MID-SOUTH MEMORIES
25 years ago — 1996
Telemarketers who call consumers back after being told just once not to call again can face legal action under new federal rules aimed at cracking down on abusive sales practices. The Federal Trade Commission said the rules, which became effective Sunday, were designed to give consumers an “easy-to-use tool” to halt unwanted calls. All consumers have to do to stop a telemarketer from calling is simply ask the caller not to phone them again. If the firm does call again, it is breaking the law and consumers should report it to their state attorney general’s office for action, said the FTC. The agency said telemarketing fraud is estimated to cost consumers as much as $40 billion a year. The telemarketing sales rules also bar telemarketers from calling consumers before 8 a.m. and after 9 p.m. When they do call, telemarketers must tell the consumer that they are trying to sell something before making their pitch. Then, before consumers pay, the telemarketer must state the total cost of the product or service they are offering and any restrictions on getting or using them.
50 years ago — 1971
Sculptor Harris Sorelle yesterday put the finishing touches on the 20foot, $15,000 yellow fever memorial monument in Martyrs Park, bringing almost to a close a campaign that began four years ago. A plaque still must be placed on the concrete, bronze and copper monument and landscaping and clean-up work remains to be done in the park overlooking the Mississippi River at the foot of Georgia. The monument features 24 human figures suspended between concrete pillars.
75 years ago — 1946
Judges of City Court and the Court of General Sessions pledged their “fullest co-operation” yesterday to the announced intentions of the city and county to put an end to the rising toll of traffic accidents here. Both the city and the county kept Page 1 of the 1946 Record Book free from any violent deaths or serious accidents yesterday. This was in sharp contrast to a nationwide total of 492 deaths from traffic and other accidents during the fourday holiday season which ended last night. Four of the Nation’s 234 traffic fatalities were recorded in Tennessee.
Eight other deaths were caused by other accidents. City Judge Sam Campbell said there will be “no mercy in 1946” for willful violators of the city’s ordinances.
100 years ago — 1921
Funeral Postponed: The body of Frank Giardina failed to arrive in Greenwood, Miss., Saturday. The funeral will not take place until Monday. The connection was missed at Atlanta. Frank was killed in France and his remains were shipped from the Flanders sector several weeks ago. He is “Frank the Office Boy.”