Time capsule

As reported 36 years ago in The Columbia News, Sept. 5, 1968:

Candidates rally

The Martinez Jaycees sponsored a "meet the candidate" rally last week with all but five candidates showing up.

Bill Jackson, state director of the Jaycees, moderated the program, introducing each candidate and giving them three minutes at the podium.

The program was scheduled to get underway at 6 p.m. but began around 7 p.m. after a few people showed up. "There are very few people here," said Jackson. "This is about status quo. I have been aware a long time of the great uninterest in our country."

No candidate was in favor of having Martinez incorporated at the present time," unless the people supported a referendum. Most of the candidates favored a referendum of changing the present system of prohibition of alcohol in Columbia County.

School referendum

Columbia County voters will be asked in a referendum Sept. 11, 1968 to decide whether members of the county's Board of Education should be elected, or continue to be chosen by the grand jury.

If the act is approved, the current five-member board will be abolished and a new five-member board will be chosen in the November general election.

Abilene revival

Rev. Inmann Jarrell of Adrian, Ga., has for the past week been the guest evangelist at Abilene Baptist Church during revival services.

Speaker for the morning and evening services has been the Rev. Bobby Johns.

News of servicemen

Eugene L. Clayborn was promoted to Army first sergeant while assigned to the 500th Transportation Group in Vietnam. He was last stationed at Fort Gordon before arriving overseas in August 1967. Clayborn's wife, Dorothy, lives in Grovetown.

Army 1st Sgt. Earl T. Shaffer was assigned to the 1st Air Cavalry Division in Vietnam. His wife, Annie, lives in Grovetown.

Army Pvt. Charles R. Johnson, son of Sgt. Maj. Joseph J. Johnson of Harlem, completed a helicopter repair course Aug. 19 at the Army Transportation School, Fort Eustis, Va.