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Inside Leadership Monroe 2008 finishes the drill See Page 3A County says thanks to Patsy Miller See Page 3A Stolen ‘Sosha’ is now home See Page 4B Deaths • Gertrude Catherine “Gran” Barbour • Sarah Herndon Collins • Brig. Gen. Harry L. Willingham, USAF (Ret.) • Hazel Ann Trice Obituaries Page 6A V o (0 00 D (O a> o <n ** M- S> o ^ > O 5 C m W O ” Q_ M & & CD CD a o _£= CL This granite marker erected by the state-appointed surveyor moves the county line to right next to the Bass Pro Shop on Bass Road The surveyor must make his report to the secretary of state’s office and then both counties have a chance to appeal. (Will Davis) County line markers would move 1,000 ft. from Bibb into Monroe BY WILL DAVIS Monroe County may be about to reclaim valuable territory from fast growing north Bibb County. New granite markers installed last week move the county line about 1,000 feet into what has historically been deemed Bibb County in the area around 1-75. The markers were erected by crews of Warner Robins surveyor Terry Scarborough, who was appointed by Gov. Sonny Perdue to settle the Monroe-Bibb county line dispute. "I would say it favors our position," said District 3 commissioner Mike See COUNTY LINE page 7A Welcome to Monroe! The tax implications for the owner of a $200,000 home moved from Bibb into Monroe County (doesn’t factor stan dard homestead exemption): Bibb County Millage rate 34.2717 Tax bill $2,742 Monroe County Millage rate 22.787 Tax bill $1,823 CURRE iOPOSED % LINE JOVTDENCE DIVISION Arkwright [ga 1 (Google Map courtesy Steve Wilson/ wmccnews.com) Sv I. 1 * An estimate based on % survey markers found. County line survey markers placed last week County line as Apparent county line as marked currently rec- ' by state-appointed surveyor ognized City set to OK tight budget No raises for employees this year BY WILL DAVIS Forsyth's city council was expected on Tuesday, Jan. 6 to approve an austere budget for 2009. "We're cutting every where we can," said interim city administra tor Janice Hall. The current budget proposal calls for a cut in spending from about $16 million in the 2008 budget to $14,396 mil lion for 2009. Unlike in 2008, the budget doesn't include raises for city employees. "The city is determined that we will not spend more than we make," said Mayor Tye Howard. "This budget will be very See CITY page 7A Jim Buff was named Citizen of the Year for 2007. Who’s county’s citizen of year? Know someone who’s making Monroe County a better place to live? Then nominate them by Friday to be Monroe County’s Citizen of the Year. The award will be presented at the Chamber of Commerce’s annual banquet on Jan. 22. Residents have just a few more days to nomi nate someone they deem worthy of the honor. Nominees must live in Monroe County. See the application inside this week’s Reporter on page 5A. The contest is co sponsored by the cham ber and the Reporter. Last year’s winner was Jim Buff, a Habitat for Humanity and Relay for Life volunteer. For more information call Regina Chakley at 994-9239. County mourns Harry Willingham U e was funny, opinionated, strong-willed, but had the most gentle nature. 99 Jackson Daniel Monroe County said goodbye over the weekend to one of its elder statesmen, a patriot, busi nessman and rose gardener extra ordinaire. Harry Willingham of Forsyth died on New Year's Eve at the age of 94. He had suffered a stroke on Dec. 16 and never recovered. A World War II veteran who retired as a Brigadier General from the National Guard, Willingham was remembered as a straight shooter with a big heart. The Rev. Wallace Wheeles, Willingham's former pastor at Forsyth United Methodist Church, called Willingham one of the best friends he's ever had and one of the best men he's ever known. He recalled times that Willingham helped other church members, like when he paid for one young lady to go to practical nursing school. “He loved this community,” said Wheeles. Forsyth attorney Bob Harris said Willingham and Willingham's late wife Nita were the first non-family members to arrive at the hospital when Harris' two sons were born. Each time they brought with them one of their beautiful roses from their famous rose gar den to honor the new baby. WILLINGHAM See WILLINGHAM page 5A