Community G EORGIA N EWS PAP EF:
UNIV.OFGA
ATHENS 30602
Todays, Yesterdays
Joyce Matthews talks
about life in Peach County
See Page 6A
J Wednesday, April 9, 1997
®he lealier -tribune
Vol. No. 108, Issue 14,14 pages
For the record
Councilman Newt Jordan sets a mark for service
By Chuck Morley
The Leader-Tribune
When the Newt now in Washington was still in school
learning to spell politics, Fort Valley had its own Newt
pounding the political turf of his beloved city.
Back in 1960, Newt Jordan ran for city council. He won
handily. still the city council and his
Today, in 1997, Jordan is on
continuous 37 years in serving the community may be a
Georgia state record.
Larry Hobbs, who keeps such records at the Capital in
Atlanta, says he's found no evidence to dispute that Jordan is
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Two apparently lazy dogs catch a cat nap during the middle of the day on the back of their master’s
truck. We couldn’t get their names. They were just to dog-tired to talk. <st«« photo by emuy Mortoy)
Murder suspect
gets life term
A man arrested in the shotting
death of a former Fort Valley
man last summer pled guilty to
murder charges in a Baxley
County court Monday.
Jermain Jackson, a former high
school football star, received a
life sentence for the death of
Kevin Rooks, nephew of Kerry
and Mariann Rooks of Fort Val¬
ley and son of Beth Rooks Rig
don, of Fort Valley.
Jackson also pled guilty to
motor vehicle theft and posses¬
sion of a weapon while commit¬
ting a felony, and received an
additional 15 years, to run con¬
secutively with the life sentence.
Rooks’ body was found on a
dirt road, five milks north of
Hazelhurst last August. Police
say Rooks was host execution
style by a .38 caliber revolver.
~ Cindy Morley
ECT
• Baseball season nears end
• Walker walking tail
• FVSU opens with Morehouse
See Page IB
Fort Valley, Byron and Peach County's source for news and sports for over 100 years
'What the people don't know will hurt them...'
the longest active elected official on
record.
“We haven’t found any record of any- 9 1
one in the state of Georgia serving j JiE
longer,” Hobbs said.
Monday, April 7, was Jordan’s 37th
year on the Fort Valley City Council.
In September, Jordan suffered a
stroke which may end his political
career.
“1 haven’t been able to attend any
meetings for nearly six months,” Jor¬
dan said. “If 1 continue is up to the Jordan
‘'We’re better all because of him’
George Harris’ death
leaves city mourning
By Cindy M gi tiEi -—
The Leader-Tribune
In the short tirni George Harris
was in Peach County. Jje made a lot
of friends.
Last Friday,
many of those
friends gathered
at Trinity Bap¬
tist Church to
say good-bye to
the local busi¬
nessman who
made a major
impact on the
county. Harris
Harris, 54, died
sometime after midnight April 1 of
a massive stroke. He was found
about 5:15 p.m. in the back of The
Shrimp Boat, the Carver Drive
Trojans’ AD
best in state
Rodney Walker
selected by peers
for coveted award
By Cindy Morley
The Leader-Tribune
Twenty-nine years is a long time
to wait.
„ But _ for ....... Rc^hey Walker the wait
was worth it.’ i
For 29 years
County the Peac\ High
School athletic
director and
head football
coach to the has office, gone BK it h
err. practice
field, and hun«.
dreds, maybe
thousands, of Walker
students and
colleagues are better off for it.
Today Rodney Walker gets a big
thank you for his dedication and
commitment to education in Geor
gia by being named Class AAA
Athletic Director of the Year for
the state of Georgia.
“I m excited, really excited, said
Walker. “It really means something
when you are recognized by your
peers.”
The honor is based on the com-
Man eludes search
They thought they had their man.
But as it turned out, the man had
escaped by knocking out a wall in a
motel and fleeing.
For five hours Monday, Peach
County deputies and GBI agents
surrounded the Red Carpet Inn,
next to Cafe Erotica, for James
Caldwell, a 40-year-old man want¬
ed in five states.
But when they finally rushed into
the room, they found Caldwell had
knocked a hole in the wall and
escaped.
Police say they had been told by
an anonymous caller that Caldwell
restaurant he had owned and operat¬
ed since 1995.
We are all better because he
walked among us," said Fort Valley
State President Oscar Prater, one of
several who paid tribute to Harris.
”He helped us see, in new ways,
the beauty of our surroundings,”
Prater added. “He was a man of
character with unbounded generosi
iy If
George was a friend at first
sight," said Peach County Sheriff
Johnnie Becham. “He reminded me
of something John F. Kennedy said
‘Ask not what your country can do
for you, but what you can do for
your country.’ That’s the way
George lived.”
“In a very short time, George was
able to touch all of Fort Valley,"
said attorney Charles Jones, a fami¬
ly friend. “He inspired us all and
gave us hope that Fort Valley would
be a truly great community. We will
definitely miss him.”
No wibbons , just weinies
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A weiny wibbon cutting... Instead or cutting the traditional ribbon,
NuWay's Charles English decided to cut hot dogs. Customers join
English as NuWay celebrates the opening of a new building off
Highway 341 in Fort Valley. <w>oto by cindy Money)
Editorials
Brighter future
Legislative session gives
impression of hope for state
See Page 4A
doctor.”
His term ends in January.
On his 37 years Jordan says “it’s been a lot of water over
the dam. But I’m proud of what we accomplished over those
years. Things are a lot different today.”
Jordan served as a volunteer fireman from 1934 to. 1974.
He was fire chief from 1966 to 1974 on a volunteer basis.
Fort Valley’s first full-time fire chief was W.E. Hannon who
was appointed in 1974.
Jordan’s father N.W. Jordan, Sr., served as Fort Valley’s city
clerk for 38 years.
“1 hope I can make it until January,” Jordan said, It’s just
all up to the doctor...and God.”
plete athletic program at the high
school, including the addition of
new sports to the program, addi¬
tional coaches, improvement of
facilities and emphasis on aca¬
demics to student-athletes.
Members of the Georgia Athletic
Directors Association, who vote on
the top athletic director, also con¬
sider the number of region and state
championships won by the school
-each yevr^
‘This award is possible because
Peach County Board of Education
members have shown that they
want an athletic director to coordi
nate and build such a program,”
said Walker. “I really appreciate the
Board of Education allowing me to
have input in the development of
the total athletic program at the
middle schools and the high
sc hool.”
Peach County High School Prin
cipal Frank Spearman said he felt
Walker’s recognition would be ben
eficial to the entire school system.
“Ij’s great for us to have a coach
an( j athletic director who is recog
n ized statewide,” said Spearman,
“It speaks well of our program.
“This is recognition of Coach
Walker’s peers, and that’s probably
the highest form of recognition
anyone can give you,” Spearman
added,
Walker will be honored during a
banquet April 25 in Statesboro.
was staying at the inn and that he
was believed to be armed. Authori¬
ties also said that they believe he is
travelling with a woman.
Police said they found marijuana
and crack cocaine in the room,
along with a suitcase full of clothes
and pornographic magazines.
The stand-off began at 9 a.m. and
concluded five hours later.
The motel was evacuated by
police before they began the search.
Caldwell is a white male with
brown hair, considered dangerous,
say police.
-Cindy Morley
50 cents
PEACH
THIS WEEK
Relay for Life set
for April 18-19 at PCHS
The Peach County Cancer Society
has announced that its second Relay
for Life will
be held RELAY
April 18-19 % o
from 7 p.m.
to 6 p.m.
Walkers and
runners will k pt
go around
the dock ir ■4
the battle m
against AYtAM IVtNT TO
cancer at th MOHI CANCER
Peach
County School High
parking lot. Last year the
event raised over $42,000. The
Relay for Life concept involves a
team of runners/walkers competing
against each other to raise the most
money. Participants camp out
around the track and when not on
the track, take part in community
fun events. Teams from companies,
school, churches, banks, dubs and
organizations collect donations and
can win prizes for their efforts.
Registration forms for joining or
forming a team and information on
the event are available from Evelyn
Hunt at 825-3827.
Habitat tees off with
Auction, golf tourney
The Peach Area Habitat for
Humanity will have two major
events in April ~ an Auction and a
Golf Tournament. The auction will
be held Saturday, April 5, at 116 W.
Church Street in downtown Fort
Valley. Habitat will hold its first
golf tournament Saturday, April 19,
at the Waterford Golf Club on Hwy.
96 in Bonaire. Congressman
Sanford Bishop will be on hand to
strike a few blows for Habitat. The
format is a 4-person A,B,C,D
scramble and you may enter your
own team. Lunch begins at 11:30
a.m. and tee time is 1:30 p.m. For
more information, on registration,
call 825-2704 or 328-7533. The
auction will begin at 9 a.m.
Picnic in the Park coming
Fort Valley MainStreet will spon¬
sor this year’s first “Picnic in the
Park” at the Triangle in downtown
Fort Valley Wednesday, April 16,
from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The
Warner Robins Rockets and the
Fort Valley University Gospel
Choir will be featured. Various
food vendors will be on site to
serve lunch.
Historic Group meets
The Peach County Historical
Society will meet Thursday, April
10, at 7 p.m. in the McArthur/Sax
on House on Miller Strdet. All
directors and officers are urged to
attend to make plans for the Peach
Festival.
PACT HOLDS auditions
T he Peach Area Civic Theatre
will hold auditions for its produc¬
tion of the musical “The Fanta
sticks” Friday, April 18, at 7 p.m.
and Saturday, April 19, at 2 p.m. at
the PACT Auditorium. Perfor¬
mance dates are June 13 and June
14. Needed are six men, ages 18-
50 and a woman, age 18 -25.
Please come prepared with one
vocal selection. An aaccompanist
will be available. For more infor¬
mation, call Director Sue Jordan at
825-3450.
Special Olympics coming
The Area 8 Special Olympics will
be held Saturday, April 26, at Fort
Valley State University from 9 a.m.
to 1 p.m. Over 500 Special Olympic
athletes from six counties will be
vying for medals. Fort Valley’s Kay
Center is asking the community to
get involved and help the event
become a success. Volunteers are
needed to help run the track and
field events, soccer, volleyball and
lunch. One of biggest challenges is
lunch for athletes and coaches.
Anyone interested, please contact
Todd Youngblood at 825-3124.
