Sunday, June 29, 2003

Owners, officials pin hopes on new restaurant's success
THOMSON - Thomson residents finally have a place nearby for those midnight cravings.

County wants restaurant input
Columbia County is planning to enter the restaurant business.

New McDuffie paper selects editor
THOMSON - A Thomson native has been lured home by McDuffie County's newest newspaper.

'News-Times' wins 18 Georgia newspaper awards
The Columbia County News-Timeshas been named again among Georgia's best newspapers.

Meetings to revisit chairman proposal
Columbia County school board Chairman Wayne Bridges has called a public meeting July 14 to discuss the issue of having a county-wide elected school board chairman.

Language funding comes through
Denise Rosenzweig just couldn't stop smiling. The news she'd been waiting to hear had arrived: Gov. Sonny Purdue had released money for the Georgia's pilot elementary foreign-language program.

Weather delays bike-path project
Columbia County bicyclists will have to wait at least two more months before riding an extended bike path next to Evans-to-Locks Road.

Brush named to board that will study testing
State Sen. Joey Brush said he hopes to have an impact on education in Georgia by serving on a committee that will study testing.

Dance club draws diverse young crowd
Blame it on the movies. For Augusta State University sophomore Angela Verdecchia, it was Grease, Saturday Night Fever and Footloose.

Package store raises eyebrows near lake
A planned restaurant and package store in Leah is drawing dismay from some residents and interest from others.

Holiday charity starts in Harlem
The city of Harlem is getting a head start on the holiday charity drives with Christmas in July.

Pupils show improved reading, writing
THOMSON - McDuffie County school officials are starting to see the benefits of an emphasis on writing and reading skills.

Clerical error invalidates pouring license
THOMSON - Because ofa paperwork error, the McDuffie County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to rescind the recently-awarded alcoholic-beverage license to Jay's Cafe Lounge Wednesday morning.

Authority considers changes downtown
THOMSON - City leaders say change in Thomson's struggling downtown sector is coming.

Budget keeps school taxes down
Columbia County taxpayers will not see an increase in school taxes this year under a budget that was approved by the school board Tuesday night.

Property transfers
Samuel Lee Farmer to Paul Lee Farmer, 3618 Old Petersburg Road, $20,000.

On parade
Evans High School Knight Battalion Commander Michael Rivera (from left) stands with his parents, Helen Rivera and Army Col. David Rivera. The battalion held its annual spring review just before the end of the school year. Riveras father, chief of surgery at Eisenhower Army Medical Center, reviewed the troops.

Current events
The Columbia County Extension Service will hold a lunch seminar on ornamental grasses at the Columbia County Government Complex Auditorium on July 2 from 12:10 to 12:45 p.m.

Police blotter
The following accounts were taken from reports filed with the Columbia County Sheriff's office.

Time capsule
As reported in The Columbia News 27 years ago Wednesday, June 23, 1976.

Horse-judging honors
The Columbia County Senior Horse Judging Team earned fourth place at the State 4-H Horse Judging Contest at the University of Georgia on May 17. Team members Jennifer Robbellen, Melissa Powell, Victoria Paul and Lauren Gordon judged confirmation classes, pleasure classes and the individual event class.

Get up and go
The Church of the Most Holy Trinity is accepting registration for the Mother's Day Out/Preschool Program to begin Aug. 18 for children walking through four years of age. For more information, call the PRE office at 722-4400.

Fee hikes better than tax increase
The cost for participating in Columbia County Recrea-tion Department activities is rising. Starting Tuesday, fees for animal control services go up, too.

Keep Sabbath day sort of holy
The Sabbath is a day of rest ordained by God; It is a holy gift!

Parlez vous good news?
Jane Elliott, my oldest daughters high-school French teacher, called the other day to tell me too much of my recent stuff had seemed gloomy.

Area is breeding ground for champions
From the 1983 season until the recently completed prep campaign this spring, Columbia County has been blessed with some amazing talent on the high-school diamonds.

Memorial tennis tourney scheduled
The 2003 Mark Brown Memorial Tennis Tournament will be at Petersburg Racquet Club in Martinez and The Club at Raes Creek in Augusta. The Club at Raes Creek will play host to the adult event July 9-13, and Petersburg will play host to the junior event July 11-13.

Lucky fan wins her idol's jersey
Mike and Jennifer Houk were in Atlanta last weekend celebrating their wedding anniversary, and on the spur of the moment they decided to take their 6-year-old son, Zach, to Saturday's baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the Baltimore Orioles.