Newspaper Page Text
Wednesday. December 14.1994, Houston Times-Journal
Page 4A
Editorials
Houston Times- Journal
P. O. 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 Tr ibble, President
Brigette Loudermilk, Editor and General Manager
Sherri Wengler, Advertising Manager
News: Larry Hitchcock. Pauline Lewis. Sports: Phil Clark. Composition: Lynn
Wright. Classified Advertising: Melanie Bullington. Circulation: Eric Zellers.
Bookkeeping: Judy Morrow. Photography. Eric Zellars.
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Houston and adjoining counties by Houston Publications Inc., Perry, Ga. Our goal is
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are proud of. We will reach that goal through hard work, teamwork, loyalty, and a
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Member Georgia Press Association-National Newspaper Association
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United States Constitution
A friend says goodbye to Jim Kerce
Dear Editor:
I've never written ;i letter to the editor before but now I think I
should. I want you to know, it you don't, that .Inn always thought so
higly of your writing and leadership abilities. He would be proud to
know your staying, if only for awhile, and carrying on his paper.
Over the last few days there tire alot of things Jim would have been
proud of, though he wouldn't have shown it But those of us who knew
him would have seen through that hard exterior to the smile in his eyes.
I'm sorry you missed his memorial Brig. I know you were away during
those days and by the time I reached you it was too late to get here. But
you were with us Brig in our hearts and minds. The memorial was nice.
Rev. Shipley did a good job.
There were tunes during that memorial though that I wanted to raise
my hand or stand up and say yes. he was an excellent newspaper man.
but tell these people what they may not have know, tell them how
much Jim loved his kids, tell them how much Jim loved the outdoors,
don't forget to tell them how dear Bobby J uggle was to him and what a
true friend he had there, and don't forget to mention w hat a neat freak he
was and how at Christmas or his birthday or Bosses Day how
embamssed he would get when we gave him a gilt or a hug. And don’t
forget to mention his hands that loved to work on that newspaper Dark
brown hands that looked and felt like genuine leather Don't forget his
drawings, how much Ducks Unlimited meant to him or how happy he
got when a new I I Beau catalog came in We don't forget these
things other people didn't ever know
Them are hundreds ol memories ol Jim with each of us at that paper,
both good and bad Somehow I feel the bad ones slipping away and the
gixxl handing on
Brig - every now and then lean back in that big ole chair your
tilling, lock your lingers behind your head, kick; your feel up like he
used to and jsut think about things
I sat in this d.uk office in that very chair for a lont ime on Friday
morning - just thinking. When I left there I felt stronger. I know
you'll feel the stune «ind the wisdom, he left there will come to you.
You'll do an excellent job Brig. No doubt. K know ;you've ahad a
lot of gtxxl teachers in your life by the woman you've evolved into just
in the few years I've know n :you 1 believe Jim had a hand in that too.
He was a great teacher. Cuxxl luck Brigette. Gixxl bye Jim. I will
iilwavs remember you as my friend.
Sincerely,
Teresa Hawk
Reader gives opinions on dam issue
Dear Editor:
The Houston County Commission made a w ise and practical decision
this week then they voted to accept the ownership of the Houston Lake
dam. As is typical of our current political climate, however, this
common sense decision was made aJmidst an inordinate amount of
political rhetoric from vocal intererst groups ostensibly concerned w'ith
safeguarding the taxpayers' interests.
On the surface, the questions involved in the public debate
surrounding hte reconstruction of Houston Lake seem simple. Should
public (i.e. government administered) funds be used to repair flood
damage to property owned by the private sector? Is public access
required if federal and state funds are to be awarded for the reconstruction
of a dam previously owend by a private corporation? Can a case be
made that the simple existence of the lake and facilities associated widi
it is of sufficient public benefit to justify the awtird of government aid?
These issues are relevant, but they point to two more important
questions that should be asked about our government and our economy.
First, what exacely is the source of public funds and second, how
should their use be determined *
Obviously, government administered funds are generated through
taxation. But is this how they are created? Not really. In fact, all
governmental revenues are generated by the market economy, and
specifically from the private sector. Private enterprise creates wealth,
which is taxed and redistributed by governments ;uid their bureaucracies.
Stated differently, businesses create value in the form of goods and
services in trade. The dollar is the currency used in the trade and the
basis of economic growth is the profits generated.
Taxation, the generation of "public" funds, is completely at the
expense of the private sector. Certainly, governmental employees are
taxed, but this process simply recycles dollars that have already been
siphoned from the private economy. At their best, governments can
channel funds into projects that would be cumbersome to cixirdinate in
the private economy - defense and infrastuclure investments are
examples of this. But even at the best, governeintns do not produce.
And at the worst, they inefficiently rechannel funds through
cumbersome bureaucracies, depriving the economy of investment
capital and Uius restricting economic growth.
The truly relevant questions revolve around how bureaucracies and
governmental employees make decisions about the allocation of funds
which originate from profits stripped from private enterprise.
Governmental employees and governmental bodies are exclusively
dependant upon private sector funds, liven local governments and
bureaucracies are essentially recipients, rcdislrihulors, and recyclers of
dollars generated from the imirkcl economy. In a very retd sense,
"public" funds do not exist. Similarly, government aid is not produced
from thin air and it is not granted. Rather it is stripped from the
prixlucing economy and reallocated according to necessarily arbitrary
Please see LETTER, page j 1A
“TTHE PEANUT GALLERY
|| | MISSILE-TOED
PENTAGON
TSSAM {~= s %L\ T\ ~3
CUT- BACK '■
. ” T/ |
Mayor breaks tie at 1989 city council meeting
5 Years Ago
Dec. 13, 1989
Worrall has to break tie in gas
contract negotiations with PPG.
* • *
Dick Ulm, Houston county
Development Authority executive
director, is ready to market
Heileman brewing plant worldwide;
after having met last week with
Randy Cardoza, deputy
commissioner of the State
Department of Industry . Trade and
Tounsm
» * *
Houston County Board of
Education members and Houston
County School Superintendent Dr
Harold Chapman, said Tuesday they
are getting bad vibes' from state
officials about chances of securing
$5 million needed in advanced
incentive funds to build a new high
school planned for Highway 96
* * *
The Houston County Board of
Education will not be taking
5250.000 out of the school
system's emergency fund for any
project whatsoever. The board
ended its 3-month debate over the
money Tuesday w hen BOE member
Zell Balckmon gave in and
withdrew his motion to take the
money out of the contingency funds
and use it for cafeteria expansion
and bathroom additions at Bonaire
Elementary School.
* * *
Christmas spirit in Perry; There is
a difference! Perry scenes and
activities are what you imagine
Christmas time should be!
* * *
10 Years Ago
Dec. 13, 1984
Editor Jim Kerce was a good newspaper man
Jim Kerce was a good
newspaperman. I first met him in
1984 shortly after we had purchased
the Leader-Tribune in Fort Valley.
He had considered coming to work,
there but, at the time, we were
unable to work out the details.
Over the years, I would see Jim on
occasion at meetings of the Georgia
Press Association and through
conversations and seeing the
Houston Home Journal, it was
apparent that lie knew the insides
and outs of how to publish a good
weekly newspaper.
When we purchased the Home
Journal and Perry limes in
February of this year. Jim chose to
accept the job as managing editor of
the Daily .Sun in Warner Robins
and went there in March. Two or
three months later, he called me one
day and let me know that his heart
was in Perry - where he had lived
for 13 years - and that he would
like to return to the newspaper,
should the opportunity become
available.
Jim came back to the Times-
Journal in August, giving me his
assurance that lie wished to remain
with the newspaper for the
remainder of his career. Ilis live for
the local paper, the community and
Remember |
When I
Meeks plans comprehensive'
development for City of Perry.
* * *
Lights to dim for final time at old
Muse Theater on Commerce Street
In recent years, it was called The
Stagecoach in O'Perry Hall because
of the country music bands that
played there on Saturdays.
* • •
Managing the precinct election
polls keeps Bill Edwards in contact
with people
» * *
New Georgia Tax law wins
challenge
* * *
Perry Garden Club celebrates
Golden Anniversary .
* * *
Park Day is slated in Houston
County.
* * *
Perry Historidal Society meets
during Open House.
* * *
Christmas trees from around the
world displayed at Perry Library.
* * *
25 Years Ago
Dec. 11. 1969
Council approves low rent housing
application.
* * *
Board of Education looks at
integration.
* * *
the people was very obvious.
I last spoke with Jim on Monday,
Dee. 5. He had sought counseling
from an acquaintance of many years
ago in Tallahassee, l'la.. his
hometown. I’he counselor was the
chaplain of the sheriffs department
and was in touch with Jim most
every day by phone, led called me
about Jim's progress on Sunday
night before I talked with him on
Monday and relayed to me the
message that Jim was concerned
about his job. We were to meet til
10 a.m. on Wednesday of last week
in tin effort to gel him back on the
job as soon as possible, but Jim
failed to show. We didn't know why
then, but we do now.
led told me during our
conversation that he had explained
to Jim the plan of salvation and
that Jim had accepted Christ. I had
previously spoken to Jim about his
religious faith and lie had recognized
*
Houston Times-Journal
DAR holds annual Christmas
meeting; UDC Chapter holds
Christmas social; USCS holds Yule
program; VFW plans Yule party
Saturday.
* * *
Crossroads Church sets fund
raising luncheon this Sunday. Dec.
14. at 12 noon - 2 p.m.. in Perry
Jr High Cafeteria Proceeds will
go to the Building Fund.
• * •
BOE seeks persons interested in
training as teachers.
* • «
Concert set for Crossroads Church
this Sunda> night
• • *
Cotton allotment transfers must be
hied by Dec. 31.
* » •
Flint Electric Membership Corp.
will build new office in Warner
Robins along 96 Highway
* • *
50 Years Ago
Dec. 14, 1944
Headed by W. T Middlcbrooks and
ten other representatives from all
sections of the County, Freezer
Locker Plant Committee met
Monday evening to make plans for
building a Freezer Locker and Meal
Curing Plant for Houston County.
* * *
Houston County has passed its
bond quota in the 6th War Loan
Drive, buying 5698.581; with a
5514.000 quota. The E Bond quota
was $444,000, according to Mayo
Davis. Chairman. 6ith War Bond
Loan Drive in Houston county. J.
P Etheridge. Chairman. 13th War
Bond District of which Houston
County is a part, reports
Please see REMEMBER, page 11A
his belief in God to me. There is no
doubt where Jim is today.
The pastor at the church Jim
attended did a beautiful job Saturday
at the funeral service. He
highlighted Jim's career, which
included several civic
accomplishments. But the thing
that would have made Jim most
proud is when he referred to him as
a "lough" newspaperman who
treated everyone the same way.
regardless of their status in the
community.
Many times the newspaper
business is not an easy way to
make a living. It provides you with
long hours, difficult decisions and
plenty of controversy. Sometimes
you are tlangcd if you do and dunged
if you don't.
Jim Kerce was a good
newspaperman. I le had learned what
it ttxik to put out a good product,
lie had learned to be truthful to his
community, even when it hurt. He
had learned to be fair, even though
you might disagree with his
decision.
For sure, lie loved his community
and his newspaper. May he rest in
ivacc.
Brigette
Loudermilk
News Editor
I'm glad to be one
of the few who
really knew Jim
As a reporter. I've had to write
about the triumphs, failures,
problems and. yes, the death of
many people. It's my job, and one
that has always seemed to come
naturally.
But, it's hard to describe my
feelings about Jim Kerce.
Anytime you work with someone
it's inevitable that you get to know
them beyond a professional level. It
was the same with Jim. He never it
made it easy, and l think that many
people don't understand who Jim
Kerce was. I'm glad I did.
First and foremost. Jim may have
been hard on the outside, but he had
a good heart inside Many people,
didn’t know how to break through;
the outer shell and he didn't make it;
easy for tliosc of us who did. Still,*
once you were Jim's friend, you;
were his friend for life.
He demanded respect and he’
demanded 100 percent from hisf
employees. He could hei
unreasonable and infuriating, but iff
you could take his gruffness ini
stride and do your job well, he!
respected you.
lliere were three things Jim Kerce]
loved-his family, his animals and;
Tin- Houston Home Journal.
Jim was a good newspaper man.]
When I came to* work at The Home ;
Journal. I'd previously worked for j
two other newspapers. I remember ■
the first compliment he gave me.j
mainly because 1 almost fainted!
when I heard it. But, as lime went!
on. he relied on me more, thanked !
me more and I can even recall a few I
apologies. He saw potential in me
and I'm grateful that he gave me the
chance to use it. even when he had j
to force it out of me. He taught me :
more about being a journalist than
any college course or other practical
experience ever did.
I remember when Jim left the
newspaper for his short stint at The
Daily Sun. He called me in his
oil ice. well aware I would soon be
silting in the chair he was sitting in
that day. and offered me some
advice.
"Because I care about you. I'm !
going to tell you some important !
things about running a newspaper."
he said in a gruff (one. lie then
gave me three short pieces of
advice, said "good luck” and then
changed the subject. It look all of
five minutes.
The only reason I'm here now is
because he asked me to come back.
When he said he needed my help 1
didn't even have to think about it.
Jim. just like all of us. had
problems. Those of us who were
close to Jim knew about the
problems and knew they were
Please see COLUMN, page 11A
I