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I f I] m (<2l Tipi fik la SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2007 6A W~ —— Tri "“ißpwn j|b IHlißl * Bk INBgy mT» '%??<.- OSp A Ifeißß ■k A Fllfc-raA |l| jg&XL. I J&IHBRiI ™V ■■P*Br n A ■ffTitr « v ■• jm i W*** % - jiPßpji* - li *** l *& w^iiiS»-^BB B Ww 4t .■'«** ' r ,> - ***** PVO throws a party Over 650 local low-income and elderly people were guests of honor Monday night at the Perry Volunteer Outreach annual Christmas Party, held at the Georgia National Fairgrounds. Cox Concessions provided turkey with all the trimmings, and “reindeer” kids from First Baptist Perry (above) helped with serving the disabled. Kids got to talk with Santa and received bags of gifts. Below, Barbara Walton, Alvalyn Pope and Mitzi Sexton v> i '.''i'^;.' : v -iW ! 'rWmgm- ■* £&.?.» Jsli'^ ■HKiS r ’ s : Lonesome wail of a train whistle During the wee morning hours, I was awaked to the lone some wail of train whistle. A freight train was pass- Hb§' ' ' s^fi ''™tßl wK Billy Powell Columnist ing near my home. We live about three miles outside Fort Valley and a half mile from the railroad tracks. As the train blew its whistle, my bedside clock read 2:59 a.m. My thoughts raced back to the times I spent the night with grandmother Braswell over 60 years ago. Her house was located on Macon Street in Fort Valley, a block from the railroad tracks. During those days, passenger and freight trains, 40 to 50 a day, traveled through Fort Valley. As the trains approached the crossings in town in the dead of night, I shall never forget the foreboding, sometimes chilling sound of their warn ing whistles. The whistles would begin softly, then rise walk through Bethlehem The annual Walk Through Bethlehem at Shirley Hills Baptist Church on Corder Road in Warner Robins will take place Dec. 14 through 16. This free program, which is planned by the church’s congregation throughout the year is a fully costumed re-creation of the city of Bethlehem at the time of the birth of Christ. The event is now in its eleventh year, having been visited by more than 100,000 guests during that time, with 12,600 last year alone. Visitors will see Roman Centurions, shops where pottery and bread are made, camels and donkeys, and - of course - the stable where the baby Jesus is being cared for by Mary and Joseph. No offering is required, and accommodations are made for groups and for the disabled. Pastor Andy Cook calls the event “Our church’s gift to the community.” Call 923-5571 for full information. Southern Edge Photographq Studio Mention This Ad-Receive A FREE Bxl O Portrait With Any Series Collection Expires 12-31-07 CALL 333-2122 225 Smithville Church Rd. k. Suite 300, Warner Robins to a shrill pitch, and then slowly trail off—an eerie sound as the train sped into the darkness. Trains have been passing through Fort Valley for over 150 years. During the 1940 s when I occasionally spent the night at grandmoth er’s house, there were four famous passenger trains, the Flamingo, Dixie Flyer, Dixie Limited, and Southland, the fastest, that passed through Fort Valley. They came down the tracks from Macon through Echeeconee, Byron, and Powersville. On the open stretch, these trains could travel 75-80 miles per hour. I know firsthand because my dad, a railroad buff, would race with them in his car. He enjoyed racing with the trains and having the engi neer acknowledge him by blowing the whistle. The most famous railroad engineer was Casey Jones (1864-1900). On the night of April 29,1900, he brought his fast mail train, Engine 384, from Canton, Mississippi, into Memphis, Tennessee. After learning that engineer, Sam Tate, was sick and could o*7 THE BANK ip OFPERRY Please worship at the church of your choice 1006 Main St. • Perry L 56944 987-2552 Member FDIC LOVE s*r ■■ ,i - " H WKL-Zmf HLmmh I r *1 #■ . v iiiMK M : i w * WBp |h| -„;. \ f pj not make the return south bound run, he volunteered to take Tate’s train, Engine 382, back to Canton. Early the next morning as Jones rounded a curve at 50 miles per hour near the railroad yard at Vaughn, Mississippi, he spotted two freight trains stalled on a side track with several boxcars of the trail ing train protruding onto the main track. Realizing a crash was inevitable, Casey Jones told his fireman, Sim Webb, to jump, but Casey blew the warning whistle, put on the brakes, and stayed with the engine. Jones’ train plowed through the caboose of the stalled freight train, but none of his passengers lost their lives. Casey’s body was found in the wreckage with one hand on the whistle cord and the other on the airbrake lever. Had he not stayed with the engine to apply the brakes, many of his passengers would have died. A ballad written about him immortalized the skill and courage of railroad men. Casey Jones gave his life to save the lives of his passen gers and his crew. Isn’t this what Christ did? He saw us on a collision course with hell and gave His life so that we might live. The Scripture states that “while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” 181211.5. 41N. Perry, GA 987-1112 (dv&CEUVS FIoonngAMSHCA Serving Houston County Perry • Warner Robins Member FDIC cbst Bank of Middle Georgia 50861 Journal/Charlotte Perkins fflßSßßllSffflwt ' . - ’ ■ Contributed These children participated in the Live Nativity held at Perry United Methodist Church Sunday night as part of the Christmas at the Crossroads celebration. From left,Beck Beckham, Wise Man; Emma O’Neill, Wise Woman; Tyler Hall, Joseph; Hunter Johnson, camel; Mary Caroline Crook, Star of Bethleham; Emma Lewis, Mar; Kerri Ann Lawson, lamb; Price Massey, lamb. Choral Celebration with String Quartet The Adult Choir of the Perry Presbyterian Church will present A Choral Celebration of Christmas with accompaniment by String Quartet today and tomorrow at 6;30 p.m. The event is open to all. Perry Presbyterian is located at 1111 Second Street in Perry. For more information, call 987-1403. Drive-through Live Nativity Rehoboth Baptist Church will hold a Drive-through Live Nativity tonight and tomorrow night from 7 to 9 p.m. All are welcome to come and enjoy this inspiring proram. Rehoboth Baptist is at 2238 Hwy. 41 North, Perry. For more information, call 987-1577. &ttt6noidntf * D(iHu%yi4.*n**UM<} • rflteuxti&ci 478-988-2448 740 Main Street Perry GA 31069 'H& Oatitie 156557 www.sewingbees.com DAVID OVERTON JEWELERS 905 Carroll St. Perry, GA 31069 478-987-1392 [56862 "Let the spirit move you The Christmas spirit Thanksgiving Day was issued out and the Christmas season immediately issued in with traditional music. Windows and lawns are decorated. Christmas dis plays greet shoppers and in ■fi*. ‘ , wB Earline Cole Reflections answered with “Merry Christmas” and the greet ing is cheerfully returned. I recall a Christmas of the past when not everyone was so jovial about exchanging the customary greeting. My Christmas spirit received quite a jolt when I answered the phone expecting a jolly “Merry Christmas!” Much to my surprise, the caller harsh ly inquired, “Hey, what are y’all doing send me a Christmas card? I don’t cel ebrate Christmas.” “Throw it in the trash,” came my spontaneous reply . .. “Throw it in the trash and I’ll never send you another one.” With any further com ment, I lay the phone down and alerted my husband that he was wanted on the phone. Perry Brake & Muffler 1202 Main St. Perry, GA 31069 Complete Car Maintenance NAPA Auto Care : - -—: AK&S&Itv. '*.* s i:.&> ■ .< i 478-987-3813 568 55 LONGHORN BUTCHER SHOP YOUR HOMETOWN BUTCHER SINCE 1976 1207 Sunst'l Ave. • Perry Plaza Perry,« A 31069 Lee Lasseter 478-987-5711 Greer Lasseler 56849 HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL All sorts of things went through my mind. I thought about sending a “Have A Bah-HumbugDay Everyday” card to the caller. Not a good idea. That would have been spiteful and nothing is ever gained through spitefulness. I thought about sending an empty envelope. What would have been gained by that? Not a thing unless the caller could make the connection and I seriously doubted he was capable. When an envelope is received in the mail, a message is expected to be enclosed. Without a mes sage, the envelope holds no value. “Emptiness” is the key word. The life of a per son who does not celebrate the birth of Christ definitely experiences emptiness. Perhaps the caller acknowl edges the birth of Christ but chooses not to celebrate in traditional manner. Perhaps the caller’s heart was con ditioned to “every day” observance, rather that “one day” observance of the birth of Christ. If that had been the case, the caller should have elaborated his feelings. Perhaps he would have if given the chance. I had no desire to hear anything else he had to say. With the approaching of another Christmas, let us alio w the beauty of Christmas to live in our hearts each moment. “Through Him we have attained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God.” - Romans 5:2, RSV some loca tions, the Salvation Army Bell Ringers add a touch of the Christmas spirit to the atmo sphere. Tis the sea son when phone calls are JLo.rWW ’i /PERRY FLORIST 734 Main Street Perry, Georgia 31 069 987-1656 800-516-1004 Perry DrugiCojnnany friendly. Professional Seme ItM Ben Bartlett & Hubert Bennett, RLGISTEHED PHARMACISTS M*rt Imurttct Han* 56858 [ 1036 MACON RD. • PERRY, GA | 988-1144 156859 Li i_