Time capsule

As reported 24 years ago in The Columbia News, March 12, 1970:

Service awards

Army SFC Raymond Smith received the Bronze Star Medal near Pleiku, Vietnam.

Smith was presented the award for meritorious service in connection with military operations against hostile forces in Vietnam while assigned as a mess steward in Battery B, 5th Battalion of the 4th Infantry Division's 16th Artillery.

The sergeant, whose wife, Marta, lives in Grovetown, also holds the Army Commendation Medal.

Sgt. Pete Parker, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Parker of Martinez, has been recognized for helping his unit earn the Aerospace Defense Command "A" Award.

Parker is a radio equipment operator repairman at the 701st Radar Squadron at Fort Fisher Air Force Station, N.C.

New principal

Robert Beiser has been approved as principal of Grovetown Elementary School for the 1970-71 school year. Beiser is presently employed by the Columbia County Board of Education as assistant principal of Evans High School.

Beiser is married to the former Marie Williams, a counselor at Harlem High School.

Ant grant

Underground gardens of rose petals, orange blossoms, cocoa foliage and coffee leaves are calling a University of Georgia student to Costa Rica.

But as fragrant and romantic as such gardens sound, it's ants, not romance, that are of interest to Steven Craven, a graduate of Evans High School. He'll spend next June in Costa Rica studying the insects in their homeland gardens, supported by a grant from the Society of Sigma Xi, a group that encourages scientific research.

Community cleanup

Concerned about the problem of mounting roadside debris, the Young People's Sunday School class of Shiloh United Methodist Church in Winfield is spearheading a drive to clean road embankments in the community.

Members of the class will meet at Winfield Store Saturday, March 14, 1970, for an afternoon of gathering debris. Members of the class are also appealing to neighbors, part-time citizens and visitors to the community to share in the project by withholding the litter they may be tempted to drop along the roadside "so that Winfield can be an attractive community throughout the year," said class teacher Sara Kennon.

Business growth

The growth and industrial development of Columbia County is reflected in statistics released by George F. Hurayt, regional vice president of Dun and Bradstreet, Atlanta.

In 1969, 175 businesses were listed in Columbia County and today there are 193 listed, including 10 in Appling, 26 in Evans, 13 in Grovetown, 33 in Harlem and 111 in Martinez.