Time capsule
As published 44 years ago in The Columbia News, Sept. 10, 1959:
Ride through fire
A "high speed" tractor ride through a burning inferno provided one of the Georgia Forestry Commission's youngest rangers with the most excitement since taking over the No. 1 spot in Columbia County last January.
Lonnie Morris, 22, of Appling, protects Columbia County's 132,000 acres of woodlands through his job as forest ranger for Columbia County.
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He was the subject for a short sketch in a series of articles about area rangers which is appearing in an Augusta newspaper.
Ranger Morris' big moment of danger came last year when he was forced to drive his tractor through a wall of roaring flames which had raged out of control in the 10-14 mph wind.
Dove season opens
Georgia dove hunters can expect some good hunting this fall - if the doves decide to get together. State Game and Fish Department Director Fulton Lovell said technical data collected by his agency reveals a bumper dove crop.
But shooting may not be as good as expected, he said, if the birds fail to concentrate before opening day next Wednesday.
"Changing agricultural practices have caused a great decline in concentrations," Lovell said. "Last year there were plenty of doves around but not too many heavy concentrations."
PTA officers named
Appling was selected as the site for the fall conference of the district Parent-Teacher Association, it was announced after the executive committee of the 11th District division of the Georgia Congress of Parents and Teachers, Inc., met in Wrens last week to make plans for the coming year.
The annual meeting will be held Oct. 22, 1959 at the Community House in Appling.
The theme for the day will be "Looking In On Your School." Mrs. J.R. Penson Jr. of Baconton, state president of the Georgia Congress of Parents and Teachers, will be guest speaker for the day.
Fort Gordon football
Fort Gordon opens its 1959 football season at home Saturday against Norfolk Navy Base. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m.
Capt. John C. Ladd, Fort Gordon coach, rates the game as a toss-up. It also will be the first game of the season for the Navy.
Fort Gordon's starting lineup contains four veterans from the 1958 11, which ended the year with a 3-4 record. Returning are tackle Bill Hudson, center Thomas Mull, guard Willie Ricks and quarterback Don Palmer.
Saturday's game will open a 10-game Fort Gordon schedule, considered one of the toughest in service football.
Missionaries speak
The Rev. Herbert Whitaker, pastor of Old Union Church, has announced that in cooperation with the Kilpatrick Baptist Associational School of Missions being held Sept. 13-18, there will be a different missionary speaking each day at the Old Union Church near Harlem.
The public and neighboring churches are invited to attend.