Time capsule

As reported 31 years ago in The Columbia News and The Martinez-Evans Times, Jan. 24, 1973:

Hospital construction

The second-largest hospital construction project ever undertaken by the U.S. Army is more than two-thirds complete, according to Maj. D.J. Kitchin, project officer for the Dwight D. Eisenhower General Hospital at Fort Gordon.

The nine-story building, expected to cost nearly $38 million when fully equipped, will be ready for operation by late 1974.

The new facility ranks in size behind only Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Queen competes

Miss Debbie Postell, Columbia County's reigning Fair Queen, left Jan. 19, 1973 to participate in the State Agriculture Beauty Pageant at the Convention Hall in Atlanta. She will be staying at the Atlanta American Motor Hotel.

Debbie will compete with all fair queens in Georgia. First prize will be a $300 scholarship. More than 30 contestants will compete in swimsuit and evening gown events. No talent category will be involved.

Debbie will be chaperoned by Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Bivens. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Postell, and David Huguenin, will accompany Debbie to Atlanta.

Bluegrass show

The Harlem Lions Club will sponsor its first bluegrass and country music show Feb. 3, 1973 in the Harlem High School Gym.

According to chairman C.D. Morris, this will be one of the finest entertainments a family can enjoy.

A bluegrass band from Carrollton, Ga., which has appeared in many parts of the country, will be featured. Others will be the Morris Band with Pete Morris, Ed Hurt and the Cross Country Bluegrass Cutups Band; Joe and Darris Wheeler; and John Pierce Blanchard and his fiddle.

Bazaar planned

The Evans Extension Homemakers Club held its January meeting at the clubhouse on Owens Road. Mrs. Jim Cadle, president, gave a report on the club's cookbook, "Recipes in Good Taste," which has received very good comments.

The club members will start in February making handcrafted items for the annual barbecue and bazaar to be held in the fall.

Officials sworn in

Members of Columbia County's Board of Commissioners and Board of Education were sworn in for 1973 by Columbia County Ordinary Kathryn Morris. Morris read the oaths of office to School Board members Larry Prather, Douglas Luke, Guy Fleming Jr., James Camak and George Kelley. Commissioners sworn in were Buck Story, Ted Lane, G. Baxley Huffman, Jim Blanchard Jr. and Paul Blanchard.