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Houston Times-Journal Volume 124 No. 52 2 Sections, 16 Pages I Inside Today | Calendar 3A Classifieds 7A Death Notices 2A Editorials 4A Lifestyles IB Sports 6A Rack Rates Will Be $52/yr Buy a Subscription For $25 + tax & Save $25.75 Political forum to be held at Ochlahatchee Clubhouse BY BRENDA THOMPSON Staff Writer Members of a local neighbor hood watch program will be turning their watchful eyes toward county politics during their monthly meet ing this Thursday. According to Leslie Belcher, chairman of the Devonwood Neigh borhood Watch program, all resi dents of the local subdivision as well as the six candidates vying for the Houston County Commission’s post two seat have been invited to a special political forum scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, June 30, at the Ochlahatchee Clubhouse in Perry. “Since most of the publicity for the upcoming elections seems to center around the candidates of the larger state and national-level races, we thought it would be good to give our residents the opportunity to learn more about those in the lo cal county race first-hand,” Belcher said in a telephone interview Mon day. ‘This will give the candidates a chance to tell us what they stand for and will allow us to ask them some questions about things that directly affect us.” The format for Thursday’s meet ing will be very casual, with each candidate being allowed approxi mately five minutes each to cam paign for themselves. Following the individual speeches, the floor will be opened to questions with each candidate answering as they de sire, Belcher said. Those candidates expected to at tend the forum include: Republican James Carter of Kathleen, Democrat Billy Hunter of Bonaire, Democrat Ronald Wayne Ragin of Perry, Re publican Nora Reese-Laughlin of Warner Robins, Republican John F. Wylam of Warner Robins and Democrat Randolph E. Wynn of Warner Robins. Devonwood is a subdivision of 69 houses located in Houston County, just outside of Perry’s city limits. Residents have been holding organized “Neighborhood Watch” meetings for a little over a year now. Meetings have included a number of neighborly get-togethers, traditional security-type programs and just about any other topic of neighborhood concern. Mary Gentry named PHS Teacher of the Year By PAULINE LEWIS Staff Writer Mary Gentry has been selected Perry High School's Teacher of the Year 1993-1994. This honor was begun with a pre liminary vote by her peers, the PHS faculty composed of almost 60 members. Five finalists were then asked three questions. Their answers were sent away for judging by an impartial panel to determine the winner. Gentry has been a teacher at Perry High School for seven years, teach Page 6B ■t, * ’•Hr ■<,. i ——— HjL BIL ■ ‘i j «, JHE , ‘ VhK S T-ir jdlS' ‘^p r Stella Jones, who along with husband Ed Jones, owns a fruit stand on Sam Nunn Boulevard, says this year’s peach crops are the best she can remember In recent years. From onions to peaches... Produce stands offer a variety of home-grown specialties BY BRENDA THOMPSON Staff Writer From the time the Vidalia onions make their debut in early spring to the finale crop of luscious Georgia peaches in late August, local residents and travelers, can count on Ed and Stella'Jones to bring them the best in home-grown fruit and garden specialties. As the owners of “Ed’s Fruit Stand”, located in the parking lot of Harold’s Amoco on Sam Nunn Boulevard in Perry, that’s their job --five straight months a year, seven days a week and 13 hours a day. And, they both seem to gen uinely love it. . .despite the long hours, and the inclement weather which has pounded Middle Georgia quite frequently in the past few weeks. “We get hot and, lately, wet at least three times a day,” Stella ing chorus, plane geometry and two classes each in applied math 1 and 2. Her students in applied math are enrolled in vocational classes. Prior to coming to Perry High School in 1987, she taught at Northside Middle School in Warner Robins from 1981-1987. She piloted applied math in Houston County four years ago; It is now in every high school in Houston County and will soon be in every high school in the State, mandated as a required course for Official Organ For Houston County, City of Perry & State of Georgia Jones said while looking up to wards the sky on a cloudy Monday afternoon. “But, it’s still very en joyable. We meet a lot of really nice people from all over the nation and many of them come back year after year." laHes of Fort Valley, the Jonqßd they chose the fruit stand businX as their post-retirement ca reer five years ago. They specialize in many of the area’s most famous locally-grown fruits and veggies-- from peaches, watermelons, toma toes, cantaloups and onions to, of course, peanuts--all of which, due to a very favorable growing season, seem to be of greater quality and volume this year. “They say everything is doing better this year,” Mrs. Jones said. “Especially, the peaches. They just seem to be getting bigger and big vocational students. She enlists the aid of teachers in literary events and coaches music events for the entire school. She is chairman of the Fine Arts Department which includes chorus, band, Spanish, French, drama, speech, art, and special education. A native of Unadilla, she is a graduate of Unadilla High School, attended Shorter College one year, received her BA degree in Math from Tift College in 1981 and her Master degree in Math Education mw Am i|*c.i, »'• j»i > mi ii ( 't 1 987-1823 Sports Page 6A Wodnoqri.tv iunp ?Q, IQQ4 ger. I think it’s probably the best crop we’ve had in the past three to four years.” Of all the produce they sell, however, both the Jones say they have the most fun with their hot boiled peanuts. A true southern del icacy foreign to most people out side of the deep south, northern travelers are usually at least willing to give them a try. “It’s funny to watch them; most of those that try them for the first time say they taste like beans,” Mrs. Jones said, laughing. “And, some really like them and buy a couple of bags to take home every time they pass through.” Ed’s Fruit Stand is open from 7 a.m. until dark seven days a week April through August. All produce is fresh and comes directly from in dividual local farmers and/or the farmers’ market. from Georgia Southwestern College in 1991. One of Mary's greatest thrills in teaching was to have Lynn Hawkins, one of her former math students, return to Perry and stu dent teach under her at Perry High School. Her parents are Harry and Carolyn Hamrick of Unadilla. Her mother is a retired special studies teacher; her dad owns a furniture store and is still active in that business. Her brother, Jim Hamrick, also lives in Agricenter to host fireworks extravaganza BY BRENDA THOMPSON Staff Writer The skies over Perry will burst with color and wizardry this Satur day evening as a full day of family fun at the Georgia National Fair grounds and Agricenter culminates with what has been dubbed the “fireworks extravaganza of the year”. Called “Big * Bang * Boom!”, the event is being produced by C.C. Event Productions of Tampa, Fla. and will also include 12 hours of continuous entertainment from rides, games and arts and crafts ex hibits to great food, live music and GSP predicts 19 deaths on state roads during holiday The State Patrol is predicting that 19 traffic deaths may occur in the upcoming July 4th holiday period beginning at 6 p.m., Friday, July 1, 1994, and ending at midnight, Monday, July 4, 1994. Another 746 injuries are predicted in 1,980 accidents during the 78-hour holiday period. Last year 15 deaths occurred in the same holiday period, but Patrol analysts say record traffic volumes this year so far have pushed the expectation higher. An average of 15 highway deaths have occurred each July 4th over the past 10 years. Georgia Public Safety Commissioner Colonel Sid Miles, Police arrest two, search for one in thefts at S&E By BRIGETTE LOUDERMILK Editor What was reported to police as three separate break-ins at a Perry car lot last week turned out to be false. According to Captain Steve Heaton of the Perry Police Depart ment, during the investigation Perry detectives determined that two car stereos and a go-cart were all stolen from S&E Sales sometime between June 20 and June 21. Police received three reports last week of break-ins at S&E Sales, located on Courtney Hodges Blvd., from pwner Steve Wiley. According to Heaton, Jessie Askew Jr„ 20, of 808 Haliburton St., was arrested last week on forgery charges and through interviews with police, it was determined he was involved with both cases of entering autos and the theft of the go-cart. Police have also charged a juvenile with the three thefts and his case has been turned over the juvenile authorities. Both Askew and the juvenile have been charged with one count of theft by taking and two counts of entering autos. Another adult is also responsible for the theft of the go-cart and po lice have obtained a warrant for his arrest Heaton said police expect to pick up the third suspect “in the next few days.” He is expected to be charged with theft by taking. Captain Heaton stated "the detectives did an outstanding job in solving the case and recovering the stereos." Jerry Whitney, owner of Perry Pawn Shop and the go-cart (which was located on Wiley's property), recovered the go-cart last week. Unadilla. Mary Gentry is married to Greg Gentry, son of Ralph and Annette Gentry, a farmer and City Councilman, and a nurse, respec tively. Greg has been teaching math at Perry Middle School for two years, and prior to teaching, farmed with his dad. Greg's brother, Phil, will be teaching agriculture at Houston County High School next fall. He Please see GENTRY page 5A Classified Page 7A Perry, Georgia - SO Cents a host of special contests in which guests can celebrate the July Fourth weekend. Gates open and festivities kick off at 11 a.m. and will continue un til 11 p.m., with the fireworks dis play scheduled to begin around 9:30 p.m. To be presented by the “First Family of Fireworks”, Zambelli In ternationale, the pyrotechnic salute will also be synchronized to music being simulcast by WDEN 105- FM. Other events slated for the day include: Please see FIREWORKS, page 5A in announcing the predictions, said, “Unfortunately, failure to use seat belts and the use of alcohol while driving will be the biggest culprits again this year.” Last year eight, more than half, of the deaths were alcohol leiatcu. Ir. sc: en deaths, no safety equipment (seat belts) was in use. In a typical good news-bad news scenario, improved economic conditions are pushing travel volumes higher, but on the down side, this creates more risk for accidents, injuries and deaths, said Col. Miles. “With the increase we are seeing in travel this year, we Please see HOLIDA Y, page 5A i "jt * mL Mary Gentry