Time capsule

As reported in The Columbia News 34 years ago on Thursday, October 10, 1968.

Grovetown post office construction approved

The go-ahead was given on the construction of Grovetown's new post office building Thursday with G.W. Ferguson as the chosen bidder for the project.

The new facility will be located adjacent to the existing post office on Robinson Avenue, the General Services Administration notice stated. It will contain 1,500-square-feet of interior space, a 96-square-foot outside platform and a 4,000-square-foot paved area.

There will be a five-year lease with three five-year renewal options on the building.

Harlem High student qualifies for Merit scholarship

Gloria Craig, a senior at Harlem High School, was among 165 semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship tests. A total of 8,349 students took the exam, but Gloria is the only qualifying student from Columbia County.

More than 95 percent of semifinalists are expected to go on to qualify as finalists. Qualified semifinalists showed high scores on college board tests and must fill out a questionnaire used to judge leadership, character and need.

Marksmanship will be taught to Evans team

The Evans High School Rifle Team will receive professional marksmanship training from from U.S. Marines including Staff Sergeant Allen Morrison on Monday evening at the Marine Corps Reserve Unit.

Stressing safety, the group will practice until Morrison feels they are ready for competition. Ten sharpshooters will be chosen to compete against similar teams from North Augusta and Aiken.

Two service stations robbed in Martinez

The Texaco and Shell service stations, both in Martinez and owned by Billy Robinson, were robbed during the night earlier this week.

Robinson said someone entered the Texaco by breaking the front glass door. An adding machine, two hub caps and cigarettes were taken. Money also was taken from a soda machine and cigarettes from a cigarette machine in front of the station.

This makes the eighth time in three years Mr. Robinson's stations have been robbed. The last time, he was convinced not to press charges because the perpetrators were youngsters.

"This time, I do not care who it is, I am going all the way!" Robinson said.

The Shell station, further down Washington Road in Richmond County, reported a cash register and several tire tubes taken.