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Wed., October 1 ), 2002 Pencil ( onntif's source of local news, advertising, ami sports for over I00 years,..
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State message was ‘when’
BY DAVID WALENCEUS
I. T Staff Writer
R.K Sehgal, Commissioner
of the Georgia. Department of
Industry, Trade and Tourism
(GDITT), stated, “Not if. but
when we sign the
Memorandum of Under
standing” during his visit
here last week.
Sehgal’s reference to the
memorandum is the last step
in finishing the application
process for Blue Bird to
receive possible grants for a
proposed expansion project.
Two more signatures are
needed for the
“Memorandum” to be final
ized. those of Governor Roy
Barnes and Richard Maddox,
President and CEO of Blue
Bird.
Their signatures are
expected to be added in a
meeting later this week,
Formalities past, it should
only be a short while before
grant monies will be received
according to Deputy
Commissioner Charlie Gatlyn
of the GDITT. Under this
agreement Blue Bird can
begin construction using
money from the state to
expand facilities in Fort
Valley.
Governor Roy Barnes,
during his visit Thursday had
most city and county officials
listening for a commitment
from the Governor’s office.
Peach County scrambled
most of Tuesday (Oct. 1st» to
deliver a letter his office
expected no later than 2 pm.
During his speech. Barnes
relayed the results of a study
his office had requested in the
past to determine the
future of Georgia,
Findings from that
Inside &
Out
The Fort Valley State University ROTC
Dept, is accepting applications for the
2002 Homecoming Parade scheduled
for October 19, 2002. Deadline to regis
ter is Friday. October 11,2002. All orga
nizations must register to participate.
For more information call 478-825-
6340.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meets
every Monday, Wednesday and Friday
at 7:30 p.m., St. Andrews Episcopal
Church. 309 Central Ave.. Fort Valley.
For information call 478-825-8133, 825-
7337 or 825-3498.
BYRON TOPS CHAPTER meets every
Thursday evening, 7 p.m. at Byron
United Methodist Church. For more
information call 956-3935 or 218-2919.
PEACH COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
CLASS OF 1982 will celebrate their 20th
reunion Saturday, October 19, 2002.
Classmates interested in obtaining
information for the busy weekend
planned, can call Sue Green Zuniga in
Bonaire at 478-922-8452
SASANQUA FESTIVAL at Massee Lane
Gardens, Oct. 1-31. Hands on discus
sion every Wednesday in October at 1
p.m.; Senior Citizens Day is Oct. 22; fall
fashion show Oct 16. Call 478-967-
2358 for admission fees and informa
tion on events.
Peach County High School Class of
1985 will host a class reunion meeting
October 12, 2002, noon, Thomas
Public Library. All members asked to
be present and on time. For more infor
mation call Phyllis M. Davis 478-827-
1878.
Class reunion committee for PCHS
class of 1993 will meet Monday,
October 14, 6 p.m. at Thomas Public
Library to finalize plans for 10th year
reunion. For more information call
Timothy Deas, class president at 478-
825-0546.
Halloween Carnivals • Thursday,
October 31, downtown Fort Valley
Nightmare on Main, Byron also Oct. 31
MORE INSIDE PAGE 2A
Perspectives - 4A i I (*a puf'ts r g Trojans 9th Lady grade Trojans continue football split streak Religion/Obits 8A-9A
O p-Editorial - 5A Page 12A | Legals/Classifieds - 1B-15B
Vo!. No. 113 Issue 42 2 Sections, 28 Pages
W years Find Baptist out of Church serv what ice. all where the smile they, n are too Page about celebrated at 9A Hardison 100
show south of Macon
should expect the largest
The Austrians are coming
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Members of the Austrian Band at a performance.
Citizens of Peach County are in for a
treat which begins this weekend.
Helmut Wahl and his wife Irmtraud are
coming for a visit with a 30 piece band.
Wahl is the mayor of Sonntagberg, Austria
and yes, the band is Austrian.
They are coming to visit Rose Marie
Broer, a native of Austria who has lived in
Fort Valley since 1968. Ken Asbury of Byron
thought this a good cultural opportunity for
Peach County and went to work setting up
a tentative performance schedule.
Sonntagberg is a modern, economical and
cultural community of about 4,300 resi
dents. There are more than 50 clubs and
organizations, one of which is the band.
Within the community there are three ele
mentary schools, two secondary modern
schools and three nursery schools. There is
also a house for musical education, some
choral societies, two brass bands and other
musical groups.
The band, TrachtenMusikKapelle, is
actually more than 60 members strong, but
only about half are making this trip to
Gerogia. The band with ages from 11 to 70,
was founded in 1957.
There are several opportunities for you to
growth for industry in the
next 25 years.
Land and water rights
would play a large part of the
selection process for indus
tries in the future. Barnes’
office started a program
called “OneGeorgia” after
receiving a windfall of money
from tobacco settlements,
Part of those funds were set
up solely for the development
of rural areas for industry
and trade,
It was under this program
that Peach County
I) e v e l o p m e n t
Authority! PCDA) and
Charles F. Sims started the
process with Blue Bird for
growth in the Fort Valley
plant. Sims, director of
PCDA, stated after the meet
mg, “I feel good about the
outcome."
“Expansion from this
agreement can be far reach
ing," stated Commissioner
James Khoury in comments
after the Governor’s visit
hear the band. Saturday. October 12, they
will be visiting Jailhouse Alley Park in
Byron for an Arts and Crafts Festival from
10 a m. until 2 p.m. The Byron Area
Historical Society will be serving punch and
cookies at the Depot. Sunday, October 13,
the band will perform at the Outlet Mali in
Byron at 2:30 and again at 1 p.m. Monday,
October 14, they will hold a concert at the
Peach County High School auditorium from
7-8 p.m.
The Byron Rotary Club will host them for
breakfast and a program on Wednesday,
October 16. They will also make the rounds
at all schools on Wednesday and again on
Thursday.
A farewell supper, beginning at 6 p.m.
will be held at Ludy Peavy’s home in Byron
where the Friendship Force will also
appear. This is a covered dish affair and if
you want to attend, be sure and bring your
favorite dish for the band members and
others in attendance to sample. The group
departs early Friday morning after a full
week of appearances.
So, get our your calendar and make sure
you catch this entertaining group at one or
more of the locations.
I
National 4-H Week
This is National 4-H Week and this organi
zation is 100 years old. Find out what 4-H
in Peach County is all about.
B Page 16B
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Congratulations to Thomas Rodgers who received
first place for his Red Robin Firehouse entry in the 4
H competition for decorative birdhouses at the
Georgia State Fair. Thomas attends Hunt Elementary
School and is in Mrs. Gl. Glover's fifth*grade class.
Fate of commissioner
in hands of state auditor
“The turnout for the
Governor and GDITT mem
bers was a huge show of sup
port for Blue Bird and our
community,” stated Mayor
John E. Stumbo. Stuinbo
referred to the pomp and cir
cuinstance in which the
Governor was greeted and
shown the pride of Peach
County and Fort Valley. Band
members from Peach County
High sent the enterage off for
the remainder of their middle
Georgia visit.
David Perry, Director of
Human Resources of Blue
Bird Body Company, stated
Monday, “We are pleased with
the Governor’s visit last week
and wait patiently for the offi
cial announcement from bis
office soon."
The impact of an expan
sion in Fort Valley for Blue
Bird could mean stability for
our community, as well as lay
ing groundwork for additional
industry to locate facilities
here as well. (See pictures on
BY DAVID WALENCEUS
L T Staff Writer
Tax Commissioner Dwight
Byrd’s records are now being
scrutinized by state auditor.
Byrd's evidence along with
differing Peach County offi
cials' figures were sent to a
state auditor at Governor Roy
Barnes’ request hast week.
The overwhelming evi
dence presented by both sides
of this issue would have nor
mally been decided through a
hearing process. The
Governor’s initial review
deemed the large amount of
paperwork too “Voluminous”
to handle and sent it to audi
tors for review.
While Peach County waits
for a decision to be rendered
on Byrd’s fate, officials with
the Board of Education are
critical of the lengthy process.
Officials had asked the
Governor’s office to remove
Byrd from office this past
July. Barnes has that power
under state law if Byrd is
found to be neglectful in his
duties.
Repeated late and low col
lections and questionable
bookkeeping practices have
been cited by Peach officials
as grounds to remove Byrd.
Byrd contends that prob
lems of the past are just that,
past. His office is for the time
being, operating under proce
dure, he says. Commission
Chairman James Khoury
commented Friday, “1 heard
fWrr •**
from the state after i had
learned from newspapers the
status on this issue.” The
auditor was expected to go
over the volumes of informa
tion sent this week.
While the auditor is going
over that information county
commissioners are shaking
their heads over a bill from
Byrd’s attorney. The bill from
Charles Ruffin. Byrd’s
Attorney, was received
Monday in th< amount of
$15,159 for representation for
two weeks. About $200 an
hour if you figure a normal 40
hour work week. If you add
that amount to the $6000
already billed to the Board of
Education by their attorney,
this has been costly for tax
payers.
Commissioner Joe Collins
stated Monday, “The county
will not have to pay the bill if
the Governor’s office finds
Byrd negligent.” Critics of
Byrd’s collection rate have
blamed him for the School
Board’s possible need to bor
row up to $1 million to meet
expenses before collections
catch up.
Derryl Bryan,
Superintendent of Peach
County Schools, said he feels
an auditor can more clearly
decide Byrd’s fate given the
amount of evidence. Officials
calling for Byrd’s removal
from office now must wait on
the auditor’s report which will
be made to the governor.