Hamilton Herald Masthead

Editorial


Front Page - Friday, August 23, 2019

50 Years Ago




Friday, August 22

Mose and Garrison Siskin of Siskin Memorial Foundation have been cited by the Lane Bryant Volunteer Awards competition of 1969 for “outstanding community service” performed in 1968. They are eligible for one of two $5,000 awards to be made December 4 in Washington, D.C.

An executive committee of the Citizens Taxpayers Association of Hamilton County has recommended that the so-called “jitney” service in Chattanooga can be eliminated. The privately-owned jitney taxis claim a large part of the transportation of people in the city and take that trade from the franchised Southern Coach Lines, which is operating at a loss and threatens to close. The city needs more time to consider additional ways to keep the public buses operating even if the city must take over their operation. The CTA declared that public ownership and operation of the bus lines would be “unwise, costly and ineffective.”

Motorists at 14 area highway sites will be asked to provide information for an updating of the Chattanooga Urban Area Transportation Study next week. The Survey will be conducted by the State Highway Department in cooperation with the City of Chattanooga, Hamilton County, the Georgia Highway Department and federal agencies.

Saturday, August 23:

Dr. Paul Dudley White, internationally famous heart specialist who attended the late President Eisenhower, will speak at the 17th Annual Tennessee Valley Medical Assembly here October 13-14. Dr. David P. McCallie, president of the Hamilton County Medical Society, announced Dr. David Turner has been named chairman of the assembly which will be held at Memorial Auditorium. Dr. William G. Stephenson will be co-chairman.

The 1969-70 school term will begin at 9:15 a.m. Monday for an estimated 2,500 teachers in the Chattanooga and Hamilton County school systems. They will gather for the 10th annual pre-school conference at Memorial Auditorium where they will be addressed by Dr. Charles R. Keller of Williamstown, Massachusetts. The meeting will mark the opening of a week of pre-class events for teachers in the school systems.

The Delta Queen, America’s only overnight passenger steamer, is paying what might be her final visit to Chattanooga. The Queen is carrying 175 passengers and a 75-man crew.

Sunday, August 24:

Dr. Andrew D. Holt, president of the University of Tennessee, welcomed the first graduating class of UTC Saturday as members of a 100,000 alumni group, in ceremonies at the Tivoli Theatre.

County Trustee Bill Nobles, who was elected a year ago to fill the unexpired term of the late Dave Eldridge, says he plans to run for re-election to a full term in 1970.

The greater Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce will be host October 7, to one of the 15 Urban Action Forums across the nation, called to attack community problems. The nationwide forums are being sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of the United States.

Monday, August 25:

Dr. Jack Lawrie, city school superintendent, speaking on the Jaycee Question of the Week television program Sunday, declared that annual expenditures of about $15 million, coupled with a $40-million capital investment in buildings, equipment, etc., makes education here comparable to a corporate enterprise.

Kenneth K. Flenniken, veteran radio executive and general manager of WDEF for more than 25 years, has taken an indefinite leave of absence due to ill health. Jerry Lingerfelt, member of the WDEF staff, has been named acting manager until Mr. Flenniken returns.

Lakeside’s newly crowned Dixie Youth World Series champions, the first Tennessee team ever to win the boy’s baseball title, were the toast of Chattanooga Sunday upon their return from Montgomery, Alabama, where they captured the coveted crown. They were escorted through downtown Chattanooga with a 30-car motorcade, whistles blowing, lights blinking and sirens sounding.

Tuesday, August 26:

The East Ridge City Commission announced Monday night at the conclusion of a public hearing that it will hold first reading Sept. 3 on an ordinance calling for annexation of 65 acres of undeveloped land inside the City of Chattanooga, despite threats of court action by the Chattanooga City Commission.

Southern Coach Lines lost $15,123 through July of this year, John Williams, president, reported as the City Commission began preparations to work with the bus company and with surrounding communities on a possible temporary subsidy for the transportation system.

Elementary and high schools in the city and county systems will begin regular classes in the new school year, Tuesday, September 2.

James A. Lamb, administrative associate at Baptist Hospital in Memphis, has been appointed as assistant administrator at Erlanger Hospital, Harold Peterson, administrator, announced. Lamb succeeds D. L. Haymons Jr., who resigned two months ago to accept a job in Jackson, Mississippi.

Wednesday, August 27:

H. James Hitching, an attorney, and A.C. (Gus) Bryan, manager-coordinator of the Downtown Development Committee, have been named to the negotiating team that will attempt to work out a temporary subsidy program with surrounding municipalities and Southern Coach Lines to keep the buses running.

The area Lions Clubs “Operation Lifesaver, a 2-day motorist roadblock campaign mounted to obtain funds to purchase a kidney machine for “use in the Chattanooga area, raised $16,621.51. Val Reich Jr., chairman, and Cliff Butler, co-chairman of the Chattanooga Area Lions Kidney Machine Foundation, reported also that more than $2,600 has been donated by individual Lions, raising the campaign total to more than $19,200. In addition, a portion of the proceeds from all chicken dinners sold last Saturday and Sunday by the Maryland Fried Chicken and the Krystal Co. restaurants, will be contributed to the foundation fund.

Three members of the City Commission agreed Tuesday to follow Mayor A.L. Bender’s lead in protesting a provision in the Nixon Administration‘s tax reform bill which would remove the tax exemption on income from municipal bonds. They are Commissioners Conrad, Rose and Turner. Commissioner Peterson is out of town on vacation.

Thursday, August 28:

Commissioner Steve Conrad, speaking on behalf of the city, suggested to leaders of surrounding towns served by Southern Coach Lines Wednesday that they would consider a formula based on losses per mile in their respective cities as a means of arriving at amounts by which the mass transportation system would be subsidized through next June.  The community leaders listened but made no commitments.

As of Wednesday about 11,000 delegates to the 64th Assembly of the Church of God of Prophesy has registered at Memorial Auditorium headquarters. About 20,000 are expected by the weekend. Housing the large number has become a problem.