If you wanted to keep informed on the goings-on at county commission meetings, you’d have to continue either reading local newspapers or coming to meetings. Commissioners, in a split vote, turned down a $12,000 proposal by Jim Southerland to broadcast commission meetings over local cable television stations. Commissioner Sterling Watson argued that spending $12,000 would be “foolish” because the vast majority of county residents did not have access to cable television.
20 YEARS AGO
Gadsden County came out pretty good, all things considered, during a weekend freak winter storm – now called “the storm of the century.” There were power outages, damaged homes, frozen crops and fallen trees from the high winds and bone-chilling temperatures but fortunately no storm-related injuries were reported. Unlike Taylor County where eight deaths occurred and many people were left homeless, EMS Director Tommy Baker said Gadsden experienced “normal stuff.”
Despite a lengthy appeal by citizens, county commissioners voted 3-2 to approve a Comp Plan amendment to allow Marine Institute to built a youth offender camp south of Quincy near Wetumpka. Dist. 5 Commissioner Ed Dixon led the fight for approval even though he conceded it could be a bad political move. Marine Institute had received a contract from HRS to operate the facility to house 24 kids who were repeat offenders of property crimes.
30 YEARS AGO
County health officials reported that there were two cases of human and pet exposure to rabies-infected raccoons during a two-week period in February and March in the Havana-Concord area. Realizing the importance of public awareness, health officials explained that, historically, the number of raccoon rabies cases reported in North Florida peaked in March, which corresponded with the raccoon breeding season in this area. The increased activity resulted in more encounters with humans and pets.
Jeff Cook, a member of the popular country music group “Alabama,” was in Havana to receive an honorary deputy’s badge and certificate from Gadsden County Sheriff W.A. Woodham. Havana Police Chief Phil Fusilier further obliged Cook’s desire to become an honorary member of various law enforcement agencies, by making him an honorary Havana police officer. Cook, who owned property at Lake Tallavana, was in the area fishing with buddy Tommy Hawkins, a local businessman.
40 YEARS AGO
Gadsden Christian School held patriotic contests during the month of February to coincide with the birthdays of Washington and Lincoln. First place winners for patriotic essays were Dean Darsey, Mike Betts, Andy Gay and Phyllis Orrell. First place winners for patriotic posters were Amy Aitken, Dayton Jones, Dean Darsey, Lisa Barfield, Andy Gay and Julie Mahaffey.
Former Havana resident Cadet Terrell J. Powell, son of Mr. and Mrs. James W. Powell, Jr., received the Airman’s Medal for heroism involving voluntary risk of life. Cadet Powell earned the medal – the highest Air force decoration for non-combat heroism – after an incident when he rescued a girl from an attacker at Greeley, Ohio.
50 YEARS AGO
Commissioner Doyle Conner announced the appointment of Winton O. Whittle, Tallahassee, as chief of State Farmers’ Markets. A native of Gadsden County, Whittle was 36 years old and a graduate of the University of Florida with BS and MA degrees in agriculture. He previously was executive secretary of the Agriculture Department’s committee for agricultural fairs and livestock shows.
A special “Teacher Appreciation” program was held at the weekly Havana Kiwanis Club meeting and principal speaker for the occasion was Guy Race, educator, teacher and juvenile court counselor of Quincy. Mr. Race cited several problems that faced the Gadsden school system, among them the population explosion which was already affecting Gadsden and the increased amount of subject matter expected to be taught during the allotted time of the school year.
60 YEARS AGO
The county board of commissioners called attention to the practice of driving farm machinery on and across roads in the county. The board moved that “the general public be requested to stop dragging harrows, rakes and other farm equipment on or across county roads.” The practice was injurious to the roads and hence led to a waste of taxpayers’ money, the board pointed out.
Lloyd Brock was re-elected VFW Commander of the Roscoe Watson Post 8120 in Havana. Also re-elected were Roy Lewis as Sr. Vice Commander and L.D. Hitson as Jr. Vice Commander. Other officers elected were Bully Poppell as Quartermaster, Marvin McGill as Chaplain and Tom Bostick as trustee.
