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*********#***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.