Newspaper Page Text
At the
Crossroads
This Week
Magistrate Court to be
dedicated Friday
The new Houston County
Magistrate Court, located at
the Houston County Central
complex at the intersection of
Ga. 96 and Houston Lake
Road, will be dedicated
March 19 at 2 p.m.
According to Houston
County District Attorney
Kelly Burke, the building will
be named in honor of long
time Magistrate Judge NickJ.
Lazaros.
Lazaros was the first chief
magistrate judge in Houston
County, and has served in this
position since 1970. He was
instrumental in getting
mandatory training estab
lished for magistrate judges in
Georgia, Burke said.
That evening, at 7 p.m., a
reception will be held for
Lazaros at the Wellston
Center, 155 Maple St., in
Warner Robins.
Wild game dinner on
agenda March 18
The annual Rehoboth
Baptist Association wild game
dinner will be held March 18
at the Georgia National
Fairgrounds and Agricenter.
Admission for the event is $5.
No covered dishes will be
accepted for the menu this
year. For reservations, call
987-0005.
Other activities at the
Fairgrounds this week include
the Peanut Circuit Quaker
Horse Show March 19-21,
and the Family Motor Coach
Association winter rally and
convention March 23-25.
Health inspectors check
local restaurants
Here are results of recent
inspections by the Houston
County Environmental
Health Department.
In cases where discrepan
cies are found, restaurants are
required to address the prob
lems immediately.
Burger King, 2010 Watson
Bivd., Warner Robins, 78,
Eroblems with employee
ygiene matters and storage
of cleaning products.
Captain D’s, 513 N. Davis
Drive, Warner Robins, 77,
problems with temperature
control of foods.
Coffees of the World,
Galleria Mall, Centerville,
100.
Cove Lounge, 937 Corder
Road, Warner Robins, 98.
Creekside Catering, R-l,
Fort Valley, 98.
Dominos Pizza, 102-H N.
Houston Lake Blvd.,
Centerville, 97.
Galleria Cinemas, 2960
Watson Blvd., Centerville, 98.
Gold Cup Bowling Center,
1041 Russell Parkway, Warner
Robins, 80, problems with
storage of cleaning supplies.
Golden Cafe, 736 Carroll
St., Perry, 93.
Huddle House, 213 Russell
Parkway, Warner Robins, 92.
Judee’s Coffee Shop, 270
Ga. 26, Elko, 99.
Kmart Eatery, 1355 Sam
Nunn Blvd., Perry, 91, prob
(See FOOD, Page SA)
Contact
the Times- Houston 1
Journal
Contact the Houston Times-
Journal:
Voice (912) 987-1823
Fax (912)988-1181
email timesj. '’’'’’'■•m.net
Mail P.O. Drawer M,
Perry, 31069
Street 807 Carroll St,
Perry, 31069
Meet an early set of twins
walker children were among ,
first twins bom In Perry during i
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Houston Times-Journal
i
Tucker parents
express concerns
at school zone
hearings
By STACIE M. VU
TiMES-lOURNAL STAFF
The Houston County Board
of Education held the second of
three parent meetings regarding
rezoning issues March 11 at the
Perry Board of Education Office.
Paints trom across Houston
County were present to address
the Board with issues about
rezoning for the 1999-2000
school year.
Billy Jerles, attorney for the
School Board, said “The goal of
the Board is to try to maximize
the population of each school
while staying within the Federal
guidelines.” The guidelines state
that no school can be racially
identifiable.
Several parents from Tucker
Elementary School in Perry had
concerns about overcrowding.
Tucker now has 11 portable
classrooms on campus. Kings
Chapel Elementary and
Momingside Elementary School
both have three portables, and
Perry Elementary School has
none.
Mike Grolicr, a concerned
parent “Two years
ago parents at Tucker were reas
sured by the School Board and
previous superintendent that
relief would come when the new
schools were completed.”
Grolier presented the Board
with graphs indicating what per
centage of students are being
served free or reduced lunches at
each school in the county, in
Houston County, and in Georgia.
Tucker now serves 61.9 per
cent of its student population free
or reduced lunches.
“Currently, Tucker is providing
free or reduced lunches at a rate
41 percent higher than the rest of
Houston County, and at a rate of
75 percent higher than Perdue
Elementary” said Grolier.
“I see no clear course of action,
rather a haphazard approach to
rezoning regardless of facts rele
vant to educational needs at our
school,” Grolier said.
“Our concern is not a racial
issue. Our main goal is to have
the Board look at balancing our
schools,” he added.
Also present was Larry Walker
(See SCHOOLS, Page SA)
Dogwood contestants prepare for annual pageant March 19-20
.
. ■.. : i i ■. .. ■ .. . ' ■■■ ..-V: ■
ALL SMILES - Nancy Whiddon, who has
organized the Dogwood Pageants for the last
four years, is shown here with some of the
Official Legal Organ for Houston County, the City of Perry and the State of Georgia
mmm — * v
THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS - Three years
ago, members of the Family Motor Coach
Association set up camp along the banks of the
They're bach!
FMCA members pouring into Perry for winter convention March 22-25
By STACIE M.VU
Times-lournal Staff
Citizens of Perry can rest a little easier this week.
The Family Motor Coach Association 24th annual
winter international convention is coming to Perry,
But-most of the motor coaches will not come into
town until they reach the Georgia Agricenter.
According to Sgt. David Brack of the Georgia
State Patrol, the majority of the motor coaches will
exit on Exit 43A and travel cast along Perry Parkway.
When they reach U.S. 341 they will turn toward
Hayneville and then onto Larry Walker Parkway.
They will enter into the Fairgrounds from Larry
Walker Parkway.
Some coaches will leave 1-75 at Exit 42 near the
Fairgrounds, but officers will be there to help direct
traffic so that accidents will be avoided.
More than 7,000 motor coaches are expected to
gather at the Fairgrounds March 23-25. This will be
the second time Perry has hosted the annual celebra
tion of motor coach home owners. In 1996 a total of
Experience a luxury motor coach during daily FMCA exhibits
From Staff Reports
While most of the events and
meetings during the Family
Motor Coach Association rally
will be strictly for association
members, there are also opportu
nities for visitors to enjoy the
exhibits and learn more about
motor coaches.
Hundreds of motor homes and
a variety of accessory merchandise
will be on display during the
FMCA rally, and will be open to
the public on March 22-24 and
25. Nearly 100 motor home man
ufacturers and dealers from the
United States and Canada will
display the latest luxuries and
innovations in motor coaches,
with prices in coaches ranging
from $35,000 to SBOO,OOO.
Viewing hours for the exhibits
will be from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
on Tuesday and Wednesday and
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday.
The daily fee is $5 per person,
with children under 12 admitted
free.
Timc*-Joum»l Photo by Charlotte Perkin*
youngest contestants for this year - Rae Evans,
Samantha Middlebrooks, Megan Cazra and
Melissa Middlebrooks.
Spring Sports
The busiest time of
b year arrives at local
w schools. Check out cf
the results. *
See page 4B
Special Photo
lake at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and
Agricenter. The convention begins March 23.
6,632 coaches gathered at the Fairgrounds.
Family Motor Coaching officials urge local resi
dents to avoid the area surrounding the Georgia
National Fairgrounds between the hours of 7:00 a.m.
and 5:00 p.m. on March 19-22. This will be the peak
arrival time for the coaches.
Perryans are also urged to avoid the area March
26 from 6 a.m.-l p.m. because the event will be over
and the motor coaches will be making their way back
to their homes.
Many motor coaches' are already in the communi
ty and are staying in a variety of locations in Houston
County before entering the Fairgrounds this week
end. Some of these visitors are participating in pre
rally gatherings for persons of particular brands or
geographic background.
The 1996 total of 6,632 coaches was, at that time,
the largest gathering of motor coaches in one loca
tion ever. FMCA officials believe attendance for the
1999 event will exceed that total.
On March 22 from 3:30 to
7:30 p.m., a special viewing of the
motor home exhibits for visitors
and guests will take place.
In addition, those who want to
learn more about the motor home
lifestyle may attend a seminar,
“Motor homing: What’s It All
About?” starting at 6:15 p.m. on
March 23 in the Heritage Hall.
Public parking for displays will
be at the north entrance to the
Georgia National Fairgrounds.
By CHARLOTTE PERKINS
Houston Times-lournal
Excitement filled the Perry
High School cafeteria March 14
as the contestants for the 1999
Miss Dogwood Pageant arrived
at a special tea party held in their
honor.
The event, complete with
refreshments and a behind-the
scenes sale of almost new pageant
dresses, gave .little girls, big girls
and their moms a chance to meet
each other and learn more about
plans for the pageant - which will
take place on two evenings -
March 19 and March 20, at the
high school auditorium.
On March 19, the pageant will
be for the Miss Pre-Teen, Miss
Teen and Miss Dogwood divi
sions. On the 20th the younger
S'rls will compete for in the Tiny
[iss, Little Miss and Junior Miss
Divisions.
Both pageants will begin at
7:30 p.m., and are sponsored as a
fund-raiser for the Perry High
cheerleaders.
Perryans prepare
for new city of
20,000
By CHARLOTTE PERKINS
Times-lournal Staff
How docs a community the
size of Perry get ready for 20,000
visitors? Ask Jenny Andrew of
the Perry Area Convention and
Visitors Bureau and she’ll tell you
that it’s taken a full year.
Andrew, along with other
workers at the CVB and the
Perry Area Chamber of
Commerce, is in a whirlwind of
activity this week, with pre-rallies
already going on and the big
nationwide rally to begin on
March 23. It’s all the culmination
of a great deal of planning and
coordination.
The CVB has been getting the
word out to area businesses for
weeks, distributing “Welcome
FMCA” signs and ‘Welcome to
Perry” buttons.
“We’ve also notified the
churches and civic clubs about
the rally,” Andrew says, noting
that Kiwanians and Rotarians are
likely to be attending the rally.
A “locator” guide to local busi
nesses and services has been pre
pared by the Houston Times-
Joumal, and Andrew says that
merchants in Perry arc much
more aware of the impact of the
rally than they were before the
last national FMCA rally three
years ago. The economic impact
of the rally on Perry and the
whole state is expected to be in
the millions.
According to Andrew, “When
they had the last one here, the
economic impact on Georgia was
estimated at Jl6 million. This
time the estimate is S2O million.”
FMCA members won’t just be
encouraged to shop in Perity.
According to Andrew, the CVB
is going to take them where the
shops are.
vVe’re going to provide a free
shuttle from the Agricenter to
the downtown and the other
shopping areas,” she said. “It will
run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on
Wednesday and Thursday.”
The CVB is also working with
local agencies to make sure
there’s enough room for the
7,000 motor homes that are
heading toward Perry. One possi
bility, if there’s a space shortage,
(See COACHES, Page SA)
April Fcndlcy, 1998 Miss
Dogwood, greeted the newcom
ers at the Sunday afternoon tea,
and will be at the pageant to
crown her successor.
Fcndlcy, who is now in her
freshman year at Emory at
Oxford, said at the tea that she’s
had an exciting and busy reign as
Miss Dogwood.
“We had so much to do, with
so many new businesses - all the
ribbon cuttings and the city
events,” she said, “and the
parades. I love the parades.”
She and others at the tea
agreed that participation in
pageants has helped them devel
op confidence and poise.
Misty Wicks, a Northside
High School Senior, who is a
contestant in this year’s Miss
Dogwood Pageant, said that she
has entered pageants since she
was nine years old. A dancer,
Wicks said, “I’ve gained confi
dence from being on stage.”
(See DOGWOOD, Page 6A)