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Viewpoints
Shop at home
Now, more than ever, the phrase “shop at
home” means something to Houston County
residents.
Last week, by an overwhelming majority
vote, the approximately 17 percent of regis
tered voters who participated chose to trans
fer the cost of building new schools from
property owners to shoppers.
Now, the approximately $34 million for
school additions, renovations and new
schools which voters OK’d last fall will be
paid for with a penny additional sales tax on
all purchases in Houston County.
The news for property owners is good, in
that they will have help in paying for the
badly needed school additions. Everyone
who makes a purchase in the county will
help provide the funds needed.
What is bad is that some Houston
Countians will continue to take their busi
ness out of town to Macon and other loca
tions.
Shopping out of town may have some
advantages in selection, or style, but in most
cases, it simply is the idea that something
bought in a larger city is better. Most local
merchants are more than happy to order
whatever their customers want if they are
asked.
Money taken out of town is a loss to our
sales tax fund which will pay for school
additions. It is a loss to the other penny
already collected to keep property taxes for
schools lower. That’s two cents on the dollar
which help provide education facilities and
funding for the thousands of students in
Houston Com y schools.
The news that county voters overwhelm
ingly approved the sales tax referendum is
encouraging Now if only those same voters,
and their neighbors, will shop Houston
County first anti help pay for the work.
Meeting to attend
The route to anew or expanded Houston
County Courthouse will take another turn
April 1 at .0 a.m. when members of the
Houston Couaty Commission meet at Perry
City Hall.
That day, the commissioners will meet with
a specialist w ho has begun a study on the eco
nomic impact moving the courthouse from
downtown Perry would have on the commu
nity.
The Houston County Courthouse has tradi
tionally been located in downtown Perry
since the first building was constructed about
175 years ago.
We have indicated our preference for see
ing the courthouse remain in downtown
Perry. We have noted that land is available for
purchase which would provide needed space
for additions, anew courthouse or for
expanded pa' king.
Now, Perryans need to let their commis
sioners know how they reel about the issue.
We encourage attendance at this meeting to
learn what the report indicates.
STARS receive honors
Perryans William Andrew Ellis of Perry
High and Jonathon Russell Dean of Westfield
have been i’cognized as STAR Students at
their respective schools.
We congratulate these young men for their
dedicated effort to learn which resulted in
high test scores and good grades. They have
earned an honor which is among the highest
given to hig a school students. Good work.
Players draw Montezuma support
Editor:
Perry i' . vvrs Plant a lilac tree in your part of
town and . member how you thrilled a whole lot of
people for week in March of ‘97.
I saw Re. Hirrison in NYC way back when;
Perry’s He,.; > Higgins was better. Eliza the the won
derful cas. ga\c this old lady a delightful evening.
And, oh. hat piano!
Tad Dozier
Montezuma
Houston runes-Journal
P.O. Drawer M * 807 Carroll St. • Perry, Ga. 31069
(912) 987-1823 • (912) 988-118’ (fax)
e mail jjedit@hom.net
Bob lYibble President
Jj Johnson Editor and Ctaenl Manager
John Smalley \dvertising Sales
News: Emily Johnstone, Pauline Lewis, Rick Johnstone: Six,i>hil Clark; Classified
Page 4A
There’s some good news for farm community
There were also a number of impor
tant developments last week in the
House Agriculture Committee-most of
which were good news for Georgia’s
fanning community.
First, we learned that the United
States Department of Agriculture will
take no further regulatory action in the
Southeast regarding the wheat disease
known as kamal bunt. Although kamal
bunt, a wheat fungus, is harmless to
humans and animals, its presence is a
major barrier to international export
because countries without the disease
use its potential presence as a political
issue during global trade negotiations.
Because of its use as a political
issue, the announcement that no regu
latory action will be taken is a tremen
dous relief to Georgia’s farmers.
Although we knew all along that no
concrete evidence of kamal bunt had
been found in Georgia, it is reassuring
USDA finally agrees.
I know hope to continue working
with the House Agriculture Committee
and the USDA to ensure that kamal
~TtiE PEANUTGAtMfS
Clinton Gets Well Before Breaking Leg
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Spring time is the time for pesticide safety
Houston County has experienced a
number of sunny days throughout
March. Spring is approaching and
many of you are out in the yard.
As the grass greens up and the
flowers bloom this is also the time that
you notice problems in the yard and
flower beds. Insects, weeds, rodents
and plant disease microorganisms
compete with homeowners for food
and living space.
Chemical pesticides are sometimes
the best way to control pests when
they reach damaging levels. A pesti
cide is a product designed to kill
offending organisms; such products
include insecticides, herbicides,
fungicides, bactericides, and rodenti
cides.
Pesticides, when used properly,
improve the quality of our food sup
ply, protect our health and increase
our comfort with little risk of the envi
ronment and non-target living things.
Remember, chemical pesticides are
not the only way to limit pests. Some
pest problems can be solved entirely
with non-chemical controls. The first
step is to determine a pest problem
truly exists.
Most insects, animals, plants, and
microorganisms on your property are
harmless. Basic sanitation and house
tightening can help for insects and
rodents around the home.
When the use of chemical pesti
cides are justified to reduce pest pop
ulations, make sure that you select the
right pesticide and dosage for your
specific need.
Read the label closely when pick
ing out a pesticide. The label has all
the information you need to safely,
effectively, and legally use the prod
uct.
Ads and Composition: Chad Lewis; Circulation and Photography; Eric Zellars;
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-Joumal. Signed columns and letters on this page
(and elsewhere in this newspaper) reflect the opinions of the writers and not necessarily
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Wed., March 26 1997
Chambliss
R-Ga., Bth District |
bum is properly reclassified and dereg
ulated as the minor disease that it is.
Hopefully such action will prevent any
future worries that our farmers will be
unfairly punished on the global export
market.
The second bit of good news for our
farmers concerns the recent rumors
that county Farm Service Agency
offices will be closed this year. After
speaking with USDA Secretary
Glickman last week, I was assured that
there will be no such FSA office clos
ings in Georgia this year.
While this is a short-term victory
for the farming community, it will be
important for Congress to keep pres
sure on the USDA to ensure that FSA
office closings are kept at a bare mini-
Ricky
Wheeler
Houston County
Extension Office
Symptoms of pesticide poisoning
include headache, dizziness, rest
lessness, skin irritation, nausea, diar
rhea, trembling, rapid pulse, fever,
vomiting, pinpoint pupils, convul
sions, unconsciousness and, death.
Follow the instruction exactly. The
label has all the information you need
to safely, effectively and legally use the
product. Follow the instructions exact
ly. If the instructions call for two table
spoons of ingredient, that does not
mean that four tablespoons will do
twice as good of a job.
The instructions are intended to
ensure your safety and give you the
best results. The label will contain the
brand name, formulation, signal words,
precautionary statement, statement of
practical treatment, directions for use,
misuse statement, and the name and
address of the manufacturer.
Pesticides demand cautious han
dling from purchase to disposal.
Wash yourself and your clothes
when you are finished applying pesti
cides. Showering is preferred over
bathing to wash away pesticide
residues. Clothing should be pre
rinsed, washed with heavy duty deter
gent and line dried.
Chemical pesticides cannot be
stored in the same way as other house-
Houston Times-Journal
mum in future years.
During future meetings with the
Secretary, I will continue to remind
him of Georgia’s contributions in help
ing America produce the finest food
and fiber in the world, and how any
major reductions in our county agricul
ture offices could place that in jeop
ardy.
In an important vote last week, the
House passed the Partial-Birth
Abortion Ban Act. This bill, identical
to the one passed during the 104th
Congress, would put an end to the hor
rific practice of partial-birth abortions,
which often take place within the third
trimester of pregnancy.
Unfortunately, Congress had to act
on this legislation again this year
because of a presidential veto in 1996.
However, since that time, a leading
pro-abortion activist whose claims the
Clinton Administration relied upon,
admitted he had lied about the proce
dure’s use for anything other than con
venience-and not to save women’s
lives.
hold items. Make sure that pesticides
are stored properly, by following pre
cautions on the label.
If you have excess pesticide or a
pesticide you don’t need give, sell or
trade it to someone who can use it
according to the label, or dispose of it
properly. Empty pesticide containers
are considered hazardous waste unless
they are properly processed.
If a spill occurs handle the situation
correctly. Do not hose down the area.
The spill should be confined with
newspaper, sand, sawdust, or soil.
Absorb the pesticide with soil, saw
dust, or kitty litter, and place the
absorbed material in a garbage bag.
Most homeowner pesticides have
low human toxicities. The greatest risk
is from exposure to the concentrate.
Symptoms of pesticide poisoning
include headache, dizziness, restless
ness, skin irritation, nausea, diarrhea,
trembling, rapid pulse, fever, vomit
ing, pinpoint pupils, convulsions,
unconsciousness and, death.
Remember that early symptoms of
pesticide poisoning can easily be mis
taken for symptoms of many other ill
nesses such as overheating. Keep the
product label with you as a reference
for medical personnel if you suspect
pesticide poisoning.
There is a great deal of information
when it comes to the use of pesticides.
If you would like more information on
pesticide safety, home insect control,
organic gardening, and pest control,
handling pesticides safely, pesticide
storage and disposal, handling spills
correctly, first aid, and the numbers for
Poison Control Centers, please call the
Extension office at 912-987-2028.
(Ricky Wheeler is an agent with the
Houston County Extension Service.)
Our Goal
The Houston Ttmes-Joumal 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.
“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-Joumal (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-Jouraal, P.O. Drawer M, Perry, Ga. 31069. ISSN: 1075-1874.
Based with this new information,
Congress is now giving President
Clinton a second chance to support a
measure that an overwhelming majori
ty of Americans favor.
Even with the new information, the
President can no longer claim the leg
islation does not protect women. While
the measure does make it a crime for a
physician to perform a partial-birth
abortion, safeguards were built into the
bill if the procedure in necessary to
save the life of the mother and no other
medical procedure would suffice.
As an original co-sponsor of the
Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, I sup
ported its passage because I want to
end, once and for all, the inhumane
practice of killing children who are
almost completely bom.
As always, if you have any concerns
regarding the above issues or any other
matter, please do not hesitate to contact
my office toll-free at 1 -800-234-4208.
(U.S. Rep. Saxby Chambliss repre
sents Houston County and the Bth
Congressional District.)
From
Where I Sit
Bob Tribble
President
Manning decision
is no surprise
It came as no surprise to me when
Peyton Manning announced recently
that he would postpone the riches and
fame of the National Football League
for one last season at Tennessee.
The decision by the young quarter
back no doubt elated Volunteer fans,
players and coaches, and also drew
respect from the NFL whose lure is
often more than college undergradu
ates can resist.
Manning, who would have been a
top pick in the April 19 draft, said that
he was 100 percent sure that his deci
sion to remain at Tennessee was the
right one. “Twenty-five, 30 million dol
lars, I’m human. Believe me, I looked
at the money,” Manning said. “I’m hop
ing the money’s there next year, too, the
good Lord willing I stay healthy.”
The young man, who turned 21 in
March, says the decision was the
biggest of his life. He made it on his
own and thanked his mother and
father, Olivia and Archie Manning, for
allowing him to do that. His father was
a quarterback for Mississippi and
played professionally with the New
Orleans Saints.
Coach Bill Parcells with the New
York Jets has the No. 1 draft pick this
year and had hinted they would draft
Manning. “I think the common feeling
in this country today is that everybody
sells out for money and the opportuni
ty,” said Parcells. “In Peyton’s case, I
admire his decision and think that it
took courage to make it, and I wish
him well. I think its refreshing, really.”
Joe Browne, NFL Vice President of
Communications, congratulated
Manning on staying in school. “I think
nearly everyone in the league believes
an athlete should complete his last
year of eligibility and get his degree.
It’s the right thing to do,” he said.
Peyton Manning and Florida quar
terback Danny Weufferl are two young
men who will go far in life, both on the
gridiron and anything else they under
take. Both are grounded with a strong
belief in God and show that in their
actions. Neither attempts to push their
religious beliefs on anyone, but rather
they witness by example.
Manning says he does not intend
his decision to be a statement to or
about other college players. “All situ
ations are unique. I could never blame
a guy for leaving early to go pro.”
I have always felt that once a play
er inks a scholarship to play with a
college for four years he should do just
that, or not be eligible for the draft
until those four years have passed.
As Manning very well put it, “All
situations are unique.” So maybe
going pro early for some young ath
letes is the thing to do. But in Peyton’s
case it was no surprise to me that he
chose to play out his commitment to
Tennessee.
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