Junes past, 25 years ago.

From LaGrange Daily News, 1990.

Front Page News

Troup County Sets $13.7 Million Budget — The Troup County Board of Commissioners today approved a budget of $13,761,895 for the 1991 fiscal year, an increase of $2,016,376 over the current fiscal year, or 17 percent.

Commissioners said the budget falls within projected revenues, but they won’t know for sure until the tax digest is completed later this summer.

The commissioners said they may have to sacrifice any contingency funds to avoid a tax rate increase.

Property taxes are expected to generate approximately $5.9 million, and the 1 percent sales tax about $2.2 million. The remainder will come from other sources such as court fines and licenses and permit fees.

Sister City visitors Due Here for Parade — Young people from LaGrange’s sister cities in Japan and Soviet Georgia will participate this year in the Sweet Land of Liberty Parade on July 4.

Two youngsters and a translator from Poti, Soviet Georgia, will arrive late Saturday, according to representatives of L.I.F.E., the LaGrange International Friendship Exchange, which is organizing their agendas. The 15 and 17 year olds will be guests of Cathy and Pete Newman during their stay here. Their translator will be the guest of Jim and Annette Boyd.

On Tuesday, two 18 year olds from Japan will arrive in LaGrange and will be guests of Pam and Cornelius Herndon.

The visitors will ride on special floats in the July 4th parade.

A Fond Farewell — Dawson School principal Ellen Partridge received many farewells this week as she retires ending a 33-year career as an educator. She spent a quarter-century at Dawson, which also ends its “career” as an elementary school this year.

The facility may continue in use as an alternative school or in some other school-related capacity.

Other LaGrange School System teachers retiring this year and receiving tearful farewells are Mary Shrewsbury, East Side Primary; Johnnie Hogg, South Side Primary; Murbes Shepherd, Dawson Elementary; Dick Shrewsbury, LaGrange High School; and Oliver Greene and Robert Jeffries, both of LaGrange Boys Junior High.

Four Troup County teachers are retiring this year: Mary Freeman, West Point Elementary; Nan Curry, Troup County High School; Rosa L. Dunn, Long Cane Elementary and John Carmichael, Lee’s Crossing Middle School.

Paintings Commemorate School Class — Eighth grade art students of Susan Eleazar at Boys Junior High School created four acrylic paintings to commemorate their school’s closing. The paintings will be on permanent display in the Board of Education’s meeting room at the Instructional Services Building on Mooty Bridge Road.

Among the students working on the project were Eric Davidson, Robb Paulk, Mario Hairston and Jamie Blair.

Local Grad to Leningrad — Amy Carwell claims her diploma with other 1990 grads tonight, but the LaGrange High School senior won’t be taking the traditional Florida trip to celebrate her graduation. She’ll be going to the Soviet Union.

Amy is one of 30 students nationwide tapped for the prestigious Giraffe Award, an honor that goes to students who “stick their necks out to make the world a better place.”

Amy and the other 29 honorees will visit the USSR as a group beginning June 23.

Amy became involved with the Cities in Schools project at LHS when it was initiated at the beginning of the past school year. As a part of her work, Amy tutored at-risk students and helped them with their homework after school. She also brought them to school when they needed transportation.

Amy plans to major in special education at West Georgia College and hopes to teach special education as well as Cities in Schools classes.

Mayor Joseph to Receive CPA Public Service Award — LaGrange Mayor Chris Joseph has been selected to receive the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants’ Public Service Award.

Sponsored in conjunction with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the award is designed to encourage more CPAs to become actively involved in public service.

LaGrange Secretary Named Tops in State — Freida Hart, 1989 Secretary of the Year for the LaGrange chapter of Professional Secretaries International, or PSI, was named Georgia Division Secretary of the Year at the 36th annual meeting of the PSI held in Savannah.

Ms. Hart was among three finalists selected on the basis of education, participation in PSI functions and recommendations of their executives. Final selection was made after the three candidates competed in interviews held before the entire delegation of the PSI membership at the annual meeting.

Ms. Hart, who is administrative secretary/assistant to Mark Trail, area director of the Chatt-Flint Area Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Program, will represent Georgia as a candidate for the International Secretary of the Year scheduled later this year in Salt Lake City, Utah.