Newspaper Page Text
*********#***x*****#*3-DIGIT 306
GEORGIA NEWSPAPER PROJECT 95*
RU. GA. MAIN LIBRARV _
ATHENS, GA 30602
Please see Page 8A
Houston Times Joupusl
Perry, Ga.
this week
Volume 124—N0. 64—20 Pages
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17,1994
50 CENTS
News
Galleria gears up...
The Galleria Mall, located in
Centerville, is almost completed
and is expected to open Nov. 9,
according to developer Sam
Zamias. Page 6A.
Flint wins top award
Glenn Heck, Flint EMC man
ager of marketing and member
services, received the "Award
of Merit" for Flint Energy Lines,
the company's newsletter, from
the council of Rural Electric
Communications. Page BA.
Sports
Coaches get certified
For the first time ever, all head
coaches in Parks and Recre
ation football will need to get
certified this year. Page 9A.
Top diamond finishes
Lanier Clothing, Hayneville
First Baptist Church, and the
White Sox took top honors in
Parks and Recreation Adult
Softball. Page 9A.
Lake is on track
Lake Blackshear, located just
on the outskirts of Cordele,
should be filled up and back in
operation in time for vacation
fun next summer. Page 9A.
Family
Jan gives recipes
Jan Kerce oftentimes enter
tains family and friends with
some of the tastiest dishes in
Perry. Now, you can too by
viewing her recipes. Page 18.
Back to school...
Houston County students will
return to the classroom this
Friday after an extended vaca
tion. A complete list of all holi
days for those same students
are detailed. Page 18.
Couples announce
Ms. Nancy Crumpton and Ja
son Bradley are united in a
beautiful ceremony at Perry
First Baptist Church. Page 28.
First Baptist views site
Perry First Baptist Church is
looking into the construction of
a new church startup just off of
Highway 96. Page 38.
In Sympathy
The community's sympathy is ex
tended to the families of those who
recently died. They include Jesse
Clarence Brown, Mrs. Shelly Rae
Harlin, Bessie Shiver Shellhouse
Pittman, Leila Alford McCraven,
James Winifred Carter and
AlbennieThomas Purvis. Seepage
2A.
Index to features
Business 8A
Church news 3B
Classified 7B
Family News 1B
The Rev. Fennell 3B
Legal notices 4B
Letters to the editor 4A
Obituaries 2A
Veto Roley 9A
Sports 9A
Bob Tribble 4A
Janice Walker 2B
Official Legal Organ for Houston County, City of Perry and the State of Georgia
l 1 jp i
Is If im If *1
I II IS m* • '
„ , - <►* '\ } ipJpfe /S'jHmk B
m & OnJW MM
pi nBBk £ JB& |
£SWggf |BHebBB iffijjlßm Av mT HBlf ff "9H
Hi '
B | JhhGV 4 —M
■ - jkdSHBK J BBHF' ■■
■ W 7 B
BBBbBIrmB '
Five finalists were named as nominees for the "1995 System Teacher of the Year”
award for Houston County Schools. Kacy Jones (center), a teacher at Warner Robins
Middle School, was named the top recipient. Additional finalists were (l-r) Martha
Upchurch (Northslde Elementary), Ann Eubanks (Watson Alternative Center), Lula
Wynn (Perry Middle School) and Wally Shaw (Houston County High School). The
teachers were recognized Monday In front of several hundred people In a special
ceremony at the Georgia National Fairgrounds. A total of 27 teachers county-wide,
one from each school, was nominated for the top award. Other Perry teachers
nominated for the award Included Debbie Taylor (Kings Chapel), Mary Ann Stewart
(Mornlngslde Elementary), Leslie Belcher (Perry Elementary), Mary Gentry (Perry
High) and Tammy Evans (Tucker Elementary). (HTJ photo by Jimmy Simpson)
Man, found on city sidewalk, dies
By JIMMY SIMPSON
Staff Writer
Perry police are continuing their
investigation into the Tuesday death
of a Perry man they found lying on
a sidewalk, who later went into
cardiac arrest while being
transported to Perry Hospital.
The man, whose identity is
being withheld pending notification
of family members, is described as
a 47-year-old black male.
Police say they have no
knowledge of any prior medical
conditions until talking with the
family of the deceased.
Police were called to the
intersection of Courtney Hodges
Council sells two Perry properties
By JIMMY SIMPSON
Staff Writer
The City of Perry went into the
real estate business, at least for a
day, when council members voted
Tuesday to accept bids on two
parcels of land.
The parcels, a lot and house on
1109 Jackson Lane, and the Older
Americans Council building on
Bradley St., were sold to E.L.
Lewis at a combined cost of
$35,202.
Two bids were originally
submitted for the Jackson Lane
property, one being $13,000 and
Lewis' bid of $15,101. Lewis then
Candidates shell out $27,506 in race for commission post
By JIMMY SIMPSON
Staff Writer
Candidates looking to find a seat on the Houston County
Commission may have gotten more than they bargained for
when shelling out monies to campaign.
Elections officials here revealed this week that of the six
original candidates for the Post 2 seat, only two failed to
surpass the $3,000 mark.
In all, five candidates combined to spend more than $27,000
on their respective campaigns.
All candidates were required to submit a financial statement
15 days before the actual July 19 primary, according to Shirley
Collins, deputy registrar for the elections office.
The remaining four candidates fortunate enough to make it
into the primary runoff just three weeks later had to submit yet
another statement six days before the primary runoff.
Democratic candidate Wayne Ragin, who may have spent
the most campaign money in the history of a Houston County
election, reached expenditures totaling $13,533.91.
But despite such an extraordinary amount, Ragin said he
knew coming into the race that financial backing would play a
big role in his bid for election.
"I thought that (the election) would take somewhere around
$13,000 to win," said Ragin, who still has $4,485 remaining
from campaign contributions. "I just didn't know exactly how
much..."
Dams are needed
Please see Page 4A
'A Photo Finish'
Blvd. and Bonner Dr. Tuesday at
4:45 p.m. Upon arrival, officers
found the man lying on his back,
and conscious.
Soon after, emergency units
from the Perry Fire Department and
Perry Hospital arrived at the scene,
the man went into cardiac arrest.
Paramedics immediately began
CPR on the man, but to no avail.
He was pronounced dead at
approximately 5:36 p.m. soon after
his arrival at the hospital.
Police Chief Frank Simons,
who was at the scene immediately
after the call came in, said the
incident was most unfortunate.
entered the high bid on the second
parcel with a $20,101 offer. He
narrowly edged out a $20,095 price
and a $19,099 offer.
The city will retain the property
until Jan. 1 of 1995 and will not be
subject to rent during the remainder
of the year.
Council members also agreed to
repair a leak at the OAC building as
part of the sale.
In other action, council:
• Approved repairs totaling
$8,186 at the "Mildred Warren
House," located at 901 Northside
Dr.
• Approved a rental agreement
"He was given all of the proper
medical assistance he could have
had," said Simons. "Even before the
ambulance arrived, his belt was
loosened, and his head tilted back in
an effort to help air get into his
passageway."
Simons said the man continued
to breath on his own, and appeared
to be okay even after medical help
arrived, but then took a turn for the
worse.
"He had a pulse and was
breathing on his own until just
after the ambulance got there,"
Simons said. "It's just a real
tragedy."
with Butler Brown Studios. Brown
agreed to a five-year rental
agreement of the 901 Northside
property at S4OO per month. A
SI,OOO damage deposit will be
required prior to a Sept. 1 move-in
date.
• Approved a recommendation to
file for Federal Emergency
Management Grant funds.
• Approved a request by the
Houston County Board of
Education to help repair a drainage
system at a total cost of
$22,784.15. The problem area is
behind Perry Elementary School at
School Sl and Beckham Circle.
Candidatß Contributions Expimißtures
Billy Hunter $3,000 $3,000
Jim Carter $3,493 $3,493
Wayne Ragin $18,027 $13,533.91
Jack Wylam $1,910.16 $1,910.16
Randy Wynn $5,569.89 $5,569.89
Nora Reese Laughlin $0 $0
It was while managing campaigns in Memphis, Tenn. that
Ragin said he learned the tricks of the campaign trade.
"When you anticipate three people running for one seat,
you have to do things a little more innovative and different,"
the Democrat said. "It's an expensive proposition for everyone.
"I know everyone wishes they could just go out and shake
hands, but it's not like that... any more. Expectations are
higher these days. You have to be seen, get signs out, and so
forth. There's a lot more requirements."
Jim Carter, a Republican who will be running against
Ragin in the November general election, also rolled in high
numbers during his payout.
"We spent more than we thought we would," Carter said, of
his $3,493 in expenditures. "But if you're going to go for (the
win), you have to go (all out)."
Nation's gone nuts!
Please see Page 10A
County tables
sharp increase
in health fees
By VETO F. HOLEY
Staff Wrltar
The Houston County Board of Commissioners tabled a bid for the
Houston County Board of Health to raise health fees by as much as 100
percent during the commissioners regular meeting Tuesday, Aug. 16.
The rate increases were approved by the health board at their regular
monthly meeting on July 21. However, before any increases can go into
effect, the commission must also approve the increases.
County commission chairman Sherrill Stafford said the reason the rate
increases were tabled was the absence of Dr. David Harvey from the com
mission meeting. Stafford said Harvey was needed at the commission
meeting to discuss the rate increases.
Stafford also said that the rate increases were necessary because of the
low level of funding the health department receives from the county. Only
two-to-three percent of the county's budget covers the health department, a
figure that Stafford said was much lower than surrounding counties.
Because the health department had to raise much of its money through
fees, Stafford said the department charged fees where some counties offered
free services, and higher fees where other counties charged a nominal fee.
Most of the requested fee increases came in the environmental
health area, which has not seen a
fee increase since August, 1985.
The one-to-three day temporary
food service permit and evaluation
with a 10 day advance notice and
the marital blood test and certifica
tion fee are scheduled for a 100 per
cent raise. The food permit will be
raised from $lO to S2O, as will the
blood test.
Two new fees will be instituted
if the increases arc passed by the
commission—a $lO fee for certifi
cation of closing attorney and a $25
fee for food service re-inspection.
The subdivision/mobile home
park plan review fee and the per
sonal care home annual fee were
both raised $25,
The four-to-14 day temporary
food service permit and evaluation
fee without a 10 day notice was
raised from SSO to S7O, an increase
of S2O.
The food service/tourist accom
modation plan review was also
raised $25, making a 50 percent
jump from SSO to $75.
Other fees that will be increased
if the commission approves the fee
hikes are application for construc
tion permit for new septic systems
(up sls to SSO), well construction
permit (up $5 to S3O), individual
water sample (up $5 to sls) and
one-to-three day temporary food
service permit and evaluation with
out a 10 day notice (up sls to
S4O).
•In other business before the
commission, commissioners ap
proved a speed limit for the Lake
Point Plantation subdivision in
Kathleen.
Following a recommendation
from the Houston County Sheriffs
Office, the commission set a 30
mph speed limit on Fieldfare Drive,
Cabin Cove Drive, William D.
Evans Court, S uncrest Place and
Richfield Circle.
"We went into the race with an opportunity to be involved
in the community, and you need money to do that...," he said.
"We knew that there would be a lot of money involved, and
fortunately, we didn't come up short."
Carter said despite his spending, if elected in November he
still plans to contribute any monies over costs of "overseeing
county problems" to a worthwhile organization.
Billy Hunter, the Democrat who opposed Ragin in last
Tuesday's runoff, said he, too, anticipated spending a
considerable amount of money.
"I knew that we would be somewhere close to (the $3,000)
that was actually spent on the election ," he said.
"More or less, you spend just as much as you want to
spend. It's no easy thing to run for an election. It's very costly
and time consuming," Hunter stated.
Republican candidate Jack Wylam said the $2,277.04 he
paid out was a conservative amount he had set aside prior to
his campaign.
"I did about what I expected to do. I kind of ran out of time
between primary and runoff," Wylam said.
"I figured it would take about a couple of thousand (dollars),
and that's basically what I spent."
Randy Wynn, who was a candidate in the July 19
showdown, reported $5,569.89 in expenditures.
Nora Reese-Laughlin did not spend any campaign monies,
according to elections officials.
Spat ends
with man
being shot
t/ Police report— 7A
By JIMMY SIMPSON
Staff Writer
A 40-year-old Warner Robins
man was hospitalized after being
shot by a man wielding a gun here
over the weekend.
Police say the victim, Paul
Watkins, of 112 Crawford St. in
Warner Robins, was wounded after
his assailant shot him with a
sawed-off shotgun.
The victim was taken by
ambulance to Perry Hospital, and
later transferred to the Med Center
in Macon.
The incident began at about
11:14 p.m. Sunday at 112 Crawford
St. after Watkins and the man
charged in the crime, Kerry
Whitfield, got into a heated
argument, according to detective
Steve Heaton.
Angered by something Watkins
had said, Whitfield pulled the gun
from his person and fired (me shot
into Watkins' left forearm.
When James Davis called police
to the home moments later, officer
John Hardage arrived at the scene
where he noticed Watkins bleeding
profusely.
Heaton said that Whitfield has
been booked on a number of
charges, including aggravated
assault, possession of a sawed-off
shotgun, discharging a firearm near
a street or highway, possession of a
firearm by a convicted felon, and
possession of a firearm during the
commission of a crime.
