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HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL WINGS From page iA They include: A “Buddy” is a camper companion throughout their WINGS experience; kitchen volun teers help to cook and serve the children and adults; and Activities Counselors pro vide help and direction to the COUNTRY From page iA about what it means to be a citizen standing up to speak at a public hearing. Perry, for all its small town ways and friendly outlook, isn’t Norman Rockwell coun try when it comes to input from people who don’t live within the city limits. And this group, despite all the annexation and devel opment proposals for their neighborhood that are being voted on, aren’t city resi dents. Public hearing time is built into government meetings when it comes to land use votes. The law requires that neighboring property own ers be notified of requests for annexations and rezoning in their neighborhood. The law doesn’t require that pub lic officials respond to what citizens say or answer their questions, and the 25 people present at the meeting are unanimous in feeling that what they’ve said has made no difference. “The people we talk to don’t care about us,” Cynthia Ballard says. “They’re con descending. No one has lis tened to what we have to say. There’s a difference between being heard and being lis tened to.” There’s a murmur of agree ment. Gene Grinstead, who has lived in the Perry area most of his life, says, “Most them (the Perry Planning & Zoning board) know me When I spoke, I talked about the traffic, the water run-off, the property taxes. I felt like I was ignored. I said to heck with it. We’re considering TAXES From page iA the largest portion is the General Fund at $45,032,825. The rest comes from enter prise and special use funds as well as Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax funds. The general fund is paid for mostly with property taxes at about $29.5 million. According to Commission Chairman Ned Sanders the general fund budget is actu ally an 8 percent increase from the FY 2006 final bud get of $41,407,547. FY 2007 began July 1, for the county. Increasing personnel, fuel and energy costs are the rea sons for the budget increases, it was explained. The budget includes 12 new positions and a 3.5 percent cost of living increase-for all employees. The 12 new positions include a personnel office assistant, custodian, Superior FITNESS BOOT CAMP! IIVANT YOU... TO JOIN ME FOR A FAT-BURNING. MUSCLE-BUILDING. OUTDOOR FITNESS BOOT CAMP THIS SUMMER IN PERRY! DRILL SERGEANT: CARLENE MOORE, AFAA CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER & GROUP EXERCISE INSTRUCTOR I NEED 20-25 “GO FOR IT” PARTICIPANTS! NO MORE EXCUSES! NOW IS THE TIME FOR YOUR EXTREME MAKEOVER! *WHEN? TUES. & THURS. EVENINGS & SATURDAY MORNINGS ♦STARTING DATE? TUESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2006 ♦WHERE: OUTDOOR VENUE IN PERRY ARE YOU UP FOR THE CHALLENGE? PLAEASE CONTACT ME ASAP TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT IN THE LINEUP! _ bodiesbvc@alltel.net or 397-2428 or 987-2631 00036820 r campers during recreational activities under the guidance of the Recreational Leader. The bereavement camp takes place the first week end in November at Camp Martha Johnston in Lizella. At Sunday’s closing, par ents and guardians are invited to participate in a memorial service with the The following proposals and plans for building new homes on Langston Road are in various stages at this point. This information comes from the City of Perry Planning Office: ■ Notting Hill: 92 homes to be built on approximately 43 acres in a Planned Unit Development. Annexation and rezoning are complete. Permits are being sought now for building the homes. ■ Langston Place: Rezoning and annexation requests from the Knight Group have been approved by the city. This development will include 120 homes on about 40 acres. ■ The Stevens Property: 145 acres already annexed and rezoned R-2 at the request of Vision Works LLC. ■ The Reserve at Tuscany: Two properties adding up to 172 acres, annexed and rezoned at the request of Vision Works LLC. Further proposals: Perry developer Jack Smith is asking for rezoning and annexation of two properties. One is 154 acres, the other 46 acres. The decision on these proposals has been held up due to a problem with signage. - Charlotte Perkins selling everything.” But then he stops and amends his statement, remembering something that happened before the vote was taken on a subdivision. One member of the Planning and Zoning commission spoke up. . “Jim Mehserle said we had some valid concerns,” Grinstead remembers. “He said that we had questions and that they couldn’t give us answers. And then, Martin Beeland (the chairman) went ahead with the vote. “There are no warm fuzzy feelings,” Mary Lynn Dukes says, “You have no represen tation.” The group breaks off into a discussion of the time a Perry city councilman said some thing - they felt, sarcastically - about “these people not having the lovely deer walk ing across their lawns.” Dee Allison points out that the media didn’t cover Court clerk, an investigator for the Public Defender’s Office and five new posi tions in the Sheriffs Office. The commission approved at $382,383.68 from the FY 2007 budget for employee insurance later in the meet ing Building improvements will continue in the 2007 budget with $1.7 million to continue the renova tions at the County Annex, State Court and Sheriffs Office and to build out the “shelled in” space at the County Courthouse in Perry. Sanders previously explained that about $5 million was cut from the construction of the courthouse to build it within budget and some areas were only shelled in, to do so. The new judges chambers as well as finishing the third courtroom and jury room are needed now, because of the for the new judge authorized END OF SUMMER campers. There is no cost for the camp other than the $lO registration fee for the campers. If you would like to become a volunteer, you must be at least 18 years of age and clear a background screen ing. Call April Davis at 953- 5161, Ext. 121 for more infor mation. it “when Lee Gilmour (the Perry City manager) gave us all a little lecture.” They say they’ve been told “This is the way they do it in Gwinnett and Cobb County.” “Gwinnett and Cobb are the poster children for what we DON’T want,” Dukes says. “That’s urban sprawl.” And then she adds, “The very thing that’s drawing everybody to this county is the thing we’re destroying.” Tomorrow: Langston Road residents talk about the impact of the proposed subdivisions on their prop erty taxes, what they see as a lack of planning for infrastructure for the rapid growth, stormwater drain age and other environmental issues, the traffic problem, their thoughts about Planned Unit Developments, and their expectation that Langston is at risk of “becoming another Houston Lake Road. ” for Superior Court, Sanders said. Some of the road projects in the 2007 budget include $200,00 for straightening White Road and Thompson Road in the north end of the county, $150,000 for the Osigian Drive extension to U.S 41, $134,000 for the paving of Terrell Road and $50,000 for additional land scaping along Houston Lake Road. Sanders said traffic signals at $60,000 each are planned the intersections of Langston and Lake Joy roads and at Cohen Walker Drive and Houston Lake Road. Nineteen new patrol cars will be purchased for the Sheriffs Office at a cost of $410,000. Inmate funds will also be used to enhance the video recorder and camera sys tem at the Houston County Detention Facility budgeted at $67,000. LOCAL Pouce Beat Playin' in the dirt again By RAYLIGHTNER Journal Staff Writer On Monday, a woman reported an incident that took place early Sunday morning at the Elko Boggin. . She told the deputy she was in the mud pit area, throw ing mud with her friend when the complainant acci dentally flicked an ash from her cigarette onto a small child. The mother of the child then became instantly upset and yelled at the complain ant. The father of the child, in turn, jumped from his pickup and struck the com plainant several times with his fist. The complainant’s friend attempted to assist her, then she was reportedly jumped on by four or so sub jects. The friend’s glasses were broken and the com plainant received a swollen and possibly broken nose. COURSE From page iA only for family members of the mentally ill. It is not intended as treatment for those who are themselves suffering from mental ill ness. Those individuals are urged to seek medical help and get into an appropriate treatment program. Hartesveldt holds a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling, and has been an employment coun selor for the Middle Georgia Consortium for the past 16 years. She is a member of the board of directors of NAMI-Central Georgia and active in community affairs. Ham is a registered nurse and retired as vice-presi dent for patient services at the Medical Center in Macon. She is currently president of the National Alliance on Mental Illness- Central Georgia, Inc., and Peebles f kj, >, Vo ouv HoimcVowh H €xoes FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO, WE RE TAKING THREE SPECIAL DAYS TO HONOR YOU! Peebles may be new in town, but we already know just how special this community is, and we’re so very proud to be a part of it. We're grateful to all you hometown heroes - military personnel, fire fighters, police officers, EMS personnel and educators - whose work makes life better for all your neighbors. Come visit Friday thru Sunday, August 11-13 for refreshments while you get to know your new Peebles store. Bring in the Savings Pass below, show your applicable ID, and enjoy an Extra 10% Off all your purchases* all three days...just a token of our gratitude. HOMETOWN HEROES SAVINGS PASS • VALID AUGUST 11-13 EXTRA 10% OFF Everything* you purchase, ail 3 days, at your Hew Peebles Store! FOR HOMETOWN HEROES ONLY: military personnel, (ire fighlsns. police officers. EMS personnel and educators. Must present your applicable ID stoop with Its. Savmga Pas* to recede discount. VALID ON REGULAR OR SALE PRICED MERCHANDISE. ‘Not valid on oosmelica. tmgmnoes. fonmalwear rental, gift cards or previous purchases Cannot be combined wtth any other coupon or private savings Oder A deputy working secu rity at the Boggin arrived shortly thereafter, and broke up the fight. All per sons involved were ejected from the event. At the time the report was taken the woman had a swollen nose, both eyes were blackened and her right check was swollen and yellow. She said she wanted a report done so she could file civil action against the other party. The names of the other parties involved were not recorded at the time of the incident. Car better when not on pain kflera At about 12:21 a.m., Monday, a deputy report edly observed a driver run a red light at Russell Parkway and Moody Road, when the deputy had the green turn arrow. has participated in a variety of community activities. NAMI is a nonprofit, grassroots, self-help, sup port and advocacy orga nization of consumers, families, and friends of people with severe mental illnesses, such as schizo phrenia, schizoaffective llliipißllfl i ,11, 08080 1r 81310 ,,li t -Bible Study Classes- Mondays @ 6:oopm -Beginning 2nd Sunday in September -9:ooam Service Jay Westbrook, Pastor ( fisSgKf.- .I r-frTlfriaTiii ' JBB FRIDAY, AUGUST 11, 2006 ♦ The car reportedly did not have any working tail lights, the headlights were going on and off and the windshield wipers were on 4 while the weather was warm and dry, The driver, Rhett Lane Strickland, 42, of 209 Winners Circle in Perry, was stopped and reportedly said his lights were not working and he was having to pull the lever to get the head lights to work. He also reportedly said the wipers just came on and • would not shut off. The offender was also reportedly very sweaty, wearing only shorts and no shirt. When asked for his diver’s license he could not find it and his speech and demeanor were reportedly “odd.” The driver initially said he was not on any medica tions, had not taken any See BEAT, page 6B disorder, bipolar disorder, mqjor depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disor der, panic and other severe disorders The local branch office of NAMI is located at 209 Elberta Road in Warner Robins. For information call 328-0508. OWejping, cf §’oJ‘i 334 LAKE JOY RD. • PERRY 00036357, 5A