The leader-tribune. (Fort Valley, Peach County, Ga.) 192?-current, April 16, 1997, Image 1
Com mini i y ATHENS, 0602 Todays, Yesterdays Joyce Matthews talks about life in Peach County See Page 3A Wednesday, April Vol. No. 108, Issue 16,18 pages 4 No class or dignity J Art teacher board’s actions on By Cindy Morley The Leader-Tribune it 1 can understand a money shortage, and I know that elimi¬ nation of somethings is a part of life. But 1 just wanted to do this with a little class and dignity. There was no class or dig¬ nity in the way this was handled. M Peach County art teacher Johnny Heller found out last Fri¬ day morning that he wouldn’t have a job next year when a fellow teacher passed him in the hall and said, “We’re all going to miss you next year. Heller’s job was terminated Thursday night when the Peach County Board of Education voted unanimously to do away with the school’s art program. The Board called it a cost-cut¬ ting measure. Heller, who wasn’t notified of the decision by school officials until Monday morning, thinks it’s more than that. Art will never be anything that pays for itself,” said Heller. That’s a fact. Most school systems are aware of this and they JUST BANGIN' AROUND • •• . : : .x ; X;; *.•• ; 0 : ■X x:x:i x:x : xx . X v j V; x : :: •Mb 'x-M x. ■ 4 Mn£ >• : ,:x xx' : xx ■ I V •x •• v: :x ■ xxx x : xx; : m- j "■t it i • v:.' i> i ■ :xxx :: ft: :xx'\ : x • ; X • i i-?;: x-x X" X. m x.;. :• ■ •xx-v: : wmmzm m# •x XX . m X > : ■ i -x: : : ;7 m •s' ' J ' ' : : x r. ' : v w xx. x :x x : ’ :x Mil x xxx I ii ' ::: x ;: .xx : ■ x • X 4:v' x '*3 x x xx:.. xx WM : x.:;x ■ vX : i V xx x xxx: ■ ' ; ; x: : 1 ■ : x • ' >,xx ; : X x x- :£:■ xjx Brooke Stewart decided to take advantage of sunny skies to hang out in the Fitness Court at Hunt Primary School. She joined her second grade classmates in Jen Sculley’s class in enjoying Fitness Friday. (Staff photo by Cindy Morloy) hears plea for change in policies As an incentive, Peach County Sheriff Johnnie Becham wants to offer his employees an annual leave option. Becham presented the proposed policy to members of the Peach County Board of Commissioners last Tuesday night. Officers using the annual leave would be required to reach 120 hours of accrued vacation or compensation time before cashing in. Becham also said the officers would have to leave 80 hours in reserve. “To me, this is giving them an incentive to come to work,” said Becham. “And it would be good for those employees who can’t afford to pay for vaca tions.” Peach County Administrator Marcia Willis said the policy has both pros and cons. “Actually, in the long run, it would probably save the county money,” said Willis. The board agreed to study the proposal. In other business, the board learned the renovations and construction to the courthouse are running about six months behind. -Cindy Morloy T J> • Another Trojan signs • PGHS tennis Reghon-bound • Baseball season takes a walk % See Page IB I ort Valley, Ryron and Peach County’s source for news and sports for 100 over years ®I)e Heaber-®rtlmne 'What the people don't know will adopt policies to support the arts despite numbers and costs. Just like sports: Football and basketball are self-supporting. Tennis isn’t. But they offer it anyway because students are interested. Some Peach County students are interested in art, and it’s these students I’m worried about, especially my juniors, M Heller added. “The kids asked me today what they are going to do, and I didn’t have an answer for them.” The Board cited a low enrollment for the elimination in their unanimous vote. tt The children just aren’t choosing to enroll in art,” said Peach County School Superintendent Dr. Billy Pack. “The teacher was talked to and asked to find ways to make the class attractive. There are 60 students currently enrolled in Heller’s art classes. “We're down a few this year, but we’ve shown an increase every year since I took over the program,” said Heller, who took over a program of 30 students nine years ago. Collins announces run The election isn’t until November, but one candidate has already thrown her hat into the ring. Beth Collins announced Monday that she will run for Mayor of Fort Valley. A resident of Persons Street and a lifelong resident of Fort Valley, Collins has served ■ as owner and broker of Village I Realty Company for more than I 20 years. She is no stranger to politics. ■ She has served on the Fort Val¬ I ley City Council and currently serves as Chairman of the Peach County Development Hr Hp| Authority. Collins stated that she is HSil aware of the many problems COLLINS facing the city, but she also appreciates Fort Valley’s many assets. I have given this a lot of thought, but feel like I am qualified to lead the city of Fort Valley for the next four years,” said Collins. -Cindy Morley “They did ask me in January to try to find a way to up the numbers, but I was working on that for next year,” said Heller. “You can’t recruit in mid-quarter. “There is an irony here,” Heller added. “If the Board agrees to go with block scheduling, I would teach three classes of about 20 students, and that would be 60 students. “I’m not sure what these kids are going to do, I don’t have the answers for them,” said Heller. “The ones who want to study art are going to be entering college without a back¬ ground in high school art. I feel sorry for them. I do believe they will suffer. I just don’t like the way this was handled,” said Heller. “They are using the numbers situation as a scapegoat. It should have been handled with dignity and class and it wasn’t.” Pack said the board should require 20 students in any elec¬ tive class. “You have to look at classes that are not being participated in and make decision for next year’s budget,” Pack said. Summer school must pay for itself board By Cindy Morley The Leader-Tribune The Peach County Board of Edu¬ cation will offer summer school only if pre-registration shows that fees will pay for the cost of the summer session. In an unanimous vote last Thurs¬ day, board members agreed to look at pre-registration numbers to determine if tuition will cover the cost of summer school. The board also voted to increase tuition to $300 for students living in Peach County and $400 for oul-of-county students. Peach County students paid $170 per unit last summer. By comparison, Houston County students pay $200 for summer school classes. i. Our program is totally self-sup ported,” said Warner Robins High School Principal. “The tuition cov ers the cost of summer school.” We discovered that we were los ing money by offering summer school,” said Chairman Mike Gilstrap. “We want to make this Shooting suspect still on run Peach County Sheriff deputies have issued a warrant for a man wanted in connection with a shooting on Andel Road last Friday. According to Major Terry Deese, deputies are on the look-out for Hubert Dickerson, 37, of Perey. He will be charged with one count aggravated assault, Deese said. Deese reported that Dickerson allegedly knocked on the door of a house on Andel Road, and began arguing with David Lewis when he answered the door. Apparently, Dickerson just pulled out a gun and shot Lewis,” said Deese. According to reports, the bullet grazed Lewis’ stomach and then went through his left arm. Lewis made his way to a neighbors house where he called the Sher¬ iff’s department. The incident occurred at approximately 11 p.m., Deese said. -Cindy Morley Chris Schuster, center, owner of the new Burger King in Fort Val¬ ley, presents a donation to Evelyn Hunt for the Relay for Life Can¬ cer Walk this weekend. Burger King officials taped money to the ribbon used in the ribbon cutting last Thursday. (Mk*o w cmay Morwy) Editorials Teachers speak out Letters, do we have letters from teachers opposing board See Page 4A cost effective. w We thought it was self-support¬ ing last year,” said board member Billy Dick. “Rut it was not. The board also voted to offer only one class this summer - in comparison, to two classes being offered last summer. The board also stated that each class must have an enrollment of 20 or more students. Classes will meet four hours each day for a mpnth. “We have to increase the tuition in order to have the summer school fund itself,” said Peach County School Superintendent Dr. Billy Pack. “If pre-registration shows that the summer session will not fund itself, then you will not offer the summer school. In other business, the board agreed to approve the school cal endar for the 1997-98 school year, The new calendar includes seven days for students’ vacation on Spring Break, including Good Fri day, the week after Easter and the following Monday. 50 cents PEACH THIS WEEK Relay for Life set for April 18-19 at PCHS the Feacn county Cancer Society has announced that its second Relay for Life will be held RELAY f April 18-19 ►. 70 from 7 p.m. * ( to 6 p.m. * Walkers and runners will /C go around the clock in r * the battle Y AMERICAN CANCIR Wl against sociriY cancer at the YIE4UM EVCHT VO Peach K*HT CANCER County High School 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, clubs 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. ‘Keep Rising...’ The Coca-Cola Company will present Patricia Russell -McCloud, J.D. in “Keep Rising” a portrayal of the life and legacy of an African American woman who evolves on stage from a little girl to a grown woman, Thursday, April 17, at 7 p.m. in the Pettigrew Center at Fort Valley State University. Admission is free and open to the public. Picnic in the Park 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. until 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. The Triangle will be blocked off from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Habitat Golf tourney The Peach Area Habitat for Humanity will hold a golf tourna¬ ment Saturday, April, 19, at the waterford Golf Club on Highway 96 in Bonaire. Congressman San¬ ford 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, call 825-2704 or 328-7533. PACT HOLDS AUDITIONS The 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 held Saturday, April 26, at Fort State University from 9 a.m. 1 p.m. Over 500 Special Olympic from six counties will be for medals. Fort Valley’s Kay is asking the community to involved and help the event a success. Volunteers are to help run the track and events, jbne soccer, volleyball and of biggest challenges is for athletes and coaches. interested, please contact Youngblood at 825-3124.