Newspaper Page Text
Sports
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winning region .#* -j
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Peach County
She Steaher-tUnbune
Vol. No. 106, Issue 47, 14 pages
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Torchbearers sought
for Olympic relay
On July 12 the 1996 Olympic Torch
Relay will run through Peach County
and stop in Fort Valley. During the 84
day, 15,000-mile trek across the U.S.
over 10,000
people will
pass the
Olympic
Flame from
torch to torch.
Many of the
torchbearers
will be "com¬
munity
heroes" who
will be cho¬
sen by com¬
munity selec¬
tion panels. Peach County hopes to find
its "community heroes" for this event.
Nominations are now being accepted and
forms are available at the Peach County
Chamber of Commerce, the Thomas
Public Library and the Byron Public
Library. Nominations must be complet¬
ed by Nov. 30. Everyone is eligible.
Dinner, Auction Nov. 16
The Peach County Chamber of
Commerce and the Peach Public
Libraries will host a VIP dinner and
auctions Thursday. Nov. 6, beginning
a 6 p.m. at Massee Lane C'.^ns. Thu
real "Doc Hollywood" Dr. Neil Shul
man, will entertain guests with a cast
of characters from Middle Georgia.
Over 200 autographed memorabilia
have been donated by prominent fig¬
ures in sports, music and the arts. The
dinner, Dr. Shulman's book and entry
into the auction is $25. Seating is lim¬
ited. Make reservations before Friday,
Nov. 10. For More information, call
825-3733 or 825-6992.
Christmas Parade Dec. 2
The annual Christmas Parade in down¬
town Fort Valley is set for Saturday, Dec.
3. Theme for this year's event is "Let's
Have a Country Christmas."
Applications are now being accepted for
the parade which will start at Blue Bird
and ending on College and Miller streets
at First Baptist Church.
Send in this application:
Organization_
Contact person_
Phone No._
Type entry (float, band, vehicle, etc.)
Mail to:
Ft. Valley Lions Club
ATTN: Jimmy Jones
P.O. Box 615
Ft. Valley, Ga. 31030
Habitat unit holds walk
The Fort Valley State College Habitat
Campus Chapter will sponsor a Walk-a
Thon Saturday, Nov. 18. All proceeds
go towards the construction of a home
for a Peach County family. Registration
begins at 8:30 a.m. in front of the Bell
Tower at FVSC. For more information,
call 825-6305 or 825-2704.
M-B president speaks
Dr. Samuel Jolly, president of Morris
Brown College in Atlanta, will speak at
the annual Achievement Program slated
Nov. 19 at Trinity Baptist Church begin¬
ning at 10:45 a.m. The even is sponsored
by the Lambda Phi Chapter of Omega
PSi fraternity.
Radio-Thon set Nov. 18
It's time again for the Hunt Education¬
al and Cultural Center's annual Radio
Thon. The event raises money for the
enter to continue to provide quality pro¬
grams for the youth of Peach County.
The event will be held Nov. 18 between
the hours of noon and 2 p.m. at WXKO
1150 AM. For more information, call
825-8278.
If ”
you see or know inform
TION THAT YOU THINK IS A NEWS
STORY, PLEASE CALL 825-2432.
What the people don’t know will hurt them...'
Deer hunter bags field of pot
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Peach County Sheriff Johnnie Becham prepares to destroy the 109 marijauna plants seized by deputies last Thursday.
The value of the cache was estimated at $150,000. The growers have not been found, tstaft photo by cindy Mori»y)
hospital opens new therapy center
By CINDY MORLEY
The Leader-Tribune
Peach County Hospital and The Medical
Center of Central Georgia have joined
forces to meet what they see as a need in
the county. *
After closing the doors on the hospital's
rehabilitation center several weeks ago,
officials from both hospitals saw a need to
open a therapy center which will specialize
in occupational therapy, speech and physi¬
cal therapy.
"We are attempting to carve out a niche
for Peach County Hospital,” said Adminis-
School board raises usage fees
• Byron PTO wants
new equipment
for playground
By CINDY MORLEY
The Leader-Tribune
"We don't want to make a profit we
just want to break even," said Peach
County School Superintendent Gene
Sheets last Tuesday after the Board
agreed to raise rates for the use of
school facilities.
"We haven't been breaking even," he
said. "In fact, I believe we have been
losing money."
Under the new fee schedule, as pre¬
sented by C.B. Mathis of the Peach
County School System, group rates for
the use of the dining room and kitchen
facilities and the Hunt or Byron Audi¬
torium will be $50 per hour. Peach
County church, civic and alumni
groups can rent the same facilities for
$25 per hour. There is no charge for
the use of the same facilities to benefit
Peach County students.
The new fee II
schedule
includes a $50
per hour charge h
for the use of the
Peach County
High Auditorium
poses for social or for- pur¬ ;< H
profit. The rate L
for church and “Gone
civic organiza- Sheets
lions is $25 per hour.
The charge for use of the Hunt,
Byron or old Fort Valley High School
gymnasiums is $22.50 for profit or
social reasons, and $11.25 for Peach
County church, civic or alumni groups.
According to the new fee schedule,
the Peach County High and Fort Val¬
ley Middle school gyms and the Byron
Health and Physical Education room
will not be available for rent.
The new rates are effective immedi¬
ately, according to the board.
In other business, members of the
board put on hold discussions of
installing new playground equipment
trator Charles Hill. "We feel like this is a
win-win-win situation for the hospital, the
area businesses and the people of this com¬
munity."
Although officials plan an open house in
December, the center has already opened
part-time in the wing of the hospital once
occupied by the rehabilitation center.
"We have two part-time therapists work¬
ing four hours a day now, and we already
have a full house," said Debbie Wallace,
who will serve as Director of Outpatient
Rehabilitation at the center. "There is defi¬
nitely a need for these services in Peach
County and the surrounding area."
Wallace said plans are to open the center
for eight hours every day and employee six
in the Peach County center.
Wallace said the employees of the Peach
County Rehabilitation and Industrial Well¬
ness Center will work with members of the
local business community.
"We will be happy to meet with compa¬
nies and develop plans to cut down on
injuries and lost time," said Wallace. "We
hope to develop a good relationship with
the companies, and work with them to
assess current programs and try to develop
ways to keep employees healthy and
decrease on-the-job injuries.
at Byron Elementary.
A representative of the Byron PTO
told board members the organization
had raised enough money to cover the
expected $33,000 cost of the equip¬
ment - to be purchased from Game
Time in Fort Payne, Ala.
The PTO officials asked school board
members to help remove the old equip¬
ment and help cover the cost of
installing a cement walkway from the
school to the playground.
PTO officials had hoped to have the
equipment installed over the Christmas
holidays.
However, members of the school
board said they had too many ques¬
tions to give an answer that night.
"We need to put this on hold to give
us time to talk with the school's archi¬
tect, Mr. Sheets and Mr. Mathis," said
Rachel Rumph, vice-chairman of the
School Board. "We just can't make a
decision tonight."
Board member Billy Dick said the
PTO should not take this answer as a
no.
Wc arc interested," he said.
Opin* SCF-306
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Catch what's up in Peach _ County
Page 7A
Wednesday, Nov. 15,1995 50 cents
Sheriff, deputies
sieze more than
100 grass plants
By CINDY MORLEY
The Leader-Tribune
A deer hunter was after a big buck last
Thursday, but instead he bagged one of the
biggest marijuana fields ever in Peach County.
According to Peach County Sheriff Johnnie
Becham, the hunter discovered the field of
more than 100 sinsemilla (female) marijuana
plants while hunting in a wooded area off
Blakely Road.
"The hunter tried to mark his trail with scraps
of paper," said Becham. "Three deputies fol¬
lowed the trail as best they could, but had to
spend more than three hours to find the plants.
They were well hidden and well off the beaten
path."
Becham said the 109 female plants were full
of buds and were probably worth more than
$1,200 each or about $150,000 for the entire
crop.
Becham said the plants were "probably the
second crop" harvested in the same area.
"The plants didn't look as if they had been
growing for a complete season,” said Becham.
"But it was obvious that someone had been
working the plants."
Becham's officers also discovered three chil¬
dren's swimming pools in the area which prob¬
ably had been used for watering the plants.
Peach County deputies also made a number
of drug arrests over the weekend, according to
the Sheriff.
Becham stated that Nicolas Wayne Marshall,
30, and Jeffrey Lee Marshall, 37, both of Indi¬
ana, were arrested Sunday and charged with
possession of marijuana, possession of a dan¬
gerous drug (LSD), possession of a drug relat¬
ed object, drugs not in original container.
According to Becham, bail for Jeffrey Lee
Marshall was set at $8,000, but he is still in
custody in Peach County. He said no bail had
been set for Nicolas Wayne Marshall.
The Marshall, who said they were on their
way to a party in Florida, were stopped for
speeding in a construction zone on 1-75.
Becham said Alvin Norris Jones, 38, of
South Carolina was charged with possession of
marijuana and Calvin Pough was charged with
possession of a controlled substance.
"We have good statistics and we offer a
resource to this community," Wallace
added. "Two companies we have been
working with recently have shown a 58
percent reduction. It doesn't matter if the
company has four or 400 employees. It just
takes a total commitment on their pan."
Wallace said the center also hopes to
become involved in the Peach County
community — offering in-services, semi¬
nars and serve as guest speakers as various
meetings and gatherings in the community.
Wallace said the center will probably not
offer speech therapy until sometime in
December.
Byron land deal
still in question
According to federal agency officials, Byron city
officials still could get a $1 million grant ear¬
marked to develop property along North Peach
Industrial Park.
Jerry Foster, attorney for the Economic Develop¬
ment Administration, said Byron Mayor James
Williams, City Auomey Larry Collins and Coun¬
cilman Kermit Watson took part in discussions last
Wednesday in Atlanta.
Byron officials hope to obtain the grant to make
improvements on land and develop it as an indus¬
trial park. A large portion of the land is owned by
the H.W. "Hal" Pcavy Jr. family, but federal funds
cannot be used to pay for infrastructure improve¬
ments on the land unless it>is deeded to the city,
EDA officials have said.
Controversy developed several weeks ago when
reports surfaced about an agreement to make
improvements on the land including the tract that
still would be owned by the Peavy family.
"We've made some progress," said Foster. "The
city is going to proceed with this thing to get clear
title to the property." —Cindy
Morley