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Viewpoints
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Illumination
Last year, Perryans began a new holiday
decorating tradition by cooperating with
the Wonderland in Lights at the Georgia
National Fairgrounds and Agricenter.
Businesses, especially in the downtown
area and at outlying shopping centers, com
mitted thousands of dollars to decorate
their store fronts with white Christmas
lights.
The result was one of the most attractive
Christmas displays in the history of Perry.
That was last year. This is this year. The
Wonderland in Lights show is gone, but
Perryans have done even more to make
their town attractive this year.
More businesses have participated in the
lighting project this year. Additionally, the
lighting has spread to residential areas, and
to more outlying business areas.
The result is a town which is bright,
quite attractive and desirable to view by
locals and visitors alike.
Many people have spent considerable
time and energy, much less dollars, in mak
ing their businesses and yards attractive.
The city, with the help of money from area
civic clubs, has purchased additional deco
rations for this year, and plans to buy even
more decorations for the 1997 season.
The tradition of an illuminated Perry is
taking hold. It’s one which will enable the
community to develop a new reputation for
decorations, and draw more visitors to our
town.
We salute the businesses which have par
ticipated in the Illumination Celebration by
displaying lights and holiday decorations .
They include:
Ace Hardware, Alfa Insurance, Alltel,
Andrew-Pierce Travel, Antiques From the
Shed, BC Moore & Son, Badcock, Bank of
Perry, C&C Photography, CB&T Bank,
Canine Cleaners,
Card Carousel, Chapman & Rodgers,
Chick-fil-A, City Barber, City of Perry,
Classic Awards and Trophy, Comfort Inn,
Commerce Equity Mortgage, Commodore
Manor Apartments,
Country Village, Courthouse, Crossroads
Bank, Crossroads Insurance, Daisy Patch
Florist, Dale’s-The Hair Co., Daniel,
Lawson, Tuggle & Jerles, Darrell’s,
Edward Jones & Associates, Edwards &
Harper, Ellis Photography, Elwood Waites
Insurance, Evans Building, Francie
Hargrove Interiors, Franklin Financial,
Geiger-Pierce,
Georgia National Fairgrounds &
Agricenter, Georgia Power, Gilbert
Photography, Graffiti Hair Salon, Hamby,
Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge, Gregory
Harold M.D.,
Harold’s Amoco, Herb Wells, High
Notes, Houston Times-Journal, Hye
Precision, Impressions, International
Communications Group, Jones Jewelers,
Jones Surveying,
King Hair Salon, Kroger, Landmark
Realty, Let Me Wrap It, Library, Mitered
Corner, Mortgage Market Associates, New
Image Salon. New Perry Crafts, New Perry
Hotel,
Compliments Cuts & Styles, Overton
Jewelers, Paw Paw Patch, Peachstate
Cable, Peachstate Productions, Perry
Antique Mall, Perry Bookstore, Perry Cafe,
Perry Athletic Karate,
Perry Methodist Church, Perry Seafood,
Perry Welcome Center, Pettersson &
Associates, Quality Inn, Radio Shack,
Rainbow’s Inn, Ramada Inn, Ray’s Jewelry
& Pawn, Rehabilitation Services,
Richardson-Free Realty, R.J.’s Book
Exchange, Samantha’s, Seeds of Truth,
Spurgeon Green, Steven Harrell, Strauther-
Harris Jewelers (Melnick), Sugarplum
Tree, Tog Shop, Tolleson Supply,
Tommy Storey-State Farm Insurance,
Transouth Financial, Travel Center, Tuggle
& O’Neal, Wayne Morris Ford, W.D.
Sullivan’s, Woodruff Auto Sales, WPG A,
Nationsßank, Domino’s, Carlton Interiors,
Butler Brown Galleries.
Houston Times -Journal
P.O. Drawer M • 807 Carroll St. • Perry, Ga. 31069
(912) 987-1823 • (912) 988-1181 (fax)
e mail jjedit@hom.net
Bob Tribble President
Jj Johnson Editor and General Manager
John Smalley - Advertising Sales
News: Emily Johnstone, Pauline Lewis. Rick Johnstone, Sports: Phil Clark; Classified
’Twas the week before Christmas and our judge retired
’Twas the week before Christmas
when a considerable number of
Houston Countians crowded into the
main courtroom on the second floor of
the Houston County Courthouse in
Perry Dec. 16 to celebrate Frances V.
Annis day in Perry.
The special occasion was a party to
honor retiring Houston County Probate
Judge Frances V. Annis. She will com
plete her second full term as probate
judge Dec. 31, and unfortunately for
the community, she’s taking her mar
bles and going home.
For the community and especially
those folks who have to deal with the
probate system, the loss of Frances
Annis is great.
Certainly, she will be replaced by a
capable new judge come Jan. 1 in the
form of Janice Spires. And while I
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American Legion members join to
make holidays brighter for troops
Television can display the essence
of “war” in all its hypnotic fascina
tion: Troops blitz behind enemy lines.
Defenses intercept incoming bombs.
Opposing troops are engaged in the
trenches.
One side launches an offensive.
Then the other side launches a counter
offensive. Participants sometimes are
carried off the battlefield. Each fac
tion fires its cannon to signal the scor
ing of a major strike against the
“enemy.”
This is war. Televised war. War on
a battlefield in historic Philadelphia.
War between highly disciplined foes
who someday may find themselves
fighting together against a common
foe. This is the annual Army vs. Navy
football game. It’s a contest which at
once stokes up American patriotism,
alma-mater allegiances and national
pride in a select group of young
Americans.
The players are a few of the kids
who take an oath, don a uniform and
stand tall as freedom’s gatekeepers.
Among television viewers are men
and women of the armed forces
assigned overseas, keeping the peace
in a world of reflashing hostilities.
The players as well as the eyewitness
midshipmen and cadets someday will
become leaders in a far-flung outpost
where now reside thousands of troops
watching them on television. All of
these uniformed Americans deserve
our support.
God bless our men and women of
the armed forces. Before you and
your family partake of the holiday
meal, pause and reflect on our
nation’s guardians of peace and free
dom, most of whom are young.
If you know members of our armed
forces or military veterans, give them
a special holiday gift: a simple “thank
Ads: Mark Felty; Composition: Chad Lewis; Circulation and Photography: Eric Zellars;
Bookkeeping: Paula Zimmerman.
Our Policies
Unsigned editorials appearing in larger type on this page undei the label of Our Views
reflect the position of the Houston Times-Journal Signed columns and letters on this page
(and elsewhere in this newspaper) reflect the opinions of the writers and not necessarily
those of this newspaper.
Signed letters to the editor are welcomed. Please limit letters to .100 words and include
addresses and a telephone number for verification purposes Letters are not published with
out verification. Letters should be sent to P.O Drawer M , Perty, 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 submitted materials unless a
stamped, return address envelope is included.
Page 4A
Wed., Dec. 18,1996
Jj
Johnson
Editor
know we will all come to appreciate
Janice Spires in her work, we’ll still
miss the fun, the encouragement and
the Christian leadership which Frances
Annis has provided this community
since she began work for the probate
office during 1961.
During the approximately 45-
minute program, several speakers
called Annis a “true public servant,”
and paid tribute to her caring for and
helping not only attorneys but families
dealing with the difficult probate
Joseph J.
Frank
The American
Legion
you,” on behalf of a grateful nation.
Pray for those who either were
captured in combat or died while
serving our great nation and pray for
their families. Many U.S. troops in
Bosnia will return to their families
this holiday season. Others either will
guard the backs of departing troops or
will take their place in the multina
tional peacekeeping mission.
The nearly 3 million members of
The American Legion can’t bring the
troops home. But Legionnaires can
and do bring a sliver of home to the
troops. Legionnaires at American
Legion Post 334 in Tampa, Fla.,
“adopted” the Army’s 205th Military
Intelligence Brigade.
The post sends care packages
which include games, reading materi
al and snacks.
Thanks to American Legion Post
123 in Santa Monica, Calif., our
forces in Bosnia received 342 shoe
boxes stuffed with goodies as well as
audio cassette tapes and batteries, so
the troops can send the sounds of
their voices to their loved ones.
American Legion posts nationwide
are offering free, one-year member
ships to our troops in Bosnia.
Benefits of the organizationincluding
periodic contact from hometown
based Legionnaires as well as receipt
of entertaining and informative
American Legion publications can
comfort a service member during the
Houston Times-Journal
process.
Others recalled humorous incidents
such as the time Houston Superior
Court Judge George Nunn got locked
into the probate court vault and had to
crawl through the ceiling to get help.
There were laughs aplenty, and
there were serious moments of praise
for the person so many referred to with
terms such as “true public servant,”
“Christian lady,”, and “faithful wife,
mother and public servant.”
Several attorneys were among those
offering comments. Each praised
Annis for her help in smoothing the
probate process. One recalled appear
ing before her and realizing he had for
gotten his paperwork. He recalled
Annis took care of the problem imme
diately.
Another recalled that Annis had
miseries of precarious isolation.
The American Legion Family
Support Network assists the families
of deployed troops in countless ways,
including bridging communication
gaps between separated loved ones
and providing someone to talk to
when the burden of loneliness
becomes heavy.
We can sleep, plan for our futures
and send our children to school
weekday mornings more easily
because of the efforts of our men and
women of the armed forces. God
bless them all, as well as you and
yours, during this holiday season.
(Joseph J. Frank is national com
mander of The American Legion, the
nation's largest veterans organiza
tion. )
How to write to
the Times-Journal
The Houston Times-Journal wel
comes letters to the editor and guest
columns from our readers.
Letters should be less than 300
words and must be signed for verifi
cation purposes
Letters should be sent to the editor
at P.O. Drawer M, Perry, Ga., 31069,
or brought to the paper office at 807
Carroll St., in downtown Perry.
Letters may also be sent via email
to jjedit@hom.net.
Letters are subject to minor edit
ing for grammar purposes. First pref
erence is given to letters from local
writers or about subjects of local
interest. The lest attention is given to
letters which have been mass pro
duced and mailed to a variety of
media outlets.
Jr
Our Goal
The Houston Times-Journal is published proudly for the citizens of Houston and adjoin
ing counties by Houston Publications Inc., Perry, Ga. Our goal is to produce quality, prof
itable, community-oriented newspapers that you, our readers, are proud of. We will reach this
goal through hard work, teamwork, loyalty and a strong dedication toward printing the truth
Member of Georgia Press Association and National Newspaper Association.
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The Houston Times-Journal (USPS 000471) is published weekly for $21.00 per year
by Houston Publications Inc., 807 Carroll Street, Perry, Ga., 31069. Periodicals Class
Postage paid at Perry, Ga. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Houston
Times-Journal, P.O. Drawer M, Perry, Ga. 31069. IS&N: 1075-1874.
never embarrassed him before his
clients.
Several shared personal experiences
of how Annis had shown sympathy
and kindness to those with whom she
was working. They spoke of her under
standing and her ability to encourage
and make the burden of probate lighter.
Mayor Jim Worrall joined in the act,
declaring the day “Frances V. Annis
Day in Perry.” And while that was a
proclaimed event, it was a fact as well.
When the judge completed an emo
tional, tear-filled speech, which
included thanks to an extended list of
friends, family and workers, she
received a standing ovation from those
gathered to celebrate her excellence in
leadership as a public servant in
Houston County.
While I haven’t had the opportunity
Saxby
Chambliss
Republican
Congressman
Dealing with
financial strain
Thinking of toys for children, new
tools for dad, or a nice dress for moth
er, thousands of Georgians are heading
out to their local stores and shops as the
holiday season shifts into high gear.
While it is easy to get caught up in
shopping season spending, it is impor
tant to realize many in our community
are currently worrying whether or not
there will be any gifts under the tree for
their children to unwrap this year. The
financial strain felt by many families
during this time of the year is some
thing that can, and must be eased.
I feel the major reason many of our
working families are enaged in a war
for financial survival is because the
federal government does not allow the
American worker to keep enough of
what he rightfully earns. Of course, I
am speaking of taxes.
Just imagine what a few more dol
lars in your pocket could do this time
of the year. Maybe a new bike for your
son or possibly this season’s popular
doll for your daughter. The extra dol
lars could also be used for those long
put-off repairs needed on the family
car or for new wallpaper in the
kitchen-the possibilities are endless.
As the beginning of the 105th
Congress approaches, now is the time
to discuss meaningful tax reform to
ensure that we all have a few more dol
lars in our pocket at this time next year.
Few would disagree that America’s
tax collection system is in need of
serious repairs. A system that forces
the average American family to pay
more in taxes than it spends on food,
clothing and shelter combined is not a
system that is properly functioning.
Furthermore, the Internal Revenue
Service estimates that it takes about 27
hours for the average family to process
and prepare their yearly tax ietums.
This is definitely time that would be
best spent elsewhere, such as attending
your child’s school play or volunteer
ing in a community organization.
Because of all the problems and
costs associated with our failed tax
code, the time for action is now.
During the past Congress, I realized
the severity of the problems existing
with the current tax code and I joined
two organizations that will be leading
the way to a tax reform solution. I
joined both the Flat Tax Caucus and
the Sales Tax Caucus because I am
very interested in these innovative
approaches that will not only simplify,
but eventually lessen the tax burden
on the American public.
My role on these caucuses allows
me to evaluate both tax system pro
posals on their respective merits and
determine which is most capable of
producing a simpler, fairer, and less
intrusive federal tax system. The next
tax system should be simple so that
any American can file his or her
income tax on a postcard without hav
ing to hire a team of high-priced
accountants.
(See SAXBY, Page SA)
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