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Wednesday, November 30, 1994, Houston Times-Journal Page 4A Viewpoints Houston Times-Journal P. 0. Drawer M • 807 Carroll Street • Perry, Ga. 31069 Phone: (912) 987-1823 The Houston Times-Journal (USPS 000471) is published semi-weekly for SIB.OO per year by Houston Publications, Inc., 807 Carroll Street, Perry, Ga. 31069. Second Class Postage paid at Perry, Ga., POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Houston Times-Journal, P. O. Drawer M, Perry, Ga. 31069. ISSN: 1075-1874 Bob Tribble, President Jim Kerce, Editor and General Manager Sherri Wengler, Advertising Manager News: Brigette Loudermilk, Pauline Lewis. Sports: Phil Clark. Composition: Tammy Floyd. Classified Advertising: Melanie Bullington. Circulation: Eric Zellers. Bookkeeping: Judy Morrow. Your opinion Kudos to sheriffs department Editor: Myself and family would like to tell the Houston County Sheriff and his department how much we appreciate their diligence in working over the Veterans Day holiday weekend to bring to a conclusion the investigation of the latest of our business burglaries. Acting on the slightest of leads and fearing that these weapons might disappear to the streets of New York, the Sheiff formed a "posse”, assigning Sgt. Mickey Dees the very difficult task of engineering the criminals demise. He was very much up to the task. Working from late Thursday evening he brought together a task force of officers that we. the people of Houston County should be proud of. The "posse" included Lt. Robert Chirk, Sgt. Mike Alderson and Jack Martin; Investigators were Manny Quinones and Wayne Franklin; Corpral Tony "Chico” Brown, Patrolmen Mike Stokes, Richard Martin, Ed Powell and the Mid Stale Task Force members Tommy Spires and Joe Sendek. Together, these men as a well organized turn of the law, covered three cities and two counties to bring to an end to what apparently was becoming a small band ot thieves and "fencers" trying to get larger, it turns out that through their laird work and sacrifice over the holiday weekend there were other crimes solved by the surest of these criminals. Not only that, just consider the "ounce of prevention" they have given the community, if just lor a tew days There is also great appreciation to be given to these officer's lsumlies for their sacrifices, especially when they would much rather jump into a sports car and get out ot town away from the crime with their husbands and families. But in the end. that is what makes the difference of a law enforcement officer and those who want to be one We thank you all very much tor the things recovered. We also hope that with a "few ounces of prevention" you men can enjoy a very nice, quiet holiday season with your families as they need that as much as you do. Thanks to tn* Sheriff and the Department, Pete, Martha, Qua and Jason Griffin Reader concerned with dam Editor: l have been attending the Houston County Commission meetings for the pasi tew months I ;un interested in hearing what the proposal is/was in regard to die Houston l .ike Dam. This issue has been addressed publicly in two meetings. The first was at the meeting in Perry on Nov. Ist It was on the agenda to be voted on. but wasn't because "there wasn't enough information to vote on the matter " It was my observation that the Commission saw the number of residents that turned tout to express their view and felt that they weren't prepared to address die issue at that tune. Duding the meeting it was mentioned that the public would have "some" access to the area The Houston Lake Dam wasn't on the agenda for the November 15th meeting. One person from the gathered citizens made a comment on the issue, but there was no other discussion. The Chairman called for an Executive session to discuss "Land Acquisitions" that was closed to the general public, but it appeared that the owner of the Houston Lake Country Club was in attendance Did this have to do with the Dam situation ’ It appeared that it did I would like to see this situation discussed in an open forum for all residents tat are interested to attend before die commission votes, instead of behind closed dix>rs It we ;ire expected to help pay for the repairs, we should be made aware ot w hat "some" access means and how it would benefit die general public, in lieu of only the land owners around the hike being the beneficiaries of our tax money. Will a boat ramp accessible for the residents of Houston County to launch their boats with adequate parking; or possible a beach area near the country club or golf course, be allowed? The land owners around Houston Lake would not ;dlow' the Public to access their hike in the past. It has been considered private until now when they need funds to repair it to its former condition.. They have had all of the privileges of a private hike until now, let them repair it themselves. Will they open up the Country Club for non-member residents of Houston Co., to go there for lunch or dinner? I understand that their property has decreased in value since the flood, but again I ask you why Please see LETTER, page 9A Libraries are a necessity Ten things you can do to support your public library 1. Support state and local initiatives to increase library budgets. 2. Volunteer your time to help your community library. 3. Participate actively in library fund raising events. 4. Use your community library-check out books, schedule meetings there-help to keep it an active part of your community. 5. Introduce a child to the library. Help the child register for a library card and learn to use the library. 6. If your library has a Friends of the Library group, join it. If not, set one up. 7. Ask your library staff what you can do to help. 8. Participate in surveys about library services. Attend Library commission meetings. Communicate your com munity's needs to the library stall . 9. Donate a book or money to the library in honor of a friend or cause. 10. Be vigilant against any attempts by local government to cut library funding or staff. ~~THE FEAMUT GALLERY 7 H —— = —/ 60YS/ \ /TooksovccA 17% Tim T 0 /GRAZED TO y- — I / l ME. J MOVE \ SH-OT. / Fifty years later, I'm still proud to be a part of the community I'm proud of Perry and the im provements and growth it has expe rienced during the past 50 ye;irs. ,uid I hope its citizens are. too. I can now say 50 years because last Fri day (the day after Thanksgiving, 1004), 1 have lived in Perry and have experienced its many changes for the better Our family moved to Perry on Friday following Thanksgiving, 1044 The weather was just about like it is this week - cold, rainy and windy. We bought the only house m Perry that was tor sale..the same house 1 live in today Marion Houser w<as the Realtor and a Mr Dixon was die seller [here were only 1500 people in Perry at the tune and it didn't take l<x> long to P&Z to present ordinance to city in 1989 -5 Yrar\ Ago Nov. 29, 1989 Council stxni to read historical or dinance Perry's Planning and zon ing Board members say they are all but ready to submit to City Coun cil an ordinance that would provide for the establishment ol a historic district in llie city. As has been dis cussed by the board in the past, the ordinance would provide guidelines for determining what areas, build ings and landmarks are of historical significance in Perry. As soon as the ordinance is “cleaned up”, said City Building In spector Steve Howard, it will be ready to present to the mayor and City Council members. * * * It’s beginning to lixik a lot like Christmas at the Crossroads. * * * Race for two city council seats draws near. District 3 Post 2 cur rently has Jim Hendrix, supervisor widi Boeing Aircraft in Macon, and Charlie Allen, Robins AF Base re tiree, vying for the position. Dis trict 2 Post 2 left open by Coun How have we lei ii get to the point where the existence of our li braries has been threatened? It would be like living in a town without a newspaper. . .there would be no way to store a written history of our community, state, country or world around us. Maybe I'm just partial since the library has had a strong influence on my life and my career choices. As a child, I learned to read at the age of four—admittedly, my instruc tion came from Sesame Street and The Electric Company. Still, I loved to read. I can remember checking out books from the school library to read on the playground. My class mates ;uid I would research topics in encyclopedias for essays. During” the summer I joined reading clubs at the local library. Then, as 1 got older 1 began buy ing books to read. I have a com plete collection of Sherlock Holmes know most of the families ;uid their relationship to each other. There were three main white churches - Baptist, Methixlist and Presbyterian. Greater Union Bap tist Church was the only brick church Perry Baptist Church had about 500 names on the church rolls and about half of them were residents The Presbyterian Church had 24 members until my mother and three other persons joined the same day. Perry High School and Houston High Schools were the main Schools lor several years There were no Piggly-Wiggly Stores or Revco Drug Stores. However, there were three privately owned drug, stores. Pharmacists were Enunit Akin. J<*“ Bedding- cilman Eddie Wilson who an nounced earlier this year he would not run again. Robbie Jackson, employee at Kcllwixkl Corporation, will square off with James Mixire. a branch manager with l SAP of Geor gia - a chemical supply house. The Perry City Election will be held Tuesday, Dec. 5. P)B4 at the Na tional Guard Armory from 7 a.in. to 7 p.m 10 Years Ago Nov. 29, 1984 Houston Schixil Board approves a drop in tax rate on county property - from 12.32 mills last year, to 8.83 mills. * * * Performance by Perry’s Valerie Jones is to highlight Rosinni's “La Boutique Eantasque" this weekend. She is a 4-year member of the Dance Works Company of Stone Mountain, tire group presenting the ballet. For the second consecutive year, the Perry Players are bringing the company to Perry as their guest artists, to present the ballet about a magic shop in our local communities Brigette Loudermilk News Editor mysteries, a hardbound copy of Lit tle Women. Doctor Doolittle and many more too numerous to men tion. And, naturally, reading led to writ ing. In college, I was in awe by the huge library and till the information in it that was at my disposal. I learned about computers and thor ough research at that library. It was so amazing to me that I could find out anything about anything just by pressing a computer key. Even now, I frequent libraries in search of a good book, to look up a special recipe or to research a story. Then, there were the reading as- Houston Times-Joumai Pauline Lewis | Society editor tield. Watt Boler, and Arthur M. Kicklighter. There may have been others, but those are the ones I re member. The community was centered around the churches and the schixds. Francis Nunn led the combined choirs in presenting pro gr.uns several times during die year. Mr Eric Staples, for more than 30 years, was principal ami coach at Perry High Schixil (which included 11 grades) for many yc.irs He made a national name for his teams and Perry Many of those young people who came under his influence have * * * DAR enjoys Statue of Liberty skit by the Children of the Ameri can Revolution (CAR) and slides from the Chickamauga National Park Museum, presented by Mrs Wallis Hurlbutt and Miss Pauline Lewis. Chapter Regent * « * The Houston Home Journal salutes Barbara Calhoun for her contributions and dedication that mark tier terms as mayor * * * 25 Y’ears Ago Nov. 27, 1969 Unadilla Manufacturing Co., (a division of Oxford Industries) has immediate openings for sewing ma chine operators * * * Vote against liquor stores on local option election on Wed., Dec. 3. (Paid advertisement by Concerned Citizens of Houston County) * * * Houston County farmers get 1970 ASC acreage allotments. * * * signments and the term papers in college. Virginia Woolfe, D.H. Lawrence, John Fowles, Nathaniel Hawthorne, T.S. Eliot, James Joyce and many other authors helped me learn about life. They may have been from a different pe riod, but the lessons in their stories still ring true today. I researched remote, obscure topics for term papers, mostly just to see if I could find enough information -I always did. There was the public relations paper on the effects of so cialization on gender and die history paper on the plight of Native Amer icans when the settlers came (1 used a lot of Native American poetry in that paper). Those were two of my favorites. And, wc won't even get into po etry, creative writing. Roots or the other topics 1 could discuss at length. Now, I know (hat not every child will love to read as much as I did. brought honor to Perry. Growth came to Perry with the permanency of Robins Air Force Base. Ihe expansion hits been phe nomenal through the years. Perry has been fortunate in electing good leaders to chart its course. Tixlay, we have approximately 12,000 people, churches, schools and businesses On every comer"'. The downtown area renovated in the Williamsburg style is at a criti cal stage tixlay. The new shopping centers with their variety of shops and quick fixxl businesses have Please see LEWIS, page 9A Need a ride to the Polls? Call 987-2456. Vote Malcolm “Mac" Reese Mayor (Paid Political Adv.) 50 Years Ago Nov. 30, 1944 Houston Superior Court to con vene Monday, Dec. * * * Growers increase cover crops m Georgia. » * * Jiunes Tharpe, Jr. of Perry, Ga., is now an aviation cadet at Rutgers University, at New Brunswick, N. J. He has been there seven weeks aixl is the only boy from Georgia to attend this college. He finished high school at the Perry Training Sch«x»l in June 1944. He Is a fine athlete and is participating in all fields of athletics at Rutgers. * * » The regular election for Justices of the Peace and Constables in Hous ton County will be held on Satur day, Dec. 2, 1944. Still, isn’t it important for every child to be able to fill such a love? What I'm going to say next may upset some, but I'm going to say it anyway. In a conversation last week some one made this point and I agree why doesn’t the City of Warner Robins shift some of their recre ation budget to pay what they owe the county library board? Before you throw this column down in disgust and run my name through the mud, hear me out. I never said recreation wasn't im portant. I know the benefits. I par ticipated in city recreation progrtuns as a child. My father even coached softball teams. Still, I can honestly say that I lettrned more in the library than I did on the field or court. You may not agree with my idea lor funding, but I'm sure no one wants out lihrnrv to close