Newspaper Page Text
Lowery faces Wittenberg for Board of Ed
Pnom Sl\M KI.HOMIS
Perry an* will only vote fot
one Board of Education contest -
the race between incumbent
Board member Shirley Lowery of
Warner Robins and challenger,
David E. Whittenberg of
Kathleen.
Lowery is seeking her third
term on the board, and currently
serves as vice-chairman. She is
retired from Middle Georgia ’cch.
and has a B.S. degree from
Georgia College, as well as a
Masters from Fort Valley Stale
University. She has lived in
Houston County for 38 years.
Wittenberg is branch chief
of DLA/DSDC-PSCW at Robins
Air Force Base. He has lived in
Houston County for 25 years, and
has degrees in Business
Administration from Macon
Junior College and Georgia
College as well as a Masters of
Public Administration from
Georgia College.
Both candidates were asked
this question: "Asa member of
Commission candidates on two major issues
Continued from Page I
live in Kathleen. They have
five grown children and two
grandchildren. He is 70 years old.
Robinson is an attorney who
has lived most of her life in
Houston County. She is a gradu
ate of the University, with a B.S.
in Business Administration, and
also holds a Juris Doctor degree
from the University of Georgia
Law School. She volunteers as a
mock trial coach at Warner
Robins High School
She and her husband. Mark,
live in Kathleen. She is 28 years
old.
The three candidates answered
the following questions for the
Houston Times-Joumal:
Many residents of the
Central Houston County area
have experienced great difficul
ty with water drainage prob
lems. Should Houston County
become involved with moving
or draining water on private
property? If so, at what level?
Burden: If there are ade
quate funds to do, the county
should look into it. but the most
important thing is to look into the
Army Corps of Engineers report
and determine for the future what
the run-off needs are. The county
doesn't have the financial ability
to take care of everybody's needs
and we need to study the entire
situation, not deal with it in a
piecemeal way.
Hawkins Water drainage
problems are the result of tremen
Houston County Board of
Education adopts budget
From Staff Reports
The Houston County Board of
Education has now dealt with the
present and the future, adopting a
$lO9 million dollar budget for
the fiscal year that began July I.
and okaying a calendar for the
1999-2(X)0 school year that calls
for the earliest start ever.
With anticipated revenues of
$105,728,939 to cover the
$109,206,122 budget, the contin
gency fund had to be dipped into.
The new fund balance is expect
ed to be $848,256.
As for the calendar, school
bells will ring on Friday. August
13, for students. Teachers will
report on August 9. That propos
al was favored by the teachers.
There will be less excused
• One Monthly Payment
• Borrow IOOT of Equity
• Refinance A Lower Payments
" Make Home Improvement!
• No Minimum Property Value*
• Pay Out of Chapter 13
• County or City Properties
• Frame-Brick-Double Wide*
EXAMPLE LOANS AT 8% RATE
AMOUNT
10,000
20,000
30,000
50,000
75,000
(LOANS FROM SIO,OOO TO $500,000)
GEORGIA RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE LICENSEE
O Concord Mortgage Inc.
3312 Northside Drive Bid. A, Sl*. 140 Macon Ga 31210
(912)475-0014 OR (800)470-0014
Lowery
the Board of Education, how
would you work to manage the
growth of the schools and keep
the quality of education at the
same time?"
Wittenburg: "To effectively
manage the school system in
response to population growth
requires ongoing coordination
with local industries, Chambers
of Commerce and Regional
Development Authorities so that
the board can anticipate and react
to potential influxes of families
dous growth, and flat land without
natural drainage. Contractors,
developers, as well as the cities
and the county all share the blame
for this condition. I suggest we
take the Corps of Engineers'
study, due in August, look at the
big picture, and try hard to obtain
some state and federal money.
The county can't work on private
property unless it's a dire emer
gency.
Robinson: For the water
drainage problems, the county
must consider the county's initial
involvement and the existence of
any easements owned by the
county. In these situations where
a larger group of citizens are
involved, such as the water
drainage problem, there is initial
county involvement in the
approval of planning and devel
opment and there exists county
eaements. then the county should
assist citizens in finding solutions
to a serious water drainage prob
lem, which was created through
no fault of the adversely affected
group.
Asa Commissioner of
Houston County, where do you
anticipate Finding the millions
necessary to move public utili
ties for construction of an
improved Houston Lake Road?
Robinson: I am hopeful that
the current Board has some plan
in place for the expenses of mov
ing the public utilities on a project
now slated to begin next year with
the actual improvements. For this
absences for students in the com
ing year. The school board
adopted a policy to limit the
absences to ten days each semes
ter, down from the current 15.
“I think ten days is a lot,’’said
board member Fred Wilson.
Chairman Skip lalbert said he
thinks plans are to eventually
have five days as the maximum,
but it would be too drastic to
make the change at once.
“We would be inundated with
calls if we made such a drastic
change at once,” Robert Sipc of
the staff told the board.
In another action, the board
approved a bid from Americus
based Warren Scott to construct a
new elementary school along U.S
41 near Byron.
* Less Than Perfect Credit Is OK
* Consolidate All Your Bills
* Purchase Auto - Keep Title
* 10-15-20-30 Year Loans
* No Application Fees Up Front
* Subject to Approval
* Rates Subject to Change
* Some Restrictions Apply
I.S.Q months
$ 95.56
$191.13
$286.70
$477.83
$716.74
360 months
n/a
$146.75
$220.13
$366.88
$550.32
Wittenberg
moving to our county. In the past
when the county has built new
schools, a seemingly immediate
requirement arose to add trailers
to serve as classrooms to reduce
overcrowding of classrooms. This
has been caused by either or both
of two factors: cither the schools
that were built were too small to
accommodate growth or the actu
al growth was greater than antici
pated. This has been a costly mis
take. Maintaining quality educa
tion in a period of rapid growth
particular project, it is too late for
me to aid in a long-term plan to
raise or secure the funds any sub
stantial time ahead of the project
start dale. It is my understanding
that federal grants may be avail
able and we can work with the
Warner Robins Transportation
Study Commilee to secure these
funds. I am hopeful I will be able
to secure the money necessary to
move the utilities. 1 will work
very hard to make sure the cost to
the citizens is at the absolute min
imum.
Hawkias: Widening Houston
Lake Road needs to be speeded
up. The County is responsible for
the cost of moving utilities and
obtaining rights of way, and
D.0.T.. will fund the road, curbs
and median. Asa citizen, I sent a
letter to D.O.T. asking why the
gas line had to be moved. This
will cost about $750,00. No
answer to date.
Burden For the expansion
of Houston Lake Road, the
County is responsible for many
millions in expense, including
rights of way. curbs, gutters and
storm drainage This project can
only be funded by diverting funds
from other county projects - prior
itizing so that we stay under the
tax cap. I support the expansion,
but think it is a shakey concept to
anticipate a financial windfall
from the federal or state goveme
ment. We have to look at the
presently funded projects and set
priorities in the budget.
The school system facilities
head. Bill Loudermilk. said the
bid came in at just over $6 mil
lion, with only $5.5 million set
aside in the special bond and
sales lax referendum
“The bottom line is if the state
doesn’t offer full one hundred
percent funding, then you (board)
might have to bite the bullet and
come up with the
difference,”Loudermilk said.
Loudermilk said there is a def
inite need to have the new school
on track to open as soon as possi
ble, and “there is an outside
chance it could be ready by the
fall of 1999” if the go ahead is
given.
NOTICE
THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF PERRY
WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON
THE RENEWAL OF THE CABLE FRANCHISE HELD BY
COMSOUTH CABLE VISION COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Comsouth, the City’s cable operator, has requested that the company’s
cable television franchise be renewed. In responding to Comsouth’s
request. City officials consider the Company’s past performance as well
as whether or not the proposed agreement meets the needs and inter
ests of the community. Comments from the public are requested so
that the council can make this determination.
The City Council has accepted a proposed nonexclusive franchise
agreement with Comsouth. The proposed franchise agreement docu
ment is available for public review and comment at 1211 Washington
Street in the Administrative Office of the Municipal Building. The fran
chise agreement is to be considered by the Mayor and Council during
the regularly scheduled City Countil meeting to be held on August 4,
1998 at 7:30 p.m.
For further information contact Skip Nalley, City Manager at 912-
988-2736.
and demographic shifts can
occur by securing the best avail
able forecasting tools and main
taining continuous coordination
with other governmental bod
ies."
Lowery: " I hope we've
been doing that' We've main
tained quality education while
meeting the growth by not
increasing the size of the classes.
That’s why we've had the
portable buildings - to keep the
pupil-teacher ratio down.”
Wheeler
Continued from Page 4
do not know that this will cure
it—but it may help. Yoshino cher
ries like a high soil pH. By rais
ing the pH in the surrounding
soil you may help the plant fight
the disease.
To raise soil pH quickly,
apply 10 lb. of hydrated lime
(also called quick lime) to the
soil around each tree. The lime
should be spread on the soil
under the tree covering an area a
little larger than the spread of the
tree. Spread the lime over an area
of 100 square feel (10 feet by 10
feet) or larger.
Be very careful! Hydrated
lime will burn tender skin. Keep
it out of your eyes and wash your
hands well after handling it. Two
weeks later, apply 10 lb. of
dolomitic lime over the same
area The hydrated lime changes
the pH quickly while the
dolomitic lime works more slow
ly. You may want to soil sample
around the tree this fall to see if
more is needed. You can soil
sample around cherry trees every
2 to 3 years to see if more lime is
needed.
Some junipers are beginning
to brown. There can be several
problems. If individual branches
are dying, it may be a fungus like
Cercospora or Phomopsis.
Though we can spray for these
diseases, we usually try to find
out what is causing the plant to
get the disease. Stress can open
the plant up to attack. This could
include too much water, shade,
poor drainage, compacted soils
or wounding by people or equip
ment. Correct these problems to
slow fungus diseases.
Remcmber-junipers like full
sun and well-drained soils.
Another juniper problem is
mites. They cause the entire
branch or plant to become brown
and dry looking. Mites are very
small, red or black and have
eight legs. Sometimes they build
very small webs on the tips of
branches. They are not really
insects but are more similar to
spiders. They arc worse during
dry weather
To check for mites, take a
piece of white paper and hold it
under the limbs. Then tap the
limb trying to knock some miles
onto the paper. The mites will be
almost too small to be seen. They
are round and may crawl slowly
around on the page.
A stream of water on the plant
will reduce mite populations, but
may not control them. Ketlthane
is an excellent mite killer.
Insecticidal soap will also work,
but not near as well as Kelthane
and may require several sprays
for adequate control Be careful
to read and follow all label direc
tions.
For help with these and other
shrub questions, call the
Extension office at 542-2020 in
Warner Robins or 987-2028 in
Perry.
NOTICE
SPECIAL ELECTION
IN CONJUNCTION WITH
GENERAL PRIMARY
JULY 21, 199 R
POLLING PI ACES OPEN
7:00 A.M. UNTIL 7:00 P.M.
HOUSTON COUNTY BOARD
OF ELECTIONS
987-1973
ELECT
Gail Robinson
for Houston County Commissioner
hHb|
VOTE ON JULY 21 FOR THE CANDIDATE WHO WILL LISTEN TO YOUR CONCERNS.
Paid tor by the candidate
13 ED HAWKINS
FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER
VOTE JULY 21
■jcyMr
CAN DO - WILL DO!
Middle Georgia
TECHNICAL INSTITUTE^
Offering
CERTIFIED CUSTOMER SERVICE
SPECIALIST PROGRAM
Learn the skills you need to compete for entry
level jobs in service, hospitality & retail industries.
In CCSS, you will team modern ideas and
approaches to customer service such as:
• Critical Thinking Skills
• Problem Solving Skills
• Skills in managing difficult customers
• Basic Computer Skills, etc.
Successful completion of the course
guarantees an interview with
GEICO
This is a 5 week program beginning July 13.
Qualifies for HOPE Grant
Call 988-6850 for more information
Hubert Bennett
AKIN
Your Hometown Pharmacy
PWwM> Printouts Hot InwinYw Itocordi rod.
Eaocimtkx Record* afc No Kxtn Chugs
Monday ttmxNfh VMday &S0 fen &00 •
Wed., July Is, 1998, Haumtm Tima-Jouam!
I am
committed to:
•Being your voice in
Houston County
Government
•Responding to your
needs and concerns
• Orderly planning for
the most efficient use
of our county’s money
•NO "FRILLS" JAIL
•REPRESENT ALL
RESIDENTS
•CO-CHAIRED
TAX CAP (1982)
•32 YRS.
MANAGEMENT
EXPERIENCE
Paid (or by the candidate
WE OFFER...
• Senior Ghaasn’s Discount
• Free In-Town Delivery
• Durable Medical Equipment
•Computer Medical Records
•Emergency Service
• Complete line oflf Sundry Items
Page 5A