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LEGAL ORGAN FOR HOUSTON COUNTY, city of Perry, city of Warner Robins and city of Centerville VOLUME 136, NUMBER 138 WEEKEND July 15, 2006 The Home Journal’s FRONT PORCH IN BRIEF Green Street Gate construction update ■ Construction on Gate 1, also known as the Green Street gate on Robins Air Force Base, is scheduled to be completed Aug. 1. The original date of July 14 has been pushed back to Aug. 1 due to reasons such as the excessive thickness of the existing asphalt pavement that had to be demol ished and modifications that were made to the structure, according to the 778th Civil Engineer Squadron. The money to complete the project arrived this week and bollard instal lation is scheduled to start the week of July 17. To accommodate the alternate traf fic routes, Gate 15 (the Air National Guard main gate) will be open dur ing normal duty hours. Only people traveling northbound on GA-247 will be able to enter the base through Gate 15. Gates 5 and 14 will continue normal operation with additional manning from Gate 1. When Gate 1 is “sub stantially completed,” the contractor will begin construction on Gate 14. The canopies, which are about 118 feet long and 60 feet wide, will cover inbound and outbound traf fic lanes and will house air curtain heaters which will blow warm air on the guards during the winter and cool air during the summer. The outbound lanes are covered since they are often used as incoming lanes during special times and high traffic flows. Just n reminder ■ Good men and women have invested enormous effort to give vot ers choices and to assure the core of our democracy remains strong. It is not only a privilege to vote, but an obligation as a citizen of this great state. Go to the polls and vote your conscience, regardless of party affiliation or political philosophy on Tuesday. DEATHS ■ Ethelyn Clerkley ■ Ellen E. Endler ■ Thelma A. Markham ■ David Miller Pierce INDEX LOCAL 2 A WEATHER 3 A OBITUARIES 6 A OPINION 4A LIFESTYLE. 1C SPORTS 1 B COMICS 4 B CLASSIFIEDS .... 6 B PERIODICAL 500 8 loilL Award-Winning Newspaper 2004 Better Newspaper Contest tnliiiliiiiili.il.■i l ii l |i!, ll || lll I| 111 lt | ( || lll {| COOI * GEORGIA NEWSPAPER PROJECT Main Library UN IV OF GEORGIA ATHENS GA 30602-0002 3-DiGIT 306 July 15, 2006 111 ........... IL. ■I. . Si.Ri i.\(> Hoi st<>\ Col sty Six cl 1870 Community saddened by death of Judge David Pierce Editor’s Note: An obituary with Judge Pierce’s biography is on 6A. By CHARLOTTE PERKINS HHJ Staff Writer News of the death of David Miller Pierce on Wednesday brought sad ness to Houston County and espe cially to his many friends in Perry and in the legal profession. While Pierce’s friends were aware that he had been very recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, nobody seems to have been expect ing the sudden loss. Pierce, 61, was a Hawkinsville native, who moved here in the 1970 s to practice law. At the time of his death he had served for nine years as Chief Judge of the Magistrate Court of Houston County. Houston County Superior Court m pi * TpQHHHHpHRHBHHi ■P*N Jjk 1 m A. I WM WM s m fjjk gr^Ja * ENI/Gary Harmon A contestant successfully leads her dog through the course at the Agility Dog Show being held through Sunday at the Georgia National Fairground & Agricultural Center. For more dog show photos, see page 2A. Alltel changing names as of Monday By RAY LIGHTNER HDJ Staff Writer The phone company is changing its name Monday. The local telephone, broad band, DSL and Internet provid er, Alltel will change its name and colors as of Monday. “We’re gonna have new Windstream green start ing out Monday,” said Billy Taylor, Windstream’s vice president of wire line services for South Georgia. “Alltel was formerly GTE, but we’ve 10th anniversary of Olympic Torch relay remembered By KRISTY WARREN HDJ Staff Writer Flame bearers from the 1996 Olympic torch relay met in front of Warner Robins City Hall Thursday as they did 10 years ago. Of the 10 Warner Robins relay members from 1996, two were present with their torches donning the same Summer Olympic Games running outfits they did 10 years ago. Dr. Dan Callahan and Hazel Colson were nomi nated by unknown persons to be a part of the Olympic torch’s journey to Atlanta. Each paid S3OO to keep their torch as a commemoration of their part in history. The device was deactivated and historical data is engraved in gold on the torch with the number of each individual runner on the bottom. Callahan refers to the event as “a great experience we will always treasure.” Colson has had her torch encased along with a plaque, WWW.HHMEWS.COM Judge George Nunn, who attended Emory University School of Law with Pierce and later practiced law with him in the Perry firm of Nunn, Geiger and Pierce, said of Pierce, “He was a good friend. You could always count on him.” Nunn spoke of his late friend and professional colleague as “a hard worker with lots of energy ... always active, always involved.” He described Pierce as “very disciplined,” in everything he did, whether at work, at Perry United Methodist Church, where he served in many leadership roles, or in his personal life. Fellow attorney Larry Walker called Pierce, “ non-pretentious, quiet, thoughtful and intelligent... always a gentleman.” Walker said that Pierce was a Gone to the dogs windstream. communications been the same local company in Perry for 50 years,” said Taylor. Customers can expect to see the Windstream name on the building and trucks as well as on their bills. a detailed and decorative map of the course and a picture of herself running with the torch. She has also made an album of the event with pictures, newspaper clippings, letters and notes. Callahan keeps his torch on a stand on his bookshelf, saying that it is of interest to everyone, children and adults alike. He tells kids that they can one day carry the Olympic torch as well. At the next Museum of Aviation Foundation Board Meeting, Callahan and Colson will donate their torches to the museum to share with the public, what has been such a big part of their lives for the last 10 years. Colson and Callahan met working together 49 years ago at what was then Warner Robins’ only hospital located near the old post office on Davis Drive. Callahan was the fourth doctor in Warner Robins and Colson was a See TORCH, page 8A ‘worthy adversary” as an attorney. “It’s a great loss to this com munity,” he added. “We’re going to miss him very much.” Pierce will be especially missed by members of the Perry Rotary Club. He was a member of the Rotary Club almost from its found ing, and was honored at the club’s recent banquet for 30 years of per fect attendance. He had served as president of the local club as well as a leader at the district level. Members of thq club will be honor ary pallbearers at his funeral on Saturday. “His legacy of service has been an example to all of us,” said Steve Rodgers, current Rotary president. “In everything he did, he typified the Rotary motto, ‘Service above See PIERCE, page 7A Dependng on the billing cycles, Taylor explained, some may still get bills from Alltel, but payment will go to the Windstream. “The bills will look similar, with a similar format,” explained Alice Hartnett, the corporate communica tions manager. There will be no employee changes at the Perry office, Taylor said. The employees “are very excited to be an entirely new wireline company.” See ALLTEL, page 7A MPKp *~*' ■■ j<<^ '' atiJi *Mft> -, :' f 'IS , • ' ■»> HDJ Kristy Warren Hazel Colson and Dr. Dan Callahan stand with the Olympic Torch, of which they were flame bearers 10 years ago. THREE SECTIONS • 22 PAGES w » Chief Magistrate Judge David Pierce Voters to make choices Tuesday See page 8A for sample ballots for both parties By CHARLOTTE PERKINS HDJ Staff Writer While advance voting has been going on for the last week, and absentee voting is well under way, Tuesday is the day that will set the stage for the next three months of campaigning in Georgia. Many candidates on both the Republican and Democratic party primary ballots have been running unopposed for their par ties’ nominations, but will face competition on the November ballot. Voters on arriving at the polling places will choose one party’s ballot or the other. The purpose of the election is to choose the can didates who will represent the party in the November general election. Some voters continue to be confused about the two “Coxes” on the ballot. Cathy Cox, Georgia’s Secretary of State, is running for gover nor on the Democratic bal lot. Kathy Cox, Georgia’s Superintendent of Schools, is seeking a second term for her post on the Republican ballot. See VOTE, page 8A A\ hws Family Nwsi>u>i.k\