Houston times-journal. (Perry, Ga.) 1994-1999, December 20, 1995, Image 5

Houston times-journal., December 20, 1995, Page Page 5A, Image 5

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Newspaper Page TextResponse (Continued from page 1A) to that is yes” Froehlich said what especially pleases him is that the show is good for families. He said there is an average of four persons in each vehicle that has gone through the light show. “It is a good time for families. They are getting together to ride through,’’said Froehlich. The light show also had the spin-off effect of getting mer chants in town to put up white lights to decorate their places. “The lights have been well received. I will definitely do the lights again next year,’’Overton said. Nancy Jackson of the Sugarplum Tree thinks the future will be even brighter as far as the lights are concerned. “In one or two years it will really catch on,’’she added. .Workers at that downtown busi ness says it has been “pretty good” this year. To coincide with the light show, many of the businesses have extended their hours. That may not have captured much additional revenue so far. Overton said, “I am disap pointed with the extended hours. Nobody much has been down town after 6 p.m. But, who knows what will happen this week.” Measuring the impact that “Wonderland in Lights” has had on cash registers in town is diffi cult. Hilton said not much has been mentioned about the show by her customers. However, she says”We have had many first time customers this year. Some of them are from out of town.” Taxes the tax rate as a real hardship for smaller grocery store operators. Ray would prefer a property tax reduction similar to the one which legislators rushed through on the final day of the 1995 session, but which Miller vetoed. Perdue said Miller vetoed the bill on advice from the Attorney General, who questioned the con stitutionality of the measure. Ray said he believes Georgians would rather see relief on their property taxes. “They voted to add the sales tax. Most people see that as fair. I think they’d rather have property tax relief,” he said. Four of the five members of the county delegation, minus Rep. Larry Walker, D-Perry, who was out of town on business, all men tioned budget issues during their talk with the chamber members. Perdue said Miller had announced plans to be careful with state funds during his final two years in office. “He told us he will not drain the reserve funds as some previous governors have,” Perdue said. Meanwhile, Rep. Sonny Roy H. “Sonny” Watson Jr., D-Warner Robins, told the chamber that the legislature had been true to its Catch the Christmas spirit. (Mad tetters he 'Santa «n page 3-7% Only 3 More Days Remain! 50% Off JL All In-Stock Books Paperbacks - And Hardbacks - Calendars ~ Gifts ~ Fiction ~ Nonfiction ~ Cookbooks ~ Self Help Books ~ References latesaZ. Selling Fixtures, Too! (Display Stands, Cash Register, Workbench, Etc.) Closing at 8:00 p.m. Friday, December 22 Cash Or Checks (No Credit Cards) T '~~——— - ——■— **■—*— : L\ vs / WBBSBmm i g>“4 i ll / , v \ A wkf if®* ■Hr A Wjim n» _ Vp^gpL- Times-Journal Photo by Emily Johnstone EXCELLENT Fran Hartman (left), instructional coordinator for Perry High School, and Principal Phil Smith celebrate the news that PHS has been named a Georgia School of Excellence for the second time in eight years. Purse Can we ever fund everything? Do we dilute our efforts when we spread our money so thin? Ad is is really doing any of these groups much good to pay “lip service” to supporting them, knowing they will probably be removed budget as the budget debates rage? I think not. Despite the fears of all of us that if we give local boards, superintendents, principals, teach ers and parents control of money, they may not set the same priorities that we think are important, the truth is that we, at the state and national levels, don’t know what the priorities of the local school systems should be. One solution I strongly advocate is to have an accountability council established at every school site to help set the priorities for that school. A coun cil comprised of parents and teachers of the school would transcend special interests and be able to set the priorities most needed by that school. word and Miller’s promise con cerning how lottery profits are spent. “He promised the funds would not replace previous tax funds, that this money would be supple mental, and that’s what it has been,” Watson said. The income produced by the lot tery continues to grow, but Watson believes it will level out within another year or two. Because of that, he does not want to add addi tional programs to the lottery pro ceeds which cannot be continued when the funding levels off. “There are three major items funded by the lottery proceeds, the HOPE scholarships, pre-4 kinder garten and technology equipment for schools,” Watson said. A small amount of the money was used last year to help rapidly growing school systems build des perately needed buildings. Watson said Houston County could quali ty for those funds during 1996 if they are appropriated again. Ray said that because drivers are already traveling at those speeds, he would support efforts to return the speed limit to 75 mph on interstates and 65 mph on state highways. He predicted that consumers This group could also be accountable each year for the money spent and the achievement increases of the students. I think this concept changes “site-based management” into “site-based responsibility.” There is a difference and the difference can be crucial to the decision-making, priority-setting of schools. The time has come for the state to admit that our efforts to mandate programs and achievement are not working. We are paying lip service to supporting dif ferent programs, but nothing is happening. Let us move forward, toward allowing local people to make local decisions to solve local problems with local solutions. It will not make everyone happy, but it will make every school think about its priorities, design an improvement plan, and implement that plan to help its children. (Linda C. Schrenko is the Georgia State Superintendent of Schools.) (Continued from page 1A) would not benefit as much as they night think from reduced food sales taxes. “A large part of what you buy at the super market js not food. Taxes would not go down that much,” Ray said. Rep. Johnny Floyd, D-Cordele, said many people had misunder stood Gov. Miller’s directive to state department heads concerning a five-percent budget change. “He said to review the budget and find five percent of spending which could be better used in other programs or areas,” Floyd said. “He did not say he would take the five percent away.” Floyd said the purpose was to force review of programs to deter mine which ones were really ben eficial and to reduce or eliminate those which aren’t. Asked about a construction timetable for widening of Houston Lake Road between Warner Robins and Perry, Watson said the road was scheduled for a contract during 1999. He said the delegation would like to see that time moved up, but the county must find funding for moving of utility lines and pur chase of rights of way along the route. (Continued from page 4AO A major natural gas transmis sion line must be relocated. Watson said that project will cost the county about $1 million. “If we can work that out, we can build it sooner,” Watson said. Christmas (3ale luted., Thur., Fri., Sat., Sun 10% on Many Items L \ Go Karts, Wagons, X \ Bicycles, Lawn Mowers, Chainsaws Weedeaters, Blowers, 'I Some Power Tools, Appliances, \ Some Hand Tools * No Exchanges • No Returns • No Other Discounts Apply Perry True Value 1203 Main Street • Perry, GA 31069 987-0211 Excellence what we’re doing and have worked, hopefully, to improve the quality of instruction for our stu dents,” Smith stated. “I am thank ful Perry Elementary was chosen, also.” “I haven’t hit the ground yet!“ said Patsy Hutto, principal of Perry Elementary School. She is all smiles when she speaks of the school’s recent award that puts the school in the prestigious category of School of Excellence. Hutto said she and instructional coordinator Linda Home put together information “for a long time” in their quest for the award. Achieving this status has been a goal of Hutto’s for a number of years. “We have tried for three years to get it,” she said. “This Meeting scheduled Dec. 21 meeting in Perry as originally planned. Executive director of the authority, Tim Martin, said the STREET - Providing HOME XT EEE=MEDICAL Service Come See Our Complete Line Of Bathroom Safety Products 913 Main St. 1538 Watson Blvd. Perry, GA 31069 Warner Robins, GA 31093 987-7806 (912) 922-2889 -tMH. li CALL A COMPANY YOU CAN TRUST! ffi EXTERMINATING COMPANY U» [W I CALL 922-1410 OR 1 -800-344-1152 |OT jjp J FREE ESTIMATES & INSPECTIONS • LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED IQr ■Hi TIME PAYMENTS CAN BE ARRANGED ■Pi [jg/| 20 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS SERVICE Igl Wednesday, Dec, 20, 1995, Houston Times-Journal was a goal we set a long time *» ago. “I think our report reflected the community spirit we have devel oped here in the school, not only with the teachers but also the par ents and students,” she added. “We emphasize the signifi cance we place in respect to our children and their choices. Our students know we expect their very best every day all day long. We won’t settle for less,” Hutto pointed out. The school has been deluged with flowers, cards and telephone calls offering congratulations. “We are very proud and very humbled at the same time,” said the principal. next meeting of the organization will be held during January, at the authority offices in the technology park in Warner Robins. Page 5A (Continued from page 1A) (Continued from page 1A)