Newspaper Page Text
s —The Houston Home Journal "
John Cheek To Operate
Beer License Approved
For Kathleen Lounge
The Houston County
Commission Tuesday af
ternoon approved the
issuance of a beer and wine
“consumption on the
premises” license to John F.
Cheek for a restaurant night
spot to be called ‘‘Johnny's".
The club will be located at the
intersection of Highways 247
and 127 in Kathleen. The
commissioners reluctantly
granted the license after
County Attorney Walker
Burke gave his legal opinion
that to deny the license would
result in a successful law suit
against the county.
The site was previously used
as license applications for
Perry businessman Terrell
Knight and his wife, in two
separate applications Both
were denied and federal Judge
Lane Chapman Named
Merit Semifinalist
Headmaster Aaron W
Turner has announced that
one (li student al The
Wests ield Schools in Perry has
been named Semifinalist in
the competition lor about 3,400
Merit Scholarships to be
awarded in 1075
This student is Molly Lane
Chapman, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs William A Chap
man, 01!) Woodland Circle,
Perry.
The Merit Program
Semilinalisls were the highest
scorers in each stale on the
1073 Preliminary Scholastic
Aililude Test National Merit
Scholarship Qualifying Test
( PS AT N MSQT ). ad
ministered to over one million
students in about 17,000
schools nationwide The
Semilinalisls. most ol whom
will complete high school and
enter college in 1975, will be
County Endorses Plan
For Waste Treatment
Warner Robins and Houston
County this week formally
endorsed a proposed solid
waste management plan
prepared by the Middle
Georgia Area Planning and
Development Commission
(MtiAl’lU'l MGAPDC
executive director Charles
Howell and planner Vernon
Kyle were m Warner Robins
Tuesday morning to brief the
county on the plan.
A proposed lee structure to
Im charged to cities par
ticipating in the plan ti e
Warner Robins, at present)
was questioned by the County
Commission Ryle had set up
the fee plan based on 1970
population ligures. but that
method was said to be
inadequate by the county
board Ryle confirmed that
the Warner Robins City
Council (which met Monday
night) had also suggested the
(ee system "needed more
work,"
Ryle said that lee structures
should also be set up (or the
cities of Perry and Cen
terville, even though they
opted at present not to join the
county-city plan Both cities.
Ryle suggested, may in the
future decide to become a part
of the system In that case,
Ryle said a fee plan would be
needed.
Wilbur D, Owens upheld
denial of the license to Mrs.
Knight on grounds that Knight
and his wife were “considered
as one", and did not meet
licensing requirements
already established by the
county. Knight has been
convicted ol alcohol law
violations, so is ineligible to
receive county alcohol
licenses, according to Houston
County requirements.
Tuesday morning Cheek, a
disabled Vietnam War
veteran, heard the County
Commission give his license
request its second reading
The County some months ago
set a policy of having two
readings before passing on
alcohol license requests.
Cheek applied for the license
on August 19, and the first
identified to regionally ac
credited US, colleges and
universities. Many
7 * IV
Lane Chapman
Ryle also suggested that
Perry could conceivably be in
need of using the central
landfill site on a "con
tingency" basis, if problems
arose at the Perry site. If that
occurs, Ryle said a fee
structure for the temporary
use would be needed.
Commissioner Charles
Carter asked, "Are your
ligures based on the state's
$3.50 to $6.00 per ton
statistics’" Ryle indicated
that the lees were based on
those figures.
Howell earlier said a
division was needed "right
away" on whether or not to
endorse the MGAPDC plan.
The executive director further
said that an application must
lie made to the State Depart
ment ot Natural Resources by
September 30 (eleven days
Irom today) if one of the
state's $30,000 grants is
desired lor this fiscal year,
Howell has said for several
months that the state gives top
priorities to joint city-county
or county-county agreements,
PERRY OFFICIALS
PRESENT
Also present at the meeting
were Perry City Councilman
H.H Hackworth, Perry City
Sanitation Superintendent Ed
Warren, and Rhett Milam,
Warner Robins city planning
PAGE 2-A
reading of the request was last
week.
Also in attendance at the
Tuesday meeting were a
group of eight Kathleen
residents, including lawyer
A.OB Sparks, who
represented the group Sparks
made several statements,
including alleging that “Cheek
is an alter-ego for Mr.
Knight." Sparks also said that
a Kathleen resident lives sixty
(HO) feet from the club.
County Attorney Walker
Burke responded to a query
posed by County Commission
Chairman Frank Rozar.
Rozar wondered aloud what
“would be the outcome of
another suit (brought by
Cheek) it the license request
was denied."
Burke gave his legal
Semifinalists find this
recognition useful in gaining
admission to the college of
their choice and in obtaining
financial aid
According to Edward C.
Smith, president of the
National Merit Scholarship
Corporation (NMSC), “The
approximately 15,000
Semilinalisls represent the
lop one-hall of one percent of
the nation's most
academically talented young
people. The students bring
honor to themselves, their
families, their teachers, and
their communities. Many of
these students, those who
make the best use of their
ability to become productive
at the high intellectual levels
ol which they are capable, will
be future leaders in business,
industry, and the
professions,"
head. Hackworth asked
Howell if the county's adop
tion ol a resolution setting up
their system would hurt
Perry's chances ot receiving a
grant.
Howell reiterated that joint
plans were given top priorities
by the state, but said that
Perry could still submit a
plan Last year. Perry,
Warner Robins, and Houston ,
County all submitted ap
plications tor SSO,OtX) "gar
bage" grants. All three were
turned down. By comparison,
neighboring Dooly County
received a grant Os course,
the Dooly grant is joint,
covering the county. Vienna,
Unadilla, and other smaller
municipalities inside Dooly
County
Commissioner Alton Tucker
was openly hesitant about the
differing lees. He said, "No
matter where the garbage
comes from, it costs the same
to cover it up."
Ryle urged the com
missioners to act quickly,
"this week at the latest " He
said a proposed plan of
operation of the joint landfill
had to be on tile with the state
by "mid-1975".
BONAIRE SITE
CHANGEABLE
Tucker also did not like the
opinion He said, "Based on
the judge’s ruling -a written
summary, a ruling, and an
order, and based on
precedent, unless the ap
plication tails to fall within the
law (set by Houston County)
and the board of com
missioners refused a license to
a man who complied with the
law, the refusal would
probably be over ruled by the
court This would happen
regardless of property owners
in the area."
Burke lurlher said, "If it
can be proved that Cheek is
the “alter-ego" of Knight, that
might be considered" grounds
lor refusal, but “that would
take evidence." Burke said
that "(he lease agreement
between Cheek and Knight
(who owns the properly) in
dicates that Cheek has a lease
“on his own".
STRONG INSTRUCTIONS
The attorney lor the county
then stated, "The judge (U.S.
Federal Court Judge Owens)
left us pretty strong in
slruclions. In effect he told us,
it a man complies, he must be
issued a license.”
Cheek and several Kathleen
residents then exchanged
words, with one resident,
Arthur Peterman, asking
Cheek what kind of money was
being paid by Cheek to Knight
lor the lease. Cheek said the
lease said S2OO per month for
Ihree years. Cheek further
slated that Knight was to
provide all equipment, with
Cheek "keeping the place
slocked,” Cheek told Peter
man that he had no other job,
and depended on obtaining the
license to “earn my living."
Cheek told the assembled
throng that he had moved to
Houston County on August 1
Irom Dodge County where he
had been a farmer since his
release Irom service on
December 24, 1969. He slated
strongly, "that place is not
going to he a dive, or a beer
joint It's going to be a
respectable place."
designation ol Bonaire as the
silent the landfill He said that
Bonaire had never been
ehosen as the "final site,
mentioning residents'
protests, and state En
vironmental Protection
Agency qualms over the
Bonaire site's suitability
Kyle said the plan could be
amended, even to change
sites. Commission Chairman
Frank Kozar also noted
resident objections He
maintained, "We've explored
using other places.”
(See Home Journal article
concerning problems at the
Bonaire landfill.)
M GAP DC executive
director Charles Howell in
terjected. "1 think that we can
talk in terms of the Bonaire
site. If the county com
missioners can determine a
more leasible place, the plan
can be amended ac
cordingly," He added that
• the state hasn't run all tests
to approve the Bonaire land
fill "
Commissioner V W
McEver moved to accept the
resolution, with the notation
that lees will be "worked out
in negotiation". Com
missioner Steve Byrd
seconded his motion, and it
passed without dissent
K NII L ,li in
f 00 |
m
A
On Friday, September 13. 1974, the Ambulance
Service at the Perry-Houston County Hospital was
inspected by the Ga. Dept, of Human Resources.
This agency is charged with the responsibility of
inspecting and determining if Ambulance Ser
vices are providing proper ambulance service and
that the personnel are properly trained and that
all these factors are properly documented.
The Perry Ambulance Service received an
excellent rating and no discrepancies were found.
Atlanta Trip Scheduled
State Threatens Fines •
Over Bonaire Landfill
The Houston County
Commission will motor to
Atlanta today seeking to head
oil the stale assessing up to
SSOO per day in lines toward
the county lor improper
operation of its sanitary
landfill at Bonaire. The
dumping ol liquid waste at the
landfill by the Fabst Brewing
Company is apparently cause
lor Ihe stale's pending action
A letter dated September 10
Irom K Donald Lucas,
Pollution Control Specialist
with the Solid Waste
Management section of the
Stale Department of Natural
Itesources, to the com
missioners. advises them that
il Houston County doesn't
comply with stale regulations
by September 20 (tomorrow),
that Lucas "will have no other
alternative other than to
request legal action be taken
to lorce compliance."
Lucas said in the letter that
I’abst ol tidal Jim Dooley had
told him that delivery of
“dewatering tillers lor
diatomaceous earth sludges
has been delayed by the
manufacturer. Fabst now
expects installation and
operation ol such in ap
proximately live or six
weeks Lucas lurlher said
that “current means of
disposal ol this sludge by the
County is non compliant with
State Rules and Regulations
tor Solid Waste Management,
Chapter 391-1-1, as discussed
with County officials on
numerous occasions since
July 17, 1974 ’
Lucas said that "dumping
without covering at the
County's solid waste disposal
site near Bonaire has allowed
a terrible stench to be created
resulting in numerous com
plaints The writer (Lucas)
has noted the strong odor lour
tenlhs i 4/10i ol a mile Irom
the site on at least one oc
casion and complaints have
been received Irom as much
as three (3) miles away,"
Lucas turther slated that
""verflow Irom the area has
reached a small stream and
resulted in serious
degradualion of the stream ’
He said that alternate means
ol remedying this situation
have been discussed with
county officials This includes
mixing with solid waste or
clean earth, or disposal at an
alternate site," He stresses
that “present means of
disposal will not be tolerated."
He notes there “has been
entirely 100 little co-operation
in the settling of this matter.”
Ambulance Service Inspected *
A sanitary landfill rating
lest tilled out by Lucas on
August :io shows the (allowing
deficiencies: No daily, in
termediate, or linal cover;
ina dequ a Ie drainage;
inadequate grading; and
inadequate odor control.
Hospital, Election Boards
Jones , Lee Appointed
To County Positions
Warner Robins Citizen and
Southern Bank President
Barry Jones was appointed
Tuesday as ternoon to serve on
the Houston County Hospital
Authority. Jones was named
to the board by the Houston
County Commission and will
replace Robins Postmaster
James Stubbs, who recently
resigned
The Commissioners also
named Damn Lee, a Warner
Robins black schoolteacher to
the Houston County Election
By 3-2 Vote
Watson Keeps
Clerk’s Job
Houston County Clerk Roy
11 “Sonny" Watson suc
cessfully retained his job
Tuesday afternoon by a 3-2
vote, Watson, clerk for
seventeen years, on Sep
tember 3, won a run-off
election to become State
Representative from the 115th
District, and was in jeopardy
of losing his job as clerk
because some commissioners
fell the two positions had
conflicts of interest.
The 3-2 vote read: For
Watson staying on as clerk -
Commissioners V.W McEver,
Steve Byrd, and Alton Tucker;
Additionally, the inspector stated that this am
bulance service was one of the finest in the State
of Georgia for compliance with ambulance
regulations, proper training of personnel,
availability of equipment and administrative
documentation of ambulance services.
Above are Perry Hospital Administrator Max
Poole (L) and Doug Ashbridge, director of the
Perry Ambulance Service, looking over the DHR
evaluation report.
Lucas said in the report that
"liquids leaving the area by
overflowing a small earth
dam are entering a small
stream nearby which crosses
the road approaching the site
approximately 100 yards north
ol the entrance."
Board to replace C.J. Orth,
who recently resigned. Lee is
the first black named to the
election board.
Already on the Hospital
Authority were: L.A. Mc-
Connell, Louis Harper,
Sherrill Stafford, Hugh
Beatty, Paul Stalnaker, Billy
Beckham, Freeman Colbert,
and Dr. Wentford Spears.
Beckham. Harper, and Beatty
are Irorn Perry.
Already on the Election
Board were: Hugh Beatty,
Against - Commission Vice
Chairman Charles Carter, and
Commission Chairman Frank
Rozar. McEver's vole was a
switch on a previous vote
taken several months ago
when by a 3-2 vote the com
mission indicated that Watson
could not retain both jobs, if
elected to the representative
position.
Commissioners Tucker,
Byrd, and McEver say that
they feel there will be no
conflict of interest for Watson
to keep both positions. Carter
and Rozar disagree, and
Carter said that his position
against granting Watson
Pabst Brewing Company
has had on order lor several
months equipment to
“dewater" or dry Out the
liquid waste. But as (he letter
Irom Lucas indicates, arrival
ol Ihe equipment has been
delayed beyond its original
delivery dale.
Lee Garrett, Tony Robbins,
and Milton Beckham.
Beckham joins Beatty as
Perryan members.
Named to the county's
Planning and Zoning Com
mission by the commissioners
were Riley Jackson of Bonaire
and Glen VanFossen of Perry.
Jackson succeeds Stan Bull on
the planning board while
VanFossen was
for a second term.
permission to keep his clerk's
job helped him win his re
election campaign over
Warner Robins Police Chief
W.H. “Pip" Rape.
Watson will take unpaid
leaves of absence from /gs
clerk’s position while*n
Atlanta in January and
February each year for 40-45
days while the General
Assembly is in session. In
addition, if Watson is ap
pointed to any committees, he
will undoubtedly have to lose
more time away from 'his
clerk's position, to attend the
committee meetings.