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Ins Perry, Ga. this week Volume 125—N0. 69—14 Pages WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21,1994 50 CENTS News Exchange recruiting The Perry Rotary Club is seek ing applicants forthe 1995 sum mer and the 1995-96 academic year Youth Exchange Program. Page 2A. Graded for freshness... A total of nine Houston County eateries have been graded on food preparations. Page 2A. Airport beneficial? While Perry and Houston County control the Perry/Hous ton County Airport Authority, and are totally responsible for funding the airport, Peach County stands to reap the fi nancial bonanza of taxes col lected from the airport. Page SA. Sports Panthers enter region The Perry High School Pan thers prepare for region show downs with Dodge County's Indians and Houston County's Bears. Page6A. Panther day... Perry Panther "Appreciation Day” is set for Saturday, Sept. 24, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Page 6A. Punt, pass and kick Punt, pass and kick will be held at Rozar Park this Saturday, Sept. 24, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Page 6A. Family Couples announce Jennifer Carol Allen and Steve Hattaway Langston, Jr., an nounce their wedding. James Hailwood Hering and Kristin Paige Whitlock, and Stacey Lynn Gilmore and Lt. Joseph Curtis Thomas are united in matrimony. Page 28. Fair comes to town The Georgia National Fair Farm/City Days Parade is look ing for a record number of en tries when floats roll along downtown streets this year. Page 18. A great year Loaves and Fishes of south Houston County has com pleted its first year of opera tions as an agency to provide emergency food in the Perry area. Page 18. Houston scores tops The College Board has recently released Advanced Placement Exam scores for the Houston County School System. Page 28. A unique talent Louise Allis-Viddeleer is from the northeastern part of the Netherlands. But her journey to Perry may be even bigger. Page 18. in Sympathy The community's sympathy is extended to the families of those who recently died. They include: Mildred Sullivan Kersey, Dessie Swaney Loudermilk and Zachery Lee Swinney. See details page 2A. ..v... c >9, Panthers win on gridiron-6A Houston Times -Journal C of C seeks locater sign at fairground By JIMMY SIMPSON Staff Writer The Chamber of Commerce is seeking interested chamber members to help finalize a new locator map on the grounds of the Georgia National Fairgrounds. The map will provide much needed information to visitors. Merchant business logos will border each of the two 4x5 1/2 signs, one to be erected at the clock tower and the other by the fairground's restaurant. Peggie Williams, executive director of the chamber, said merchants interested in obtaining one of the business spots should contact her at 987-1234. Other items discussed at the chamber's Board of Directors meeting on Thursday included: • approval of a barbecue booth to be set up at this year's Georgia National Fair. • plans for a "Good Morning, Perry" breakfast on Wednesday, Sept. 28, at 7:30 a.m. at the Fairview Room of the Georgia National Fairgrounds. • a joint "Business after Hours" gathering by Perry and Warner Robins chamber members at Houston Lake Country Club on Oct. 13. • plans for the board’s Goals Conference on Nov. 4-5 at St. Simons Island. The cost of lodging will be funded by those persons who choose to attend. 3rd Scout Troop 'needed 1 locally By VETO F. ROLEY Staff Writer The lack of a sponsor is the only thing keeping a third Boy Scout unit out of Perry, said Monty Lowery, an advisor with the Boy Scouts in Macon, speaking the Perry Rotary Club Monday. Lowery said recent school night recruiting drives in the Perry area have seen the two Boy Scout troops add over 30 members each, bring the total number of scouts in Pack 216 and Pack 419 to around 130 members. "We could use another pack," said Lowery. Despite past problems, the dis trict is also going strong, said Tolleson worker is okay An employee of Tolleson Lumber Company suffered extensive bums to his body after being injured in an incident at that company Sept. 13. James Harper was injured while standing close to a junction box another employee was working to repair. When a breaker switch was pulled, die box spewed acid in the direction of the man. Harper was initially treated for bums to his arms at the Perry Hospital. He was later transported by helicoptor to the Augusta Regional Medical Bum Center, where he was treated and released. Evans sells paper share Bob Tribble, president of Trib Publications, announced this week that he has purchased the remaining shares of Houston Publications. Tribble bought out Danny Evans, former owner of The Perry Times. Houston Publications was formed after the merger of The Perry Times and the Houston Home-Journal. "Since purchasing the racetrack (Cordeie Motor Speedway), I have decided to focus on that area, as well as our racing publication, Motorsports Weekly," Evans said, adding that he was finalizing plans to move business operations to diat city this week. .fj ■. • .• • • : rep results Official Legal Organ for Houston County, City of Plrry and the State of Georgia Your view on issues in the news Do you have a right to lake? Public expresses opinion on Houston Lake — 4A IT ' “ I '' 'i, M Hk __ * fMRI V Y„Y 'Y‘ ■' ‘Y • ‘‘ , - ' W Y, ■HI i H 'Getting Their Atteni«on' Jack White, an investigator with the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (Ci3h, displays a weapon to 3rd graders at Tucker Elementary School last week. White spoke to approximately 75 students, who were shown several law enforcement articles, and told of the responsibilities of the profession. He also fielded several interesting questions from the students on the day. (Times-Journal photo by Jimmy Simpson) Lowery. At the first of this year, the Peachbelt District, including Peach County and Macon County, and the Thunderbird District, includ ing Perry and Houston County, were combined into one district, the Big Indian Creek District. Lowery said the reason the two districts were put together was to take advantage of available man power. The name for the new dis trict was chosen because the Big Indian Creek touches on most of the territory in the district. The move to combine the two districts was a gamble since there was some animosity between the two groups. "Hopefully, we've got all that put behind us," said V ' 11. 4L l a ..»( ‘ln the Bag...’ Perry Kiwanis Club’s members, city and school officials work as “Baggers” at Kroger’s from 10 a.m. to 4 p..m. this past Saturday. Community volunteers bagged groceries, took them to customers’ cars and unloaded them. All tips and donations went to Safe Kids”, a program designed to assist with the purchase of child safety equipment for area children. (Times-Journal photo by Pauline Lewis) Lowery. "We are here for the boys," said Lowery. "As soon as we start putting our own needs ahead of the boy's needs, we have problems." He added that many of die adults in the two districts who were putting their needs ahead of the boy's needs were "falling by the wayside." Lowery also told the Rotary Club that the Boy Scouts still needed their financial help, as well as time from volunteers, saying that die Boy Scouts would find a place to use someone interested in volunteering. "When you run a program of this type," said Lowery, "it takes money—a great deal of money." Business owner blasts police for failing to protect By JIMMY SIMPSON Staff Writer The procedures of the Perry Police Department was met with head-on opposition here Monday when a local business owner questioned the department's policies. Pete Griffin, who operates AAA Pawn Shop, said he feels that businesses are being slighted so that speeding motorists can be detained along Interstate 75. "We've got some good police officers, no doubt, but they aren’t being utilized like they should,". Griffin told City Council members at a special work session. Griffin cited an increase in city traffic tickets and die visibility of squad cars along interstate ramps as reason for his concern. "I feel like a lot of people have that same concern," he said, "but they're not coming to city council they're coming to ine." Griffin said his particular business, located at 101 Marshallville Rd., has been burglarized on at least six occasions and has suffered some $ 15,000-plus in losses as a result. To date, Griffin said he's not aware of any one of those six particular crimes having been solved. "And all the while, the Perry Police Department is getting the reputation of The Speed Capital of the World'," Griffin said. That comment drew sharp criticism from Councilman Buddy Roper. "It sounds like you almost need 24 hour security out there (at AAA) at times," said Roper. "But I don’t know bow you... do it." Griffin then recommended that "some of the leadership in the police department be looked at, and changed." Griffin said limited uniformed officers on one particular shift, as well as the fact that city officers are working radar along the interstate, "raises questions” about law protection here. But Simons defended his position by stating that no crime can be foreseen by he or any of his Flood victims still awaiting money from disaster units By JIMMY SIMPSON Staff Writer The road to recovery for flood victims here continues to be a long and anticipated one. To date, no monies have been allocated for families whose homes were destroyed, and no one at city hall can provide answers as to when the funds may become available. "It's really a frustrating process for (affected homeowners) and (city officials)," said interim City Manager Janice Williams. "(Homeowners) are looking for us to help, but we can't help until the state helps..." Numerous homes in Houston County have been added to a state schedule for reimbursements in the aftermath of the July flood, Williams said, four of those being in the city limits here along Elko Road. In the meantime, the acting city manager said family members that were forced to flee their homes in the aftermath of the flood have sought temporary shelter at various locations. In addition, a church also located along Elko Road, Faith Bible Fellowship, has been condemned because of existing structural damage. Index to Features Classified 6B Deaths 2A Family 1B Police 3A Legais 4B Remember 4A Letters 4A Vetoßoley 4A Pauline Lewis 1B Sports 7A Businessman Pete Griffin ... addresses council 27 deparunent members. "For an officer to be on 1-75 doesn't make them unavailable to others," the chief said. "Unlike some business (practices), (enforcing) speed limits is not something you can decide in a few days. It's not about revenue, it's about saving lives." Simons said depardnent units are not even allowed to monitor interstate traffic unless requested for backup by other agencies. The chief said at the present that five men are assigned to one particular shift. Addidonal officers are available on a "call" basis, he said, if the need arises. "But even if we had 10 men working one shift, we could not predict where a crime is going to happen...," Simons said. "Don’t you feel that some of these problems are personal," Councilman Hervia Ingram said, referring to periodic sarcastic signs that have appeared in front of Griffin's business making reference to Simons and his department. "You’re dam right it's somewhat personal," Griffin said. "After I go to (Simons) for six years and tell him of a problem and he never gets back to me... Yes, I expect it's personal reasons." Ingram said his recommendation would be for Griffin to gather with "these people" who have complaints and offer suggestions as to what they feel would better benefit them. But obtaining grant monies for those affected properties is not expected to come as easily as some may think. City officials have two options while assisting those persons looking to rebuild their homes. One option is to try and obtain a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the state. The grant will pay costs up to 100 percent to repair or rebuild a home. A second option is to try to obtain a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant. That particular grant will distribute only up to 75 percent to assist homeowners looking to reconstruct their homes. "The CDBG is probably easier to get, so we're probably going to go with that (grant)," Williams said. Williams said details of neither grant could be "ironed out" at the present because of various agencies and procedures involved in the planning process. "It’s more of a wait and see game, as far as monies are concerned," Williams said. "Hopefully, we'll know more soon."