Time capsule
As reported 24 years ago in The Columbia News and The Martinez-Evans Times, Sept. 17, 1980:
Tribute to sheriff
Columbia County Sheriff Edward Tankersley was honored Sept. 10 at a dinner held at the Columbia County Merchants Association building in Martinez.
Citizens from all sections of the county were on hand to pay tribute to the retiring sheriff, who has headed law enforcement in Columbia County for the past 18 years.
Tankersley and his wife, Irma, were presented plaques and gifts of appreciation for their many years of service to the people of Columbia County.
Tankersley became sheriff in 1962, at a time when the sheriff's department was basically a two-man operation. Since that time the department has grown to a force of 33 deputies and 18 cars.
Vote machines bought
Columbia County voters going to the polls for the November general election will be voting on a new style of voting machine.
During a meeting Sept. 16, 1980, in Martinez, the Board of Commissioners agreed to purchase a new voting machine system consisting of 100 vote recorders at a cost of $225 each, and one ballot tabulator at a cost of $19,500.
Commissioners also voted to appoint Judy Shimburg acting clerk. William E. Griffin, who currently serves in that position, has resigned to accept a city management position with Folly Beach, S.C.
New head coach
Columbia Junior High defeated Paul Knox Middle School of North Augusta 29-0 in its first game of the season, giving Coach Lonnie Morris Jr. a victory in his debut as head football coach.
Morris, head varsity baseball and B-team football coach at Monticello High for the past year, was recently named the head football coach and athletic director for Columbia Junior High for the 1980-81 school year.
Charles Lazenby, principal of Columbia Junior High, said "I am very proud to have Coach Morris, who is one of our former students, back working with us as coach. I have been impressed by the way he works with young boys, and also by the amount of respect the boys seem to have for him."