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W ©fie Heaber-tribune Ready to get going and move forward Hooray! Hallelujah! Do a little dance! Thank you, Lord. I am exuberant because yesterday morn¬ ing, bright and early, they cut my cast off. They sent me to x-ray and then it was wait for the verdict on whether or not my wrist was healed enough. I cannot play softball any time soon, cannot do any lifting or anything repetitious with my hand but hey, no cast. I am happy. I know that Ms. Joyce was saying an extra prayer they would take the cast off and I am thankful. I did not to be wearing a cast at the wedding. Of course, Paul will be on a or possibly have to get rolled dow’n in a wheelchair. But there’s nothing we can do that right now. When the doctor said was going to be swollen I said okay. When he said it was going to be sore and hurt more I believe him but he was right. To top it off skin where the cast ered is peeling and dry. At least now I can anywhere on the arm should itching resume. course, the incessant itching was caused by cast. At least now I will able to tie my own shoes, button my own Football as it relates to the lessons in life My friend Neely Young, who is publisher of Georgia Trend, had a very meaning¬ ful column in the September issue of the magazine. It was titled “Life Lessons” and was centered around his former football coach at Cedartown High School, Howard “Doc” Ayers. Neely and I go back a long way. We both served on the Georgia Press Associa¬ tion Board of Managers for several years, and after that as Treasurer, Vice-President and President. We were both very active in GPA work and enjoyed every minute of it. After reading Neely’s col¬ umn on Doc Ayers, it was evident we had more in common than I had remem¬ bered. My birth place was in Lavonia, which is barely in Northeast Georgia, and Doc came there as head football coach in the late 1940’s right out of the University The Meeting Place Peach County Commission - every second Tues¬ day of month, 1st floor annex, Public Meeting Room, Peach County Courthouse, 6 p.m. Fort Valley City Council - every third Thursday of month, courtroom at City Hall, 630 p.m. Board of Education - every first Thursday of month in board office, Vmevie. 530 p.m. Byron City Council- every second Monday of month at old school, 600 p.m. IMity Commi ssi on -every second Monday of month, courtroom at City Had, 630 pm Hospital Authority- every fourth Thursday of month in hospital conference room, 930am. PC Wafer 4 Sewer Authority - third Monday of month st 6 p.m. pubfc meeting room, courthouse annex, Fort Vadey. PC Tax Assssaors - first Thursday of month, 6 pm, 1st floor annex, Courthouse, Pubfc Meeting Rm. Development Authority of PC -Wtd Thursday of month, 8 am., Troutman House, 201 Oakland Heights Pkwy Fort Valey. ( Page 4 Day At A time Vicky Whitehead MB and take a bath without having plastic on the arm. That itself is worth its weight in gold. You have no idea how glad I am to get rid of the cast. It was frustrating more than anything and I can sympathize with Paul about his leg. However, I am glad it is him instead of me, because I think I would have lost my mind had I had to wear a cast on my leg and not be able to get around. He is about to go stir crazy and I know I would be, too. There are lessons to be learned from being par¬ tially incapacitated. You must learn to be patient. Not only with yourself but with others as well. You must learn to rely on others and not be self suf¬ ficient. It is also a hum¬ bling experience. In addi¬ tion, you come up with unique ways to get from one point to the other or to do things with one hand or leg when you usually have two. When the ordeal is over you can be thankful and remember not to take things or people for of Georgia. I was on his last team at Lavonia High School as a freshman. Doc was exactly as Neely had described him in his col umn. His pre-game and halftime pep talks were nothing short of legendary. Neely tells of one night at halftime when the team was behind and he opened a letter. “Boys,” he said, “this letter is from my mother that I received today.” “Dear son,” he read. “I know this is an important game for you and Cedartown High. 1 know your boys will play their hardest for you and for the team. I want you to know that I believe with all my heart this team is the greatest team in the state. I hope you win and bring home the championship for Cedartown High.” With a tear in his eye, Doc asked the team to win the game for his mother. The team was so fired up Wednesday, October 13, 2004 granted. You also remem¬ ber more to say “please” and “thank you”. 1 believe there are always reasons for things and Paul and 1 have already been through some of the “in sickness” and “for worse” parts and have survived. We have not maimed each other though we have been both frustrated and tired causing us to be in the position of apologizing for being short tempered a couple of times. And it has been trying at times with both of us crippled. But before you know it all of this will be behind us and we can move for¬ ward. Now’ maybe I can get on the ball and get everything done before Saturday. One day we will look back and laugh about these times (maybe). Hopefully, we will both stay well for a long time and not have any other catastrophes or setbacks. I am ready for things to settle down and get back to as nor¬ mal as possible.! u I made the ultimate From where I sit .■pff-r T‘ Bob Tribble \ u after that letter they scored two TDs in the second half and won the game, Later ori Neely discov ere d that players on two other teams had a similar letter read to them, but it didn’t matter, they were motivated and they won the game, Let me tell you one Doc pulled off at Lavonia. Before the game he came in the locker room with a vase of flowers in his hand. “Boys, I hate to tell you this, but Coach ? (the opposing coach) sent these flowers to our team for your funeral. ®he Heaber -tKrtbune The official legal organ of Peach County, the City of Byron and the City of Fort Valley PO Box 1060, Fort Valley, GA 31030 • 478-825-2432 Member of the Georgia Press Association and the National Newspaper Association ‘Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peacefully to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievance.” Th&LeoderlYibu ne Sta ff Vicky Whitehead Publisher/Editor-In Chief The Leader-Tribune (USPS No. Judy Robinson AdvertLsing Director 307740) is published weekly at 109 Michael Phillips Graphic Design Anderson Avenue, Fort Valley, GA Sheryl Collins Office Manager 31030. Jerry Murtagh Reporter Subscription rates: $21.60 per year Joyce Matthews & Ann Lanter Columnists in Peach County, $29.15 elsewhere in Faye Jones Contributing Writer/Columnist AW. Dorsey Sports Correspondent Georgia, $37 out-of-state. Billy' Wade Circulation/ DisL Periodical postage paid at Fort Val¬ Frank Funderburk Contributing Columnist ley, GA. POSTMASTER: send address Lee Posey Backroom Supervisor changes to The Leader-Tribune, PO Victor Kulkosky News Box 1060, Fort Valley, GA 31030. Other contributors: Wayne Robinson, Bffly Powell, John Hatten, Dan Gatlyn, Trclainc Williams ft others blooper last week and it’s a wonder the wedding did not get called off. In our announcement I wrote that Paul graduated from the University of San Diego which is actually a the rival of San Diego State University, from which he did graduate. It’s bad enough that we have the Georgia Bull¬ dog/Florida Gator thing between us; I had to add insult to injury with the blooper. Thank goodness Florida also lost last weekend. Hey, at least he has enough sense to marry a Georgia Dawg! And actually he was quite calm about it...at least after I said we could run it again and correct the error. So, if it comes out right this week I am in the clear, at least on this point. *** I was saddened by the death of Christopher Reeve but he gave it a long hard fight. In fact, to me it was a “super human” effort. He became a champion for people with long term disabilities. His courage and determination to never give up hope was inspiring. Though he might have shed his superman cape from the movies his life continued to be one of “super” forti¬ tude and strength. All of us should take note. He says his team is going bury you tonight.” We have torn down the post when we hit that ball field, and it was a on the books for High. Doc built a program at Lavonia, to Winder and then Cedartown and did same. From Cedartown went to UGA as coach until retirement. then moved back to town where he lives and runs a charity tournament with his Georgia Tech great 1 IP. n 2321 Of ■ft.? / [it :H *\ to k ‘So ... when do we vote one of them off the island?* Out of my mind Victor Kulkosky Government open: come on in Back in New York City, there used to be (it might still be there) a clothing store that used the slogan, “where an educated consumer is our best customer.” Locally, we can change that to, “an edu¬ cated citizen is the best voter.” At last Thursday’s Fort Valley City Council meeting, Finance Com¬ mittee chair Herman Light invited citizens to attend committee meet¬ ings to see if “painful decisions” were made. I heartily second that invitation. Aside from the regu¬ lar monthly meetings, various committee meet¬ ings and work sessions are also open to the pub lie. It’s at these smaller, less formal meetings that you can watch the nuts and bolts work of local government. At these sessions, elected and appointed officials share information, hear proposals and debate the details of major and Beck. More important in Neely’s column than his sto¬ ries about Doc Ayers was the way he tied the story about football to life. I had always believed the many things learned on the field, if applied to life, would make you a success, and have used those things. Football is not the only sport that can make your life better, basketball, base¬ ball and other sports can provide the same learning experiences. Neely made four points concerning football and business. First, is motiva¬ tion in Doc’s story about his mother’s letter, and the fact that you can catch more flies with honey than vine gar. Secondly, Coach Ayers never ran the score up on an opponent. He would rest the first team for the future and give the younger players Q URQQAL: The Leader-Tribune is published proudly for the citizens of Peach County by Peach Publishing Company, Inc. Our goal is to pro¬ duce a quality, profitable, community-oriented newspaper of which you, our readers, can be proud. We will reach that goal through hard work, loyalty, teamwork and a strong dedica¬ tion toward printing the truth. QUB P OLI CIE S : Signed letters to the editor welcomed with a daytime phone number. We do edit grammar, spelling and punctuation when necessary. Libelous, slanderous or profane letters will not be published. • Liability for errors in advertising will not exceed the space occupied by the error •We reserve the right to edit all submitted mate rials. e-mail us at leadertribune@georgiaspeed.net minor decisions in the making. It was at several marathon work sessions of the Peach County Commission in August and September that I saw the kind of work it takes to run local gov¬ ernment. I watched a $l-million plus budget gap shrink to under $200,000, before the blow of a necessary $150,000 property reval¬ uation took the wind out of commissioners’ sails. There was plenty of hard work and pain to go around. I get paid to go to such meetings, and they give me an education I can’t get in civics classes or journalism school. This education is also available to you, the citi¬ zen. Right here in Peach County, you have an opportunity to see gov¬ ernment at work. Your local officials are dedi¬ cated amateurs, citizens Please turn to VICTOR, Page ;•* 6 A • ‘ •. experience. Sometimes in business we leave the first team in too long and don’t use the opportunity to give our younger associates more practical experience. Thirdly, Doc held to the theory the water boy was just as important as the quarterback. He praised the first team, substitutes, trainers and staff. In sports and business the CEO’s main task should be team building. Coach Ayers made each player seem special and took those with limited abil¬ ity and made them into con¬ tributors. The leader of a company must do the same, make associates seem spe¬ cial and help those with lim¬ ited ability to be major play ers. Doc Ayers was a great football coach whose mis¬ sion was not only to win football games but to train young men to be the best they could be.