Newspaper Page Text
• Wednesday, August 10,1994, "Houston Times-Journal
Page 4A
Viewpoints
Houston Times-Journal
P.O. Drawer M • 807 Carroll Street • Perry, Ga. 31069
Phone: (912) 987-1823
Th» Houston Tlm«»-Journ.l (USPS 000471) I* published semi-weekly (or SIS.OO per year by
Houston Publicatione, Inc., 807. Carroll Street, Perry, Ga. 11069. Second Ciaaa Postage paid at
Perry, Ga.,POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Houston Times-Journal, P.O. Drawer
M,PerryGa. 11069. ISSN:IO7S-1874
Bob Tribble Daniel F. Evans Julie B. Evans Mitch Tribble
President Vice-President Treasurer Secretary
Jim Kerce
Editor and General Manager
Eddie Byrd
Advertising Manager
News: Jimmy Simpson, Pauline Lewis Sports: Veto Roley Composition:
Melanie Bullington Classified Advertising: Melanie Bullington Bookkeeping:
Judy Morrow Circulation: Donnie Forehand
Byron Maxwell: A fine man
and community leader
By all standards, the late
Byron Maxwell should be re
membered as a pillar of the
Perry community.
As a family man, he was a
devoted husband to his wife,
Louise, of 54 years.
In his church, the Perry
Presbyterian, he was a leader
with regular attendance and
faithful service as a deacon.
As a member of the Perry
Kiwanis Club and the
American Association of
Retired Persons, he con
tributed his time, talents and
energy to numerous projects
which helped make the com
munity a better place for all
residents.
But, it was Mr. Maxwell's
contribution to the community
as co-owner of The Houston
Home Journal that sparks
fond memories here at the
paper.
As a former co-owner of the
paper, Mr. Maxwell was a
regular visitor to our offices
over the years. He often
offered friendly advice and Byron Maxwell looks over
valuable insight into past a copy of The Houston
events which shaped the Perry Home Journal during the
community.
He is remembered as a gentle, knowledgeable man who was
a skilled craftsman in the field of community journalism.
We echo the words of Carolyn Etheridge, wife of the paper’s
co-owner, Cooper, who said: "The community just lost a fine
man. We'll miss him."
Your Opinion
Reader searching for family
Dear Editor:
I am looking for a member of my family, William Perrin Swain, bom
in 1922 in Georgia. In 1944 he married Dorothy Mae Hartley while
stationed at Camp Lejuine Marine Base in North Carolina. In 1945 he
was residing at Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins with his parents.
William and his wife had divorced in 1945-46. He had two or three
brothers, Leonard or Lawrence, and Robert, and a sister named Betty. One
of the brothers may have been a lawyer.
This is all the information that I have. If anyone can help me please
contact me, Gena S. West, 205 &1/2 W. Foulke Ave., Findlay, Ohio
45840. My number is (419) 425-2837.
Sincerely,
Gena S. West
PPG applauds City’s efforts
Dear Editor:
On behalf of the 155 Works 18 employees, I’d like to offer PPG
Industries’ sincere thanks for the City of Perry’s exceptional diligence in
their timely repair of the Valley Drive bridge. The City’s Hugh Sharp,
Director of Public Works, and Frank Simons, Police Chief, not only
communicated and performed superbly, they extended our employees every
possible courtesy (examples: parking and barrier locations) during the
period the bridge was out.
Further, all of the PPG team fully recognizes that the City of Perry
absolutely has it’s hands full with flood related problems, and simply
wants to compliment you and your entire organization for an ongoing
“excellent” flood recovery effort. The “City of Perry Team” is sincerely
appreciated by all of us at PPG.
Thanks again,
Kris E. McGee, P.E.
Plant Manager
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.
Our Goal The Houston Times-Journalts 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.
Member Georgia Press Association-National Newspaper Association
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of
the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a rcdrcc of
grievances." Your right to read thia newspaper is protected by the First Amendment of the United
States Constitution.
mL JhH ■
The effects of ‘second-hand’
smoke should be considered
A new study is out that says
47,000 Americans will die from
secondhand and cigarette smoke this
year, and in addition more than
150,000 non-smokers will have
non-fatal heart attacks due to the
secondhand smoke. That’s as much
as 50 percent more than previous
estimates, the study said.
The 50 percent increase is
projected from an analysis of 1985
info that showed that heart disease
caused by other people’s smoke
killed 62,000 people that year and
caused as many as 200,000 heart
attacks. The reduction since then is
due to a decline in smoking and an
increase in restrictions on smoking
in public places, the study said.
The study was conducted by
Judson Wells, a consultant to the
U.S. Occupational Safety and
Health Administration. His earlier
calculations said that secondhand
smoke was responsible for 32,000
to 37,000 heart diseased deaths a
year in nonsmokers.
The Tobacco Institute countered
the report by saying that a 1986
U.S. Surgeon General’s report by
smoking failed to find a link
between secondhand smoke and
heart disease.
THE PEANUT <3AU-£.RY
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STREET TALK:
In just two days, America’s favoriite past-time, baseball, will officially bring down the
curtain on the 1994 baseball season. Players and owners will try to negotiate to
resolve disputes that currently exist in the $l.B billion industry. One of the biggest
complaints is $7.1 million for a pension fund they say owners are withholding. This
week we asked local followers of the sport to answer the question, “Do you agree
with the players going on strike?”
I .
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latistli” \ if
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Charles Boswell
“Yes. I think they’re right
because they have the
right to negotiate because
they’re a working person.”
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QU9& I
* iflj^BHHr, "T®
Amos Collins
“I think they’re making a
mistake. They should think
about the fans, and should
be loyal to them.”
Houston Times-Journal
Bob i
Tribble I
Considering the above, who do
we believe? It reminds me of
another recent government
sponsored study that now says
eating good old fried eggs isn’t near
as harmful to our health as earlier
studies showed. Seems that maybe
info from some studies is being
twisted whatever way is necessary
in order to arrive with the “facts”
desired before the study was
undertaken.
I like what Edwin Feulner,
president of The Heritage
Foundation, a Washington based
public policy research institute, said
about a recent Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) study on
secondhand smoke. He said the
study is “mostly smoke and
mirrors, and is inconsistent with
virtually every other serious study
of the subject ever done. When the
federal nannies are determined to
w
Marvin Hill
“I don’t think they’re giving
fans enough respect,
especially with the amount
of money they’re making.”
,s§! £f :
Chad Lewis
“I think it’s kind of sad.
They’re showing where
their main interests really
are... with money.”
regulate our lives, they rarely let
the facts get in the way. This is
certainly the case with regards to
secondhand smoke.”
Feulner, who admits to loving a
good cigar, says he is willing to
acknowledge that smoking is what
Great Aunt Gertrude called a “dirty
habit.” “And, all things considered,
you would be better off if you ate
properly, exercised, got a good
night’s sleep, and stayed away from
smokes,” he added.
“If you smoke enough cigars or
cigarettes it’ll make your teeth
yellow and smell your clothes, but
drinking lots of coffee can yellow
your teeth, too; cleaning fish will
make your clothes smell, and riding
in a car, or a diet too high in fatty
foods, can kill you also, as will
lots of other normal, everyday
things people do. Where does the
government draw the line?” he
asked.
Feulner concluded, “this is still
supposed to be a free country. In
truth, most smokers now bend over
backward to accommodate non
smokers. So let’s make a deal. I
won’t blow smoke in your face, and
you keep government off my back.”
. IW' fjf MwSSk
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Edna Gibbs
"I disagree that the players
should be able to strike. I
think they make enough
money as it i 5...”
Angela Fennell
"I feel like they have the
right to make certain
demands. If they improve,
they deserve more."
The soloists
are joining the
national choir
I’m starting to get worried about
the nature of American democracy.
For the past few decades it seems
that our political leaders have been
trying to make the American public
a homogeneous group, pushing for
the same goals, for the same ideals,
with little difference between us.
The differences between citizens are
either being eradicated, with people
forced to change their ideologies, or
brought into the ever-widening
mainstream of American culture.
But, is that good.
After all, this is the same soci
ety that idolized Jesse James,
Bonnie and Clyde, and others who
walked the other side of the fence
from law and order. Our tall tales
are about Pecos Bill, John Henry,
Paul Bunyan, Mike Fink and other
strong individuals. John Wayne,
while not respected by his industry,
rode away with our respect by play
ing characters that were individual
ists.
We are a nation that was built
on individualism, on people mak
ing it on their own. There is the
myth of the American melting pot,
of immigrants coming over to the
New World to make a new life and
blending into a new society. That
myth has a certain ring of truthful
ness to it, but the people who en
tered the melting pot retained their
individuality.
America was never meant to be a
choir directed by a talented director.
Rather, America has always been a
nation of soloists, each singing at
their own key, their own particular
song. Our founders had the some
what foolish notion that these
soloists could come up with a song
of a nation.
Sometimes this song has been a
cacophony of noise—the noise of a
young nation trying to find itself in
a world. Other times, the song has
been inspiring, the song of a nation
that draws people everywhere to
partake of the glorious freedom that
is here. Perhaps the streets were not
paved with gold, perhaps there were
obstacles to overcome; but, there
was freedom, there was the ability
to sing a solo—even if no one else
wanted to hear it.
More and more, I see the United
States becoming a choir, and the di
rector is not always talented.
At one time, policies were made
on a local level, with state, county
and city government being the most
important levels of government in
someone's life. At the turn of the
century, the job of President of the
United States was still a part-time
job.
The Great Depression and the
New Deal started us on the trail to
wards the choir. Different voices
might be okay in prosperity; but,
with the prospect of famine in the
streets, a director was needed for
harmony.
Shortly on the heels of the Great
Depression was World War 11. The
Army has never been a great place
for individualists, that’s why they
have uniforms. Wars, especially to
tal wars, call for choir directors who
maintain strict control over their
singers.
I think that we often miss the
significance of World War 11. Those
five years did more to unify the na
tion than any other five year period
in our history. Millions of men
were trained to follow orders with
out question. This training was not
lost as the nation disarmed and sent
its soldiers into its plants.
And, more and more programs
were taken over at the federal level.
More and more people looked to the
federal government, and away from
local and state government, as the
agent of government. The federal
government had more power, more
resources and more money than the
lower levels of government.
And there have been moves made
to limit the amount of participation
in government, such as redefining
what a lobbyist is. The individual
is fast becoming an endangered
species.
Columnist Foy Evans is on
vacation. His column will
retsume in two weeks.