Newspaper Page Text
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Volume 126, No. 20
2 Sections, 18 Pages
Wednesday
May 15, 1996
50 Cents
At the
Crossroads
this week
Horse show at
Agricenter
The HQHA horse show
will be held May 17-19 at
the Georgia National
Fairgrounds and Agricenter.
A quarter horse show and
sale will take place May 18.
The State Board of
Workers Compensation will
host a session May 21 and
the Georgia Forestry
Commission will meet at
the Agricenter May 21-22.
Officials at the Agricenter
are continuing to accept
reservations for youth fish
ing trips during the month of
June. Participating youth
must be 16 or younger and
must be in adult-accompa
nied groups of 10 or more.
Fishing is available free dur
ing the hours of 8 a.m.-3
p.m. any Monday through
Saturday. Call 988-6483.
Book signing
The Rev. Dr. Dan Ariail
will be at the Perry
Bookstore May 17 from 2-4
p.m. to sign a spiritual biog
raphy about former
President Jimmy Carter
which Ariail wrote.
The book store is located
at 907 Commerce St.
Restaurants inspected
Officials' with the
Houston County
Environmental Health
Department inspected 15
restaurant kitchens during
the week of May 6-10.
At the New Perry
Nursing Home, 500 Stanley
St., Perry, inspectors found
problems with equipment
and storage of cleaning
products which were cor
rected immediately. The
score was 77.
At the Sacred Heart
School cafeteria at 251 S.
Davis Drive in Warner
Robins, inspectors found a
problem with storage of
cleaning products which was
corrected. The score was 89.
At Taco Bell, 419 N.
Davis Drive, Warner Robins,
inspectors found problems
with employee hygiene mat
ters and equipment which
were corrected immediately.
The score was 75.
At the VFW Post 6605
Home at 1011 Corder Road
in Warner Robins, inspectors
found problems with equip
ment. The score was 87.
At the VFW Post 6605
Lounge at 1011 Corder
Road, inspectors found a
problem with equipment
which was corrected. The
score was 93.
Other scores included:
American Legion
Lounge, Radio Loop,
Warner Robins, 97.
American Legion
Restaurant, radio Loop,
Warner Robins, 97.
BJ’s Orioles nest, 2001
Moody Road, Warner
Robins, 98.
Chick-fil-A, 1363 Sam
Nunn Blvd., Perry, 90.
Montana’s Steakhouse,
2212 Watson Blvd., Warner
Robins, 93.
Pizza Hut, 1344 Sam
Nunn Blvd., Perry, 96.
Shoney’s, 1406 Sam
Nunn Blvd., Perry, 90.
Snellgrove Seafood, 632
N. Houston Lake Blvd.,
Centerville, 96.
Speakeasy Cocktail
Lounge, 2515 Moody Road,
Warner Robins, 97.
The Golden Spur, 1231 S.
Davis Drive, Warner
Robins, 96.
Walking to defeat cancer
Relay for Life
Group raises slo,ooo+, Page 8B
Houston Times-Journal
Official Legal Organ for Houston County, the City of Perry and the State of Georgia
Civic, business leaders look to keep Christmas lights glowing
First planning session draws 25 participants to consider a ‘lighted winter wonderland 9
Special to the Times-Journal
Members of the Perry Area Chamber of
Commerce’s Small Business and Tourism
Committees hosted a community planning
meeting May 9 at CB&T Bank to discuss
decorating and event opportunities during
the Christmas season.
Some 25 community leaders represent
ing local businesses, clubs, churches and
schools were enthusiastic and full of ideas
on how to make Perry spectacular for resi
dents and visitors, according to Mike
Jackson, one of the leaders of the lighting
Beginning of a long, hot summer
B|k ... . r -fLl' ■JgSaSp?' 'lSiiltkM’ l W" «
‘ Tirfies-Journal Photo by Emily Johnstone
GETTING THE POOL READY Tom Dominey and Jimmy Thomas, Perry Recreation
Department employees, prepare to pump out last year's water from the pool at Creekwood
Park so the pool can be cleaned and refilled for this summer season. Dominey said he hopes
the pool will be open by Memorial Day. However, the city is having a difficult time finding
lifeguards to staff the pool site. Anyone interested in being a lifeguard at Creekwood Park
this summer should contact Dominey at 988-8131.
Council working with wish lists
from Perry department heads
Annual budget process has begun for city council of Perry
By EMILY JOHNSTONE
Times-Journal Staff
City of Perry officials are busy ironing out the
budget for their upcoming fiscal year.
City council members heard requests from some
department heads for personnel and capital outlay
during a work session held May 7.
Police department requests included two new
positions to be added to the force that would be par
tially funded by federal grants. One position would
be a crime prevention specialist which would add up
to a total cost of $47,826. Those numbers include
salary, vehicle and equipment. A federal match would
pay for $35,870.13, according to Chief George
Potter.
Another position would be a slot for a drug officer
with salary, equipment and vehicle costs coming in at
$53,197.84. Federal monies would pay for
$39,898.38.
Other requests include four new police vehicles
and one new truck for the Animal Control Officer.
Potter said all vehicles could be purchased under a
three-year lease-purchase plan through the Georgia
Municipal Association.
The chief also told council his force needs new
body armor. The officers are presently using armor
that is outdated and in deteriorating condition, he
said. Ten sets of armor come in at around $5,100.
Among other items he said are needed are: copy
machine, $6,005.57; fax machine, $895, and a fin
Guiness denies FMC/Agricenter record request
By EMILY JOHNSTONE
Times-Journal Staff
Although the Georgia National
Fairgrounds and Agriccntcr will not be list
ed in the next edition of the Guiness Book
of World Records, there is still hope it will
happen in the future, according to company
correspondence editor Amanda Brooks.
During a May 13 telephone interview
with Brooks in her Middlesex, England
office, she said the recent request to create a
Serving Houston Count\ for more than 125 years
movement.
The meeting focused on transforming
Perry into a "lighted winter wonderland."
setting the stage for the numerous
"Christmas at the Crossroads" events.
White light displays began last year in
conjunction with "Wonderland in Lights" at
the Georgia National Fairgrounds and
Agricenter. Fairgrounds Executive Director
Michael Froehlich has announced the
agency will not host that event this year.
Persons attending the May 9 meeting
were unanimous that displaying white lights
gerprint device for $195.97.
The Perry Fire Department is hoping a way can be
found to finance a new fire truck.
Chief Gary Hamlin said a new 75-foot quint lad
der truck is needed in his department. He said the
truck would help firefighters get a water supply
above fires in taller than usual buildings and this
could help lower the department's Insurance Service
Office rating.
The rating, which effects many homeowners’
insurance policy fees in a positive way when a fire
department is able to attain a l<|wer ISO rating, is
now a five. It was lowered from six in November of
last year.
The new truck would cost around $391,000 and
could be bought through GMA's lease-purchase plan,
according to Hamlin.
Other items he requested for the department were:
radio for the new truck, $l,lOO and renovation to the
existing truck bay, SBO,OOO.
Public works superintendent Hugh Sharp said his
department is asking for a half-ton pickup at $15,000
and a 2'h ton flatbed dump truck at $30,500, along
with $ 14,750 to go toward renovations at the old bam
site.
Sharp also discussed the possibility of the city
eventually dropping all commercial garbage pickup.
The city currently has about 197 commercial cus
(See BUDGET, Page SA)
new category which would list the March
meeting of the Family Motor Coach
Association as the largest gathering of
motor coaches at any time, anywhere was
denied at present because there has not been
enough interest shown to Guiness that
would justify the creation of that category.
Six thousand six hundred and thirty two
coaches rolled into Perry March 26-28 for
the FMCA Winter Convention.
Dollie Pierce, president of the FMCA,
Two best to VSU
Duo selected
Honors program winners, 2A
on buildings, homes and light poles in town
should be continued and expanded.
Discussions centered around creating the
same awe-inspiring light displays in Perry
that cause thousands of visitors to drive to
communities like Helen, Thomaston and
Jonesboro, said Perry Area Chamber of
Commerce President Hayley Godbee.
Bill Westbrook, executive director of the
Perry Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
said that "Perry has been a tourism city for
generations, and this project is another way
for us to live up to that reputation."
BOE continues
to check Perry
Middle School
By RICK JOHNSTONE
For the Times-Journal
The Houston County Board of
Education continues to look at the
situation at Perry Middle School.
A representative of parents at
the school, Danny Hamsley, had
requested the system address sev
eral areas, including long range
planning, the physical condition
of the school, and use of portable
classrooms.
AT its May 14 meeting in
Perry, the Board presented a
report to Hamsley on his request.
"I deeply appreciate the actions
you have taken," Hamsley said. "I
will continue to lobby for the
school."
On the topic of one, three, and
five year plans for PMS, Hamsley
told the group he did not feel the
matter had been adequately
addressed in the letter.
He said plans for a new facility
are just "a hope, not reality at this
point."
Board
member Dave
Davidson said
he had
recently visit
ed some
portable class
rooms in
Seminole
County and
came away
impressed. .
He said, "You in essence will
'have a new wing," referring to the
modular classrooms that will be
added soon.
"It may not be brick and mortar
but it will serve for a couple of
years, " added Davidson.
Another member of the school
board, Shirley Lowery, said the
addition should be in place by
August.
"It sounds like you do have a
short-term plan. We just needed to
know what you had planned," said
Hamsley.
The administration wrote that
many of the problems cited by
Hamsley were caused by con
struction woes.
"Erosion, electric problems,
the toilets, they are not just a
function of construction,"
Hamsley commented.
Also at the meeting, the Board
(See BOARD, Page SA)
said that is the largest number of motor
coaches gathered at one place to date.
Pierce, along with Agricepter director
Mike Froehlich and other officials had
Houston County Probate Judge Frances
Annis place her seal on a letter March 28
that was sent to Guiness for certification,
along with a request to recognize the gath
ering in their next edition.
Brooks said that the request has been
added to the company files and noted it
Classified 3B
Church 10A
Editorials A 4
Legal Ads 5B
The CV&B is also assisting with a con
test for local kids to name the light event.
Melanie Loggins of Perry Elementary said,
"our best ideas can come out of the mouths
of babes."
Two new ideas to expand the light pro
ject throughout the City are theme displays
and a driving tour.
Bobby Tuggle is planning a large reli
gious theme display. Several of the church
es represented voiced their support and
(See LIGHTS, Page SA)
Foster: BOE was
wrong to stop
my daughter
By RICK JOHNSTONE
For the Times-Journal
"They were wrong and are
now trying to rectify the situa
tion."
That is the reaction of Patricia
Foster to a Houston County Board
of Education decision May 14 to
allow her daughter. Jirhesa/to be
allowed to attend out of zone
Momingside Elementary.
The youngster previously
attended Tucker Elementary.
Problems began when the father.
Jimmie Foster, could not arrive at
the school to pick the child up at
3:30, as is called for.
"I get off work at 3:30 and
could get there in five minutes,"
said the father.
The parents say the school
started calling police to come and
take the youngster off school
grounds around 3:30.
"I think all of this is racially
motivated," said Patricia Foster.
"There were a number of white
children who were allowed to
wait inside the building or at the
bus stop after 3:30, but no
blacks."
Patricia Foster said her daugh
ter is now attending a private
school in Warner Robins. She said
she does not know whether or not
she will have her daughter go to
Momingside in the fall.
"My confidence in the Board
and the public school system has
been ruined," Patricia Foster
added.
The Fosters said they are con
sidering filing a discrimination
suit in federal court.
"We might list the Board and
DFACS in it,"said Patricia Foster.
She said the Department of
Family and Children Services had
cited them for child abuse and
child neglect over the late pick
ups of Jimesa at Tucker.
The Fosters have a son who
has been enrolled at Momingside
in the pre-K program. There is an
after school program at
Momingside.
TALBERT
"may be something we will want to look at
in the future."
Some 10,000 requests are received by the
company yearly, she added, with much dis
cussion held between editors as to which
should be considered as appropriate for
publication.
"We have not received a lot of letters as
yet showing interest in this type category,"
Brooks said.
Obituaries A 2
Potpourri B 1
Sports A 6
ft
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Home of the Georgia National
Fair and Agricenter