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MIDWEEK EDITION 250 Perry & Houston County's official Legal Organ WEDNESDAY, MAY 5,1993" Jim West killed in car accident BY BRENDA THOMPSON Staff Writer The flags in front of Perry City Hall were flying half mast Tuesday momin/. Inside, the employees of the Perry Police Department, like much of the city, were numbed by the news that one of their co-workers, long-time Police Officer Jim West had been killed Monday evening in a one car accident. According to reports, Sgt. West Well blessed Alice Pitzer loved by all 60 other grandchildren BY BRENDA THOMPSON Staff Writer Alice Pitzer sits in her living room. Ivory skin, rosy cheeks and a sweet smile. Everything a grandmother is supposed to be. She beams at her newest great grandchild, nine-month-old Morgan Strickland, trying to take her first steps and then chuckles as the little one, befuddled by the natural force of gravity, returns to her knees and gingerly scuttles away. “Isn’t she sweet,” Mrs. Pitzer, a Perry resident of 30-plus years, says in a tone that might lead one to think this is her very first grand child. But, despite her obvious display of love and pride, Morgan is far from Mrs. Pitzcr’s first grgnd or great grandchild. She is number 60 and, as Mrs. Pitzer is quick to point out, just as special as numbers one through 59! On her mantle sit hundreds of photographs; just what one would expect to see in the home of some one with 60 grandchildren—2s grands and 35 greats. There are grinning babies, suc cessful graduates, elegant prom queens, happy families, brides, grooms and a soldier or two. She calls them each by name and, upon request, can recite their birthdays, their likes and dislikes and anything else one might want to know. She knows them all for wards and backwards and even has a pretty good idea which one is the most likely to present her with grandchild number 61. On holidays, and almost every day in between, she welcomes them with open arms as they wander in and out of her home. And, like the true grandmother that she is, she Aerospace program will train students By ROBIN BOOKER Staff Writer The Houston County School System, in conjunction with Middle Georgia Technical Institute and Macon College, is teaming up with Northrop, Boeing and McDonnell Douglas to provide new and innovative opportunities for Houston County students. The school is implementing its Youth Apprenticeship Program in Aircraft Structural Technology next year with a class of 20 juniors who are committed to following the program through to graduation. As part of the program, summer in ternships with the participating in dustries will be offered, which may lead to permanent positions in the future. The program is designed for ju niors exhibiting good work habits and a willingness to take a demand ing sequence of high school and post secondary courses that are re lated to their future employment in the aerospace industry. The 20 stu dents selected to participate include Perry High School students April Mobley, Michelle Meadows, Demetria Johnson, Sherika Hill, Savoye Lawson and Phatcma PERRY, GEORGIA’S HOMETQWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1870--FOR COVERAGE OF YOUR EVENTS, CALL 987-1823 ■The Houston Home* Journal was traveling south on Valley Drive in Perry around 7 p.m. when he apparently lost control of his vehicle, crossed the center line, struck a fence and overturned. Early investigations indicate that he was ejected and that the most obvious injury was to his neck. He was transported to the Perry Hospital and was pronounced dead shortly after. West was off duly and driving a 1 «| HMf . S; ■ jp. i ftßLi _ .f mi itl \ y\ Ml - ' w JBBL& ,jj|" ■ t \ f ML MfflflNfl jp Jjmrng (HHJ photo by Brenda Thompson) Four generations of the Alice Pitzer Family pose for the Home Journal. From left to right are: “Greatmama” Alice Pitzer, nine-month-oid Morgan Strickland, Jody Strickland and Barbara Tyson. Morgan is “Greatmama” Pitzer’s 60th grandchild. No kidding! keeps the cookie jar filled, a pot of her family’s favorite homemade noodles on the stove and laundry baskets filled with toys in nearly every comer. She smiles modestly when they tell her how wonderful she is and that they are so glad she is their “greatmama”. “Greatmama”. That’s what all 60 of her grandchildren call her. And « H > 1 H: > jllik ir ' X * m■ - w :r ■ ■ ' jl Tip i : ifi '' - -. ’ I. - .• ‘ , w w «* ijtfßiHyßM W Hr W w Twenty Houston County juniors were selected to participate in the Middle Georgia Aerospace Youth Apprenticeship Program to begin next year in the Houston County schools. Whitehead, who endured an inten sive interview process to be selected for the program. "This program will provide a real transition from school to work for many of our students," said Vocational Supervisor Toby Hill. "This will not be a dead end pro gram, but a step-by-step program 2 SECTIONS—2O PAGES, PLUS SALES CIRCULARS “Jim was a dedicated law enforcement professional and will be greatly missed by all of us. ” -Perry Police Chief Frank Simons. personal vehicle, a jeep, at the time of the accident. The cause of the accident is unknown and it is the name, without a doubt, suits her perfectly. Alice Pitzer moved to Perry in 1951. A native of Illinois and a long-time resident of Indiana, she says she and her husband went searching for a warmer climate. She chose Perry and has been here since. It is her home, and the home of many of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. whereby our students work toward fulfilling career goals while still in high school." The students will take normal courses at their home schools each morning but will move over to Warner Robins High each afternoon for their apprenticeship classes. Participating industry representa tives are excited about the program hoped that continuing investiga tions will shed some light on the matter. An autopsy was conducted Before he died several years ago, Pitzcr’s husband owned and operated a dairy farm in Perry, Pitzer Dairy. One of their sons, Grubby Pitzer, and his sons now run it. Other children responsible for the growing Pitzer clan are Laura Long of Ladoga, Indiana, Barbara Tyson and James Pitzer, both of Perry, and Floyd Pitzer of Franklin- Please see PITZER, page 12A and look forward to working with the schools to produce employees for their industry in the future. "We can buy machines, we can buy buildings, and we can buy ma terials," said Jack Quinn of Northrop. "We can't buy good peo ple, though, and that's what this program will produce." 1 % and results are expected in two to three weeks, Chief Simons said. Simons further stated that there were no indications of alcohol use found at the scene of the accident. The son of Evelyn Pius West of Cordcle and the late Tommy J. West, the 54-ycar-old Sgt. West had just celebrated his 20lh anniversary with the Perry Police Department on March 15. He had served that Please see WEST, page 9A City Hall to close for West funeral BY BRENDA THOMPSON Staff Writer Perry City Hall will close its doors for a period of time Wednes day afternoon to allow its employ ees to attend the 2 p.m. funeral for Sgt. Jim West, the Perry police of ficer killed in a one car accident Monday evening. Plans to close the public facility were announced by City Manager Marion Hay during the regularly scheduled meeting of the Perry City Council Tuesday evening. In other matters, Councilman Buddy Roper updated fellow council members on the progress of the proposed OAC/Rccrcation facility Local chamber drive nets 45 new members BY BRENDA THOMPSON Staff Writer The 1993 Perry Area Chamber of Commerce’s Membership Drive was a rousing success, according to Chamber Executive Director Peggie Williams. Held April 26-30, the drive net ted 45 new chamber members, only five short of the organization’s 50 member goal. Follow-up calls this week are expected to meet and per haps even surpass the goal. Using the theme, “Battle of the Ages”, this year’s membership drive chairman, Jim Sexton, divided volunteers into three age groups. The three groups then competed to see who could solicit the most County makes payment after losing court suit By ROBIN BOOKER Staff Writer The Houston County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to approve the payment of $93,302.35 plus court costs and interest fees to the Macon-Bibb County Hospital Authority. The payment comes as a result of a ruling by the State Court of Appeals concerning a suit filed against Houston County for Good morning, Perry Deaths Sgt. Jim Kenneth West, Perry; James W. Benford, Eatonton. For details, please see page SA. INDEX AGRICENTER EVENTS 9A CLASSIFIED 11A CALENDAR EVENTS 5A JANICE KERCE 2B^ DEATH NOTICES _____ 5A EDITORIALS 4A BRENDA THOMPSON 4A LEGAL NOTICES 4B TIM LEWIS _ 4B POLICE REPORT 2A REMEMBER WHEN “ 4A 123RD YEAR—VOLUME 36 wmm: x-vx Sgt. Jim West at Rozar Park in Perry. According to Roper, who chairs the council’s Community Better ment Committee, plans are to break ground on the facility this fall, pro vided the $400,000 federal grant which is being applied for is awarded. Furthermore, Roper said, his committee is in the process of or ganizing a task force of community leaders and citizens to assist in the creation of fund-raising activities for the facility. Letters of request are expected to be mailed out to prospective members this Friday. The possibility of a community Please see CITY, page 10A members. Taking the 1993 membership drive championship were the “Team Tccthcrs”, led by Marti Tolleson , with 21 new members. Davis Cosey’s “Team Whcczcrs” and Jim O’Neal’s “Team Geezers” tied for second place with 12 new members each. The volunteers were saluted at a victory dinner Friday evening at the Buzzard’s Roost in Perry. New members of the Perry Area Chamber of Commerce include: Pete Stokes Builders, Inc., First Franklin Financial Corp., Accurate Auto Detailing, Amos and Please see DRIVE, page 10A payment of medical fees incurred by a former Houston County inmate. Bernard Dale Camps was an in mate in the Houston County jail in 1989 when he attempted to hang himself. He lapsed into a coma and was transferred to Bibb County for medical treatment, where he died approximately one year later. The Medical Center of Central Georgia requested that Houston County pay the medical bills accrued during Camps' hospital stay, but Houston County officials did not feel the county was legally responsible for the bills. Suit was filed against the county in 1992 for payment, but the judge Please see COUNTY, page 12A Rep. Walker recognized for his efforts By ROBIN BOOKER Staff Writer Representative Larry Walker was recognized as one of the state's most effective legislators by the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia and was awarded a plaque for his efforts at the Tuesday meeting of the Houston County Commission. Walker was given the 1993 Legislative Service Award for his service during this year's General Assembly. The association presents the awards annually to legislators who have endeavored to help pass legislation beneficial to counties. Please see WALKER, page 12A