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Viewpoints Your Opinion Market Would Be Boost Dear Editor: The Freeport Tax is a tax on those products consumed or produced by a manufacturing plant When a new business plans to relocate in Georgia, that business calls the Secretary of State’s office with a checklist of questions about the counties they are considering. When the new business learns that Houston County is one of only three of the businesses on 1-75 from Tennessee to Florida that has a Freeport tax, then Houston County is eliminated from their consideration. Last year Anchor Glass paid over $62,000 in Freeport taxes. We must do everything we can to bring each and every factory and business to Perry and South Houston County. I favor establishing a Farmer’s Market at the Agri Center in perry. According to the Chamber of Commerce figures, 100 jobs in Perry means 351 more people, 79 more school children, $1,036 more personal income per year, 97 more families, $490,000 more in bank deposits, one more retail establishment, a stronger and more active chamber, and $560,000 more in retail sales per year. Randy Wynn will work hard to bring every job he can into Houston County. Sincerely, Randy E. Wynn Reader Urges Closings Dear Editor: We as a nation are treading on dangerous grounds. We probably have experienced the worst flooding in middle Georgia than ever before. I am no expert in weather conditions, but I know one that is. He is God of Heaven and Earth. He made the heavens and earth in six days and rested on the seventh day. He told us to rest on the seventh day, many are disobeying what God told us to do. I believe He is showing us that He is God-there is none beside Him, if God had time to rest on the Sabbath day, surely man has time, too. On the contrary most businesses operate on the Sabbath day. For this cause and many other causes probably Gods wrath has been kindled against us. I urge all people who operate businesses on Sunday to close their doors with the exception of emergencies. God will bless you in doing so. Geo. R. Hunt Ins. Race Needs Study Dear Editor: Do you think we need Christmas in July? As concerned citizens of Houston County we should pay close attention to the Insurance Commissioners Race. Your vote July 19th is important. Too many times we vote only on name recognition. Everyone knows the name of the incumbent, we want you to know the person behind the name, Barbara Christmas. Ms. Christmas has a doctorate in Management, proven excellence in her field, believes in a consumer-oriented, free enterprise system and has a pristine reputation. She has the ability to work effectively with government bureaucracy, unlike the incumbent Georgia needs a free market in insurance. That is the way to low costs and consumer choice. We need to restore a healthy market, support Barbara Christmas for Insurance Commissioner. Sincerely, Dovie Wilcox Deadlines For Submitting News Articles and Photographs 5 pm Monday for Wednesday Edition 5 pm Thursday For Saturday Edition i * * Houston Times-Journal P.O. Drawer M • 807 Carroll Street • Perry, Ga. 31069 Phone: (912) 987-1823 Member Georgia Press Association-National Newspaper Association -.fi g. . a/v psvaSujLiLw^ •MAAAAMM, a*, tw tfiA> pvMAA* o/v t op tfuer p«np/-» pMAr.+aXly In, aAJtv+rrJJi+t qltA, to, petit i o/v 9 cva*<Uoo, o^yu^o/uf.^Ai Your right to rtad thlt newspaper is protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. Our Goal The Houston Tlmes-Journal is published proudly for the citizens of Houston and adjoining counties by Houston Publications lnc.,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 Brlgette Loudermllk Editor and General Manager Eddie Byrd Advertising Director News: Brenda Thompson, Pauline Lewis Sports: 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. ISSN:IO7S-18/4 Put Health Care In The American Family’s Hands A recent ABC/Washington Post poll showed that 51 percent of Americans agree with the statement that “the more they hear about the Clinton Health Care Plan, the less they like it.” A similar survey found that more than 65 percent of those who understand the plan well disapprove of it The Clinton plan would impose a mandate on employers to pay 80 percent of their employees’ health care premiums, which if imposed would cause many small businesses to fail. Our company has paid almost 90 percent of the employees health care plan for several years now, but only 35 percent of the employees’ family health care cost Edwin Feulner, president of The Heritage Foundation, says we should take health care out of the hands of employers and put it in the hands of the average American family. And it appears he is on the right track. Employers don’t handle auto or homeowners insurance for their employees, and they don’t lost that insurance when they change jobs. As Feulner points out, the major Sfe-' v JSSalgk, jaBBMBL Bl r®, H* ' JmSSIIW 1 mm Perry Scrapbook Pictured at the Perry High School majorettes practicing for the big upcoming football season In 1971-72. Kneeling In front Is co-captaln Kathy Adkins. Directly behind her Is Janet Lawhorn. The majorettes forming a semicircle around them are, from left, Mary Helm, Rosemary Williams (head majorette), Gall Merryman, Diane Mayo and Sandy King. STREET TALK: Volunteers are playing a key role in the recuperation of the many Georgians who fell victim to one of the worst natural disasters in Georgia’s history-devastating floods that have already claimed 30 lives and thousands of homes. This week, we asked six volunteers who are helping out the American Red Cross’ Middle Georgia Chapter at their newly opened food distribution center at Perry Elementary School why they chose the Red Cross through which to lend a helping hand to others in need. jrf ■■ Donna Taylor "After Hurricane Hugo hit South Carolina, I contacted the Red Cross to start helping in other areas.” SFS3 W^' Norine Raymo "I was needing something fulfilling— a lady told me about Red Cross, and when I found an outlet, it was great to be able to help others get back on their feet...” Houston Times-Journal Page 4A reason employers handle health care for their employees now is because they get a tax write-off for those premiums paid by the company. Why not give the write-off directly to the individuals in the form of a tax credit or voucher and let them select the plan that best suits the needs of their family. That way they won’t have to accept the benefit plans the employer chooses and won’t lose it when they change jobs. The Clinton plan will force Americans to accept a standard benefit package plan. Using Feulner’s proposal, Americans could pick which benefits they need and were able to pay for and reject those they don’t want or cannot afford. Competition among health insurers would provide families the plan they desired at the lowest possible price. The Clinton plan calls for budget ceilings and price controls to hold down medical costs. However, price controls have never worked in other industries, and they are not likely to work in the medical field. As much competition as possible if Battle Smith “I found the Red Cross to be the best way to help people directly and more quickly." Chuck Hickman “I retired and was driving an emergency blood vehicle for Red Cross. A fellow I worked with was in the ‘Disaster Unit’, and he encouraged me to get involved.” Saturday, July 16,1994 "Houston Timoa-Journol among insurance companies, hospitals, doctors and drug companies is the most logical way to hold down costs. Canada’s health care system has price controls and health care rationing, and some of our liberals in Congress say it is just what we need as a-perfect model. But they forget to tell us that Canada’s plan is the world’s second most expensive health care system, that the cost has risen from $6 billion to S4O billion over the past 30 years, and that last December they had to empty hundreds of hospital beds in Ontario and shut down operating rooms for all but emergency procedures for three weeks in order to stay within their government imposed budgets. In Canada patients receive medical services on the basis of quotas, not on the basis of need. During 1992 some 260,000 Canadians had to wait several months for major surgery. What good is so-called health care for everyone if they are denied access to the system? President Clinton once said: Marion Schlabach "After my husband retired, we got bored and needed something to do. He chose working with the American Red Cross.” Diana Platenyk "When i moved to South Carolina, the newcomers club said they needed help. I found out this is the best way to help people directly. It’s very rewarding." Bob | Tribble I 1 * « “The American people provide those of us in government service with terrific health care benefits at reasonable cost. We have health care that’s always there. I think we need to give every hard working, taxpaying American the same health care security they have already given to us.^ It is said that the president’s (Hillary’s) own health care plan looks nothing like the federal employee plan. “Our president often fakes right, but runs left. He talks about choice, competition, and simplification, but would restrict our choice, destroy the competitive marketplace, and further bureaucratize the U.S. health care system," Feulner said. And yes, he’s on track again. Brenda • 1 S* j Thompson |g Staff writer Flood Has Destroyed All Dreams This morning on the way into work, I found myself getting a little tense. Because of all the road closings, I had to go all the way around my thumb to get back to my nose. And, then I thought of the thou sands of people who have been af fected by the great floods of 1994 and I forced myself back to reality. My problems are nothing com pared to what others in our great state have gone through during the past week and what they will go through during the coming months as they try to deal with the grief of losing loved ones and friends and the pain of putting their lives and their homes back together. It will be a true test of strength both emotional and physical-as they all begin to rise and walk through the mass devastation that raging flood waters have left be hind. It’s not going to be easy. I know because my own brother, who lives on Lake Blackshear near Americus, just lost his home on Friday. It just rips your heart out to know that there are so many others across the state that are going through the same thing. Gary has worked so hard for the past couple of years making him self a home on the banks of Lake Blackshear. Using his savings to make everything was just perfect, from his cozy dream home, strong sea walls and docks to a perfectly manicured yard. Like so many others, he has invested much of his own blood, sweat and tears into that home-in fact, much of his life is there. Now it’s gone. His roof top barely peaking from the still and eerie waters. Everything in it satu rated and covered in the muddy wa ters that, up until last week, he played in. I just thank God that he’s got good friends and co-workers to help him . . .that they were there for him; that they at least got some of his personal belongings and sen timents out before it all happened. And, that he has a place to stay as he tries to put his own life back together. I just thank God that he is o.k. Because I know there already are at least 28 other fellow Georgians that aren’t-just like two of Gary’s friends who lost their 17-year-old son who had volunteered to go out and help his grandfather’s telephone company last week. The boat the teenager was riding in got caught in some forceful currents, capsized and he drowned. I just hope that the worst is over with and that no other lives will be lost; that people who are living in the areas with contaminated water supplies will be careful and patient as they await for things to return to normal. There are still a lot of dan-