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. I Pullout and | a lim' ' w . - H mJ \ I Hi Qg • | MHMHMBnHMHHMnMHNMMHMHHHHHMMMHHHMM Volume 127, No. 43 2 Sections, 22 Pages Wednesday, Oct. 28, 1998 50 Cents At the Crossroads This Week * Trick or Treat is Saturday night in Perry The official lime for trick or treat activities in the city of Perry is 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31. During that time, members of the Perry High School Junior Civitan Club will collect canned goods in the greater Perry area. PHS instructor Susan Pierce said the canned goods will be given to Loaves and Fishes to help local persons in need. Democrats host forum The Houston County Democratic Committee will meet at 7 p.m. Oct. 29 at the County Ag Building, 733 Carroll St., in Perry. All local candidates for office have been invited to speak and to answer questions. The meeting is open to the public. For information, contact Donnie Vance at 987-2479. Hot dogs, sloppy Joe's on school menu Here a re menus for Houston County public schools for the coming week. All meals are served with milk. Breakfast includes fresh fruit or fruit juice each day. Lunches include two hot vegeta bles and four to six cold fruit and vegetable choices daily. Schools under renovation may have dif ferent menus. Oct. 28 Breakfast: Breakfast pizza or cereal and toast, Lunch: hot dog or sloppy joes or PBJ sandwich or baked potato with hot toppings, brown ie. Oct. 29 Breakfast: Sausage biscuit or cereal and toast; Lunch: Cheeseburger or southern chicken with roll or PBJ sand wich or sub sandwich, manager’s choice dessert. Oct. 30 Breakfast: Manager's choice or cereal and toast: pizza or manager’s choice or PBJ sandwich or manager’s choice applesauce cake. Bake sale ahead Members of the Perry High Softball Booster Club will host a bake sale Oct. 31 at the Kroger grocery store in Perry. Baked goods will be on sale from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Booster club members and softball players will sell soft drinks and hot dogs as well. All proceeds will be used to help pur chase equipment and jackets and to cover expenses for the team. Golf scramble planned by Band Boosters Members of the Pride of the Crossroads Band Boosters will host a four-man scramble golf tournament Nov. 7 at Waterford Golf Course, 620 Ga. 96 in Bonaire. Spokesman Dee Bellinger said the event begins at I p.m. Included in the $55 per person or $220 per team fee is cart, range balls and lunch. Prizes planned include S4OO for first, S3OO for second and S2OO for third. Other prizes include a set of golf clubs for a hole in one, a $25 gift certificate for closest tc *he pin and a club fitting for the longer Jri.c, Proceeds from the event will purchase new band uniforms. For additional information and to register, call Waterford at 328- 7533 or Bellinger at 987-1031. Houston Times-Journol Official Legal Organ for Houston County, the City of Perry and the State of Georgia Voters to select new leaders Nov. 3 County, General Assembly and state officers on the ballot along with five amendments, five questions Bv CHARLOTTE PERKINS Times-Joirnal Staff With candidate's signs in every color lin ing Houston County’s highways and televi sion campaign commercials back-to-back, few local citizens need to be reminded that tb? November General Election is just a few days away. Georgia voters will go to the polls on Nov. 3. to choose anew governor and It. governor, a U.S. Senator, members of the U.S. House of Representatives, and a num ber of other officials. At the state level, top contenders are Roy Barnes, Democrat, and Guy Mftlner. Republican, who are ninning for governor. Mitch J. Skandalakis. Republican, and Mark Taylor, Democrat, are the major party can didates for It. governor. Republican incum bent U.S. Senator Paul Coverdell is facing a challenge from Democrat Michael Coles. Of special interest on the Perry ballot are the contests for the District 141 seat in the Georgia House of Representatives, and two positions on the Houston County Commission the chairmanship and the Post 2 seat. Perry’s Rep. Larry Walker, longtime Democratic House Majority Leader, faces a challenge from Warner Robins business- Sanders offer voters distinct choices By CHARLOTTE PERKINS Times-Joiiknal Srwr The two candidates for Houston County Commission Chairman have very different positions on two projects with a substantial impact on Perry the location of the Houston County Courthouse and the fund ing for the new headquarters for the Georgia State Patrol. While the courthouse and jail location have already been announced and the land purchased, Republican candidate Ned Sanders says he would like to see the deci sion on the location reconsidered, and see the courthouse located near Ga. 96 in the population center of the county. “The courthouse and jail site does not meaningfully address the needs of 75 per cent of the population." Sanders said at a forum held by the NAACP at Rozar Park in Perry. “We need to revisit that, take anoth er look at it." Sanders has also said he would take a special interest in the restoration and con tinued use of the old courthouse building in downtown Perry when the new courthouse is completed, in order to boost the down town area. Stafford has pointed out that under Georgia law the courthouse must be built in Perry because it is the county seat. The site for the courthouse and jail at the intersection Alday challenges legality of tax cap law changes By CHARLOTTE PERKINS Times- Journal Staff Gloria Alday, candidate for State Representative from District 141, has charged Houston County’s tax cap was undermined by the 1996 Constitutional Amendment allowing voters to approve special local option sales (SPLOST) taxes. r She says she is elected she will seek another state constitutional amendment to restore the tax cap to its original intent. Alday is referring to provisions added to the 1996 SPLOST amendment through the efforts of former Rep. Sonny Watson, and with the backing of State Sen. Sonny Perdue and Rep. Larry Walker, among others. The added lan guage made it possible for Houston County vot ers to approve a SPLOST for special projects without meeting the tax cap provision for rolling back ad valorem taxes in the amount raised by the sales tax. The Houston County tax cap, which was established by a state wide vote on a constitu tional amendment in 1982, states that if a sales tax is adopted that increase in taxation must be offset by a corresponding decrease in property taxes. Perry beats Macon twice Westfield and Perry High claim Details, pages 10-12 8 woman Gloria Alday on the Republican ticket. Both have run highly visible cam paigns in recent weeks with increasing tele vision commercials. In the last week Walker’s ads have focused on endorse ments by Gov. Zell Miller, former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn and former Gov. Joe Frank Harris. Alday. a political newcomer, is running on the strength of her experience in busi ness and a conservative financial platform. Houston County Commission Chairman J. Sherrill Stafford of Centerville is another incumbent Democrat facing opposition in this election. His Republican opponent is Ned Sanders of Warner Robins, a civil engi neer from Warner Robins. Stafford has emphasized his experience and leadership abilities, while Sanders has campaigned on issues of infrastructure, road improvement and the location of the county courthouse, which he feels should be located in the center of the county rather than in Perry. In a Commission race being voted on county-wide. Republican Larry Thomson and Democrat George Williams are vying for County Commission Post 2. which is being vacated at the end of this year. Jim Carter decided not to seek another term. pr ** * Stafford of Perry Parkway and Kings Chapel Road has been purchased and the Perry City Council is in the process of annexing that land. Sanders also has questioned the use of county funds to build anew $860,000 head quarters for the Georgia State Patrol on land donated by the Georgia Agricenter, he has said he wants to sec state funds used for that project rather than county funds. Stafford says all State Patrol headquar ters in Georgia are built by the host counties except for one at Jekyll Island that was funded by the state. The State Patrol brings revenues from as many as 60.000 traffic cases a year into the county. “It’s a good example of partnership with the state, and many counties would fight to have a State Patrol office in their county,” Stafford said. “Not funding it would be cut ting off your nose to spite your face." He said further that the land that will be vacated —a 3 1 /; site adjacent to 1-75 and the Marshallviile Road is prime real estate and will be sold once the move is complete.” Consequently. Houston County did not have the option other counties in the state had of ask ing voters to approve SPLOSTS for such specif ic construction project as the new Houston County courthouse and jail, or school buildings. According to Sonny Watson, who sponsored the provisions to the 1996 Amendment, his efforts followed discussions with members of the Houston County Commission as well as members of the Houston County Board of Education. “I felt like people in Houston County were discriminated against," Watson said. “We were the only county out of 159 that couldn't use the special use sales tax. All the provision does is give people the opportunity to decide whether or not to have a SPLOST.” Alday sees it differently. “The people of Houston County went to great lengths to vole in a tax cap," she said, “and it was taken away with the stroke of a pen. I am promising to look into restoring the tax cap to its original wording.” A change in the amendment as it applies to Houston County would require a statewide vote (See ALDAY, Page 8A) Srr\m* Houston ( oiinlv Sinit* Dec, 17, I<l7o ■f / *" Sanders c nt. a. ■ . Timai-Joumal Photo by Charlotte Perkins MEET THE PUBLIC Facing the public during a recent candidate forum are (from left) County Commission candidates Ned Sanders, Larry Thompson, George Williams and Sherrill Stafford. Williams has emphasized a strong crime-fighting position, while Thomson has brought up a variety of issues and has pushed for county funding for the emer gency needs of foster children. Another lively race has been between two attorneys, Fred Graham. Democrat. Couftcfl OKs sale of city land for new industry By ROB MEAD and STACIE M. VU Times-Journal Staff Perry Council members have approved the sale of a city-owned 50 acre lot to the Douglas Asphalt Cos. Douglas intends to build storage tanks on the property for the containment of liquid asphalt. The 50 acres located in the Perry Allied Business Park off Valley Drive Extension, consist of 30 acres of land suitable for development and 20 acres of wetlands. The wet lands will not be developed. In other business at the October 20 meeting of council. Skip Nalley. city man ager, offered first reading of an annexation ordinance. The Ingrid Reiter property, slightly more than 66 acres, is located along Kings Chapel Road at the intersection with Perry Parkway, and Gray Road. The site is the proposed location of the new Houston County courthouse and jail project. Council members reviewed the city’s contract with The Older Americans Council of Middle Georgia, for 1999. The OAC leases part of the Perry Community Center at J. Frank Rozar Park for a senior citizen center. An amendment stating joint responsi bility for maintenance and replacement of jointly used appliances between the Chamber seeks rent relief from CVB By ROB MEAD Times-Jocknal Staff The Perry Area Chamber of Commerce, a tenant at the Perry Welcome Center for the past 15 months, is seeking rent relief from the landlord. During the Oct. 22 meeting of the Perry Area Convention and Visitors Bureau directors, Chamber President Chris Kinnas requested a rent adjustment from the CVB. The CVB made space for three offices available to the chamber almost two years ago, and after renovation, the chamber moved in the nine-year-old building at 101 Gen. Courtney Hodges Blvd. The rent for the Chamber of Commerce expires July 1, 1999. The members of the Chamber of Commerce believe the Welcome Center best suits their,, purpose, Kinnas said. Jenny Andrew, executive director of the CVB said many visitors request informa tion from both organizations, and having both the CVB and the Chamber of Commerce together is a distinct advantage ''" • ■ ; I and Rob Tawse. Republican, for the posi tion of Stale Court Solicitor. In addition to the positions being filled, the ballot includes five proposed amend ments to the Georgia Constitution and five referendum questions Polls will open at 7 a.m. and dose at 7 p.m O.A.C. and the City will be included in the proposal to the Council by the end ot the month. City Recreation Department Director. Tommy Morris, presented a fee structure which was turned down by City Council except for a proposed increase in basket ball fees, which was approved. City residents will now pay $25 to par ticipate in the basketball program and non city residents will pay $37.50. These prices will go into effect immediately An ordinance regarding the terms of franchise for cable and other telecommu nications received first reading. Council members approved the motion to observe Trick or Treat in Perry. Oct 31 from the hours of 6-8 p.m Council awarded the concession stand construction project at Creekwood Park to local contractor Pete Stokes. The stand is a S4O.(XX) project which will he paid for with a $20,0(8) grant from Sam Nunn. SIO.(XX) from the Department of Natural Resources and the remaining $9.894 00 coming out of the City’s contingency fund. Council member James Moore recom mended the city adopt an ordinance which would prohibit teen-agers 18-years-old and younger from patronizing pool halls which serve alcohol. This will he studied by the city attorney, the city manager and the police chief before any action is taken. for the visitors and the city of Perry. Also mentioned was the upcoming Dogwood festival in Perry, April 4, 1999. Massee Lane, located along Ga. 49 between Marshallviile and Fort Valley, and home of American Camellia Society, will exhibit camellias, which begin bloom ing in November. The Georgia National Fairgrounds will host the “Southeastern Showdown”, the second largest high school rodeo in the country, with entries from six stales during the dates of Nov. 13-15. A retreat, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, to plan for the upcoming year plan of action will take place at St. Simon’s Island Nov. 7. M Home of the Georgia National f air and Agricenter C) *c* KINNAS