Time Capsule
As reported 49 years ago in the pages of The Columbia News, Thursday, Nov. 15, 1956:
Essay winners
Published in this issue of The Columbia News are the winning essays in the countywide contest on the subject, "Why You Should Read Your County Newspaper."
The winner among the white students is Faye Flynn, a senior at Evans High School. Gwendolyn Deloris Terry, sixth-grade student at Macedonia School, was the winner among Negro students. Each county winner will receive a check for $10.
Winners in each school of the county participating in the contest are also published, and these school winners will receive a free one-year subscription to The Columbia News.
New schools built
Construction of seven new school buildings and additional classroom and lunchroom facilities for one existing school is nearing completion.
This represents the culmination of several years of planning to provide adequate facilities for the Columbia County School System.
Preliminary estimates showed that the available state funds were sufficient to complete only five and one-half of the proposed eight projects. Faced with this information and with the fact that there had been a large increase in school enrollment since 1951-52, the Columbia County Board of Education called for a bond referendum to provide sufficient funds.
This referendum, held on June 10, 1954, showed an overwhelming majority of 898 voters in favor of issuing bonds, with 55 opposed. These bonds provided $445,583, raising combined state and local funds to $1.3 million.
Construction began at each school site in January 1956. Basic equipment and furnishings for each school is now on order.
Beta Club forms
A local chapter of the National Beta Club, a leadership-service organization for high school students, was established Wednesday, Nov. 7, 1956, at Evans High School.
Permanent officers for this year are president, Frandith Heath; vice-president, John Rhodes Jr.; secretary and treasurer, Susan Beasley.
The local organization is composed of the following students: Mildred Teasley, William Partridge, Carolyn Smith, Harold Smith, Faye Flynn, Frandith Heath, Polly Bagwell, Hilda McCarty, Melvin Gray, John Rhodes Jr., Willene Safley, Susan Beasley, Linda Scott and Brenda Fuller.