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PAGE 10A — THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. JULY 30 2009 Perpall .cont’dfrom 1A sented the long-time director with a plaque, recognizing him for three decades of service to the department. But before Perpall was a rec reation leader, he, too, was a kid at play. “I played Little League,” said Perpall. who lived in Lakewood and Decatur as a kid. “All I had to do was walk through the woods and the ballfield was behind our house. I wasn't any good, but I enjoyed it and have some good memories.” Perpall graduated from Briarcliff High School in 1969. He served in the air National Guard from 1970-76 and graduated from the University of Georgia in 1976, taking a job as the Washington Wilkes Parks and Recreation Department assistant direc tor in 1976 and serving as its director from 1977-79. He moved to Madison County in 1979, taking a job as assistant director of the county recre ation department under Terry Dean. When Dean left, three years later, Perpall was named director. LOVE OF HISTORY Each work day, the self- avowed history buff passes by the Strickland House, which sits in front of the recreation facilities. And he’s reminded of his connection to the past. “The old Strickland House used to be where the person lived to guard the prisoners,” said Perpall. “My father in law lived there as a child. His father guarded the prison.” Perpall has seen plenty of history at the recreation depart ment, which has grown sig nificantly over the years and is widely recognized as one of the top recreation establish ments in northeast Georgia. He recalls the early days of the Hwy. 98 facility. There was the administrative build ing, the track and three base ball fields. In 1978 the tennis courts were constructed, with lights installed the next year. In 1984, the two fields behind the library were added. Then, in 1998, sales tax funds were approved for facility improve ments, such as batting cages, playgrounds, pavilions and upgrades at Diamond Hill and Mize Parks. IN THE FUTURE Perpall and other recreation leaders say the next big step for the department is the estab lishment of soccer fields. The recreation leader notes that soccer is a very popular sport in the county now. “That’s our first priority to get that (soccer fields) fin ished,” said Perpall. “If we do that, we free up the fields over here. Right now, we’re going double duty, soccer on the outfields in the fall and then baseball. Soccer is rough on the outfields.” But today’s economic trou bles have hampered expan sion efforts at the department. Walking trails have been estab lished on the approximately 30 acres the county purchased a few years ago for the expanion of Sammy Haggard Park. And grading has been completed for the new soccer fields. But there is still the issue of fund ing for grass, lights and rest rooms for the fields. THE REWARD OF THE JOB While the growth of the park has been rewarding to Perpall, he says his real joy in the job is watching kids grow into responsible adults with kids of their own. “I've been around here long enough to see kids I remember coming through here, they're now grown and their children are coming here,” said Perpall, a father of two and grand father of three. “It’s neat to see a second generation com ing through here. You feel like you've had a part in that. Sports are not just a recreation. They can help build a kid’s character.” The recreation director said the downside of the job is the occasional parent who loses perspective and curses or acts inappropriately in front of chil dren. Perpall said the depart ment has clear rules on such behavior, adding that parents are suspended from the park when they cross the line. “I’d rather it (the rules on parents' behavior) be a deter rent than to have to follow through on it (suspensions), but if it has to be done, then I'll do it,” said Perpall. “We have to maintain an atmosphere that kids can enjoy.” Perpall, whose wife Carol has also worked in the county for many years — as a teacher at Ila Elementary School and now in the county registrar's office — said he still enjoys his job. “I can say that I've never dreaded coming to work,” he said. “It's always been a chal lenge, never a dull moment, but I enjoy the people I work with and I enjoy talking to folks.” The director said he gets a kick out of seeing the kids' faces when they're enjoying the game and how children will compete on the field, then shake hands and play some more off the field. “I just enjoy watching kids play sports,” he said. Census .cont’dfrom 1A was most likely an American Community Survey (ACS), which is not issued locally, but is sent to select house holds from Washington D.C. The ACS collects and pro duces population and hous ing information every year instead of every 10 years. She said that most households will not receive an ACS, but that all households should receive the 2010 Census packet between February 1 and April 1, 2010. The Census packet will consist of just 10 questions, Thompson said, and will not ask for any “identifiers” such as Social Security numbers. Only those with physi cal mailing addresses with receive these packets in the mail; packets will not be delivered to post office boxes, instead a Census enumerator will deliver the packets. Thompson said question and answer sites, such as libraries, supermarkets, gov ernment offices, etc. will be set up during this time and staffed by a paid Census worker. The worker will assist those with problems and/or questions about the Census. There is also a “Census in Schools” program being implemented in public schools to help educate chil dren on the purposes and importance of the upcoming census. Thompson said not partici pating in the Census could cost $1,000-3,000 per per son in a community in lost services. “Not participating in the Census is doing a disservice to your county, your town, and yourself,” Thompson said. Webb plans to help set up booths at local festivals and host events to educate citi zens about the importance of participating in the upcom ing Census. “This is important” Dove said of the Census, adding that it means as much to the county as it does to state and federal governments. u- JOYFUL NOISE -j L£ PRE-SCHOOL 2009-2010 ( Make a joyful noise unto the Lord... • Psalm 100:1 L ¥ l l • Classes for ages 6 months to 4 years. • Prices range from $50 per month to $130 per month. 54 -5 cj£ ■ft J 4 55 \, ^ www.RoystonFirstUMC.org ° < _J 5^(706) 245-7499^ Marys 4860 Atlanta Highway, Bogart-Athens One Mile West of Sam’s Club • 770-725-1977 We now offer Purina and Nutrena Feeds Two Premium Feed Brands... ...One Convenient Location One stop for you and all your animal needs! SHOP OVER 85 BRAND NAME OUTLETS INCLUDING Eddie Bauer Outlet AEROPOSTALE VF Outlet BROOKS BROTHERS FACTORY STORE Fossil TOMMY HILFIGER Calvin Klein J.CREW Nine West GYMBOREE OUTLET Hollister BASS Gap Outlet GUESS FACTORY STORE Skechers AND MORE NEW FOR SUMMER... Coach Factory LOFT Outlet and American Eagle Outfitters Local pizzeria offers response on harassment suit A lawyer for a Hull piz zeria says allegations of sexual harassment by a former employee are an attempt at retribution for the worker’s prior termina tion at the eating establish ment. A federal sexual harass ment lawsuit was filed recently against the own ers of the Pizza and Sub Express, Inc., located at 8727 Hwy. 29 South near the red light in Hull. According to the docu ments filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, on behalf of a female employee who worked at the pizzeria beginning in October 2007, the Commission alleges that the pizzeria subjected the employee to a “sexu ally hostile work environ ment” by the general man ager and that the owners, failed to take prompt effec tive remedial action to end the harassment. Michael Daniel, attorney for Pizza and Sub Express, says the restaurant “vehe mently denies that it or its employees committed wrong doing against the charging party.” “The restaurant termi nated the charging party’s employment because she engaged in a fight with another employee while at work,” said Daniel in a press release about the law suit. “The charging party’s discrimination complaint is apparently an attempt to seek retribution for that proper termination.” The suit seeks back pay and other unspeci fied compensation for the employee, a perma nent injunction to order the business to cease from “engaging in sexual harass ment against employees, as well as engaging in any other employment prac tice which discriminates on the basis of sex,” and to “institute and carry out policies, practices and programs which provide equal employment oppor tunities for all employees and which eradicate the effects of its past and pres ent unlawful employment practices.” Daniel said the lawsuit filed by the EEOC “aris es from the restaurant’s refusal to accept EEOC’s demand that the restaurant pay the claimant $50,000.” The attorney said the restaurant was vandalized after publication of a story about the suit in a local paper. “We hope people in the community will not con demn this locally-owned family restaurant on these meritless allegations,” said Daniel. 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