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Peach Regional Medic al Center C ares About Your Health OPEN HOUSE : To celebrate National Physical : Therapy Month, the Physical | Therapy Department at Peach : Regional Medical Center is hosting an open house 1, ■ ; Friday, October 22 11-2 p.m. i! l* i' Door Prizes Refreshments Free activities: Balance/fall assessment Body mass index Blood pressure Weight Come Pick a Pumpkin At Historic Pineola Farms We have all of your fall decorating needs. Pumpkins, Ornamental Gourds Indian Corn & Bows. Pineola Farms n) 1195 Taylor’s Mill Rd. Just North of the Bypass 1*1 f # 1 : 827-0894 Re-Elect James E. Khoury County Commissioner Dedicated *2 W Experienced Proven 91 Leadership i i Paid for James by friends Khoury to re-elect CHECK THIS OUT! DO YOU KNOW ? James (opponent) ‘Voted to support same sex mar¬ ; ‘Supports Traditional family riage, twice Source: SR595 2X6/04 & 3/31/04 ! Values ‘Voted against placing “IN GOD WE ■ TRUST" on the state flag. ‘Recognizes our country is Source: "National Motto" amendment 1X4/04 founded on the belief in God ‘Attempted to redistrict Macon Co. without knowledge or approval of •Will work with local officials public, commissioners or Board of to meet the challenges facing Education source: hb 1351 local governments ‘Has never introduced economic de¬ ‘Believes legislators should velopment legislation Source: Legislative Record sacrifice their salary increase ‘Voted to increase his salary by during difficult economic times 42.7% and voted to cut education and health care in Georgia Source: HB 100. HB 1181 READY FOR A CHARGE P You decide. : 13 B Jule Windham 1 for State House of Representatives District 135 / PAGE 2 PCHS students website BY VICTOR KULKOSKY The Leader-Tribune Students at Peach County High School will have some influence over the college plans of high schoolers around the state. On October 1, three groups of PCHS students offered suggestions and feed¬ back for a website the Georgia Student Finance Commission plans to have run¬ ning by Summer 2005. The website doesn’t have a name yet; that was one of the things the PCHS stu¬ dents worked on. The site’s purpose is to offer one-stop shopping for college-bound Georgia high school students. Users will Council Continued from Front Page who want family mem bers included in health coverage. “That makes us bad guys,” Collins said. “Going up on taxes doesn’t make you bad guys?” Prince said. Fitzgerald continued to press his points about the city taking more control over the Fort Valley Utility Commission, and what he insists is the commission’s $1.4 million GHje Header-dTribune Second Front ft Wednesday, October 13, 2004 be able to track their required courses, research and plan for careers, research colleges, apply to schools and apply for financial aid, all in one site. Kim Biesinger, assistant vice lor for advanced learning technologies with the University System of Georgia, 0 " *° th6 Pr ° ieCt “ Manage Biesinger said the GFCC wanted high schools , from around the state to provide input on the design, content and name of the website. GFCC field representatives recommended PCHS as a good school to work with, Biesinger said. across America politi¬ cians don’t venture into this slice of pie.” After making the motion to raise the mill age rate, Light said that which decisions were painful was “in the eye of the beholder.” A cut in public works wouldn’t bother the police depart¬ ment, for instance. Adding utilities to the city’s control would still raise questions about rate increases, Light added. “I see the need to raise taxes,” Hester said. “Talk about tough decisions, this is a tough decision. If we don’t do something now, in four years well really be in trouble.” With the discussions over, the council voted 4-2 to raise the mill levy by .7 mills. The increase rais es taxes by $28 on a $100,000 house, and adds, about $92,000 to city rev enues. The council also voted on the city’s operating budget in three separate decisions. The council approved the $4.4 million general fund, on a motion by Light, seconded by Hester, with Williams and Statham also voting yes. Collins voted no and Fitzgerald abstained. The council unani mously approved the $28,108 hotel/motel tax budget, which is allocated to the Peach County Chamber of Commerce for tourism promotion and to the general fund. The $1.3 million sani¬ tation budget also passed without opposition. excess in reserves. Instead of the city’s approximately $4 million budget, Fort Valley could be working with a $22 million budget when com bined with the FVUC’s $18 million budget. Light pointed out that a large part of the FVUC’s budget covers depreciation of its assets. “People talk like the utility commission does n’t do anything,” for the city, Light said, but he stressed that the FVUC contributes $1.87 million to Fort Valley’s budget Council member Barbara Williams said, “I don’t know how painful it is, but we’ve cut our capi¬ tal purchase requests,” and reduced three full¬ time cemetery employees to part time to save bene¬ fits. “If we put off capital expenditures, what are we going to do,” in the future, Light asked. The answers didn’t entirely satisfy the pub¬ lic, though. “In no way am I saying the council hasn’t done its job, but before I accept this next bitter pill, I’m asking if you’ve done all you can do,” Prince said. Collins answered no, in so many words. Deferring capital spending, “makes us think we’re doing tough decisions and we’re not,” she said. “Mr. Prince asked a real fundamental ques¬ tion that we as a govern¬ ment body need to look at,” Fitzgerald said. “We’re paid the big bucks to make hard deci¬ sions,” Fitzgerald said to some laughter. “All Exams Continued from Front Page Chairperson Bill Gresham remarked that a survey of teachers at Peach County High School suggested that 62% favored an exemption policy that applied to both 9 weeks tests and final exams. Peach County High School Principal Claudia Patterson said the exemption policy is an incentive for students to achieve since it is based on both academic performance and behavior. “I can see both sides of it, „she said, „I think overall we would get more leverage if the exemptions were for two tests rather than just one.” Board Member Norma Givens objected to exemp¬ tions for both tests. “It seems to me that it would sac¬ rifice academic standards,” she said. Wright Peavy said he would favor exemptions because “halfway through the year at the nine week point they will be completing a unit.” Givens asked the superintendent for his recommen¬ dation. Daniel said, “I think that what students can learn from the rigor of testing is important. I realize I am going against a majority of teachers, but I would rec¬ ommend exemption from the semester final and look at it again next year.” Board member Evangeline Carson said, “I’m inclined to go with the majority of the teachers.” The board voted three to one to reject the superin¬ tendent’s recommendation and allow exemption of both the nine week test and the final exam. FREE GED TESTING, Fort Valley & Byron, Adult THE PEACH COUNTY DFCS BOARD meets the fourth Thursday of each month, 10:30 a.m. in the Peach County DFCS board room, 700 Spruce Street, Wing E. SOUTHWEST CLASS REUNION. The 1972-73 class¬ es of Southwest High School/ Macon is putting together a reunion committee. If you would like to participate call Janet Thomas Hunnicutt at 476-0916. THE FORT VALLEY POUCE DEPARTMENT is sponsoring a Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD). If you are interested contact the FVPD office Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. THE FORT VALLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL COUNCIL 2004-2005 schedule is as fol¬ lows: Thursday, October 21, 2004, Thursday, January 20, 2005 and Thursday, April 21, 2005. The council meets every nine weeks on the third Thursday at 6 p.m. in the media center. The public is welcome. The Department of Community Affairs HOME BUYERS WORKSHOP spon¬ sored by Middle Georgia and Heart of Georgia Community Action Agency, Inc. is sched¬ uled for October 21, from 6-9 p.m. SSe?yic§ at Peach, Center, Neighborhood 7w.!S$ru<^ Steet, Fort; Valley: Refreshments will ‘ be’ Served. Contact Tamara Jackson at 800-422-9063 to pre-register. JAILHOUSE ALLEY ANNUAL ART SHOW AND SALE, Fort Valley Sat., Nov. 6, 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., Fort Valley United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. No admission charge. Painted china, orginal watercoior, prints all done by local artisted. 2005 calendar featuring original pen and ink drawings of local architecture available. A free lecture on THE ROLE OF EXERCISE IN PREVENTING OSTEOPOROSIS will be pre¬ sented at Peach Regional Medical Center, Tuesday, October 26, 7 p.m.. Call 478- 825-8691, ext. 2245 to RSVP. The HA Hunt High School Classes of ‘44, ‘54 and ‘64 will host the annual HOSPITALITY DANCE at HECC Friday, October 22, beginning at 8 p.m. Admission charge. Peach County High School PTA AND FAMILY INVOLVEMENT NIGHT Thursday, October 28, high school cafeteria, 7 p.m. Call 825-8258, ext. 1622. Hunt Elementary School will have a SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING on October 21.5:30 p.m., Hunt Primary School lunchroom. Questions and concerns, contact principal Davis Cooper at 478-825- 8893. DEADLINE TO ENTER FVSU HOMECOMING PARADE is Friday, October 15. For more info call Katina King at 825-6340 or stop by Gano Bldg., Room 101 on campus. SPANISH CLASS • 35 hours, sponsorec by MGTC begins October 14, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Register by 1 p.m. Oct. 14. For info contact Alfred Ellis at 825-9072. GET YOUR LISTING INTO OUR OFFICE BY NOON ON MONDAYS !