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Viewpoints
Get a tree
Headed to the Perry City Hall Friday to
pick up a tree in observance of Arbor Day?
Be sure to go early, soon after 9 a.m when
employees of the Perry Recreation
Department will begin giving out the trees.
A variety of trees will be given away
through an arrangement with the Georgia
Forestry Commission, following a tradition
set in the city several years ago.
If the response is typical to past years, nei
ther rain nor cold will keep local residents
from lining up in front of city hall for their
free seedlings.
Those seedlings, when planted, will join
the approximately 128,000 acres of timber
land in Houston County actually more
than half of the 242,800 acres in the county
borders.
While it’s not likely these seedlings will
become commercial timber, since they are
mostly ornamentials, there are plenty of
commercial forests in the county. During
1995, the last year for which figures are
complete, timber was worth $134 million to
owners in the county. The total value of the
timber harvest in Houston County during
1995 was $41,160,000, according to figures
released recently by the Georgia Forestry
Association.
Houston County has a substantial payroll
involved in timber manufacture as well. This
came to $33,560,000 during 1995. Much of
that likely was in the southern portion of the
county, and can be attributed to sources such
as pulpwood cutters and employees of
Tolleson Lumber Cos. and Mellco.
Forests are important to Houston County.
Not only do they add beauty and bring soil
stability, but they also create and support
many jobs and bring many dollars to their
owners.
Home owners add value to their homes
with trees and other plantings. The trees
which the city will distribute Feb. 21 in
observance of Arbor Day will have a rela
tively small monetary value that day. Years
later, when grown, they will add value and
beauty to the yards into which they have
been planted.
Visit city hall and get a tree (or trees) and
add to the joy of living in Houston County.
Writer seeks information
about local community
Editor:
I am in the fifth grade at Northeast
Elementary in Kearney, Nebraksa. I have
adopted your state as a class project. I will be
doing a report and other projects. Then in April
or May my class is having a “States Fair.” I will
display and report everything I have learned
about your state. I am writing in hopes of get
ting some postcards, maps, brochures and any
other information that will help me report about
your state. It would be helpfiil to me if your
could print this letter in your newspaper.
I am hoping some of your readers could drop
me a postcard from your state. I hope to get
Letters to
the Editor
P.O. Drawer M
Perry, Ga., 31069
many differ
ent postcards
to display
during our
“States Fair.”
I also hope
some will
take time to
write a short
note on the postcards telling me something
interesting or special about your great state.
Any maps, brochures, or other information
would also be helpful.
I have visited your state, and decided to pick
it for my school project. I hope your readers can
help with my project. 1 will write the newspa
per again in May if your would like and let you
know how everything went. Thanks for your
help.
Michelle Christa
Northeast Elem.
Mr. Haas’ Class
910 East 34th Street
Kearney, Neb. 68847
Houston runes-Journal
P.O. Drawer M • 807 Carroll St. • Perry, Ga. 31069
(912) 987-1823 • (912) 988-1181 (fax)
e mail jjedit@hom.net
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Jj Johnson Editor and General Manager
John Smalley Advertising Sales
News: Emily Johnstone, Pauline Lewis, Rick Johnstone; Sports: Phil Clark; Classified
Legislative term limits are back on the table
The past week in Washington was a
busy one as the 105th Congress tackled
its first major piece of legislation-term
limits.
After the term limits initiative was
defeated in the 104th Congress, the
majority promised to bring term limits
to the House floor as the first order of
business in the 105th Congress.
Keeping our word and our commit
ment to the American people,
Congress voted on term limits last
week.
I strongly supported term limits for
our national legislature last Congress
and I did so again last week.
Unfortunately, the term limiting legis
lation fell short of the two-thirds nec
essary to amend the U.S. Constitution.
This was not only a loss for the term
limit proponents in Congress, but for
Reading can be eye-opening experience
Do you wear glasses? I do. Well, the
kind used for reading, anyway.
An interesting thing happened to me
recently. I left my reading glasses at
home and began the morning gazing
through an unfocused haze at docu
ments which would ultimately impact
almost all of Georgia’s students and
educators, very important and poten
tially life-changing information.
Fortunately, I recovered my glasses,
but during those few moments when I
was removed from the world of read
ing, an eye-opening revelation
occurred.
I realized at that moment, I was
experiencing the utter and profound
sense of helplessness which nonread
ers must feel every moment of every
day.
The inability to comprehend written
job instructions, the inability to share
precious opportunities by reading a
bedtime story with a child, or the
inability to have complete relationship
with peers because written words were
incomprehensible.
I realized that I cannot begin to fath
om the vast limits illiteracy places on
an individual, but based on this experi
ence, those few moments helped me to
feel what it must be like to simply be
unable to read and comprehend written
language.
This revelation has timely applica
tion because February marks the kick
off for one of the most important
instructional programs in recent histo
ry of Georgia Reading First.
Communities, school officials, edu
cators, parents and students participat
ing in eight pilot schools will collec
tively make reading skills the number
one instructional priority in grades K
-3.
Schools participating in the pilot
study will teach a balanced reading
program, combining phonics and
whole language. If students are not
Xngjr
Page 4A
Wed., Feb. 17 1997
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Ads and Composition: Chad Lewis; Circulation and Photography: Eric Zeilars;
Bookkeeping: Paula L. Zimmerman.
Our Policies
Unsigned editorials appearing in larger type on this page under 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 300 words and include
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out 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 submitted materials unless a
stamped, return address envelope is included.
Saxby
Chambliss
R-Ga., Bth District
all Americans. Term limits only
enhance the democratic nature of our
government by opening it up to a true,
fair, and competitive election process.
I believe in term limits because it
ends careerism in Congress. Our
Founding Fathers envisioned the peo
ple’s House as a citizen legislature.
The House was originally intended to
be made up of farmers, merchants,
attorneys, educators, and others from
all walks of life. In recent years, some
House members feel as if they are
Linda
Schrenko
Georgia School
Superintendent
reading proficiently upon completion
of the first grade, then during the next
two years all curriculum areas, regard
less of subject, will be reading based.
By agreeing to these guidelines,
pilot program schools are affirming
that without the ability to read, a stu
dent’s ability to learn other subjects is
substantially limited.
My recent eye-opening experience
made this point very clear to me. It also
strengthened my resolve to focus
resources on programs such as Reading
First, which will help open eyes that
otherwise may have been unable to
interpret the written word.
So that you might better understand
the importance of reading, I challenge
you to experience the limits of being a
nonreader, too. Today, spend one-half
hour doing paperwork without your
glasses; or if you do not wear glasses,
with your written documents in-hand
but with the text facing away.
In just 30 minutes, I believe you will
understand what I recently discovered.
Without the ability to read, your
productivity level almost completely
diminishes while your frustration with
the day-to-day world increases. The
impact is that profound.
By founding the Reading First pilot
program, I have resolved that reading
should be our number one priority in
early learning. Students can catch up in
other subjects, but they will never leam
the other subjects without the ability to
read.
Reading is so important to
Georgia’s future that in the coming
year I have committed one week each
Houston rimes-Journal
appointed for life and they have no
concept of life outside of Washington.
Term limits are also a good idea
because they provide real choices for
the American voter. A positive effect of
term limits is the creation of more open
legislative seats. This opens up the
political process to more citizens,
which in turn will make Congress
more reflective of the American public
as a whole. By ensuring steady
turnover and competitive elections,
term limits can help create a Congress
that is closer to average voters and
more responsive to their concerns.
The third and final reason I support
ed the term limits legislation in
Congress is because term limits are
already imposed on other elected offi
cials. We limit the President to two
terms. Here in Georgia, we limit our
Jl-
month to read with students in local
school systems across Georgia. While
you read the words of this column, I
encourage you to find a channel to do
the same. Read with a child who is just
learning to read.
By example, you will emphasize the
importance of reading and ultimately
promote the first stages of lifelong dis
covery in young minds.
Reading should remain first in our
society; after all, the future is for the
literate.
Take time this year to help a child
leam to read and experience an eye
opening event you will remember and
cherish forever.
(Linda C. Schrenko is State
Superintendent of Schools for
Georgia.)
(EDITOR’S NOTE: According to
a news release which accompanied
Schrenko’s column, all 180 Georgia
school systems were invited to apply
for the Reading First project Some
66 systems did apply, and a 32-mem
ber evaluation team rated applica
tions and made on-site visits to 25
schools. One school was selected as a
Reading First school from each of
the eight Field Service Directors’
regions.
(Participants include Charles W.
Hill Elementary, Atlanta City
Schools; Summerville Elementary,
Chattooga County Schools; Toccoa
Elementary, Stephens County
Schools; Washington-Wilkes
Primary School and Washington-
Wilkes Elementary School, Wilkes
County Schools; Morgan Magnet
School, Bibb County Schools;
Randolph County Elementary,
Randolph County Schools’ Eli
Whitney Elementary, Savannah-
Chatham County Schools; and Lillie
Cooper Primary and Carver
Elementary School, Terrell County
Schools.)
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 teach this
goal through hard work, teamwork, loyalty and a strong dedication toward printing the truth.
Member of Georgia Press Association and 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 of the right of
the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of griev
ances.” Your right to read this newspaper is protected by the First Amendment to the United
States Constitution.
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 Jo the Houston
Times-Journal, P.O. Drawer M, Perry, Ga. 31069. ISSN: 1075-1874* *
governor to two terms. If term limits
are good enough for them, they should
be good enough for U.S.
Representatives and Senators.
Another important measure consid
ered in the House last week involved
abortion and whether American tax
dollars should go to finance abortions
abroad. I have consistently and strong
ly voted against past abortion initia
tives and did so again last week. I am
also adamantly opposed to any com
mitment of federal funds for the pur
pose of abortion services - foreign or
domestic.
I supported the Family Planning
Facilitation and Abortion Funding
Restriction Act. This bill would
accomplish an important function by
(See SAXBY, Page SA)
Max
Cleland
D-Ga, U.S. Senate
Opening thoughts
from Washington
I believe that the main purpose of
politics is to generate hope in people.
The issue of education reform has
come to the forefront in recent weeks,
especially following the President’s
State of the Union address and his
commitment to making education his
number one priority for the next four
years.
I participated in an education
roundtable with the President and
Governor Miller in Augusta earlier
this month. During the recess for the
week of President’s Day, I will be a
part of satellite town hall meeting on
education in Atlanta with U.S.
Secretary of Education Richard Riley.
I also plan to visit with students and
teachers in Columbus, Augusta and
Macon schools.
Ensuring that every American la**
access to a safe and quality education, *
including at least two years beyond
high school, is vital. Not only is it a
right every American should have, but
it is also the cornerstone of a vigorous
economy.
I believe that education is primari
ly a matter for local decision-making,
but I am determined to see the federal
government do what it can to help.
We need to act now to improve
both elementary and secondary educa
tion opportunities, as well as make
higher education and more accessible
and affordable.
We need to modernize and reno
vate our elementary and high schools.
We need to make sure that our chil
dren can read. And we need to keep
our youngsters up-to-date on today’s
technology.
John F. Kennedy said, “Our
progress as a nation can be no swifter
than our progress in education.” We
have to work to keep up.
As we move into the next century,
we have to be prepared to compete in
the global marketplace. We live in
such a fast-paced world; the changes
and advancements in technology
astound me.
I really didn’t know what a com
puter was until after college. But now,
elementary schools have rooms full of
computers that are used as teaching
tools even in the early grades. Even
more, kids are researching term
papers on the Internet.
“Knowledge is power,” a great
thinker once said. This is so true.
In order for us to succeed in this
competitive marketplace, we really
must have some education beyond
high school. According to the Bureau
of Labor Statistics, 60 percent of all
jobs created between now and 2005
will require some education beyond
high school.
Unfortunately, not everyone can
afford that. Consider this:
•Over the last 10 years, the cost of
attending a public university has risen
about 23 percent. The cost of attend
(See CLELAND, Page SA)
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