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Viewpoints
Our Opinions
Will It Be A Mistake?
Houston County commissioners have deckled to accept household
garbage from adjoining Pulaski County in ourlandfilL
Some people are saying it will lead to Houston County becoming a
dumping ground for other counties.
The answer is Until probably won’t
Commission Chairman Sherrill Stafford has said that the agreement to
permit Pulaski County to dump its household garbage in this county's
landfill will reduce the life of the landfill from 50 more yean to 30.
He hopes that by that time there will be a better way to dispose of
gartnge. If not, too bad.
Thirty yean seems like a long time. Landfills me outrageously expensve
now. Houston County intends to make a profit of $4 per tt. No telling
what landfills will cost 30 years from now. Question: Is the profit being
made on each ton of garbage now and in future years going to be enough
to pay for another landfill...or is the profit based on what a landfill costs
today?
A good question.
To say the least, the commissioners are taking a gamble. It may turn out
to a great gamble. If they are guessing wrong it can be a very, very costly
mistake to be paid for by others 30 years from now.
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Editor
Houston Times-Joumal
P.O. Drawer M
Perry, GA, 31069
Houston Times-Joumal
P.O. Drawer M • 807 Carroll Street • Perry, Ga. 31069
Phone: (912) 987-1823
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Ca>y««»*Aaif wuzJLs. a/v a*. tAa
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to QAAoniit sAfi ta- txl*i*an OU b?
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Bob Tribble Daniel F. Evans Julie B. Evans
President Vice-President Treasurer
Our Staff
Brigette Loudermilk
Editor and General Manager
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Your Opinion
Homage Paid To
Harriet Hentz Houser
Dear Editor;
Harriet Hentz Houser passed away last week. She was a long-time
Perry resident and successful author.
Her beloved son Hentz was critically injured in a tragic diving accident
when be was a Perry High School senior. Harriet wrote a book entitled,
Hentz nf Things Not Seen. The Macmillan Company published this
poignant novel in 1955 and it can be found in the Perry Library. It tells
the story of this courageous family, especially the strong faith and opti
mism of an outstanding young man.
Hentz touched many lrvea. The Houser family leaves us with renewed
optimism and hope for the future.
Deryle T. Whipple, MD
Thanks To All Who Made
Market A Success
Dear Editor: *. ;
This letter is to say a beany thank yoa to all who made the recent
Houston County Market Hog Show a success. Some 40 4-H and FFA
members participated in the show, which was held oa February 19, 1994.
The show provided a unique opportunity for these young people to learn
the responsibilities, discipline, and 6m of animal husbandry, as well as the
challenges and rewards of competition.
The 18th annual show, sponsored by the Houston County Young
Farmers Association, was made possible by the generous contributions of
many badnesses and individuals. t
To Senator Nunn-‘Say It Isn’t So,Sam’
FIRST the bad news: Sen. Sam
Nann says feat he may not seek re
election to another term in 1996.
He says that if he is going to
change careers this is the critical
year.
Now die good news: He says he is
leaning toward another term in the
senate, but is looking at his op
tions.
Our immediate reaction is, "Say it
isn't so, Sam."
Even the thought of Sam Nunn
giving up his seat in the senate is
enough to frighten many peo
ple..including myself.
He is at the pinnacle of power to
day. He is respected by everyone,
including his political opponents.
He is a calm voice in an often hys
terical Washington. He may not be
close to the president, but if die
president wants to get something
done be must seek Sam Nunn's
counsel and, if possible, get his
support.
Why, I have been asked during the
past week, would be even consider
giving up an office he can keep as
long as be wants, it, especially at
this time?
• * *
YHE PEANUT GAUMiy
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Citizen Concerned With Rough Ride Downtown
A local resident came to the
newspaper last week with a concern
I promised to pat before you, the
local citizenry.
It seems that due to re-surfacing
and new businesses opening over
the years in the downtown area of
Perry, many of the driveway en
trances in town are rough to ride
over. He wanted to know what
could be done to correct the situa
tion and I didn't have an answer.
Following the show, an auction was held in which each exhibitor sold
one hog to the highest bidder above a floor price provided by Cordele
Livestock Association. These buyers are much appreciated, for they pro
vided a premium to reward these young students for their efforts. Please see
the ad found in this paper for a complete list of buyers and others to whom
credit belongs.
Special thanks goes to Crossroads Bank for their generosity in purchas
ing the reserve grand champion bog and to Ted Perfect, Ralph Dorset! and
Stewart Bloodworth for their efforts in financing the shew through the
Young Fanner dove shoots held last fall. Extra special thanks is (hie die
staff of the Houston Times-Journal for their excellent coverage erf the
show.
Sincerely,
Tim Lewis
Coordinator, Houston County
Young Farmers Association
Issues discussed at meeting
affect all Perryans
Dear Editor;
I attended a community meeting last night comprised of almost 200
concerned parents whose children attended the Perry schools. I learned these
parents have a legitimate list erf concerns.
My undemanding is the Houston County School Bond has decided to
build two new schools elsewhere in the county besides Perry. There ap
pears to be a degree of misunderstandings about this issue.
Why are new schools being built in the north half of Houston County
as opposed to upgrading or replacing the present Perry Middle School, in
particular, where trailers are used for classrooms and bathrooms? There also
were questions about representation on the school board with only one
board member from Perry. How and which mutemx will be 'bussed* out of
Perry to these new schools?
These arc all very important issues that affect every citizen of Perry and,
southern Houston County, regardless whether you have a child in school
SOME people who know Sam
Nunn wiD tell me that be is becom
ing tired and frustrated with all that
goes with holding the office.
There is much, ranch more to
saving in the United States Senate
than what we see. A senator of Sam
Nunn's stature carries a heavy load
as the premier authority on national
defense. He is in the spotlight most
of the time. The for his
tune is enormous.
But there is more. There is the
eternal job of raising money far the
next campaign There are those ex
hausting trips back to Georgia to
keep in touch with the voters. (He
has to remember what happened to
another great Georgia senator—
Walter George—who thought that
doing an outstanding job in
Washington was enough to please
everyone. While he tended to the
nation's business Homan Talmadge
was undermining his strength in
Georgia.)
There is the never-ending job of
meeting with constituents and
massaging their egos when they go
to Washing ton...a time-consuming
job that interferes with the job we
sent him there to do.
I spoke with our mayor about
the situation and be said they've
checked the rough entrance at First
Baptist Church and "don't know
whk to do.*
Mayor Worrall did say that sev
eral of the areas he receives com
plaints about have been caused by
state re-surfacing projects.
Since that time, the only sug
gestion I can come up with for the
gentleman who visited the office is
Houston Times-Journal
Wednesday, March 9,1994 ■Houston Timos-Joumal
page 4A
There is the criticism and carping
from people who really don't know
what he is doing but, on the basis
of almost no information, believe
they have all the answers.
In time, Fm sure, these all add up.
Undoubtedly, quite often the
thought must go through Sam
Nunn's mind, as it does for others
in similar circumstances, that
maybe it isn't worth it, after all.
Wouldn't life be much more fun
without the responsibility and pres*
V * •
TWICE in my life I faced similar
questions and doubts, though cer
tainly I don't equate my circum
stances with those of one of the
country's most respected and power
ful men.
While serving in the navy during
World War n, I became aide to the
commandant at the Naval Air
Station in Jacksonville. It was a
good job. But as time went by I
began to feel that I was not making
a worthwhile contribution to the
war effort
I told the commandant of the base
that I wanted to do something more
meaningful and asked for a transfer.
to contact the Downtown
Development Authority. Give them
any suggestions you may have. It
seems to me they would be the
group that should tackle such a
concern and find a solution, if there
is one. This authority is appointed
by the Perry City Council. Sorry I
couldn't help you more.
This concerned citizen also ■a?tpd
he would like to see Perry City
Council establish a no smoking
or not. Three years ago my family and business moved to Perry to live, to
work and for the specific purpose of my children attending school in the
city of Perry. In a few weeks another meeting is scheduled to further ad
dress these issues. I hope the good people of Perry will attend this next
meeting and get all the facts.
Regards,
Bill Lavender
Blackmon Explains BOE's
Decision On New Schools
Dear Editor:
Citizens of Perry, including the Perry Chamber of Commerce and other
cky leaders, are concerned with over crowded conditions at Perry Middle
SchooL Let me assure you your School Board shares and appreciates tfreff*
concerns.
With the reduction in classroom size mandated with QBE
coupled with our normal county growth, all of our schools have suffered
from crowded conditions. We arc dealing with these problems as quickly as
possible with the resources available. Having accomplished some relief on
the high school and elementary school level, our focus over the next two
years is concentrated on middle school relief.
AH five of our middle schools in Houston County are crowded. All
have between 800 and 900 students. All have temporary buildings. With
the two new middle schools, located on the sites selected, all five existing
schools can be relieved, including Perry Middle SchooL If we put one of
these two schools in the south, we could not accomplish relieving all,five
present schools. Also, these school are being put where most of the popu
lation development is taking place. We're not in the development business,
we select school sites where development is most intense and, in this case,
where relief can be most effectively accomplished.
Even with the new schools, more classroom space will be needed. In
our five year plan, cost-effective classroom additions are budgeted. Perry
Middle School is the first school scheduled for an additiomT^aditiS
Plaasa sm letters, page TIA
fH Foy S. I
Evans
He said I was young and didn't
know what I was talking about, but
he gave me the transfer.
So I went to the new assignment
It wasn't long before I realized I had
made a mistake. Fortunately, one
day the commandant of the base
asked me how I liked my new duty.
I told him, truthfully, that I had
made a mistake aid wasn't getting
the satisfaction from the job that I
had expected.
He told me, "Like I said, you
young people don't really know
what you want I haven't filled your
job because I knew you would be
coming back."
I was lucky my poor decision was
reversible.
* * *
MORE than 20 years ago I found
Please see Evans, page 11A
ordinance for all businesses in
Perry.
When I discussed this with
Please see Loutbrmlt k, page 11A