Newspaper Page Text
Wednesday, January 4,1995, Houston Trnes-Journal
Page 4A
Viewpoints
Houston Times-Joumal
P.O. Drawer M • 807 Carroll Street • Perry, Ga. 31069
The Houston Times-Joumal (USPS 000471) is published 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
Jj Johnson, 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 Zellers.
Unpopular decision needed
Once again the Houston County Commission is faced with the
problem of what to do about the overcrowding at Houston County jail
facilities.
When commission members prepared the budget last June, they
allocated SIOO,OOO for the fiscal year which began July 1,1994, to
pay for boarding of excess prisoners at out-of-county facilities.
By the end of 1994, the county has, in six months, spent in excess
of $330,000, and commissioners are now looking to the contingency
fund and other financial resources to pay the budget for this year. It
has been anticipated the total spending for boarding prisoners with
out-of-county facilities may exceed $400,000 for this fiscal year.
More than 10 years have passed since law enforcement agencies
began to call attention to a problem of overcrowding at Houston
County jail facilities. Since then, the crime rate has continued to
ciimb and yet no additional facilities have been constructed.
Plans for a variety of solutions have been discussed. Some even
.included having an outside firm build and lease to the county a
suitable jail facility.
Building a new jail, and one which would meet the humanitarian
standards required today, is not a popular topic with the public. Many
people perceive prisoners as being too well taken care of now, and to
build a new facility would simply not be very’ popular.
There is, however, no doubt that the county will eventually build
a new facility. The question is whether the county will build it on its
own or whether a judge will determine the specifications tor the new
facility alter a lawsuit is filed and judgement is rendered.
We encourage the commission members to address the issue
quickly and before outside forces have destiny over our pocketbooks.
A jail w e design and build ourselves is likely to be far less costly than
one designed by an outsider.
Building a jail may be an unpopular decision, but it is one which
the countv must make soon.
Hendrix named mayor pro-tem
Compiled by Pauline Lewis from
Houston Home Journal files.
5 Years Ago (Jan. 3,1990)
City Council votes Councilman
Jim Hendrix Mayor Pro-tern
Jay Walker is elected Chairman of
County Commissioners for 1990. He
listed construction of additional jail
space and the installation of an E-911
emergency dialing system as his two
highest priorities for the coming year
The Houston County Board of
Commissioners approved the pay
ment of $50,549.64 in back overtime
pay to county jail employees, based
on the findings of an investigation by
the U S. Department of Labor.
Both the Sheriff s Department and
the Houston County Correctional In
stitute were investigated by the La
bor Department for their practice of
requiring personnel to report for w ork
15 to 20 minutes early for shift-change
briefings. The investigation con
cluded that the county owed 81 jail
employees back overtime pay for two
years.
The overtime problem has since
been resolved.
First 1990 baby was Cassie Lea
Wikles, daughter of Nita and Jimmy
Wikles of Vienna. Maternal grand
parent is Lea Bailey of Perry. Pater
nal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs.
Charlie Wikles of Vienna. The baby
was also the first baby of 1990 bom
in Houston County, arriving at 9:31
a.m... weighing in at 6 lbs.. 12.2
ounces and 211/2 inches in length.
Four sites were presented to offi
cials as possible OAC sites, Com
missioners agreed to give the OAC a
decision at their next meeting on Jan.
16
CB&T Bank selects new board
members: Eddie Wiggins, Jim
Hegwood and Dr. Tony DeLoach.
10 Years Ago...(Jan. 3,1985)
Henderson barbecue and donations
raised over $4,000 for Den ver “Sport”
Pickard, diagnosed last October as
having cancer..
Two escapees recaptured. Jail
guard gets suspension.
Thirteen elected officials sworn
Remember
When ...
into office by clerk Those taking the
oath included: Superior Court Judge
Willis B. Hunt, Jr., District Attorney
Theron Finlayson, Tax Commissioner
Joyce Griffin, Superior Court Clerk
Carolyn Sullivan, Sheriff Cullen
Talton, Jr., Coroner Daniel L. Galpin,
Commissioners Gene Harrington.
Houston G. Porter. Jr., and Alton
Tucker. School Superintendent Matt
Arthur, Board of Education members
Billy P. Edenfield, Rev. Jack B.
Kirven. Jr. and Dr. C. B. Lowery.
Rev. and Mrs. Dan Ariail of Plains
celebrated dieir 25th wedding anni
versary during the holidays. Rev.
Ariail, former pastor of Perry First
Baptist Church, is now pastor of
Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains.
An open invitation in the church bul
letin brought many guests from Perry
to the affair at which Nell Ariail wore
her original wedding dress. Rev. Ariail
admitted that he had ‘outgrown’ his
tuxedo.
Perry native, Thomas E. Sandefur,
Jr., was recently promoted by Brown
& Williamson Corp. to President and
Chief Operating Officer. He previ
ously was executive vice president
25 Years Ago....(Jan. 1,1970)
Magee Carpet announces expan
sion of Perry Plant-
Police Chief B. E. Dennard issues
warning on motor scooters and BB
guns.
35,000 auto tags to go on sale here.
Commissioners, councilmen may
set their own salaries..
T. Draper Watson to join Watson-
Hunt Funeral Home.
Mayor Richard B. Ray and “Miss
Perry” Kathy Strickland ride in
Atlanta’s Peach Bowl Parade..
Perry police crack burglary ring
here.
“The. pmsr 64uerv '
| YEAR op TUB. BLEPHANT |
fIWASkfT
/ Jo Q PREPARED )
/O r
Kftk ) ( j
tm l <L \—J
A welcome and some observations
Welcome aboard, Jj. Boy, am 1 glad
you’re here.
The past three weeks have been
rather hectic around the Times-Jour
nai, to say the icd>i I moved to Houston
County over three days, Dec. 7-9 mak
ing a round trip each day from Win
chester. Tenn.
After .finishing the last trip on that
Friday, it was late and 1 realized I
hadn't eaten, so 1 w ent to Warner Rob
ins to the Waffle House on Watson
Boulevard to get a bite to eat. 1 bought
a Warner Robins paper and there on the
front page was the story about Jim
Kerce’s death.
What a shock that was! The editor
who had hired me for the news editor's
position hem w as no longer here. Did 1
have a job 1 Had Jim told anyone 1 was
to start work the following Monday?
A call to the office the next morning
confirmed that Jim had tokl the staff I
was due in Monday. Bridgette
Loodermiik had been tilling in my
position since Veto Roley left and now
she was filling in for Jim
Normally, a new staffer gets to go
around with someone on the staff who
has been there a while, meeting the
news contacts and finding out w hat the
routine is, but due to the unsettled way
things have been here. Bndgette didn' t
have time to introduce me to the mayor,
the county commission chairman, the
sheriff anil all the other new smakers m
southern Houston County.
So, Jj. T m a little late getting my feet
planted firmly in the Georgia red clay
and sand. Now that you’re with us,
maybe 1 can finally get a chance to get
out of the office and meet the "powers
Worshipping a God of progress and advancement
Bv Rev. Harold L. Moore,
Pastor, Elko Baptist Church
“Speak unto the children of Israel
that they go forward.” Exodus 14:15.
God is eternal and perfect. Neither
room nor need for improvement exists
in His nature. He is die same yesterday,
today and forever. How unlike God
man is in this respect.
Nevertheless, God is interested in the
progress and advancement of His cre
Jesus is the Rock of Ages
“So this is what the sovereign Lord
says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a
tested stone, a precious cornerstone for
a sure foundation; the one who trusts
wili never be dismayed.” Isaiah 28:16
NIV.
The precious Comer Stone of God’s
kingdom has been laid and the majesty
of His throne has been established.
Jesus Christ has dominion over all,
from sea to sea and to the ends of the
earth. He will rule with justice and
judgment forever.
All people, nations, and languages
will learn of Him and serve Him. Be
ginning in Galilee of the Gentiles, the
people who sat in darkness saw the
great Light of man, Who was sent from
God. A little later, Jesus sent His
followers into all lands to take the
gospel of light and teach them salva
tion by God’s grace.
Today, people all across the
earth worship God, sing His
praises and teach others to honor
His holy Name. One day soon,
when Jesus returns, every knee
will bow and every tongue shall
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Until that great day, Jesus has prom
ised that His presence wili always go
with us He will never leave us or
forsake u.s until our traveling days are
done.
At Calvary, Jesus repaired the ter
Larry
Hitchcock
that be.”
•During all those trips up and down
1-75,1 made two observations about
Georgia. .
Fust, it sure was nice to see gasoline
for less than SI a gallon again. In
Tennessee, the cheapest unleaded regu
lar gas sold for from 51.05 to SI. 13 a
gallon.
Second, Georgia’s reputation as a
speed trap hasn’t died. It’s just gotten
out of the small towns and onto 1-75.
The state hasn't helped matters much
by posting a 55 miles-per-hour limit for
17 miles north of Forsyth and 60 miles
an hour from Forsyth to Macon.
It would irafce sense if there was
some construction under way on the
highway, but the only work I saw was
one crew of workers doing something
on the shoulder on about a half-mile of
the southbound lane.
Try to observe the posted speed
limit (55) and you'll get run over as
carsand trucks race past you. Try torun
with the traffic and you’ll soon see your
speedometer hit at least 75.
But the tug problem is that you
rarely see a Georgia Highway Patrol
car from the I-75-1475 junction to
McDonough. But boy, do you see the
"county mounties.”
County officers running radar on
the interstate is unheard of in Tennes
ation. He has definite aims ax! specific
goals toward which all life is to strive. He
will so order the events of time and direct
the movements of history that His pur
poses will ultimately be achieved. His
divine intentions can never be thwarted.
All of life will eventually be made to
conform to the perfect will of Him who is
the almighty one.
God’s program is one of advance.
His battle cry is “Forward ever, back
Joyce
Compton
rible breach sin caused between God
and man. Jesus, our divine Repairer,
can also bring the broken ends of per
sonal relationships together and make
our fellowship whole again. He heals
the broken hearted and binds up the
wounds of His people.
The pathway to heaven was once
obscured by Satan and his barricades of
sin, sickness and death. But Jesus has
conquered Satan and overcome every
obstacle that might keep His people
from having access to God’s throne.
Jesus, our Restorer, has reopened a
pathway for us and even preserves us
and makes provision for our needs
along our journey. We are both saved
and safe in Him Who is our Light and
our Hiding Place.
Jesus knows when we are pursued
by sin, doubt, perplexity and sorrow.
He bids us to stop awhile in the quiet of
His tabernacle and be restored by trust
ing in His perfect love. When afflic
tions surround us, Jesus is our High
lower, our Refuge and Protection
against all foes and fears.
Jesus is the Comer Stone of G<xF<k
Houston Times-Joumal
see, Alabama, Mississippi, North and
South Carolina, Louisiana, Arkansas
and Texas. Those are the states I’ve
driven extensively in over the past three
years and can speak from personal
observation.
Those states leave the interstate high
ways to the state patrols. County offic
ers stay on the conventional highways
in their jurisdiction. The only time they
venture onto the interstates is to give
highway patrolmen assistance at major
wrecks.
There’s only one possible explana
tion for county officers working radar
units on interstates in Georgia cash
for the county coffers.
In other words, speed traps.
If 1 were a county taxpayer that
lived between Macon and Atlanta and
1-75 ran through my county, I'd won
der how much crime and speeding and
drunk driving was happening on the
roads and streets I normally drove on
while the deputies I was helping pay
were out on the interstate giving tickets
to travelers
With the Olympics coming to At
lanta in 1996, mega-bucks are being
spent by many cities and counties try
ing to lure some of the expected hoards
of tourists headed for the Games.
Giving them tickets on the interstate
is not the way to leave a good impres
sion.
Perry and Houston County have
several good tourist attractions that
should draw interestduring thcGames.
Let's hope the traveling public will
have enough money and desire to stop
and see them after running the gauntlet.
ward never”. Those who oppose the
progressive movement inherent in the
faces of eternity, or who stand still in
its path, will be crushed by the slow but
sure wheels of destiny.
At times the rebellion and disobedi
ence of man appear to hinder the works
of God. By such activity man is only
denying himself the privilege of par
ticipation in God’s triumphant march.
Any opposition that man may offer to
eternal kingdom. He is the Rock of our
salvation. His strength is durable and
everlasting. May we find comforting
shade and rest for our souls in the
shelter of Christ Who is our Rock For
tress.
As we continue on our journey to
heaven, let our prayer be:
Lead me to the Rock that is higher
than I.” Psalm 61:2 KJV.
Our Policies Unsigned editorials appearing in larger type on this paper
reflect the position of the Houston Times-Journal. Signed columns and letters
on this paper reflect the opinions of the writers and not necessarily those of this
newspaper. Signed letters to the editor are welcomed. Please limit to 300 words
and include address and a telephone number for verification purposes. No letters
will be published without verification. Letters should be sent to P.O. Drawer M,
Perry, Ga. 31069 or brought to the newspaper office at 807 Carroll St., Perry.
Our liability for an error will not exceed the cost of space occupied by the
error.
We cannot be responsible for the return of pictures or material unless a
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Our Goal The Houston Times-Joumal is published proudly for the
citizens of Houston and adjoining counties by Houston Publications Inc., Peny,
Ga. Our goal is to produce quality, profitable, community-oriented newspapers
that you, our readers, are proud of. We will reach that goal through hard work,
teamwork, loyalty and a strong dedication toward printing the truth.
Member Georgia Press Association National Newspaper Association
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of
the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assembly, and to petition the
Government for a redress of grievances." Your right to read this newspaper is
protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.
Jj Johnson
Editor
Tune has a certain way of getting
away when our backs are turned. Since
we last were together, about 23 months
have passed and our lives have taken
many new paths and directions. Some
of the happenings I am aware of, seme
I’m not. I'm looking forward to catch
ing up on the good news of a good
community.
I m excited about being back in
southern Houston County. This is a
good area, one in which I have enjoyed
working for the better part of five of the
last seven years. I can look on almost
every street comer and see changes
which have taken place since I arrived
at The Perry Times during 1989. It’s
good to see that growth and develop
ment continue in this community.
As I assume this job, I realize that I
amnotßobby Branch or Jim Kerce, the
twoeditors of the Houston Home-Jour
ml with whom I was acquainted before
their untimely deaths. Both of them
had a special flair for journalism which
1 can only hope to follow in my own
way and apply to the community. My
assurance is that I love this newspaper
and the community as they did, and
hope to provide a suitable product tor
southern Houston County.
I knew both Bobby and Jim during
their times at this paper. Both men were
good journalists and good managers of
the paper. They were worthy with the
talents they had been given. I hope I can
do the same with the opportunity which
Bob Tribble has given me.
I’d love to hear from our readers and
our advertisers how we can better serve
the community. Changes will take place
gradually as 1 try to determine just what
our readers want and what will benefit
our advertisers most. I hope these sug
gestions will be not only good ideas but
items which we can implement
over a period of time.
This newspaper, just as any news
paper, is a direct reflection of the com
munity. Those who want a good news
paper will let us know what they want
so we can provide it. I hope there are
many readers in that category.
Please let me know what we can do
for you.
Meanwhile. lam adjusting to work
ing with a new staff here at the Times-
Jourml. Many of the staff members I
already knew either by actual working
knowledge, or at least by4iame and
reputation. This is a good group of
people assembled together, and I look
forward to working with them in the
future
As we reacquaint ourselves, please
try to mention your name and how 1
should associate you during our initial
conversation just so I can get my men
tal files back up to speed. Thanks.
God's design for history can, at best,
cause only a slight delay. The lifetime
of one, or even several, generations is
but a moment compared to eternity.
There is no word for retreat in the
language of the Spirit. God’s word for
His people anywhere and everywhere
is found in the pungent command given
the Hebrews as they fled Egyptian bond
age. Tlie Hebrews stood at the Red
Sea. They were pursued by the Egyp
tians. Fear filled their hearts. They
complained that slavery in Egypt was
better than death in the wilderness.
Then the God of progress said to
Moses: “Speak unto the children of
Israel that they go forward”. They
obeyed; God divided the Red Sea; the
Hebrews were delivered while the
Egyptians perished.
Israel became a nation and set the
stage for (tie f ulfillmentof God’s redemp
tive purpose. God acts; He makes
progress; He achieves advance. For the
Hebrews, not to go forward was to die.
Manmustgoforward with God or perish.