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I The Houston Home f Journal Perry, Georgia's Hometown Newspaper & Houston County's Legal Organ Since 1870-A Park Newspaper WEDNESDAY, MAY 24,1989-119th YEAR, N 0.41, 4 SECTIONS, 30 PAGES, PLUS SALES INSERTS Personnel director is employed By OLIN HUBERT Staff Writer The Houston County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night to hire Stephen S. Engle, as the county's director of personnel and grants. Engle, 31, is currently assistant city manager of Dublin. He will replace John Gay, who is leaving to open his own insurance agency May 31. A native of Charlotte, N.C., Engle has a balchclor's degree in political science and a master's in public administration, according to County Administrator Charles Clonigcr. "He has great experience with grants and excellent overall connec tions with municipal government," said Commissioner Houston Porter in recommending that Engle be hired. Engle will probably assume his duties at the end of June, Clonigcr said. The commission held its second budget hearing Tuesday night, after beginning the process on Monday. The commissioners heard from Personnel Director John Gay, Tax Assessor Juanita Mason and Direc tor of Management Information John Wingfield. So far the commissioners have trimmed $128,000 from the 514.1 million requested by the department heads. They agreed Tuesday to purchase two vehicles out of this year's con tingency fund, so that their costs don't have to be included in the new budget. The commissioners still have to find further cuts of $860,000 to meet projected revenues. 'One-way' for streets must wait By MELISSA CRADDOCK Staff Writer A Georgia Department of Trans portation engineer said Monday that there is no need for "one-waying" Ball and Washington Streets yet, but in the future some changes will have to be made. David Sludslill of the DOT traf fic safely division in Thomaston said that the fork off of Sam Nunn Boulevard isn't enough of a prob lem to warrant the change. "At one time, we had looked at one-waying those two streets," he said. "At the moment, it's not that bad." City officials have raised con cerns over dangers of the intersec tion before, but note that there is great opposition from the business community, who would be affected by tbc move. Studstill said, "If it becomes too Continued on Page 8A Posthumous honor Dr. Hendrick recipient of top Rotary service award By RALPH MORRIS Managing Editor The laic Dr. A. G. Hendrick, who thought of himself as a "good country doctor, available when needed," has been selected by the Perry Rotary Club to receive its prestigious Community Service Award for 1989. Dr. Hendrick's wile, Mildred, will accept the award posthumously for her husband at the club's Ladies i| /I t-SHW 11 ' I I SL . r ■MRI m # * * * k — ■**- ■*- Patron of brewing A statue of Kmg Gambnnus, the legendary patron of brewing, stands forlornly in the acant courtyard at the soon-to-be-closed G. Heileman brewery Workeis discuss their affiliation with the brewery - and their dashed hopes. See Page IC. Local deaths Mary Thomas—Pauline Morris Moody, 73.. — Death notices appear on Page 3A. Thought for the Day "Perry youths are the greatest at helping out worthy causes,"—Pete Dewberry, Perry, Ga. x — MELODY BACUS 4A TIM LEWIS 3D THE REV. BERKELEY 4A LIFESTYLE 1C BIRTHS 6A PEOPLE 'N PLACES 6A PEGGY BLEDSOE 2D POLICE LOG 2A CALENDAR 3A RECIPES ID CLASSIFIED SB SCHOOL NEWS 4C DEATH S 3A SHERIFF'S REPORT 2A 808 EVANS IB SOCIAL NEWS 6A EDITORIALS 4A SPORTS 1C ENTERTAINMENT 5C STREET TALK 5A JIM KERCE 4A RUBY THARPE 6A ERIC JANSSON 6C MILDRED WARREN ID LEGAL NOTICES 7C WE SALUTE 5A Night dinner on June 26 at the Houston Lake Country Club. The club heard nominations for several very deserving community leaders in Perry, and selected Dr. Hendrick, who died on July 20, 1986, at the age of 85 for his many contributions to the community. Dr. Hendrick was a physician for more than half a century. He came to Perry in 1941 to establish a medical practice. ■ i————■——— ———■——— —— HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1870--FQR OF YOUR NEWS EVENTS CALL 987-1823_ Dr. Hendrick often said he only wished to be "a good country doc tor, available when needed," Mrs. Hendrick said Monday. "He went night and day," she said. "He was such a good doctor that he could look at you when you walked in the door and tell you what was wrong with you ." Dr. Hendrick was an active civic leader, serving on the boards of many community organizations. He I . |ij3»l»V»|_ 1 'iV MIDWEEK EDITION-2.. Council will study feasibility of starting city rec program By MELISSA CRADDOCK Staff Writer Perry City Councilmcn decided Tuesday night to look into the possibility of starting a city recre ation program. During the city’s second budget meeting, Councilman Ralph Gentry said recreation "is something the city really lacks." "We need to either get into recreation or gel out of it," said Councilman Bobby Glover. The council members decided to ask the recreation director from Douglas, Ga. to make a presenta tion on recreation to the city to sec City trash users to face fee hike By MELISSA CRADDOCK Staff Writer The City of Perry will be paying an estimated SIOO,OOO to dump trash at the county landfill next year —a cost that will most likely fall onto the residential garbage cus tomer. During the city's fiscal year 1990 budget meetings, city coun cilmcn were informed that because the city has to close its sanitary landfill, it will have to pay a sls per ton dumping fee to bring raw garbage to Houston County’s landfill. This is a new item in the budget. The rates will probably go us about S 2 per customer to accoun for the dumping fees, gas and wcai and tear on the trucks to make the 13-milc each way trip. "This is hitting the budget prclt) hard," said City Manager Marion Hay at the Saturday budget meet ing. Hay presented a list of garbage collection fees in other cities for the council to compare with Ferry’s 56.25 fee for twice a week pickup. A twice-a-week pickup costs: 57.50 in Fort Valley, S 9 in Warner Robins, and SIO.BO in Albany. Oncc-a-weck pickup costs: $8.25 in Centerville and S 6 in Cordcle. Councilman Hcrvia Ingrain asked about the feasibility of the city buying and running a new landfill. Under the new regulations Mayor Jim Worrall said that ii would cost a minimum of S3C million to establish a landfill in Perry. Houston County will be helping the city close its old sanitary land fill on Elko Road, and open its new dry Pash landfill on Toomcr Road. The dry trash landfill will be able to accept limbs, leaves and grass. The city estimates S7OOO ir dump fees that it could reap from the private dumping at the new dry Pash landfill. That figure is dowr from $14,000 expected to be col lected from dumping at the city landfill in fiscal year 1989. The Mayor and City Counci will hold a budget hearing or Continued on Page 8A was a member of the county Health Department board for 35 years. In August 1984, shortly before his retirement, the Houston County Commission issued a proclamation calling Dr. Hendrick "one of the most valuable citizens ever to live in Houston County." He was selected by the Perry Kiwanis Club as a "Man of the Year" and honored by Kiwanis ln- Contlnued on Page 8A if it would be feasible. Alter the city council hears the "facts and figures," it will make a decision on what to do about recre ation, "You need it (a recreation pro gram) to make it a well-rounded city," said Hay. "Not only for the little fellows, but for adults and se nior citizens loo," he added. The council decided to plan to move forward on construction for tiic Ro/.ar Park community building this coming year. A SIOO,OOO item in the budget has been carried over from 1988-89 for construction of die building. X V * •> Gardnei dtson blows out candles on 80th birthday cake At his side is wife Laura Mae at surprise party Helping people led to Watson's success By OLIN HUBERT Staff Writer When Gardner Watson turned 80 last Saturday, he could look back on a career that has been as pros perous as it has been long. He can look back on a career that stretches back into the 19205. Born in 1909 in the little village of Wellston, Watson would one day open the first funeral home, first cemetery, first flower shop and first service station in the Warner Robins that Wellston would be come. When Gardner was just 11, he was in a tragic train-car accident in which his father and grandfather were killed. He and his brother were in the hospital for three months. "Both my legs were broken, and it took 70 stitches to patch up my Dr. Hendrick (left) received Kiwanis Club honor ...He was presented a lifetime membership 'The biggest disappointment for new industries coming in is recre ation." said Mayor Jim Worrall. He said that he gels comments all the time on how great the city is, but that it doesn’t have a good recre ation program. If the city decides to start a recreation program, it will have to hire a full-time director and most likely increase city taxes. "I think we have to bite the bullet," said Councilman Buddy Roper. "I'd rather have to (raise taxes) on recre ation than on anything else." "There arc a lot of grants (for Continued on Page 8A head," Watson said. When he was 15, Watson went to work sweeping the floors and spending nights at the Hart Mortu ary in Macon, owned by J. Freeman Hart. It was a relationship that was to shape his life. "1 think Mr. Hart got me where 1 am today,” Watson said. "1 loved Mr. Hart and wanted to work for him. I was his pet. He taught me everything about the funeral busi ness." , Watson learned so well that he was licensed as a funeral director and cmbalmcr when he was 20. In those days the Macon Peaches baseball team played in Macon, and the mortuary w<as next door to the hotel where the ballplayers stayed. Continued on Page 8A