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Houston Times-Journal
P.O. Drawer M • 807 Carroll Street • Perry, Ga. 31069
Ph0ne:(912)987-1823
Member Georgia Press Association-National Newspaper Association
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Your right to read this newspaper is protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.
Our Goa!
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
Advertising Director
News: Jimmy Simpson, Pauline Lewis Sports: Veto Roley
Advertising: Jimmy Simpson Composition: Stacey Shy
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Bookkeeping: Judy Morrow
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of space occupied by the error.
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Your Opinion
Lasseter’s 50th to be July 24
Dear Editor:
Our parents, Mr. and Mrs. Verner Lee Lasseter, Sr., celebrated their
50th wedding anniversary on July 20, 1994. This is a feat so rare that
obviously we wanted to give them the opportunity to celebrate with their
friends and family.
However, due to the recent illness of our father, we have had to
postpone the anniversary celebration scheduled for Sunday, July 24, 1994
at the First Baptist Church.
With best regards,
Mr. and Mrs. Lee Lasseter,
Mr. and Mrs. Greer Lasseter,
and Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Lasseter
Directions created confusion
Dear Editor:
Thank you for your part in the Big, Bang Boom July 2, celebration;
however, a serious error was made in directing the traffic out of the West
Gate by forcing the two left lanes to turn left (South) after the fireworks.
Most people wanted to go Ncrth either into Perry or the 1-75 on ramps.
Many of the people who turned South made an illegal U-turn and came
back to the West Gate bottle-neck.
I can walk to the Fairgrounds from my house in 12 minutes but we did
not get home until almost midnight and 1 had two small children with me.
We could have seen the fireworks from cur street.
Please, investigate this and try to work out a better traffic control plan
before the next major event at the Georgia National Fairgrounds. Thank
you very much.
Sincerely,
Rev. F.D. Henzler
No reasons are found for United States’ invasion small nation of Haiti
The Monroe Doctrine was popu
lar with United States presidents in
the late 1800 s and early 1900 s, giv
ing them the pretext they needed to
go into various Central American
nations, and run them like the
United States wanted them ran.
The Monroe Doctrine, however,
was not so popular with the various
Central American nations the
United States sent its forces into,
either to regulate customs, collect
taxes or restore stability.
In 1905, the United States
looked at a nearly bankrupt Haiti,
taking over its custom houses. That
lasted until 1941. From 1915 to
1934, United States Marines main
tained direct rule over the poorest
nation in the Americas.
When the United Stales declared
war against Germany in the wan
ning days of 1941, the Monroe
Doctrine was all but repudiated. The
German government had great sym
pathy among our South American
neighbors, who harbored long
memories of United Slates troops
on their soil.
In order to secure the cooperation
of the Central American nations,
nations that could offer port facili
ties, training grounds, air bases and
the such like to the Germans, the
Monroe Doctrine had to go.
What does that have to do with
today?
Well, it seems that President
Bill Clinton has rediscovered the
Monroe Doctrine. From all appear
ances, it looks like Clinton is
about to replay 1915.
But, should we invade Haiti?
The short answer is no.
There was some justification for
the United States action in the early
1900 s. We need to remember that
the world was far different then than
it is now.
At the turn of the century, the
world was multi-polar, meaning
there were several superpowers in
the world. Several of these super
powers, Germany, England and
France, to name a few, were not
happy at Haiti's government not
meeting their interest payments.
Those superpowers were about to
lake matters into their own hands,
and do to Haiti what they did to
China during the Boxer Revolution.
That situation docs not exist to
Georgia will rebuild after dramatic
flood is assessed and lives rebuilt
There are not too many
Georgians around who remember
the big flood of 1925, but there
will surely be a number of us
around for years to come who
remember the floods of 1994.
Frankly, I cannot believe what has
happened in the middle and
southwestern portions of our state
recently. It made one wonder if
God was about to destroy our land
with flood waters as in the days of
Noah.
Prior to the coming of these
tremendous rains caused by tropical
storm Alberto, could many of us
ever be convinced that towns such
as Montezuma, Americus, Albany,
Bainbridge and others could have
been almost totally submerged with
water ten feet high. There is no
way, we would have said. But they
were.
Many have said the raging flood
waters have caused more destruction
than any other happening, and is by
far our state’s most widespread
disaster. Gov. Zell Miller
compared it to Sherman’s march
through Georgia during the civil
war.
“This is a body blow of major
proportions, make no mistake
STREET TALK:
Voter participation in Tuesday’s general primary is being regarded as one of the
poorest turnouts ever in Houston County. Many people eligible to vote often choose
not to visit the polls to cast their ballots on election day. This week we asked people,
“Do you feel like the American public disregards voting?”
y '^ao ' psli ■ m
pP
Marguerite Messer
“I think it is great that most
people do. I think that’s
because a lot of people
are very self conscious.”
Paul Molini
“I don’t think there’s any
doubt about it. When you
see only a quarter of the
people get out, then...”
day.
In fact, there is no reason for
the United States to invade Haiti.
Haiti, for instance, does not pose
even a minimal national security
risk to the United States. It is far
fetched to even imagine an attack
from that nation.
If we were to say that drugs
coming through Haiti posed a na
tional security risk, and drugs do
pose a risk, then we must immedi
ately acknowledge that there are
other nations, namely Columbia, in
the hemisphere that pose a much
greater risk.
There is no great ideological
threat coming from Haiti. For years
we opposed Cuba because of its
ideology and willingness to spread
it throughout Central Ameiica; but,
there is no threat from Haiti.
When looked at closely, the ar
gument that people are being op
pressed also does not justify an in
vasion. Haiti's government, while
no model of moderation, is not the
worst government in the hemi
sphere. Only one nation, North Ko
rea, is more autocratic than Cuba.
Where do we stop?
Houston Times-Journot
Tribble |
about it,” the Governor said. “But
also make no mistake about it that
Georgia is going to come back.
Georgia will rebound. Georgia will
rebuild.”
Very encouraging words from
the Governor, and he is right, our
people will rebound and they will
rebuild, because they are made of
the stuff it will take to move
towards the future not looking
backwards.
Damages to our state’s property,
farm crops and economy will run
into the millions of dollars. It is
too early to know the full extent of
the damages. Large percentages of
funds should be provided by the
federal government to assist with
rebuilding public structures, grants
to individuals and other kinds of
aid. In addition, our public officials
have pledged to do whatever can be
done to help the flooded cities and
counties.
David Holland
"No. I feel that for most of
the elections, we usually
have a real good turnout, I
think.”
' 'gjpifr
Joanne Ogletree
“Yes, especially this
election... Because there
was nothing, or no one, for
anyone to vote for.
If our goal is to spread the
American Revolution through
force, does that not mean that Cuba
is next. And after Cuba, are not re
sponsible to end political oppres
sion wherever it might be found in
the world? When, then, do we in
vade China?
Finally, there is the question
getting out. The last time we were
in Haiti, we stayed for just under
two decades. Have we so quickly
forgotten the lesson of Somalia, the
lesson that nation building takes a
long, long time. Are we willing to
rebuild Haiti?
What, then, should we do in
Haiti?
Perhaps we should realize that it
is not our job to run the earth. The
very definition of a nation means
that nation has the right to impose
whatever rule and government it
wants.
Yes, that docs lead to injustice,
particularly in when the govern
ment is like it is in Haiti, or Cuba,
or North Korea, or China, or in
most of the world. However, we
have no more right to dictate the
choice of government to Haiti, no
The Georgia National Guard has
been hard at work since the
beginning of this catastrophe
rushing supplies and equipment to
flood ravaged sections of Southwest
Georgia. More than 3,000 of our
state’s part-time soldiers have also
helped rebuild roads and stand guard
in these areas. In addition they
have furnished hot meals to
evacuees, purified water and helped
with the sandbagging.
The point I am trying to get to
regarding the Georgia National
Guard is pretty well echoed by what
Montezuma Police Chief Lewis
Cazenave said. The Chief said that
somebody higher up in the National
Guard bureaucracy needs to take
another look before locking the
doors on guard armories around the
area and state. “What are
communities like this going to do
without the National Guard?” he
said. “They’re critical to us in
times like this.”
Yes, the Georgia National
Guard, public employees, law
officers and many others have
worked around the clock during the
flooding. They all deserve our
utmost thanks. And, yes, Georgia
will rebuild!
Teri Simpson
"Pretty much, they d 0... It’s
a shame for people not to
get out (to vote), but they
do disregard it.”
■L*
jp in- M
Paul Felty
"I definately believe the
public takes voting for
granted. They need to
vote, instead of complain.”
SVeto |j
Roley I
Staff Writer I
matter how "enlightened" our views
on the matter, than Haiti has to dic
tate our form of government.
In a perfect world, there would
be no bad governments. But, the
world is not perfect. Unless we are
willing to accept long term military
commitments, we should recognize
the rights of other governments to
behave as they wish.
This does mean that we have to
like what other nations, nor even
approve of their systems. We can
show our displeasure by halting
trade, freezing funds and, in general,
cutting off that nation from the
outside world.
But, if that nation docs not pose
a direct national security risk, we do
not have the right to invade.
Brigette L
|r i Loudermilk I
5? Editor !■
I'll be on the
beach if you
need me...
It is with mixed emotions that I
write this final column for you to
day.
It was not really that long ago
that I walked through the front door
of The Houston Home Journal as
the city reporter (Nov. 1991). But,
looking back on the time I've spent
serving the public through the local
newspaper, whichever name it was,
or is, it sometimes seems like a
lifetime.
I don't know if it is because so
many others have come and gone
through the same door in just the
past few years (almost four) I've
been here, or if it is because so
many of the people I’ve met in this
community seem like lifelong
friends.
I'd like to take the time to say a
special thanks to a few people *in
particular:
•To Perry City Hall: There are
just too many names to mention
because you've all been so kind
(this includes Marion Hay). When I
first came to town, you were the
people I talked with daily and I'm
glad I got to know each and every
one of you. I can honestly say that
everyone in Perry should be proud
of each of you and should thank
you all for the good jobs you do.
There aren't many cities like Perry,
and the community has you to
thank for much of that.
•To Perry Rotary Club: I have en
joyed attending your meetings over
the past year and I apologize for not
joining your club. I feel that you
have set good goals and that your
work really helps those less fortu
nate-keep it up!
•To Peggie Williams and the
chamber staff and Fay Tripp and the
Welcome Center staff— thanks for
always helping me out when I was
a story short and a day late-you al
ways seemed to pull something to
gether for me. Also, you've all been
good friends.
•To Teresa Hawk and Sherri
Wengler—although we don't work
together anymore, I've enjoyed the
lunches and will miss you both. I
promise to call when we get settled
down in the Sunshine state and I
will have extra space if you want to
take a vacation down our way.
•To Laura and Kay, Connie and
Donna (although you're no longer
at the PD Momma Donna)-The
things I said about the city staff
certainly includes you girls, but I
just wanted to give you a special
thanks for your friendship-keep
smiling.
•To the HTJ staff—lt's been real
and it's been fun, but it’s time for
me to move on (finally). I've en
joyed working with you all and it's
comforting for me to know our
readers are in good hands. Keep up
the good work.
I've enjoyed working in Perry and
I've enjoyed working here, but, as
they say, all good things must
come to an end.
So, this being my last edition of
the Houston Times-Journal I'd like
to say farewell to everyone who has
been so kind to me. If you're down
Florida way, maybe I'll see you on
the beach.
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