Decembers past, 50 years ago.

From the LaGrange Daily News, 1965.

Front Page News

Sign Erected, Ceremony Set for West Point Dam — The first official sign for the $64.2 million West Point Dam was erected Wednesday afternoon following a planning session for the start of construction of the giant project.

Col. Paul W. Ramee, Savannah district engineer, told the planners that construction should get underway by mid-February of next year.

Ramee said the Corps of Engineers will announce the actual date of construction as soon as the first contract has been let. He said bids are already in and that the contract letting should take place about Jan. 15.

He noted that the groundbreaking ceremony will coincide with the actual start of the construction.

Most of the land for the dam site has been purchased. A total of 50,000 acres will be purchased for the entire project.

Troup Retail Sales Increase $3 Million — Troup County led the six-county area during the third quarter of the year with an increase in retail sales of $3 million.

Sales for the third quarter this year in Troup were $20,966,553 as compared with $17,993,439 for the same period last year.

Coweta County was up more than $1 million in retail sales; Heard County sales jumped about $100,000; Harris County showed an increase of over $300,000; Meriwether County was up over $800,000. The larger county of Muscogee showed only a slight gain of about $200,000.

Retail sales in Troup County have been up consistently during the past several years. This year’s increase promises to be the largest in history.

Figures for retail sales are provided by the Georgia Sales and Use Tax Collections and the Georgia Department of Labor.

Commissioners Approve Study for County-Wide Water System — Troup County Commissioners Tuesday approved a request to study the feasibility of a county-wide water system.

The board adopted a resolution giving permission to a consulting engineer to make necessary investigation to determine if a water system can be operated in the county.

The consulting engineers required official permission so that all available information can be gathered in the study.

The initial study will involve no cost or obligation to Troup County.

Local Airport Included in FAA Plan — Congressman John J. Flynt Jr. today announced that the Callaway Airport in LaGrange has been included in the 1965 National Airport Plan prepared by the Federal Aviation Agency.

The plan covers fiscal years 1966 through 1970, and represents the Federal Aviation Agency’s appraisal of the nation’s civil airport requirements for the time period.

The suggested development for the Callaway Airport in the 1965 National Airport Plan includes land, strengthening the runway and other miscellaneous improvements.

Hall of Fame Awards at LHS — Two were added to the Hall of Fame at LaGrange High School’s annual football awards banquet on Thursday night.

Freeman “Dusty” Mills and Coach Al Mariotti were inducted into the Hall of Fame prior to the awarding of other 1965 football awards.

Mills, now head coach at Troup High School, won three football letters at LaGrange High School and was named All Region All-Southern and All-American. He quarterbacked the 1955 state championship team.

Mariotti came to LaGrange High in 1945 and posted a 8-21-1 record as football coach. He coached basketball for 17 years and recorded a 253-78 won-loss record.

He coached the fourth district Class C champs in 1949, region and state champs in 1952, region champs in 1960 and 1962. He was named Georgia Coach of the Year in 1959. He moved to LaGrange College and has recorded a 40-32 record there in basketball.

Cotillion Club Introduces New Members Tonight — The LaGrange Cotillion Club will introduce its 13 new members at the annual Christmas Ball tonight at the Highland Country Club.

New members are Marie Boatwright, Mary Lloyd Brinks, Marie Daniel, Carol Evans, Kathryn Harwell, Pamela Herault, Sally Nixon, Katherine Quillan, Virginia Shackelford, Joan Smith, Mary Grace Waid, Katherine Whitner and Susan Williams.

Club Collects Clothing for Christmas — The Troup High School Junior Tri-Hi-Y is spreading their Christmas spirit this year by collecting clothes for the children of the surrounding areas, and sending Christmas cards to the Troup County boys in Vietnam.

They hope that their Christmas spirit will be enjoyed by those who receive it.