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Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Dec 31, 1965
Page
8
The Decatur school system showed growth with 8 300 students, expansion through 24 new classrooms to 29 total, and Woodmeade Elementary opening with 12 rooms. Desegregation began in some grades, widespread summer programs, and accreditation advances including Austin High School’s. State supplied textbooks also began.
The Youth Branch Library in Decatur began operating in March in the former Boys' Club building due to crowding at Wheeler Headquarters. Renovation and utilities were covered by the Decatur Junior Service League until Oct. 1, with league volunteers aiding painting and upkeep. The building, owned by the league, houses about 5,000 volumes suited to children and junior high students, up from 1964. Fourteen new staff brought total to 12, and the library advocates more staff and a larger building. Total volumes stand at 35,172 with 262,591 books and materials circulated in the year, including 144,663 from the Bookmobile. The 1964-65 budget was 54,300, split among city, Limestone and Morgan counties and federal Title II funds matched to support construction. See YOUTH On Page A-10.
In 1965 Southern Bell reports 1955 new telephones in Decatur area with 12 000 long distance calls per day and 125 000 local calls daily. The year saw 22 700 telephones in service up from 20 735 in 1964 and 9 285 a decade earlier. Capital spending topped $1 million locally with two new central offices and toll free service linking Decatur Moulton Courtland and Town Creek. Plans for 1966 include over $623 000 in service improvements and several large cable projects.
R M Campbell superintendent of mails for Decatur Post Office reports January 1965 alien registrations nearly double 1964. About 190 aliens registered, vs 90 previous year. Remote officials note 200 cards on hand for January 1966 issuance.
Decatur Electric Department reports 1965 gains with a 16 075 annual kilowatt hours per residence the second highest in the TVA area. Average residential bill rises to 114 from 112. 900 new customers for total 13 190. TVA payments up to 2 042 220.02. Homes heated by electricity rise to 5 950. Assets exceed 5.56 million with gross revenue 3.30 million for 1966. Retirement of Quince Eddens and appointment of Dick Watkins noted. New 46 000 volt loop project 75 percent complete planned for 1966 connection to Trinity Substation and Beltline Highway expansion.
View of 1965 notes new construction will let the electric department operate from either of two TVA substations and support maintenance and growth with no power interruptions. A 16000 dollar street lighting expansion, about 10 percent complete, targets replacing 1074 incandescent lamps with mercury vapor and upgrading 130 400-watt fixtures on 6th Ave to 1000-wattlights. Substation capacity rose by 10000 kilowatts at three sites in 1965, with a new Southwest Decatur substation under construction on 8th St SW set for completion by summer.
Southern Airways reports 1965 at Pryor Field as a banner year with a 31 percent rise in passenger seats to about 71 400 largely due to Martin 404 service. Enplanements exceeded 5 400 and charter sales hit a new high over 1964. Freight and mail volumes declined from 1964 while overall revenue rose. Jet service planned for January 1967 plus airport improvements and possible new hangar space were outlined by station manager George Riedmueller and Dr Roland King.
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