Newspaper Page Text
WEEKEND
EDITION
250
Perry & Houston County's
official Legal Organ
SATURDAY, MARCH 6,1993
County faced with another lawsuit
By ROBIN BOOKER
Staff Writer
A lawsuit concerning a zoning
issue has been filed against-the
Houston County Commission on
behalf of William Blair, Dan Gunn
111 and Cynthia Peavy Rhodes.
Attorney Anita Denley with
Lucas, Nelson and Associates filed
the suit on March 2 on behalf of
the plaintiffs and named the com
missioners as well as Steve Byrd,
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(HHJ photo by Eric Zellars)
Cast members from the musical drama "Fiorello!" all get the opportunity to shine as the Perry Players tell the story of New York
politics through the use of song and dance. Pictured are, from left, Diane Scruggs, Bill O'Neal, Kevin Davis, Al Pearson, Glen
Conger, Jim Boyd, Betsy Portman and Erik Lorack.
'Fiorello!' features a wealth of talent
By JACKIE COOPER
HHJ Entertainment Writer
There’s a crowd of talent on the
stage of the Perry High School
Auditorium this week and next.
Some of Middle Georgia's finest
talent has taken to the boards to
present "Fiorello!", a musical drama
that tells a story about New York
politics. The actors in this play are
singing, and acting, and just having
a grand old time -and so will you.
Although the play tells the story
of Fiorello La Guardia's life, the en
joyment of the presentation comes
’
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PPG makes donation to Rozar Park center
Representatives of Perry's PPG Industries presented the City of Perry with a
$15,000 grant toward the construction of the new Rozar Park Community
Center. Perry City Manager Marion Hay said the generous contribution is the
largest "that's ever been given to the city In 16 years." Pictured with the plans
for the community center are Hay, left, Joe T. Wright, architect with Piedmont
Olsen Hensley, Perry Recreation Director Ben Hamrick, Mayor Jim Worrall, PPG
employee Larry J. Rewerts and local PPG Plant Manager Kris E. McGee.
as the defendants. The suit is filed
in response to a zoning ruling made
by the commissioners at their Feb.
2 meeting. The plaintiffs all own
farming operations on White Road
in the vicinity of the property
owned by Byrd.
"The opponents of the re-zoning
don't feel they had a voice in the de
cision that was made, and the law
suit was their last step in frying to
from the 'musical; numbers that the
skeletal storyline links together. In
the course of a few hours you get
the chance to hear Donna Hooper in
fine voice singing the exuberant
song of Mrs. Fiorello as she asks
herself "When Did I Fall In Love?"
Or you can marvel at the energy
and vocal talent of a men’s chorus
led by Al Pearson singing "Politics
and Poker" and the show-stopping
"Little Tin Box." Pearson's person
ality and strong baritone give him a
chance to steal the entire show. But
PERRY, GEORGIA'S HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1870--FOR COVERAGE OF YOUR EVENTS, CALL 987-1823
f The Houston Homef
Journal
2 SECTIONS—IO PAGES, PLUS SALES CIRCULARS
be heard," said Denley.
Byrd, a local developer, had peti
tioned the Planning and Zoning
Board to receive approval to put a
mobile home subdivision on 313
acres of land located on White Road
near Byron. Opponents of the re
zoning voiced concerns that chemi
cal spraying on peach and pecan
farms on White Road would pose a
threat to residents of a mobile home
he gets serious competition in his
group from Bill O'Neal, Dennis
Hooper and Richard Smith-
Kelly Bowen has a good number
in "I Love A Cop" and Sarah Stone
hits the rafters with her declaration
of independence - "Marie's Law."
Diane Scruggs takes centerstage to
be a bit bold and brassy with
"Gentleman Jimmy" and all the
chorus girls shine in the Sally
Stanley choreographed "Jimmy
Dance."
In addition to all of these you get
park in that area.
The Planning and Zoning Board
delayed ruling on the issue for one
month until adequate information
could be gathered and then ruled in
favor of allowing the re-zoning to
pass. Upon that board's approval,
the issue was sent to the Board of
Commissioners for review. Several
persons spoke against the ruling at
the Feb. 2 meeting, but the board
good numbers from Glen Conger
who plays Fiorello, Phillip
Thomason who is his aide Morris,
and Ryan McCoy who is his other
worker Neil. They too are in good
voice.
Director Carol Strandburg cer
tainly knows how to keep her mu
sical numbers flowing. She gives
each member of the cast a chance to
shine and even has some super tal
ented kids on hand to punch up the
show.
Please see TALENT, page 6A
m
Good
morning, Perry
■ - -- •■• '
Deaths
Viola Graham Robertson
Gabriel, Auburn; Carl Vinson
Chandler Sr., Miliedgeville;
Classie Irby, Warner Robins;
Frank Mackler, Perry. For de
tails, please see page SA.
INDEX
AGRICENTER EVENTS SA
ROBIN BOOKER 4A
CALENDAR 5A
CLASSIFIED 4B
DEATH NOTICES " SA
EDITORIALS 4A
SPORTS IB
JIM SHIPLEY 4A
JOHN TRUSSELL 2B
BOBBY TUGGLE 2B
PERRY^A.
ruled in favor of Byrd.
"We listened to the arguments
and saw no legal reason not to pro
vide a favorable ruling," said
Commission Chairman Sherrill
Stafford. "I have read through the
lawsuit and referred it the County
Attorney Mike Long, and we will
wait to hear his recommendations."
The lawsuit is filed as an appeal
to the ruling by the commissioners
Police will make
arrests stemming
from park fights
By ROBIN BOOKER
Staff Writer
An investigation is still under
way by the Perry Police
Department into the series of fights
at Creekwood Park on Feb. 28.
According to Police Chief Frank
Simons, several warrants are being
taken out by persons involved in
the incident, but no arrests have
been made to date. However, the
police department is continuing to
investigate the incident and expects
to make some arrests soon.
"We have had some of the peo
ple involved in the fighting take
out warrants against each other, but
Bill will allow counties
to monitor use of sludge
By ROBIN BOOKER
Staff Writer
A legislative bill designed to al
low counties to monitor the appli
cation of sludge to farms has passed
the State House of Representatives
and is now in committee in the Se
nate.
House Bill 228 allows the coun
ties to set up guidelines for the ap
plication of sludge and set fees for
anyone in violation of the guide
lines. Counties can also develop
penalties other than fees for viola
tions of sludge application rules,
"What this bill provides is a tool
for local governments to now have
Group opposes Medusa's
plan to try and burn waste
By ANISSA CLEMONS
Staff Writer
Local citizens against the possi
bility of Medusa Cement Cos. burn
ing hazardous waste have formed
“Citizens for a Safe Environment,”
along with a plan of attack to pre
vent the Clinchfield company from
doing so.
“The main reason we formed the
group is because Medusa has put
together a nice public image cam
paign, and they’re not telling every
thing,” according to Group Leader
Jim Williamson.
Medusa’s Public Information Di
rector Mike McKay denies misin
Seniors can
opinions on
By ANISSA CLEMONS
Staff Writer
Another election is on its way,
and it’s not the typical kind that in
volves cut-throat campaign tactics.
It’s the annual Georgia Silver
Haired Legislature, which gives cit
izens aged 60 or older a chance to
be heard by their legislators and the
public. The GSHL allows seniors
to run for office in their home dis
trict. After elected by fellow se
niors, the individual represents their
district in a mock legislative ses
sion.
According to Sylvia Haslem, di
rector of Area Agency on Aging,
the 14-year-old program has three
purposes. “The first purpose is to
educate the legislature and the
general public about issues affect-
123RD YEAR—VOLUME 19
and states the suit is filed as the
plaintiffs’ only recourse against the
unfavorable ruling.
The law firm of Lucas, Nelson
and Associates also represents
plaintiffs filing suit against the
county concerning the Houston
County Jail situation. Stafford said
the commission will respond to
that suit when the 30-day response
allotment ends.
no physical arrests have been made
yet," said Simons. "We anticipate
issuing any warrants that are taken
out, however."
The Creekwood Park incident
involved approximately 100 black
males and females engaging in a
series of fights on Feb. 28. Upon
arrival of police officers, most of
the crowd dispersed but several
members of the crowd had to be
subdued.
Simons said the fighting broke
out spontaneously over a disagree
ment between two children and it is
unlikely that such an event would
re-occur.
some sort of control over the appli
cation of sludge," said County
Commission Chairman Sherrill
Stafford.
Stafford said there are a great
number of details to be worked out
concerning the bill. If the bill
passes in the Senate, Stafford said
the county will have to determine
how to enforce the new rulings
concerning sludge.
"We still have a lot of questions
about how the fees will be set and
how new regulations might affect
operations already in existence, so
Please see BILL, page 6A
forming the public. “We try to be
as forthcoming as possible.”
Williamson said there are stipula
tions within Medusa’s own permit
application that allow for potential
danger. “I’ve been living in Hous
ton County for 25 years, and I felt
like it was a progressive county.
Burning hazardous waste would be a
giant step backwards.”
He maintains Medusa has indi
cated up to 20 tanker trucks per day,
carrying the hazardous waste, will
use Highway 341, which runs
through downtown Perry. “If there
Please see GROUP, page 6A
voice their
legislature
ing older people. The second is to
teach older people how to advocate
themselves so when the general
assembly is meeting they know
how to Pack a bill. The third pur
pose is to advocate change. There
are things that need to change that
affect the lives of seniors.”
Haslem said she’s encouraging
Perry seniors to get involved in the
program. The election can get
competitive according to Haslem.
“We really encourage competition.
They will enjoy it, and it’s a fun
activity.”
One of the issues brought forward
in the past during GSHL was sales
tax exemption on prescription
drugs. Because of the seniors bring-
Please see VOICE, page 6A