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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 ——hi- this I >9/99 | fiaijne ;GIA NEWSPAPER PROJECT WHIS. sft. MAIN LIBRARY 3 .. .-v #-* A rj . .... i 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)