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Set For Tues., December 16
Houston State Court
*
Bids Opening Planned
Tuesday, December 16,
will be a memorable date
in Houston County. On that
date the Houston County
Commission will open bids
for the proposed new State
Court building, to be built
with federal revenue
sharing funds at the south
western tip of Warner
Robins. Tuesday night the
board talked with architect
Henry Corsini and set the
weeks of November 13
Cont. from front page
Beggarly To Run...
matter of waiting for the
right time. I feel I have a
good chance to be elected
and will devote the needed
time to the job. I have a
sincere interest in the
future of our community
and I believe with my
financial background I can
make some helpful con-
Cont. from front page
Scarborough Resigns
v*
election in May of 1974, at
which time Mayor James
McKinley was elected.
City Attorney Larry
Walker said he will have to
take a look at what or
dinances will have to be
adopted to set up the
special election for
Scarborough's post to
coincide with the regular
election set for the first
Ti'Sfiday in September.
Scarborough's
resignation came as a
shock to most political
observers in Perry. Perry
Mayor James McKinley
stated, "I hate to see
Gordon resign but at the
same time I can ap
preciate his reasons and
can certainly understand
why he needs to devote
more time to his job and
At Perry High Grid Field
Booster Club Asks For Bleachers
Perry Panther Booster
Club President Tom Grant
Tuesday morning, backing
up his statements with a
35-page documented study,
requested that the Houston
County Board of Education
fund monies sufficient to
construct new seating
facilities at the Perry High
football field. But the
board took no action on
Grant's request, saying
that laws prevented them
from using general
operating funds for "major
construction".
Grant handed out copies
of the Booster Club's
seating study to the school
board. He began by
reminding the board that
about two years ago other
segments from Perry had
appeared before the board
asking that PHS be given
better seating at its field.
He pointed out that the
board then had denied the
request.
(?NO PLAYOFFS HE RE
Grant said several
reasons made the need for
better seating acute. He
cited facts that show if
Perry High were to win its
region and be scheduled to
host a playoff game, the
game would have to be
scheduled elsewhere.
Proof of this statement
Grant gave by citing state
school regulations which
through December 4 for an
advertisement for bids to
run In the Home Journal.
Architect Corsini
brought with him to the
meeting revised blueprints
for the State Court
building, which until
recently was thought to
carry a price tag of $1.4
million. But Corslni's
revised drawings set out
three alternate deletions
which would reduce the
tributions in the
management of the city."
Baggarly is married to
the former Nancy Black
mon of Rock Hill, South
Carolina, and they have
two children, Brian, 7, and
Kim, 5. The Baggarlys
reside at 1402 Cambridge
Road.
his family. He has done an
outstanding job while
serving on the council and
has been a very hard
worker on the many
assignments and com
mittee appointments that
have come his way. He will
be missed in the workings
of the city government and
I wish him well in the
future. I have thoroughly
enjoyed serving with
Gordon the past IV2 years
and look forward to his
advice and suggestions in
the future."
Al Baggarly, a vice
president of Security
Federal Savings and Loan
Association, announced
plans this week to seek
Scarborough's post. (See
another story on this
page.)
require 4,500 seats at any
playoff site.
Perry High at present
only will accomodate
around 2,000 fans in its
limited seating facilities.
Grant further pointed out
that the present "bottom
two rows" at PHS are
almost unusable because
"the hurricane fence
around the field is at eye
level".
The Booster Club
spokesman said that new
seats are needed to be able
to expand the Perry High
football program. A for
mer resident of Warner
Robins, Grant chronicled
the rapid development of
that city's team, which
coincided with the building
of International City
Stadium, a mammoth
concrete structure being
paid for with county tax
funds.
"Facilities do not make
the program, but they do
go together. If Warner
Robins high school teams
were still playing behind
the Jr. High they would not
have 18,000 fans at a game
and over 200 boys dressed
out," he added.
Grant said that Perry
High's athletic fortunes
could rise sharply next
year due to what he termed
"a very talented 9th grade
team". The ninth graders
price by an expected
$374,000, lowering cost to
around a million dollars.
Corsini Indicated that he
was scheduled to receive
federal wage regulations
that would have to be met
due to the fact the building
will be constructed with
revenue sharing funds.
The three alternates
are: 1) to delete the
Sheriff's offices from the
plans, at a tentative
savings of $286,000; 2) to
delete asphalt paving and
curbing, saving $75,000;
and 3) to delete all exterior
lighting, at savings of
$13,000. The bids that will
be opened on December 16
are for general contracting
of the project.
All bidders will specify
their bids for either the
entire project without
deletions, or containing
one or more alternates.
Thus, four bids will be
required.
Corsini's modified plans
would include: a tem
porary wood partition at
the back of the building
(where the Sheriff's offices
would later be attached);
and would mean that a few
rooms would have com
pacted dirt floors; and
would mean that juvenile
offices and court space
would remain.
He said that at his last
project, thirteen con
tractors submitted bids.
With those words the
meeting digressed off the
subject into general
economic conditions of the
country.
Commissioner Frank
Rozar said he had gotten
word from a prominent
Perry financial officer that
“was not as optimistic
about the future as the
federal government”.
Commission Chairman
Charles Carter was also
pessimistic. He stated,
"When a company like the
W.T. Grant Company goes
under, something is wrong.
That will make a chain
reaction because com
panies that sell to Grants
may go under too." Grants
last week revealed that it
is in receivership. (See
are undefeated, boasting
wins over all other county
ninth grade teams, in
cluding those in Warner
Robins.
Grant produced figures
which "show we could not
even host a Class B
playoff", which requires
seating for three thousand
fans. In Class A, seating
for 4,000 fans is required.
THE
ATHLETIC BUDGET
The Booster Club
president also referred to
the Perry High athletic
budget. He said the present
budget is SIO,OOO, and is
expected to increase to
$20,763 by 1979-80, with a
ten percent growth factor
and the 10 percent in
flationary spiral.
By contrast, Grant said a
study of several AA
schools shows a minimum
need of a $25,000 budget at
Perry High today, and that
rising to $56,640 by 1979-80.
The athletic budget is
based upon expected gate
receipts at football games,
along with other sport's
revenues. Grant showed
that If the PHS seating was
increased to a total of 4,500
seats, the gate receipts
possible would more than
double the athletic budget,
up to $23,625 if seventy
percent of all seats were
sold on a five home game
another HHJ article.)
Getting back on the
subject, Corslni said he felt
that materials prices, as
well as contracting quotes,
were coming down. He
added, “I believe y'all
couldn't have picked a
better time (in which to
build the court).”
There followed a period
when several different
conversations were going
on at one time. The
At First Baptist Church
Baptist Loyalty Day Sun
The Perry First Baptist
Church will celebrate
Loyalty Day Sunday,
October 19, and the day
will also serve as the
church's kick off of its
Bolivian Worker
UMC Missionary
Address Sunday
Dr. Raiford Claxton,
missionary to Bolivia, will
speak at both morning
services at Perry United
Methodist Church this
Sunday, October 19. Dr.
Dr. Hutcherson
schedule.
(At present the stands
consist of 500 seats on the
visitors' side and 1,500
seats on the "home" side.
The concession stand is
located adjacent to the
visitors' seats, which
requires home fans to walk
around the end of the field
to obtain refreshments or
to use bathroom facilities.)
Grant pointed out that
the athletic budget covers
more than just football
programs, He said it also
helps pay for other sports,
including track, baseball,
and such associated ac
tivities.
He also added that the
new seats would be used
far more than just every
Friday night during
football season If built. He
pointed to use for seventh,
eighth, and ninth grade
football, track, and county
sponsored youth leagues.
NOT BEINGCRITICAL
Grant emphasized that
his group was not being at
all critical of the board's
attitude toward Perry
athletics in past years. He
stated, "We have the finest
fieldhouse (dressing rooms
and coaches quarters) in
AA in the state. I know
because I've seen many of
them."
He added, "The actual
turf on the field and the
commissioners, speaking
in lowered tones, obviously
pondered where to obtain
funds needed to build the
State Court facility. (Only
about $650,000 in federal
revenue sharing funds is
assured to the county.)
Carter stated, "Where is
the other $300,000 coming
from, if revenue sharing
isn't voted back in (by
Congress)?”
He added, "We can't
obligate more than about
$650,000 tor 1976.” Law
prevents a county from
obligating future tax in
come in advance.
The commissioners
subsequently told Corsini
that they would advertise
for bids, but would remain
open to either building the
entire State Court, a part
of it, or none at all. Alton
Tucker summed up the
feelings of the board when
he pondered, "This is the
only thing I know to do.
Let's see what they (the
bids) look like.”
Bicentennial programs.
Included in the day's
proceedings will be an
hour of old fashioned
singing with special music.
On Sunday following the
Felix Smith, Church Lay
Leader, will present Dr.
Claxton on these special
Laity Day Services. Dr.
Guy Hutcherson, former
pastor at Perry, will
preach Sunday night.
Dr. Claxton, who has
also done mission work in
Africa, is a veterinarian
T who has found many op
portunities for special
service in Bolivia. He also
teaches in the university at
Vera Cruise and helps
direct the work of Heifer
Project, International.
Dr. Hutcherson, who will
preach in the 7 o'clock
evening service, is now
District Superintendent of
the Columbus District. His
sermon is part of the
emphasis on October as
"Month of Evangelism"
throughout the South
Georgia Conference.
Mayor Announces Plans
For Citizen "Sessions "
Perry Mayor James O.
McKinley announced this
week that he will begin
holding a series of regular
meetings with a group of
citizen leaders from the
community. He said the
meetings will be held about
once every two months.
"The purpose of these
meetings,” McKinley
stated, "will be to get
small groups together at
city hall to inform them of
some of the things we are
trying to accomplish and to
brief them on possible
grants and future plans for
the city."
Mayor McKinley pointed
morning worship service,
dinner will be spread and
served from the Church
Social Room. Each
member is urged so bring a
picnic type or covered dish
lunch and participate in
the dinner "on the
grounds". Weather per
mitting, tables will be set
up outside for open air
enjoyment. In case of
inclement weather, all
P.A.L. Meeting
P.A.L. surely could use your assistance. There
will be a meeting to organize this year’s effort on
Wednesday, October 22, at the Eastgate branch of
The Bank of Perry at 3:00 P.M. P.A.L. stands for
Project Agape Love- an annual effort at Christ
mas to provide toys and food to needy families in
Perry. Help make someone else’s Christmas nice
too.
Not Henry Corsini
Cunningham HCCI Architect
CORRECTION; In the October 9 edition of the
Houston Home Journal, an article stated that
Henry Corsini was the architect of the Houston
County Correctional-Detentional Institution on
Kings Chapel Road in Perry. In reality, the ar
chitect was not Corsini, but John Cunningham and
Associates of Atlanta. We apologize for the
inadvertent error.
competitive bidding
probably would lower
those quotes.
The bleachers the
Booster Club wants are of
a portable nature and
could be taken down and
used elsewhere if desired
or necessary. But despite
their portability, Grant
said they would be very
safe and would offer
unique features such as
ability to construct band
rooms under the grand
stand.
"POLITICAL FOOTBALL"
Board member Glenn
Heck saluted the
presentation, remarking,
"It is a well thoughtout
plan. Two years ago we
asked if south Houston
would support a bond
referendum to build
facilities. Indications then
were that the county could
not pass a referendum. Do
you think that has
changed?"
Speaking candidly,
Grant replied, "Politics
would get Involved. If we
let a program die because
of a political football,
we're going in the wrong
direction. There is no way
a bond referendum would
pass- Warner Robins has
what they need already
(International Stadium)
and there is an element in
the city and county trying
HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL THURS., OCT. U, 1975,
out he has had two similar
meetings In recent months
with a group of community
leaders and that they
proved successful.
The mayor further said,
"I will also be looking for
advice from these groups
to help me keep In close
touch with the pulse of the
community and I am
looking forward to con
siderable Input into what
we are trying to do in the
city government from
these different groups of
citizens."
Going a step further
Mayor McKinley said, "Os
course, the door to the
facets of she dinners will be
in she Social Room.
Immediately following
dinner, all are urged to
gather in the church
sanctuary for an hour's
old-fashioned singing and
special music. Group
singing, solos, with several
song leaders, will be
featured.
The church urges many
of its members to dress in
lights are the finest
anywhere. What I'm
saying Is that we have the
finest facilities except for
the one thing that enables a
program to make money
seating for spectators."
He elaborated, "If a man
builds a fine showplace, he
doesn't build the door so
small people cannot come
In, if the door isn't Gig
enough, he can't sell his
product. There just is no
place for people to sit ai
the games."
After going Into further
explanation of the needs
and other facets (which
will be explained In a
follow up article In next
week's HHJ), Grant un
veiled some proposed
seating facilities, along
with price tags tor ea«-h.
WHAT IT WOULD COST
Grant said that If the
seats are delivered to the
site and installed by the
school system, one quote
will sell 2,000 seats for
$44,562, or 2,576 seats for
$58,774. On the other hand,
If the seats are delivered
and installed, 2,500 seats
would cost about $76,000
and 3,040 seats would cost
$91,200.
Grant's prices were
obtained in quotes mailed
to the Booster Club by
three different bleacher
firms. He added that
mayor's office at city hall
is always open to anyone
who may want to come
down and discuss some
problem, idea or
suggestion concerning city
matters. Citizens who have
business to discuss with
me can call the city clerk
and arrange a time or they
can make arrangements to
be placed on the regular
city council meeting
agenda If they desire to
address the entire council.
All of us in city govern
ment encourage this type
of thing and welcome
citizen participation at any
time."
#■ 1
*
styles or fashions similar
to those worn to church JOt)
years ago. Overalls, long
dresses, bonnets and such
authentic dress are to be
worn.
Carl J. Barrett, chair
man of the Board of
Deacons, said the goal for
the Loyalty Day is SIO,OOO,
to be used on building
funds.
TO
REGISTER
TO ,
VOTE ;
>ub_
L J
M*
<■
to support a private school
how can the school board
Imagine a bond issue
would pass?"
"Not this year, or the
next, or the next. Those
two elements would make
one unable to pass," added
the Booster Club
spokesman.
Heck replied, "It Is my
understanding general
operating funds cannot be
used for major con
struction," but Grant said,
"These stands would be
portable in nature. I don't
know- in the military they
would be considered as
equipment."
School Superintendent
Perdue stated, "That
would be classified as
major construction and
would have to come from
capital outlay fund, not
general operation funds."
Heck pointed out, "That
(the seats) Is not all that Is
needed. The junior highs
need gymnasiums..."
Grant answered, "If the
seats were part of a
referendum that reached
across the county, it might
pass. Otherwise It would
not pass."
He added that the
Booster Club would offer
whatever help was
desired. After further
discussion Grant left the
meeting.
PAGE 3-A