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Pastel (Biftig LEGAL ORGAN FOR HOUSTON COUNTY, city of Perry, city of Warner Robins and city of Centerville VOLUME 136 , NUMBER 202 Thursday October 19, 2006 The Home Journal’s FRONT PORCH IN SPORTS ■ Houston County, which has just cracked the football polls - coming in at No. 10 - will take on a former No. 1 today. Also, the Lady Bears and Warner Robins are preparing for the opening round of the GHSA Sectionals and a slew of local golfers are well in conten tion at the 21st annual Georgia Women's Team Championship. -See 1B IN BRIEF Benefit to help violence victims The second annual Uniting Against Domestic Violence benefit for the Salvation Army Safe House is 6 p.m. Saturday at the Flint Energy Building on Ga. 96 in Warner Robins. The evening of entertainment and enlightenment is free and also includes a silent auction fund-raiser. Guest emcee for the evening is Warner Robins City Councilman and Executive Director of Happy Hour Steve Smith. Featured speakers include Capt. Glenn Queener of the Salvation Army Safe House, Dottie Stafford of HODAC. Linita Berryman of Rainbow House. Det. Karen Stokes of the Warner robins Police Department and Sharon Wolfe, president of Saving Families. Saving Lives. For more information contact the Salvation Army Safe House at 923- 6294. Democratic Women to meet Saturday The Middle Georgia Democratic Women will meet Saturday at 9 a.m. at Audrey's Bistro and Bakery on Margie Dr., across from the Galleria Cinemas. Mary Modena, President of the Bibb County Democratic Women will speak about Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor ’s campaign for governor. Local candidates may be present at this meeting. Chef Audrey will be serving break fast for $5. Let Beth Perera know if you plan to attend. Her e-mail is beth@)chefbeth.com or telephone her at 478-953-1933. Houston County Board of Health to meet The Houston County Board of Health will meet at noon today in Room 113 of the Houston Career and Technology Center, which is located at 1311 Corder Rd. in Warner Robins. BIRTHDAYS Today ■ Pam Carroll ■ Julia Williams PERIODICAL 500 8 WM 4 Award-Winning Newspaper 2004 Better Newspaper Contest Imllilliiiilliilliimilillliiilliiilliiimlillimll COOI * GEORGIA NEWSPAPER PROJECT Man Library UNfV OF GEORGIA ATHENS GA 30502-00Q2 3-DIGIT 306 October 19, 2006 IS+.Rvm; 1 H'oistov Cot ffnt skmia M7/0) Below the Fold: Warner Robins City Council approves two rezonings and two annexations County objects to two Peppy annexations Total denied - more than 1,200 acres and 3,300 homes By RAY LIGIITNER Journal Staff Writer The Houston County Board of Commissioners, during their meeting Wednesday, unanimously objected to two proposed annexations by the city of Perry totaling more than 1,200 acres and 3,300 homes. Commissioner Tom McMichael objected to both because of the Planned Use Development) zoning because, he said, it “is not AH in fuin, fund raising IT " W Ai Contributed Hex Gambill The joke’s on him: shackled and handcuffed, Willie Talton is led into the roast by armed law officers - turnabout for this retired lawman. WR Rotary Club roasts Willie Talton By REX GAMBILL Contributed F 4 ormer chief deputy sher iff and current state Rep. Willie Talton was put on the “Rotary rotisserie” Tuesday night at the Wellston Center, but it was for a good cause. The Rotary Club of Warner Robins put on its annual roast and this time the target of all the friendly barbs was one of the club’s own. Rotarian Dick Walden squeezed off a few of his own as the master of ceremonies, describing Talton as “a singularly undistinguished and easily forgettable individual,” and suggesting that tickets to the roast had to be sold at a “deep discount” in order to fill the room. He also presented the former lawman with his own bag of Dunkin Donuts before introducing the first roaster - a Warner Robins city councilman and fellow Rotarian by the name of Terry Horton. A veteran of several Rotary roasts, Horton claimed only to be speaking because Gov. Sonny Perdue can celed out, adding “He and Mark Taylor were down in Florida look ing at a piece of property.” Never one to waste an oppor tunity at a podium, Horton pro ceeded to poke fun at not only Talton but also Walden and the other roasters (Example: Of roaster See ROASTS, page 6A WWW.HHJNEWS.COM in keeping with the nature of the neighborhood. That’s farmland. We don’t need a PUD in farmland.” McMichael said the devel opment is “not in the spirit of a PUD. They’re just cram ming a bunch of houses in there.” Commissioner Larry Thomson who made the motions objecting to each proposal, said “the areas the developers are calling greenspace is swamp.” The county also object- Master blend Excerpts from the roast of Willie Talton: "Willie has always prided himself in his neat business attire. Suit, tie, starched shirt. I was really surprised when he showed up here in a 1970 s suit that doesn't fit. He must have borrowed that tie from (fellow Rotarian) Homer Childs. It has so much food on it he has to keep it in the fridge.” “Willie asked Mrs. Talton one night if, in her wildest dreams she ever thought that she would be married to a state legislator. She replied, 'Willie, I hate to tell you, but you weren't in my wildest dreams.’” - Terry Horton: “You ever see how much money he’s got in his mouth? He has about $50,000 between his two gold teeth.” - Chuck Shaheen "No wonder you never shot your gun in the line of duty - you were always late.” - Larry O’Neal "Willie was smart; learned his job through and through Then said to Chief Rape - “Boss now I’m leaving you. With the sheriff I think I’ll be better compensated ‘Cause you know that Cullen and I are related.” “If you ever told Willie you were feeling uptight He would say ‘Everything’s gonna be all right.’ If you chased down a punk and he put up a fight Willie said 'Everything's gonna be all right.’ The sheriff said 'Willie, our budget’s too tight.’ Willie said ‘Everything’s gonna be all right.’ Cullen liked Willie as did all the guys And his rank and his pay Were both on the rise His paycheck and his head began to get large ‘Til Willie began to think he was in charge. Two ladies came into the station one night When they left one said ‘I thought the sheriff was white.’ When Cullen heard about it he was ready to fight. Said Willie: ‘Everything’s gonna be all right.’” "That’s farmland. Wfe don't need a PUD In farmland... They're last cramming a bunch of houses in there.” - Commissioner Tom McMichael ed to both because of the increased density and impact on the county roads. “The density is troubling, “ said Commission Chairman Ned Sanders, “especially with the limited road capacity in Two SECTIONS • 22 PAGES the area.” The smaller of the two tracts is 200 acres at the southwest corner of Saddlecreek and Arena roads off U.S. 341. Plans call for about 500 homes all of - George Nunn f&w EhAymtff'Mmy? Nw/srwm one entrance on U.S. 341. Two commercial tracts are planned at the Saddlecreek Road intersections with Arena Road and with U.S. 341. The county’s primary objection to this annexa tion is that it is not con tiguous to Perry city limits. “If the property is not cur rently contiguous, it cannot be legally annexed,” County Director of Administration Steve Engle told the city See OBJECTS, page 6A The Eagle has floundered PY Council puts rezoning on hold By CHARLOTTE PERKINS Journal Staff Writer The completion of the Wooden Eagle subdivision on the corner of Sandefur and Lake Joy Roads was held up again Tuesday when Perry City Councilman James Moore insisted on more time for dis cussion before a vote. The proposed rezoning has been a bone of contention between the Houston County Commissioners and the Perry City Council, as well as rais ing objections from some mid county residents. The ordinance was a complex one, since part of the 85.367 acres is now in the city and part in the county. If approved, it would have annexed and rezoned 41.10 acres from its present county zoning of R 2 and R 3 to Perry’s Planned Unit Development zoning. A remaining 44.367 acres of the development has already been annexed into the city limits, and would be rezoned from Perrv R 2 and R 3 to Perry PUD. PUD zoning essentially allows developers flexibility in the overall number of lots on a parcel of land, with require ments for buffer zones and green space. McGlamry had agreed earlier with city officials that the development would include two playground type parks and one “greenspace” park. See RE ZONING, page 6A WR takes action on 4 agenda items By RAY LIGHTNER Journal Staff Writer Warner Robins approved two rezonings Monday that will cut the lot sizes in half. Councilman Dean Cowart made that point in the discus sion of the 90.144-acre tract on Old Perry Road. The change in density fromß -1 (3.4 an acre) to R-3 (7,500- sqaure-foot lot) cuts the lots in half, Cowart said. This latest subdivision on Old Perry Road will be called Morgan Ranch. Mayor Donald Walker noted this tract is part of almost 900 acres originally zoned for planned urban devel opment PUD in the county. The change in density was needed because a large swatch of the land in the area is des ignated flood plain and is not buildable. Walker said city utilities are already in the area, going to See ACTION, page 6A