Looking Back

Fifty years ago today, January 12, 1968

Police Panel?

A citizens committee today recommended that the post of safety director in Columbus be abolished and that a police department merit board be created. The merit board, as proposed, would be appointed by the Muscogee County Grand Jury, and would have authority to hire all police department personnel, operate a police school for new officers and prepare a police department budget.

Mental Hospital

Gov. Lester Maddox Thursday sent Muscogee County officials a signed pledge that funds for construction of a proposed 300-bed regional mental hospital in Columbus will be included in his budget request to the next year’s General Assembly. Maddox asked members of the County Commission to take immediate steps to deed a proposed 100-acre site for the facility to the State Department of Public Health.

Prayers for Governor

The Phenix City Lions Club has joined with the Montgomery Lions Club in urging local churches to offer special prayers this Sunday for Gov. Lurleen Wallace. Lamar Waites, president of the Lions, pointed out that the governor is in Houston undergoing treatment for another suspected cancer.

This story was originally published January 11, 2018 at 3:09 PM with the headline "Looking Back."