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Viewpoints Our Opinions The Fiske Production A single lawyer, Robert Fiske, special Whitewater investigator, now sets the course of U.S. history. Just as Lawrence Walsh and his dozens of lawyer-employees and millions of taxpayer dollars held the national spotlight investigating Republican administrations for seven years, now Fiske is off and running. How long? What cost? No one knows. One suspects there isn't enough in Whitewater scandals to produce a resignation or impeachment. But if there is, the Democrat-controlled Congress won't permit it. (Democratic leadership in Congress has sought to use the Fiske investigation as an excuse to bar congressional hearings on Whitewater.) Whatever the outcome of the Fiske effort, one has second thoughts about all this power in the hands of a group of free-wheeling lawyers, answerable to no one on a hunt tempted by publicity, fame and notoriety. A better approach might be a congressional investigating committee in which a third of the members could always demand and get a hearing. Members of Congress are elected by voters. Lawyers like Fiske and Walsh are really answerable to no one. Democrats & Hearings Washington-Democrats who hoped a special investigator could ward off congressional hearings on Whitewater were transparently political. They enthusiastically proposed and conducted hearings over twenty times in recent years (when a Republican sat in the House). One investigator was working on a case (with thirty lawyers at a cost of tens of millions of dollars), over seven years. Now Tom Foley, House Speaker, and George Mitchell, Majority Leader, are oh-so concerned about complicating an investigator's job. There's a strong suspicion Fiske was chosen for that purpose—to counter momentum for Senate and House investigations. Key Democrats in Congress could then argue hearings aren’t justified. To understand the behavior of Democrats, one has to keep in mind the political power game. Should the Whitewater scandal result in Republicans capturing control of the Senate this fall, every Democrat chairman in that body would lose his power. President Clinton would be forced to compromise with Senate Republican leadership on every piece of legislation, every appropriation bill. A messy enough scandal would, perhaps, lose Democrats the White House in 1996. So, while Democrats waxed enthusiastic about hearings when there was a Republican president, they lost their vigor when one of their own was vulnerable. That is, except for a few such as Lee Hamilton (D-Ind) in the House, and several Democratic senators, who might be looked back upon one day as having saved their party’s reputation in the upper legislative body. Deadlines For Submitting New Articles and Photographs 5 pm Monday For Wednesday Edition 5 pm Thursday for Friday Edition TU&tOJC 7i*tt€4r(l(Utn*Uzt *Zoelc<Mte4, 'tyoun *dette% *7o- *76e Sdtt&i. "Pteode s4cUoied& *7&e*K: Editor Houston Times-Journal P.O. Drawer M Perry, GA, 31069 Houston Times-Journal P.O. Drawer M • 807 Carroll Street • Perry, Ga. 31069 Phone: (912) 987-1823 Member Georgia Press Association-National Newspaper Association mni*. tuv ¥nA*L/l*Ap**t4nCy CUV O^ACOA- iflAs I'l**' cjcaa<aA«/ (VI-tilc’piecfUvnv tRc- OA/ tile- til*- p^o^f-e --- arui to-petition/til*'@a*i«Anm*nt/jxjA/a/AexiAAA/a^^Ace^kuvcAA* Your right to read this newspaper is protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. Our Goal The Houston Times-Journal is published proudly for the citizens of Houston and adjoining counties by Houston Publications Inc., Perry Ga. Our goal is to produce quality, profitable, community-oriented newspapers that you, our readers, are proud of. We will reach that goal through hard work, teamwork, loyalty, and a strong dedication towards printing the truth. Bob Tribble Daniel F. Evans Julie B. Evans President Vice-President Treasurer Our Staff Brigette Loudermilk Editor and General Manager Mitch Tribble Eddie Byrd Secretary Advertising Director News: Brenda Thompson, Pauline Lewis Sports: Veto Roley Advertising.Torasa M. Gavilan Composition: Stacey Shy Classified Advertising: Melanie Bullington Bookkeeping: Judy Hubert Circulation: Donnie Forehand Our Policies •Signed Letters to the editor welcomed. Please limit to 300 words and include address and phone number. •Liability for an error will not exceed the cost of space occupied by the error. •We cannot be responsible for return of pictures or material unless stamped return addressed envelope is included. The Houston Times-Journal (USPS 000471) is published semi-weekly for SIB.OO per year by Houston Publications, Inc., 807 Carroll Street, Perry, Ga. 31069. Second Class Postage paid at Perry, Ga.,POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Houston Times-Journal, P.O. Drawer M.PerryGa. 31069 Family Breakdown Blamed As Cause of Crime It is refreshing to see some black leaders begin to step forward and express their opinions on crime that is being committed by members of their own race, and the things that breed this crime. Former Savannah State College President Prince A. Jackson Jr. spoke in Columbus Monday at a rally in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. He said during his speech that "on the streets, blacks are primarily killing blacks, making homicide the leading cause of death among young black men between the ages of 15-24. Blacks commit 42 percent of all crimes in the U.S., which has a black population of only 12 percent. More than 650,000 black men are in prison, while 350,000 are attending college." He went on to say that education was in trouble because many blacks are dropping out of school with some graduating from the Perry Mayor Malcolm Reese looks over some of the brochures being prepared by the local chamber for Chamber of Commerce Week In 1970. Pictured also are Tom Daniel and Elwyn McKinney from the local chamber. STFEETTALK On Thursday, Perry Middle School parents and Perry leaders held a meeting with Houston County School Superintendent Tony Hinnant and the Houston County Board of Education. This week we asked people who attended the meeting, "Why are you here?" £ 1 JBRPiII; \ Jim Worrall “I'm here to represent the city of Perry and the city council, which has a con cern as to where new schools are located.” 4 Dennis Bartlett “I have two small children fixing to be middle school age, and I'm concerned about the conditions they are going to have to go to school in.” Houston Times-Journal "principal's office." Jackson got to the meat of the matter when he said, "too many are raised by one parent and too many are becoming mothers and fathers at a much too early age." He blames many of the problems on the family breakdown among blacks during the last 25-30 years. "There was a bottom line of what we would not do," the father of five said of the decline of two-parent families, "but somehow that line has been erased." Our problems with the family unit (both black and white) began 30 years ago, as Jackson said, and it began with the Great Society program of then Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson. Over the past 30 years there has been a 400 percent increase in illegitimate births, a quadrupling in divorces and a tripling of children living in single parent homes. Today 30 percent of all births, and 68 percent of all Perry Scrapbook jjjiiy H|tk isy&K' - Julie Cawthon "Because I am interested in where my kids go to school.” Cindy Bemis "They're (her children) getting ready and will be in middle school in a few years. I came here for a meeting and found the cafeteria terrible over crowded. The plans to add new classrooms does not deal with cafeteria over crowding." Saturday, March 26,1994 black births, are illegitimate, and the checks to welfare mothers each time they birth an illegitimate child has a major player in the problem. The decay of family values in this country has been brought about to a large extent by our failed welfare programs. Thirty years ago families (husbands, wives, children) were the core of this nation's people. But not anymore. Today our country ranks near the top of the industrialized world in divorce, unwed births and single parent homes. We led the industrialized world in murder, rape and violent crimes, and remember that the large majority of violent crimes are committed by persons raised in single parent homes. Not poverty mind you, but single parent homes. Coretta Scott King said on the anniversary of her deceased husband's 65th birthday that poverty and injustice do not justify violence and brutality. 'H Betsy Portman "It's a horrible situation there. I am really con cerned about overcrowd ing of the classrooms and don't see how they (students) can get a qual ity education.” mm fr s? Tony Hinnant "To listen to the concerns of these people about the location of our middle schools.” Page 4A Bob I I Tribble I Reuben Greene, a Memphis, Tenn. preacher said, "He (King) taught us not to be violent against our enemies. Perhaps if he were here today, he would teach us how not to be violent against ourselves." Yet, it is good to see some of our black leaders step forward and discuss the crime problem among their own people. And it is especially good to see these leaders talk about the major cause of this violence-that being the breakdown of our families and family values. Brenda L * Thompson! 0 Staff writer I I*3/ M ■ Springtime In Perry: Pollen And Dogwood Nasal voices on the other end of the telephone line and sneezes echo ing off the walls of every office and home. Parking lots filled with cars, all the same dusty yellow color, and folks that spend half their time dab bing their eyes and the other half trying to find another Kleenex. No doubt about it. . .It’s defi nitely Spring and Perry, Georgia has been pollinated top to bottom east, west, north and south! But, while that pollen is aggra vating to many allergy sufferers, myself included, I’m here to tell you that there is a bright side to all of this-a bright side that even the most watery eyes should be able to see. Yes, indeed, pollen, the same pack of pesty little airborne parti cles that’s making everyone’s si nuses go crazy, is really a blessing; the good guy. Nature’s gold dust, if you will; a magical powder sprinkled from the heavens that will spark a rainbow of colors and plush greenery in the coming weeks. The fertilizer of fresh new growth; a fresh, new season; a fresh, new start Now, when you look at it like that, sneezing and wheezing don’t seem that bad, do they? A small price to pay; especially considering some of the alternatives. You could live in New York or some other city of concrete, steel and smoke stacks. Which one do you prefer? A little of nature’s gold dust sprinkled on the hood of your car or the gray aftermath of smog covering you little world year round? Me? I’ll take the pollen any day. It wont last that long and just look at what it’s going to bring. In the interim, I think I’ll just keep on taking my Tavist-D (what a wonderful creation) and smile knowing that as the April showers come, the pollen will settle and the beautiful flowers of spring will be right behind. Hey, no pain, no gain, right? *** Know what else Spring brings to Perry? The Dogwood Festival. This fun community event kicks off for the sixth annual time this weekend with several exciting activ ities. On tap are: •The Miss Dogwood Pageants. With five different competitions for five different age groups, these ex citing pageants will culminate tonight with the crowning of Miss Dogwood and Miss Teen Dogwood. Three younger age groups com peted on Friday night with tonight’s competitions slated to start at 7:30 p.m. at the Perry High School Auditorium. •Family Day At Rozar Park. An afternoon of enjoyment, ac tivities and games for all ages will begin at 1 p.m. Sunday. There will be co-ed softball and tennis tournaments as well as a wild game cook-off for the big peo-