Monday, Sept. 17, 1962

Fair opening today but Midway delayed

The 14th Annual Coosa Valley Fair opens at 6 p.m. today with threatening skies not the only trouble plaguing officials.

Word was received in Rome early today that the train transporting the James E. Strates Shows to the fair from Pennsylvania was side-tracked in Washington, D.C., and will not arrive until Tuesday.

In view of this, officials announced that no admission will be charged today with the exception of parking.

Also, School Day has been rescheduled from Tuesday has been rescheduled from Tuesday until Wednesday in order that students may take advantage of free admission to the grounds and reduced on rides.

The weather outlook is not favorable for Fall’s Finest Festival either, with showers expected all this week.

Delay of the midway has not affected the many shows and exhibits, however, and they all will be ready for public inspection when the gates swing open at 6 p.m.

Photography judging was held today, and the annual Future Farmers of America, Northwest Georgia District, Sears Pig Chain Show is set for 7 p.m. today.

Debbie Drake will arrive tomorrow and assist in selecting Floyd County’s entry in the Miss Coosa Valley Fair contest Tuesday night. Final competition, with beauties representing area counties, will be held Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 18, 1962

Money can’t buy happiness, says lady who should know

LONDON (UPI) – Money, said Vivian Nicholson, can’t buy happiness. She should know.

A year ago, Mrs. Nicholson’s coal miner husband, Keith, 24, struck it rich on the British soccer pools and won 152,319 pounds, $426.493. In the first flush of wealth Vivian, 26, told reporters she had no plans except to “spend, spend, spend.”

And spend she did. There were household furnishings to go in a new house, gifts for friends, a mink coat and a brand new American car.

It was the car that landed her in court in the town of Pontecraft Monday. She was accused of driving under the influence of alcohol. The judge eventually acquitted her, but the testimony gave an insight into the life of the blonde housewife who got rich quick.

“She is always on the defensive,” her doctor testified. “She has been unhappy most of her life. What we would call good luck – her pools fortune – has done her no good. It hasn’t helped her to be happy.”

The doctor said Mrs. Nicholson was high-strung and “resorts to unprintable language when excited.”

Police testified that she swerved her car while leaving the Pontfract racetrack Aug. 9. When they asked her to get out of the car, they said she snapped: “Don’t take any notice of bloody blue-bottles police.”

As to her money she said:

“A big pools win is not a key to happiness. But we’ll have a party tonight to celebrate my being proved innocent.”

Wednesday, Sept. 19, 1962

Final round on tap in Coosa tournament

First- and second-round matches in the annual Coosa Country Club Women’s Golf Championship Tournament were concluded Tuesday and finals in all brackets started today.

The yearly club attraction will be completed on Tuesday, Sept. 25 when all flight pay will be wrapped up, and the crowning event will be “Criers’ Tournament”, also slated for the last day of the ’62 meet.

A number of one-sided matches were posted the first week of the tourney which started on Sept. 11 – plus, a few heated scraps.

In opening round championship play, Mrs. M.A. Uram, the defending champion, ousted Mrs. Doug Bagley, 7-5; Mrs. H.A. Dewberry edged Mrs. Fred Higgins Jr., 3-2; Mrs. James Salmon tripped Mrs. Hugh Given, 3-2, and Mrs. George Dobbs moved up with a first-round bye.

In the semi-finals, Mrs. Uram turned back Mrs. Dewberry, 6-5, and Mrs. Salmon nipped Mrs. Dobbs, 1-up, with the winners moving into the championship finals.

Also matched for flight honors, Miss Nell Wyatt will meet the winner of Mrs. George Home-Mrs. Lance Wenham match for first flight laurels. In the second bracket, it will be Mrs. Robert Robbins against Mrs. W.H. Blanchard.

Officials of the tournament said all players eligible for competition in the “Criers” event, Tuesday, Sept. 2, must be ready to leave the tee at 9 a.m.

Since the inception of the club tourney in 1951, there has never been a “championship repeat.” And there has been but one double winner in the 11-year history of the event – Mrs. Hugh Given having annexed the championship in 1952 and again in 1956. Handicaps were used in the club affair through 1854, and in events since that time, play has been without handicaps.

The following are the former Coosa Club champions:

1951 – Miss Martha Daniel; 1952 – Mrs. Hugh Given; 1953 – Mrs. Tom Harbin; 1955 – Miss Mary Jane Mann; 1956 – Mrs. Hugh Given; 1957 – Mrs. A.B. Hammond; 1958 – Mrs. H.A. Dewberry; 1960 – Mrs. Dom Cecere; 1961 – Mrs. M.A. Uram.

Friday, Sept. 21, 1962

Cherokee County beauty selected Miss Coosa Valley Fair of 1962

A 16-year-old blonde beauty from Cherokee County, Ala., today reigned as Miss Coosa Valley Fair of 1962.

Mary Jane Cox, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell Snead, of Centre, Ala., was selected from among 10 entries representing Coosa Valley area counties. She succeeds Miss Charlene Tarpley, who won the title last year as Floyd County’s representative.

Mary Jane, a majorette at Cherokee County High School, has won several other beauty titles, including Junior Miss Cherokee County and Junior Maid of Cotton. She has made several television appearances, and is hostess for a radio program highlighting school activities. Her talent specialty is dancing. The 5-foot-2-inch lass weighs 105 pounds.

First runner-up was Shelia Ann Thompson, 18, of Calhoun, who was Gordon County’s representative. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Zeb Thompson.

Seventeen-year-old Joan Wade of Bartow County was second runner-up. She was first runner-up in the Junior Miss Bartow County contest, and is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.T. Wade, Kingston, Rte. 1.

Judges for the contest were Debbie Drake, Jeanie Cross, who is the current Miss Georgia, and Mrs. Shirley Moon, a past president of the Georgia-Jacettes and chaperone for Miss Georgia.

The new queen is scheduled to return to the fair for appearances Saturday afternoon and night.

Miss Drake, television personality and body-building specialist, completed her three-day visit at the fair last night.

She gave several performances in the special events arena and made a number of personal appearances during her stay in Rome.

Final preparations now are being made for the Junior Miss Coosa Valley Fair contest, scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

Saturday. Fifteen finalists were chosen Thursday for the final competition. Contestants are between the ages of 4 and 5, inclusive.