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Volume 128, No. 12 2 Sections, 14 Pages Wednesday, March 24,1999 50 Cents Home of the p Georgia I National Fair and Agricenter | At the Crossroads This Week Siren system will get test March 31 The City of Perry Fire Department will test the new tornado siren system March 31 at noon. The test will consist of six different sounds which will last a minute each. A test will then be heard monthly on the fourth Wednesday of the month, weather permitting. Library offers spring programs for kids The Perry Library will sponsor several programs for children during the spring break. Movies will be shown on April 6 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Craft programs will be held at 2 p.m. on April 7 for kinder garten through second graders, and at 2 p.m. on April 8 for third through fifth graders. Children must sign up in advance for the craft programs. Call the library, 987-3060, for more information. Andrew UMC leaders plan several activities Andrew United Methodist Church, 2430 Ga. 127, Kathleen, is offering a Lenten Bible study following its Wednesday night suppers on March 24 and March 31. According to Brenda Walker, a spokesperson for the church, dinner begins at 6:30 and Bible study at 7 p.m. The following topics will be dis cussed: March 24, The Garden, and March 31, the Resurrection. Both will be led by the Rev. Gene Bates. “If you’ve never been to our Wednesday night dinner, you don’t have to bring anything,’’ Walker said. “Come join us for fun, fellowship and Bible study, or come only for Bible study if you wish.” Andrew UMC will host an Easter egg hunt April 3 from 10 a.m. until noon in the pecan grove next to the church. All are invited. City has financial assistance available for home improvements Mayor James Worrall has announced the City of Perry has received grant funds from the Department of Community Affairs for Housing Rehabilitation/ Reconstruction. The Community Home Investment Program is designed to pay approximately 45-50 percent of the cost of repairs to house. CHIP assistance is only available to persons who own and live in their home within the city limits of Perry. The city recendy extended the target area of the current Community Development Block Grant to include anyone within the city limits of Perry. This program also pays 45- 50 percent of the cost of repairs. Owner occupied and rental properties located in Perry can be rehabilitated/ reconstructed through this pro gram. An average of f 7,577 is budgeted for each property owner. Property owners will not have to repay these funds, with certain restrictions. Local banks are committed to help ing families by providing pri vate loans to pay the remaining 50-55 percent of the cost of housing repairs, Worrall said. About three houses can e rehabilitated with available CHIP funds, and about 12 houses can be improved with CDBG funds. Persons interest ed in participating in either program can call tciry C ; *y Hall and speak with Brenda King at 988-2712 for details. Approved applicants will receive assistance on a first come, first served basis. 99/99/99 GEORGIA NEWSPAPER PF U. GA. NAIN LIBRARY ATHENS, GA 30602 Houston rues-Journal Fauconniere high bidder on new Post Office site By CHARLOTTE PERKINS Times-Iqurnai Staff The ongoing saga of the proposed new Perry post office took yet another turn on March 23, when the land orig inally planned as the site for the new facility was sold at auction. The high bidder was Ronald Fauconniere of Perry whose winning bid of 1270,000 culminated a brief but spirited auction at the site. The 4.21 acre lot, located at Have motorhome, unit travel FMCA members find a way to enjoy lively retirement By CHARLOTTE PERKINS The Family Motor Coach AssoTTafiorTTallv didn’t begin officially until March 23, but by that time Charlie Atkinson's motor coach had been in place at the Georgia National Fairgrounds more than 10 days. A former high school band director with a friendly grin who is currently the national presi dent of the FMCA, Atkinson showed up early along with an advance crew of dozens of others to lay out the fields for assignments of parking spaces for the motor coaches and to make sure that everything was in place for the big rally. Atkinson typifies the FMCA membership. An active retiree from Ohio, he enjoys traveling with his wife, Marcia. He attended the last FMCA rally in Perry and was in Ogden, Utah for die rally there. As for the Georgia National Fairgrounds, when asked how it measures up to other sites used for the nationwide rallies, he said immediately, “It’s the best." Don Everson, FMCA execu tive director, agreed. “There’s plenty of parking," he said, “and it’s flat.” Atkinson pointed out that they’ve ordered good weather. “The only thing we’re wor- ||j|l . jMf NEW QUEENS Members of the recently selected Dogwood Queen Court for 1999 indude (from left) Tiny Miss Dogwood Jenny Girard, Little Miss Dogwood Katie Claxton, What is the state of ? '.f'- &§& i 1 11 -y Official Legal Organ for Houston County, the City of Perry and the State of Georgia 1400 Macon Road, was offered for sale by Zion Bank of Salt Lake City. The auction was conducted by Rene Bates Auctioneers, Inc. of Texas and Rowell Auctioneers of Valdosta. Asked after the auction if he planned to build a post office on the site, Fauconniere said he would make no com ment. Mayor Jim Worrall, who was also present at the auction, said that he hoped a post office would be built on the site. ried about is the rain,” he said, “We don’t want nine inches of rain in one day like, we .had the last time we were here.” . - Meanwhile, in Heritage Hall, a group of energetic, senior citi zens, The Southeastern Chorale, were rehearsing for a musical program, and out on the grassy stretches surrounding the fairgrounds, members were already settling in, putting indoor-outdoor carpet down at their door steps, putting out their awnings, pulling out their “slide outs”, walking their dogs, rolling their bicycles and motor bikes, and getting reacquainted with old friends. Enjoying die sunshine on an Agricenter bench were Frank and Jewell Menge, a couple from Panama City who are on their second trip to Perry. He’s a shrimp boat captain and she’s a physical therapist. “We take about three trips a year,” she explained. “The fur thest we’ve been has been to British Columbia.” Motorhoming isn’t just a way to take a vacation. For many, it seems to be a whole lifestyle, involving not only a big financial investment, but also the estab lishment of fully-equipped homes on wheels. (See HOMES, Page 4A) Sri \ m I luusltm ( <tlllll\ Sum r|)« < | , School zoning change discussions continue By STACIE M. VU Times-Iqurnai Staff Members of the Houston County Board of Education are continuing their work with specialists at the Regional Development Center of Macon to come up with new and more practical school zones for the 1999-2000 school year. Board members met with local parents March 18 at Centerville Elementary School to discuss con cerns over the new proposed zones. Several parents and groups were present from Dove Cove, Rio Pinar, and Robins West Subdivisions. Parents were present to express con cern over moving their children to Eagle Springs Elementary from Quail Run Elementary. These groups opposed the change because entrances to their subdivisions face Smithville Church Road, the same street along which Quail Run is located. / A I him ■MM " |M y \ Special Photo Pre-Teen Miss Dogwood Erin Atcheson, Miss Dogwood, Dana Robinson, Miss Teen Dogwood Jenison Cooper, and Junior Miss Dogwood Marla Taylor. PantherJMfrnets in middle ofliseball ■aasons **'*>•* 1 Begins for Panthers, M key win •. 4 ,i.r-vo; •- t • Ppi ■» . .MWMi . • ■ “-Wl CHARLIE ADKINSON * Timet-Joumal Photos by Chariotte Perkin* GOV. JOE FRANK HARRIS BOULEVARD IS MOTOR HOME DISPLAY AREA Fairgrounds home to thousands of motor coaches this week To reach Eagle Springs, buses and parents would have to travel almost to in sight of Quail Run to reach access to Watson Boulevard, or go west to U.S. 41 and then north to Eagle Springs. In response to the tremendous out pouring of concern from parents, the Houston County Board of Education has met with the RDC to make new maps of the proposed zones with some changes added to them. Once the new maps are completed the Board of Education will hold a new meeting to discuss the impact and changes on the new and old zones. According to Beth Burris, Houston County Board of Education Community Schools Specialist, the Board is trying to decrease the overcrowding in the schools and they are also trying to minimize the use of portable classrooms. The Board is still expected to adopt the new zones at the April. Spring came in like a motor coach By STACIE M.VU TiMEs-JpuftW*-Staff Spring has arrived and with it approximately 5,000 motor coaches canie to Perry’. Members of the Family Motor Coach Association art holding their 24th annual winter inter national convention at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry’. The event has been dubbed the “Meet Us At The Crossroads of Georgia” conven tion, in honor of Perry, which is the “Crossroads of Georgia." Queens selected for 1999 Perry Dogwood festival From staff reports The 1999 Dopvood Queen court was crowned March 19-20 at Perry High School. The pageant was sponsored by the Perry High cheerleaders and attracted a large crowd. Dana Robinson was crowned Miss Dogwood. A senior a Houston County High School, she is the daughter of Wayne and Sherry Robinson of Warner Robins. Other winners in the Miss Dogwood Pageant were Gloria Corey, first runner-up; Heather Whiddon, second runner-up, and Wendy Martin, third runner-up. Jenison Cooper, an eighth trader at Warner Robins Middle chool was named Miss Teen Dogwood. She is the daughter of Joe and Gina Cooper of Warner p§ TBI Kroger Manager Scott Mosley has noticed an almost 40 percent increase in business since March 21. “We are glad that they are in town,” Mosley said. FMCA members have been purchasing items such as water, milk, bread, sugar, coffee, and snacks. Mosley said because of the nice weather this year, busi nesses are impacted even more so. During 1996, the first time FMCA decided to hold it’s con (See MEETING, Page 4A) Robins. Other winners in the Miss Teen Dogwood Pageant were Lindsey Diaz, first runner-up; Mary Anne Millendcr, second runner-up, and Shelly Scott, third runner-up. Erin Atcheson, a seventh trader at Feagin Mill Middle chool was named Pre-teen Miss Dogwood. She is the daughter of Daryl and Monica Atcheson. Other winners in the Pre-teen Miss Dogwood Pageant were Cassandra Shaffer, first runner up; Lindsey Chandler, second runner-up, Danielle Corcoran, third runner-up, and Bailey Pitzer, fourth runner-up. Marla Taylor, a fourth grader at Quail Run Elementary School (See DOGWOOD, Page 4A)