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W 1 ffia dr. *r At the y Crossroads This Week Miss Dogwoods to be named March 19-20 Plans arc in full swing to the 1999 Miss Dogwood Pageants to be held on March 19 and 20 at the Perry High School auditorium. The pageant on March 19 will be co-emceed by former Perry resident Katie Stephens, who was recently crowned Miss Georgia Southern University and will compete in the Miss Georgia pageant in June. Also, Andrea Kirk, a for mer Miss Dogwood Queen, will be on hand to emcee the pageant. Applications are available at tne Perry Chamber of Commerce, Perry High School, Belle Ritz of Warner Robins and Evelyn’s in the Galleria Mall. The Perry Chamber of Commerce will mail applications. Call 987- 1234. Livestock show at Fairgrounds this week The annual Georgia National Livestock show con tinues at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter through March 7. The Georgia National Quarter Horse Show will take place March 5-7 at the Fairgrounds. Fans of model aircraft will be interested in attending the Southeastern Aircraft Model Show March 6. Also set this weekend at the Agricenter is the Georgia National Llama show. Gann in the lead Stan Gann of Kathleen was in the lead after the first round of the three-day Southeastern Courses Association Tour golf tournament at Houston Lake Country Club. Gann took the lead with an opening round of 69. Other local golfers in the field and their first round scores includ ed Jeff Evans of Perry with a 78, and Casey Phillips of Warner Robins with a 79. The tournament continues through March 4. Restaurants checked Here are results of recent Houston County Environmental Health Department inspections. BJ’s Orioles Nest, 2001 Moody Road, Warner Robins, 98. Bonaire Elementary School, 100 Elm St., Bonaire, 96. Bonaire Middle School, 125 Ga. 96, Bonaire, 97. Burger King, 201 Russell Parkway, Warner Robins, 90, prob lems with temperature control of foods. Christian Life School, 620 Wellborn Road, Warner Robins, 98. Happy China, 115-1 Russell Parkway, Warner Robins, 75, prob lems with temperature control of foods. Feagin Mill Middle School, 1200 Feagin Mill Road, Warner Robins, 91, problems with temper ature control of foods. Hardee’s, 801 N. Houston Road, Warner Robins, 94. Miller Elementary School, 101 Pine Valley, Warner Robins, 100. Northside High School, 926 Green St., Warner Robins, 96. Parkwood Elementary School, 503 Parkwood Drive, Warner Robins, 90, problems with storage of cleaning products. Perry Elementary SChool, 906 School St., Perry, 98. Russell Elementary School, 101 Patriot Way, Warner Robins, 99. Sacred Heart School Cafeteria, 250 S. Davis Drive, Warner Robins, 95. Snappers Lounge, 2515 Moody Road, Warner Robins, 96. Tabor Middle c -h'v>l, 920 Green St., Warner Robins, 98. Westside Elementary School, 201 N. Pleasant Hill Road, Warner Robins, 90, problems with temper ature control of foods. fJHKPiSK fmwBSk'Wwi OnkWHitfF ATHENS, Gft 30602 Houston rimes-Journal Official Legal Organ for Houston County, the City of Perry and the State of Georgia B iufl- ■ ilgJil. /' '■ ' * ' V ' - -ilf fm r' " ; 'i w ■pop v wHsMSti @Sr \ tf- 1 t,;. V id r sh runes-Journal Photo by Charlotte Perkins BOXES OF BOOKS - Bobbe Nelson unpacks the new edition of "A Land So Dedicated”, the history of Houston County. Updated county history arrives from printers By CHARLOTTE PERKINS Times-lournal Staff The new edition of Bobbe Nelson’s popular 1976 history of Houston County, “A Land So Dedicated” is hot off the presses, and ready for autographing. Both Nelson and artist Butler Brown will be at the Perry Library from 2-4 p.m., March 20, to meet the public. Books will be available for purchase and auto graphing, and prints of Brown’s new book cover painting, “The Perfect Tree”, an old Houston County landmark which stood along U.S. 41 North, will also be available. “A Land So Dedicated”, which includes more than 900 pho tographs some from the earli est decades of Houston County history begins with prehistoric times, covering what is known of the earliest native American nomadic people who lived in this area. Developed around a theme of using natural resources, the book provides detailed historic accounts of the various communi ties and cities in Houston County. The story begins in 1821 with the county s founding and tracing the development of com munities first along the water ways, then along stagecoach roads, railroads and major high ways. With excerpts from many old letters and documents con tributed by local families, the book offers fascinating details about early lifestyles and commu nity values, as well as many little known facts about local history. Included is the fact that the spelling of Houston County was changed over the years from “Houstoun” the name of the early Georgia governor for whom the county was named. With Nelson’s new final chap ter, or epilogue, the book now continues until present times. It also contains a number of new color photographs. Nelson, who has had the book reprinted at her own expense, wrote the original text and worked with researchers and manuscript assistants Sara Hunter, Donna English, Betty Pool and Paula Heisel to compile the 1976 edition under a grant from the Houston County Commissioners, under the aus- Eices of the Houston County ibrary System. Ellic and Sherri Loudermilk and Betty Poole have helped with the manuscript, typing and edit ing of the new edition, Nelson says. She emphasized that the book, which has been out of print for a decade, is a reprint of the 1976 volume, with some new pho tographs and additional text to bring it up to date. “It’s been reset in larger type and is easier to read,” she noted. Also the author of a popular local cookbook, “Recipes from the New Perry Hotel”, Nelson has lived in Perry since her child hood. She and her husband, Dan Nelson, have five children between them, and eight grand children who visit frequently. They are active in the First Baptist Church of Perry. Bobbe Nelson is a former col lege English teacher, with a long fascination with local history, ana has served as curator for the vin tage classroom and Sam Nunn exhibit at the Houston County Board of Education offices. She is also a member of the Houston County Arts Alliance. To purchase “A Land So Dedicated”, contact Bobbe Nelson at (912) 987-2834, or plan to attend die Library book sign ing. The cost is 535 plus tax. V:; *fir. Uf.it'M/vn (ftiirvly r.r./ if:.' VI, ilj/O Principals of Houston County schools express concern over busing of students By STACIE M.VU Times-lournai. Staff Principals of Houston County public schools got their first look at several proposals for changing school attendance zones during a Feb. 25 meeting in Perry. New attendance districts are needed to accommo date the opening of two elementary schools in the county next fall. Some principals expressed concerns about the plans because of the length of time students would ride buses before and after school Some principals even suggested monitors be placed on the buses if the students are required to be on the bus for a long period of time. . According to Zoning Option D, which is recom mended by the Central Georgia Regional Development Center, students in tne Henderson community would be rezoned to attend Morningside Elementary. Most Henderson area elementary stu dents now attend Tucker. Some Henderson students arc on the bus for approximately 45 minutes according to Tucker Elementary School Principal John Gordon. Gordon said Tucker Elementary has 11 portables, all of which are being used, and the school itself is at capacity. Gordon said “I need to lose some students. Santos and Asbury named Perry High STARS By STAGI&-VU - - TiMES-fOURNAL STAFF Houston County school officials announced the winners for the Student Teacher Achievement Recognition program Feb. 23 at the Houston County Board of Education office in Perry. The 1999 STAR Students and Teachers include student Frances Chen and teacher Sherin Hinnant from Houston County High School, student Melissa Dixon and teacher Lynn Campbell from Northside High School, student Melissa Santos and teacher Lynn Asbury from Perry High School, student Drew Hilton and teacher Mary Ann Gore from Warner Robins High School, and student Ron Marshall and teacher June Stubbs of Westfield Schools. Chen was the county winner of the competition with a perfect score of 1,600 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test. The program is designed to focus public attention on Georgias outstanding scholars and the teachers National High School Rodeo could come to Perry By ROB MEAD Times-lournai. Staff Board members of the National High School Rodeo Association have decided to include the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry as the prospective site to host the rodeo finals competition according to Michael Froehlich, director for the Georgia National Fairgrounds. The news was announced by Froehlich during the monthly Convention and Visitors Bureau meeting held at the Perry Supplemental budget includes $2.8 million for local projects By CHARLOTTE PERKINS Times-lournai. Staff The 1999 supplemental budget passed in the Georgia House and Senate ear- lier this week, with funds for the Georgia National Fairgrounds and the Museum of Aviation at Robins Air Force Base restored. The funds sl.B million for the purchase of land to expand the fairgrounds in Perry, and $1 million for the proposed addi tion to the aviation museum in Warner Robins were first approved by the House of Representatives, then cut by the Senate, and finally restored dur- ing the joint budget conference between the two chambers. Funding of $2.5 million for a permanent facility for Macon State College in Warner Robins was not restored after the Senate cuts, but Rep. Larry Walker, D-Perry, said March 2 that there are still some Welcomc Center Feb.2s. “We have been trying to gen erate interest with the NHSRA for some time now and have even sent Agriccnter staff members to visit members of the Association,” Froehlich said. “We finally got the word to the directors of the Association that we have what they are looking for, an exceptional location to hold an event such as the NHSRA finals,” Froehlich added. The finals event is a 10-day competition which usually attracts approximately 1,800 par WALKER I would hate to lose them, they are great kids. We are in every little space that we can get.” Kings Chapel Elementary School Principal Dave Crockett said “We could probably handle 75-100 more students." Kings Chapel has three portable classrooms on site, and one classroom that is being used for time-out. Many schools would experience a decrease in stu dents if Option D is accepted, although the decrease may not be a large one. Kings Chapel Elementary and Morningside Elementary would both lose 11 students each, while Perry Elementary would see an increase of 75 students, and Tucker Elementary would see an increase of 13 students. The most changes would involve students near the two new schools. Eagle Springs is located along U.S. 41, north of Watson Boulevard while Matt Arthur Elementary is at the intersection of Ga. 127 with Moody Road. The numbpr of students gained or lost includes a projected growth number by RDC for the 1999- 2000 school year. RDC has projected an increase of 78 students county-wide in the elementary schools. The Board of Education will hold a special parent meeting March 4. The meeting will take place at Perdue Elementary School at 7 p.m. Parents are invited to attend and voice their opinions. who have been most instrumental in their academic development. The STAR program has recognized more 17,000 high school seniors in the past 40 years, according to material from the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. To obtain the STAR designation, students must have the highest score on the Scholastic Assessment Test and be in the top 10 percent or top 10 students of their class. Each high school STAR student is asked to name their STAR teacher. Teachers and students are recognized each year at a STAR pro gam sponsored by the Perry Area Chamber of ommerce and the Warner Robins Chamber of Commerce. High school STAR students compete for system titles; and system STAR students in turn compete for district-wide honors in Georgia’s Council of Economic Development Organizations Districts. Winners and their STAR teachers are invited to Atlanta to compete for the state STAR awards. ticipants and their families. Participants in the event include residents from 38 states including Hawaii and four Canadian provinces. “This event is the largest High School Rodeo in the world and if we get it, the economic impact on Perry will rival that of the Family Motor Coach Association,” said Froehlich. When the competitors and families come to the event the families like to make a vacation of (See RODEO, Page 6A) options remaining. “Senator (Sonny) Perdue and Rep. (Pam) Bohannon and I are working on that,” Walker said, declining to give further details. Walker said that Houston County came out “mighty well” in the supplemental budget in compar ison with other counties, and added that he is pleased with the final budget. “I was disappointed in the Macon College situa tion,” Walker said, “but Houston County did extremely well." The hinds for the Georgia National Fairgrounds include enough for the land purchase, some improve ments and other related costs, Walker said, noting that the fiurgrounds had lost land to the construction of the new interchange on 1-75 and the purchase of the additional acreage needed to be made at this time. “I feel like if we don’t get it now, we’ll never get it,’ Walker said in regard to the land. The funds in the supplemental budget will become available as soon as the budget is signed by Gov. Roy A. Barnes.