Julys Past, 25 Years Ago, 1992

From The LaGrange Daily News

Front Page News:

County officials today unveiled preliminary drawings for a new county jail and sheriff’s offices that will be constructed on a thirteen-acre site behind the Public Works Camp on Hamilton Road.

Final drawings and specifications are expected by Dec. 15, and commissioners are expected to award a construction contract by February 1. The project is expected to take about twelve to fourteen months to complete.

Voters last year approved a temporary one percent sales tax to finance the 86,000-square-foot project.

Chief Shepherd Gets National Award

LaGrange Public Safety Director Gary Shepherd was presented the National Criminal Justice Association’s prestigious O.W. Wilson Award during Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

Columbus Police Chief Jim Weatherington and American Criminal Justice Association’s Region Five President Archie Rainey made the presentation.

The award is given for outstanding contributions made to law enforcement in the area of Police administration. This includes state, regional and national recognition and accomplishments.

Famed Pilot Yeager Visits Local Airport

General Chuck Yeager, the first pilot to fly faster than the speed of sound, created a lot of excitement Wednesday during a brief, but colorful stopover at LaGrange – Callaway Airport.

Regarded as the greatest test pilot in aviation history, Yeager was flying a replica of a P-51 Mustang, the last plane he flew in World War II.

In 1947, Yeager became the first test pilot to smash the sound barrier, flying the super secret Bell-X-1, now in Washington’s Smithsonian Institute.

On Wednesday several Georgia aviators met in LaGrange en route to Oshkosh, Wisconsin to participate in the United States’ largest annual air show.

Yeager was flyig a P-51 owned by Mr. And Mrs. Ed Bolin of Griffin. Mrs. Bolin was piloting a second P-51. Two World War II B-25s also landed at the airport in the group.

Local Cancer Program Is Certified

The Enoch Callaway Cancer Clinic recently was granted a three-year-approval of their Cancer Program by the Commission on the Cancer of the American College of Surgeons, the highest honor granted by the Commission.

To receive this approval, the clinic had to meet strict clinical, educational and reporting requirements and commit considerable resources to improving patient care, evaluating treatment results and monitoring patients’ conditions during their lifetimes, according to Medical Director Dr. Julian Duttera.

Scout Pursues Eagle ‘By The Book’

A local scout is closing in on his goal of establishing a library at the West Georgia youth Council through a community book drive.

David Johnson, 14, said response to the book drive he is conducting with the help of his Troup 21 has been tremendous so far. Johnson organized the drive as his Eagle Scout service project.

Establishing a library for the on-site school at the Youth Council is essential to its future accreditation. Johnson expects to exceed the minimum requirements of twenty books per student, or 400 books, by a considerable margin.

Books suitable for students may be dropped off at Kroger, Winn-Dixie and downtown churches or pick up may be arranged by calling Johnson at 884-2963.

Firefighters of the year

The LaGrange Optimist Club on Monday honored Derek Boyd and Rodney Gosdin after they were chosen as County – City Firefighters of the Year, respectively.

Boyd joined the county Fire Department in 1976, as a volunteer at the Harrisonville Station. He is a Certified Emergency Medical Technician and helps with fire prevention activities.

Gosdin has been with the City Fire Department for twenty months and recently completed relief driver certification, has conducted numerous fire safety classed and student tours and has volunteered for many local civic events. He is enrolled in the EMT course at the fire department.

LaGrange Junior Olympians Qualify

LaGrange’s Kerry Mikell and Jason Cruce qualified for the National Junior Olympics to be held in California later this month with outstanding performance in Clemson, S.C. Sunday in the Regional Junior Olympics track meet.

Cruce finished third in the shot put competition and Mikell was third in the 1,500 meter run.

Both competed in the under-12-age group. Athletes from six states participated in the Regional Olympics.

Who Said It?

“Half out life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have rushed through life trying to save. Will Rogers

Julia Dyar, a retired journalist, is active in the Troup County Historical Society.