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'vuiimic izb, WptW 2 Sections 18 Pages Wednesday, June 9, 1999 50 Cents k Home of the A Georgia National Pair I and AgriceeT The Crass* roads This Week /PP^ Campers and cows at Georgia Agricenter Members of Campers on a Mission continue their rally at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter through June 10. About 1,000 persons are visiting the center for this event. An estimated 1,000 visitors per day are expected for the Georgia High School Rodeo Association finals, to be held at the Agricenter June 11-13. Also taking place at the Agricenter this weekend is the June 12 4-H and FFA Livestock Judging contest. Bake sale set Meals on Wheels will have a bake sale on June 26, at the Perry Big Kmart. All bake sale items will be homemade and proceeds will pro vide services for the elderly. Donations will be accepted. Contact June Vogt at 987-2172. Rec Department to receive grant from state House Majority Leader Larry Walker, D- Perry, has announced an SB,OOO grant from the Governor’s Discre tionary Fund for recre ational programs in Perry. Walker aid the use of the funds would be determined by the recreation department and the Perry City Council. It was also announced this week that Walker has been named to the Georgia Tobacco Community Development Board, a committee which will make recommendations on the allocation of the multi-million dollar financial settlement reached between Geor gia and the major tobac co companies. Woman arrested in stabbing incident A 22-year-old Perry woman was arrested on June 4 following the stabbing of a younger woman in an incident on John Kirkley Street, police said. LaTonya Katrina Smith was charged with aggravated assault after allegedly stabbing 18- year-old Ayanna Harris in the arm with a knife. Harris, who has taken to the Perry Hospital emergency room, had seven stitches in her arm and was released, said Lt. Heath Dykes. (See FOOD, Page SA) Contact [ "the i J " 1 Home • I nOUSuXI Journal || 1 Contact the Houston Home Jour nal: Voice 987-1823 Fax (912) yo 3 !!?! email homejrn@hom.net Mail P.O. Drawer M, Perry, 31069 Street 807 Carroll St., Perry, 31069 1 lllglll 111 I 4*]^* JNIVERSITY Of 6A LIBRARIES 4TTN: 801 HENNEBERGER 9&2HH ATHENS, GA 30602 i : Houston Home Journal i Official Legal Organ for Houston County, the City of Perry and the State of Georgia Drought causes fire hazard, demand on water From Staff Reports With the extended drought, citi zens are being urged to be cautipus with charcoal fires and any machinery which could throw a spark and ignite dry grass or leaves. Meanwhile, Houston Coun ty water customers are being asked to restrict their evening water use voluntarily. “The fire danger is extremely high, despite a few showers in recent days,“ said Houston County Chief Ranger Ken Hanson. “We re not issuing any permits." Hanson said “quite a bit of the Police enter two homes seeking drugs By CHARLOTTE PERKINS Perry police executed two search warrants for drugs last week, with one arrest made and two suspects on the run. On June 3, police entered the home of John Thomas Evans, -- 51, where they found approximately 28 grams of crack cocaine. Evans was arrested and charged with sale of cocaine and with posses sion of cocaine with intent to distribute. Police also seized a num ber of items in the house, including a television set, stereo and some new, still packaged merchandise. According to Det. Lt. Heath Dykes, the depart ment will begin condemna tion procedures on these items, under a law which provides for the seizure of property along with drug related convictions. On June 4, police entered the home of Nicholas Felder, 20, and Shayla Fann, 22, at 707 Star St. Two pounds of marijuana were found in gallon plastic sandwich bags, and several items were seized for condemna tion. Felder and Fann were not in the house and are presumed to be “on the run,” Dykes said. He added that Nicholas Felder was arrested about two months ago on a traffic stop, and found to be in possession of two pounds of marijuana. He was out on bond. The U.S. Marshall’s fugi tive squad is searching for Felder and Fann. Irvin expresses fear about long drought By CHARLOTTE PERKINS Home Jotohai Staff Tommy Irvin, Commis sioner of the Georgia Department of Agriculture, recently visited Perry and was guest speaker at a meeting of the Houston County Democratic Party held at the Ag Extension building on Carroll Street. Irvin told the gathered Democrats that he had spent part of his day in Houston County looking over drought-damaged Thi. Old Stftliahl*. S*rvi«* HnnKtan Caanty Sines Dftfc. I district’s equipment is in south Georgia because of the wildfire in the Pinhook swamp that has moved into the Okefenokee Swamp, burn ing 58,000 acres.” According to a report from the Georgia Forestry Commission, there were more than 780 wildfires in Georgia during the month of May, with 38 fires reported on Memorial Day alone. The fire season is continuing beyond its normal time period, according to Lynn Walton, a spokesperson for the GFC, who said, “Fire season is usually con I , . ..: : : : I w ~ ‘m, ’* . P-* *■ ■jraW Wmfk JL. Air jyglFiffl WOW, IS THAT REALLY FOR ME? Tuck er Elementary School first graders cele brate Sports Day with a hot dog cookout y - •■vP^Sj»»&jssy jBmH ? y/ % \s^~ ..,** v fISM fields. “It makes tears come to your eyes," he said, “but even if the crops were to turn out good, you could not project a profitable year." He criticized current farm programs, saying that they did not offer “freedom to farm,” but “freedom to fail." Irvin also spoke briefly on the plight of Georgia’s See FARM. Page 5A *Wg ' ; :X'V4i' , ' / ' '}-&S*?ffiA\vi : ' W&W'ki. & W&f mm Imm l 1 lWaka M Jam > ■ [ bKj jffp- !♦//•,> * a a Diploma time Perry High seniors get diplomas at Agricenter ceremony see page 8; sidered to be from winter through spring when dormant vegetation, combined with low humidity and high winds, make the potential for wildfires high. “These conditions have usually subsided by this time of year, but as the summer approaches, fire activities in Georgia have increased due to a worsening drought situa tion." Walton said. The prolonged dry period is also creating a high demand on Hous ton County's water supply during critical periods of the day, resulting in low water pressure in many Home Journal Photos by Alline Kent at the school campus. Sports day exposed students to different kinds of sports. See story, page 7A. [Bible school time Perry Presbyteriari^^^a Church *r**%SBM MMU i hosts large school this liijgyl week mS | Photos, a mbit " areas served by the county. The County Commission is ask ing water customers to voluntarily restrict their use of water in the evening hours, between 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., until rain occurs. According to Sherrill Stafford, Chairman of the Cot*nty Commis sion, “A continued lack of rain will cause a mandatory restriction if the volunteer restriction does not ade quately relieve the problem." Stafford said Houston County is in the process of erecting two new stor age tanks, which wilt provide relief when completed and in operation. WATER DAY While some Tucker stu dents tasted hot dogs, oth ers got to splash in a cool pool. Stu dents Stephanie Bozeman (left) and Madolyn Bryant cool their heels while taking a break from Mrs. Thom spon’s Pre-K4 water day. PARTY GATHERING Agriculture Com missioner Tommy Irvin, third from left, ■ recently spoke to the Houston County Demo jerotic Party.. Shown with Irvin are (from left) Bill Pelham, regional party chairman; Rita j Simon, first vice president of the Houston County Democratic Peaty, and Michael Dink ins, Chairman of the Bth Congressional Dis trict Democratic Party. School Board looks at new morning school start times By Torey Jolley ■ Members of the Houston County delayed changes In school start times but did increase the price of school lunches during their June 8 meeting. Discussion of new school morning start schedules has some members unhap py- During the board meet ing, Houston G. Porter, Houston County Board of Education transportation director, told board mem bers that due to the system being short 11 bus drivers, the school board needs to change the starting times for the schools. Porter recommended the board start both the middle schools and the high schools at 7:30a.m. and to “tier the 14 elementary schools into two groups." Half of the elementaries would begin school at 8:15a.m. and the other half would begin at 8:45a.m.. based on Porter’s recom mendation. He explained this would cut the need for additional buses and additional dri vers. Porter said the need for 63 buses would be cut to “about 45” and that the school system was already having trouble keeping or recruiting drivers. Shirley S. Lowery, vice chairman of the school board, objected to Porter's See SCHOOLS, Page 5A