BLANEY, March 10- Friday evening, February 25, was a red-letter day in the lives of the student, teacher and citizens of Blaney. They celebrated the opening of a much needed gymnasium by impressive dedicatory exercises.

Supper, which consisted of sandwiches, wieners, hamburgers, cokes and drinks, was served in the school cafeteria. The members on the supper committee were:

Mrs. Carol Bowen, chairman; Mrs. Charles Wooten, Mrs. Ernest Kirkland, Mrs. Douglas Aldrich, Mrs. Edwin Sessions, Mrs. Adolphus Dowey, Mrs. Mendel Barfield, Mrs. J. L. Ross, Mrs. A. B. Nelson, Mrs. Salley Koon (cakes) and Mrs. Earl Stockman.

At 7:30  the doors of the spacious “gym” were thrown open and the people assembled there to witness the other festivities. Phil Agresta, announcer for radio station WIS, acted as master of ceremonies.

The Rev. Monroe Smith gave the invocation after which J. D. Watson, chairman of the board fo trustees welcomed the guest.

Then Arthur Stokes, Kershaw county superintendent of education, related a short history of the Blaney school. He gave tribute to the following former trustees of the Blaney school; The late Dr. W. D. Grigsby, Jessie Ross, Walter Rose, Arnold Porter and J. Paul Ross. The present trustees are: J. D. Watson, D. G. McLeod and W. L. Miles.

Phil Agresta introduced to the audience the county delegation that appropriated the money for the gymnasium. They were: Sen. R. M. Kennedy, Rep. J. Claytor Arrants, and the present delegation: Sen. R. M. Kennedy, Rep. William Gettys, Rep. Ezell Kelley.

The Kershaw county recreational committee consisting of; Miss Sara Bowen, Mr. Edwin Sessions, the late Dr. Grigsby, were due a vote of thanks because they secured the first $5,000 for this project. Other officials recognized were: Sheriff DeBuhl, Edward Odgburn, youngest clerk of court in the state, Judge A B Nelson and D. A. Dowey, county auditor, Dr. D. A. Cockron, who is soon to practice medicine in Blaney, was introduced to the audience. John K Deloach, county attorney, acted as legal adviser in planning the gymnasium.

Then came the highly exciting and extremely interesting part of the program, the presentation of fourteen candidates and the election of the Queen of Love and Beauty. The candidates and their sponsors were as follows;

Ollie Mae Branham, Otis Goff, Edwin Sessions; Betty Lou Dowey, Heyward Kirkland; Lillie Belle Dowey, Leon Bowen; Lois Branham, R. M. Coker, Mr. Spires, Mike Carns and Gene Griggs; Wilma Motley, Mrs. E. T. Bowen; Martha Ray Branham, Jake Branham; Ollie Dixon, Mr. Wilson, Woodrow Ross; Margaret Peake. Sara Bowen; Sivas Ross, Barney Cooper; Irene Reynolds, Carl Reynolds; Nancy Strickland, A. B. Nelson; Mary Grace Branham, Jasper Moak; Betty Aldrich, a trustee; and Christine Crumpton, 10th grade.

After these beauties were presented they formed a semi-circle around the dais while the votes were tabulated. Miss Ollie Mae Branham was elected Queen. She chose as her maids the next in line, Misses Ollie Dixon and Lois Branham. Miss Branham was crowned by J. D. Watson, Jr. agriculture teacher. The high school chorus kept the program lively by their cheers and songs.

Much credit for the completion of this project is due to untiring efforts of H. W. Rast, superintendent of Blaney School.