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i i «jpp» $ ,c’ : &|f a <9&tk Wk ’9H| Volume 137, Number 203 "... I feel bad because he's missing them. And you know with young children you only get so many. This is my son's first year where he's really into Christmas. It's the first time he's sat on Santa's lap and he's missing all that." - Chris Tester Onristmiss Base unit helps families fight a different kind of war By DONMONCRIEF Journal Managing Editor They all had different sto Sate- iy \ *8 H I : • s.«vlSr4a * ; * IB? SB:-'..* E UIM Alton" during Holiday Extravaganza 2007, an event for Robins Air Force Base families who have deployed loved ones away during the holidays. It was hosted by the base's Airman and Family Readiness Center and held at DJ* Galaxy Quest Friday. Looking on in support of Blake is his sister, Kayla, 13, and mother Chris. mm \ PERIODICAL 500 8 *5510 8 0 0001*4 Georaia Newsoaoer Project Main Library University of Georgia ATHENS GA 30602 ALL POP ADC 301 Dec. 19,2007 Si■ t<\ i\< i 'll(>i'.si(*> v.( (>i N"iv Simt: 1870 LEGAL ORGAN FOR HOUSTON COUNTY, CITY OF PERRY, CITY OF WARNER ROBINS AND CITY OF CENTERVILLE ries - each could fill page upon page in their own right - but on Friday, they ' '■* f 2Si , * iWW JBrJ / b BIRTHDAYS Dae. 18 Gary Williamson Dac. 20 Hal Pritchett Dac. 21 Bobby Tuggle E-mall birthdays to: hhj@evansnewspapers. com or donm@evansnewspapers. com. Mail to: 1210 Washington St., Perry 31069 attn: Don Moncrief. Or, call 987-1823, Ext. 231. ANNIVERSARY Dac. ID ■ Mary and Gary Williamson Wednesday, December 19, 2007 had one. It was simple: They were a family member who would This week in HHJ history: 50 years ago: Charles P. Gray, mayor-elect of Perry, chairman of the Methodist Church Board of Stewards and new president ohthe Kiwanis Club, is announced as Houston County’s Outstandin Citizen of 1947. And, here’s a none-too-com forting report for those who had loved ones fall on the battle field of World War 11, and from the Commanding Officer of the Atlanta general Distribution Depot. He, Col. R. B. Thornton, apologizes to family members for a major delay in the time between them being notified their loved one has perished to the time their loved one is actually brought back to their home state for burial. How long: Up to five weeks, which includes up to several weeks stateside for processing! 30 years ago: The farm strike moves into its second week. In other news, the City of Perry announces the Environmental Protection Agency will require it to pay approximately $1,200 to prepare a topographical map of the city’s sanitary landfill and Perry Police Chief B.E. Dennard issues a stern warning to anyone thinking about shooting off firecrack ers during the holidays. “We’re through warning people,’’ he says. “Anyone caught shooting them, selling them or with them in their possession will be vigorously prosecuted." 20 years ago: Perry First Baptist begins putting up its 28-foot tall Christmas tree platform in preparation for its second annual Living Christmas Tree presentation. In other news, the county's Emergency Management Agency holds a mock disaster to aid in training appropriate agencies. The scenario is a crashed C-130 military plane with numerous casualties. To simuate the aircraft, a metal likeness/structure is built, complete with flames shooting out of LP gas containers. For Chris "When I saw it, it startled me. It reminded me what I was fighting for. We had to win it for him, and thank God we did it." Nortbside Senior Guard Will Zunio - Page 1B be without their deployed husband, wife, father and maybe even mother on Christmas Day - through out the holiday season; actually, for “most” of it. They, on the aforemen tioned day, represented 40 military families strong - a little* more than 100 in all, said Tech Sgt. Mike Bullard of Robins Air Force Base’s Airman and Family Readiness Center. They were assembled at DJ’s Galaxy Quest, a location Bullard said was ideal because it offered something for all ages groups - from toddlers to teens, he said, for Holiday Extravaganza 2007. The event itself - was put on by the Airman and Family Readiness Center, a part of the organization’s mission actually, of which Bullard is the readiness non-commissioned officer “or family readiness coor dinator,” he said. “It’s hard enough for families right now to be separated from a loved one,” he said, add ing that this along with a number of previous events - Valentine’s Day at Ole Time Buffet, another event at Monkey Joes and on and on (all part of Operation Homefront) - would not have been possible if not for the support of outside entities such as the Military Affairs Committee or just people designating money to go toward the effort. “A lot have missed Thanksgiving and some are going to miss Christmas,” he said. “This is just some thing we do to get the fam ily out and networking together. And meeting new people in same situation to kind of ease the pressures they may go through. See COPING, page 8A Snow Pay a big hit jj Russell ES's Gamboa named Gifted Teacher of the Year Special to the Journal Sandy Gamboa, gift ed teacher at Russell Elementary, was announced as the 2007 Gervaise Wynn Perdue Gifted Teacher ’’-"' IB ci. | I '// . / / * H /i(*f 'c* nefu/t/)(>ts - Compiled by Don Moncrief www.hhjnews.com See pages 11-128 Journal/Charlotte Perkins of the Year at the Dec. 11 Board of Education meeting. Gamboa was presented with cash awards and gifts val ued at approximately SBOO, See TEACHER, page ioB Three times a month LAF is blessed by the following “driver angels," who give of their time, labor and vehicles. These angels go to the Middle Georgia Community Food Bank of Macon to assist in the load ing and transporting of food items: City of Perry, Charley Culpepper, Davis Oil Co. (Mayo Sexton), James Langston, Mid State Construction and Striping, Inc., Charles Parker, Parrish Construction Group, Perry Exchange Club, George Pope, and Phil and Sandy Smith. They are truly a bless ing and are most deserving of a salute and a sincere thanks. - The Board of Directors and Volunteers of Loaves and Fishes of South Houston County Sandy Gamboa receives a variety of gifts, includ ing a lei, as she is hon ored as 2007 Gervaise Wynn Perdue Gifted Teacher of the Year at the Dec. 11 Board of Education Meeting. Contributed