Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

® Merry Christmas, Perry, Qa. MIDWEEK EDITION 250 Perry & Houston County's offical Legal Organ Gh HOME JOURNAL HIGHLIGHTS Deaths Douglas F. Mcßae. For a complete listing, please see 3 A. Merry Christmas 48th ... We hope you are enjoying being with your friends and family during your leave from active duty. Recycle your Christmas tree in Perry Instead of throwing your Christmas tree into the landfill, why not try recycling the tree into mulch? For a story, please see 3A. Making Christmas brighter Jerry Hayes helped drive members of the 48th Brigade home to spend Christmas with their families. It was a special mission for him since his wife is serving in Saudi Arabia with the guard. For a story, please see page 3A. Toxic Waste Will toxic waste dumps affect the quality of drinking water in Houston County? For a story, please see page 3A. INDEX MARK BLUMEN IB CALENDAR 3A CLASSIFIED 8B DEATH NOTICES 3A EDITORIALS 4A FOOD FEATURE IB LEGAL NOTICES SB LIFESTYLE IB SPORTS 8A STREET TALK 5A TO SUBSCRIBE, CALL: 987-1823, OR 987-5203 READ IT, THEN RECYCLE! This newspaper Is /S*^\ printed, in part, on re cycled paper and is re- ' A cyclable. For locations ofrecydingstalions.call 987-1823 - Westfield girls will be traveling to Cotton Bowl By ANDREA SELLERS Special HHJ Eight Westfield girls will be high stepping in Dallas on New Year's Day as they dance in the 1991 Cot ton Bowl Parade and Ihe Mobil Cotton Bowl Classic Halftime Ex travaganza. The eight are a part of Westfield's Vespidaettes, the dance team tha performs during events at the school. During the Superstar Dance-Drill Team summer camp, the team was one of several award winning ones. From this came the opportunity for the eight to dance at the Cotton Bowl. It also provided the opportu nity for the officers to dance in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York earlier this year. Heading for Dallas on Dec. 28 are team sponsor Glynellc Bccland and members Amtela Goodwin. Lane Please see COTTON, Page 2A ■The Houston Hornet Journal \tc3A\ hl K MJm Ail Jr % *mm h V i- ;■■■ -3® js,’: ' • ■9 iM'iir-x. %■ msm ftft ssmsmSom Jam T- fflvlß J HI mm . FL ft f Annette Samples, Ernest Eubanks and Joe Williams get a hug from one of their favorite people. The group says that Christmas lives inside the heart of mankind. Christmas experts: How to capture true holiday spirit By JAN HAMPTON Managing Editor The years may pass, the number of presents under the Christmas tree may change but the spirit of Christmas is a constant, never end ing force according to four Christ mas experts at the New Perry Nursing Home. And Charlie Hose, 104; Ernest Eubanks, 97; Annette Samples, 49 and Joe Williams, 75 arc truly ex perts on the subject of Christmas. "When you add up all our ages we're almost as old as Santa Claus," Ernest chuckled. "I think we could even give Moses a good run for his money." The four "cxpcrls"gol together to discuss Christmases past after tak ing part in the nursing home's spectacular Christmas parly Thurs day. Joe was surrounded by boxes. "I think this is one of my best Christmases," he said. "Look at all this stuff. When I was young I did j-j pill ■ -jii 'A —M J.r *,'•..• :‘ Westfield High School senior Key Club members lend a helping hand loading PAL food donations for the poor, pictured are Phil Kennedy, Jamey Watson, Drew Talton, and Rick Tresco. well to get a stick of candy." "I don't remember the presents I got when 1 was a child," Ernest said. "When I think back on Christmas as a child I remember having a wonderful lime with my brothers. I remember my Mom and Dad. It takes me back to a secure, great time in my life. 1 think that's what endures about Christmas, the memories, wonderful memories." Charlie remembered one special Christmas when Santa brought him "a little boy wagon." "I was so happy to get my little boy wagon," he said. "Sometimes at Christmas I got oranges, apples and candy. Once when I was real young, about three years old, Santa Claus brought me a little short suit like I could wear to church. That was something." The youngest of the "experts” at a mere 49 years old, Annette says she looks forward to Christmas ev ery year. "It just keeps getting better for me," she said. "I'm thankful for this Christmas. It has been wonderful." With thoughts this Christmas on American soldiers in the Middle East, Ernest can remember a lime when he 100 was a soldier away from home at Christmas lime. "In 1918, I spent my Christmas in a good warm hayloft in Ger many," he said. "I felt lucky to have the hayloft for comfort. I know a lot of our soldiers weren't as lucky. I'm praying for our sol diers. I know what it's like to be away on foreign soil." All four of the Christmas "experts" say they still believe in Santa Claus. "You know as Christians, Christ works through his believers," Ernest said. "Santa Claus works through his believers too. You don't have to wear a red suit to be Santa Claus. You just have to care about somebody and do something for them. Thai's Santa Claus." Please see SANTA, page 2A I A Park Community Newspaper—© 1990 | . «Ji G^ nA ' -7,0602 " ~ City considers various avenues of trash disposal By ALAN WILLIS Staff Writer "1 always enjoy talking garbage," Harp Suggs told the Perry Ex change Club. Through the past j year, however, many people in Houston County have not enjoyed listening to what the Bonaire busi nessman has to say. ■ According to Suggs, and many I other experts, the United Slates is in serious trouble. "The Garbage Crisis" has prompted the Stale of Georgia to mandate a 25 per cent | decrease. The plans for reduction ; must be submitted by January. 1992. Houston County has already be gun working on the project. "Perry is somewhat unique," said Bill Haflcy of the Clean Commu nity Commission. Perry established a dry trash landfill and has begun separating dry trash from garbage. "I don't know of any other cities that have this separation," noted Hafley. The distinction between dry trash and garbage is based on substances resulting from decomposition. Garbage consists of any substance which produces either methane gas or lechate upon decomposition. The Perry idea has spread. Ac cording to Hafley, Macon, Bibb County and Houston County have all investigated the possibility. In addition, Perry recently ap proved the funds for an industrial chipper. The chipper composts the dry trash, greatly increasing the life of the dry trash landfill. Moreover, the mullch created by composting is a usable soil enhancer. According to Hafley, three meth ods must be used to bring about the 25 per cent reduction. They arc: re duction of the materials themselves, reuse of materials, and recycling. Reduction of waste is essential. According to a video tape Suggs presented to the Exchange Club, Americans produce three and a half pounds of garbage per day, per per son. When people think of recycling, they lend to think of curb-side recycling. However, "curb-side re cycling will not work in Houston County,": according to Suggs. He pointed to the vast rural areas of the Please see TRASH, Page 2A Christmas cheer can also bring depression By MIKE PRINCIPATO Staff Writer Christmas lime, while being a season of joy and good will, is also a very stressful lime for many Houston county residents. The National Bureau of Statistics show a dramatic increase in reported instances of deep depression and holiday suicides. According to Peachbelt Mental Health Adult Service Coordinator Bob Gray, Houston Countians arc no exception. "Many residents place stress upon themselves they really don’t need," said Gray. "Some become stressed from try ing to please everyone with the perfect gift; while others strive for the perfect Christmas experience. This creates a very stressful atmo sphere." Mental health nurse Pam Keys says those who find themselves alone at Christmas arc strongly af fected by the season. "Christmas is a season of gather ilTr 5L : y%s9* \ S 7*-'* : >'s C»H ■ Jean Baxley Baxley retires after 31 years with the city By ALAN WILLIS Staff Writer "I started crossing school children in 1959," said Jean Baxley. That was 31 years and eight mayors ago. But Baxley will add no more years or mayors to the list, as she hangs it up" at 3 o’clock on the afternoon of December 28. Three years after she began crossing school children, Baxley began working full time checking Perry's parking meters. When the parking meters vanished, Baxley worked marking tires on cars that had overstayed their lime. "One man was watching me mark tires," Baxley recalled, "and hit a telephone pole. I felt bad because he messed up his nice truck." Baxley then relumed to part-time school crossing and became a part time radio operator. "I have been a full lime radio op erator for 12 years," Baxley noted. "I have enjoyed working here," Please see BAXLEY, Page 2A ing together with friends and fam ily. Those who are alone feel it more at Christmas," said Keys. There are ways of alleviating Christmas stress. Singles arc encouraged to gel in volved with a local church or join in many of the civic activities. "Church activities are a good source of companionship. They can be a home away from home," said Gray. "One may want to volunteer their services to charitable organizations. Anything that makes you feel good about yourself is a positive step." Other ways of alleviating feelings of loneliness include walks in a shopping Mall. " Christmas enthusiasm is catch ing. One can not be around it for long before feeling as those around you feel," said Keys. Both agree, when stress of the season becomes 100 much, re member to lake lime out for your self . It's your Christmas 100.