10 YEARS AGO
After colliding with a car driven by Henry Cogman of Havana in June 1949, the Greyhound bus above crossed the highway out of control and rolled over on its back. Cogman was killed and three passengers on the bus were hospitalized with lesser injuries and several treated for shock and minor injuries at the scene of the accident. The collision occurred on Highway 27 at the south end of the Ochlockonee River bridge.
20 YEARS AGO
Premier Bank in Quincy held a grand opening at its new location on Pat Thomas Parkway. Bank officers, directors, customers and Chamber of Commerce officials were on had for the occasion. Taking part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony were Bud Branson, Max Clark, Ed Hinson, James Hinson, Sherry VanLandingham, Billy Ventry, bank president Bruce Rowan, Monte Bradwell, David Gardner, Lester Black and Mark Bates.
Renowned artist and Gadsden County native son Dean Mitchell was honored by heads of government and a gathering room full of citizens at the Sawano club in Quincy. Sponsored by the Gadsden Arts Center, Mitchell was given the key to the City of Quincy by Mayor Sherrie Taylor, a proclamation from Gadsden County commission chairman Ed Dixon and laudatory remarks from Rep. Curtis Richardson and School Supt. Reginald James.
30 YEARS AGO
A $1,260 check to fund a Challenge Scholarship was presented to Tallahassee Community College representative Craig Fletcher by Havana Kiwanis Club President Duane Hicks. The money, matched in part by the state, funded a two-year scholarship for a local middle school student selected by a TCC selection committee.
Two westbound truck drivers were shot at and one was hit and injured in two shooting incidents on I-10 near Chattahoochee. Both shootings happened at the CR 269 overpass. One driver’s rig was peppered with a shotgun while a Texas driver was grazed in the shoulder by a high-powered rifle bullet that also passed through the cab and severed a brake line. A sheriff’s spokesman felt the shootings were unrelated and “pure coincidence.”
40 YEARS AGO
An airplane flown by Jeff Rutfield from Jacksonville to the Tallahassee Commercial Airport had to use County Road 157 as an emergency runway after the engine conked out over the Ochlockonee River. Rutfield managed to fly out the next day after fog cleared for the takeoff.
An American flag honoring all U.S. veterans buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Havana was officially flown over the cemetery thanks to a joint effort by several Havana businesses, the Town of Havana, and the Havana Kiwanis Club. Kiwanis President Jeff Doxsee and project chairman Jimmy Sword raised the flag for the first time.
50 YEARS AGO
An inmate escaped from River Junction correctional Institute in Chattahoochee but was apprehended only hours later by the sheriff’s dept. The 40-year-old man was washing cars during a Jaycee money raising project when he made his get-away in a stolen car. He later abandoned it and fled on foot only to be apprehended by Deputy Joel Broome and Sheriff W.A. Woodham near the Bear Creek bridge.
Final plans were announced for the 32nd Annual Fat Cattle-Market Swine Show and Sale in Quincy by committee president Harvey Suber. A night sale was planned to follow the barbeque so buyers and the general public could all be on hand.
60 YEARS AGO
The temperature dipped to 15 degrees ushering into Gadsden County the coldest weather of the winter. That was good news for county peach growers since peaches needed approximately 650 hours of below 45 degree temperature to produce a good 1966 peach crop.
Paul Keaton, representative of the Hammett Construction Co., contractors for 4-laning U.S. 27, told Havana residents with complaints about the construction to call him or Jack Vann rather than the State Road Dept. He said it would expedite repairs to any damages caused by construction.
70 YEARS AGO
Mr. Francis Perkins of Concord assumed the duties of Havana Town Clerk, Tax Assessor and Tax Collector. Mr. Perkins came to the office well qualified, having completed three years in the auditing department of the State Treasurer’s office.
Fred G. Shelfer, a native of Gadsden County and a Ford dealer and shade tobacco farmer, announced he would seek election to the office of County Commissioner, District IV, representing the Havana area.