Time capsule

As reported in The Columbia News 24 years ago, Dec. 14, 1977

Complex construction begun

Members of the Columbia County Board of Commissioners participated in a ground-breaking ceremony for the new Administrative Complex on Davis Road in Martinez Monday afternoon.

Commissioners Vince Robertson, Dillard Watkins and U.H. Pittman reviewed architectural plans with Planning and Zoning Director Steve Szablewski and later broke ground for the new county office building.

Construction of the building will be completed within 210 days. It is being built by H.W. Duffie Construction Company. The building, containing 1 1/2 floors, will cost $118,000, $91,000 of which was made available through an Economic Development Authority grant.

The new building will house the offices of Planning and Zoning, Engineering, Comptroller and Personnel.

Grovetown election results

Last week's Grovetown City election returns showed all three incumbents removed from office.

Incumbent Mayor Leon Davidson, Councilmen Robert Deckert and Herman Austin lost by narrow margins to their opponents Eual Dean Lynn, Bob Hunsucker and James Reese. The results of the Dec. 7 election showed Davidson, with 284 votes, losing to Lynn's 297. Austin received 280 votes; Deckert 287; Hunsucker 292; and Reese, 296. More than 75 percent of registered voters turned out for the election.

League plans name change

During the December meeting of the Martinez-Evans Citizens League, Monday night, a motion was made to change the name of that organization.

League member and editor of the League's newsletter, Robert Owens, state that the group was experiencing growth in all parts of the county and recommended that its name reflect the county-wide representation.

He suggested the name Columbia County Citizens League would be more appropriate.

Harlem election returns

All incumbents retained their offices in the Harlem City elections Monday.

Mayor James B. Lewis was reelected to a second term as were Councilmen Edgar D. Clary III and C.D. Morris.

A total of 364 citizens voted in the election. Lewis received 205 votes, Oscar Willis received 113 and B.M. Edmunds received 43 votes in the mayor's race.

Clary received 288 votes; Morris, 190; and David Cray, 148 in the council race. Since voters voted for two councilmen, these totals are higher than those in the mayor's contest.