Rome was hit with another cold wave, with low temperatures falling to 11° on Tuesday night, a record low for the date. Wednesday night was even colder with a 9° low. While temperatures warmed up into the upper teens on Thursday night, it was still cold enough that a line of precipitation moving through dumped almost two inches of snow on the area, closing schools once again (the second snow-related closing in January 1970). Shorter Avenue was particularly treacherous due to ice beneath the layer of snow, with numerous accidents reported.
The Chieftains turned the season around on January 24th with their first varsity boys basketball win of the season as they defeated Coosa 65-56. Randy Hatch was West Rome's top scorer with 24 points, while Floyd Miller racked up 23 and David Watkins added another 13. The victory was all the better because Coosa was widely favored to win decisively.
National City Bank celebrated the opening of its modern new building at Broad Street and Fifth Avenue this week in 1970 with an open house that included displays of coins through history, including Egyptian, Greek, and Roman artifacts. As part of the celebration, they gave away 9000 foreign coins valued at more than $10,000, including some ancient coins that predated the birth of Christ.The building's contemporary glass, concrete, and brick architect made it one of Rome's most modern -looking structures.
In recognition of an important aspect of Rome area history, Celanese Fibers Company donated the Chieftains, a historic dwelling on Chatillon Road, to the Rome Junior Service League. The donation included 6.2 acres of land with two two-story structures, along with $5000 for renovation and additional research into the history of the property, which was the home of Cherokee chief Major John Ridge.
A long-time West Rome business announced plans to close when Mack's on Shorter Avenue revealed that they were closing; this was the first major closing in West Rome in several years, and the opening of Big K in Gala Shopping Center was cited as one reason for the closing. Mack's said that their Central Plaza location would remain open, so West Romans would only have to drive a few more miles to continue shopping with their hometown clothing store.
Piggly Wiggly had hen turkeys for 39¢ a pound, Van Camp's chili for 29¢ a can, and five pounds of grapefruit for 59¢. Kroger had ground beef for 53¢ a pound, sweet potatoes for 12¢ a pound, and Sealtest ice cream for 55¢ a half-gallon. Big Apple had rib roast for 89¢ a pound, apples for 16¢ a pound, and a five-pound bag of frozen french fries for 69¢. A&P had sirloin steak for $1.19 a pound, Hormel Vienna sausages for a dime a can, and carrots for a dime a bag. Couch's had chicken breast for 59¢ a pound, Nabisco vanilla wafers for 39¢ a box, and Van Camp's pork & beans for 15¢ a can.
The cinematic week began with The Undefeated (starring John Wayne) at the DeSoto Theatre, Take the Money and Run (starring Woody Allen) at the First Avenue, Alaskan Safari (a documentary starring no one you've heard of) at the Village, and Midnight Cowboy (starring Dustin Hoffman) at the West Rome Drive-In. The weekend switch out brought Krakatoa, East of Java (starring Brian Keith) to the DeSoto, Christmas Tree (starring William Holden) to the First Avenue, Viva Max (starring Peter Ustinov) to the Village, and Alice's Restaurant (starring Arlo Guthrie) to the West Rome Drive-In.
The Jackson 5 took the top slot this week in 1970 with "I Want You Back." Other top ten hits included "Venus" by the Shocking Blue (#2); "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" by BJ Thomas (#3); "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin (#4); "Without Love (There Is Nothing)" by Tom Jones (#5); "Don't Cry Daddy/Rubberneckin'" by Elvis Presley (#6); "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" by Dionne Warwick (#7); "Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again/Everybody Is a Star" by Sly & The Family Stone (#8); "Someday We'll Be Together" by Diana Ross & The Supremes (#9); and"Leaving on a Jet Plane" by Peter, Paul, & Mary (#10).
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