Memoried Glances: LaGrange in 1990 — Senator gets involved in downtown plans

Published 12:00 am Saturday, September 26, 2015

Memoried Glances

Julia Dyar

Contributing columnist

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Septembers past, 25 years ago.

From the LaGrange Daily News, 1990

Front Page News

Post Office, Government Center Sought — A study commissioned by the LaGrange Downtown Development Authority recommends a site be acquired in the downtown area for a federal/state office building and post office.

The authority commissioned the $5,000 study last March from Dale Henson Associates Inc. of Atlanta. Since then, United States Sen. Sam Nunn has gotten involved. The senator asked the General Services Administration for a separate report, which has also now been completed.

The Henson study recommends a site of eight to 10 acres. It would include a government center of about 50,000 to 60,000 square feet and a post office of about 25,000 to 30,000 square feet with shared infrastructure, landscaping and customer parking.

The post office lease expires in 1992, and a new facility is supposed to be built under a five-year plan by the Postal Service.

Federal and state offices currently occupy about 47,800 square feet in scattered locations in LaGrange and the total monthly rent is about $20,500, or an average of $12 per square foot, according to the report.

Getting a New Look — The “1950s” look of the LaGrange Police Department will soon be updated as renovations continue on the building. City Manager Jim Hanson said the $690,361 project, which began Aug. 6, is expected to be completed by Feb. 22, 1991.

The remodeled section will take in the former Recorder’s Court building and includes offices for the police chief and detective investigations. Currently, officers are working out of the former public works section while their future, modernized offices are gutted for renovation.

Scholarship Panel to Sponsor Miss Troup — Jim Neighbors, coordinator for the Miss Troup County Pageant for the past 15 years, today announced the formation of the Miss Troup County Scholarship Program Inc., an organization composed of local supporters who will sponsor the annual project.

Previously the event has been conducted by local civic organizations and the LaGrange College fraternities.

The pageant is a preliminary to the Miss Georgia Pageant, a preliminary to the Miss America Pageant.

In the Persian Gulf — Army Chaplain Dan Payne of LaGrange is leading worship services for our servicemen in Saudi Arabia.

A LaGrange High School graduate, Capt. Payne is in the 24th infantry out of Fort Stewart, Georgia.

Saudi law forbids all but Islamic religious rites in that country, but Christian worship services for our troops have been held “quietly and discreetly,” and Pentagon reports describe them as well-attended.

Also in the Gulf with the 24th Infantry is Staff Sgt. Jerome Swanson of LaGrange.

Former Granger Star Lands Starting Job with the New York Jets — When the NY Jets take the field against the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL season opener on Sunday, some of the most excited Jets fans will be from LaGrange.

So will one of the starting players.

Tony Stargell, a standout on the LHS Granger squads of the mid-1980s and a third-round pick in the recent NFL draft, will start at left cornerback for the Jets. He is the only NY rookie to land a starting defensive job.

Linch Named Troup Teacher of the Year — Joyce Harris Linch, a kindergarten teacher at Mountville Elementary School, has been named Troup Teacher of the Year in the Troup County School System.

Mrs. Linch, who began her career in 1960 at Rosemont Elementary School, will now compete for Georgia Teacher of the Year.

Merit Semifinalists — LaGrange High School seniors Jim Thornton and Nell Ma’Luf have been named semifinalists in the 1991 National Merit Scholarship competition.

Students recognized represent the top one half of 1 percent of each state’s graduating classes and are eligible to seek advancement to the finalist level in order to be considered for Merit Scholarship.

Langford Gets First-Ever Hole-in-One — Playing in a Labor Day scramble, golfer Phil Langford of LaGrange didn’t have to labor very hard — on one hole at least — when he aced the 15th hole (a 130-yard, par three) at Highland Country Club on Sunday.

Langford teamed with Dan Lee, Tom Davis and California resident Roger Dye for the scramble.

On an Average Day in 1990 — The U.S. Government pays $445,305,480 in interest on the national debt.

3,477 abortions are performed. Of these, 769 are for women under 20; 29 are for girls under 15.

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