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Viewpoints
Our
Views
Book bonanza
Despite today’s emphasis on
videos, audio cassettes and com
puters. many of us remain loyal
to the printed page, and what we want most
for information, inspiration or entertain
ment is good books.
Those who are constant readers also
know that the best source for books is
always the public library one of the best
things in life that really is absolutely free.
That’s why we’re glad that Gov. Zell
Miller and the Georgia Legislature have
recognized the importance of books by
allocating SlO million of state funds for the
purpose of increasing the number of books
on the shelves of Georgia’s libraries.
In Perry alone, that will mean a bonanza
for local library users with more than
3,000 new books to be purchased To add
to the good news, the library staff is
encouraging suggestions from readers about
the selection of the new books.
If you're a reader, we urge you to give
your suggestions to the library staff in writ
ing You can suggest specific titles, or just
general subject matter you're interested in.
favorite authors or literary genres.
Next time you’re going to the library,
take a moment to jot down your sugges
tions Maybe by this summer, we can all
look forward to browsing through thou
sands of brand new books chosen w ith
Perry readers in mind.
Avoiding chimney fires
Chimney tires result in hundreds of deaths and
millions of dollars in damage every year They can
be prevented with a few precautions.
The most important thing is to keep the fire
place free of creosote build-up Creosote is the
flammable, sticky substance left by unbumed
gases that condense on the inside of the chimney
To prevent creosote build-up. pre-buming safe
ly precautions should be taken. Check the chimney
closely for creosote. The chimney should be
checked at least once a month, and as much as
twice a month during a busy heating season
A chim
ney should
he cleaned
when a quar
ter inch of
creosote has
built up.
The chim-,
nevs on open
Ricky
Wheeler
Houston County
Extension Service
fireplaces usually require cleaning every two to
three years. The chimneys on wood burning stoves
and manufactured metal fireplaces require clean
ing should be cleaned every year
Protect your chimney from creosote build-up
while your fire is burning by using only well sea
soned wood. Remember, to avoid using the low
damper settings for extended periods of time
Check the structural soundness of your chim
ney Look for any damages that may have occurred
in past heating seasons. Keep an eye open for any
structural failures that may have happened and
repair immediately. Other signs to look for are cor
rosion and rusting, and buckling of the inner liners
of metal chimneys, or separations in the scams.
Improper installation of the fireplace or stove
can be a source of fires Be sure not to place the
chimney too close to wood framing or thermal
insulation Do not improperly pass the chimney
through a ceiling of wall These actions can result
in the wood framing to ignite
Another cause of creosote build-up or burning
is fire temperature. Always remember to keep
wood stoves within the manufacturer's recom
mended temperature limits. Too low a temperature
and too high a temperature can result in creosote
build-up
Avoid roaring fires by adding enough fuel to
keep the tire within a desired range. Never bum
your household trash, cardboard, or newspapers in
your fireplace. Sparks produced by these objects
can lead to chimney fires.
In case of a chimney fire, always be prepared. If
you have a loud roar, sucking noises, and shaking
pipes, you may have a chimney fire
It you do have a chimney tire, keep your head.
First, call the fire department Then cut off the
fire s air supply by closing the stove damper, and
any air intake vents to the fire box. Always have a
class ABC dry chemical fire extinguisher nearby.
If you have any questions, contact the Houston
County Extension Office al 987-2028.
Houston Tones -Journal
PO Drawer M • 807 Carroll St • Perry, Ga 31069
email jjedit <&horn net
(912)987-1823 (voice) • (912) 988-1181 (fax)
Bob Tribble President
Jj Johnson Editor and General Manager
Sherri Wenglcr Advertising Director
News Emily Johnstone. Pauline Lewis. Rick Johnstone.
Joan Dorset!. Charlotte Perkins. Sports Chad Lewis.
Circulation and Photographs Eric Zcllars Bookkeeping
Paula Zimmerman
A
ML
A
A benefit for Jerry and other little inspirations: 1
Friends helping friends You see a
lot of that in this area You see people
helping strangers, too
With all of the nasty weather we
have had lately 1 am sure the organiz
ers of the turkey and skeet shoot held
last Saturday said a lew extra prayers
The day dawned bright and blue
and one corner of the world that is a
piece of land along Arena Road in
Houston County soon had lots of pick
up trucks and people gathering to he a
friend, or stranger, helping someone m
need
They came to support Jerry Pit/er
and his family Jerry was injured in
early January and is now a patient at
Shepard Spinal Center in Atlanta
* One of the most touching things I
saw was friends taping messages to
Jerry on a video camera
Mas God bless sou. Jerrs and fam-
I ’**' ~nnnnmnßß~ TSIHiHIHI
■ /,m
I wP
Armst rm PffP/m tom/ I
Government of,
As this session of the General
Assembly passes the halfway mark. I
wanted to share my perspectives on
the major accomplishments of vout
legislature
As you may have heard or seen
through recent media coverage, the
Senate has already considered and
acted upon a wide variety ol crucial
issues issues which affect our
everyday lives Through this column. I
hope to shed insight into the actions of
your representative in Atlanta as well
as the entire Senate body
When I have the pleasure of speak
mg w ith the people of our district and
Georgians from across the state, one ol
the greatest concerns that they voice is
the burden that the current tax rates
place upon their households
While we all must do our lair part
in ensuring the operation ol the state
government and its programs. I
believe there is merit in the argument
for cutting taxes How can families
and individuals be expected to meet
the daily needs ol life il the govern
ment continues to take substantial
amounts of their income?
I am happy to inform you that both
houses of the General Assembly over
whelmingly supported and passed the
“Tax Cut for Georgia Families Act."
This bill considerably reduces income
taxes for Georgia citizens by 15 per
cent This second largest tax cut in
Georgia history will be in excess of
$205 million money which will
remain in your pockets to use as you
see fit. This historic tax cut will mean
savings of $l6B for an average family
of four a measure which will affect
5.2 million taxpayers and their depen
dents.
But this tax cut is one in a long line
of breaks made possible by the phe
nomenal economic growth Georgia
Our Policies
L'nsigncd editorials appearing in larger type on this page
under the label Our Views reflect the position of ihc Houston
Times-Journal Signed columns and letters on this page land
elsewhere in this newspaper) reflect the opinions ot the writ
ers and not necessarily those of this newspaper
Signed letters to the editoi are welcomed Please limit let
ters to OKI winds .iii.l include addresses and a telephone
number loi venlication purposes Letters are not published
without vcrilicalion Letters should he sent to PO Drawer
M. Perry. Ga . 31009 or brought to the newspaper office ai
807 Carroll St Perry
Our liability lot an error will not exceed the cost ol space
Page 4A
Wed.. Feb. IK. IWB
Emily
Johnstone
limes Journdl Staff
ily And friends
• ••
As I rode along U S 41 N early one
morning recently. I noticed a gentle
man. all bundled up. walking along a
lengthy driveway pulling a trash toler
toward the roadside.
While I am sure most county folks
are happy to now have garbage pick
up like their sisters and brethren in
nearby municipalities. 1 have often
wondered about the trip from some of
those country dwellings to the end of
the road, pulling a loaded trash can.
by and for the people
Sonny
Perdue
Georgia Senate
D Houston Co.
has experienced during the last eight
years
Consider this lor every year since
1991. our state economy has outper
formed the nation s, some years in
excess ot SO percent Consequently
we have been able to continue and
expand funding for education, public
salety. and other important programs
and simultaneously cut taxes lor
Georgians
When Governor Miller signed the
lax Cut for Georgia Families Act on
Jan 28. it marked the thud time in the
last five years the General Assembly
passed significant tax reductions In
tact, since 1994. the three largest cuts
in Georgia history have been enacted
% the 1994 SIOO million cut
\ the 1996 elimination ot the sales
tax on groceries, a record of $550 mil
lion slash
v this 1998 $205 million reduction
Combined with other lax-reducing
legislation during those years, we have
saved Georgians S9OO million
I firmly believe that we now main
tain a solid balance between raising
revenue the government needs to fund
programs we utilize on a daily basis
and the right of the state's taxpayers to
keep more of what they earn through
their hard work
When I voted in favor of this act. I
affirmed my promise and pledge to
fight for Georgia families, to invest in
the great and diverse people of our
state, to allow you to retain the money
needed for a child's braces, a tamilv
(Kcupied by the error
We cannot be responsible lor the return ot pictures or sub
muted materials unless a stamped, return address envelope is
included
Our Goal
The Houston Times Journal is published proudly tor the
eiti/cns ol Houston and adjoining counties by Houston
Publications Inc Perry Cia Out goal is to produce quality,
profitable, community-oriented newspapers that sou. our
readers, are proud ot We will reach this goal through hard
woik. teamwork, loyalty and a strong dedication toward
printing the truth
Mcmhei ot Georgia Press Association and National
n
especially during inclement weather
This fellow seemed to be enjoying
himself though, walking at a brisk
pace toward the edge of the roadway
And. you can t beat the benefits of
exercise. I thought
However, a lew minutes later on my
return trip I spotted someone trans
porting then trash to its pick up desti
nation m a way I probably would it my
driveway were lengthy
Here came a station wagon, with its
driver navigating all kinds of bumps
and turns, toward the highway with
you guessed it a trash toler fastened
securely to the back bumper 1
• ••
It will soon have been a yeai since
the Oak Grove CAM Church burned
in Hlko
I can still remember the sorrow and
shock that ran through the cornmunitv
trip to the beach, a new home, or a
retirement nest egg
And this is only the siart ot such
meaningful legislation I am commit
ted to working on the issues that truly
alteci the everyday lives ot Georgia
lamilies
As always. I encourage your input,
thoughts, and concerns about pending
legislation Working together, we can
create a better Georgia
i Sonny Perdue represents Houston
County in the Georgia General
Assembly i
Why pay consultants
when management
draws top salaries?
Editor:
In response to the article regarding
a possible merger of some service by
the hospital and health department let
us ask more questions.
We as consumers and taxpayers pay
very high yearly salaries to the CEO
and management of Houston
Healthcare Complex so why do they
need a "Denver" based consultant ’ Do
we not pay them to think and run it as
a business? Do other businesses not
lose profits yearly due to many rea
sons. including bad debt similar to
indigent care Perhaps not nearly the
same I manual number
I agree with l)r Harvey. Let us have
some further input from the medical
field including pharmacists, nurses,
home health agencies, etc The local
health departments do a very good |ob
on a very tight budget and already
have a mobile van clinic in place so
again, why hire consultants ’
Katherine Price
Perrv
Houston rimes-Journal
Newspaper Association
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment
ol religion, or prohibiting the tree exercise thereof, or abndg
mg the freedom of speech, or of the press, or ot the right ot
the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the
Government tor a redress of grievances Your right to read
this newspaper is protected by the First Amendment to the
United States Constitution
The Houston Times-Journal (t'SPS 000471) is pub
lished weekly for $21.20 per year (including sales tax) by
Houston Publications Inc.. 807 Carroll St.. Perry. Ga..
31(8)9. Periodicals Class Postage paid at Perry. Ga.
POSTMASTER : Send address changes to the Houston
Times-Journal. P.O. Drawer M. Perry. Ga. 31069. ISSN:
1075-1874.
as if it were only yesterday
In this office, we all grieved along!',
with fellow employee Enc Zellars. a'
deacon of the church, for his. and other','
church members', loss.
Now. a year later, those accused of
the arson of the church, are
their punishment, and church members
are still looking forward to rebuilding;
Oak Grove
Days after the fire, those church
members seemed determined to stick”
together, no matter what My hope in'
they have grown stronger as a congre
gation and will mark this year's pass
ing with renewed faith in God.
••• ,i
A word to Al Pearson, a k a Tevyc. i
I was right, you and the rest of the
Perry Players cast for "Fiddler on the
Roof arc great' 1 know everyone will
love the musical that starts Feb 27
Lewis
Massey
Secretary of State
A reminder of
our history 5
Feb 12 marked 265 years since
Gen James Oglethorpe and his
shipload of settlers reached their new
home and founded the colony of
Georgia
Oglethorpe was bom in London on
Dec 22. 1696 He joined the military
as a young man and served in hostili
ties against the Turks In
Oglethorpe relumed to the family
estate at Godaiming. Surrey, and was
elected to the House of Commons
three years later
After a friend died in debtors'
prison. Oglethorpe led an investiga
tion into the conditions of British jails
He hoped to release debtors from their J
cells and give them a better life in a
new settlement south of Carolina.
The Royal Charter for the colony
of Georgia was officially certified on‘
June 9, 1732 Some 114 passengers
left Gravesend. England, on the Anne;
a 2<X)-ton frigate commanded by Capt
John Thomas
The ship was crowded, but the voy
age went smoothly Two sickly chil
dren died on the trip, but most of the
company stayed healthy. When the
baby Georgius Warren was christened
Nov 12. Oglethorpe stood as godfa
ther The ship celebrated the general s
birthday, and for Christmas the pas- ■
sengers enjoyed a special dinner with ■
pudding Finally the company sighted <
Charles Town. S.C., on Jan 13. 1733. -
Oglethorpe gave a copy of the'
Georgia Charter to the South Carolina
governor In 1734. a scribe produced
another copy, which South Carolina ‘
presented to Georgia in 1965
Oglethorpe's settlers left South
Carolina in a group of small boats on
Jan 30 and landed at Yamacraw Bluff.
17 miles up the Savannah River
Oglethorpe's first official act was to
kneel with the company to offer
Thanksgiving and prayer to God.
Fortifications and a few houses
were erected by summer, but life was
very hard that first year Clean water
was lacking, illness spread in the
muggy climate and many of the set
tlers died.
Fortunately, the colony received
assistance from South Carolina and
help from the Yamacraw Indians,
w hose old chief Tomochi-chi proved
to be a lasting friend to Oglethorpe.
As more colonists arrived, the
trustees, who controlled the colony
from London, hoped that Georgia
could produce silk, wine and other
semitropical goods. Nearly 500
pounds of raw silk-the most gathered
in one year under the Trustees-was
shipped to England in 1751. but the
silk trade never flourished.
While there were good harvests in
1738 and ‘39. there were also many
years when food had to be imported
After Parliament refused their
request for funds in 1751. the trustees
(See GEORGIA. Page 5A)j