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Peach County
®Jie &aber-®ribune
Vol. No. 106, Issue 50, 14 pages
i i .x : ' II n 0
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Torch nominations
extended to Dec. 15
On July 12, some of the finest citizens
of Peach County will carry the Olympic
Torch when it passes through Fort Val¬
ley. Approxi¬ **
mately 5,500
"Community Sr*
Heroes"
nation-wide
will represent
their commu¬
nities as
Olympic
Torchbearers.
In response to r
requests time additional to com¬ for Q&p
plete applica¬
tions, the deadline for Torchbearer nom¬
inations has been extended through
Dec. 15. Community Heroes are people
of the who mirror the spirit of the
Olympic Games through outstanding
volunteer work, exceptional community
leadership, service as a mentor or role
model, acts of generosity or kindness or
extraordinary feats or accomplishments.
You can pick up nomination applica¬
tions at the Peach County Chamber of
Commerce, the Thomas Public Library
and the Byron Public Library. Every¬
one is eligible. The 1996 Olympic
Torch Relay spans 15,000 miles and
travels through 42 states in 84 days.
Kicking off in Los Angeles on April, 27
the relay concludes in Atlanta on July
19 for the Opening Ceremony of the
19% Centennial Games.
Chamber After Hours
set for Dec. 6
The Peach County Chamber of Com¬
merce will hold its December Business
After Hours Wednesday, Dec. 6, begin¬
ning at Massee Lane Gardens
on Hwy. 49 south. All Chamber mem¬
bers are invited and expected to attend.
Sponsors for the event include Middle
Georgia Bank, Fort Valley State Col¬
lege, Edwards Funeral Home and The
Leader-Tribune.
Music for the holidays
Music for the holiday season will be
presented by the Peach County High
School Choral Department on Thursday,
Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Peach County
High School auditorium. Admission is
free. Ms. Jacqueline Prater will direct
the program.
Dug-Out Club meets
The Dug-Out Club’s yard sale will be
held Feb. 3 in the parking lot behind the
Peach County High School gym. All
donations will be appreciated. Anyone
wishing to donate should contact C.B.
Mathis or Todd Eubanks at the Peach
County Board of Education. This is the
only fundraiser for the Peach County
High School baseball team. A Dug-Out
Club meeting will be held Wednesday,
Dec. 6, beginning at 7 p.m. at the high
school gym.
Optimist hold Chicken-Q
The Evening Optimist will hold a Chick¬
en-Q Saturday, Dec. 9, at the Middle
Georgia Bank to help in their drive for a
better Christmas for the needy. Also on
Dec. 9 a yard sale will be held at the bank
parking lot and a car wash is slated for
Church's Chicken. A golf tournament
will tee off at 9 a.m. at Larry Landing
with $10 tourney fee.
Byron Bunch host dance
Tis the season to be jolly and the
Byron Bunch Square Dance Club know
just how to enhance the mood. Friday,
Dec. 8, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. the bunch
will host their annual Christmas dance
at the Old Byron School gym. Larry
Sandefur will be calling squares and
John Pritchett will be cueing rounds.
'What the people don't know will hurt them...'
Taxpayers getting a break?
Tax commissioner not out ’94 tax bills
By CINDY MORLEY
The Leader-Tribune
Will Peach County taxpayers get a break?
Yes -- if Tax Commissioner Dwight Byrd has anything to
do with it.
During a special called meeting last Tuesday night, Byrd
asked members of the Peach County Commission not to
send out tax bills for 1993 and 1994.
"1 don’t want to send out bills for *93 or ’94," said Byrd.
T want to let it be a wash and begin working on 1995.
Byrd reported that because the Peach County School
Board rolled back its 1993 and 1994 millage rates only
one-half a mil, all taxpayers will be re-billed for the two
years. *
Deck the halls
'Tis the time
to be jolly
in Peach
By CHUCK MORLEY
The Leader-Tribune
There's excitement in the air...
Peach County is getting ready
for Christinas.
The annual Lions Club Christ¬
mas Parade kicked things off last
Saturday night and there's still
lots to come.
If you've been downtown lately
have you noticed the old Par
San's building? It’s called Win¬
ter Wonderland. The decora¬
tions in the window were
brought all the way from Zephyr
Hills, Fla., by Rachel Douglas
and were donated by Alice
Main.
Each Saturday from 10 a.m. to
2 p.m. holiday activities abound
i the building with Santa being
present to take request for the
big night. You can have your
picture taken with him, too.
Delicious pastries will be served
by the Habitat for Humanity
while members of the Methodist
Youth Followship will provide
gift wrapping beginning two
weeks before Christmas.
The Peach Public Libraries will
have story tellers on duty while
the Evening Optimist Club will
be collecting canned goods, toys
Christmas and clothing in order for the to needy. provide
guts
The Evening Optimist are call¬
ing their drive "Happiness '95 —
in the Spirit of Christmas." In
1982 the Fort Valley Evening
Optimist Club with co-sponsor
WXKO (now WFXM/WXKO
AM Radio) started a fund raising
project that help make Christmas
a happy experience for those
who were less fortunate.
Again this year they are asking
help to make their drive a suc¬
cess. On Dec. 9 there will be a
Chicken Q at Middle Georgia
Bank, a yard sale and drop-off of
cloths and canned goods at the
bank parking lot and a car wash
at Church's Chicken. Also on
Saturday, there will be a nine
hole golf tournament at Larry
Landing. All activities begin at
9 a.m.
On Dec. 10-11 the combined
choirs of the First Baptist
Church and the Fort Valley Unit
ed Methodist Church will pre¬
sent the King of Kings a Christ¬
mas musical/drama at the PACT
Auditorium in the old Fort Val¬
ley High School.
And on Thursday, Dec. 7, the
Peach County High School
Choral Department under the
direction of Jacqueline Prater,
will get you in the Christmas
spirit with its annual presenta¬
tion beginning at 7:30 p.m. in
the Peach County High School
Auditorium.
And trees, Fort Valley has its
first big Christmas tree. The 25-
"We thought at first that some taxpayers would get
refunds and others would be re-billed,” Byrd said, when
asked by Commissioner Jimmy Walker about those tax¬
payers who were due a refund.
"Because of the school board’s decision to roll back only
a half-mil everyone is going to be re-billed," Byrd said.
"The school board is going to get a windfall of about
$500,000, and 1 think this is the most flagrant violation to
taxpayers I have ever seen in 14 years."
Byrd reported that collections "are ahead of schedule
now," and said he felt the school board would get "more
than enough money."
"The school board has already received more than we
expected — they are way beyond what we projected,"
Byrd said.
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A 20 foot Christmas tree for Fort Valley was loaded offa dump truck last week to stand tall
over holidays In the city. The tree was decorated by the city and is ready for all the ooooohs
and awwwwws. (Staff photo by Cindy Morley)
foot decorated beauty was donat¬
ed by Evelyn Hayes and adorns
Church Sl between city hall and
the police department
The bee was so big that it had
to be brought in on a dump truck
and city workers had to bring in
a front-end loader to stand the
tree upright.
"We had a tough time gelling it
up, but it was worth it if you see
it now," said Larry Smith, direc¬
tor of city beautification.
"This is a first for the city and
we hope to continue it each year
now," Smith said.
Deck the hall....
Opinion
Showdown at the Dome
Page 4A
_ _
Don't miss special Holiday
Cookbook in this edition
Wednesday, Dec. 6,1995 50 cents
Byrd said he decided to ask commissioners not to send
out the tax bills after meeting with state tax officials who
said they had "never seen a governmental body not roll
back millage rates on a permanent tax digest."
Byrd said the county would save approximately $17,000
"plus headaches" by not sending out the tax bills.
Commissioners did not make a decision at the meeting,
but agreed to talk with legal counsel on the matter.
"I don’t want to put the school board in a bind," said
Chairman Charles Bartlett. "But 1 don’t want to increase
the burden of the taxpayers."
Byrd said 1995 tax bills would be sent out before the end
of the year, but anyone wishing to make a voluntary tax
payments could do so this month. The early payment
would be deducted from the 1995 tax bill.
Parade had many winners
In Saturday's annual Lions Club Christmas parade, the Peach
County Sheriff's Department and the James Temple Miracle
Center and the Peach County Dug-Out Club won top prizes in
the floats competition in the commercial and non-commercial
categories. Middle Georgia Bank took second place in the
commercial competition.
Cash prizes were awarded by MainS treet.
'Without the assistance of MainStreet it would be hard to
have a successful Christmas parade as we have had since they
became involved," said parade coordinator Jimmy Jones.
"Thanks to the Fort Valley Police Dept, and the fire department
for their support in bringing Santa to Fort Valley."
Man
dies
after
chase
Escapee leads police
through Fort Valley
By CINDY MORLEY
The Leader-Tribune
"It just plain made you weak."
That's how a Big B employee in
Fort Valley explained the excite¬
ment Monday afternoon when a car
chase came through the store's
parking lot.
The chase that begin in Macon
between an escapee and Macon
Police ended with the death of a
Warner Robins man.
Ronnie Raymond Lang, 42, of
Oliver Drive was killed on impact
when his pick-up was rammed
head-on by a 1994 Ford Explorer
driven by Thomas Tiraboschi, 17,
Macon police said.
Tiraboschi, of Macon, broke out
of Central State Hospital in
Milledgeville on Nov. 28, police
said. He allegedly stole the Explor¬
er in Tifton to return to Macon,
according to reports.
Police started chasing him at
about 2:40 p.m. Monday on Eisen¬
hower Parkway. Police said 17
year-old Kristine Kelly was driving
the Explorer when the chase began,
but he later traded places with Kel¬
ly and led police onto 1-75. He
swerved in and out of traffic before
exiting near Byron on the 247 Con¬
nector , police said.
Reports indicate Tiraboschi then
drove south on Highway 49 into
Fort Valley, turned west onto High¬
way 96. In an attempt to elude
police, he drove through the park¬
ing lots of several Fort Valley busi¬
nesses, including Big B Drug,
reports indicate.
He then crossed the center line
and collided with the truck.
Tiraboschi was listed in critical
condition at the Medical Center.
New track open
to county residents
Peach County’s new track is
ready, and School Superintendent
Gene Sheets wants to invite the
public to use the track at the high
school.
"The track is open to
everyone,"said Sheets during a
dedication ceremony last week.
A new turnstile gate has been
installed, and will help keep bicy¬
cles and motorized vehicles off the
track.
Sheets said officials also ask that
only rubber soled shoe* be worn on
the track, and no skate boards or
roller blades are allowed. He also
asked that walkers use lanes 6,7
and 8. No alcohol, alcohol, profani¬
ty or loud music is allowed.