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[ Op-ed page ] Letter, editorial treated ex-Perry coach unfairly I would like to respond to the letter by Mr. Schcchlcrlc and the Editorial in the paper dated March 31, 1990. Coach Ronnie Royston never stated or insinuated that sports is more important than academics as the editorial implies. Royston did feel that weightlifting was a little more important to some of the athletes than sewing or cooking. Is that so wrong? He may not have handled the situation on the best way, but he was not wrong. Coach Majors comments about being pleased to be able to pul all his efforts into his coaching career did not suggest that he vas indifferent about a child's academic education. He went to college to learn to coach, primarily. Some individuals choose to teach Social Studies or Science. All subjects arc equally important to a child's development. Hopefully, one day our coaching staff at Perry High will only have to focus his efforts on coaching. For your information, all of Royston's coaching staff had a list of all athletes and were assigned certain students for them to monitor personally. The coaches know that if a child docs not pass his academic subjects that he is not eligible to By MARK D. SAMUELS Managing Editor When Perry High senior Sandy Adkins elected to work part-time in the school's Vocational Office Training (VOT) program, it was a way to put some of her secretarial skills to good use while earning extra spending money. Her VOT job was at the county's recreation department working for Tommy Stalnakcr, when the rcc department was located in Perry just across the street from the courthouse. Apparently Stalnakcr was a good trainer, for the combination of her skills, work experience and contacts gained at the courthouse gained her a fulltime county job after high school graduation the day after, as a matter of fact. That was in 1973, and countless reams of paper and millions of digits later, Sandy Adkins is still working in the courthouse in the lax assessor’s office. She’s now an appraiser 11, after beginning as a secretary and moving through mapper and appraiser I slots. "I enjoy my work, because it's different every day," the Perry resident says. Surprisingly, although most folks grouse about taxes and lax assessors, Sandy says "most people arc really nice." Her job as an appraiser requires both office and field work. "We did a subdivision in Warner Robins with over 200 homes, and only one person was ugly to us," she says. "Some people arc even nice enough to give you a lour of their !"aT I~YOUCANEA~CATFISITdR popcorn shrimp"! f First Order $7.95 Second Order $2.00 OFF! EXPIRES W/coupon (1 per family) APRIL 7, 1990 I Creekside Catfish , ! ___ J *Church groups welcome ■ 825-0176 Located on Hwy. 96 @ (Exit 44) • 1 mile west of Ft. Valley, GA OPEN Thurs., Fri., SaU.OO p.m. ■ 9:30 p.m. t* Aloha Motors T 2280 Moody Rd., Warner Robins 922-4121 • Mon.-Sat. 9-7 'Bl Olds Cutlass •» REAL CLEAN 'B3 Buick Regal PRICED TO SELL! 'BS Buick Wagon * extra nice 'BB J6OOO Pontiac WARRANTY ■Bl Chevy Pick-up»SPECIAL EDITION 79 Ram Charger 4X4 'B2 GLC 4-door * Atfrf/fL '6B Mercury Cougar v-' ’ J encourage a child to stay in school than for that child to be able to show their excellence is some way. The real problem with Coach Royston and Principal Phil Smith was a personality conflict. Also, the frustration of being told by the principal that winning was not a priority at Perry High School. That's like slapping a coach in the face, plus minimizing the efforts of play sports. On the other hand, sports participation is the only incentive some children have to pass these academic subjects, thus keeping them in school and not walking the streets. For you to say that Coach Royston and his staff is uncaring about a child's academic achievements is the same as saying the many parents that backed him arc just as guilty of not caring. Not true, had we not cared, we would not have taken a stand at all. You used the words, "Community-backed, Booster- Driven, National Championship Frenzy" as if they were vulgar. They sound mighty good to a large number of dedicated supporters of the Perry High Athletic Program. Let's hope that Perry High and Westfield High put Perry in this "Frenzy". There's nothing belter to Sandy Adkins at her desk homes," she adds. Not everyone is always so nice, though. "We were measuring one man’s garage and he got mad and called us all Communists," she laughs. "We just said 'thank you' and left to go back another day. When you work with the public, sometimes you just have to grin and bear it," Sandy says. Sandy is married, and she and husband Van, who works for McDonnell-Douglas, have one daughter, Erin, a 7-year-old first grader at Westfield Schools. She and her daughter are close, she says, and this spring she'll be coaching Erin's Pee Wee League softball team. Sandy also enjoys softball, playing regularly until Erin's birth. Most recently, she played in the Dogwood Festival's softball tourney with the Courthouse Cruisers. She and the family attend First Baptist Church, and she lists fishing - "mostly crappic and bass" - as favorite leisure activities. The Houston Home Journal Salutes Sandy Adkins, a conscientious member of the Houston County Tax Assessors staff and successful homemaker, mother and wife. Guest column ; By Pete & Martha Griffin Perry High graduates the many children participating in the sports program. Mr. Smith did not earn the solid support of the elected board. Mr. Smith had the backing of the one Street talk "Do you think the national anthem should be changed from The Star-Spangled Banner to America, the Beautiful?" Perry Dominy Retired conservationist "No. I'm just accustomed to it, but I canl sing a lick anyway. I did serve three years in the military, and when I hear the national anthem it still sort of gets to me." jfaj igppw**' mm * Fred Graham Self-employed "I don’t. I like it just the way it is." i Campbell Hotel desk clerk "No. People are accustomed to it. We've grown up with that." \|jpr Goodman Auto Sales pB9 Dodge Daytona *BB Hyundai 't Black, loaded, 21,000 miles 4 Dr., 5 Speed, Extra Nice SIOOO lOWII Payments $3995 '7B Toyota Pickup 'B2 Chevrolet Long Bed, 5 Speed Scottsdale P/U, LWB, Auto. A/C I SI9OO $3500 I 'BS Monte Carlo SS 'B6 Dodge D-50 5 One Owner, 38,000 Miles 5 Speed, Air Cond. Priced To Sell $3900 | 'B7 Nissan Pulsar 'BB S-10 Pickup One Owner, Like New 5 Sp., A/C, One Owner, Low Miles $5500 $6600 ‘B7 Manila 8-2000 'BB Monte Carlo 5 Speed Air Cond. Metallic Blue, Blue Interior, Loaded \ i $4500 $7200 J 1 590 W. P«vl« Or. • Warner Robin* - j and only person he needed, Harold Chapman. Who knows, wilh their own banquet meals, thus saving the athlete depaitment megabucks. There has got to be something wrong with the system when as many people voice their opinion as did about Coach Royston's plight and if fall on one deaf ear. Let's hope this changes shortly and being "Community backed and booster driven" we can do something about it county-wide. These words sound better and better! Let's hope Perry High and Westfield High strive for a "Community-Backed, Booster- Driven National Championship Frenzy". Buddy Hay Military broker "No, because of tradition. It's been that forever. Why change it now?” Lisa West financial services manager "No. I think it's perfect as is." Marie Ryle Homemaker "No. I just like the national anthem. America, the Beautiful is pretty, but..." THE HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL, WEDNESDAY. APRIL 4,1990 ! Don’t forget... Jones Wednesday, April o/W k 987-1531 • 904 Carroll St. • Perry A EVERY ACCESSORY IN THE STORE 20-50% SAVINGS THRU APRIL 7 Much More! Let our designers help update your home or create a new look with accessories to fit any decor. Carriage Home wEft Ethan Alien Gallery k pour down on you. i * I Keep yourself covered ~1 *. with life insurance! . | [ Tuggle & O’Neal . | A INSURANCE AGENCY A ~ "Insuring You... The Best" A Bill Bobby A U I O'Neal Tuggle \J 1013-B Main St. • Perry . . AI 987-1951 I jiyffiWDoujrilbuin IffWßililElLf QptidamJnc. “Prcscntingf In store computerized lab. Now with our new computerized lab, most glasses can be made in only one hour. 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