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I The Houston Home f Journal Perry, Georgia'* Hometown Newspaper & Houston County's Legal Organ Since 1870-A Park Newspaper WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28,1989-119th YEAR, NO. 51,4 SECTIONS, 26 PAGES, PLUS SALES CIRCULARS Funding is the next step for proposed Perry Bypass By MELISSA CRADDOCK Staff Writer Cily officials have obtained almost all of the right of ways for the proposed Perry Bypass road, but now must gain funding for the project designed to case the flow of traffic through the city. During a special called meeting of the Perry City Council, most of the major properly owners involved were present to hear an update on proposed 150-fool wide loop road. Former Mayor Lewis Meeks presented some background on the road, which was originally proposed about two and a half years ago. Meeks Scouts 'rough it' at camp By J.J. COOPER Staff Writer Boys Scouts from Perry Troop 777 are spending a week "roughing it" at Camp Benjamin Hawkins in Byron. The twelve scouts are working on merit badges in different areas ranging from archery and rifle shooting to crafts and wildlife management For three scouts, Joey Hawk, An MeSwain, and Vince Golden, the camp lakes on added signifigance as they attempt to become Eagle Scouts. Several of the Perry scouts are attending the Ranger Course, held at Hawkins. The course is a "Miny Marine" advanced class that includes rappelling and other challenging skills that the scouts complete over the week. "I’m kinda scared (about rapclling). I think everybody is." said seventh grader Michael Davis. Scouts who complete the class are given T-shirts and are recognized at awards night Friday. The campers are under the supervision of Pete Powell, their scoutmaster, who is assisted by Rick Davis. Troop 777's campsite is the Continued on Page 7A Nunn says priorities must be set in battle to stop drug epidemic By OLIN HUBERT Staff Writer Sen. Sam Nunn called for a mulli-pronged attack on Middle Georgia's drug problems Monday, he sees some encouraging signs in the battle. Nunn, chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, heard testimony from Middle Georgia leaders in business, law enforcement, and drug treatment, in a hearing focusing on the problems rural areas have with drugs. "There's no doubt about it. We have a drug epidemic. We have a crack epidemic," Nunn said. "Today’s hearings have made it clear we have a significant rural prob lem." "We're trying to decide how to Board's action may lead to more signs By MELISSA CRADDOCK Staff Writer After much debate, the Perry Planning and Zoning Commission allowed Hamby Chevrolet to pul up a fourth free-standing sign at the dealership, which could cause an influx of sign variance requests. At the commission's Monday night meeting, Hamby's attorneys argued that denying owner Larry Hamby's request to erect the sign for a newly acquired "Geo" franchise would be unconstitutional. "You would be restricting this man's right to make a living," said one of Hamby’s attorneys Andy Aultman. In order to acquire the franchise from General Motors to sell the 'Our Kids' group forms Committee aims to help youth. See P-3A | PERRY. GEORGIA’S HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1870-FQR COVERAGE OF YOUR WSm Mm- -Ml K p ~ I* 1 PIGIBnB* - JHW _ ml. w, v Zmlßßww''<«A(s Wwn . Euy^pßK|^<j»jatHK^Wn--o D J i S' | - .. , ,-jS^3Hp&3.*?•■ f. .* , HHJ Staff Photograph By Eric Zellars Joey Hawk, Paul Kemp, Art MeSwain, Chris Talley, and Vince Golden learn archery ...They are part of a group of scouts attending a week-long camp at Ben Hawkins mSW S \ - -•- W, Sen. Sam Nunn ...Speaking to media Geo automobiles, Aultman said that a free-standing Geo sign must be installed on the premises. The dealership, which is com mercially zoned C-l, already has three free-standing signs: a Chevro let sign, a used car sign, and a parts and service sign. Under the zoning ordinance, the properly is allowed only one free-standing sign, but others are permitted through vari ances particularly to cover both di rections on the highway. When asked if the existing signs could be altered to accommodate the new logo, Hamby said that because he leases the signs, he cannot change them. Continued on Page 10A called transportation "one of the biggest challenges of the future." The road is meant to relieve traffic through Perry, particularly truck traffic. "We came to you folks here," Meeks said to the property owners gathered at the meeting. "We said, 'Here's our dream will you give us right of way?"' He said that he received positive responses from all of the owners. Representatives from the Georgia Department of Transportation were present at the meeting and have been helping with the right of way acquisitions. The next major step is to fund the project, the first phase of which is expected to be completed in five years. The completed project won't be spend federal money," he said. "Priorities are very important." Nunn said he thought the public would support a tax increase if it were carefully constructed so that the money would go to fight drugs. Nunn praised Macon’s strategic plan to fight drug use as outlined by Mayor Lee Robinson. "Law enforcement alone would not succeed," Robinson said. "Now we understand that a total commu nity war on drugs is essential." Pamela Harvey-Church, execu tive director of the Houston Drug Action Council, testified that a pri vate, non-profit model such as HODAC offered the best hope of a solution. Continued on Page 10A Thought for the day "Some people miss too much oecause they aim too high.— Butch Moore, Perry, Ga. Index CLASSIFIED SB EDITORIALS 4A ENTERTAINMENT SC LEGAL NOTICES 8A LIFESTYLE 1C POLICE NEWS 2A SOCIAL NEWS 6A SPORTS IB Girls go 'British' Read about People and Places. See P-6A m 870, m MIDWEEK EDITION-250 V 1 4 *•' I m—ta Winston Series drag racing N.H.R.A. points and cash were at stake over the weekend a Warner Robins Drag way, as hundreds of drivers and cars competed for the top winning positions that would bring them fame and fortune. The top "Alcohol Funny Car" winner was Terry Correctional Institution inmates will no longer operate vehicles By OLIN HUBERT Staff Writer Inmates at the Houston County Correctional Institution will no longer be allowed to drive dump trucks and other county vehicles while on work details. Commission Chairman Charles Stewart said Tuesday night. The action, triggered by the es cape last week by Donald Darwin Thompson, has been under consid eration for some time, Stewart said. Thompson drove away from a work detail in a county dump truck last Wednesday, but was recaptured in Camcsville the same day. It's not so much a matter of se seen for at least ten years, he said. Meeks said that the county has agreed to grade the road from 41 North to 341 South. The road, which will not be a limited access, will start at Valley Drive crossing Interstate 75, 41 North, 341 South and should follow around to the south end of the city. In addition to the major property owners, there arc eight minor property owners along 41 and 341, who have not been approached yet. City Manager Marion Hay said that the city will wail until it gains approval from the four remaining major property owners until anyone talks to the Continued on Page 10A Raise splits budget vote By OLIN HUBERT Staff Writer Houston County commissioners Tuesday night split 3-2 on passage of a $13.7 million budget for the 1990 fiscal year, when two com missioners voted against the budget because of a controversial SIO,OOO pay raise for State Court Judge Bob Richardson. Commission Chairman Charles Stewart cast the deciding vole to adopt the budget, after Commis sioners Sam Buzzell and Houston Porter voted no, while Gene Har rington and Jay Walker voted for approval. In budget hearings, the commis- Perry Council approves three new water projects By MELISSA CRADDOCK Staff Writer Perry's City Council approved three city water projects to expand service for new businesses and to rebuild worn ct dreinag struc tures. During its called meeting Tues day, council members approved the $9,289 extension of a water line to the new Wayne Morris Ford loca- curity as of liability, he said. "What if he’d had an accident and killed somebody while he was away?" Stewart said. "Not only would the county be liable, but the commissioners, as well." Stewart said the inmate had ad mitted making several unauthorized trips into Perry in addition his es cape attempt. Inmates perform free labor on work details throughout the county, under the supervision of Roads and Bridges Department employees, who are also certified correctional officers. They previously have operated - ■ - ■ ■■ Reunion takes flight Planning - - sioncrs agreed to increase Richard son's salary to $68,838, only after Richardson proposed lo change the way fines are levied against persons convicted of crimes, thus putting an extra $130,000 in the county trea sury. The commissioners had turned down requests from other depart ment heads for similar raises and showed no inclination to agree to Richardson's request until he made the proposal. Buzzcll came out against the raise earlier in the week, and Porter voted with him at Tuesday’s meet ing. Continued on Page IDA lion on 341 North; the $760 relocation of a fire hydrant on Swift Street to allow for an entrance to a car wash being built; and the $3,430 rebuilding of a Duncan Av enue drainage structure. Funding for all projects will come out of the city's fiscal year 1990 budget. Work on the projects will start as early as this week. Mullins of Oak Ridge, Tenn. who crossed the finish line with an elapsed time of 4.170 seconds, topping 178.80 miles per hour in one-eighth of a mile. More photos in article on championship series can be found on Page 4B dump trucks and heavy earth-mov ing equipment. Warden Larry Fairchild said Thompson was serving two weeks in isolation, at the end of which he would be transferred to a state prison with a higher security classification. "We want to make sure the other inmates realize what they can ex pect if they should try the same thing he did," Fairchild said. Another HCCI inmate, Herman David Standridge, escaped in Jan uary by driving off in a Mercedes Benz which had been seized in a drug arrest