Time capsule

As reported 26 years ago in The Columbia News, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 1978:

Commissioner removed

The Columbia County Board of Commissioners removed Chairman Lynn Norris as representative to the police board of the CETA (Comprehensive Employment and Training Act) Consortium, in action labeled by the chairman as "a slap in the face." Commissioner U.H. Pittman was named as representative for a one-year term. Commissioner Vince Robertson is his alternative.

Norris said, "it looks like they've (Commissioners Dillard Watkins, Pittman and Robertson) accomplished all they've been after for six months."

Norris told the citizens present at Tuesday's regular commission meeting in Appling that he had talked the matter over with the commission. "I feel like it's a slap in the face to the chairman. I was elected by the people of Columbia County with the greatest majority in the history of this county. But if they feel that that's what they want to do, that's the law, and I will abide by the law." Norris added, "we are the only county of the 13 in this consortium that has passed such a ruling as this."

Building approved

The Columbia County Board of Education approved the final plans and specifications for the new Evans Comprehensive High School Tuesday during its monthly board meeting in Appling. The plans and specifications now go to the state Department of Education for final review.

A report was presented to the board on the progress of the site for a new comprehensive high school for the Harlem area. The board approved a topographical survey and soil boring test to be performed at the present proposed site area. Based on satisfactory survey and test results, the present site configuration would be approved as the site area.

Clerk raises

The Columbia County Commission met in closed session last Tuesday night, and approved pay raises for clerks Pam Hardaway and Jennie Tankersley.

According to Chairman Lynn Norris, Hardaway and Tankersley were the only two in the county who didn't receive a 7 percent raise at the first of the year.

When asked why the two, who worked in Norris' office, did not receive the raises Jan. 1, Norris replied, "I'd like to know myself. They were excluded for some reason. They were discriminated against, I think."

County Comptroller Jack O'Brien said that any requests or non-requests for pay raises were in the budget recently passed by the commission.

According to O'Brien, the omission of Hardaway and Tankersley from the raises could have been noticed before the budget was passed.

"They were given copies of their own investigation, and they passed (the requests) with no problem. They looked at the bottom line and compared the figure to last year and said OK, they just didn't see all the detail," said O'Brien.

Special-education rating

The Columbia County Schools rated very high during last week's evaluation of the Special Education Program. The purpose of these evaluations are to check for compliance with the Education of All Handicapped Act. The Columbia County Schools were in almost total compliance. Martha Henderson, leader of the evaluation team, was most pleased with the evaluation. She stated that Columbia County was to be complimented for its response to be monitored. Only one third of the schools in Georgia will be monitored this year.

The team from Humanics examined 53 issues in 11 different areas, including Child Identification and Due Process Procedures. Of these, 49 issues were rated in total compliance, three issues were rated in partial compliance , one issue did not apply, no issues rated as noncompliance.