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SPARER fkujcoi LIBRARY 30602 V 5 Page 3A Houston Tlmes-Journal Volume 124 No. 59 1 Section, 8 Pages Inside Today Church News 3A Classifieds 7A Death Notices 2A Editorials 4A Local Calendar 5A Sports 6A Rack Rates Will Be $52/yr Buy a Subscription For $25 + tax & Save $25.75 Perry Briefs Blood drive Aug. 17 Members of the Perry commu nity will have the chance to donate blood at the following local blood drive : •Wednesday, August 17 at Crossroads United Methodist Church from 1:30-7 p.m. Breakfast is July 27 A governmental update will be given to chamber members at the August Good Morning Perry Breakfast. The event will be held Wednesday, July 27 at 7:30 a.m. in the Fairview Room at the Agricenter. Coffee and donuts will be provided. Make reservations now by call ing the local chamber at 987-1234 by July 26. DOT accepts bids The Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) has accepted 21 of the 31 apparent low bids received in its June 24, 1994 contract letting. The total cost of these statewide projects will be $14,622.37. A contract award was made which calls for construction in Houston County. A contract was awarded to McAfee Design & Distributing Co., Inc. of Atlanta for installation of fence on a bridge on County Road 622 (Gaines Drive) over 1-75 in Perry. The low bid amounted to $23,180. The scheduled completion date is September 30, 1994. Roadway improvement projects are an integral aspect of the DOT’S commitment to providing the best in transportation for the citizens of Houston County and the entire state. Elections office puzzled over lack of ballots By JIMMY SIMPSON Staff Writer Despite some confusion at one polling site, election officials reported no major problems in Tuesday’s primary elections. “We were very disappointed with voter participation, though,” said Jo Anne Shipes, elections supervisor for Houston County. That continent came after officials calculated only 25 percent of the county’s 40,397 registered voters visited the polls. “We weren’t expecting a real high turnout to begin with,” said Shipes, who earlier said officials were hoping that at least 30 percent of the voting crowd would show. “But we were expecting more than 10,000 people to vote.” Several factors could have played a role in the low numbers, according to the supervisor. $5,400 price tag City police to tighten hold on DUI offenders By VETO F. ROLEY Staff Writer The Perry Police Department has a good intoximeter in use. Yet, the Perry City Council voted Tuesday, July 19, to purchase a new in toximeter for $5,400. The culprit, however, is not the city council; but, the Georgia Leg islature, which passed legislation in the last session making the current intoximeter used by the city obso lete. "As the result of recent legisla tion, the machine we use will no longer be acceptable in court," Christmas In July ’ ■ ■■ MUt W M jUjHk *.!)«<.•» mm 422-42* "cum ■k?:Jj; MK ■ - >* Jb i This check will provide the county with much-needed funds as work crews continue to make repairs to a number of sites In the area caused from recent floods. GEMA comes to rescue in aftermath of floods By VETO F. ROLEY Staff Writer Sherrill Stafford received an early Christmas present from Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) Director Gary McConnell in the form of a $511,000 check Wednesday, July 20, for the repair of local county infrastructure destroyed or damaged by floodwaters two weeks ago. Stafford said the money would give the county "cash flow" to help pay for repairs that are underway. Several bridges and roads in the county were damaged by the flood, including the Highway 41 bridge over Mossy Creek between Perry and Warner Robins, Lake Joy Dam, which is the road bed for Lake Joy Road and a dam on Houston Lake Road. Tommy Stalnaker, director of “One of the problems I heard was that the northern end of the county had real bad weather,” Shipes said. Another problem, added Shipes, was that others chose the customary voting procedure-- let the field narrow down to two candidates in November’s General Election and then vote. “I guess the bottom line was, the people who sincerely wanted to vote, got 0ut...” The only minor problem that surfaced on the day, at least according to some voters, was how to get to Tucker Elementary School’s voting booths. Several voters questioned the decision to set up the booths in the gym, instead of the school’s lunchroom. Shipes said that decision was based on a “long term” picture, Official Organ For Houston County, City of Perry & State of Georgia Perry Police Chief Frank Simons told the council. The intoximeters are used to test a person's blood alcohol content in DUI cases. In addition to the in toximeter at the station, the Perry Police Department also uses portable alcohasensors. While the results of the alcohasensors will not stand up in court, Simons said that it gave the officer on the scene probable cause to bring a suspected drunken driver to the station for testing on the intoximeter. While the state does not require law enforcement agencies to have public works for Houston County, said that Lake Joy Road should open sometime next week. Also, the bridge on Highway 41 over Mossy Creek Road should open in the next two-three weeks. However, he said a lot of of repair work depended on having good weather. Stalnaker said repairs to Lake Joy alone cost the county $140,000. According to a news release, 75 < percent ($383,250) of the funds given to Houston County came from federal sources, with the other 25 percent ($127,750) coming from the state. Wednesday's check was part of $1.77 miHion given away lo 13 city and county government by GEMA for flood relief. mainly the Nov. election and specific plans to work around a school schedule. In November, the school will be filled with students and faculty. If booths were designated to the lunchroom, Tucker principal Paul Hartman said sack lunches would be required for that day. “We’d like to try and avoid that,” said Hartman. It was erroneously reported in Wednesday’s edition of the Houston Times-Journal that Hartman had earlier opposed using Tucker, and had expressed his opposition at a public hearing. However, Hartman actually never attended a public meeting. “The only concern I had was with the potential traffic problem in November,” Hartman said. The sites were decided upon after the Board of Elections requested in For News And Subscriptions Call 912-987-1823 Sports Page 6A Saturday, July 23, 1994 intoximeters, it does specify which models can be used, said Simons. "Our machine is still an effective machine," said Simons on Friday, adding that the only reason the city was replacing the intoximeter was the new legislation. "We've got to adopt the new machine by Jan. 1," he said, adding that by adopting the machine now, the city would have more time to train its people in the use of the machine. In other business before the city council, the council approved a mu tual aid agreement with Warner Robins for a period of 10 years. General Primary 6 94 Candidates return to ’camp’ for second campaign battle By JIMMY SIMPSON Staff Writer The way one candidate described it, turnout at Tuesday’s general primary was more like “Mother Nature vs. Voters.” A torrential downpour by early afternoon may have contributed to one of the worst voting turnouts in primary history. “If I hadn’t been running, I probably wouldn’t have gone out myself,” sqid Billy Hunter, a Democratic candidate for Post 2 on the Houston County Commission. As it was, the majority of voters must have agreed. But for most of the candidates, the 25 percent who did make it to the polls was more than welcomed. Wayne Ragin garnered 3,032 votes (43.39 %) to Hunter’s 2,499 strikes (35.76) to set up a Democratic showdown. Randy E. Wynn finished third at the polls with 1,456 tallies (20.8 %). Jim Carter grabbed 1,139 votes (48.83 %) to outdistance Jack Wylam, the receipient of 730 votes (31.29 %), on the Republican side. Nora Reese-Laughlin earned 464 votes (19.9 %) to take the third spot. The top two vote-getters from both the Republican and Democratic sides, not having received a majority vote (50 percent, plus one vote), will now square off to decide one victor from each party in an Aug. 9 runoff. “I felt very satisfied with the turnout, although I think all of us would have liked to see more participation,” said Ragin. “I think this election has been difficult to generate interest primarily because of three things: the mayoral special election in Warner Robins, the recent flood, and the downpour at rush hour when you usually have the largest voter turnout,” he continued. mid-1993 that the previous National Guard Armory precinct be “downsized” in 1994, according to Shipes, in hopes of avoiding long lines. Election officials then had the task of finding locations within voting boundries- not an easy task with the lack of large buildings in certain precincts. “I didn’t have any problem with (elections officials) using the building,” said the principal. “I was just concerned that we needed to try to work out a parking arrangement.” It was for that reason that Shipes said she wanted to get voters accustomed to parking on the Linder St. side of the school during the recent election. ‘The Board of Education was a lifesaver,” said Shipes. The agreement provides for the two cities giving aid to each other in case of natural or man-made dis asters. "It is the express intent of the parties in executing this agreement that mutual assistance shall be pro vided only in the event of a genuine major natural disaster (such as tor nado or earthquake), or in those unusual circumstances where it is determined that loss of life is im minent," reads the agreement. "In the case of fire, assistance will be provided only when the loss of life is imminent. * Jim Carter was the top vote getter In the Republican race, edging out Jack Wylam, but didn't get the required votes to avoid a runoff In August. “I’m going to continue full speed ahead, and not make many changes. We’ve had wonderful volunteers and supporters, having ran a very positive campaign, just as the other candidates.” Carter said that while he would like to see 100 percent of the voting public cast their ballots, he was “real pleased” with the final results. “I certainly believe strongly in the system, and for that, am extremely thankful for the confidence shown in me from those who did turn out,” said Carter. “I just hope that when Aug. 9 arrives, I’ll have let more people know who I am and bring more people to the polls,” he continued. Hunter agreed with the Republican candidate. “I’m very pleased that the voters came out and supported me in such inclement weather,” Hunter said, Shirley Collins, deputy registrar for the county elections office, looks over one of a number of precinct reports with Jo Anne Shipes, elections supervisor. (Photo by Jimmy Simpson) Classified Page 7A Perry, Georgia -50 Cents "The parties agree that it is not the intent of this agreement to pro vide routine law enforcement, fire fighting and emergency manage ment support, nor is it the intent of the parities to augment the level of law enforcement, firefighting and emergency management support beyond the level currently provided by the requesting political subdivi sion." The agreement also provides that "neither party shall be reimbursed by the other party for any costs in curred" under the agreement. ■pprnnis \ w ' Wayne Ragin fared well In the Democratic campaign, but was also forced Into a runoff with opponent Billy Hunter for the Houston County Commission seat. “but I still feel like I’m going to have to go out and work a little bit harder.” “A lot of people worked hard to support me. I ran against some good leaders, all outstanding ladies and gentleman, and I look forward to a very positive race the rest of the way...” Wylam said despite the low ballot count at the polls, he remains encouraged that the public will bounce back in August “I was very disappointed in the low turnout. So many people appear to have apathy towards government,” said Wylam. “I don’t know how they can justify themselves- I look at voting as not only a priviledge, but a responsibility. “I’m equally disappointed that I didn’t do better, but fortunate that I’ve got a second chance.”