Friday, May 03, 2019

Fifty Years Ago This Week in West Rome - 5/5/1969 to 5/11/1969

Senator Richard Russell, the man who did absolutely nothing to try to save Rome's weather station until the final day, told Romans that he had not given up hope that the manned weather station might be reinstated. However, when asked exactly how that might happen, Senator Russell was all bluster and no substance. The situation was complicated by the fact that Rome Congressman John Davis had his feelings hurt when the Rome Chamber of Commerce representatives talked with fifth district congressman Fletcher Thompson before they talked with him. As a result, Davis made no effort whatsoever to help Rome maintain a manned weather station. "The senator interceded to a small degree," Davis said, "but did make it a strong point [as opposed to Davis, who made it no point at all]. If he did make saving the station a strong point, it could be reinstated." Meanwhile, the Rome City Commission once again brainstormed over possible plans to join with the county in seeing if they could raise local funds to reopen the station. (And if the phrase "full of sound and fury but signifying nothing" comes to mind, there is good reason...)

The 12th Annual America's Junior Miss Pageant selected a new Junior Miss on Tuesday night--but alas, West Rome's Kippy Scarborough performed well but was not tapped as the winner. Instead, a California teen was chosen to receive the title.

West Rome's baseball team had a busy schedule this week in 1969, as the team had to make up rainouts from earlier in the season. As a result, the team played Darlington on Monday, winning 8-7; Cass on Tuesday, winning 6-1; Calhoun on Wednesday, losing 14-1; Model on Thursday, winning 7-1; and East Rome Friday, winning 6-4. As if that wasn't enough, the team had to travel to Legion Field as soon as their game against Model was over in order to once again place Darlington in an 8pm tournament game, which they won 7-2. A win in that game pitted them against Cedartown at 9pm on Saturday, which they lost 4-1. And if you're keeping count, that is indeed seven games in six days!

The Rome City Commission and City Manager Bruce Hamler announced that Bill Hart would assume the role of Rome's police chief effective June 1st. The city commission gave no reason for the changes, but they did say that Captain JL Couch would continue to receive full pay until January 1970, when he would have to retire anyway due to departmental age regulations.

The Rome City Schools' plans for elementary school desegregation failed to gain approval from the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, since the plans would not have eliminated all-black student bodies at some elementary schools. This sent the school system back to the drawing board for a plan that truly desegregated Rome elementary schools. The board also voted to raise tuition for out-of-city students to $45 a month (up from $32.50 a month) and to end the practice of accepting new tuition students, which meant that only those already attending Rome schools on a tuition plan would be able to do so beginning in the 1969-1970 school year. The school system also voted to move ahead with plans to build a joint city-county vocational high school across Old Lindale Road from Coosa Valley Tech.

Piggly Wiggly had shank portion ham for 39¢ a pound, pecan pies for 68¢ each, and eggs for 33¢ a dozen. Big Apple had fresh whole fryers for 25¢ a pound, yellow corn for 6¢ an ear, and RC or Diet-Rite Cola for 33¢ a carton plus deposit. A&P had rib roast for 99¢ a pound, Ann Page peanut butter for 39¢ a jar, and a 32-ounce jar of Bama dill pickles for 35¢, Kroger had chuck roast for 49¢ a pound, Del Monte catsup for 33¢ a bottle, and Sealtest ice cream for 79¢ a half-gallon. Couch's had pork chops for 49¢ a pound, Van Camp's pork & beans for 17¢ a can, and bananas for a dime a pound.

The cinematic week began with Swiss Family Robinson (starring John Mills) at the DeSoto Theatre, Sinful Davey (starring John Hurt) at the First Avenue Theatre, and Submarine X-1 (starring James Caan) at the West Rome Drive-In. The midweek switchout brought Charley (starring Cliff Robertson) to the DeSoto Theatre, a double feature of A Fistful of Dollars and For A Few Dollars More (starring Clint Eastwood) to the First Avenue, and Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (starring Christopher Lee) to the West Rome Drive-In.

The 5th Dimension held on to the number one slot for the sixth straight week with "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In." Other top ten hits included "Hair" by the Cowsills (#2); "Get Back" by the Beatles (#3); "It's Your Thing" by the Isley Brothers (#4); "Love (Can Make You Happy)" by Mercy (#5); "Hawaii Five-0 by the Ventures (#6); "The Boxer" by Simon & Garfunkel (#7); "Atlantis" by Donovan (#8); "Gitarzan" by Ray Stevens (#9); and "These Eyes" by the Guess Who (#10).







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