of the robe of office of the Pilgrim Degree of Moose.

The Pilgrim is an honorary degree conferred upon members of the order who perform outstanding service to their local, state and national lodges. It is the highest degree one can obtain in the Order of Moose.

The presentations were made by Ralph Howard, past governor of Lodge 1453, LaGrange. Howard was the first recipient of the Pilgrim Degree in the local lodge.

Outstanding Camper — Kathy Ross of LaGrange has been voted Outstanding Camper for the 1966 camping season by the owner, director and staff of Bar Rest Ranch Camp in Warm Springs. The award is made on the basis of sportsmanship, cooperation, congeniality and friendliness.

A banquet honoring Kathy was given last Friday night. John Wilkes, owner of the camp, presented a handsome trophy to Kathy.