Time capsule

As reported 28 years ago in the pages of The Columbia News and The Martinez-Evans Times, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 1976:

Election winners

In Columbia County, in Georgia and across the nation, Jimmy Carter, peanut farmer and former governor of Georgia, was selected by the voters as the 39th president of the United States.

In local races, Democratic candidates gained similar acceptance. Vince Robertson easily defeated his Republican opponent, John Shead, to win the Evans Commission seat, and U.H. Pittman held off independent Charles Wilkinson to gain the Martinez seat.

Republican Russ Holloman offered a little opposition to Douglas Luke, who won re-election to the Board of Education, Evans district.

Write-in candidates fared very badly. Probate Judge Kathryn Morris defeated George Thomas, and Sheriff Ed Tankersley defeated Alex Shumaker.

Dillard Watkins' write-in bid for the county commission chairmanship also failed, as Lynn Norris won the position.

Dealer of the Year

Mr. and Mrs. George Kelley of Kelley Electric Co. of Martinez were named the 1976 Dealers of the Year by the W.D. Alexander Co. of Atlanta, for selling Panasonic microwave ovens. The award was presented Sept. 20, 1976, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.