Sunday, Dec. 2, 1962

Colonial stores install stamp counting machine

Food stores are constantly seeking ways to speed customer service and the latest innovation is a machine which, with the press of a button, automatically counts and dispenses trading stamps to supermarket customers.

Developed by the Gold Bond Stamp Company after more than three years of extensive testing, the machines now are in use at all Colonial supermarkets in Rome.

Automatic, fast and accurate, these machines mechanically count and eject the correct number of Gold Bond stamps for each customer purchase. They are attached to the cash register and are operated by the cashier.

Colonial’s Rome Area District Manager J.M. Craft reports that the machines have been greeted with enthusiasm by customers.

“The major advantage of the stamp dispensing machine is that it eliminates the necessity of the cashier counting stamps by hand,” he said. “This means the traffic-flow through the check-out stand is speeded up, assuring the customer of the fastest possible service.”

Mr. Craft pointed out that the dispensing machines assure the exact number of Gold Bond stamps with each purchase.

In developing the machine, known as the Astad (a stamp dispenser), Gold Bond tested its use in over 1,000 locations.

Wednesday, Dec. 5, 1962

Classes in accordion are planned

The Rome Recreation Department will offer a new activity beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday — classes in accordion for beginners — with classes to be held each Saturday at the same hour at the Rome Civic Center.

Instructors for the classes will be Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Deaton, of Atlanta, who have been conducting similar classes in Cartersville under sponsorship of the American Legion. Mr. Montgomery said he believes there will be many persons here interested in learning to play the accordion and said all those interested are invited to attend the opening sessions Saturday.

Thursday, Dec. 6, 1962

Building honors first U.S. soldier killed in Viet Nam

A Massachusetts building will be dedicated Friday in honor of the late Spec. 4 James Thomas Davis of Livingston, Tenn., whose widow, Mrs. Geraldine Davis, resides in Rome. Davis was the first American to be killed by Communist guerillas in South Viet Nam.

The building, at the Army Security Agency Training Center and School at Ft. Devens, will have a plaque and enlarged pictures of the soldier. J.D. Davis of Livingston, father of Spec. 4 Davis, and two of the soldier’s brothers will be flown to Ft. Devens in Tennessee Gov. Buford Ellington’s plane, at the invitation of Army officials. Davis was killed Dec. 22, 1961, when the Army truck he was driving was mined and ambushed by a number of Communist guerillas near Saigon in the area of Duc Hoa. According to Army reports, Davis was en route with a Signal Corps truck equipped with a location finder to spot a clandestine Red radio transmitter that had been broadcasting messages to Communist North Viet Nam.

Mrs. Davis, who lives with her daughter, Cynthia, in the Glenwood Apartments, is an employee of the National City Bank. She has received two posthumous awards from the Army for her husband, the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service and the Purple Heart. An Army Radio Research Unit used by Davis’ group has officially been designated “Davis Station” by the Army.

Friday, Dec. 7, 1962

5th Santa Open tourney Sunday

Standout links performers from throughout this section, will converge on the Mt. View Club Sunday for the Fifth Annual Santa Open Golf Tournament – and the real winners will be the less fortunate families in Rome and Floyd County.

All proceeds derived from the $5 entry fee will go to the Cheerful Givers “Empty Stocking Fund,” which aids the needy at Christmas time.

Louis Vinyard, of Dalton, edged to the championship last year, winning by a slim one-stroke margin over Rome’s Leon Culberson, when he finished two under par 106.

The tourney will be 27 holes medal play. No qualifying will be necessary as the first round will count as the qualifying round.

Heading the tournament committee are Ben Mashburn, Gene Shirah, Mac McGregor, Max Sills and Ernest Atkinson.