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NEWS Child molester gets 25 years; police bust busi nesses; man indicted. More. 'fCfliikiiM JltiMlfiC iloillfltHl Volume 138, Number 18 FRONT PORCH "Where neighbors meet" HHJ history 50 years ago: The city’s plans to move the Confederate monument to another spot on the courthouse square and put up a police information booth in its place meets strong opposition from the Sgt. Clinton C. Duncan Chapter of the Confederacy. A spokesman for the group makes on major argument: Mainly that mov ing the monument to the proposed location - between the courthouse and the New Perry Hotel - would have the Confederate general on top of the monument facing in a direction other than the ‘North", which they argue he must be facing. To face him North, they add would have him facing the courthouse itself, which they also deemed unacceptable. In other news, a Robins Air Force employee is found at his home with a gunshot wound to his head - listed in serious condition as of the date of the article. And, to add insult to injury, the ambulance is involved in a collision while tak ing him to the Macon hospital. 30 years ago: A recycling firm in Kathleen appears before the county com mission after evidence of burning is found on its site. The firm vows never to let it happen again and the commission in turn issues a stern warning that if it does, it will be fined SI,OOO to start with and SSOO a day thereafter. Also, the Perry-Fort Valley Airport Authority votes to install a non-directional beacon for instru ment landings when visibility is limited during bad weather. 10 years ago: A prison escapee from a work detail in Macon County is caught following two days on the run. He, incarcerated on charges of bur glary and auto theft, is discovered at his home in Perry. Also, Perry resident Bridget Boyd, also a RAFB employee, goes on Jeopardy and wins sev eral thousand dollars and Rep. Larry Walker, D-Perry, goes on the record as saying it’s time to devote some “serious focus” on improving the Perry-Houston County airport. - Compiled by Don Moncrief Birthdays March 1 ■ Alice Akin ■ Jennifer Cornacchione ■ Dennis Stubbs March 2 ■ Jeff Hair ■ Nancy Hill ■ Christine Friday March 4 ■ Helen Harrold ■ Robbie Minter ■ Morris Patton Better Newspaper Contest '^cug>' PERIODICAL 500 8 WoiUXQQI)! 1 4 3001 Georgia Newspaper Project Wain Library Jniversty of Georgia \THENS GA 3Q602-QGG2 \LL FOR ADC 301 March 1,2008 # BELOW THE FOLD: Centerville Fire Department and Davis Oil itt Pett yto receive giants LEGAL ORGAN FOR HOUSTON COUNTY, CITY OF PERRY, CITY OF WARNER ROBINS AND CITY OF CENTERVILLE Alford resigns as HHC CEO Authority puts Philips in charge as search begins By CHARLOTTE PERKINS Journal Staff Writer Dr. Anthony Alford, who took the reins of Houston Healthcare as CEO just 20 months ago, surprised the Hospital Authority and the community at large on Wednesday night by submitting his resigna tion. His responsibilities have been assigned to Chief Operating Officer - ak. ill "ill# * ‘'mJsI&I&L I m f iP \\ it- I I --JHihi. \ - 8L... "■ w*? *4 WBt ML*.. w m jNUtJ w w jf ’ Wm*. \ ▼ K' Officials cut ribbon on Danny Carpenter Drive By CHARLOTTE PERKINS Journal Sta ff Writer Danny Carpenter Drive, a north-south corridor between Sandefur Road and Ga. 96, has been completed, with a ribbon cutting to cel ebrate the event. The road, which was named for former Superintendent of Schools Danny Carpenter last year, was built in two stages with the first part providing access to Mossy Creek Middle School from Sandefur. It now connects Sandefur with 96. Carpenter could not be present because he recently suffered burns to his face and hand from a gas grill explosion. He is See RIBBON, page 10A Centerville FD receives $316,275 grant Special to the Journal U.S. Senators Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) Wednesday announced that the Centerville Fire Department would receive a $316,275 grant as part of the Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. “Local firefighters and emergency workers provide our first defense to nat ural disasters, accidents and terrorist attacks,” Chambliss said. “It is because these brave men and women are often the first on the scene of any incident that we must continue to ensure they have the tools and training they need to do their LIFESTYLE Westfield prepares for its benefit auction. Walker- Rhodes celebrates 70 years. More. Saturday, March 1, 2008 Grady W. (Skip) Philips 111, dur ing the time needed to find a new CEO. Alford offered six months notice, but the authority determined that his last day would be Friday. The resignation, according to a statement from the Hospital Authority, was “received and accept ed with regret.” •SaMT: 1 iiiMT ■■■ ad W, w v . -.jag agjcM^Br L i i 9 k%fi Contributed Commissioners Tom McMichael and Larry Thomson are fastest with the scissors as the ribbon is cut to celebrate the completion of Danny Carpenter Drive. A crowd of county and school officials attended the event, but the guest of honor, former Superintendent of Schools Danny Carpenter could not be present, as he is recovering from burns. jobs safely and efficiently. “I look forward to continuing to work with local fire departments and emergen cy responders across the state to ensure they have the resources they need.” , Added Isakson: “This funding will go a long way to help ensure that Georgia’s first responders have the resources neces sary to protect families and communities across the state. This grant fills an impor tant need for firefighters in Centerville.” The Centerville funds were awarded through the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response program. According to a release, funds under the SAFER program are intended to See CENTER VILLE, page 10A A*QDEf SPORTS WR sweeps NS in soccer. Also, more soccer and base ball results and more. Sonny Watson, Chairman of the Authority said later in a telephone interview that he did not know about Alford’s resignation until mid-afternoon Wednesday when he was in a meeting with the CEO, who handed him the letter. He emphasized that Alford was Davis Oil to get money for EBS infrastructure improvements Special to Journal Perry-based Davis Oil Company has received two EBS retail infrastructure grants totaling $34,683. The first is for $17,812 and for the company’s project at 1-75 and Ga. 49 in Byron. The second is for $16,871 and for the project at 1-75 and Ga. 215 in Vienna. Both, according to a release, are part of Gov. Sonny Perdue’s vision for sustainable economic development, and were awarded by the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority. Fuel stations receiving grants from GEFA totaled 21 with the total amount awarded being $282,968. EBS is a mixture of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent See DA VIS, page ioA www.hhjnews.com not fired. “I asked him per sonally to recon sider his decision,” Watson said. “He was not asked to leave.” “Over the past 20 months, Dr. Alford has led Houston Healthcare through PHILIPS a leadership transition while See RESIGNS, page ioA IplfPw > ■» >■ ALFORD Elite Eight Northside girls basketball Head Coach Casaundra Wilson maps out adjust ments for the Lady Eagles during a time out in their GHSAAAAA state tourna ment game against Glynn Academy Wednesday at Northside. The Lady Eagles won to secure an Elite Eight berth. For more, see 48. ENI/Gary Harmon