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Houston Times- Journal ' ■ i - 1 iji I ■ Volume 124 Ho. 56 ,~v — 2 Sections, t& Page* 5 _•» »■» 14-1 |f|s! II |C Iff I %, ■ Today Classified* 3B ]Trt“ :V ' TNI • ' I Editorials 4A Aniiomiicfwuov?.f... .... ..».* * Q iT*l •I A | D.J, ,x Ki , r : .j > V• J Hotel will celebrate 50 years Mrs. Yates Green of Perry, owner of the New Perry Hotel since 1944, will be celebrating the Fiftieth Anniversary of her ownership of the Hotel during 1994. In appreciation for the loyal patronage of their guests, managing partner Harold Green and the Hotel staff invite everyone who has ever enjoyed a meal in the legendary Coffee Shop to come to a reception on Saturday afternoon, July 16, 1994 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. No invitations will be sent because all are invited to come say hello to the Green family, enjoy a stroll through the summer gardens, listen to Sweet Adeline music by the Ambassadors of The Wings of Harmony, see the Hotel at work on video, and let Hotel memorabilia bring back old memories from the past fifty years. As an anniversary special, complimentary Peach Pan Pie will accompany all lunches and dinners served in the Coffee Shop on July 16. Later events in the anniversary year celebration will include the publication of a cookbook featuring New Perry Hotel specialties. Polls moved from Armory to Agricenter site Due to the activation of the Georgia National Guard in Perry, voters who normally vote at the National Guard Armory will vote at the Georgia Living Center at the Georgia National Fairgrounds for the July 19, 1994 General Primary and the August 9, 1994 General Primary run-off. Voters should use the north gate entrance. Note: This is an emergency situation and will be in effect for these elections only. Here’s the latest on area road situations Since last week’s floods, drivers have found it much more difficult to get around in Houston County and the rest of central Georgia. Roads and bridges throughout the area have been washed out and, though many state, county and city workers are working hard to com plete repairs, it will take some time. The following is an update on local road situations as faxed to the Houston Times-Journal by the Ge orgia Department of Transportation Monday: •In Perry, Park Avenue remains closed; •U.S. 41 is closed only at Mossy Creek, just south of the Highway 96 intersection; •State Route 42 is closed in Peach County as well as right out side of Forsyth; •State Route 49 is closed at Old River Bridge; •State Route 49 and Georgia 11 Page SB fa v> •> JM 4* mm ■ Sarah and J.W. Warren were among the local residents whose home on Elko Road In Perry fell victim to last week’s devastating flood. Their home was up to its roof in water from an overflowing Big Indian Creek. Pictured above with the Warrens is their grandson, Sheddrick Thomas. Flood victims are just glad they still have each other By JIMMY SIMPSON Staff Writer It was a night like any other in the past 36 years for J.W. and Sarah Warren. The two had just sat down to a family dinner, and were watching television when there was a knock at the door. The news was sudden and unexpected: evacuate immediately. Tropical Storm Alberto had arrived. And it was taking the city hostage. “Some people weren’t paying any attention to (the water),” Mr. Warren recalled. “But when it started coming up the vents and onto the floor, no one had to tell us a second time to get out of there.” The Warrens, whose 922 Elko Road home is all but ruined by structural damage, said the events surrounding that horrible July 5 night are still fresh in their minds. Mr. Warren said he had just returned home from a day’s work at Tolleson Supply when he heard news reports of flooding, although not in Houston County. By 9:30 that night, Mr. Warren said he walked outside after hearing an unusual noise and noticed the carport area about a foot under water. It was 30 minutes later that an employee of the city’s Fire Department notified residents of increasing water levels. “The water was rising at a really rapid rate,” Mr. Warren recalled exactly one week after the tragic event, sitting on one of the only are closed at the Bibb County line and Vinson Valley; •U.S. 19 is closed at the Taylor County line; •State Route 26 is closed in Hawkinsville; •Highway 96 is now open east of Bonaire over the Ocmulgee River and between Taylor County to Fort Valley and Butler to Geneva, but is closed west of Interstate 75. •State Route 83 is closed north and south near Forsyth; •State Route 90 southbound is closed in Montezuma, but is now open northbound in Byron; •State Route 224 is open from Montezuma to Perry; •State Route 230 is closed in Hawinsville; •State Route 127 is closed from Perry to Marshallville; •State Route 247 is closed southbound from Allen Road north (Bibb County), but is open from north of Big Indian Creek to Allen Official Organ For Houston County, City of Perry & State of Georgia things that was salvaged, an old wooden chair. The couple said they immediately began scrambling to gather everything they could, while eventually making it out the door with only a few articles of clothing. “By the time we grabbed some clothes, the water was up on the front porch,” Mr. Warren said. “At first I thought it wouldn’t get any higher, but after about 10 minutes, I knew it was time to g 0...” Amidst the tears and uncertainty, the Warrens said they looked back at memories that had stretched the course of 36 years in the same home and wondered what would be left as they sought shelter at a relative’s home across town. “It was really devastating to sit there and think about your house being destroyed,” said Mr. Warren. “It was something that you just can’t put into words.” Three days later, on Friday, the Warrens were given approval to return to their neighborhood. The return visit wasn’t a favorable one. Water completely surrounded the home, about a foot deep, and outside furniture had been ripped completely apart. A propane tank that once lay alongside the home was sent floating about 40 yards to the front porch. “And when I got to the back door,” Mr. Warren said, “I couldn’t even get in.” in Bibb County; •The State Route 247 connector is open all the way; while the 247 Spur, which has been opened and closed several times, was closed again Monday; •U.S. Highway 341 is closed at Fort Valley and is closed from Perry to Hawkinsville, but is open at the Houston/Pulaski county line; •All four lanes of Interstate 75 are open all the way; •Interstate 16 is open all the Bay Creek Bridge north of Perry to way, except for the northbound lanes of Exit 4; •In Macon, Highway 247 is closed at Seven Bridges and Allen Road; •In Warner Robins, Kimberly Road at Lakeshore is closed; •In Centerville, Collins Avenue is closed at the bridge; •In Houston County, the follow ing are closed: Knodishall Drive, Smithville Church Road, Hatcher For Nows And Subscriptions Call 912-987-1823 Sports Page 6A The Warrens said it was at that time that they “just gave up hope.” “Water had just lifted everything up and moved it around. Our bed, dresser, television... Everything was ruined.” The foundation inside is just as bad. Carpet that was once bright white in color now appears chocolate brown, standing at least an inch thick in mud left behind by the murky waters. Wooden floors underneath buckle up in several places throughout the home. It was by far, the two agreed, the most horrendous sight they had seen in their 36 years of marriage. “It was just like death- here today and gone tomorrow,” said Mrs. Warren. The two will now await a decision by federal officials who will decide the severity and fate of all homes damaged in the flood. The Warrens were scheduled to visit Macon yesterday to file forms for disaster monies that will become available soon to homeowners affected by the flood. But in the meantime, the Warrens said they will just hope for the best. After all, they agreed, they haven’t actually lost anything— in a sense. “Actually, people don’t know how happy we are... Money isn’t everything. When you still have your life, that’s when you have everything. We just thank God that we still have each other.” Road, Joy Drive, Ridgedale Drive; Peachblossom Road, Lake Joy Road at Lake Joy bridge and Hous ton Lake Road at Houston Lake/Mossy Creek bridge. An alternate route to Fort Valley from Perry, according to Depart ment of Transportation officials, is to use Valley Drive and go around to Highway 341. Directions to: Cochran/Eastman/Hawkinsville-I --75 to Hwy 26, Hawkinsville; Hwy 129 to Abbeville; Hwy 87 to Eastman/Cochran, 87 to Cochran. 1-75 is open north and south all the way from Atlanta to Florida. (North has been one lane only) Closed in other counties: Hwy 26 in Hawkinsville, Hwy 36W from Forsyth, Hwy 83 north and south near Forsyth, Hwy 42 out of Forsyth, Hwy 41 north out of Forsyth and GA 129 from Hawkinsville to Abbeville. Please see Roads, page 8A * :■ Page 3B Search for airport chief is taking off By VETO F. ROLEY Staff Writer A least four solid prospects for a fixed based operator (FBO) have re sponded to the Perry-Houston County Airport's ad in Trading Planes for an FBO, reported Leon Huffman, an ex-officio member of the Perry-Houston County Airport Authority. However, Lowell Register, owner of Register Aviation, told the authority Monday night, July 11, that finding a FBO that would do what the authority wanted was a "pipe dream.” "You are not going to find 'Joe Blow' to come into Perry, Ga., and make the airport a success," said Register. "I defy you to do it." Register Aviation currently holds a contract with the authority to act as FBO at the airport. The contract was scheduled to expire last April, but was extended to Septem ber, 1994, to keep the airport open while the authority searched for a new FBO. Health department to test flooded wells The Houston County Environ mental Health Office announced this week that it will be conducting free water samples to homes served by non-public water wells. Wells with less than 15 service connections or wells that serve in dividual homes that may have been contaminated by the flood are eligi ble for the free samples. “Should you notice any change in the quality of the water-color, taste or odor-please call to have a sample taken,” health department officials said in a special release faxed to the Houston Times-Joumal Tuesday morning. The county’s environmental health office is working with the state public health system to aug ment local staff for the purpose of well water sampling, local officials said. From July 11 to July 29 in formation will be taken by phone or in person to conduct these sam ples with the actual sampling pro cess to begin as soon as emergency staff becomes available. The health department further recommends that potentially con- Disinfecting your we 11... When flood water enters a well, the water should not be used until it has been disinfected. When flood water recedes to normal levels, follow this procedure: 1. After insuring there is no electrical hazard, pump out all of the contaminated water (flush onto the ground surface and do not over load the septic tank). 2. Allow the well to replenish itself. 3. Disinfect the water system using the complete instructions printed below. 4. Repeat steps two and three. 5. Resume normal usage only after completing the above proce dure. 6. If the well is not in a flooded situation and you were not already having well water problems, you may not wish to disturb the well. Disinfecting well water... Whenever a water supply has been newly constructed or has been repaired, such as a pump replacement or has been shown to be pol luted by laboratory tests, the following measures should be taken to disinfect the supply: 1. Open the supply to the extent that a hose can be inserted at some point at or near the top of the casing. Vent tubes can be unscrewed and removed 2. Pour a chlorine solution directly into the well, using the fol- Please see Walls, page 8A Perry Georgia-30 Cents Register indicated that his com pany was not interested in remain ing at the airport as FBO after the extension ran out in September. "The airport ought to be nice," said Register, who said that his company had made many improve ments in the condition of the air port since it took over as FBO seven years ago. "I can’t afford to do it. The only people who can do it are the taxpayers of Houston County." Register said the economy was not there to allow a private com pany to make a profit as a FBO at an airport the size of the Perry- Houston County Airport. "You can't go in there, build hangers, rent them, and pay them off in 20 years," he said, adding that he had studied the options for several years. Pilots were also not going to stop at the airport just to take on fuel, said Register. "Unless they are coming to Perry for some reason,” Please see Airport, page 8A taminated wells be disinfected as soon as is safely possible. Disinfec tion instructions are included in an accompanying article in today’s Houston-Times Journal and may also be obtained at the Houston County Environmental Health Of fice located at 200 Carl Vinson Parkway in Warner Robins. When calling to apply for the free samples the following informa tion will be needed: •Name; •Mailing address; •Address of sampling location and any identifying landmark if house is not clearly marked; •Location of faucet; and •A daytime phone number where you can be reached. For more information or to apply for the free testing, call the local health department. Calls will be accepted during the department’s regular office hours, 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Additionally, an answering ma chine will record requests during evening hours.