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- vjn . i iniit l iur\nrv i HENS, 6A 30602 k Please see Page 7 A Houston Times- Journal Perry, Ga. this week Volume 125—N0. 67—16 Pages WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7,1994 50 CENTS Closed for Repairs The Houston County Probate Court office will be closed to the public Sept. 7-9 for renova tions. The office will resume operations on Monday, Sept. 12, at 8 a.m. On the Edge... The Perry Housing Authority may be forced to pay $15,000 to make environmental repairs unless soon rescued by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Page SA. Chairman is Named Steve Rosenberg has been named the United Way Cam paign Chairman for the Hous ton County Region. Page 10A. Westfield Stays Perfect The Westfield Hornets con tinue to be a threat in GISA play. The squad downed Tattnall Academy by a final of 12-9 Friday night. Page 7A. PHS Debuts With Win The Perry Panthers banged helmets with Jordan in a foot ball opener Friday night before the former rallied for three scores late in the game to win by a final 26-3 score. Page 7A. Cook of the Week Wanda Sullivan has learned to cook a number of dishes over the years. And, the tele phone can take a lot of credit. Page 18. 4-Year School Needed A four-year Macon College would greatly boost develop ment in Houston County, says Dr. Aaron Hyatt, president of Macon College. Page 28. Couples announce Tina Marie Calhoun and Ja son Lanier Howell, and Sandra P. Webb and Rodney Bogue are united. Page 28. A New Pastor The Perry Church of God has received a new pastor, the Rev. John M. Loudermilk. Page 38. The community's sympathy is extended to the families of those who recently died. They include: Morris L. Bridges, Addison E. "A.E." Harris Jr., M. Lamar Morgan, Joe Brown Parkerson, Sadie Murray Paul and James G. "Jim" Vogt. See details page 2A. Church riews 3B Classified 6B Family News 1B Legal notices 4B Letters to the editor 4A Pauline Lewis 1B Obituaries 2A Police report 3A Veto Roley 4A Jimmy Simpson 4A Sports 7 A Official Legal Organ for Houston County, City of Perry and the State of Georgia Nestea company official coy on rumors of plans to buy brewery By JIMMY SIMPSON Staff Writer An official with the Nestea Corporation would neither confirm or deny reports this week that the tea giant would soon be occupying the Heileman Brewery plant here. "We've not made any announcements, and as a matter of policy, we don’t comment on speculation or rumors," said Polly Howes, media relations manager for the Coca Cola Company. When asked to confirm or deny til' Li if The Perry Rotary Club welcomed the District Governor during its meeting Monday. Shown are (l-r) Mike Gray, Perry Rotary Club treasurer, John Smalley, Perry Rotary Club president, Dot Donahoo and Pat Donahoo, district governor. Rotary official stresses local clubs By VETO F. ROLEY Staff Writer Members of the Perry Rotary Club were introduced to District Governor Pat Donahoo during their regular meeting Monday, Aug. 25. While Donahoo noted Rotary was a large international club, the most important part of Rotary was the club level. "The president (of the local club) drives the club, and the club drives the organizadon," he said. "We are all a part of the global enterprise," Donahoo told the Perry club, saying a community project in Perry, Ga., was similar to a community project in Sacramento, Calif., or London, England, which is where Rotary International President Bill Hartley is from. "We are all part of a commu- 'Mrs. Aurelia 1 honored for contribution By PAULINE LEWIS Society Editor Following a DAR Marker Ceremony at Evergreen Cemetery for Martha Ansley Cooper, on Tuesday, August 30, 1994, a reception was held at the Cooper Home by her sister and niece, Mrs. Aurelia Evans and her daughter, Mrs. Martha Green of Dublin. Eighty-nine people attended. Unbeknownst to Mrs. Evans, Mayor Jim Worrall was on hand to present a plaque to her, in appreciation of her many contributions toward the betterment of the Perry community. Delicious refreshments were served to the guests, among which were members and a former member (Jo Ziegler) of the General Daniel Stewart Chapter of Perry, and members of the Sukey Hart Chapter of Warner Robins. The president of the Macon Chapter, SAR, and other dignitaries present were: Mrs. Jonathan Fox, Mrs. Fleu Murphy, Mrs. James Muldrow, Mrs. Hugh Peterson, Mrs Peter Hanf, State Regent; Mrs. James Leitch, a national officer; Mrs. Arthur Waite, Mrs. Thomas Knox Kendrick, Mrs. Gini English, Chapter Regent; Mrs. E. B. Claxlon, dedicator of the DAR Marker; Mrs. Billy Richardson, Tom Carrulh (played Taps); Mrs. Meeting memories Please see Page 4A reports of a week-long rumor involving the start-up of a canned tea operation at the Hwy. 247 plant, Howes would not comment. However, Tim Martin, executive director of the Houston County Development Authority, said this week that to his knowledge neither he nor any authority members have been in contact with the company. "Sometimes, where there's smoke, there's fire, but what I'm hearing is almost purely rumormongering," said Tim nity," said Donahoo, who said that similarity was seen in Rotary's 1994-95 motto, "Be a Friend." He added that the individual clubs needed to think about the projects that they were going to do. "Find out what your community needs be fore doing a project," he said. Donahoo told the group that last year had a few bumps in the road for Rotary, adding that if the club did not have problems, then it would be dead. "We made changes in the by laws," said Donahoo. "We should be a much more aware organiza tion." The Rotary Club is growing in ternationally, said Donahoo. "We are bringing Rotary to where Rotary hasn't existed," he said, cit ». ■* £ ’. i ', •;'t’ -I- fsßr&ittt B : :; fp Mayor Jim Worrall presents plaque to Mrs. Aurelia Evans in appreciation of her many contributions toward the betterment of the community. The presentation was made at a reception in the Cooper Home, co-hosted by Mrs. Evans and her daughter, Mrs. Martha Green. Joe Carruth, Mayor Jim Worrall; Mrs. Edward Lusk, Mrs. Bertha Cruthirds, Mrs. George Clark, Mrs. Marguerite Stafford, Mrs. Carl Williams, Mrs. Billy Hunter, Mrs. Grover Lee, Miss Barbara Chastain, Martin, executive director for the authority. "I hope there's a spark of truth (to the rumor), but there's nothing that I can report on," he said. One thing that is for certain, according to Martin, is that no one from the Nestea Corporation has been in contact with Houston County officials. "I know they've not contacted die development audiority," Martin said. "But that doesn't necessarily mean anything..." ing new clubs in the former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe and Third World nations. Even with the growth of the number of clubs, Donahoo noted Rotary was having some trouble maintaining membership. Last year, Rotary International had an increase of 11,000 members. However, this growth came from new clubs, which added 15,000 new members to the club, disguising a loss of 4,000 members from exist ing clubs. The Perry Rotary Club is also looking for new members, having a goal of adding seven new members to the club this year. Rob Tuggle told the group before Donahoo spoke that the club was looking for a more diverse membership than it had. Mrs. George Ragan, Mrs. Fred Miller, Mrs Dennis Beall, Mrs. Moody Summers, Mrs. Shelley Whitson, Mrs James Harvey. Mrs. James Elliott and Mrs. Claude Hickman. Distant dishes Please see Page 1B The director said it is possible for a industry prospect to "put a deal together" without contacting those agencies in charge prior to their proposal. "But it's not likely," he said. It is likely, according to Martin, that the group would be in contact with various state agencies to inquire about start-up procedures and requirements. "But, here again, there have been no inquiries into that (area) either," he said. Council will target speeding motorists with new ordinance By JIMMY SIMPSON Staff Writer A concerned citizens group looking to curtail the speeds of passing motorists in their neighborhood may finally get their wish. City Council members on Tuesday gave consideration to a proposed speed limit change Tuesday that would reduce travel to 35 mph along the Airport Road Extension and Valley Drive highways. The change qpuld come as early as two weeks when council officially adopts a number of proposed speed changes. Jane Lawhom, who attended the council meeting with several neighbors, presented to council a proposal that outlined what they felt to be a viable plan on their particular road. "It’s not the person coming down the road at 45 mph that concern us,” said Lawhom, "it’s the ones that are coming through at 65 mph with little or no regard to children or other vehicles." Ed Chapman, a resident at King's Crest, said he agreed with Lawhom, adding that "someone is going to get hit head on" due to highway problems extending from U.S. Hwy. 341 to Valley Drive. "It's a very dangerous road right now," Chapman said. "There's no Additional funds earmarked to improve rural fire service By VETO F. ROLEY Staff Writer Residents of rural Houston County will get better fire protec tion with the county commission's approval of an extra $122,000 to the fire budget for capital improve ments during its regular meeting Tuesday, Sept. 6. County commission chairman Sherrill Stafford said the "big thing was to enlarge the service lines from two inches to six inches." Fire hydrants require a six inch ser vice line, he said. Stafford added that the county has not yet decided where it would do the improvements in the service lines, but it could be "any place in the county." The county might also add or improve fire stations in the county. Stafford said there were several areas School tax rate unchanged By VETO F. ROLEY Staff Writer The Houston County School Board set the fiscal year 1995 mil lage rate for the schools at 12.67 mills Thursday, Sept. 1. The Houston County Board of Commissioners approved the rate Tuesday, Sept. 6. The millage rate is the same as the rate set last year. County residents with a house worth SIOO,OOO will pay $481.46 in school board taxes after the homestead exemption of $2,000; Martin said the fact that an investment company in Dallas, TX. purchased the Heileman plant may be reason for another procedure. "It may be that because of (the investment company's) own ideas dial diey're putting a deal logedier on dieir own," he said. "Otherwise, I can't really say..." Coca Cola and Nesde combined on the start-up of die Nestea name, according to Howes. center lines and about 700 pot holes in the road." Police Chief Frank Simons had earlier written a memo to council requesting a 45 mph limit, but said after careful consideration he has since requested a 35 mph marking. Simons told council he would contact county officials to ask that they too impose a 35 mph speed limit on their portion of the road that stretches from Thompson Rd. to the Airport extension. A special 10 mph "pad" allowed by Georgia law would actually allow motorists to travel at 45 miles per hour, according to Simons, but not necessarily avoid a ticket. "Technically, we could make a case (when a motorist is traveling) at 36 mph if we wanted to," Simons said of his officers, "but usually don't..." The chief said several people have been ticketed while traveling 65 mph or more, and said he, too, "was very concerned." "But I honestly think the road can handle 35 or 45 mph," he said. "I feel like that's . a good compromise." In other action, council: • approved Oct. 31 as the city’s official "Trick or Treat" night from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. r Please see CITY, Page 10A in the county that were more than five miles from a fire station, a dis tance required for residences to get insurance at the lowest possible rates. In other business, the commis sion also decided to extend COBRA health insurance benefits to early re tirees. The county presently allows early retirement at the age of 55. With COBRA benefits running out in 18 months, the retired employee could be left without insurance un til he became eligible for Medicare benefits. The change allows retired employees to keep COBRA cover age until they became eligible for Medicare. The change will not cost the county any additional money, with the resolution stating "that the cost Please see FUNDS, Page 10A $50,000, $228.06; $25,000, $101.36; and SIO,OOO, $25.34. In addition to the regular millage rate, county residents will also pay a one mill tax to retire school bonds. Costs involving the two new middle schools will not be covered by the one mill tax to pay back school bonds, since they will not be built using bond money. Money to build the two new middle schools wiM come from the state and the regular budget of the school board.