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Georgia Newspaper Project
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Volume 102, Issue 47 Wednesday; November 21,1990 18 pages, 6 inserts 35 cents
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Car fire extinguished...
Local firemen responded to a car fire last Wednesday at the
Dollar store on Orange Street. In the above photo, Sheriff Johnnie
Becham assists with the fire, and in the background Frank
gets information. Staff photo by Eric Zellars*
*
El Salvadoran students head home
By Hallie Rigdon
Joy and sorrow were abundant at the
Center Wednesday night as seventeen El
students graduated from their program before an
ence of black, white and Hispanic friends. The
morning they headed home to Central America.
The brainchild of Dr. James I. Kirkwood,
of International Programs at Fort Valley State
the college worked with the Central American
Scholarship (CAPS) program to combine efforts
better the relations with Central America as well
allow the scholarships to bring students here “to
rience America.”
Dr. Kirkwood was well pleased with the way
program worked. He was one of a group from
ically black colleges to have traveled to
America to set up this exchange idea. “These
such hard working students,” he said, “that they
amazed us. I’d get to my office early, at 7:30 or
and these guys would already be in a classroom
ing! They are amazing. :
Paul Teeple, CAPS coordinator, stated the
for the program and emphasized, “. . .the most
portant lesson is peace. How can we expect our
ernments to know peace if we ourselves do not
peace among one another? il
Jeff Gallop, a student at the college, had Jose
Garcia as a roommate. He said, “It was a very
ing program. These are 17 very different people
came here and added a lot to our campus. I
their courage for coming'here, their stamina for
ing their schedule and truly admire their
They are good ambassadors of El Salvador. They
taught us that we are indeed all family. ll
College President Oscar Prater said that if all
dents were like these (the El Salvadorans) that
world “not only be a better place to live but a
beautiful one as well.” Stressing that knowledge
something that no one can take from anyone
$1'
INDISTINCT PRINT
1 *%# %0 a
City will ask for referendum
to to ward
The City of Fort Valley
ask for a referendum to change
method of electing the City
and Utilities Commission,
ing to a resolution passed at
week's council meeting.
Councilman Ernest
offered the resolution.
explained that about six years ago,
committee of interested
began formulating such a plan.
plan was presented to the
and council in 1987 for
tion.
"We have studied and
cussed this for three years
Anderson said. "We will ask
local legislation to call for a
endum. If the referendum
approved, the city charter will
to be amended."
The plan calls for the city to
divided into two wards of
population, based on the
Judge dismisses charges against Leverette
By Hallie Higdon
Judge Tommy Day Wilcox
granted Garland Byrd's petition to
dismiss the charges against his
client, Bettye Leverette. Judge
Wilcox stated that the plaintiff had
failed to prove its charges against
Leverette and therefore the petition
to dismiss was granted. "This does
not mean, however," said Wilcox,
"that the court condones the actions
taken by the defendant but that will
be addressed at a later date."
County attorney Jeff Liipfert pre¬
sented a motion to dismiss the
charges against his client, Ernest
McGee. The judge denied the re-
Prater wished the scholars well upon their return to El
Salvador.
Juan Fereda spoke for the scholars saying how
grateful they were for this day, that at the beginning it
seemed so far away. He told stories of how difficult it
was for them to communicate with anyone in Georgia,
the hours and hours of English lessons being more
than any of them thought they could bear, and that the
program had surpassed their greatest expectations.
Jereda spoke of the parts of the CAPS program and
what they have learned from it and closed with, “We
love you. You have give us is so special that we’ll feel
even in El Salvador.
Linda Johnson spoke tearfully for the host families
of the students and how much their being here has
meant to each of them. Johnson pointed out all of the
public service projects performed by the students and
their total involvement in the community.
Emilio Arriola told of more of the adjustment prob¬
lems of language and diet, the long hours of study and
how very tired they all were at the beginning. “No one
would give us a break!” he said. “AH of the friends
and families have made it easier,” he continued. “Now
we have knowledge to share with our country. Our
largest challenge is to take it home to help make our
country the best for our people”
Pedio Alverque recognized the families and friends
who have worked with the students during their visit,
many of whom had brought parting gifts.
The closing song, Georgia On My Mind, brought
te^rs to the eyes of the scholars as the impact of leav¬
ing hit them.
As the visitors, families and friends entered the hall
for a reception they found a gift from the scholars on
the table.
In flower flats the men had created a centerpiece of
button chrysanthemums with a gold border, lavender
background and in gold had spelled out “Thanks
FVSC good bye and in a smaller flat had signed it ES
(El Salvador) with an orchid as an accent.
Census.
In 1992, city voters would elect
one council member from the east
ward, one from the west ward and
one at large. Then in 1995, voters
would elect another council mem¬
ber from the east, another from the
west and another at large.
A similar plan would be imple¬
mented for Utilities Commission
posts, and it was decided that that
body would remain a five-member
board.
It was also pointed out that any
change in the city election would be
subject to Justice Department
approval.
Councilman Joe Evans said the
group that worked so hard to pre¬
pare the plan should be commended
for their efforts. Among them were
Anderson, James Lewis, Jack
Hunnicutt, and the late George
Luce.
quest saying that he would review
the transcript and evidence presented
in the trial and render his decision
by January 1, 1991. "It looks like
this is what I'll be doing for
Christmas," said Wilcox.
The decisions were rendered after
the defense presented its case in
court putting on six witnesses, ap¬
praiser David Sammons; former
chairman of the Board of Tax As¬
sessors John Demons; William Ter¬
rell; present Board Chairman Ernest
McGee; Bettye Leverette and Hunter
Foy of the Georgia Department of
Revenue.
Trying to prove collusion and il-
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Staff Photo by Hallie Rigdon
A special ceremony for very special people...
Alfredo, Jorge, Pedro, Emilio, Mauricio, Gerardo, Jose, Angel, Carlos, Roosevelt, Jose, Juan,
David, Hector, Carlos, Antonio and Jose watched as they were honored in a ceremony at Fort
Valley State College which saw them complete their courses in "See America," English and
ornamental horticulture.
In other business to come
before the Council, a couple of
compromise solutions were adopted
after two lengthy discussions on
downtown parking and the business
hours of the Brown Derby Lounge.
The Council passed an ordi¬
nance prohibiting parking in front
of downtown stores by employees
and store owners. However, the
restriction was limited to the down¬
town block of Main Street east of
Camellia Boulevard after several
merchants who have businesses in
adjacent areas protested.
The ordinance is temporary for
60 days in order to give time to see
if it works.
Council also agreed that the
Brown Derby Lounge on East Main
must stop selling alcohol at mid¬
night and be cleared by 1 a.m. on
Saturday night. The club was
already ceasing alcohol sales
lcgal handling of tax assessments,
the properties entered into evidence
were those of Peach County Com¬
mission Chairman Dr. Glenwood
Hill, Ernest McGee's land in trust
to his children and leased to ITT,
William Terrell, Albert O'Bryant
and a Byron property owned by
Cindy's, Inc.
In each instance, plaintiffs attor¬
ney Walter Harrington tried to show
that changes in valuations made by
Leverette were improperly or ille¬
gally handled by not having been
taken either to the Board of Tax As¬
sessors or through the formal ap¬
peals process to the Board of Equal-
midnight, but had been open until 2
a.m.
The Council set the millage
rate for ad valorem taxes for the
coming fiscal year at 8.5 mills, the
same rate as last year.
They also announced that the
city has entered into an agreement
with Tim McCord to purchase the
old Post Office building next to
City Hall.
The building will be renovated
for a police administrative building,
and will be finalized through the
Fort Valley Redevelopment
Authority, assuming details of such
a financing plan can be worked out.
Appointments on the Fort
Valley-Byron-Peach County
Recreation Commission and the
Thomas Public Library Board of
Trustees were tabled until the
December meeting.
ization.
In his testimony, Hunter Foy re¬
iterated his position stated when he
was here a couple of months ago
that procedures for valuation correc¬
tions were handled according to the
Board of Tax Assessors in each
county. For an appraiser to change
a valuation due to an error was not
unusual, in fact, was common prac¬
tice throughout the state. He had
advised the board when he was here
before to set down in writing the
procedures for appraisers to follow
so as to avoid any questions in the
future.