Newspaper Page Text
. .The Summerville News, Thursday, February 28, 1991
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Huggins Favors Bill
To Reduce Paperwork
By BUDDY ROBERTS
Associate News Editor
Sen. Wainnond “Sonny”’
Huggins of the 53rd District
has snrported two bills aimed
at reforming the Georgia
Department of Education.
Both measures await action in
the House of Representatives.
One bill, apgxe'oved
unanimously in the Senate,
changes the Georgia Student
Assessment Program, rquxr
ing students to take fewer but
more comprehensive state
tests, and reducing the amount
of gaperwork required of
teachers. Hu‘fgins has long ad
voéated reducing teachers’
paperwork as ‘fart of the Quali
ty Basic Education (QBE)
reform plan.
Currently, students are
tested to assess only their
basic writing, reading, and
State Court Officials
To Get Small Raise
By BUDDY ROBERTS
Associate News Editor
Chattooga County's state
court jud%f and solicitor will
receive a slight pay increase if
local legislation proglsed by
Rep. Tim Perry and Sen. Way
mond “Sonny’”’ Huggins is ap
groved by the Georgia Senate.
hemeasure.has been_appgov;
CaR s Re-2 FIOU e
The legislators said that a
local bill was proposed to
establish the saParies of the
state court officers as equal to
35 percent of that of a Sugerior
Court judge. State court Judge
Carlton Vines and Solicitor
Albert Palmour had originally
requested a 50-percent scale.
“They came and wanted
their funding set at 50 percent
of what the Superior Court
Jud‘fe makes,” Perry said. I
said I would not iive them that
much. They probably deserve
it, but in a poor county with
times like they are, I can’t see
giving that.”
ALL EXPENSES
Vines and Palmour current
ly receive about 31 or 32 per
cent of a Superior Court
judge’s salary, but without an
annual cost of living adjust
ment, the representative said.
The officers’ operating ex
penses are taken out of their
salaries, and no reim
bursements or supplements are
provided.
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CHATTOOGA
LEGISLATORY
REPORTS
mathematics skills. Tess‘flro
posed by the Senate bill will in
clude more ‘‘curriculum
oriented”’ material, such as
history and science, aimed at
helping students to reason and
apply what they learn in class.
A ‘‘matrix” samplin
system would be admxmstere-f
meaning that every student
would not take every part of
every test. Examinations
would be iiven in the third,
fifth, eighth and 11th grades.
Passing scores on the 11th
?rade test would be required
or graduation.
COMPLAINTS
H.ugr%igs said that the bill
was infroduced in response to
complaints by teachers that
the current testing program
forces them to ?efi t?ore time
preparing students for tests
than teaching. The plan is ex
gectegi to save the state about
2 million per year, but does
not prevent local school
Palmour’s salary is current
ly $18,450 ge gear while Vines
receives $22,550.04 annually.
Both would receive about
$2,000 more per year if the
legislation is enacted.
Huggins said that working
with the state court takes time
away from Vines’ and
Palmour’s private law prac
tices. He cited their efficiency
and help in reducing (():perating
costs of Superior Court as
reasons for providing the pay
increase.
If apgroved this ¥ear, it will
be the last time legislators
would need to consider the
matter of a pay increase for the
officials, Perry said. With the
groposed increase, however,
hattooga County’s judge and
solicitor will still be paid less
than the average for o?ficials in
other counties. ‘At this point
in time, this is the way it has
to be.”
FINES
The state court was also
cited by the solons for produc
ing about $400,000 in fines and
forfeitures for the county
treasury each year. If approv
ed, the salary increase would
come from the court-collected
funds, Perry said.
SAFE FLOORS
To make your home safe for
the handicapped or elderly,
place tracks at the top of
sliding closet doors, not at the
bottom; fasten down all carpet
edges so they lie flat and
remove interior door thres
holds, St?' housing experts
with the University of Georgia
Extension Service.
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systems from administering
additional tests.
The senator also voted for
a QBE ‘‘housekeeping’ bill
that allows the state to set
funds for middle school
guidame counselom,a;::ly raises
or teachers’ aides, school
%stem maintenance budfits.
e ag{'ustments reflect about
$45 million in additional state
education funds.
Huggins sup¥orted a
resolution calling for a con
stitutional convention to pro
pose an amendment to the con
stitution designating flag
burning as a crime. Two-third
approval of the states would be
required to call for the conven
tion. The measure passed in the
Georfia Senate, 48-3.
“I think a lawyer or two
vo.tgd against it,”” Huggins
said.
GUN BILLS
Earlier this month, the
Senate aiproved a bill calling
for a bac! ground check of ap
plicants for handgun pur
chases. Hufiins voted against
the progos , but it was ap
proved, 31-25. The measure re
quired a person wishing to buy
a handgun to fill out a state
form, and the gun dealers to
call a telephone network to
determine if the applicant has
a criminal or mental history
that would prohibit him from
buying the weapon.
The bill was sent to the
House, where it was apparent
ly changed, Huggins said,
although he has not seen the
House bill. A background
check is still required, the
senator said, but other provi
sions of the measure differ
from the Senate bill.
Several bills allowing for
legalized gambling and pari
mutual betting have been in
troduced in the House, and
Huggins pledged to vote
against them iflfiroposed in the
Senate. The bills would allow
pari-mutual horse and dog rac
ing, casinos, and offshore
gambling shigls. The bills were
mtroduced following approval
of Gov. Zell Miller's state lot
tery referendum.
Legislature To Fund
Boot Camp At Hays
By BUDDY ROBERTS
Associate News Editor
Funding has been assured
in the 1995 state budget for
two “boot camp” detention
centers in Chattooia County,
according to Fifth District
Rep. Tim Perry.
Perry said this week that
the funnging was confirmed by
Rep. Terry Coleman, chairman
of the House of Represen
tatives’ AJJ opriations Com
mittee, an Ep Larry Walker,
House majority leader. Neither
the House nor the Senate has
approved the 1992 budget,
however.
The House approved a bill
g:eviou:ll{ okayed by the
nate allowing for the con
struction and operation of nine
“boot camp’’ detention centers
for public offenders, includin%
two to be constructed adjacen
to the Hays Correctional In
stitution in Chattooga County.
The nine facilities are expected
to cost aboout $11.25 million.
Gov. Miller was exgected to
Rifi the legislation this week.
er's floor leaders had spon
sored the bills in the General
Assembly.
BY JULY 1
Perry said that money to
begin construction may be
allocated by July 1. “I think
these two camps have the
potential to impact our county
‘more than the Hays facility
does, because we wfl{ be able to
work these prisoners out in the
coun_tg;, which should save a
considerable amount of local
tax dollars.”
The boot cax;xén will house
224 inmates, aged 17 to 30, for
90 days. Inmates will be first
time offenders convicted of
non-violent crimes. About 100
new jobs will be created by the
facilities.
Boot camps provide strict
discipline,?ysxcal training,
and manual labor in and cut
side the facility. Inmates may
be used for county work gro
jects, and would be subject to
strict probation supervision
upon tlfel.r - release.
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Three Trion High School students served as pages for
Chattooga County Rep. Tim Perry during the Feb. 15
session of the Georgia House of Representatives. From
Park Parking Fee Approved
Rep. Perry Opposes State House Measure
By BUDDY ROBERTS
Associate News Editor
Visitors to James H. *‘Slop
py’”’ Floyd State Park will be
required to pay vehicle parking
fees if a biß approved by the
Georgia House of Represen
tatives this week is signed in
to law. The measure,
establishing parking fees at
stats(:garks and historic sites,
Kdas in the House, 155-8, on
onday, and was sent to the
Senate.
Fifth District Rep. Tim
Perry voted a‘gainst the bill,
while Senator Waymond ‘‘Son
ny'’ Huggins of the 53rd
District indicated that he
would support such a proposal,
although Eg has not seen the
House bill. j
The bill sets a $2 daily park
ing fee at state parks and
historic sites to supplement
funds specified for the fi)arks in
the state’s budget. The state
parks system supports the bill
and hopes toreceive $2 million
‘ McCONNELL
Perry cited former Chat
tooEa SrKeriff Gary McConnell,
“whose connection with the
governor’s office was the main
reason that Chattooga County
will be receiving these two
state projects in this budget
crunch year.”
In other matters last week,
Perrly voted for a bill that
would allow the Professional
Standards Commission to con
trol the teacher certification
process, rather than the
Georgia Department of Educa
tion. The change, he said, is
aimed at removing the ‘red
tape’’ that ‘‘discourages
qualified people from becoming
teachers just because they lack
certain education degree
coui"ses.”al . :
(o S 0 supported a con
stitutirgr);al amen%?nent chang
ing the timing of the state
fiscal year. I? approved by
voters in 1992, the fiscal year
would befiin on April 1 andy end
on March 31. Currently, the
fiscal year be%'ins on July 1 and
ends June 31. Supporters of
the chanfie indicate it would
provide the General Assembly
with a more accurate revenue
estimate, and lessen the impor
tance of the s?plemental
bud%et, Perry said.
> twouf?’probabl not cut
out the supplement;alv budget,
but it would be a good step
toward eliminating it.”’
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Students Serve As House Pages
er year from parking fees,
Berry said.
STUDY
Huggins served as chair
man of a legislative committee
assigned to study the state's
f)arks. after a buds,'get shortfall
ast year threatened to close or
limit services at nine parks and
historic sites, including the
Floyd Park. The senator said
that the committee recom
mended collecting parking and
user fees at the facilities, but
added that the House bill may
have been changed from the
committee’s initial
recommendation.
*“A lot of folks are behind
this thing,” Perry said. ‘lt was
kind of strange. There was a lot
of argument against it, but
then everybody voted for it.”
If approved by the Senate
and signed by the governor,
the bill would set a parking fee
D
RS
..guaranteed
service too.
1926... a lot of things have gone on since the
Farmers and Merchants Bank first opened - and
current events bring some of it to mind. Wars,
several of them, the depression, recessions, but
we don’t dwell on that, because there have been
(and will be) more good times than bad.
Through it all, good and bad, we’ve continued to
offer the guarantees that make a good bank
better. Guaranteed safety and guaranteed service
are a Farmers and Merchants Bank tradition.
Ask yourself, what do you want from your bank?
The answer is here. There’s no reason to bank
anyplace else.
‘o\““ '4,’
# o\ FARMERS & IMERCHANTS BANK
; /) Summerville « Trion « Lyerly « Menlo
@ S Member — Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
CE \ .
EQUAL HOUSING ‘ :
LENDER
<
left are Perry, Starr Wallin, Aymelia Whited, Casey
IS)flears and House Speaker Tom Murphy. (Special
oto).
of $2 per day per vehicle at
state parks and historic sites.
Yearly parking permits could
be purchased for $25, accor
ding to the proposal, and senior
citizens would receive a reduc
ed rate of $12.50 per year.
WRONG
“This is something to raise
money, and our parks should
not be in the money-making
business,”’ Perry said. “‘lt’s the
only thing we have left in the
state that's free, and I think
they should remain free.”
¥le added that he would
support user fees for boats or
campin% facilities, but visitors
should be able to park freely.
He complained that the bill re
quires visitors to pay the same
amount whether parking for
one hour or all day.
The fees would be paid into
machines similar to parking
meters. Toll booths would not
be set up, but Perry said that
parks would have to hire more
employees to monitor Farking
areas. ‘I don’t want to turn our
park rangers into meter
maids,”’ he said.
CONCERN
He also expressed concern
that state fun(f; directed to the
Farks may be cut after parking
ee revenue begins to come in.
*‘Will the park service still get
state fun(f; in the budget?”’ he
asked.
The bill was based on
similar measures approved in
other states, legislators said.
In the Senate last week,
Huggins voted for a bill allow
in% state parks to emsloy
volunteer workers to reduce
operating expenses. Volunteers
would be eligible for liability
and worker’s compensation in
surance while working, accor
ding to the plan.
Price
Rise
Slowed
By ROSANN KENT
Incfreasl;clqs in retail food
i or this year are to
g:more mot_ieratte :llxmlg?goo,
:J;gncul ural economist
:%ytsh:n niversity of Georgia
Extension Service. 2
“Retail food gmcea over the
past two years have increased
at a six percent pace — much
higher than the two to four
cfint increase in food p.fi
that characterized most of the
'80s,”” said Bill Thomas. “In
1991, food prices are likely to
rise at a rate between two and
five gercent." The economy’s
slowdown, he explains, has a
da;npening effect on retail
prices that more than offsets
the rise in fuel costs. ‘‘Decline
in personal income weakens
consumer demand and reduces
inflationary pressure or i):eee
In other words, people are
spending less money and shop
ping more carefully,” he says.
WHICH ONES?
Which foods will cost more
in 1991? ‘Fruits and
vefietables. red meats, cereal
and bakery products,” Thomas
says.
He adds that fresh citrus
fruit may be in short suf&l%
and priced at the high
levels. ““Last year the price of
fresh fruit rose about 12 per
cent and processed fruit about
nine percent because of the
Christmas 'B9 freeze in Florida
and Texas. Although ideal
growing conditions in Florida
uring 1990 produced a
bumper citrus crop, now
California has been hit by the
same type of freeze, he points
out.
A smaller apple crop will
likely cause hig%e prices for
that commodity too.
Although fresh vegetable
Prfices rose sharply last winter
ollowing the freeze in Florida,
grices re;covered with ltßhe
arvest of spring crops. “But
this pattern wflf agagn occur
due to the freeze we just had in
California,” the economist
says.
Prices for red meat will not
rise this year nearly as much as
last fizr “Red meat prices
have been record hifih in 1990.
In 1991, beef supplies are ex
pected to remain about level
with 1990, but pork supplies
are expected to expansus’ilghtf
ly,” he says.