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OUR 108TH YEAR NO. 18
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Mayor Proclaims Physicians Week
Perry Mayor James McKinley has proclaimed
next week in Perry (May 7-13) as “Physicians
Appreciation Week.” The Mayor said he was
proclaiming the special week because of the
dedicated service of all Perry physicians and so
that the citizens of Perry could show their ap
preciation through an official act of the Mayor.
Gathered at the hospital for the signing of the
Physicians Week Set
In Perry May 7-13
Mayor James
McKinley, stirred by
citizens reaction to the
crisis created when the
Houston County Hospital
Authority voted to close
the Perry Hospital
emergency room, has
declared next week as
Physicians Appreciation
Week in Perry.
“I regret that it took a
crisis to make us realize
how much you mean to
us," McKinley told Perry
doctors when he
presented them with
copies of the city's
proclamation last
Friday.
McKinley delivered
copies of the
proclamation to Dr. A.G.
Hendrick, Dr. Bo Arnall,
Dr. Ed Strickland, Dr.
J.L. Gallemore, Dr.
James Roe, Dr. H.E.
Weems and Dr. Charlie
Dean.
In his proclamation,
McKinley said because
sincere appreciation is
seldom extended to this
group of highly skilled
and professional in
dividuals, he wanted
them to know that the
citizens of Perry are
aware of the awesome
responsibility placed
upon them for the health
and well being of the city.
Moreover, McKinley
stated, the doctors
provide this continuous
health care at the per
sonal sacrifice of family
and comfort. The mayor
also noted in the
proclamation that the
doctors arrive at their
high level of competency
and ethical standards
through years of rigorous
training and formal
education.
Farmers Set Big Meeting
Houston farmer Steve
Langston announced this
week that all Houston
farmers are urged to
attend a special
organizational meeting
next Tuesday night at 8
p.m. at the Perry High
School cafeteria.
The Houston Home Journal
He told the doctors he
was commending them
because they were
dedicated, and because
they labored long and
Council To Seek
R ecreation Grant
For $500,000
City council voted
Tuesday night to submit a
request for a $500,000
federal grant to buy 19
acres of land and build a
recreation park con
taining three baseball
fields, two tennis courts
and a gymnasium.
The 19-acre parcel
council wants to buy for
the park borders the
north side of Washington
Street, the west side of
Fannie Gresham Creek,
and the south side of
Perimeter Road.
The motion to submit
the application was made
by Councilman George
Nunn and passed by
unanimous vote after a
delegation from the
Perry Public Recreation
Boosters Club appealed
to council for a full time
recreation director and
expanded recreation
facilities.
Led by "Sonny" Heard,
boosters club president,
the delegation also
requested that a police
This is a meeting of the
American Agriculture
Movement and the
purpose is to organize
and elect state and
national delegates. All
farmers are invited and
urged to attend this
important meeting.
Georgia’s Number One Weekly Newspaper
■—
PERRY, HOUSTON COUNTY. GA. THURSDAY, MftY 4, 1978
proclamation are some of the physicians who
practice in Perry, from left, Dr. A.G. Hendrick,
Dr. Bo Arnall, Mayor McKinley, Dr. Ed
Strickland, Dr. J.L. Gallemore and Dr. James
Roe. Dr. H.E. Weems and Dr. Charlie Dean were
not available when the photo was taken. (Watch
for more on Physicians Appreciation Week in
next week’s Home Journal).
difficult hours to ease
pain. The mayor said
they offered words of
encouragement to those
who "in need of uplif
security officer be
provided for games at
Creekwood Park, and
that a telephone be in
stalled there.
Acting on another
motion by Nunn, and a
recommendation by
Recreation Commission
Chairman Hervia
Ingram, council ap
proved the security
policeman and telephone.
Mayor James
McKinley said a public
hearing will be held on
the community
development grant for
the recreation park at
7:30 tonight at city hall,
and Heard has urged all
members of the boosters
club and interested
citizens to attend the
meeting.
When the city council
session got underway
Tuesday night, Heard
presented council with
petitions signed by more
than 500 citizens asking
city council for improved
and expanded recreation
facilities.
The petitions presented
by Heard stated, "We the
undersigned citizens of
Perry respectfully
request the elected city
officials to hire a full time
director of public
recreation.
"We further request
the City of Perry to take
the immediate necessary
steps toward acquiring
ting".
"You not only deliver
Contd. Page 2-A
necessary property upon
which baseball and
softball playing facilities
can be developed as well
as the erection of an all
purpose facility which
could be used by the
public of Perry as a small
gym, meeting rooms for
all age groups including
senior citizens.
"The need for the
foregoing has become
increasingly important
within this decade of the
1970's and will become
more critical with the
growth of this area and
the continued increase of
participation at all age
levels. We can no longer
postpone until the future
actions which are needed
now."
To make his point
clear, Heard explained
that 54 baseball and
softball teams are now
competing for time to
practice on the only four
fields available in Perry.
Heard said county
commissioners had of
fered to help his group,
but indicated they wanted
to see the city do
something first.
"We appreciate what
council has done for us in
the past," Heard said,
"but before we can
acquire federal grants
and accomplish other
things we need a full time
recreation director."
For $85,000- - - Negligence Charged
Suit Filed
Against City
A civil suit for $85,000
was filed against the city
Monday by Elizabeth S.
Whiddon and G.D.
Whiddon for alleged
negligence when a gas
explosion and fire
destroyed a portion of
Perry Plaza in 1975.
The suit served to
Mayor James McKinley
Monday morning states
that, "At all times
mentioned herein,
plaintiffs were the
owners of the rental
property in Perry,
Georgia, known as Perry
Plaza Shopping Center."
The suit states that on
the early morning of Dec.
30, 1975, an explosion and
fire occurred at Perry
Plaza, and that the ex
plosion was caused by the
escape of natural gas.
The suit further
charges that the gas
City Grants
Library Funds
In response to a request
from the City Library
Board, Perry city council
appropriated $2,000
Tuesday night to enable
the board to hire an ar
chitect to design plans for
expanding the library.
Approval of the ex
pansion funds came in the
wake of reports of critical
storage problems and
overcrowded library
facilities, including a
story in The Home
Journal two months ago.
Acting on a motion by
Councilman Draper
Watson, the city
governing body voted to
hire a full time clean
community coordinator
at a salary of $750 per
month.
Watson said persons
interested in the position
should contact City Clerk
Marion Hay for the job
description and other
details.
Another motion by
Watson to pay Lewis
Tractor and Truck Co.
SII,OOO for a garbage
truck chassis passed by
unanimous vote.
Council also approved a
motion by Councilman
George Nunn to pay W.E.
Barfield Jr. $975 for
damage caused to
household carpets when a
city sewer line backed up
and overflowed into
Barfield's house.
In other action, council
accepted a resolution
from the Perry Chamber
of Commerce praising
mayor and council, the
Downtown Redevelop
ment Authority and the
Perry Beautification
Commission.
The resolution, read by
Moody Mulkey, chamber
president elect, stated,
"That the members of the
Perry Area Chamber of
Commerce do hereby
system was owned by the
city, and that the ex
plosion was the result of
the city's negligence.
"I have no comment on
the sui t other than to say I
have turned it over to
City Attorney Larry
Walker," Mayor
McKinley said.
The Whiddons allege in
their suit that as a result
of the explosion, the
major portion of the
shopping center buildings
were destroyed, and that
they have been damaged
in the sum of "at least
$85,000."
The plaintiffs also
stated in the suit that the
city was duly notified in
writing of their claim on
May 6, 1976. They said
their claim was sub
mitted in accordance
with the provisions of
Georgia law.
express their sincere
thanks and appreciation
to the Mayor and Council,
the Downtown
Redevelopment Auth
ority, and especially
to the members of the
Beautification Com
mission for their efforts
in making our city a real
showplace.
"The trees and flowers
which have been planted
all over our town have
helped to make Perry an
attraction for tourists and
visitors from neighboring
communities and
especially for those of us
here at home."
■
Cemetery Work Begins
Jan Hicks, a freshman at Wesleyan University has been selected to
assist Councilman Draper Watson in the city’s effort to identify persons
buried in unmarked graves at Evergreen Cemetery. Miss Hicks, who is
the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Hicks of 101 Michele Terrace in
Warner Robins, is performing the work as part of Gov. George Busbee’s
Intern Program for college students. Miss Hicks is a graduate of Warner
Robins High School.
28 PAGES 2 SECTIONS •~ls‘
The civil suit, which is
signed by attorney H.B.
Burt, concludes with the
statement, "Wherefore
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Big Rattler
This large rattler was killed near Perry by Mr.
W.H. Whitten Sr. last week. Mr. Whitten says he
was walking near a pond looking for “crayfish”
for fish-bait when he almost stepped on the big
snake. He moved back to a pine tree, pulled him
a limb and beat the snake to death. Most of the
staff around the HHJ looking over the snake
remarked to Mr. Whitten they would all have
“run” in the opposite direction.
the plaintiffs demand
judgement against
defendant in the sum of
$85,000 and costs.”