Part III: 1965-1990

1965: BUFFINGTONS BEGIN
Herman Buffington was the "publisher" and Helen Buffington the "editor." But, as on any small newspaper, each did whatever had to be done. Basically, he was in charge of advertising and basically, she was in charge of news. Neither could operate the linotype or presses but Herman soon learned to run such things as the job presses, cutter and Photo-lathe. Helen sometimes operated the headline typecaster and the Ludlow and she initially handled, with some help, the mailing on Wednesday nights. At first, they used a hand-held "wing mailer" for addressing the papers. It was a "big step up" when they got a stenciling machine that stamped the names on the newspapers.

In their first editorial, presented in the July 21, 1965 edition, the Buffingtons said in the head, "We're Glad to be Here!" The editorial said in part: "...We shall....be putting forth our best effort to providing you with a newspaper of which you can be proud. We believe Jackson County has a great future and we want to keep pace with it.

But we can't do it alone. We will need the help of the advertisers, the readers, the subscribers, the employees, the correspondents---everyone.

"And we are confident, after meeting and talking with many of you these last few days, that we will have it.

"By working together, we can help build an even better community for ourselves and our children."

HAD TEN PAGES
That first issue by the Buffingtons had 10 pages.

The addition of more community correspondents was among the first steps taken by the Buffingtons to enhance the news coverage. Already writing community news for The Herald were Mrs. Carl Porter, Dry Pond, and Miss Elizabeth Echols, Jefferson. Added were: Mrs. Alvin Benton, Wilson Junior High; Mrs. N.A. Arnold, Maysville, a former correspondent for the newspaper; and Mrs. Joe Crawford, Commerce, also a former correspondent. In addition, Elbert Forester, Atlanta, began a personal column. All these had begun by the end of July 1965.

By the first week in August, The Herald announced it would reduce subscription rates for those living in adjoining counties---Barrow, Gwinnett, Banks, Madison, Clarke and Hall. These readers would now be able to get the newspaper for the same rate as countians, $3 a year, even though the out-of-county cost to mail these newspapers was a great deal more than the in-county rate.

Continuing efforts to build circulation, The Herald announced in the second week of August that the Jackson County Jaycees would sell Herald subscriptions, new or renewals, and get $1 for each one sold.

An editorial in that same issue supported the Vietnam War. It declared "the country's determination to prevent further spread of communism" and added "We believe most Jackson Countians feel as we do."

The August 25 issue had all of 14 pages.

A large September 8 "house ad" offered school supplies from The Jackson Herald's office supply department at half price.

The new owners were apparently fast becoming aware of the crime situation in Jackson County. An editorial on September 15 dealt with the "auto theft racket."

Later in September, Helen Buffington began a personal column called, "Hello" while Jean Freeman was hired as a Hoschton correspondent and Margaret Ward wrote a Nicholson News column.

CIRCULATION: 1,500
That same month, the publisher began another of his promotions aimed at strengthening the circulation, which was only about 1,500. He announced that for 10 weeks two free subscriptions would be given weekly to the two people whose names would be dropped in ads---provided they could find their names and call in and correctly tell which ad their name was in.

Mrs. Lottie Wilson, The Herald's part-time receptionist-bookkeeper, fell at her home in October, sustaining a knee injury that required surgery. So her picture did not appear in the large "National Newspaper Week" ad which featured pictures of The Herald crew. Those shown were Mitchell Crane, Gene Sims and Branson Morris, of the shop; Tommy Wills, a DCT student in the shop; Dolores Garrison, the sales representative; Mrs. Minnie Lee Toles, Helen Buffington's mother, who worked part-time in the office; and the two Buffingtons.

The Jackson County Jaycees completed their Herald subscription drive in late October and Buffington was photographed presenting a $242 check to Henry Doster of the Jaycees.

Within a month, the publisher had elicited another organization to conduct a subscription drive---the Maysville Community Improvement Club, which would use its funds to help the Jackson County Assn. for the Mentally Retarded. Again, The Herald would give $1 of the annual subscription price to the sponsoring organization.

By late November, the publisher had elicited a page ad from Jefferson merchants and a page ad from Commerce merchants. Each participating merchant had a block on the page.

Another aspect of the publisher's promotional techniques was putting on the front page a picture of a store that now had a Herald news rack. The owner of the store, and maybe a member of his family, was usually in the picture.

Buffington continued his efforts at building circulation which he knew would build advertising, the lifeblood of a newspaper. The free subscriptions, pictures of places where The Herald could be bought and subscription drives by civic groups were all a part of his technique. Expanding the news coverage was, of course, a priority.

EDITOR KICKED OUT
It was right before Christmas in 1965 when the new editor of The Herald was invited out of the first meeting of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners she had attempted to attend.

Because of time limitations, she says, she had not attempted to attend earlier meetings. But because the proposed change from a fee system to a salary system for county officials was to be discussed, she felt it necessary that the pre-Christmas meeting be covered.

A page one story on Dec. 22 entitled, "County Proposes $9,000 Salary for Sheriff," with a kicker stating "Closed Door Meeting," told of the incident.

County attorney John Darsey advised the newswoman before the meeting began that it would be an "executive session" and the public could not attend, the story points out. He said the minutes would be available later. The chairman, L. J. Lyle, was not present and the two members on hand, T. A. Benton and W. R. Langston, made no comment after Darsey made his declaration.

The editor left as requested. She did access the minutes later and the story included what the minutes had to say. Of course, there were no details about the discussion leading up to the decisions that were made.

The struggling newspaper had no choice, Mrs. Buffington said later, and she felt it would be better to accede to the county attorney's request rather than get into a court battle because the owners could not afford such a battle. Instead, The Herald quietly informed the public from time to time about the need for open BOC meetings and when the next chairman, W. N. Harden, took office, he made it a point to assure the grand jury that meetings of the BOC would be open. And they were.

1966 : CIRCULATION INCREASES
Coverage of crime in the area remained strong.

In February 1966, a bold type page one story told of the newspaper's being unable to get figures on the proposed salaries for the sheriff and county commissioners. Legislation was changing the officials from the fee system to a salary basis, but county leaders sat on the salary figures until after the bills had been passed.

A church page was begun in May of 1966. Running monthly, each page offered a picture and history of a church, along with church schedules. This page was sponsored by various firms. Sixty-three firms were listed on the first page.

Despite all the efforts, the newspaper still usually had only 10 or 12 pages.

In cooperation with The Champion Store of Commerce, The Herald gave away free three-month subscriptions to the first 500 customers appearing during the store's special promotion in 1966.

The Vietnam War was heating up and The Herald offered free subscriptions to all Jackson Countians serving there. It also published the names and addresses so letters could be sent to the men.

The Herald got Georgia Press Assn. recognition in June 1966. Mike Buffington, then 7 years old and a future editor of the newspaper, was shown in a page one photo accepting a certificate for The Herald's being among Georgia newspapers age 80 or more years.

A "Recipe of the Week" column and an inspirational column by the Rev. Robert Ramsey were begun in September 1966.

CIRCULATION: 2,661
With obvious pride, The Herald announced on Oct. 5, 1966, that it had the "highest circulation of any newspaper in Jackson County." The Georgia Press Assn. directory showed The Herald with 2,661, compared to The Commerce News' 2,100, it was reported.

The publisher occasionally ran a personal column entitled, "Sidewalk Chat." One such appeared on Nov. 2, 1966.

1967: 'GOING OFFSET'
The year 1967 turned out to be a momentous one--- for both The Herald and for Jackson County.

In addition to continuing subscription drives through civic groups and giving away two or three free subscriptions weekly to those who found their names in ads, the publisher launched a "Billhead Sale" in early 1967. This was aimed at spurring business for his commercial printing department. If a customer would buy 5,000 or more billheads, he could get them for only $7 per thousand during the sale.

Other "house ads" promoted the importance of advertising and page one stories pushed special merchandising events in the towns, such as Commerce's "Dollar Days."

Noting the 92nd birthday of The Herald in June 1967, the editor pointed out in a page one story that "circulation has doubled in the past two years."

Much of the production work for the newspapers had to be "farmed out" the week of June 21, 1967 because a key member of the small shop crew had fallen at home and suffered painful injuries. Therefore, the newspaper had to go out one day early, it was pointed out.

And then the shop closed the last week in June for a "vacation period."

It was about this time that the owners began their moves to "go offset"---a strategy they had planned all along. This was the new "modern" printing method that was catching on fast in the trade. Rather than using hot metal type as The Herald was doing, offset used "cold type."

"Going offset" was a major step---but one which The Jackson Herald neglected to write about in its pages!

As recalled by the owners, the very first "offset" publication by The Herald had come in 1966 with the Christmas section. That section had been printed by The Summerville News, which had an offset press.

The big move to offset altogether was made in the summer of 1967 but for some reason The Herald had no story announcing this dramatic change in its production method.

The last issue printed on the old No. 1 Miehle flatbed press was that of July 19, 1967. The narrower pages which came thereafter bespoke the change, even if the newspaper, like the cobbler with no shoes, forgot to announce this big "in-house" news.

PRINTED IN ATHENS
The Herald still set its stories and ads in hot metal with proofs being pulled and page paste-ups being prepared. These paste-ups were then taken to the Athens Banner-Herald which made the negatives and plates and printed the newspapers. The newspapers were then brought back to Jefferson for mailing.

The Herald had scarcely started with its new procedure when the biggest local news of the century hit: The crime-fighting solicitor general for the circuit was murdered at Jefferson on Aug. 7, 1967. This unleashed a series of news-breaking events unlike anything the community had ever seen. The masthead on page one for Aug. 9, 1967 was draped in black in recognition of the community's mourning of its prosecutor.

Although The Herald devoted many column inches to the murder case and subsequent related events in the following months, it continued efforts to expand its regular coverage and circulation.

Frary Elrod, author of the newly-published book, "Historical Notes on Jackson County, Georgia," began in August a column called, "Lore and Legends of the American Indian."

In September, columns from all four high schools in the county were begun, each supplying about one column a month.

Circulation of the newspaper had reached an official 2,725 by October. This compared with 1,400 in 1961.

A house ad in November announced 20 Jackson Herald newsstand locations in Jackson County.

MUCH NEWS
But news was overflowing Herald pages. In that same month, the editor announced that "a capsule form" of routine news would be used on a trial basis. "The Herald is adopting this style in an effort to get more news in the paper each week," it was explained.

As Christmas approached and the war in Vietnam continued, The Herald ran an "Operation Christmas Card" column---printing names and addresses of county men serving in that country and urging countians to send them Christmas cards.

A new sheriff was being elected in the aftermath of the solicitor general's murder and subsequent resignation of the former sheriff. The runoff which came in December resulted in an unbelievable one-vote difference. The editor recalled that she had taken the Herald pages to the Athens Banner-Herald for printing before the returns were in but had prepared by having (1) a returns box in which she would write in the results and (2) two heads----one with each of the candidates winning. When a telephone call came that there was only a one-vote difference, she had a problem. Thankfully, the Banner-Herald staff provided her with an adequate head, one that told of the one-vote difference and the resulting indecision about who would eventually become the sheriff.

1968: FOUNDS BANKS COUNTY NEWS
Herald coverage of the Hoard murder trials in early January consumed much space in the little newspaper, which still often had only eight pages.

The Herald had long been the legal organ for the county and the publisher often made it a point to urge readers to "Check the legals. They're important to you."

Letters to the editor were invited and the editor began an "Orchids and Onions" column in February 1968.

Seeing the need for circulation in the Banks County area, a big part of the Commerce market, the new owners were stepping up their coverage of that county. Miss Lizzie Griffin began writing a Homer socials column in February 1968. And in March of that year, Mrs. Pete Watkins began writing the Nicholson news, something she would do for more than three decades. That spring, Ernest Shumake of Jefferson began selling subscriptions door to door across the county.

The Herald's 93rd birthday was mentioned in June. It was pointed out that The Forest News, the name under which The Herald had begun life in 1875, had been located "in a second floor area on the northwest corner of the square."

A five-part series on the communist menace, written by the Rev. Roger McDonald, Newnan, was begun and The Herald ran a series on the political candidates from both Banks and Jackson counties.

WINS PRESS AWARD
Obviously bursting with pride, The Herald announced in late June 1968 that it had won second place in the highly regarded "community service" category of the Georgia Press Assn.'s Better Newspaper Contest. A page one picture had Mike and Scott Buffington, the owners' two young sons, holding the award certificate.

The "July 4" edition in 1968 featured a front page written as though it was appearing in 1776 immediately after the colonies declared their independence of Great Britain. The head read: "Colonies declare complete independence." This page later won a Freedoms Foundation award.

The Herald was named legal organ for Banks County, effective May 16, 1968, according to a legal notice which began running at that time. The decision was made by the three county officials who have the right to make such decisions: the ordinary (probate judge), Mrs. V. E. Chambers; the sheriff, M. L. Harrison; and the clerk of court, W. Robert Payne. Banks County news was carried in The Herald and by September the newspaper devoted at least one page a week to that county's news. It included news of the Leopard football team, a socials column by Miss Griffin, pictures and school news, as well as the Banks County legals.

In December 1968, The Herald started The Banks County News, a separate publication, to serve Banks County which is in the Commerce trade area.

This being an election year, The Herald, in a lengthy editorial, endorsed Richard Nixon for president. It turned out that he came in third in Jackson County, behind George Wallace, who was first, and Hubert Humphrey, the Democratic candidate. Nixon, of course, won across the country.

The publisher continued his promotional efforts, announcing in November that the Jackson County High School Future Farmers of America would conduct a subscription drive, the FFA keeping $1 on each one sold.

CIRCULATION: 3,815
A page house ad running several times this fall featured a map of Jackson and Banks counties with dots representing the many subscribers in the two counties. The Herald circulation was listed as 3,815.

Both newspapers continued to add correspondents in various areas.

1969: 'COVERING' MOON LANDING
Patrick "Pat" Hilton, 57, long-time editor and publisher of The Banks County Journal, died in early March. Before The Herald was named legal organ in 1968, Buffington had assisted in the publication of The Journal on occasion during Mr. Hilton's illness so that legals could go forth. It was Hilton's inability to always publish on schedule that precipitated the change of the legal organ to The Herald. This, in turn, led to The Herald's founding in 1968 of The Banks County News so that Banks Countians would have "their own" newspaper published regularly.

The March 26, 1969 edition of The Herald announced that the newspaper now had a location in the offices of the Credit Bureau of Jackson County at Commerce. This was a drop-off point for the newspaper that was now billing itself, "The fastest-growing newspaper around."

26 PAGES
The April 30, 1969 edition of 26 pages was "one of the largest ever" at that time.

Marking the 94th birthday of the Herald on June 11, 1969, it was pointed out that the newspaper had first been printed on a hand-operated press, then a steam-run press, later by a gasoline-operated press and finally by a press operated with electricity.

The Herald won first place among Georgia weekly newspapers in 1969 for its community service work in 1968. A page one picture featured six Herald employees: Mrs. Jimmy Hix, Mrs. Tom Wilbanks, Mrs. Frary Elrod, Branson Morris, J. L. Trammell Jr. and Mrs. Paul Knight.

In an editorial on the accolade, The Herald declared it wouldn't "rest on our laurels" but would try "even harder" to provide its readers with a high-quality newspaper.

A legal advertised the fact that the Banks County property of the later Pat Hilton would be sold Aug. 5. Property listed included: one paper-cutter; one Chandler and Price automatic job press; one Campbell printing press; one paper folder; one 28" monitor perforator; one router; one Mergenthaler linotype Model 8; and assorted type and cases.

MOON-LANDING
Much of page 1 in the July 23, 1969 edition of The Herald dealt with the landing on the moon.

Continuing his promotion efforts, the publisher announced on July 30, 1969 that residents of Jackson, Banks, Madison, Clarke, Hall and Barrow counties could subscribe or renew for only $1 a year...for a limited time. It went over with a bang and as it ended Aug. 31, the publisher ran a spot asking for "Patience, please" in getting the names added to the mailing list.

Willa Dean White, who had edited the newspaper for many months in the early 1960s, began a column in The Herald on Aug. 13, 1969, entitled "Past, Present, and Future."

The circulation in October was 3,950.

1970: SUPPORTS MEN IN VIETNAM
A "Youth Speaks Out" column was begun in January 1970, with young people of the two counties being invited to participate.

About the same time, The Herald and The Banks County News were essentially the same with pages one and three being swapped for the two editions. This format continued until 1987.

Mrs. V. E. Chambers, the former Banks County ordinary who had become editor of The Banks County News, began a column Jan. 28, 1970.

The Rev. W. C. Treadwell, pastor of the Jefferson First Baptist Church, did a weekly cartoon at this time.

The Banks County News announced on April 8, 1970 the opening of an office in Homer in the "old bank building." It now billed itself as "the largest newspaper in Banks County." The Banks County Journal had been obtained by The Commerce News, then the main competitor of The Jackson Herald. So the small county of Banks had two weekly newspapers for several years.

The Herald publisher continued to promote circulation and readership by putting names in ads. In June, he launched a new subscription campaign offering a one-year subscription for $1.55 to those living in Jackson or an adjoining county.

CIRCULATION: 5,000
The Herald's circulation by this time was 5,000---more than three times what it had been in 1965 when purchased by the Buffingtons.

Among those writing columns or doing special work such as sports for the newspapers were John McCorkle, Hilda Corbett, Olga Lacey, J. Michael Shirley and Mrs. B. B. Cook.

The Aug. 19, 1970 issue had 12 pages plus 14 pages of a Back-to-School section. That same month, The Herald endorsed Carl Sanders for governor but Jimmy Carter carried the county and was elected governor.

The drug problem was coming more and more to the attention of society and The Herald ran a 1x8 ad urging young people not only to avoid drugs but also to stay in school. It was entitled, "Don't dope out and don't drop out!"

EQUIPMENT PROBLEMS
Equipment problems have often plagued The Herald and the year 1970 was no exception. On Sept., 2, 1970, the newspaper ran a page one, two-column box declaring that "despite four visits by repairmen out of Atlanta," typesetting problems were persisting. The article went on to state the newspaper "genuinely appreciates the aid" provided by The Winder News and its typesetters.

The Herald was named a "Blue Ribbon Newspaper" in 1970, one of only 168 newspapers in the nation to achieve this designation. Given by the National Editorial Foundation of Washington, D.C., the award was based on some 25 criteria measured against a national standard.

The Herald regularly reiterated its support of the men in Vietnam, running an editorial in September 1970 headed, "We Support our Men in Vietnam."

EMPLOYEES LISTED
A page house ad in October 1970 listed The Herald's employees, but added that the staff also included nine community correspondents, four sports writers, five columnists, one cartoonist and one "foreign correspondent," John Elrod, a Jeffersonian who was then attending college in Germany on a Rotary scholarship. The employees listed were: Doris Elrod (John's mother), Vernell Hix, Tommy Hollis, Mr. and Mrs. L. B. Minish, Irene Dodd, Jesse McCluskey, Steve Hollis, Mrs. V. E. Chambers, Mrs. Minnie Lee Toles, Betty Wilbanks, the Rev. G. A. Mitton, Gail Roberts, Gail Cotton, Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Hutchins, Hillyer Johnson and Fred Blackwell Jr., in addition to Herman and Helen Buffington. Most of these were part-timers.

Mike Buffington, then 11, son of the owners, began a "Looking Back" column late in 1970, using excerpts from The Forest News, predecessor to The Herald which existed from 1875-1881.

A "Food Section" was published on Nov. 18, 1970, offering "Thanksgiving Food Ideas."

1971: FIRST PLANT EXPANSION
It was this year that The Herald had its first physical plant expansion. During the prior decade, various items of new or used equipment had been purchased to help the newspaper keep pace with technological changes. But now more space was needed and the owners had a two-story addition erected on the property at the rear of the old press room. It cost about $12,000 and was built by George Aker and his helpers. A comic strip, "Grandpa's Boy," was added to the newspaper for the kiddies---and their parents. Randall Savage, later a Pulitzer Prize-winning Macon newsman, covered the Commerce city council at this time. Mrs. Lucille Cooper wrote a column of Negro social news from the Jefferson area. In addition, Mrs. Elmer Maddox presented Fairview News; Mrs. Pat Bell, county home economist, wrote "Chat With Pat"; Steve Camp provided Commerce High sports coverage; Mrs. Tommy Nabors provided Talmo social news; and Charlotte Harris and J. Michael Shirley were others helping improve The Herald's coverage.

The church page series continued with each church page featuring a history and picture of some church in the county. Publisher Herman Buffington, accompanied by one or both of his young sons, usually made these pictures on Sunday afternoons and Editor Helen Buffington gleaned the histories by calling pastors or church members. The number of pages ranged up and down from 16 to 22 or 24.

COUNTY BIRTHDAY
In October of 1971, The Herald produced its first big special section, an 18-pager celebrating Jackson County's 175th birthday which had occurred in February of that year.

A series on the court situation in Jackson County, a picture series on "This is Jackson County" and "Business Briefs" were begun in 1971.

1972: ANOTHER EXPANSION
For the second year in a row, The Herald expanded its physical plant. Having purchased the vacant lot next door on the western side, the owners had a one-story, flat-topped building erected in 1972 for housing the three press units it would buy from The Summerville News in 1973. This building cost about $13,000 and, like the first addition, was erected by George Aker.

The May 17 edition had 24 pages---divided into A and B sections.

In a pre-election poll conducted by the newspaper, Richard Nixon received 224 votes to George McGovern's 31. (When the election was held in November, Nixon swept Jackson County 3,489-906).

The Herald's long-time linotype operator, Wood Hill, now retired a second time, died in July. A Diamond Hill news column was added in September and Becky Lamb Vandiver's by-line appeared in the fall, one of the first journalism graduates hired by the newspaper following its purchase by the Buffingtons.

1973: GETS OWN PRESS
Scott Buffington, 11-year-old son of the owners, began a "Scott's Spot" column early in 1973 and it would run off and on for several months. He would eventually become advertising director for the firm but on occasion after becoming an adult would write a news story or column.

The Herald's plan to get its own offset press came to fruition in the spring of 1973. The March 28 issue carried a picture on page 10A of the press units' arrival and the April 4 issue announced on page one that that issue had been printed on The Herald's own press. The story noted that the press was "a far cry" for the flatbed one which had been in use at The Herald until 1967. (The newspaper had been printed offset at Athens or Crawford between 1967 and 1973). It was pointed out that the "new" press could print 10,000 issues an hour and could run color.

The April 18 edition showed a page one picture of the press. Its operator, young Steve Hollis, who had been sent to The Summerville News to train for the work, was shown looking over a just-run issue.

By November, The Herald, like newspapers across the country, was faced with a newsprint shortage. An editorial in the Nov. 7 issue discussed the problem.

Nevertheless, the "largest Jackson Herald ever published" appeared on December 19, offering 56 pages in seven sections.

1974: EXTRA COVERS 'CLASSIC'
Jeff Pritchett, Carlene Loggins, Garry Glenn and Rod Smith were among those writing part-time for The Herald at this time.

A special Herald series dealt with zoning and what it would mean to the county.

Mrs. Sidney Pope became The Herald's assistant advertising director, lending a hand to Publisher Buffington who was continuing in ad sales.

Mike Buffington began a series on "Our Coaches" and Scott Buffington continued his "Scott's Spot" series.

The October 16 issue had 30 pages and a series was underway on "Crime a Serious Problem in Northeast Georgia."

The Herald published an "Extra" after the "Classic," the annual football game between Jefferson High and Commerce High. Jefferson won 22-7 that year.

1975-79: SALUTE TO TOWNS
Editor Helen Buffington wrote a two-part series on Washington, D.C. after she and son Mike went there in the spring of 1975 for a National Newspaper Assn. workshop.

A page one index was begun in April and in this same month the owners again lamented "typesetting problems." The Herald also asked to borrow old photographs for use in its upcoming Herald centennial edition. That edition, a 52-pager, appeared on June 11, 1975.

Seven comic strips were run, Marie DeLay was writing a "Family Trees" column and the year 1975 also featured such columns as those by Olga Lacey and Mrs. B. B. Cook and a Jackson County High column by Imo Adams. Mrs. Adams also wrote a West Jackson column and Anita Lawson wrote about North Jackson happenings.

CIRCULATION: 7,116
A November 1975 issue had a page house ad touting the combined circulation of The Herald and The Banks County News at 7,116.

Color was routinely run on ads in the newspaper.

It was announced in January, 1976 that the newspaper would run a series saluting the towns of the county as a part of Jackson County's 180th birthday on February 11, 1976. Braselton was featured on February 11.

A series on the elective offices, an editorial on President-elect Jimmy Carter ("We wish him well"), and photos made of Carter at Plains by Scott Buffington were other highlights during the year.

It was announced that The Herald was among the four largest weeklies in Georgia, the top three being the Newnan Times-Herald, The Cherokee Tribune and The Macon Herald.

"NUDIST" EXPOSED
The Herald moved its Commerce location to 21 South Broad Street, in with the Beaver Barn Market Place, in 1977.

Area TV listings were begun in the newspaper in 1977 and a nudist colony in Banks County spurred The Herald to spoof the matter with a teaser page one head, "Ex-Nudist Reveals the Bare Facts." Inside was a rear view photo of pre-schooler Mike Buffington, along with comments.

The Herald won the coveted W. Herschell Lovett Local Government Award and the editor ran a series on a trip West later in 1977.

Ex-Herald staffer Charlotte Harris was killed in a tragic plane crash in the county in 1978. In May 1978, the newspaper ran a listing (though incomplete) of the Jackson County war dead in connection with Memorial Day. Mike Buffington launched a "One on One" sports page column and the September 20 edition had 34 pages. Herald circulation in the October report was 6,177.

Editorials in 1979 dealt with such topics as driving under the influence, abuse of women and smoking at school by students.

CIRCULATION: 6,200
It was noted that at 104 years old, The Herald had a circulation of 6,200. "We're old but not feeble," an editorial proclaimed.

A "Roll Call" series from Washington on how congressmen and senators voted was presented in 1979 and there was another report of mechanical problems at the newspaper. "Herald suffers machine problems," a page one item declared, asking the readers to "bear with us--we hope it will be better next week."

1980-85: SPECIAL SECTIONS, SHOPPER
Stephanie Krueger, Winder, a journalism graduate of Brenau College, Gainesville, joined the staff in January 1980.

The March 19 issue had 30 pages. The April 9 issue declared that combined circulation in The Banks County News and The Jackson Herald was 7,436.

In June, a page one box touted the inside columns of Virgil Adams, CC Collier and Olga Lacey. The presentation of a chapter or two of Scripture continued and the newspaper also featured comics and a crossword puzzle.

A Super Valu circular often appeared, one that had been printed on Herald presses. An advertising series called, "Who's Who in Business" appeared as did a "renewed" feature, "Messages from Madison County," by Mrs. Evelyn Swaim.

MRS. CHAMBERS HONORED
Mrs. Nancy Chambers, editor of The Banks County News, was honored by the Homer Presbyterian Church where she was a member. The "Family Trees" column by Mrs. Marie DeLay continued and it was reported that the population of Jackson County had increased 18 percent between 1970 and 1980---going from 21,093 to 24,933.

Scott Buffington did a page of photos on swimming pool scenes across the county during the summer of 1980 and it was announced that an aboretum would be located in west Jackson County. Downtown Commerce merchants had a double-page spread, with 18 merchants participating.

This was an election year and, in those days before computer use at The Herald, the results were hand-written in.

A page one picture featured "Rat Row," the slum area in Jefferson occupied by blacks, and shortly thereafter, The Herald ran an editorial on this problem.

SPECIAL SECTIONS, PAGES
Special sections or pages included a salute to the county's volunteer firemen, a fall fashion review and a pre-football section.

The October 29 issue featured a story by Editor Helen Buffington about her 1955 interview with Ronald Reagan, who had in 1980 just become a top contender for the presidency.

The November 5 in 1980 issue had 38 pages, including much color, and The Herald was publishing a shopper called, "The Trader." Mike Buffington had redesigned the masthead of The Herald. Among December editorials were those on economic development and the dangers of second-hand smoke.

A six-page special section on women, called "Woman's World," appeared on Jan. 28, 1981. That month also saw a business page.

The Feb. 25, 1981 issue had 32 pages; an editorial in February reiterated that "We're Proud of our Vietnam Veterans"; both a bridal section and a gardening section appeared in March; the church and farm pages continued; and later in the spring a West Jackson page was begun.

In connection with the newspaper's 106th birthday in June, an editorial declared "What a 'good newspaper' is not."

Priscilla Daves continued as a feature and column writer.

4-H RECOGNIZED
In October, the newspaper ran a 16-page tabloid section on 4-H. That same month, Helen Buffington's series on the trip she and her husband made to Europe ran. The newspaper also in October produced a 12-page tabloid section on a "Commerce Harvest Festival and Yard Sale."

The Herald ran a page-wide photo of a snowy Lee Street in Jefferson in the Jan. 20, 1982 edition, which featured 30 pages. The newspaper was printing at this time a circular for Bill's Bi-Rite in Commerce and the four-pager appeared Jan. 27.

A subscription sale was held in April 1982 and The Herald continued its anti-DUI efforts with an editorial in May. The pre-July 4 edition featured a red, white and blue color scheme on the front, and the publisher again used the promo on free subscriptions to those who found their names in a Herald ad. The newspaper endorsed Norman Underwood for governor in the Democratic primary but Joe Frank Harris won. However, the newspaper endorsed Harris for the general election.

An eight-page tab "Christmas in September" section appeared and the newspaper reported in a page October ad the fact that The Jackson/Banks County News circulation of 7,750 made it the third largest weekly in Georgia.

CHANGES NOTED
For National Newspaper Week, Mike Buffington did an editorial page column Oct. 13 on changes at the newspaper, pointing out that it now had a four-unit press, having added one unit to the original three bought from The Summerville News in 1973.

A page one series on "Economic Development" in the community was begun in January 1983 and it was announced in February that The Herald had again been selected a "Blue Ribbon Newspaper." The pre-Easter edition on March 30 featured a huge page one lavender-colored cross.

In late July 1983, Helen Buffington began a series on the trip she and husband Herman made to Israel.

An envelope sale was held in January 1984 and in March The Herald again attacked bootlegging in the county. Martha Sims and Kathryn G. White were among those on the staff at this time. The May 1984 issue had 32 pages.

The June 20, 1984 edition told on page 2A of The Herald's facelift then underway. It was noted that the firm would incorporate the old Western Auto building, located to the east. The old plate glass windows on both buildings would be replaced with traditional windows, the entrance would be moved near the center of the new facade and the exterior would be a pastel beige stucco. The interior would be renovated and incorporated later, it was stated.

COMMERCE BIRTHDAY
Plans were announced for Commerce to celebrate its 100th birthday in October and The Herald offered a subscription special. The newspaper endorsed Ronald Reagan for president and Stan Evans for sheriff.

The December 5, 1984 issue featured on page one "Before" and "After" pictures of The Herald's facade. The firm had purchased the adjoining Western Auto building in 1979, it was noted, and had been renting it out since that time.

1985-90: COMMERCE NEWS PURCHASED
The 1985 editions ran mostly in the 30-plus pages range. In the spring, Thomas (Tommy) Toles, the editor's brother, came to work on a temporary basis and had numerous by-lined articles during the several months he was in Jefferson.

Mike Buffington, in one of his columns, suggested that maybe Commerce would do well to revert to its original name of "Harmony Grove."

MRS. CHAMBERS KILLED
Tragically, Mrs. V. E. (Nancy) Chambers, long-time editor of The Banks County News, died in October 1985 from injuries received when hit by a car as she crossed the street near her home.

Mike Buffington provided a lengthy travelogue in October and November of 1985 about his recent trip to the Soviet Union. In May of the following year, he commented in a column on the Chernobyl nuclear disaster which had devastated a wide area in the Soviet Union.

The Herald continued hammering on its two main editorial projects: driving under the influence and domestic violence (including child abuse and wife-battering). Success was reported on another aim of Herald editorials: "Rat Row" in Jefferson was cleaned up.

In the summer of 1986, Mike Buffington did another travelogue, this one about the trip he and his wife made to Kenya.

It was the 100th anniversary of the long-used newspaper typesetting machine, the linotype, and The Herald's David Bohanan had a nice interview feature on Gene Sims, the Gillsville man who operated The Herald's linotype in the 1960s when the Buffingtons purchased the newspaper.

'INTERNATIONAL' COVERAGE
Dickie Hoard continued writing an editorial page column, the "Recipe of the Week" continued and "Dear Abby" was added.

At one point, The Herald ran a promo box at the top of page one on its collection that week of "international" stories: About a couple back from Australia; about a local 4-H'er writing from Norway; about a Japanese-based firm in the county; and about French architectural influence at the Chateau Elan Winery in West Jackson.

Editor Helen Buffington wrote a piece in early February 1987 about "This Old County," telling some of the county's pluses and minuses as it marked its 191st birthday.

The lineup as published early that year included the following Herald staff: Herman Buffington, publisher; Helen Buffington, editor; Mike Buffington, general manager; Scott Buffington, advertising director; Steve Hollis, shop foreman; C. C. Collier, office manager; and David Bohanan, sports editor.

COMMERCE NEWS PURCHASED
The big news of the decade for The Herald was the firm's purchase of its principal competitor, The Commerce News. The news was announced in a page one story on June 17, 1987 and the same issue contained a lengthy editorial about The Herald's plans for The News.

In August of 1987, Herald editor Helen Buffington wrote a page one article about the murder 20 years earlier of Sol. Gen. Floyd Hoard.

COMICS CONTINUED
The Herald comics included "Grandpa's Boy," "Little Farmer" and "Rural Delivery." A unique story series running in the late 1980s was about "Folks in their 90s," featuring interviews with Jackson Countians age 90 or older.

The newspaper continued its policy of commenting from time to time on national and international matters, as well as local matters. For instance, in August 1987, it declared "Bork is Man for the Job," referring to a controversial nomination for the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Herald continued as well to tie news stories in with national or international happenings. For instance, there was a story on Oct. 21, 1987 with a local angle on the notorious market slide of that month. Another tie-in was an interview with Mrs. Doris Beeco, local woman who had fallen into an abandoned well in 1929. This story was a local angle in connection with little Jessica McClure's fall into a well and her dramatic rescue. The Herald also wrote stories and had editorials about the AIDS epidemic which was just coming to the forefront at this time.

The newspaper continued its brief "25 Years Ago" column that gave a few highlights of events a quarter of a century earlier.

In March of 1988, in preparation for the Presidential Primary, The Herald endorsed Robert Dole. The voter turnout was only 25 percent and about half of the 1,322 who voted Republican chose Dole, with the others choosing George Bush. Some 2,400 voted Democratic, dividing it among five candidates.

A feature series on "Jacksonians" was begun and the "Recipe of the Week" continued. The Herald won five first place state awards in advertising at the advertising conference in 1988, the 'worst drought ever" was underway and C. C. Collier, office manager of The Herald, retired after a total of 12 years with the firm.

BY-PASS URGED
The need for a Jefferson by-pass was pushed in an editorial and Herald editor Helen Buffington presented a series about the trip she and publisher Herman Buffington had taken to Australia. The Herald ran a special section for the Jackson County Primary in August 1988 and endorsed David Motes for judge of the State Court and Stan Evans for a return term as sheriff. The election results had been hand-written on a page one box in August but were typed in at the time of the November general election electiona sign of the technical situation at the newspaper at that time.

The county population in 1988 was listed at 28,852, the newspaper reported, and Mike Buffington wrote a column that December on "Preserving Our Rural Character."

Early in 1989, a page one chart showed the 1980s' "construction boom" in the county. Kids did ads for a February edition and Mike Buffington had a column with excerpts from several turn-of-the-century Heralds. The newspaper ran a series on "At-Work Moms," noting that a year earlier it had run one on "At-Home Moms," both leading up to Mother's Day in May.

WAR DEAD MEMORIALIZED
The May 24, 1989 issue, tying in with Memorial Day, featured page one filled with pictures and stories of men killed in war.

An editorial in June told about the 114 years of The Herald and Mike Buffington wrote about the killings in Beijing, China as students sought democratic reforms. The newspaper won more awards, an editorial called for the tearing down of the Berlin Wall and another editorial told of the start of World War II 50 years earlier when Germany attacked Poland.

Herald paid circulation that October of 1989 was listed at 6,808. A series entitled "Married 50 YearsOr More" was begun and a tongue-in-cheek editorial slashed the Columbus Day holiday.

Not realizing that the Soviet Union was about to collapse, but still taking note of the unrest in several Soviet satellites, an Oct. 18, 1989 editorial declared, "We'd like to believe the Soviets have really dropped their ideas of world domination." On the same subject, but in a different tone, Mike Buffington, who had traveled to the Soviet Union, sardonically commented in his column that should the doors to the Soviet society "swing open, just think of all the Western culture they have to look forward to."

WALL COMES DOWN
The wall in Berlin did come down in November of that year and The Herald carried a feature about the reaction of four German-born women living in Jackson County, women whose homeland had been divided by the infamous wall for decades.

Closer to home, The Herald noted that the Ku Klux Klan was scheduled to be in Jefferson, declaring in an editorial that the white-sheeted group was "not welcome." Right after Thanksgiving, Mike Buffington launched a series on his recent trip to Egypt.

A December editorial headed, "Newspapers do make mistakes," declared that the newspaper was always concerned when errors were made and that it never took them "lightly." The editorial explained the procedures taken to keep errors at a minimum and invited readers to notify the newspaper anytime an error was found.

CHRISTMAS KIDS
The Christmas edition, as usual, featured pictures of local children. It also contained the usual "Recipe of the Week" and comics such as "Grandpa's Boy," "Rural Delivery, " and "Buffo."

At this time, The Herald had a staff of six community correspondents: Nelle W. Venable, Brockton; Karen Ragan, Holly Springs; Mary Arnold, Maysville; Hilder Watkins, Nicholson; Judy and Mary Hogan, West Jackson; and Pat Gee, Jefferson.

The year ended with a page one story about The Herald and its sister newspaper, The Commerce News, filing suit against the City of Commerce to get access to some records.