Newspaper Page Text
r
The Houston Home Journal
Official Organ City Os Perry And Houston County, Georgia
v v' o ",Vt<L°. l NATIONAL NEWSPAPER A Pri «- w,nnin K
SSegM* mbs. —|M 1975
rn.prti.cn NN A SUSTAINING ,v/3
* M|f B MEMBER-1976 \jSS*Zr Better Newspaper
BOBBY BRANCH
PRESIDENT EDITOR PUBLISHER
PHIL BYRD JIMMYCHAPMAN JOEHIETT
Sports Editor Production Manager News Editor
CAROL BIRDSONG JANET LEWSADER JANICE COLWELL
Computer Operator Classified Advertising Bookkeeper
Poor Turn Out At Concert
We were embarrassed last
Saturday afternoon by the poor turn
out of Perryans at the U.S. Marine
Corps Band concert and Bicentennial
flag pageant. Less than 100 persons
showed up for a most impressive
show and it was indeed discouraging
for the Marines and for the people
locally who worked so hard to get the
outstanding band here, especially
Mayor James McKinley.
Commissioners Learning Much
Houston County Commissioners
Charles Carter, Steve Byrd, Alton
Tucker and county clerk Lamar
Brown have spent the past few days in
Salt Lake City, Utah, at the National
Association of County Commissioners
Convention, at the taxpayers ex
pense, we presume. All that is fine
because we are sure they will learn
much to help them in their duties as
the governing body of the county.
Much.
It is interesting to note, however, in
Bicentennial Message
From Senator Nunn
BRw 1 ’
m
It is my hope that every American
will dust off and reread the Bill of
Rights, the U.S. Constitution, and the
Declaration of Independence this
year 1n order to get an idea of what
our forefathers faced in their time.
We have different problems today -
nuclear proliferation, declining
resources, energy and environmental
problems • but the national character
and philosophy required to meet these
problems has not changed in 200
r A
f TWOCENTURIES
If my people...
T -II Chron. 7:14
'TVm L/l/unif
V
The countdown is on us;
the last few days, hours,
and minutes are passing
from what is left of the first
two centuries of our
nation's life. Many of us
are pausing to take an
inventory of who we are,
where we have been, and
where we may be going.
Any honest appraisal
must show that we have
some liabilities recorded
on our national ledger
sheets. We have certainly
been less than fair to the
American Indians in the
past. Blacks have been
oppressed and exploited.
Workers have been
downtrodden. We have
displayed an arrogance
We also noticed that very few of the
spectators at the Bicentennial parade
Saturday afternoon saluted the
American flag as it passed by in
review by the U.S. Marine Corp color
guard. The proper thing to do is to
place the right hand over the heart
when the flag passes.
It is just one of those unfortunate
occurrences and we felt compelled to
comment on it here.
—B.B.
this election year, that the Com
missioners with opposition did not
attend the convention. Dr. McEver
and Frank Rozar both have op
position in the August 10, Democratic
primary and they did not make the
big trip. But of course that has
nothing to do with it, does it?
We look forward to a full report at
the next commission meeting from
the group that did attend the con
vention.
—B.B.
years.
Our founding fathers who launched
this great experiment were idealists,
but their idealism was touched by
pragmatism. When they wrote the
Constitution, they said, “We the
people of the United States in order to
form a more perfect union...”. They
did not delude themselves. They did
not write, for example, “In order to
form a perfect union.” But they did
believe - and our history has sub
stantiated their belief - that they
could create a society that was better
than the one they had known. That is
the legacy they have left us - and our
mandate - to create a better society,
to constantly search for ways to build
better men and women.
The future of America is dependent
upon each of us. As Emerson wrote,
“This time like all others is a good one
if we but know what to do with it.”
In my opinion, each one of us needs
to reread those famous documents of
nearly 200 years ago and reexamine
the problems faced by our
forefathers. It is their philosophy -
their determination, perseverance,
and selfless dedication to the common
good - which needs to be duplicated
today.
toward other nations and
peoples. We have allowed
great wastefulness of our
resources and have seen
the growth of a discon
certlng moral laxity.
Prophets of gloom and
doom have so played these
up that we have quite a
large measure of anxiety
and tear about our future.
But that appraisal must
also show that we have
many great assets. We
enjoy a wealth of
resources, technology,
knowledge, and
possessions which have
long made us the envy of
the world. We have been
blessed with an abundance
of good wafer which Is not
PAGE 4-A
to be taken for granted.
America has prided itself
on a rich treasure of
resourcefulness; given any
♦ask, someone will come
up with a solution, we teel.
Despite our national
disgust at political scan
dais and brazen public
immorality, it should be at
least heartening that
Americans have such a
strong desire for greater
purity and decency. And
despite our alarm at
governmental regulations
which seem to proliferate,
we enjoy a degree of
freedom hardly
imaginable to most other
nations. We have intended
a government which exists
to serve the people, not the
reverse; and we are
determined to keep if that
way.
Our future will depend,
in part, on what we want it
to be; we have the
resources and abilities for
a future of true greatness.
If will depend upon
whether we really want to
BE God's people ■ or
merely claim to be.
c
HHJ NEWS EDITOR
\*s 01te QPanted Side
>y BY JOE HIETT
V
One of the more recent issues of
Toastmasters’ International
magazine (I happen to belong to the
organization) brought up a subject
that is most appropriate for the
erudition and edification of most
Perryans. The topic was "How To
Make A Dull Speech”.
Now, fellars, there is a fine art to
making a dull speech. Not anybody
possesses this ability, and it takes
much non-learning to accomplish
such a feat. Toastmaster Jean Ivey
last week presented a talk on the
subject, and before I fell asleep in the
middle of her address, I managed to
glean a few notes.
One of the first tenets is: Ignore the
Needs of the Audience. Find out
absolutely nothing about what they
want to hear.
Then, Make No long range plans.
Preparing a speech more than a day
ahead of time disqualifies any
aspirants for the "dull speech”
degree. Speak more or less "off the
cuff”, but don’t write your notes
there.
Proceeding to all you readers out
there, the next important factor is to
be sure to select an Uninteresting
Topic. My goodness, don’t talk about
anything worth hearing. You might
catch someone’s ear and that would
never do.
A good idea is to Write Out the
Speech, Word for Word. Do not make
notes, instead, in longhand
preferably, write it out. Provide
copies to the audience. This gives
them an excuse to take a nap.
And do not be caught actually
practicing a speech in front of a
mirror. The more one’s address is
practiced, the more likely is it won’t
be dull.
Arrive a few minutes late, and be
un-wellgroomed if at all possible.
Make elaborate apologies for
City Council Resolution
WHEREAS, the tolling of the Liberty Bell at
Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
in the afternoon of the 4th day of July, 1776,
proclaimed the signing of the Declaration of In
dependence; and
WHEREAS, the adoption of this historic docu
ment marked the birth of our country as a free
and independent nation; and
WHEREAS, it is fitting that the 200th an
niversary of this great event should be ap.-
propriately observed in 1976 at the same moment
throughout Georgia;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the
Council Members of the City of Perry that the
anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of
Independence should be observed in this Bicen-
J
everything from the lateness to that
blotch on your tie. Shuffle papers
continually.
By all means, use no gestures.
Stand in a slouched over position, and
keep your head looking toward that
written out speech. Do NOT look at
the audience. They might think you’re
interested in them. Fix at a point on a
back wall.
Another good idea is to insert either
hand in a pants pocket and to jingle
change. Stammer and sputter, and
force yourself to cough a few times,
clearing the throat with as much
noise as possible.
Speak in a monotone if at all
possible. Act as if you’re about to fall
asleep. (Your success will be counted
upon how many of the audience are
found to be snoring loudly.)
The final thing I caught before I
went to dreamland was, act like a
Congressman who doesn’t want a bill
passed—Filibuster. About halfway
through the speech, say "in con
clusion” and speak for an
other 20 minutes. Be sure to say
“frankly” and "truthfully” several
times.
Now, obviously, friends, some of
our citizenry are already ac
complished at this here subject. Why,
some of our politicians must have
read, or written, that book. But for
anyone desiring to join the list, this
here column is a must to clip and
save.
A group of American tourists were
being guided through an ancient
castle in Europe. "This place,” they
were informed, "is at least 600 years
old. It is as it was then- not a stone has
been touched, nothing altered,
nothing at all replaced in 600 years.”
One woman remarked drily, "Well,
they must have the same landlord I
have.”
C&tCmc(< '' M
On Thinking Young
I find myself beginning to come around to the
way of thinking of the young set; not in their dress
styles, music or things to do on a slow summer
night, but to their attitude toward time. To the
young folks, summer days and weeks creep by
and to those in my age group and older, the days
fly by swiftly.
It breaks my heart to note that the first month of
summer vacation from school has already slipped
away in what only seems like a week or so. I have
hardly had the chance to think about getting away
for a few days much less plan a vacation. And**
already the younger set around my house is
complaining they have nothing else to do this
summer.
I can remember (barely) growing up when
those summer days seem to go on for an eternity,
especially if you had to work for your Pop or
anyone else during the summer. Not so now, the
summer moves so fast it seems to blend right in
with the fast-approaching Fall season.
I guess all this is another of those signs of the
aging process—or as the retired set likes to refer
to it—the maturing process. At any rate, there
isn’t much any of us can do about it —so come on
sum mer, run your course and get it over with.
A Sad Comment
One of the sadder comments on our society in
this Bicentennial year is the apparent low status
in which religion is held. A recent nation-wide
survey showed that a majority of Americans are
no longer close to religion as they once were a
decade or so ago.
And many of the liberals in the country are
making a big thing out of the fact that the ap
parent Democratic nominee for President,
Jimmy Carter, is a Christian and a Baptist. Not
good, they say, for the country, to have
so religious at the helm of the Government. Man,
I’ll tell you, something has gone wrong
somewhere and I hope we can turn the nation’s
attitude around at some point. What is our future
if we fail?
JVhat About Perry
j* ts
I was traveling to southeast Georgia on a recent
Saturday and noticed, as I have many times, the
crowds in the central business districts of towns
like Eastman, Mcßae, Hawkinsville, Hazlehurst,
Baxley and Jesup. Saturday apparently is still the
day everyone chooses to come to town in those
communities. p
That Saturday tradition seems to disappear as
you cross over the county line into Houston. Folks
here do not “come to town” on Saturday as they
once did. It is interesting that Perry is so close in
distance to these other small towns yet so far
away in attitudes, shopping habits and life-styles.
And actually this is one of the many things that
makes Perry a good place to live. Add to this, a
growing, sound economy, a progressive Chamber
of Commerce and City Council and a project
underway to revitalize and rebuild the central
business district and you have a small town with
all the small town advantages and at the same
time a total-living community with advantages
that go with a larger town.
After limited growth in 1973-74-75, Perry is set to
take off again as it did in the late sixties and early
seventies. The Perry area luckily came through
the recession of recent months almost unscathed
and by the time 1977 rolls around, this community
will undoubtedly be undergoing dramatic
business and economic growth.
Rev. Tom Johnson, the new pastor at the Perry
United Methodist Church, commented recently
that when he learned he would be coming to
Perry, everyone he told, said, “you’ll love
Perry, everybody does.” It may sound corny, but
Perry is not a difficult place to love and I wonder
how many people in other communities can say
that about their town. ft
tennial Year by the ringing of the bells throughout
the State of Georgia at the hour of 12 noon on
Sunday, the 4th of July, 1976, and civic and other
community leaders are called upon by the City to
take appropriate steps and encourage public
participation of such observance.
This Ist day of July, 1976.
James 0. McKinley, Mayor
Ralph Gentry, Councilman
Draper Watson, Councilman
H.E. Smith, Councilman
David P. Hulbert, Jr., Councilman
Mrs. Barbara Calhoun, Councilwoman
James R. Bloodworth, Councilman
Attest:
Ruth Bunting, City Clerk