Julys past, 50 years ago.

From the LaGrange Daily News, 1966.

Front Page News

City Earns Coveted Certificate Of Merit — LaGrange recently received the coveted Certificate of Merit for participation in the Certified City Program sponsored by the Industrial Development Division of Georgia Tech.

City Manager Bruce Lovvorn and Mayor Gardner Newman said they were notified of LaGrange’s placement in the statewide contest.

LaGrange scored 1,587 1/2 points, or 28 percent, in excess of the 1,240 minimum required for the Bronze basic rating.

According to the results, LaGrange scored extremely high in 16 of the 19 categories. The areas of deficiency are being addressed.

Officials said that LaGrange entered the evaluation to find out how the city stands in terms of city attractiveness to industry and business and “were quite pleased with the results.”

LaGrange To Comply With Federal Civil Rights Act — In answer to questions raised by several citizens of the community, the announcement was made this morning by Mayor Gardner Newman, on behalf of the City Council, that the city of LaGrange intends to comply completely with the Federal Civil Rights Act in the operation of all public facilities. This includes the city-owned swimming pool.

Mayor Newman said, “The city of LaGrange recognizes its responsibility to abide by and enforce laws in every area of community life. We are reaffirming our previous actions that the city will not tolerate any unlawful actions on the part of any of our citizens.”

Acreage At West Point Is Reserved For Park — The Parks Commission of the Valley Chamber of Commerce received word this week that 272 acres along the shore line of the West Point Reservoir had been reserved for a municipal park, according to R.L. Bechmann, chairman of the commission.

Bechmann said that an additional 207 acres adjacent to the reserved property was being requested for use in the municipal park. The already reserved area will be for public use, such as picnics, cook-outs and boat launching. The additional land will be used for camping.

The commission has already approached the states of Georgia and Alabama parks departments for their participation in respective statewide plans.

It has been estimated that each tourist spends $9.25, which means that if the West Point Dam draws tourists as predicted, 1 million people are expected the first year. This means that some $9 million could be spent fn the area, which would be a great economic boost.

Trench At Damsite To Save $250,000 — Taxpayers of the United States have been saved $250,000 in the construction of the West Point Dam, located on the Chattahoochee River near West Point, Georgia, and Lanett, Alabama, by applying the principals of value engineering to obtain the required function at the lowest possible cost.

In the design of the west earth embankment, William K. Thompson Jr., Chief of the Foundations & Materials Branch for the Savannah District Army Engineers, recommended that a slurry trench, 2,800 feet long, be dug in front of the dam and backfilled to provide an impervious barrier to seepage from the base of the dam to the top of rock.

This innovation will save $250,000 construction costs compared to the conventional practice of providing a dewatering system during excavation of the dam proper.

The firm constructing the embankment expects to have the trench dug by the latter part of September.

Groundbreaking Ceremony Held — Groundbreaking ceremonies were held Sunday for the new Educational Building at Dunson Baptist Church.

The building will consist of 19 Sunday school rooms, two assembly rooms, two rest rooms and a church office. The building, 102 feet by 48 feet, will have central heating and air conditioning.

The Rev. Buddy York is pastor.

D.A.R. Essay Contest Winners Announced — The 1966 winners in the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution’s essay contest have been announced. Subject of this year’s contest was “George Washington’s Advice, As It Was Important In Revolutionary Times And Is Still Vital Today.”

All students in the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades were eligible.

First place winners will be entered in the state and national D.A.R. contests. Essays were judged on interest, accuracy, originality and composition.

Fifth grade winners were: Marian Scott, first; Catherine Goodwin, second.

Glenda Spruill placed first in the sixth grade; Ellen Myhand, second.

Seventh grade winner was Deborah Dukes; Kathy Ouzts was second.

First place winning essay in the eighth grade was written by June Spruill, sister of the first place winner in the sixth grade; Jean Harris, second place.

The D.A.R. American History Awards for the highest grades in American history in high school were Bob Bradfield and Patty Solomon.