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Congratulations are in order
for Class of 1994 graduates
Congratulations, graduates!
In just a few short days, you will officially mark one of your life’s
greatest accomplishments as you march up onto that stage and hold for the
first time your high school diploma.
Be proud of it, for you have worked 12 long years for it; cherish it and
use it, for it is the first step toward your future ... a key cut especially for
the doors of opportunity. You’re on your way!
We, at the Houston Times-Joumal, congratulate you all on your
accomplishment and wish you the best of luck as you embark on this new
chapter in your lives. It is certainly comforting to know that our future
lies in the hands of such fine young men and women.
Your Opinion
The only way to solve a
problem is through the Lord
Dear Editor:
In response to Brenda Thompson's recent article about the Cafe Erotica,
I want to commend you for your courage in condeming such a wrong thing
that is happening there.
But let us take it a step further. If we had the authority to close such a
place, it would not be the best solution, for it would only pop up some
where else.
Jesus said: "You have heard it said by them of old, an eye for an eye
and a tooth for a tooth", but I say unto you, love your enemies. Pray for
them that despitefully use you and persecute you... Let's you and I, and
anyone else who will, here, covenant together to pray that the Lord will
show us what He knows is the most effective witness to cause these
people to see the awfulness of their sins and it's consequences.
Let’s be used of the Lord to change their hearts and minds and help them
to get under connection and be converted to Christianity. That is the best
solution to this kind of problem.
James L. Long
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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
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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
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Many factors contribute to the rise in violent crimes
My son and I discussed the
recent House vote to ban "assault
guns" over the weekend. Mitch is
an avid hunter and sportsman, and
yes, an owner of many guns. He
even owns an "assault weapon" and
has for several years, having fired it
very few times. In fact over the
years he has bought and traded so
many guns that I wonder if he
shouldn't be a gun dealer rather than
a newspaper man. He is a long
time member of the National Rifle
Association.
On the other hand, I enjoy an
occasional deer hunt but that’s
about the extent of my hunting. I
grew up toting a 12-gauge shotgun
at age twelve on rabbit hunts, and
qualified as an expert with the M-l
rifle while in service, but I don't
have the passion for guns that
Mitch does. I fully believe in the
right to own weapons and I fully
believe you can better protect your
home and family from criminals by
owning a gun. I keep a piston in
my bedside table drawer and so does
my wife Frances.
In our discussion about the
Perry Scrapbook
New officers of the Beltish Club for 1984-85 were recognized at the club's spring luncheon.
They were President Sara Ellen Anderson, Vice President Billie Thomson, Antique Show
Chairman Jimmie Lu Leverette, Treasurer Marti Bloodworth and Parliamentarian Celia
Daniel. Not pictured was Secretary Pat Buice.
STREET TALK:
Although most say they understand why the United States and many of its industries
has had to convert to metrics in order to keep up with the rest of the world and the
increasingly interlocking global economy, many say they just can’t understand why
the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) feels the need to start changing speed
limit and how-far-to signs on our nation’s highways from miles to kilometers. One
senator, in fact, has already introduced a bill in an effort to put a stop to such a tran
sition. This week we asked six local residents what they think about the possible
change. Would you like to see our highways and byways go metric?
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Tim Sigmon
“I’m definitely against it.
Everyone has grown up to
understand miles, not
kilometers.”
. i ayr
V
k .
Takesia Rogers
“They should just live it
like it is. We’ve always
used miles; why changed
it now?”
Houston Times-Joumut
House vote, Mitch pointed out that
"assault weapons" was really a term
used by the liberal news media,
most of whom support all forms of
gun control. Assault is a nasty
sounding word, no doubt.
Mitch and I do not fully agree on
the ban on assault weapons. He
feels it to be just another step
towards the banning of other guns.
We have just recently seen the
Brady Bill pass and now the ban on
the assault guns.
Even though I fully support the
right of American citizens to own
guns for hunting, protection,
pleasure, or what have you, I have
no real problem the the House vote
to ban those "assault weapons," as
the liberal press calls them. At the
same time though, I share my son's
concerns that further attempts at
banning guns will follow.
When you look at the facts, only
one percent of violent crimes are
• committed with the "assault
weapons" that the House voted to
ban. Therefore common sense will
tell you that the banning will have
little or nothing to do with reducing
Chris Noteware
"I’m against it. We don’t
need to use meters; we’re
not set up for it.”
Deran Blue
"I think it should stay just
like it is. We aren’t used to
metrics and I think it would
be hard for people,
dally the older ones, to
make the conversions."
Page 4A
-Saturday, May 21,1994 "Houston Times-Journal
violent crime. The massacre of 23
people in Waco, Texas by a crazed
gunman was done with a rifle and
pistols, if my memory serves me
correctly, not an assault weapon.
The truth is there are hundreds of
other weapons with which to kill,
should a person decide to do so,
other than the weapons the House
voted to ban.
Both the Brady Bill and the
recent House vote appear to express
a deep dissatisfaction with the ever
increasing violent crime rates in
this country. Over 70 percent of
Americans favored the banning and
they too were saying the violent
crimes must stop.
Stopping violent crime is a
worthy goal, but there are so many
other areas that contribute so much
more to the cause than the weapons
themselves. Things like the
deteriorating family unit, drugs,
alcohol, the drift of our people and
nation away from God, the types of
shows on television our young
people see.
We need td focus on these things
Alice Gray
"I think they should just
leave it alone. I’d be lost
out there all the time.”
Donnell Webb
"I disagree with that
change. Too many people
do not understand metrics.
I’m is school and I don’t
understand them.”
that really grow the criminals more
so than guns. If there were not a
gun in this world and someone
wanted to commit a violent crime
they would do it with a kitchen
knife or an axe handle.
Bottom line is you don't have to
worry about assault weapons or any
other type guns that are in the
hands of law abiding citizens who
have the Constitutional right to
bear arms. But we do have to
worry about any criminal who
might have a weapon of any kind in
his hand. And if they can’t buy
them legally, they will purchase
their weapons off the black market,
or switch to whatever weapon is
available.
Brenda ~L
# 4 Thompson!
M §. Staff writer I
My own personal
experiences with
the 'rich and famous’
I finally picked up a copy of
Reba McEntire’s new biography
this week. Since I love biographies
and I love Reba’s music, I’ve been
pretty excited about reading it.
So far, it’s pretty good.
The thing that has struck me
most while reading this book is
that Reba seems to be a pretty
humble person. Despite all the
fame and fortune her talents have
brought her, she is still just a
person just like you and me.
Her friends and family and, of
course, God are still number one in
her life and she seems to have a
good grip on reality and priorities.
As it should be.
I, personally, have a lot of re
spect for that.
Unfortunately, though, not all
people are like Reba. You’ve got
folks, mostly wanna-bes, that
sometimes lose that grip on reality
and become something less than
humble.
Now, I am, by far, not an expert
on stardom and what it can do to a
person, but I have had the opportu
nity to spend some time with sev
eral well-known names-mostly dur
ing my stint as public relations di
rector for the Tennesee Walking
Horse National Celebration. Some
have been refreshing experiences,
while others have left me very dis
appointed.
Because I like to think of myself
as a positive thinker, I will start
with the refreshing experiences.
The first who comes to mind is
the Rev. Billy Graham. Though my
encounter with Rev. Graham was
brief during a visit to Washington,
D.C., I can honestly say that this is
one man whose character and dedi
cation have earned my all-out re
spect. To this day, no matter how
much power he has gained through
his famous ministry, he still puts
his beliefs before all else.
And then, from the world of
sports, there are folks like Scott
Case of the Atlanta Falcons and
Darrell Waltrip of racing fame. I
visited both of these guys at their
homes and got a chance to spend
some time with them and there
families. You can really tell a lot
about a person just by looking
around their homes and watching
them interact with their children and
families.
Indeed these two guys may look
rough and tough on the field and on
the race track, but let me be the
first to assure you they are just reg
ular guys who love their families
very much. They, too, have earned
my respect...
. . .As have country music
greats such as Lee Greenwood,
Loretta Lynn, Lynn Anderson,
Brenda Lee and the Gadin Brothers,
just to name a few.
But, just as I said earlier, for all
the good people you meet in both
everyday life and on special
occasions, you sometimes can
make some other less desirable
acquaintances. Though not the only
one in this category, the infamous
Please see THOMPSON, page 8A