Time Capsule

As reported 28 years ago in the pages of The Columbia News and The Martinez-Evans Times, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 1977:

Construction delayed

Although Columbia County has applied for and received tentative approval of a 20-day extension of the Dec. 1 deadline for the start of construction of the new Davis Road administrative complex, county officials predict it will not be needed.

Last week, the Columbia County Board of Commissioners was informed of errors in a general construction contract and in county plans for the new building. The commissioners met Tuesday morning, Nov. 22, to discuss a course of action.

Six run for office in Grovetown

Voters in the city of Grovetown will go to the polls Dec. 7 to elect the mayor and two members of the City Council. Candidates for the various offices discussed their positions with The Columbia News recently. There are two candidates for mayor: Leon Davidson, the incumbent, and Eual D. Lynn.

Running for city council are incumbents Herman Austin and Robert F. Deckert, who are challenged by James Reese and Bobby Hunsucker.

Jobless rate drops

Columbia County's unemployment rate declined by four-tenths of 1 percent in September, from a revised 8.7 percent in August to a preliminary 8.3 percent, according to figures from the Georgia Department of Labor.

At the same time last year, the unemployment rate in Columbia County was 9.9 percent, with 8,490 people working and 930 unemployed.

Georgia's unemployment rate dipped during September, from a revised 6.2 percent to a preliminary 5.8 percent, the lowest since November 1976, when the rate was 5.8 percent.

Hike/Bike success

The Columbia County 1977 Hike/Bike for Retarded Citizens Campaign came to a close with contributions as of today totalling $2,500, according to Conrad Stapleton, chairman for the event.

More than 165 people participated.