THE ET CETERA CHRONICLES - VOL. 107.
PLENTY OF PLANETS - During the week of February 23rd, 1940, Laurens Countians were treated to a celestial show. The event, which happens only once in a lifetime, was the arrangement of the planets in the western evening sky. The planets Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Mars, and Uranus were equidistantly aligned, much like a necklace of glowing jewels. Dublin Courier Herald, Feb. 17, 1940.
THE END AND THE BEGINNING OF I-16 - The last portion of Georgia’s Interstate Highway System was completed when Interstate Highway 16 opened all the way from Savannah to Macon on September 1, 1978. The 166.8-mile highway, known as the James L. Gillis Highway, took more than 15 years to complete. Dublin Courier Herald, August 4, 1978.
LAST GEORGIA SPANISH AMERICAN VET - William C. Owen, a patient at the VA Hospital in Dublin, was Georgia’s oldest surviving veteran of the Spanish American War. Owen, who worked on a railroad for 35 years, turned 100 years old on September 4, 1978. Dublin CH, 8.30, 1978.
FIRST GOLD SCHOLARSHIP - Wendell “Woody” Wood was the first player in Laurens County to receive an athletic scholarship in golf. Wood, the second-best golfer in Region 2AA and Dublin High’s No. 1 player, was given a scholarship to East Tennessee University in 1967. DCH,7.3. 1967.
NO LUCKY DRAW - Willie B. Anderson of a 202 Gray Street, Dublin address and Johnnie Quindo Foster of Rentz were the first Laurens countians to be drafted into the Armed Forces during the World War II era. The draft was held on October 29, 1940, in Washington, and the first number drawn was No. 158. Charlie Powell of Rockledge and John Albert Clemons, of a Dublin Route 3 address, were assigned number 192 and were the second men selected in the draft. Dublin Courier Herald, 10.29.1940.
THE SENATOR SPEAKS - On May 15, 1931, Georgia U.S. Senator Walter F. George gave the address at the commencement exercises of Montrose School, which were followed by a dinner on the grounds. Dublin Courier Herald, 5/7, 1931, p. 1.
A GENEROUS PATRIOT - Laurens Countian James Tillery worked for 58 cents an hour as a tool keeper at Macon’s Camp Wheeler during World War II. He donated one-third of his salary to the war effort through the purchase of war bonds. Dublin Courier Herald, 7/18, 1944, p. 1.
KEEPING THE PEACE IN CHICAGO - J.M. Outler, of Dublin, served as the Assistant Sergeant at Arms at the Republican National Convention in Chicago in 1916. Dublin Courier Herald, 5/25/1916.
A BUNNY BIT ME - Oliver Moore was like all of us. At least one time during his life, he was bitten by an animal. Moore was attacked and bitten, not by a dog, a wildcat, or a bear, but by a bunny rabbit. Moore was walking through a pasture following a mule when he felt something around his feet. Moore attacked a rabbit, which turned around and fought back, biting his attacker in the foot. Moore tried to kill the bunny, which escaped into the woods. Moore sought medical treatment just in case the bunny had rabies. Americus Times Recorder, October 21, 1925.
YOU’VE GOT TO HAVE HEART - When Brent Honeywell was going to school in Laurens and Bleckley counties, he wanted to play baseball just like his father. A top prospect of the Tampa Bay Rays, Honeywell suffered from one arm injury after another as he endured four surgeries on his elbow. Brent became a member of the San Diego Padres, who were scheduled to play the Atlanta Braves in their home opening series on April 8, 2023. Brent grew up in Middle Georgia with the Braves as his favorite team. Although he did manage to pitch in three games in 2021, Honeywell came into the game in the 5th and pitched two innings of no-hit, no-run relief to earn the first win of his major league baseball career.
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