Fifty Years Ago This Week in West Rome - 2/2/1970 to 2/8/1970

West Rome ended its basketball season with a split in their game with East Rome, as the girls team won 63-32, while the boys were defeated 54-29. Debbie Poarch was the top scorer for the girls with 25 points, while Floyd Miller was once again the top scorer for the boys, but could only manage 10 points against the formidable East Rome defense.

Rome's crime rate ticked up this week in 1970 with numerous burglaries, including a multi-thousand dollar theft at Bradshaw Tire Company involving the theft of a 100 tires and eight stereo tape players, along with tools and equipment; a break-in at Champion Garment Co.; a burglary at Westdale Department Store; and three home break-ins. Meanwhile, a former Roman was arrested at his new residence in Piedmont, Alabama, where he was charged with buying, receiving, and selling stolen goods, including $30,000 in carpeting stolen from a Rome manufacturer.

Trying to compete with the high interest rates offered the previous week by National City Bank and First National Bank, Citizens Federal upped the top rate for its 24 month saving certificate to 6%. Home Federal also offered a 6% 24 month saving certificate, while Rome Bank & Trust offered 5.75% on their 24 month saving certificate.

Sly & the Family Stone climbed to number one in the music charts this week in 1970 with "Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin/Everbody Is a Star." Other top ten hits included "I Want You Back" by the Jackson 5 (#2); "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" by BJ Thomas (#3); "Venus" by the Shocking Blue (#4); Hey There Lonely Girl" by Eddie Holman (#5); "No Time" by the Guess Who" (#6); "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" by Dionne Warwick #7); "Psychedelic Shack" by the Temptations (#8); "Who'll Stop the Rain" by Creedence Clearwater Revival (#9); and "Arizona" by Mark Lindsay (#10).

Piggly Wiggly had sirloin steak for $1.19 a pound, Sealtest ice cream for 59¢ a half-gallon, and cable for 8¢ a pound. A&P had fresh whole fryers for 29¢ a pound, oranges for 12¢ a pound, and Van Camp's pork & beans for 19¢ a can. Kroger had chicken breasts for 39¢ a pound, Jeno's pizza rolls for 45¢ a box, and apples for 17¢ a pound. Big Apple had pork roast for 79¢ a pound, Poss's Brunswick stew for 49¢ a can, and bananas for a dime a pound. Couch's had chicken livers for 49¢ a pound, Oscar Mayer hot dogs for 69¢ a pound, and lettuce for 12¢ a head.

The cinematic week began with 101 Dalmatians at the DeSoto Theatre, Easy Rider (starring Peter Fonda) at the First Avenue, The Reivers (starring Steve McQueen) at the Village, and Assassination Bureau (starring Oliver Reed) at the West Rome Drive-In. The weekend switchout brought Flare Up (starring Raquel Welch) to the First Avenue and A Time to Sing (starring Hank Williams Jr.) to the West Rome Drive-In, while 101 Dalmatians and The Reivers hung around for another week at the DeSoto and Village respectively.