[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 13 (Monday, February 14, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E127-E128]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO THE SUMMERVILLE NEWS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. BOB BARR

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 14, 2000

  Mr. BARR of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend a 
publication that, for the past 114 years, has exemplified the important 
role filled by community newspapers in cities and towns across America. 
The City of Summerville is located in Chattooga County, in the Seventh 
District of Georgia. This rural county of approximately 25,000 
residents, is home to ``The Summerville News.'' Just last month, the 
Summerville News started into its 115th year of service to Chattooga 
County and the surrounding area of northwest Georgia. The newspaper is 
the oldest consumer business in the county. It started with presses fed 
with paper a single sheet at a time, by hand, to larger letterpress, 
and then to offset presses that run 16,000 papers an hour.
  Over the years, the Summerville News has come a long way. O.J. Espy 
bought into the News around 1906, and purchased the entire newspaper 
about five years later, in 1911. After his death, his son, D.T. Espy, 
bought out all of his siblings (there were quite a few) to become sole 
owner. He, in turn, sold to his four sons, Bill, Don, David, and Gene, 
in 1968. Since that time, Bill and Don have died and a fourth 
generation is part owner, with others working at the plant. Greg Espy, 
son of Don,

[[Page E128]]

is part owner; Tracy Espy, son of David, and Jason Espy, son of Gene, 
are all working with the News to print a product of which the entire 
county can be proud and look forward to every Thursday.
  In thanking the community for 114 years of friendship, Editor Gene 
Espy wrote: ``In a way, a community newspaper is the community. It is 
the news of the people in that community and what they have 
accomplished, failed to accomplish, and hope to accomplish. We take the 
task of publishing the Summerville News seriously. It is important to 
us and we hope it is important to our readers and advertisers and the 
community itself.''
  The Summerville News is to be congratulated on its 114 years of 
dedication and service to the citizens of Chattooga County. Babies have 
been born, dear citizens have died, world leaders have come and gone, 
wars have been fought and won, businesses have opened and closed, many 
left the farms to find employment in other cities, technology continues 
to advance, and still our community thrives. Through it all, the 
citizens of Chattooga County continue to count on The Summerville News 
for local, state and national news; every week, every year, every 
generation. Thank goodness.

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