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Viewpoints Your Opinion MDA thanks Perry for overwhelming support Dear Editor: How can we possibly adequately thank the citizens of Perry for the phenomenal response received during the recent Holiday Inn Lock Up to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association? Over SB,OOO was raised in cash and pledges to help MDA fight neuromuscular diseases affecting children and adults in your own community. The Holiday Inn was a most gracious sponsor and set up for this event. Allen Read, General Manager, and Donna Young, Sales Director, were extremely helpful in making this event enjoyable for all participants. They certainly took great care of our "jailbirds!" Cellular One of Warner Robins was vital to our success by providing the cellular phones for the "jailbirds" to use in order to reach their bail. We realize that the success of fund raising events relies heavily on support of the local media. Pauline Lewis was gracious enough to cover the event and provide much-needed publicity on behalf of your newspaper. Thanks Pauline! To all of you who made contributions and pledges when called upon, you were fantastic! You certainly came through for those "jailbirds!" We are delighted to note that representatives from the Holiday Inn have been invited to attend the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon for MDA and make an official check presentation on WMAZ-TV in Macon. And finally, the greatest judos and thanks go the the individuals who posed as our "jailbirds" and made the effort to raise these dollars. You were tremendous and a pleasure to work with! Your hard work has paid off in a big way! From the hearts of those children and adults who are affected by the 40 neuromuscular diseases we are working so hard to eliminate, you are appreciated very much. The money raised in Americus will go directly toward research and patient services such as summer camp, on-going medical clinics, and the purchase of wheelchairs. Perry, we thank you so very much for your support and generosity. It is immeasurable. Sincerely, Mary Ann Coskery, District Director Deadlines For Submitting New Articles and Photographs 5 pm Monday for Wednesday Edition 5 pm Thursday For Saturday Edition *76e 'rty&ctotott *7cme&-flaun*tal 'ZVelcMtet, 'tyotvi Aett&i 7* 74e ScUton,. /tcUOiew, Editor Houston Times-Journal P.O. Drawer M Perry, GA, 31069 Houston Times-Journal P.O. Drawor M • 807 Carroll Street * Perry, Ga. 31069 Phone: (912) 987-1823 Member Georgia Press Association-National Newspaper Association .LM mat < no- floWs (nv oa.- tiv«- dL - oa tf»« OA/ p«Of>£c/ to- a ltd- to- |>«t«! <ou lUi- ijo-diAnnwttjo'i- oAid'iii/ ol^iw^antiA* 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 Mitch Tribble President Vice-President Treasurer Secretary Our Staff Brigette Loudermilk Editor and General Manager Eddie Byrd Advertising Director News: Brenda Thompson, Pauline Lewis Sports: Veto Roley Advertising! eresa 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. ISSN:IO7S-1874 There is more work to be done in South Africa It was a long road for Nelson Mandela, but Monday, May 2 he was able to proclaim victory in his lifetime crusade for a nonracial democracy for South Africa As his supporters let loose in celebration, the nation's first black president declared "Free at last" Mandela had served 27 years in prison for opposing the policies of the National Party. He was released from prison in February of 1990 and began the long road of uphill battles that eventually led to blacks being able to vote for the first time. Outgoing South African President F.W. De Klerk was trounced soundly in the election with Mandela's party receiving more than 60 percent of the vote. Ironically, De Klerk was the man who shocked the world by announcing the end of Apartheid, and freed Mandela from a life prison term. He had been expected to W - ‘ lIHP , B ir' : . -• r iTv Jr <. a- - m H j*. T 7 ■ .-F-y f jm- _ w Perry Scrapbook After the entries for the Mother's Choice Award 1991 were evaluated, the winning mother was Ruth Craig of Perry. A contest sponsored by The Houston Home Journal, each letter Judged stated why one particular mom was the best mom. Craig won a dinner for two at the Perry Holiday Inn, a tanning session from Body Boutique , a dozen roses from Perry Florist and a trophy naming her the winner. STREET TALK: With Buckle Up America! Week just around the corner, May 23-30, local and na tional law enforcement officers are again reminding folks about the importance of wearing seat belts. This week we did a little promotion of our own and asked six lo cal residents how often they use their seat belts. B |||; Alan Everidge “Every time!” gmm ■ Isabella Grace “Sometimes, when I think about it. I know I’m sup posed to wear them every time, though.” Houston Ttmes-Joumat continue the hardline policies of his predecessor, P.W. Botha, when he took office in 1989. Within two months after Mandela's release from prison, he and De Klerk began negotiations that led to a new constitution guaranteeing equal rights for hlacks and whites, and clearing the way for all race elections. De Klerk is expected to serve in Mandela's administration as one of two vice presidents. "During the past four years, we have proved that we can work together. Our relationship has become a symbol of the ability of South Africans from widely different backgrounds to cooperate in the national interest," he said. De Klerk went on to say that in time he felt the national party will become the largest party in South Africa. "This was the freedom election, the next will be about •fe i|| Mitzi Sexton "Every day.” , \ * Connie Wright "Every time I get in the car.” Saturday, May 14,1994 "Houston Times^Journal Page 4A economic policy," he said. ”1 stand before you filled with deep pride and joy, pride in the ordinary, humble people of this country," the 75 year old Mandela said. "You have shown such a calm, patient determination to reclaim this country as your own. And joy that we can loudly proclaim from the rooftops, free at last!" he concluded. Yes, South Africa is free at last, and that is as it should be. The victory has been won, but it is only the beginning of a long process that will require great leadership, trust and faith, if the nation is to become a truly free society and one that can function independently and survive economically. The victory was won in Russia when democracy took control; however, we have seen the trying times the leaders and people have faced there, not to mention the ay - BSp’ 1 9 Weston Miller "Every day.” |[^B mm Joe Canion "To be frank, about 85 percent of the time.” I Q Bob i Tribble I economic struggles. In both nations, two men, the outgoing and incoming presidents, led their countries towards freedom. Yes, a new South Africa has emerged. The first victory has been won and to a point the new government can claim "free at last." But there is yet much work to be done, many bridges to cross and hills to climb. The future is not going to be easy, but if the past can be forgiven then there is a chance a great nation can be built SVeto k Roley | Staff Writer I New Echota, last capital of the Cherokees This last weekend I had a chance to revisit the village of New Echota, the last capital of the Cherokee Indian nation east of the Mississippi River. Often we forget that Indians did not inhabit only the Plains since that is the picture often painted in Westerns and popular lore. The en tire continent of North America was populated by Native Americans, with many great nations. New Echota tells the story of one of these nations of Native Americans, the Cherokee nation. It also tells a story of greed, of ignor ing the law at the highest levels of the land. The Cherokee nation encom passed lands in at least five South eastern states at its height, stretch ing through Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina and North Carolina. The original "West" was in lands ruled and occu pied by the Cherokee, and other indigenous people. In the mid-1700s, the British, because they did not have the troops necessary to patrol and protect set tlers, prohibited settlement of the area west of a line running roughly parallel to the Appalachian Moun tains. Alarmed that the American colonists fighting for their indepen dence would not respect their lands, the Cherokees, along with many tribes in the Colonial West joined the British in the Revolutionary War. As a result of joining the los ing side in the war, the Cherokees saw their land shrink by 90 percent. By 1800, the Cherokees held control of Northwest Georgia, Northeast Alabama, and small parts of East Tennessee and the south west Carolinas. The Cherokee na tion also realized that if they were to survive with the Europeans, it meant adopting European ways and culture. Cherokees started building Euro pean style log cabins, farming with European implements and wearing European clothes. When Tecumseh and the Prophet visited the South east around 1810, the Cherokees re fused to listen. When the Creek In dians went to war in 1812-13, the Cherokees sent a force of 900 to fight with Andrew Jackson. The Cherokees even discarded their traditional form of rule, going to a republican form of government patterned after the government of the United States. The Cherokee government had a judicial branch, with courts up to a supreme court, a legislative branch, composed of an upper and lower chamber, and an executive branch. In 1821, Sequoyah developed a phonetic alphabet for the Cherokee language, turning a spoken lan guage to a written language. The first issue of the Cherokee Phoenix appeared on Feb. 21, 1828. The four page newspaper was published in English and Cherokee, with read ers in the United States and in Eu rope. The United States has not al ways lived up to the ideals that it was founded on. Perhaps the darkest moment in United States history came in the 1830 s. Please see ROLEY, page 10A