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The Houston Home Journal
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HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL THURS., JUNE 4, )V74,
We want to reiterate our editorial
stand last week on calling for an
election on the question of moving the
County Seat.
Our contention all along has been
that the bouncing controversy back
and forth between people in northern
and southern Houston County about
the County Seat has led to a further
separation of our citizens. We firmly
believe some politicians have made
“hay” of this issue too long and that
the matter should either be settled as
soon as possible by a vote of the
people or dropped from the top of the
list of discussion.
We note that since our stand last
week many people in Warner Robins
have expressed genuine interest in
the fact that moving the County Seat
could cost the taxpayers as much as
sls million. It is also worthy of
mention that the petitions circulating
last week in Warner Robins to call a
referendum to move the County Seat
made no mention of the cost to the
taxpayers.
Another unfortunate matter in all
the recent discussion and controversy
over moving the County Seat is the
Let’s Work Together
There are times when what appears
to be the worst of times can, in fact,
be the best of times. Such a time is
now. In the midst of endless con
troversy between Perry and Warner
Robins over the County Seat question,
we want to appeal for “healing of the
wounds” and the beginning of a real
effort between the northern and
southern citizens and politicians of
Houston County to work together in
the future for the good of the County.
We firmly believe, now more than
ever, we need cooperation among
Houston County’s citizens and
politicians. It is our opinion this effort
should be initiated in some way by the
Houston County Commissioners,
perhaps through a county-wide ad
visory council made up of citizens
from all areas of the County. It would
be helpful if such a committee could
meet on a regular basis with the
When the soft kiss of summer stirs
the land once again, our thoughts will
naturally turn to suntans and daisies,
ball games and hot dogs and the
inevitable journeys to the beach, the
mountains or to Grandma’s house for
a good, old-fashioned chicken dinner
on Sunday.
The dreamy, golden days of
summer will, to some extent, help
Rewarding Browbeaters
The bedraggled American taxpayer
is still licking his wounds following
the merciless onslaught of the federal
tax collectors during the annual
fleecing ceremonies which
culminated April 15. An insight into
the reason for frequent harsh
treatment from agents of the Internal
Revenue Service has been given by
the head of the IRS employees union.
He states that taxpayers bear the
brunt of a quota system that rewards
agents for harshness and penalizes
with disciplinary action and denied
promotions those who exhibit
leniency, toward taxpayers. The
employee representative observed
that the collection division of the IRS
is primarily concerned with the
number of cases closed, “with little or
County Seat
Summer , 1974
PAGE 4-A
fact that citizens in Warner Robins
appear to have been misled by some
politicians and news media people.
Our good neighbors in Warner Robins
got stirred up over this matter after
the rumor got out that a group of
Perry citizens are going to file a suit
against the County Commissioners to
determine the legality of operating
dual constitutional offices in both
Perry and Warner Robins. If, indeed,
a suit is filed, it would not be the in
tention of anyone in Perry to deny the
citizens of Warner Robins the county
services they need and deserve, as
some would have them believe. We
have never once heard anyone in
Perry say the people of Warner
Robins should be denied the services
they need from the County. That just
isn’t the true picture.
We still maintain that if the people
(and politicians) in Warner Robins
want a vote on this matter, we should
go ahead and decide the question at
the polls at the earliest date possible.
This, in our opinion, will close the
matter and end the controversial
question...at least for the time being.
-8.8.
Commissioners and discuss candidly
matters that concern the citizens of
every area of the County.
Too long have Perry and Warner
Robins been at each other’s throats. It
is time we all put aside past dif
ferences and work together. If voting
on the County Scat question is an
obstacle standing in our way, then
let’s vote on that question and
proceed from there. It is very likely
that if such a group is formed by the
County Commissioners this problem
and many others can be thrashed out
in meetings between a representative
group of our citizens.
We urge the County Commissioners
to give serious thought to this
proposal and we also urge officials of
the City of Perry and City of Warner
Robins to be considering ways of
working together in the future.
-8.8.
satisfy the nation’s nostalgic year
ning for happier, simpler times when
Watergate was just another building
and inflation was something you
needed to keep the car tires going. As
in bygone times, the official arrival of
summer on June 21 will bring many
opportunities to weave more pleasant
memories into the tapestry of life, so
let us not waste a single thread.
no regard to the effects of their orders
on the individual taxpayer...,” Ac
cording to this spokesman, a tax
payer's assets may be seized for
immediate payment of tax debts to
the federal government because
installment payment or part payment
plans don't close cases.
This situation is one more in
dication that the continuing trend
toward giving the federal government
more authority over our individual
lives and fortunes in return for
benefits of one kind or another is a
surefire superhighway to economic
and political serfdom for the
American people. Nothing is free in
this life, and we had better remember
it.
"Always The Vice Presidency!
The Vice Presidency! You Guys
Never Ask Me If I Want To Be President!"
f — - \
The Slanted Side
By Joe Hiett
It’s only June and already the
political waters of Houston County
are beginning to boil. County Com
mission Clerk Sonny Watson has
announced for the State Represen
tative Post held by Vince Moyer.
Warner Robins Police Chief W.H.
“Pip” Rape has announced for the
County Commission slot occupied by
Charles Carter, as has housewife Joy
Land. A referendum threat has begun
in Warner Robins, seemingly tied to
rumored plans by Perry citizens to
sue the county government. Whew! If
things are this stirred up, and it’s only
June, imagine what July and August
will hold.
I wasn’t really surprised by Chief
Rape’s entrance into the Commission
race. It had been rumored for mon
ths. In fact, Rape reportedly almost
got fired in Warner Robins because he
wanted to run against Steve Byrd,
Bob Lee Smith, et al., several months
ago. (I’m not sure that was true but it
was sure rumored all over the
county.) It is well known that Rape is
considered a part of the political
“establishment”.
I just hope he doesn’t get over
confident against Carter and Mrs.
Land. I've learned never to un
derestimate the power of womenfolk.
As for Charles Carter, he isn’t
“establishment” which might hurt
him (1 don’t know why it should,
though), but he has turned out to be a
pretty good commissioner. He doesn’t
always say things people like to hear,
Rev. Dan Ariail I
. N
* v First Baptist Church
HPvl/ SALVATION THROUGH
CHRIST ALONE
Neither is there salvation in
any other, for Ihere is none
other name under heaven
given among men. whereby
we must be saved.
-Acts 4:12
Once, when the Swiss
theologian Emil Bruner was in
India, two Hindu professors
came and asked him how
Christians could claim that
salvation is through Christ
alone. They said they were
willing to group Uirist with
other great 'saviors" but they
were offended by the claim
that he is the only Savior. Dr.
Bruner replied that the reason
Christians believe there is no
other Savior is that Christ
but then the truth hurts sometimes.
And he doesn’t always toe the “safe”
political line, but he votes his con
victions, and backs his vote up with
research.
I’m going to watch that race with a
lot of interest. I hope no “mud” starts
getting slung. All parties concerned
are too good for that to happen.
I met another “good ole boy” from
Rockmart last weekend. M.L.
Langston and I talked for quite a
while Sunday afternoon, and you
know, he sounds as if he knows his
golf. I remember people in Rockmart
mentioning his football exploits (he
was a dandy halfback in the mid
fifties) but his golfing prowess was
known all over the north part of
Georgia.
M.L. took tips from Doug Sanders
(I suspect there was quite a bit of
Sanders taking tips from M.L. too)
and also from Jack Nicklaus at Scioto
Country Club in Columbus, Ohio. Oh,
by the way, those folks in Warner
Robins sure must think M.L. looks a
lot like Dr. Graham, mustn’t they?
The photos in our feature this week
are the real M.L. Langston.
I imagine I’m going to do a lot of
yawning beginning next week. The
Houston County Commission begins
budget hearings next week, and from
what I gather, it may involve a lot of
night work and long hours. The public
is invited, too.
alone died (or the sins of the
world. Such a claim could not
he made for Buddha, Krishna.
Hama, or any other great
religious figure. In no religion
other than Christianity is
there a man who came to
earth giving his life for the
reconciliation of man to God.
Only Christianity offers
salvation to those separated
from God by sin and guilt.
Buddhism teaches that to
live is to suffer, and that the
way to end suffering is to end
all desire; by moderation and
contemplation, one can
achieve nirvana, the cessation
ol the cycle ol rebirth. But this
“salvation" is at the cost of
rejection of all desire. Buddha
taught that no deity, no out
side power, can come to man’s
aid; he must achieve for
himself.
Hinduism holds that all but
a spiritual elite are doomed to
be reborn over and over; the
average man should follow his
dharma (duty) and hope for a
better birth. The man of
wisdom will know that he is a
part of the great Faramat
man, or world-soul, and will
reject the values of this world,
even rejecting that this world
has a meaning. Release from
the cycle of rebirth means
becoming again a part of the
world-soul, as a raindrop
enters and becomes part of the
sea.
Only in Christianity is there
a God who loves and cares for
me. Only here is there an
answer to my sin and guilt.
Only here does the world have
a meaning; I am neither to
reject God’s world nor seek to
ignore it. Only in Jesus have
we a real picture of the God
who cares. And those who
make their waj to Him always
find God.
' BOBBY a)
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A trip through southeastern Georgia last
weekend proved depressing. There are many once
proud and prosperous towns literally dying from
the lack of a sound economic base... Some have
already passed the point of no return and have
died a lingering, painful death.
These towns missed out on the Georgia in
dustrial boon of the sixties...and even before that.
Many of them had nothing to offer industry in the
way of labor, suitable sites, railway service and a
good, inter-connecting highway system. Many of
them based their entire economy and future on
agriculture and did not foresee the day they would
need some other industry to hold the community
together.
In these towns there are vacant stores, ,5
warehouses and rotting bank buildings. Those
people left behind are trapped into an existencein
which they have no control. The town is
dying and nothing can change the tide of time.
I cannot help comparing many of these com
munities with Perry. When I see a community
faltering badly because of the lack of leadership,
foresight and natural resources, I realize how
fortunate all of us here in Perry are to have these
attributes.
Because of a progressive attitude and an eye
toward the future, Perry has escaped the plague
of dormancy that has stricken other towns our
size. We have had the good fortune to have sound,
sensible leadership here over the years through
the City and the Chamber of Commerce. Today,
more than ever, the City and Chamber are joined
hand in hand in working for Perry’s future in
these troubled economic times.
Perry has always been known as a communihv
willing to extend a leadership role in the Coun*
and the State. Now, more than ever, Perry’s civic
and business leaders are being challenged in these
trying times. But because we have people here
willing and able to seek new business and industry
to insure we continue to stay on a firm economic
base.
The point of all this is the fact that too often all
of us in Perry take the community for granted. To
really appreciate Perry, take a ride through some
of the areas down in southeastern Georgia...lt’s
depressing but it makes you realize how fortunate
we are to be able to live and be a part of a com
munity like Perry. > '-
We have problems in Perry, sure, but at least
we are making efforts on a continuing basis to do
something about them and that is what counts.
M
Van Johnson, owner of Johnson’s
downtown Perry, came up with this slogan idea
this week to go along with current downtown
revitalization project now underway...“ You won’t
frown when you shop downtown”...Mr. Johnson is
something of a slogan maker in his own right. He
has been using this slogan for his store for about 25
years...“ The store in the middle of the block doing
business on the square.”
Sometimes people who do wrong regret their
deeds and an example of this was shown to me by
Joe Poole, owner of the Qwik Stop Food Shop, last
week. He got a note in the mail last week that
reads; “Mr. Poole, I am sending you this one
dollar bill in payment for a magazine which I took
from your store. Please forgive me. I am sorry.”
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