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Haw a Hajppj N®w ¥®ad WEEKEND EDITION 250 Perry & Houston County’s officai Legal Organ HOME JOURNAL HIGHLIGHTS Deaths Harold Hines Craft, Wash Plant Jr., Barbara T. Richardson, Micah Jeremiah Browning. For a complete listing see oaae 3A, Thanks for serving ... Guardsman Sgt. William E. Fambro, Perry. We hope you had a safe trip to California. Please see 10A for a list of leading businesses who are sponsoring your free subscrip tion. Paper on regular schedule New Years Although the paper was deliv ered one day early for Christ mas, The Houston Home Journal's Midweek Edition will be distributed to subscribers and news racks on a normal schedule next week. However, the newspaper will be printed early Monday evening in order for employees to have New Year's Day off. Deadline for news and advertising to appear in the Jan. 2, 1991 paper will be 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31. INDEX MARK BLUMEN 1B CALENDAR 3A CLASSIFIED 6B DEATH NOTICES 3A EDITORIALS 4A POLICE REPORT 2A REMEMBER WHEN 4A SPORTS IB JOHN TRUSSEL 2B BOBBY TUGGLE 2B TV WEEK 1C ALAN WILLIS 4A WOODS 'N WATER 2B TO SUBSCRIBE, CALL: 987-1823, OR 987-5203 READ IT, THEN RECYCLE! This newspaper is printed, in part, on re- gj* *-» ... cycled paper and is re- A cyclable. For locations *•, V of recycling stations, call 987-1823 Celebrations will mark the arrival of '9l By ALAN WILLIS Staff Writer New Year's Eve is rapidly ap proaching (perhaps too rapidly) and people in Perry are preparing to see out !990 and welcome 1991. For those who have not yet made any plans for the celebration, the fol lowing options are available. This year’s annual party at the Holiday Inn's lounge. Streamer's, will feature Horizon with Frankie and the Volcanos. The band plays music from the 19505, 60s, and 70s. One cover charge will gain admission to two sections of the party, on in the actual lounge and the other in the banquet hall, where the band will be playing. The parly is scheduled to begin at 8:00 and end at 2:00. Some 300 people are expected to attend. The Quality Inn's lounge, Ri ley's, offers three packages for New Please see PARTY, page 8A ffThe Houston Home ff Jourrii iss ATHENS bA Banner year for agricenter in 1990 By ALAN WILLIS Staff Writer "Getting [it] open was the first b.g success," said Johnny Webb of the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricentcr. Webb looked back at the success of the first year of the Agricentcr, pointing out that "the largest single event was the fair and it was fantastic." "The Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricentcr arc the talk of the nation when it comes to E A I HMk s» * a H /ML I m :^-. v I | L r : . , -elvF^S^Ei Journal photo by Mike E. Terry Kay Ferry chats with 104 year old Charlie Hose, one of her favorite people. ...Kay believes the world can be changed with a smile and some love. Making a big difference with a little love By MIKE PRINCIPATO Staff Writer In a world where few can say they actually love their job, Kay Ferry is a notable exception. Ferry is the current Activities Director for the New Perry Nursing Home. Her job entails coordinating a long and ever changing list of activities for residence whose interests are as diversified as as their ages. "It's more than just a job. It has to be. These people arc family. They have their good days and their bad," said Ferry. "Anyone can come into a nursing home and ■«r I - jMHk I* —•- * * Journal photo by Mike E. Terry Mike Robert takes some time to get away and try his hand at fishing. For a story about Robert and his favorite past time, please see page 28. "We will have the first Georgia National Stock Show" -Webb fairs," said Webb. He pointed out that Wilson Sparks, and his entire staff, "did a great job." The fair may have been the largest single event, but it was the Agricenter's first success. In June of 1990, the center hosted its first show, a Regional Junior Angus Show. Since then, there have been 120 event days. 320,184 people perform the function of the job satisfactorily. But it's more than that. The job is more than money and a place to work. It's a place to make a difference in the lives of very special people." Ferry and her husband Don have lived in Houston County since 1980. Don is a Robins retiree, who now works in civil service management. They have four sons, and two grandchildren. "My family loves my job," said Ferry. According to Ferry some of her best ideas come from family members. Please see FERRY, Page 8A have attended those events. Other people have come the fairgrounds, for many reasons. Among them have been groups looking at the center with hopes of duplicating it. According to Webb, inspectors have come from Canada, Australia and The Soviet Union. With all the success of 1990, Webb is looking forward to 1991. "We have events beginning in January," he said. Among the first major events will be World Championship Wrestling. That j A Park Community Newspaper—©l99o | :/o 1 1 99, _ MPRHH PFujcl ■ ... event will be taped and aired on television. The first week of March will mark a major event for Georgia and for the Fairgrounds. "We will have the first Georgia National Stock Show," Webb said. The show will include a professional rodeo. According to Webb, stock shows have been common in Georgia "but not on this scale." While the Fair and the Stock Show may overshadow other events, they are not to be Sherill Stafford: County outlook is bright for new year By MIKE PRINCIPATO Staff Writer "The County-wide outlook for 1991 is bright," says Commission Chairman elect Sherill Stafford. According to Stafford, the coming year will be an exciting one. Stafford, who will replace Representative elect Jay Walker as commission chairman January first, is the first commissioner to hold office on a full time basis. " Our responsibilities [county commission's] in the coming year will be serious ones and yet I have high expectations the county as a whole will do quite well," said Stafford. According to Stafford, three areas of major emphasis in the coming year will be solid waste man agement; cost efficiency in govern ment; and county planning propos als for the year 2000 and beyond. The county is currently under stale and federal mandate to reduce its solid waste by 25-pcrcenl by the year 1996. According to Stafford, current commissioners are well qualified to meet the challenges facing the them in the coming year. However, Stafford reminded board members the way to move the county ahead was through team effort. Stafford applauded board efforts to work together in the past. "I have known and respected each member for some time. I look for ward to working with them for the betterment of the county," said Stafford. Salary gap leaves the D.A.'s office in a bind By MIKE PRINCIPATO Staff Writer According to District Attorney Ed Lukcmire, current disparity between county attorney's salaries has left his office with a position he can't fill. The vacancy in the D.A.'s office occurred when former special prosecutor Bob Turner transferred to the Solicitors Office. Turner is scheduled to leave his post January first. According to Lukemirc, the posi tion is virtually unfillable at the present pay rate. Lukcmire petitioned county commissioners to waive job guide lines in an effort to fill the vacancy earlier this month.. However, Lukemire's request was turned down following County Personnel Director Steve Engles request that guidelines remain in tact. "The problem does need to be looked at; but I'm against changing overlooked. The Agricentcr will host many horse and cattle shows, including the Royal Lipizzar Stallion Show. Perry will also witness a Fisharama, clogging and square dancing, and a Contemporary Gospel Music concert. "Based on the feedback we are getting, the Fairgrounds is now establishing a reputation as a nice, fun place to come." Webb expects attendance in 1991 to be even better, and he expects "Georgia crowd to be a good bit larger." Other areas of concern facing county commissioners in the com ing year are the 1991 County Bud get: E-911; parity for county attor ney's, and possible closing of HCCI fa cilities in Perry. Jay Walker: County is on cutting edge By MIKE PRINCIPATO Staff Writer "We are setting on the edge of the county's greatest growth period," said Representative elect Jay Walker. Walker commented on the future of Houston County during a farewell luncheon given his honor, Thursday, December 27th. According to Walker, the county can expect a surge in county-wide growth. Walker believes this growth will make the growth of the 80's seem minor by comparison. However, Walker cautioned those present that rapid growth would de pend greatly on the county's ability to fund rapid expansion in county services. "The county must be willing to meet the challenges facing it in the coming year," said Walker. "The decisions you make in the coming year arc going to be diffi cult ones. They could very well Please see WALKER Page 8A guidelines without consideration. The guidelines are in place to insure the county gets qualified personnel. We may have a problem across the board if we change the guidelines," said Engles. Commissioners heard testimony from Public Defender Terry Everett. Everett agreed in principle with Lukcmire. "The problem is not in getting qualified personnel but in keeping them once their on board," said Ev erett. According to Lukcmire, two things need to be addressed. "You're not going to find good quality help with- the experience needed for, the money the county is willing to pay. Secondly, 1 have both stale and county employees in my office. Slate pay and county pay are not commensurate. Stale em ployees have a merit pay system. The county's just doesn't keep pace. Please see PAY, Page 8A