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Viewpoints
Input needed
Members of the Houston County Board of
Education have not always enjoyed the best
of reputations concerning their willingness to
receive public input. There have been times
when this accusation may have been very
valid.
Recently, however, members of the board
have seemed to be more open to input.
Several months ago, they began having their
pre-meeting work sessions the' evening
before the board meetings, the second
Tuesday of each month.
These work sessions, which begin at 7:30
p.m. on the Monday before board meetings,
are held in the various schools of the county,
giving residents a better chance to contact
board members and share their ideas.
Now the time has come for the board to
consider the position of school superinten
dent. Recently, the board worked with for
merly elected superintendent Tony Hinnant
to extend his contract to June 30, 1998. That
gives Hinnant an opportunity to review his
options concerning continued service, and
gives the board an opportunity to evaluate his
work, and to consider what directions they
might wish to go. Hinnant will be eligible to
retire at the end of this contract should he
choose to do so.
Meanwhile, the board members are asking
for public input concerning the appointing of
the superintendent for July 1998, and the
future direction of the Houston County
School System.
We encourage readers to take advantage of
this opportunity. The public hearing in Perry
will be at the Perry High School Auditorium
May 27 at 7 p.m. We hope the room will be
filled with parents eager to offer their ideas
to the school system not to criticize the
current administration, but to offer ideas on
how the system can maintain its current sta
tus and what direction parents would like to
see the system go in the future.
The meeting is important. Please attend.
Dollar fights coming
Residents of the community should be pre
pared for a large number of stories dealing
with the monetary needs of local govern
ments to appear soon. It is the time of year
when local governments review their needs
and set their budgets. Most Houston County
governments operate with a July 1 fiscal
year.
Accompanying the annual review of num
bers are the statements concerning increasing
needs and a desire to keep taxes as low as
possible. Some governments may be able to
hold the line another year because of very
good management, reducing the services
offered and because of growth in the county
tax digest.
That’s good news for the time being, but
the fact remains, as long as residents contin
ue to demand certain services from the city
and county governments, taxes must be col
lected to pay for those services. Sooner or
later, residents will have to make a decision:
reduce the services or increase the taxes.
Thanks, Kiwanians
Members of the Perry Kiwanis Club
recently distributed some $48,000 in scholar
ships to 1997 graduates of Perry High and
the Westfield Schools.
The money represents financial assistance
in the amount of $6,000 each to five Perry
High and three Westfield seniors.
These funds are distributed by the Perry
Kiwanis Scholarship Fund Inc. This fund has
been carefully managed by the club, and has
grown substantially during recent, years. In
fact, these scholarships represent some of the
largest scholarships received by local gradu
ates this year.
The community should be very proud of
the Kiwanis Club for their efforts to provide
higher education assistance to the sons and
daughters of the community. What an invest
ment in the future.
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 Ixwis, Rick Johnstone. Sports: Phil ('lark; Clarified
Page 4A
Legislation helps reform juvenile crime and ADA
Every child and teacher deserves a
safe classroom environment in which
to study and educate, and people in all
areas both rural and urban
deserve to live in a neighborhood free
of crime.
The U.S. House of Representatives
recently passed two pieces of legisla
tion which will bring society one step
closer to these goals.
The rights of all Americans to live
free of crime are constantly being chal
lenged today. Unfortunately, the
largest group of criminal offenders are
today’s teen-agers, who commit more
than one-fifth of all violent crime in
America.
Juvenile crime is not just an urban
problem. Its presence is known in
communities all around the country.
Even in middle and south Georgia,
many constituents often cite juvenile
crime as a top concern. The victims of
juvenile crime make us realize that
juveniles can be just as dangerous as
adults.
For too long, violent juvenile crimi
nals have slipped through the cracks of
TH£ PSANUT GAUSAV
Political Strattg/st
Board seeks public input on two issues
Editor:
Avery frequent criticism of the
Houston County Board of Education
is the public never has an opportunity
to voice their opinions on important
education.
The Board of Education has sched
uled four meetings for citizens to give
their input. The meetings are May 19
at the Northside High School Media
Center, May 27 at Perry High School
Auditorium, May 29 at the Houston
County High School Auditorium, and
June 2 at the Warner Robins High
School Auditorium.
All of these meetings are from 7-9
p.m. This should give everyone an
opportunity to attend at least one.
These meetings are not for criti
cism of the present administration.
Each board member has agreed not to
permit this. The board will welcome
input from any citizen on two issues:
the appointing of the superintendent
for July 1998, and the future direction
of the Houston County School
System.
Memorial day brings special thoughts to mind
Each year, and especially on
Memorial Day, thousands of people
make a pilgrimage to the Tomb of the
Unknown Soldier in Arlington
National Cemetery.
Back when I headed the Veterans
Administration, and needed a quiet
place to sort out my thoughts, I would
often drive out to that monument.
A couple of months ago I re-visited
the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, along
with my five fellow combat Vietnam
vets in the Senate, to celebrate the 15th
Anniversary of the Wall. Asa Vietnam
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 Timex-Jouriuil 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 aie not published with
out verification. Letters should he sent to PI) Drawer M . Perry. Ga 310ft*). or brought to
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stamped, leluni address envelope is iiKf .led
- Wed., May 21,1997
Saxby
Chambliss
R-Ga., Bth District
our juvenile justice system and
become repeat offenders or lifelong
criminals.
Seeking to plug the holes in our
juvenile justice system, the House
recently passed the Juvenile Crime
Control Act, a measure which will hold
violent juveniles accountable for their
actions.
This legislation tackles juvenile
crime by reforming the federal system
and providing states with the incen
tives and means to crack down on vio
lent juveniles in their own jurisdic
tions.
Among the common-sense reforms
in the juvenile Crime Control Act are:
• Strengthening the federal juvenile
justice system by removing certain
procedural barriers to make it easier to
Additional information about these
meetings can be obtained by calling
any board member. Call the Houston
County Board of Education at 988-
6200 for the phone numbers.
Each board member has expressed
their hopes that everyone who is inter
ested in the education system will
come to share their thoughts about
their expectation for the future direc
tion. Each employee of the Houston
County School System has a special
invitation to attend.
Shirley Lowery, Vice Chair
Houston County Board of
Education
Get the name right
Editor:
RE: Wednesday edition, May 14,
1997, page 6A, picture and article
about the Perry Wrestling Club.
The picture was titled “Middle
School Wrestler Eddie Wheeler Visits
With Others.”
Eddie Wheeler pictured is my
grandson Eddie Waller. In the article,
Max
Cleland
D-Ga. Senator
veteran, I feel a kinship with the fallen
heroes who are honored at these
memorials, and especially close to
them this lime of year.
Sometimes in the midst of our busy
Houston Jims-Journal
treat violent juveniles as adults;
• Authorizing more than SSOO mil
lion a year over three years for public
protection incentive grants to local
governments;
• Directing the state Attorney
General to establish an “armed violent
youth apprehensive program:**
• Placing the welfare of our children
ahead of their violent juvenile peers by
getting tough on juvenile crime.
Last week, the House also passed an
education reform measure, the
Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act Amendments, or IDEA. This
bipartisan legislation to reform and
improve the law addressing educating
disabled children passed the House by
a 420-3 vote.
The IDEA amendments streamline
and consolidate paperwork and proce
dural requirements for local schools
and teachers. It also moves the funding
formula from one which is based on
the number of children, which encour
ages over-identification of disabled to
students, to one using objective popu
lation and poverty data.
®MW9?
Letters to
the Editor
P.O. Drawer M
Perry, Ga. 31069
Eddie Wheeler was also Eddie Waller,
my grandson.
In the course of life, many young
people may only be featured a few
times in a newspaper picture or article.
At least they should be afforded their
correct name.
I would hate to have a legal ad
which you published for Houston
County be for something concerning
my property, tax sale, and so forth,
printed by you as you would screw the
name up. You owe this young man a
published apology.
Hope you do better in the future.
One’s name is sacred, so get it right.
B.W. Davee
Perry
lives and our daily activities it is hard
for us to remember the real purpose of
Memorial Day. How many of us on
Memorial Day take just a few
moments to reflect on our country, our
citizenship and the ultimate sacrifice
paid by so mapy soldiers, sailors and
airmen for our country?
Memorial Day, or Decoration Day
as it was originally known, was estab
lished in 1866, in a post-Civil War
effort by both sides North and
(See CLELAND, Page SA)
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%r- -
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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
Stales Constitution. .
The Houston Times-Journal (USPS 000471) is published weekly ipr $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
Timcx-Jouyul, P.O. Drawer M, Perry, Ga. 31069. ISSN: 1075-1874.
Perhaps the most important section
of the bill allows teachers greater flex
ibility in disciplining disruptive stu
dents. The bill permits schools to
quickly remove dangerous students
and those with weapons or drugs from
their classrooms.
The bill also eliminates the double
standard for school discipline, allow
ing disabled children to be disciplined
like their nondisabled peers when their
conduct is unrelated to their disability.
Continuing the majority’s efforts to
increase local parental control over
education, the IDEA amendments give
parents more input into their child’s
education. The bill allows parents to
participate in key decisions, have
access to all records about their child,
and encourages the use of mediation to
settle disputes.
If you have any questions or com
ments on juvenile crime initiatives,
education reform, or any other topic
before Congress, please feel free to call
my office toll-free at 1-800-234-4208.
(Saxby Chambliss, a resident of
Moultrie, represents Houston County.)
From
Where I Sit
Bob Tribble
President
The Army has
a real problem
An Army drill sergeant was convict
ed recently of raping and abusing more
than a dozen young trainees during a
20-month sex spree. He received 25
years in prison for his crimes. In addi
tion, he was demoted to buck private,
forced to forfeit all pay, and was given
a dishonorable discharge. Most cer
tainly his lawyers will appeal the con
viction.
Since the verdict and sentencing,
some have spoken out, saying the sen
tenife was fod seVfeffe.'Some say it was
lenient. Some point out that in civilian
courts first time rapists get an average
12-year sentence with five years
served. The drill sergeant will be eligi
ble for parole in 10 years.
To those who feel 25 years is severe,
think about this. Simple mathematics
tells us that 18 (the number of rapes
involved) divided into 25 years gives
us just under one year and four months
per rape.
Divide the 18 rapes into 10 years
that will in all probability be served,
and you get less than seven months per
rape. I say hogwash to those who
believe the sergeant’s sentence was too
severe.
Another claim that has come for
ward since the trial is that the Army is
on a crusade against black men. The
National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People and
other groups say the Army has unfairly
focused its probe on black drill
sergeants, pointing out that all of the 12
Army supervisors charged with sex
offenses are black.
Just recently, the Army’s top enlist
ed man has been charged with sexual
misconduct by a retired sergeant major.
The military has placed the man on
paid leave, and has charged him with
the additional counts of sexual miscon
duct and indecent assault.
Certainly there is a narrow line
between what a woman claims to be
sexual misconduct or harassment, and
what actually happened. The sergeant
major says he is innocent, but with four
women making the charges, we will
just have to wait and see.
As for the Army on a crusade
against black men, I would hardly
think so. My bet is that if and when
sufficient evidence comes forward
against any drill sergeant (or others)
they will be charged regardless of their
skin color.
There is little doubt that the military
is taking sexual misconduct more seri
ously, as they should be doing. In the
past, previous cases against members
of the Army saw no jail time, or time of
less than a year.
(See PROBLEM, Page SA)