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Houston JLiitg Journal VOLUME 136, NUMBER 169 Tuesday August 29, 2006 The Home Journal’s FRONT TORCH INSIDE ■ In Sports today: Houston County's fast-pitch team improved its record to 7-0 with wins over Valdosta and Lowndes. Warner Robins' fast-pitch team started off slow at the Gwinnett County tour nament but then finished strong. Also, look for a story on how the heat impacted Houston County’s golf courses over the summer and Braves, Georgia Tech and NASCAR news. - See 1B IN BRIEF HCBOE sets new millage rate In a called meeting of the Houston County Board of Education this past week, the millage rate for the cal endar year of 2006 was set. A rate of 12.50 mills was adopted Friday which will generate $38,827,800 for the Board of Education. While the millage rate decreased by .98 mills, a budget of $39,690,000 was approved for the year, which is an $862,200 increase from last year. The difference, officials said, will be made up by anticipated intangible taxes from the courts, allowing for greater service for the county's stu dents at a relief for tax payers. - Kristy Warren Journal Staff Writer Kingston to speak at luncheon Congressman Jack Kingston will speak at a luncheon hosted by the Houston County Republican Committee on Sept. 5 at the Wellston Room of American's Best Value Inn, 1440 Watson Blvd., Warner Robins. The lunch will be catered by Sonny's Barbecue. Tickets are sl2 per person payable at the door. Reservations should be made on or before Sept. 3 by contacting one of the following: judygddrd@aol.com or 971-3254; utgrads@cox.net or 328-6435; shirleylenhart@cox.net or 923-7111. BIRTHDAYS Aug. 27 ■ Jennifer Rich Today ■ Brooke Maddox, 16 ■ Ashley Loudin ■ Carla Pearce DEARLY DEPARTED ■ Maxine Owens, 54 ■ Charlie Tarrer, 73 INDEX LOCAL 2 A WEATHER 3 A OPINION 4 A SPORTS 1 B COMICS 4 B CLASSIFIED 5 B PERIODICAL 500 liiiiiniiiiiiill! 8 '*s 5108 00001* 4 Award-Winning Newspaper 2004 Better Newspaper Contest l>illiiil«iMiiiillaiiiiiiali!ii l il al i|| i ai I( |||| lll || coot* GEORGIA NEWSPAPER PROJECT Man Library UN IV OF GEORGIA ATHENS GA 30602-0002 3-DIGIT 306 August 29, 2006 M&f,svo>\ C-WftmS'icME Mm 1 LEGAL ORGAN FOR HOUSTON COUNTY, city of Perry, city of Warner Robins and city of Centerville Just what the doctor ordered Patients give Houston By RA Y LIGHTNER Journal Staff Writer The latest Houston Healthcare survey of patients showed improved scores in most areas. The Women’s Center, which outpaced the other areas, was also one of the three areas to have improved score in every attributable area. “The Women’s Center typically is a happy place,” said Director of Marketing & Community Relations Mary Jane Kinnas, explain Flyiiws mm mm biter ~ for Jwt jK '/ r ‘\ SjgMP jgl Wimm - ' m i» •*s^Pysi s ‘i/ . j.. ~ .Kl:. ,mMWffw "• ‘■'MM.wm Mk B ■h' { ,1 i i *• i . ' i - Tbl . §L ?■ r - H - • sSa - *• c\ T/Wl ENI/Gary Harmon Mayor Jim Worrall wants to see more Perryans pushing their mobile-toters out of sight after trash collection. By CHARLOTTE PERKINS Journal Staff Writer If you think Oscar the Grouch has an attitude, just get Mayor Jim Worrall of Perry started on the subject of people who leave their mobile-tot ers (also known as “dumpsters”) on the curb for days at a time instead of wheeling them out of sight. “I rode around town the other night to take a look,” he said, “and it’s get O'Dell named Georgia Special to the Journal Dr. Ruth O’Dell, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services, has been named State Advocate of the Year by the Georgia School Counselors Association. She was selected for the 2006 GSCA Professional Recognition Award from 12 regions after being named the winner from region seven. WWW.HHJNEWB.COM ing, “people are excited to be having a baby compared to other areas of the hospi tal,” where people are sick or having surgery. “The Women’s Center consistently rates higher than others across the state, as well,” Kinnas added. The Houston Medical Center Emergency Department and four Main, a medical floor, were the other two areas that had improvements in every area from the previous quarterly survey. “We appreciate patients ting really bad.” He particularly noted the num ber of toters out along Morningside Drive. While some apartment complexes have central collection points for trash, the mayor noted that apart ment dwellers with individual toters are responsible for moving the toters back from the street after collection is made. Some people are apparently leaving O’Dell was nominated for the award by a com mittee of Houston County School System counsel ors. She will receive the state award, as well as the regional award, at the GSCA conference on Nov. 7, 2006, in Savannah, Ga. She is now eligible for the American School Counselor Association’s Advocate of the Year Award. Healthcare 3 tums up Survey sez ... Overall results of the Houston Healthcare survey of patients conducted by Salesquest of Atlanta Area of interest Quality of physician Customer service Quality of nursing Willingness to return taking the time to partici- “The top priority of our pate in the phone survey,” organization is patient sat- Kinnas said, conducted by isfaction,” Kinnas said. Salesquest of Atlanta. See PA TIENTS, page 6A Advocate of the Year “This award means a great deal to me because it was initiated by the coun selors in Houston County,” commented O’Dell. “We have a wonderful group of professionals committed to providing a quality educa tion to all children regard less of the challenges they face. Whatever accomplish ments I may have made, the counselors and the teach Satisfaction rating 93.5 91.3 91.2 90.8 the toters on the curbside permanent ly, creating what the mayor considers both a beautification problem and a traffic hazard. The mayor is ready to get tough with the toter-offenders and said that he plans to bring up the subject of a strict enforcement of the city’s toter law at the Sept. 5 city council meet ing. That would mean the guilty See CHANGE, page 6A ers were the key players in making it happen and the children were the beneficia ries. It is a blessing to be part of that picture.” Professional Recognition Award honorees were selected based on pack ets submitted first to the Region Chair and Professional Recognition chair for screening, See YEAR, page lA TWO SECTIONS • 12 PAGES Below the fold ■ Dr. Ruth O' Dell Named Georgia Advocate of the Year ■ Robins Air Force Base officials to offer free finan cial education forum (for those with access to base) Group offers a chance to 'unwind' By KRISTY WARREN Journal Staff Writer Friday, as they have been each evening of that day during the summer, friends and family of the aviation community were out at the Perry-Houston County Airport for a time of “food, fun and flying.” In an effort “to put some life back into place,” Coy Goff, with the help of airport mechanic Jim Wells, has developed “Unwind With the Pilots,” which gives families who share a love of flying a chance to socialize and catch plane rides. The event takes place each Friday from 6 p.m. until “dark 30,” Goff said. Goff, flew in the 1960 s when he worked for Tifton Air Service. He says that back in those days, folks used to hang out at the airport and eat pizza or hamburgers. Goff misses the old camaraderie and friendships of his flying days. Having quit flying before he married his wife, Carlene in 1970, Goff has enjoyed introducing his wife and children to flying. He got back in the pilot’s seat in March of 2002 when he purchased his own plane. Lately, there has been a crowd of approximately 60 people out at the airport for the weekly event, with about 12-15 planes on hand. “People just look so for ward to it,” says Carlene. The event has gotten a bunch of people to fly again and has given the opportu nity to woman and children who may have never flown. One of Carlene’s favorite attendees is 82-year-old Bob Gilmore who is still flying and performing aerobatics. She says he tries to prac tice at least 15 minutes per day. Jennifer and Bradley Webb See UNWIND, page 6A Robins AFB to offer financial education forum Special to the Journal A free financial education forum for anyone with access to Robins Air Force Base is scheduled to take place Sept. 6 in the base theater. The National Association of Securities Dealers’ educa tion foundation in partner ship with the Robins Airman and Family Readiness Center is hosting the event to equip attendees with the tools and resources they need to make sound financial decisions. There are two sessions to choose from. The first ses sion begins at 8 a.m. and ends at 11:45 a.m. with the second session beginning at 1:15 p.m. and ending at 5 p.m. See FOR UM, page 6A