Time capsule

As reported in The Columbia News 34 years ago on Thursday, Jan. 15, 1969.

Merchants board negotiating land

The board of directors of the Martinez Merchants Association is currently in negotiations for a piece of land that will be the growing association's permanent home and be large enough to house all of it's activities for 1970.

According to Raymond Bivens, association president, business trends should be good in 1970 and the Martinez area would likely benefit from the trends and experience considerable expansion next year.

Bivens feels the association should incorporate a well-planned program geared to the progress of the community. Proposals for the new site would be one of the first steps in planning.

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Martinez department votes in two administrators

Business at the Martinez Volunteer Fire Department's annual subscriber meeting Tuesday included electing two new officers to three-year terms on the board of directors.

Jack G. Reese, assistant chief for two years, and Bill Howell, longtime training instructor, were elected to fill the two open board seats.

Other business at the meeting included the approval given to the board by change of by laws to raise subscriber fees to $15 per year.

Women countywide join together for Mother's March

Mothers from Evans, Martinez, Grovetown, Harlem, Appling and Winfield have come together to plan the annual January March of Dimes Mother's March scheduled for Monday, Jan. 19. The March of Dimes raises funds for the prevention and treatment of birth defects.

"We have all known, directly or indirectly, the tragedy of parents whose child was born less than perfect," said Columbia County March of Dimes director U.H. Pittman. "This family heartache must end."

The group sets aside January to ask for public support of it's year-round programs, which include prevention, patient care, research, community service and education.

Fort Gordon to cut civilians

The Department of the Army recently announced that due to reductions in expenditures, it will be necessary to lower the civilian employment ceiling by 280. The reduction will bring civilian employees at Fort Gordon to 3,570.

The reductions affects 43 Department of the Army installations across the country and approximately 5,000 people.

Each career civil service employee will receive a 60-day notice. The reduction in force should be complete within two months.