Time capsule

As reported 33 years ago in the pages of The Columbia News and The Martinez-Evans Times, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 1974:

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Youth program

A youth activity program presented by Harlem High students highlighted last week's Harlem Rotary Club meeting. The program was part of the Rotary Club's Youth Activity Week and was arranged by program chairman Neal Rabun.

Five Harlem High students - Vickie Eubanks, Jamie Camak, Chuck Renfro, Randy Tankersley and John Combs - presented a program on various youth activities available for student participation at Harlem.

Grand opening

The grand opening of the new Big Star Foods store in the Columbia Square Shopping Center will be at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30, 1974.

Gene Key has been named manager of the new store, and has been associated with Big Star for 28 years. He is a native of the Augusta area, and is married with two sons who are employed with Big Star.

Bribery alleged

A candidate for the Georgia House of Representatives charged that an attempt was made to bribe him to withdraw from the race.

Dillard Watkins of Martinez told supporters at a bipartisan meeting that the attempt, made by Columbia County Commissioner Paul Blanchard, came in a telephone call Aug. 18, 1974.

Watkins is running on the Republican ticket against Ray Owens, who is backed by Blanchard, and who defeated incumbent House member Glenn Phillips in the Democratic primary.

Watkins charged that Blanchard offered to pay all his campaign expenses until the time of the alleged phone call and to "guarantee" victory in any county election in two years.

Blanchard refused comment on the charge, saying "The election is Nov. 5. I'll do my talking after the election."