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Viewpoints Our Opinions Players deserve a big round of applause from community If any one group in Perry deserves a standing ovation, it is the Perry Players. Not only have they continually brought us quality entertainment and cultural experiences for the many years they’ve had a stage here, but they also continue to grow and are now attracting much-deserved attention from theater lovers far and wide. What a blessing it is to have so much tal ent in one place-especially when that place is our own little hometown of PerTy, Georgia. If you haven’t already had the opportunity, make plans right now to experience the Perry Players for yourself. “Arsenic and Old Lace”--one of the best screwball comedies ever written-is gracing their stage this Thursday through Saturday, June 16-18, and we hear it’s one of their best performances ever! And, while you’re there, make it a point to tell members of the group how wonderful their new community theater looks. Although the walls still need painting, the building already is a splendidly intimate, conve nient performance space and a definite asset to our community. The Players’ Community Theatre is located at 909 Main Street Your Opinion Voter thinks Bill Lightle could serve Bth District well Dear Editor: On July 19, 1994, I will go to the polls to vote in the Bth District Congressional Democratic primary election. lam not a rich person. I know what it means to put in a hard day's work, and to relax at the end of the day knowing that I have done a good job. As I consider the candidates in the election, I want to elect someone to represent me who knows the value of a hard day's work. Someone who hasn't had everything given to him. I want to vote for a person who knows my wants and needs as a working person. I think the best person running is a Lee County school teacher named Bill Lightle. He was my American History teacher three years ago, and I know from my experience that he is a man of the people. Although he is intelligent and funny, he also is a common man who cares about the best interests of regular people like myself. When the primary rolls around, just remember—we have the opportunity to put one of our own in office. Bill Lightle. Sincerely, Michael Eugene Patton, Albany *74e “ffouAtoH 0 7cnte4rfoc<nK4l *2oelco*Ke<i 'tytuet Aetten& *76e ScUtvi. Pteo&e rfcUOteM, t6e*K. To: 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 maJLe. ruv a/v pi*** p- -.-.—X/y- fry n4t t m euuL to> tX<*- 9 aA*mA*\*rya*JL fa*- Your right to road this newspaper is protected by the First Amendment of the United Stales 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 Advert la Ing Director Newt: Brenda Thompson, Pauline Lewis Sport s; Veto Roley Advertising Jimmy Simpson 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. ISSNHO7S-1874 Insight into the debate on state funded education LAST WEEKEND I attended a meeting for one of the many potential candidates for governor of Georgia this year. Some interesting topics were discussed. One subject that provided insight into education in our state seems worthy of passing on. For example, one person wanted to know why the state doesn’t impose a sales tax to pay for public school education to replace local property taxes. The candidate and others in the audience explained why a potential state sales tax of 7 percent would be a big mistake. One school board member, for example, confirmed what the candidate said about this creating a void where local county officials would see an opportunity to raise property taxes for their own use. The end result would be more taxes...not less. "I attended a meeting recently when this was discussed," the board member said. "I was shocked when a member of the legislature said he thought it would be good if the state took over all funding of public education because it would give county commissioners a new source of revenue." Another serious objection to the state completely funding public education is that it would take control completely out of the hands of local citizens. A former school board president said that he has dealt with the bureaucrats in the state -the P&amut galley 7^ a CHARMING s i », 7' " CAREFUL, iT HAS A ©Mim '94 Tr£ • \ A Even the rain couldn't spoil this 'vacation' I really don't have an opinion to day on much of anything... It's Tuesday afternoon and I'm try ing to get this written in time to donate blood at the Rotary Club drive being held at CB&T. I hope I saw you there! * * * Although I'm a procrastinator by nature (I inherited it from my mother), I really didn't wait until the last minute on purpose. You see, I was the poor, unfortunate soul paid to go to Florida this weekend and pick up a truckload of equipment and supplies for two area newspapers. (POOR ME!!) My husband and I took off Friday afternoon for Fort Walton Beach and had a wonderful time. We picked up the equipment Sunday and, wouldn't you know it, hit pouring rain not 10 minutes after hitting I-10. So, we drove to the first overpass and parked underneath in an effort to save the load we were hauling back to Fort Valley. We met some very interesting people and I got great shots of lightning and scared, drenched peo ple, truckers and, of course, lots of rain to end out our vacation (?) Voice Your Opinion ... Write a Letter to the Editor! All opinions published are not necessarily those of this newspaper, therefore all letters must be signed. Houston Times-Journal education department and they are not one bit interested in what the public wants..." They believe they know everything about education and everybody else knows nothing," he said. It was an interesting insight into a serious subject. * * * WHAT JOBS? President Clinton is pushing "welfare reform". The basis of his "reform" is job training for people on welfare. Once they are trained, where are the jobs? President Clinton's administration is forcing businesses-small and large-to reduce the number of employees they have to comply with new government regulations and pay for new programs. If his health care "reform" goes through you will see many more jobs eliminated and many small businesses fold up. If he trains people receiving welfare for jobs that do not exist will he then take them off welfare in two years, as he claims he will? Certainly not. It would be inhumane to do so in many cases. In other words, there will be no real welfare reform and there will be less jobs which should increase the number of people needing welfare. So welfare will cost more...not less. * * * READING MATTER: Wasn’t it silly for the female firefighter to go to court claiming sexual harassment because a male firefighter reads Playboy magazine at work? A video. By the time we hit Dothan, Ala. it was still raining and getting dark. We stayed with my uncle who lives there-he calls the area LA (Lower Alabama). * * * My first vacation in three years, and it's two days long—but, those two days were fun. Some of the highlights included: •Watching bungee jumpers. We wanted to take the plunge Saturday evening but had left the video cam era in the room and didn’t make it back Sunday because of the rain. •Meeting a bunch of newspaper people from Texas who were stay ing at the same motel for a news paper convention. We had dinner with a lively group from Waco one evening. •One of the pools at the Ramada Resort was fantastic. We were beachside, but the rooms poolside were really poolside, so close in fact you could jump in from the door. • * * Of course staying in LA with Uncle Jay was entertaining also. When we arrived, he had a big dinner of ribs, chicken and the fix Page 4A Wednesday, June 15,1994 K Houston Time&-Journal court, even in this convoluted society, said she was off base. * * * SAVE THEM? A new wrinkle: the federal government has decided that it is dangerous to skate on rollerblades. Now wome busybody bureaucrats, who really should be fired if they have nothing more to do, want to set up regulations concerning rollerblading. Can't the bureaucrats leave people alone to hurt themselves if they want to? * * * MEDDLING: Another example of federal meddling is the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) stating that local governments should have a set of rules (completely unenforcible) concerning teenagers driving automobiles. Has the CDC run out of diseases for which to seek cures? Obviously this is just another example of a federal agency seeking to extend its influence in order to get bigger. * * * CHANGING TIMES: A statement by Air Force Secretary Sheila Widnall got my attention. She said, "I am concerned that all our people be treated with sensitivity and dignity." My how times have changed since I spent four years in the Navy during World War 11. I cannot imagine anyone connected with any of the military services making such a statement back then. Obviously, times have changed...and so has serving in the military. ings cooked and friends over. Although Jay is 20 years older than Bart and me, he is a great guy and a true friend. He's determined to win the Florida lottery, which is going to be $29 million this week since nobody won the $lB million last weekend. He enjoys golf and jokes. . . he’s always got a few jokes when you see him. Since golf is in full swing, so to speak, I'll pass along one for the golfers reading this. (WARNING: Although there is not obscene language or acts in this joke, if you're offended by cigarettes or whiskey, pass this over.) An avid golfer had been stranded on a desert island for two and a half years with no company. Suddenly one day a beautiful woman walked up on shore from the ocean in a wet suit and ap proached the man. When he told her of his plight she remarked, "Gosh, after two years I bet you'd really like a cigarette," to which he replied "Yes." So, the beautiful woman unzipped her wet suit an inch or so and pulled out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter an gave them to the man. IS HE SERIOUS? It has been reported in many places that Sen. Sam Nunn may not seek another term. I have expressed my dismay...and my hope that he will remain in the Senate many, many more years. However, people I know to be personal friends of his insist he is serving his last term there. They say he is "tired" and, since his opportunity to become president has passed, he sees no reason to continue the terribly demanding job he has now. * * * SMARTER? Students who take the SAT tests next year are going to be much smarter than those who took the test this year...at least, their scores will make it look that way. Because SAT scores have been declining steadily in recent years the College Board has decided to do something about it. Since teaching the students more seems impossible, beginning next April SAT scores will be inflated by 100 points. So, obviously, beginning next year students will be much, much smarter than this year's crop. f Brigette L Loudermilk! Editor As he was smoking his cigarette, the beautiful woman spoke again. "I bet you'd really like a sip of whiskey to go with that cigarette,” she said. "I sure would," the man replied. So, the woman unzipped her wet suit another inch or two, pulled out a flask of whiskey and handed it to the man. As he was sitting there enjoying his cigarette and whiskey, she sud denly said, "Two and a half years is a long time to be stranded on a desert island alone. Would you like to play around?" The man looked at her and asked in amazement, "You've got golf clubs in there?" I know that's probably one for the sports page, but it brightened my Sunday evening and I hope it brightens your day.