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Athena, Ga. 30602
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Staff Photo by Hallie Rigdon
It's getting to be that time!
If you haven't taken the time to drive around Peach County lately,
go this weekend. The peach trees are at their most beautiful as
they burst into bloom
Utility Commission
will help fund Main
Street program
At a called meeting of the Utility Commission last week, Tim McCord
presented a funding request to the commissioners for the Main Street
project sought by the Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown
Merchants Association.
In cities who’ve been approved by the state to be “Main Street Com¬
munities” there has been a marked improvement in new businesses and
new jobs according to McCord. “Of the 30 cities taking part in the pro¬
gram,” said McCord, “there has been only one failure.
Main Street is a program to renovate, uplift and revitalize downtown
areas to attract new' businesses and draw people into downtown. Some of
the cities that have been successful in the program are Tifton, Thoinasville,
Hincsville and Madison.
Main Street requires a community to raise the money to lund the
program for three years, including the salary of a manager (much like a
mall manager). The funds needed for Fort Valles total over $180,000 for
die three year commitment required by the state. Once given Main Street
status, the community is eligible to apply for funds for building restoration,
etc.
■ The patient is in critical care,” said Commissioner Frank Spearman,
and in need of a transfusion. We can’t afford to let the opportunity to help
slip by We want Fort Valley to be here for our children in the future »»
us.
The commission agreed. City Attorney Charlie Adams reminded the
commission that a joint resolution between the city and Utility Com¬
mission for joint funding will have to be passed by the City Council in
accordance with the charteTand by-laws.
The Commission agreed to fund $10,000 for the Mam Street project.
Watch for our Annual Health
Focus.,, coming on March 27
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Photo by Ken Joyner
Sen. Hooks speaks...
State Senator George Hooks introduces representatives of the Ga.
Peach Festival on the floor of the Senate. Visible behind Hooks are
left to right: Pat Joiner, Davia Anderson, Bob Griggers and Lt. Gov.
Pierre Howard.
She Sleailer-ulrlbutie
Peach County's best news and advertising source... since 1888
Volume 103, Issue 11
FVPD officer arrested,
fired for accepting bribe
A nine-year veteran Fort
Valley Police Department officer
was jailed and terminated from his
position Thursday after accepting a
cash bribe from a GBI undercover
officer.
Patrol Sgt. Calvin Clark, 29, of
.
Rolling Hills Road, Fort Valley,
was arrested around 2:00 p.m. by
Police Chief Frank Strickland and
Peach County Sheriffs Department
investigators Terry Deese and
Ricky Vining.
Clark was arrested in his city
patrol car and in uniform on Ga. 49
across from Blue Bird Body
Company. He was charged with
one count of bribery on a state
warrant issued by GBI Agent Mike
McDaniel.
An "A" becomes an "A ft
Board of Education agrees
to change gradin g system
The Peach County Board of Education
unanimously passed a recommendation from
Supt. Gene Sheets to change the grading system
of Peach County Schools.
A group of Byron parents had asked Sheets,
Charles Vinson, board chairman; and Mike
Gilstrap, board member; to a meeting in Byron
where parents raised opposition to the present
grading system where an A is a 94 point average
and a B begins at 88. Parents said that when a
college or university views a transcript from a
high school that they may see the numerical
score but they will take the letter grade issued by
the school.
That leaves the possibility that a graduating
senior with a 92 average will be recorded as
having a B average by the college. “A 90 is a
pretty decent grade,” said Sheets when
recommending the change in the present system.
A grade average of 70 is the lowest passing
grade by state law and can not be changed by a
local board of education so will remain as it is.
The new grading system, to go into effect
Ga. Peach
Festival visits
Legislators
The state of Georgia will be just
a little more peachy thanks to the
1991 Georgia Peach Festival corn
mittee.
On Friday, March 1, representa¬
tives of the 5th annual Georgia
Peach Festival were at the State
Capitol to peachy up the State of
Georgia, well at least a little. The
representatives presented each state
representative and each state sena¬
tor with a flowering, self-pollinating
peach tree for his or her home. Over
300 trees were distributed in the
name of the 1991 Georgia Peach
Festival which will be held June 15-
22 in Peach County.
Peach day 1991 was arranged
by Representative Robert Ray,
House Representative for the 98th
District and his wife Jennifer along
with State Senator George Hooks of
the 18th Senate District. Both state
Legislators represent Peach County.
The group, consisting of Peach
Festival chairman Bob Griggers,
Linda A. Hall, Pat Joiner, Peach
Festival coordinator Davia Ander¬
son, and Ken Joyner, met first with
the State Senate and then with the
House. In the House, the delegation
was presented with a proclamation
celebrating the Georgia Peach and
the 1991 Georgia Peach Festival.
Chamber PR Committee begins
informative series... Page 2A
Wednesday, March 13,1991
The officer was terminated on
the spot," said Strickland Monday,
"He was taken to the Bibb County
Law Enforcement Center and all
items in his possession (uniform,
gun, etc.) belonging to the City of
Fort Valley were removed from
him.
The case has been turned over
to the U.S. Attorney's Office in
Macon and indications are that
more charges may be forthcoming
against Clark,
A statement issued Friday by
Michael Solis of that office said,
"On 3-7-91, Calvin Clark, Sgt., Fort
Valley PD, was arrested on a state
bribery warrant by members of the
Fort Valley PD, Peach County SO,
during the ‘91-92 school year, is 70-74 D, 75-79
C, 80-90 Band 90-100 A.
There will be a distinction because of the
honors program allowing for 95-100 to be
recorded as an A+.
Future transcripts from Peach County High
School will have an accompanying letter of
explanation of the differences in grading systems
for graduating seniors who will have been under
both systems in order to clarify student records.
The discussion was brief and the board passed
the measure unanimously.
In other business the board passed the set aside
allocation of $246,919 for the summer school
program. Grades 6-12 will hold summer school
classes in the high school to save money.
Chapter I classes will be held in Hunt Primary
School.
The board has been working on the teacher
incentive pay plan for several months and
adopted the final version last week. A teacher
may qualify for from $800 to S2,000 in bonus
pay from Peach County through educational
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Staff Photo by Hattie Rigdon
It's National Girl Scout Week!
Fort Valley Mayor Pete Peterson surrounds himself with lovely young ladies to sign a proclamation
,or th e Girl Scouts. The uniformed girls represent Troops 73, 276 and 428 here in Peach County.
1991 marks the 79th anniversary of the Girl Scouts, founded by Juliette Gordon Low. What began
with 18 girls has grown to an organization with over three million members. There is an exhibit at the
Pettiigrew Center this month of a collection of memorabilia, old uniforms, etc. commemorating this
event. The Middle Georgia Council of the Girl Scouts was organized in 1922. The exhibit represents
years of Girl Scouting in this area. Please go by and visit the exhibit and support this worthwile
organization for the young women in our community.
18 pages, 4 inserts
GBI, ATF (federal Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms),
FBI, and the Multi-jursidictional
Task Force.’
"The investigation is
continuing regarding violations of
other state and federal laws and it is
anticipated this matter will be
turned over to the United States
Attorney's office for prosecution."
Authorities refused further
comment, citing the ongoing
investigation, but Strickland
promised to reveal details of the
probe into Clark's activities as soon
as the investigation is complete.
Clark served with the force for
nine years, mostly as a patrol
officer. However, he spent a little
over a year as an officer on the
qualifications, furthering education and tenure.
Supt. Sheets estimates that the plan will add
around $50,000 to the budget but feels that it
“will make Peach County competitive” when
recruiting new teachers and rewarding those who
take additional classes.
The yearly calendar for the ‘91-92 school year
was also discussed and adopted.
During the board’s closed session of the
meeting to discuss personnel and real estate
matters, the board talked about the population
increase in Byron. They reported to us that they
have decided to move the kindergarten classes to
the old west campus building next year. That
will free up seven classrooms at the Byron
School for expansion. The board said that the
kindergarten teachers were pleased with the
move. Meals will be catered to the students from
the present school.
Supt. Sheets said that the seven classrooms to
be used will be painted and readied for the
students during the summer months.
35 cents
Department's two-man drug squad,
working as a drug investigator.
"Officer Clark was investigated
two years ago by Jimmy Jones of
the District Attorney's office after
an accusation. At that time, no
evidence was found to substantiate
a case," Strickland said.
"Rumors have persisted about
the officer since that time, though,
and a further investigation resulted
in today's arrest."
"The U.S. Attorney's office has
asked that no further details be
released until they conclude their
investigation.” the chief concluded.
Clark is married, the father of
two children, and his wife is
expecting their third child.