Cold snaps in March are nothing new: on March 10th, 1969, Rome set a low temperature record when the mercury fell to 21 degrees. The cold snap was short-lived, though, as temperatures climbed back into the upper sixties by the end of the week. (Doesn't sound that much different than this year, does it?)
It may seem like a technicality, but it was a pretty big technicality: the Regents of the University System officially approved funds for the construction of Floyd Junior College this week in 1969. The total approved amount was $2.8 million, about $200,000 more than initially anticipated, largely due to increases in estimated construction costs.
Berry College announced that construction of its new student activity center was nearing completion, with just a few final touches needed before the new Krannert Center officially opened for business. The new building would have space for a ballroom, student government offices, student publication offices, a spacious snack bar, and a full bookstore, as well as student mailboxes and small meeting rooms. (It would be two more years before I would pay frequent visits to Krannert Center as a student at Berry--and I certainly remember buying a number of books and record albums at the bookstore during my four years at Berry!)
West Rome principal Dick McPhee was selected to serve as the president of the Georgia Secondary School Principals Association during the annual meeting of the Georgia Education Association; this was the third time that McPhee was tapped to serve as president of this group, which recommended policies and practices for high school principals across the state.
Citizens Federal increased the interest rate for its savings certificates (now known as certificates of deposit) to 5.25%, which inspired Rome Bank and Trust to top them 3 days later with an interest rate of 5.3%. While no other bank topped those rates this week in 1969, every major Rome bank was advertising savings certificates interest rates above 5%. National City Bank was even paying 4% on its savings accounts, so long as the account holder maintained a minimum balance of $500 or more.
While plans for a 4% state sales tax were tabled for the legislative session, the Georgia House of Representatives dud pass a surprise approval of a 1% local option sales tax, allowing counties and cities the option of increasing their sales tax for specific project. No one was sure if the bill would clear the Georgia Senate, but it looked quite possible.
Piggly Wiggly had chuck roast for 38¢ a pound, Bama catsup for 29¢ a bottle, and tomatoes for 29¢ a pound. A&P had swiss steak for 69¢ a pound, grapefruit for 9¢ each, and Marvel ice milk for 39¢ a half-gallon. Kroger had pork chops for 79¢ pound, Merita bread for 25¢ a loaf, and Blue Bonnet margarine for 31¢ a pound. Big Apple had corned beef brisket for 89¢ a pound, Double Cola or Diet-Rite Cola for 39¢ a carton plus deposit, and Van Camp pork & beans for 20¢ a can. Couch's had ground beef for 39¢ a pound, JFG mayonnaise for 49¢ a quart, and bananas for a dime a pound.
The cinematic week began with The Night They Raided Minsky's (starring Jason Robards) at the DeSoto Theatre, 2001: A Space Odyssey (starring Keir Dullea and Gary Lockwood) at the First Avenue, and Yellow Submarine (starring animated versions of the Beatles) at the West Rome Drive-In. The midweek switchout brought Play Dirty (starring Michael Caine) to the DeSoto Theatre, Three in the Attic (starring Yvette Mimieux) to the First Avenue, and The Secret Ceremony (starring Elizabeth Taylor) to the West Rome Drive-In.
Tommy Roe held on to the number one slot for another week with "Dizzy." Other top ten hits included "Proud Mary" by Creedence Clearwater Revival (#2); "Traces" by the Classics IV featuring Dennis Yost (#3); "Build Me Up Buttercup" by the Foundations (#4); "Indian Giver" by the 1910 Fruitgum Co. (#5); "Time of the Season" by the Zombies (#6); "This Girl's in Love with You" by Dionne Warwick (#7); "Everyday People" by Sly & the Family Stone (#8); "Crimson & Clover" by Tommy James & the Shondells (#9); and "Run Away Child, Running Wild" by the Temptations (#10)
Neal Adams made his artistic debut on Marvel's mutant superteam in X-Men #56, written by Roy Thomas. While fans were extremely excited to see the superstar artist joining the X-Men creative team, it would turn out to be too little too late; even a team of this caliber couldn't sufficiently boost the X-Men's sales sufficiently to save them from cancellation less than a year later. Over at DC, the sword-and-sorcery boom that was so popular in paperback fiction made the jump to comics with the release of Showcase #82 featuring Nightmaster, cover-blurbed as "a great new sword and sorcery saga." (Apparently not so great, since the series would never earn its way out of the pages of Showcase, DC's try-out title.)
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