Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

Volume 125—N0. 82 120 Pages WEDNESDAY,DECEMBER 21,1994 50 CENTS Perry, Ga. this week <r- The community's sympathy is extended to the families of those who recently died. They include: Virgil P. Brooks, Perry; Cecil E. Pate, Cordele; Willie Clarence Woods Sr., Unadilla; Woodrow W. Cannady, Perry; Odie Mae Stanley, Perry; Harold Eugene Lones, Warner Robins; James Edward Gordon, Pitts; Charlie Louise Rumph McGhee, Henderson; W.J. Young, Kathleen. See details. page2A. The city reminds all residents to put out their garbage cans early Friday, Dec. 23, since all city workers will quit work at noon that day for the Christ mas holidays. Also, there will be no trash pick-up Monday, Dec. 26. Give the gift of life this holiday season at the next area blood drive to be field Tuesday, Dec. 27 from 9 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m. at Perry Hospital. School board decides on 3 new programs By LARRY HITCHCOCK News Editor The Houston County Board of Education t<x>k three steps to help improve the quality of life for students and their families at last week's meeting. The board decided to go into the day-care business of a trial basis; expand its in-school health-care program; and provide funding for Family Connections, a school based social services network. The day-care program will be patterned after similar projects in Fayette and Cobb counties, according to Supt. Tony Hinnant. No taxpayer funds will be used to operate the program. Each student enrolled in the day-care program will pay 525 per week for the service. "We will be offering more than after-school babysitting,” said Carol Boyd, elementary coordinator for the school system. "We will use the time almost as an extension of the school day and will provide enrichment in addition to taking care of the children while they are waiting for their parents." The day-care program will be offered as a pilot program next spring and then expanded in the fall of 1995, if proves successful. Six Houston County schools already have day-care programs being operated under contracts with two private providers, Children's Friend and Meadowdale. "It's not that the day-care centers aren't doing a good job," Boyd said. "We just want to offer our parents turd children more than just day cine services." Tucker Elementary, Perdue Elementary, Lindsey Elementary, Northside Elementary, Quail Run Elementary and Westside Elementary all have day-care programs operated by private providers. The health-care clinics will be added at Perry High School and Tucker, Morningside and Kings Please see BOE, page 5A to santa-8-12A Houston Times- Journal 'All I want for Christmas.. .is my parents well 1 By LARRY HITCHCOCK News Editor Amanda's mother, Sandra Jackson, has incurable thyroid cancer. When she talks, she sounds like someone with a severe case of laryngitis and she has trouble breathing. An oxygen machine sits next to the living room couch where she normally rests. Her father, Danny Jackson, will find out in February just what is causing his severe intestinal distress and spells of nausea. He has been told by one doctor that it may be colon cancer, but he must await the results of a biopsy performed Nov. 29 at the Medical College of Augusta to be sure. He has an appointment Feb. 13. Pictures and paintings of Jesus adorn every wall in the small apartment on Sleepy Hollow Road in Marshallville. The round coffee table has several framed pictures of Amanda ;md her parents. "There’s not much they can do for me,” Mrs. Jackson said. "There's not much left of my neck except my vtxral chords ;ind tumors. If they took out the tumors, there wouldn't be anything left to support my head.” She's had die cancer for 10 years, but it's been three years since she SBv MBSr C| * bBhBF f • w ir*:- • **, MmTfi » mm IPl'. ' MHI - KiX 1*1» . ’39KIH ‘aft B aHRSiMMn Sharyl Vest, left, Family Connection case manager for and Carol Ferguson, site coordinator for the Family Connection program, load Christmas gifts for several families into a van for delivery. Family Connection program helps families help themselves By LARRY HITCHCOCK News Editor She was the single mother of six children, two girls (ages 5 and 15) and four boys (ages 6, 10, 11 and 13). The family lived in public housing, was elgible for Medicaid and received Aid for Dependent Children. All the children needed clothing. The oldest boy was in trouble with juvenile authorities. The oldest girl clashed with her mother and seemed angry all the time. The three younger boys had discipline problems in school. The pre-school daughter wasn’t enrolled in pre school. The mother felt overwhelmed and could not control the children. To top it all off, she was trying to earn her general equivalence degree. Enter the Family Connection. By working with school officials, the Pencil Belt Mental 1 leallh agency, .a Pre-K progr;un ne;tr their home ;uid the juvenile court system, the children's school behavior has improved; there has been a i write letters Official Legal Organ for Houston County, City of Perry and the State of Georgia Young girl writes heartfelt Letter to Santa "Dear Santa, "I'm 13 years old and my Mom has a rare form of cancer. They've tried many treatments, experiments and radiation, hut nothing has worked. She's been sick since I was 2 1/2. 1 rarely saw my Mom when I was little because she was always in the hospital and I was always staying with my aunt. When I got to see my Mom she was always in the bed with a bedpan and always sick. She was usually bald because of all the chemo (therapy). "They were not expecting my Mom to live long, but every morning I would awake to check on last had any treatment. Doctors have told her she must decide by next month whether to resume chemotherapy. She's taking a variety of expensive medication, mostly for pain. Medicaid pays some, but not all of the bills. The Burke Foundation in Macon has helped with some of the prescriptions. Danny Jackson has several certificates from Winn Dixie Stores verifying he has completed several training courses in the grocery store restructuring of rules at home; tne mother has implemented new parenting skills; the family has been linked with several agencies throughout the community that the mother could not have reached on her own; and the mother has become an active volunteer with Family Connection and die the Pre- K program and she is looking for work and is completing her CiED. All this started when the 6-year old boy became a discipline problem at school ;uid his case was referred to Family Connection on Sept. 15. "The progress this family has made is just one example of how Family Connection can work with the schools, other government agencies and families in need of help to resolve their problems," said Carol Ferguson, site coordinator for the Houston County Family Connection program. "Our mission is to bring together the power of our community resources to help families help themselves. Family Connection Please see PROGRAM, page 5A Lady Panthers atop 3AA Full local sports coverage appears on — 6-7 A my Mom and / thank God for letting me have her for one more day. "They have just found out my Dad has colon cancer. He's been real sick. “I'll take anything I can for Christmas and be thankful, but I really want my parents well. I wish everyone will pray for us. I also pray that everyone in the world will put the hate and fussing behind them this year and find the true meaning of Christmas. "Yours truly (God's Helper), "Amanda Jackson" field, but he has been unable to keep a job since his illness surfaced and caused him to miss work. He has applied twice for disability and Social Security, but has been rejected both times. He plans to try again once he knows the results of die biopsy. Amanda, a seventh-grader at Macon County Junior High, has been the inspiration for her parents. "Amanda's the one who keeps us going," her mother said. "Christmas is having my family Ir m x . V-. WrmWTy m >nf, ■; & 'll- - .iflfftlp ... . s V’7y-'-' - ■' ' '■’ r A ; * ‘ „ IHHELjp nn* I W -v ~JI I ar RKH7 :S lg§t:l jpr I p jpf Have a Merry Christmas!! The Music Ministry at First Baptist Church in Perry invited the community to celebrate the ninth annual Living Christmas Tree last week. Special guest Jim Murray sang at each performance held Friday through Sunday, Dec. 16-18. Larry Wood, associate pastor of music, directed the 50-plus voice adult choir, 65-member youth choir and 22-piece orchestra in presenting "Bethlehem's Treasure" to full-house congregations. j| Amanda Jackson, left, prays that her father, Danny (center), and mother, Sandra, will have their health problems cured. That's all the Marshallville 13-year-old wants for Christmas. with me," Amanda said. "Jesus didn’t have much, but he had his family. I just take things one day at a time." Index to Features Classified 6B Joyce Compton 3A Deaths 2A Sports 6A Phil Clark 6A Tribble 4A Legals 3B Wedding 2B Letters to Santa 8A Remember when4A Like most young teen-agers, Amanda has not yet decided what she wants to be when she is an Please see JACKSON, page 5A ■