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Viewpoints
Fantastic news
The pending announcement today of the
sale of the Northrop-Grumman building in
Perry to a group of investors from Putnam
County is exciting news.
Not only does it appear the Northrop-
Grumman plant will remain open and retain
the 400-plus jobs in Houston County, but the
building will be developed with additional
tenants.
Some of the investors in the project are
known for moving to develop their proper
ties and obtain tenants where possible. While
no specific plan has been advanced for the
Northrop building, it is easy to imagine the
new owners recruiting other aviation-based
companies, or other manufacturing compa
nies to the large building.
The Houston County Development
Authority has offered an inducement resolu
tion which will make the development bonds
the new owners will sell to pay for their
investment more attractive to investors
because of tax incentives.
All of this has been possible because of
the “Team Houston” effort which developed
during the days of BRAC I. Before then, it
was, at times, difficult to get folks on both
sides of Ga. 96 to sit down (figuratively) at
the same table. These days, folks on both
sides of the dividing line know they need the
other side to keep a strong community.
Thanks to “Team Houston,” it is working.
Northrop-Grumman is just the latest, and for
now, the best example.
Time to work
When Houston County school students,
both public and private, returned to school
this week, they opened the final nine weeks
of the school year.
Now is the time for students to buckle
down if they hope to improve their grades
this year, if they hope to gain that little bit
extra which some-day might help them get
admitted to post-high school training or land
a job.
We encourage parents to work with school
officials to ensure that this final quarter of
the year is the best possible for their chil
dren. This includes scheduling and attending
parent conferences, asking their children
about school work, and seeing to it that stu
dents complete their assignments and pro
jects.
Learning is not the total responsibility of
the school system. Parents (and their stu
dents) have an investment in ensuring that
learning takes place at home as well as at
school.
Protect your investment. Help your child.
Nice compliment
Last week, local and state officials com
bined their efforts to honor a well-known
and appreciated Houston Countian, Molly
Moss of the Elko community.
For many years, Moss has been thought of
as the unofficial mayor of Elko. More than
that, however, she is known as an excellent
school teacher who, before she retired,
worked diligently with her students to pro
vide them the best education possible, even
when the very best equipment was not avail
able.
The naming of a bridge along Georgia 26
near Elko is an excellent way to pay honor to
this remarkable lady who has given so much
to Houston County.
We praise the local government leaders
who worked with the Georgia Department of
Transportation to ensure this project was
completed.
Beyond that, we say thanks, Molly Moss,
for all your hard work to make Houston
County, especially your beloved Elko com
munity, a much better place in which to live,
work, play and especially to learn.
Your efforts have benefited many. Now
the new bridge named for you will benefit
others as they travel along that road.
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 TVibble President
Jj Johnson Editor and General Manager
John Smalley Advertising Sales
News: Emily Johnstone, Pauline Lewii, Rick Johnstone; Sports: Phil Clark; Classified
The story of Punchinello, the Wemmick
When I checked my email account
Monday evening, I came across this
story which I decided was worth the
space to share.
I don’t know exactly who to credit.
I believe, based on the various address
es listed that the story came from a
Campus Crusade for Christ effort in
the Atlanta area as there were both
Georgia State and Georgia Tech
addresses in the various message lines.
Without proper attribution, here’s
the story about the Wemmicks.
The Story of the Wemmicks
Small Wooden People
The Wemmicks were small wooden
people. Each of the wooden people
was carved by a woodworker named
Eli. His workshop sat on a hill over
looking their village.
Every Wemmick was different.
Some had big noses, others had large
eyes. Some were tall and others were
short. Some wore hats, others wore
coats. But all were made by the same
carver and all lived in the village.
And all day, every day, the
Wemmicks did the same thing: They
gave each other stickers. Each
Wemmick had a box of golden star
stickers and a box of gray dot stickers.
Up and down the streets all over the
city, people could be seen sticking stars
or dots on one another.
The pretty ones, those with smooth
wood and fine paint, always got stars.
But if the wood was rough or’the paint
chipped, the Wemmicks gave dots.
The talented ones got stars, too. Some
could lift big sticks high above their
heads or jump over tall boxes. Still oth
ers knew big words or could sing very
pretty songs. Everyone gave them
stars.
Some Wemmicks had stars all over
them! Every time they got a star it
made them feel so good that they did
something else and got another star.
Others, though, could do little. They
got dots. Punchinello was one of these.
He tried to jump high like the others,
Letters to
the Editor
P.O. Drawer M
Perry, Ga. 31069
Compliments to
Dr. Bill Moss
Editor
I would like to express my sincere
appreciation to Dr. Bill Moss who
recently closed his own pharmacy and
went to work with Revco. Dr. Moss
provided my pharmaceutical needs for
21 years. His character and integrity
represent the true professionalism
required in his line of work. Not only
was he my pharmacist, he was a true
friend and still is.
To Revco management, I would like
to say, Dr. Bill Moss is certainly an
asset to your company.
Thank you, Bill, and I’ll see you at
Revco.
James E. Swearingen
Perry
Food
1424 Sam Nunn Blvd., Perry, 93.
Burger King, 201 Russell Parkway,
Warner Robins, 92.
Coffees of the World, Galleria Mall,
Centerville, 97.
Gunny’s, 85 S. Ga. 247, Warner
Robins, 96.
Happy Hour School, 200 Maple St.,
Warner Robins, 94.
Happy Hour Workshop, 802 Young
Ave., Warner Robins, 94.
Holiday Inn-Green Derby Lounge,
700 Valley Drive, Perry, 94.
Jin Jin Chinese Restaurant, 1309-D
S. Main St., Perry, 93.
Landings Golf Club, 309 Stathams
Way, Warner Robins, 94.
Lighted Oak, 10134 Hawkinsville
Road, Warner Robins, 92.
Little Caesar’s Pizza at Kmart, 2063
Watson Blvd., Warner Robins, 87.
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 Ttmes-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
addresses and a telephone number for verification purposes. Letters are not published with
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 cdkt 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.
Wed., April 9,1997
Page 4A
Jj
Johnson
Editor
but he always fell. And when he fell,
the others would gather around and
give him dots.
Sometimes when he fell, it would
scar his wood, so the people would
give him more dots.
He would try to explain why he fell
and say something silly, and the
Wemmicks would give him more dots.
After a while he had so many dots
that he didn’t want to go outside. He
was afraid he would do something
dumb such as forget his hat or step in
the water, and then people would give
him another dot.
In fact, he had so many gray dots
that some people would come up and
give him one without reason.
“He deserves lots of dots,” the
wooden people would agree with one
another. “He’s not a good wooden per
son.”
After a while Punchinello believed
them. “I’m not a good Wemmick,” he
would say.
The few times he went outside, he
hung around other Wemmicks who had
a lot of dots. He felt better around
them.
One day he met a Wemmick who
was unlike any he’d ever met. She had
no dots or stars. She was just wooden.
Her name was Lulia.
It wasn’t that people didn’t try to
give her stickers; it’s just that the stick
ers didn’t stick. Some admired Lulia
for having no dots, so they would run
up and give her a star. But it would fall
off. Some would look down on her for
having no stars, so they would give her
a dot. But it wouldn’t stay either.
“That’s the way I want to be,”
thought Punchinello. ‘“I don’t want
anyone’s marks.” So he asked the
lei
inf j
Mandarin House, 402 Gen.
Courtney Hodges Blvd., Perry, 95.
Owen’s Boarding House, 106
Young Ave., Warner Robins, 84.
Pizza Hut Delivery, 115 Russell
Parkway, Warner Robins, 92.
Popeye’s Famous Chicken and
Biscuits, 750 Russell Parkway, Warner
Robins, 98.
Red Rooster Cafe, 823 Russell
Parkway, Warner Robins, 93.
Rivalry’s Sports Bar, 117 Russell
Parkway, Warner Robins, 88.
Swiss Ice, 100-L N. Houston Lake
Road, Centerville, 97.
Taco Bell, 419 N. Davis Drive,
Warner Robins, 96.
Taco Bell, 1340 Sam Nunn Blvd.,
Perry, 100.
What-A-Meal, 403 N. Houston
Road, Warner Robins, 93.
The PeAtwr Gallery
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(Continued from page 1A) °
Houston Times-Jamal
stickerless Wemmick how she did it.
“It’s easy,” Lulia replied, “every
day I go see Eli.”
“Eli?”
“Yes, Eli. The woodcarver. I sit in
the workshop with him.”
“Why?”
“Why don’t you find out for your
self? Go up the hill. He’s there.”
And with that the Wemmick with no
marks turned and skipped away.
“But he won’t want to see me!”
Punchinello cried out. Lulia didn’t
hear. So Punchinello went home. He
sat near a window and watched the
wooden people as they scurried around
giving each other stars and dots.
“It’s not right,” he muttered to him
self. And he resolved to go see Eli.
He walked up the narrow path to the
top of the hill and stepped into the big
shop. His wooden eyes widened at the
size of everything.
The stool was as tall as he was. He
had to stretch on his tiptoes to see the
top of the workbench. A hammer was
as long as his arm.
Punchinello swallowed hard. “I’m
not staying here!” and he turned to
leave.
Then he heard his name.
“Punchinello?” The voice was deep
and strong.
Punchinello stopped.
“Punchinello! How good to see you.
Come and let me have a look at you.”
Punchinello turned slowly and
looked at the large bearded craftsman.
“You know my name?” the little
Wemmick asked.
“Of course I do. I made you.”
Eli stooped down and picked him
up and set him on the bench.
“Hmm,” the maker spoke thought
fully as he inspected the gray circles.
“Looks like you’ve been given
some bad marks.”
“I didn’t mean to, Eli. I really tried
hard.”
“Oh, you don’t have to defend your
self to me, child. I don’t care what the
other Wemmicks think.”
Peebles, 2nd, Naomi Crameans and 3rd,
Cindy Flesher; 30-34 - Ist, Susan White,
2nd, Sydney Hughes and 3rd, Teressa
Sowell; 35-39, Ist, Hope Newkirk, 2nd,
Sharyn Law and 3rd, Beth Primis; 40-44
- Ist, Sheila Ratliff, 2nd, B.J. Collier and
3rd Sue Crenshaw; 45-49 - Ist, Bonnie
Evans, 2nd, Susan Schoenbeck and 3rd,
Kathy Givens; 50-54 - Ist, Jackie
Phillips, 2nd, Margarette Morris and 3rd,
Wanda Jordan; 55-59 - Ist Joyce K.
Hodges and 2nd place, Betty Garrett; 65
and over, Violet Carden; Skaters, Lauren
Campbell.
For the Male 5K Run: Overall Male,
Carey Dowely; Male Master, Paul
Hoover; 9 and under - Ist, Jeff Roeder,
2nd, Elias Hall, 3rd, Mike Spaits; 10-14
- Ist, Wesley Glose, 2nd, Greg Borek and
3rd, Mitchell Pexley; 15-19 - Ist,
Stephen Maney, 2nd,. Kyle McGee and
Our Goal
The Houston Times-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 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.
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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, 31009. Periodicals Class
Postage paid at Perry, Ga. POSTMASTER: Send address changed4* the Houston
Ttmes-Journal, P.O. Drawer M, Perry, Ga. 31009. ISSN: 1075-1074.
“You don’t?”
“No, and you shouldn’t either. Who
are they to give stars or dots? They’re
Wemmicks just like you. What they
think doesn’t matter, Punchinello. All
that matters is what I think. And I think
you are pretty special.”
Punchinello laughed. “Me, special?
Why? I can’t walk fast. I can’t jump.
My paint is peeling. Why do I matter to
you?”
Eli looked at Punchinello, put his
hands on those small wooden shoul
ders, and spoke very slowly. “Because
you’re mine. That’s why you matter to
me.
Punchinello had never had anyone
look at him like this —much less his
maker. He didn’t know what to say.
“Every day I’ve been hoping you’d
come,” Eli explained.
“I came because I met someone
who had no marks.”
“I know. She told me about you.”
“Why don’t the stickers stay on
her?”
“Because she has decided that what
I think is more important than what
they think. The stickers only stick if
you let them.”
“What?”
“The stickers only stick if they mat
ter to you. The more you trust my love,
the less you care about the stickers.”
“I’m not sure I understand."
“You will, but it will take time.
You’ve got a lot of marks. For now,
just come to see me every day and let
me remind you how much I care.”
Eli lifted Punchinello off the bench
and set him on the ground.
“Remember,” Eli said as the
Wemmick walked out the door. “You
are special because I made you. And I
don’t make mistakes.”
Punchinello didn’t stop, but in his
heart he thought, “I think he really
means it.”
And when he did, a dot fell to the
ground.
(Continued from page 1A)
3rd, Thomas Noel; 20-24, Ist, Gene N.
Wright, 2nd, Stephen Coleman and 3rd,
Rob Boyd; 25-29 - Ist, Kurt Junge, 2nd,
Jay Flesher and 3rd, Wayne Parker; 30-
34 - Ist, James R. McGlee, 2nd, Jay
Hayes and 3rd, Thomas McCoy; 35-39 -
Ist, Chuck Hawkins, 2nd, Clark Walker
and 3rd, Michael Ulrich; 40-44 - Ist,
Roger Keel, 2nd, Richard Steven and
3rd, Brian Piurkowski; 45-49 - Ist, Gary
Jenkins, 2nd, Marvin Champion and 3rd,
James (Jimmy) Ward Jr.; 50-54, Ist, Tom
Collier, 2nd, Russell Sweatland and 3rd,
Jack White; 55-59 - Ist, Benny Wade,
2nd, Andrew Mathis and 3rd, John
Hutchinson; 60-64 - Ist, James Collins
and 2nd, Jim White; 65 and over - Ist,
Ray Spindler, 2nd, Howard Perk and 3rd,
Charles B. Place Jr.; Skaters - Ist, Joe
Melendez, 2nd, Troy Rabglais and 3rd,
David Taylor