Newspaper Page Text
Viewpoints
Our Opinions
Correction
Following a Houston County Board of Education meeting at which local
citizens presented their arguments in favor of a new middle school in Perry
the accusation was made that board chairman Zell Blackmon Jr. had asked
WMAZ-TV not to cover the meeting. He denied the allegation when it
was repeated in an editorial in this newspaper. Investigation by this
newspaper confirms that Mr. Blackmon did NOT ask anyone at WMAZ
TV not to cover the meeting...As a matter of fact, a spokesperson for the
television station said that if anyone had asked them not to cover any
meeting it would be all they needed to make them be present to see what
was going on.
True Friendship
A fifth grade student in Oceanside, California, had to take chemotherapy
treatment, which would make him lose his hair. So he had his head
shaved. His male classmates, in sympathy with him, all had their heads
shaved, too, so they would look like him. Those are the kinds of friends
anyone would be proud to have.
Oh, For The Old Days
In 1940 teachers identified the most important problems in American
schools as "talking out of turn, chewing gum, making noise and running
in the hall." Fifty years later, in 1990, teachers said the major problems
they face are "drugs, alcohol, pregnancy, suicide, rape and assault." Isn't
that a sad commentary on the direction in which our country is going?
Never Happen
Quote of Note: "If the people
insist on pork we'll never
balance the budget".—Mona
Charen, syndicated columnist.
We'll never balance the budget
because "pork" is the only
thing most people care about.
litK&ir-jlotiruUll
'tyfuct 7* 74e ScU&vi.
PtetuLc rfetckgM, 7 few
Editor
Houston Times-Journal
P.O. Drawer M
Perry, GA, 31069
Deadlines For Submitting New
Articles and Photographs
5 pm Monday For Wednesday
5 pm Thursday for Friday Edition
Houston Times-Journal
P.O. Drawer M • 807 Carroll Street • Perry, Ga. 31069
Phone: (912) 987-1823
Member Georgia Press Association-National Newspaper Association
&£a£t mojt*- no. a/v OO- \Jk*j fit**.
tiv«xea|, oa 4 <w tiv«s o/v tive- p«^j£e
to ai4«m££f to-pctvl^on- a.«.'«|oA a-
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. Teresa 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
**-°erryGa. 31069
Use It Wisely
Quote of Note: "Despite the
daily carnage, we (legislators)
did nothing about guns this
session. We did pass a
moment of silence. Use it to
pray, reflect or reload."~
Cartoon in The Atlanta
Journal-Constitution.
Edition
Prejudiced Against Senior Citizens
ONE OF my pet peeves is doctors
who refuse to treat senior citizens.
A few years ago I was looking for a
doctor in Warner Robins. I
contacted one who had been
recruited by the Houston Medical
Center and had received financial
help locating here. When told that
I was 70 years old the receptionist
said the doctor would not accept me
as a patient because I was a senior
citizen...A lady I know goes to an
internist in Macon and has for
several years. The day this lady
reaches the age of 65 the internist
will drop her as a patient...lt's
wrong and a black eye on the
medical profession. But it is not an
uncommon practice...My opinion:
Such doctors should be denied
hospital privileges and have their
way of doing business
publicized... Other doctors should
realize that this practice is one of
the reasons the move toward
socialized medicine is so popular
with the masses.
* * *
My car needed some new tires.
The store I went to in Warner
Robins, where I live, had a big sign
that read, "Free cellular telephone
with purchase of four tires." I have
seen similar signs in many
businesses around Middle Georgia.
I didn't need a cellular phone.
But, since I bought four tires, I
said, "I'll take the cellular
telephone. I may need it
sometime."
I was told the dealer did not have a
cellular telephone to give me. "We
give you a certificate to take to
Bell South Mobility in Macon.
You get the telephone there."
rff£ F&WVT ZAU-en.'-t' "md we just gave up
„ ~j>~. our right to electa
NO NEWSCm° L [\ superintendent, stupid
R3R SOUTH I US "
HOUSTON CO . "
( j ' I " nz/KO OU&
* FI | j Eviß/JWE'
rn m* •!!' 1 1111 11111111111111111111 sgk
Appreciate What You Have - Not What You Don't
t Brigette L
Loudermilk I
Editor
I appreciate my daughter and
husband more and more each day,
but sometimes one particular inci
dent sticks out in my mind, or a
passing thought makes me realize
sometimes that they mean more
than even I say or consciously ad
mit to myself.
Case in point: Just last week my
daughter turned 10 months old. I
was thinking on that day "It doesn't
really seem that long ago."
I caught myself during the day
planning my next child-”I don't
want them to be too far apart in
age, I don't want to be whale during
the hot summer months but I don't
want to be in the hospital giving
birth at Christmas either, etc."
Then 1 caught myself-" What am
I thinking about!?!"
It's not even been a year and I've
already forgotten the six months of
morning sickness, the swelling of
hands, feet and, especially, stom
ach; the three weeks after my due
date wailing to go into labor and it
never happening, the week in the
Inconvenient, but still a free
cellular phone was not to be
sneezed aL
Then I read the certificate. It
would cost me $l5O up front to get
the cellular phone and have it
activated. I also would have to sign
a contract to use a year of service.
If I broke the contract within a year
I would have to pay a SSOO penalty.
What a deal!
Free cellular phone? Not on your
life. It was a gimmick unworthy of
those many businesses who
participate in this deal.
Did I get my "free cellular
phone?" No. Did I buy into that
deal? No.
* * *
Isn't it strange that Atlanta Braves
baseball players are complaining
that "baseball is just a business"
after the team released Ron Gant?
As you may recall, Gant had a $5.5
million contract for this season and
blew it when he had an accident
riding a trail bike and broke a leg.
The Braves still gave him almost
$1 million when they let him go.
Wouldn't you like to receive $1
million for a job you were unable
to perform? For the players to
complain about baseball being a
business is ludicrous in view of
their multi-million dollar
hospital with induced labor, the
epidural, stitches, forceps, vacuum
extractor, and pain and swelling
afterwards.
Then there's the 2 a.m. feedings
(Lauren has slept straight through
the night for the past six months
U ! TT I i ? >
iff 1 s -3±j"" :
Ultfe SIWNSE.THE WHITE WEE JIIST CALLED THET VUNT USp HEN/ UPTHE WBBNHRHEWMf
Houston Times-Journal
Page 4A
salaries... Sure it's a business. And
you get the idea when you read
about the huge salaries being paid
to mediocre players that the owners
aren't very good businessmen.
* * *
The legislature passed Gov. Zell
Miller's crime bill. Led by Rep.
Tyrone Brooks, blacks are being
critical of the crime bill as being
racist". You just have to wonder
why black leaders cry out in
anguish everytime someone tries to
do something to stem crime with
the claim the law is "racist". Since
black on black crime is one of the
major problems of the day it seems
they would be out front to get
legislation that would send
criminals to prison.
* * *
Potential opponents of Gov. Zell
Miller in his campaign to be
reelected this year are focusing on
his effort to change the Georgia flag
last year. Though he has been quiet
on the subject this year, he still
carries a lot of baggage because of
it. The lottery has been giving the
governor so much money to spread
around that the lottery issue, which
seemed to be a handicap a year ago,
has about disappeared. His ultra
liberal bias shown early in his term
in office now has been replaced
with leanings toward conservatism.
Observers wonder whether he will
revert to liberalism once elected to
what has to be his final term in
office.
* * *
It is hard to believe that school
choice continues to receive so much
support. In my opinion, anyone
luckily), colds, ear infections, dia
pers, mixing formula, baths, intro
ducing foods (which can get messy
at times) and once the crawling
starts saying "No!" and "You can't
have that, play with this toy in
stead" countless upon countless
- Wednesday, March 30,1994 "Houston Times-Journal
favoring this hasn't thought about
the consequences. ILa law was
passed permitting parents to select
the schools which their children
attend it would be devastating to
public school education in our
state. On the surface the idea
sounds appealing, but any attempt
to implement school choice would
be (1) prohibitively expensive, (2)
make it impossible to set up a bus
system that would work and (3)
result in more lawsuits than the
courts could handle. Assigning
students to schools according to the
districts in which they live works
far better than any alternative.
* * *
Opponents of paddling students
might consider this: One of the
most beloved school teachers in the
Houston County school system
since I came here 45 years ago was
Joe Musselwhite. He was assistant
football coach at Warner Robins
High School and later principal at
Warner Robins Junior High. He
was a strict disciplinarian and never
hesitated to lay the paddle on
recalcitrant students. They all loved
him and, in my opinion,
appreciated the love and affection he
demonstrated by giving them the
kind of discipline they needed. The
kind of discipline, incidentally,
many of them did not receive at
home. Though he has been dead
many years I still hear former
students speak of him with real
affection...and a reminder that they
were recipients of his kind of
discipline.
times every single day.
And that's just the every day re
ality doses. It doesn't even cover the
worries and fears of what they will
go through as they grow up-" Will
she handle school ok? How will I
Please See Loudermilk Page 11A