Time capsule

As reported 49 years ago in The Columbia News, Sept. 2, 1954:

Record enrollment

All the schools of Columbia County opened on regular schedule on Monday morning, Aug. 30, 1954, with a record enrollment.

The approximate enrollment for white school was Harlem, 476; Evans, 490; Grovetown, 202; Leah, 84; Appling, 51.

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A total of about 1,308 Negro pupils were enrolled in Columbia County.

This will give Columbia County approximately 2,700 in enrollment at the beginning of the first week.

Drink, drive, die

To motorists planning Labor Day weekend trips, Col. W.C. Dominy, head of the Georgia State Patrol, issued a stern warning last week. In effect, Col. Dominy warned against speeding, drinking and driving, driving on the wrong side of the road and a general disregard of traffic laws.

"These are our most common killers, and they are particularly in evidence during holiday travel," Col Dominy stated. "Too many motorists try to cover too many miles and instead of reaching their destination, they end up on a mortician's slab."

State patrol officials fear a possibility of 200 accidents, 100 injuries and at least 10 deaths over the Labor Day weekend.

Kiokee drama

Kiokee Church in Appling was the scene of the second presentation of Mrs. Lucy Hamilton Howard's play entitled "God's Lamplighter Comes to Kiokee,' Aug. 25, 1954, to a large group of members at the church, people from the surrounding communities, Thomson, Wrens and Augusta. The premier showing was in the Wrens Baptist Church.

The writing of the play revealed much hard work on the part of Mrs. Howard as she assembled authenticated incidents in the history preserved. It took time, research and ability to produce the play and leads to the conclusion that she was inspired with loved and appreciation of the sacred history.

Air travel film

The Harlem Rotary Club was well-attended on Monday night and Marion Luckey welcomed visitors from Thomson, Lawrence Knox, Leonard Turner and Al Williams.

A delightful musical program entertained the members and guests.

Francis Tracy was program chairman and, withy the assistance of Tom Whitfield, an air travel film was shown with Nassau included in the places visited, which proved to be both instructive and entertaining.

Election Wednesday

Columbia County voters will go the polls next Wednesday to join other citizens of Georgia in electing state officials for the coming four years.

The only local race holding the attention of voters is the contest for judge of superior court in which John C. Bell, Augusta attorney, is seeking to unseat incumbent Judge Grover C. Anderson.

Local candidates nominated without opposition are E.D. Clary Jr. as state senator from the 29th senatorial district, and Glenn S. Phillips, representative from Columbia County and the General Assembly.

Logan welcomed home

It is good news to her many friends that Mrs. Chester Logan has returned to her home here after a month spent with her daughter and family in Bell Gardens, Calif., where she went to welcome little Glen Allen on his arrival to the home.

Mrs. Logan reports a wonderful trip with much sightseeing to enjoy, some of which she will tell about in detail as soon as she can collect her thoughts, since she only arrived Sunday afternoon by bus from Atlanta, where she had visited her sister and nephew, the Jordan family, to break up her trip for the weekend.