The True Citizen
P.O.Box 948
Waynesboro, GA 30830
(706) 554-2111

Burke RFD

By Bonnie Taylor

January 16, 2002

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Harold Rowland has written a story about the Million Dollar baseball league that was once in Waynesboro. It will run in The True Citizen soon. We are looking for photos to go with the story. If anyone has a photo of the league, players, stadium, and any relation to the team, please share them with our readers. Give Jimmy Ezzell or me a call at 554-2111.

****** I was looking in the old bound volumes of The True Citizen last week for a story written by Billy Hobbs on an upcoming Liquor referendum. I called several people trying to locate the year the referendum was held and the closest I could pinpoint was 1985 or '86. We were not filing the newspaper during that era and it makes it difficult to do research without the files.

As usual when I start looking I get caught up in the history of our county, so I thought I would share some events of 1986 ... a lot went on during the second half of that year. Papa's Pizza opened the week of July 10 next to the Lakeview Restaurant. Mike Oglesby still owns and operates Papa's Pizza but it is now located next door to BI-LO. Pontiac discontinued production of the full-size sedan and Johnson's Garage advertised a few left in stock. Johnson's Garage was the oldest car dealer in Burke County at the time, but they are now out of business. J.C. Palmer Jr., chairman of the board of First National Bank of Waynesboro, died at age 67, after a battle with cancer. He is gone but not forgotten. His son and grandson, Jesse Palmer III and IV, continue the legacy of community banking that his daddy started in 1905.

Juddy Thompson, 32, drowned July 10 off the west coast of Panama, Central American. Juddy will never be forgotten by his family and mates ... Waynesboro High School Class of 1971. Ben Palmer and Harold Rowland were writing for The True Citizen. He is now teaching at Burke County Alternative School. Harold still writes a weekly column and an occasional feature. Clerk of Court Torbit Banks gave his 87th pint of blood on July 9, the 25th anniversary of his gift of life campaign. Torbit died after a battle with cancer several years ago, but he too, will never be forgotten.

Coach David Franks, former head coach of the Johnson County Trojans, accepted the head coaching position for the Hurricanes at Waynesboro High School. Heilig-Meyers moved to its new location on Highway 25 where you could still get your free "mystery gift," just for coming in. Heilig-Meyers is history but Goldberg's Furniture which started the furniture boom here is still in business. Paul Williams was running for a seat on District 3 Burke County Board of Education tooting "quality education for all Burke County." He won his seat and served several terms.

Mr. F.F. Cates was pictured in an advertisement for autos for rent at Cates Auto Sales. Cates Auto Sales is now the home of Burkehaven Corner Store. Blueberry recipes from the Byne family women were featured in the July 17th edition. The Byne Blueberry Farm has grown into a commercial business including jellies, jams and syrups. Lettuce was 44› a head. You can buy it on sale as a lost leader at local grocers for 98›. Piggly Wiggly stopped giving Green Stamps with purchases on Aug. 9. Piggly Wiggly is no longer here either. "Conway Carson" radio personality a/k/a Hal Herrington was featured as following in the footsteps of Tommy Banks, Greg Coursey and Earl Lauderdale who were radio hosts for WBRO. Hal is now manager at Chancy Healthcare Services.

Greg is sheriff of Burke County; Tommy works at Southern Bank and Earl moved away. There was a rainfall deficit of 13.55 inches for the year on July 24. The financially plagued Burke County Hospital asked the county commission for $300,000 to assure viability through the year. The Burke County commission appointed Craig Kennedy corner when coroner Wayne Burke announced he was moving. Courtney Barefield and Jenny Chalker were among 19 swimmers who participated in the Waynesboro Swim Team first interclub meet on July 14 at the Waynesboro Country Club. Eugenia Sikes of Midville was published in her book of poetry, Gleanings. The Burke County Chamber of Commerce and Burke County Development Authority moved into their new office on Sixth St. They are still located in the same office.

Bankers First began an ad campaign entitled "Let's Get Personal." Bankers First is no longer in Waynesboro. R.U. Harden conducted a sale at the Burke County Courthouse on the foreclosure of the county farms. Local farmers picketed the sale. Vanessa Chance was crowned Miss Black Burke County. A groundbreaking ceremony for West Gate Subdivision was held with Waynesboro City Councilmen Harvey Sapp, Tat Thomson, G. Samuel Stone; developer Freddie McKinney; administrator Jack Brantley; and Mayor George DeLoach shoveling the parcel. Mr. Harvey and Mr. Freddie are not longer with us but will always be remembered for their devotion to this community. Jack will retire this year and George is now a congressman. Due to the drought and a huge hay shortage, 5,000 bales of hay were donated to local livestock producers. Heilig Meyers furniture trucks delivered the hay from farms in Ohio and Pennsylvania as part of the Mennonite Disaster Relief Fund. Gov. Joe Frank Harris introduces a statewide "Don't Drink and Drive" campaign.

The county gave a nod to $629,980 to construct a new Burke County Health Department. A new U.S. Post Office was under construction in Waynesboro. Burke County Superintendent J.D. Smith was the driving force behind the construction of the new 223,402 sq. ft. Burke County Comprehensive High School that will accommodate 1,250 students in grades 9-12, a gymnasium for 2,200 spectators, and parking lot for 1,000 vehicles on the 51-acre complex. Electronic switching equipment "ESS" computerizing and automating local phone exchanges in Waynesboro and Sardis were added allowing for full touch tone dialing and other electronic options. What else has been added since then? Doyle Street was renamed Martin Luther King Drive on Sept. 27. Linda Bailey was named Teacher of the Year. Southern Auto Associate Store opened at their new location on the corner of Academy and Sixth streets, continuing as one of Burke's oldest businesses. George Mires and Clifford Jones, owners of East Georgia Motors signed a contract to purchase 14 acres of land from Henry Hopkins Jr. at Hwy. 25 north at the city limits sign to build a new dealership.

Paul Shivers local real estate broker was quoted, "New location proves beneficial to development of north side of city." How right he was. The Empty Stocking Fund goal was $8,000. Burke Countians have been generous, giving more than $20,000 this year. White Columns Woman's Club was chartered with 19 members. They are still meeting today. Hospital administrator Jim Emery announced he was leaving to go into the ministry. Local and national leader Porter Carswell died at age 82. The Town and Country Woman's Club Christmas Tour of Homes was a tremendous success and still continues. Bonnie Patrice Jenkins was named the DAR Good Citizen. Bonnie is now Dr. Bonnie Jenkins. The end of the year showed a profit for Burke County Hospital with all employees getting a 2 percent raise. The Waynesboro Hurricanes won the Christmas Classic Championship.

We are compiling a new list of veterans. We need the names of all veterans, no matter which war they served in. We need their name, branch of service and the years they served. Special pages are planned for Memorial Day either May 22 or 29. Please send names and information to:

The True Citizen , P.O. Box 948, Waynesboro, Ga. 30830,
attention: Bonnie Taylor.