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Viewpoints
Our
Views
Why this plan?
It is our experience that most
businesses, faced with a short
age of workers, and knowing
production must increase within
about nine weeks, will advertise
and recruit employees to fill the
vacancies.
With that in mind, we must won
der why the Houston County Board
of Education, faced with a shortage
of 11 bus drivers to begin school
Aug. 13, is considering throwing in
the towel now and changing the
start time for schools to be able to
have school with the number of dri
vers currently employed.
The plan seems counter-produc
tive to studies made public recently
which indicate students do not
function well during the early
morning hours, and that they learn
more when school starts later
rather than earlier.
Some districts around the coun
try are studying changing the
hours for students to report in an
effort to make the learning experi
ence fall during the optimum time
of day.
The starting time for school in
Houston County has been tinkered
with before. If changes are made,
we wonder if parents might agree
that a later time might be just as
desirable as an earlier one, espe
cially for those students who ride
buses from such locations as Elko,
Henderson and Klondike. Even in
city communities, buses frequently
pick up young students before 7
a.m.
We urge the Houston County
Board of Education to seriously .... >.
consider finding i i more bus drb r "
vers and abandoning the thought of
starting any schools any earlier
than the present schedule.
A good send-off
In delightful ceremonies the past
two weekends, more than 200 stu
dents from southern Houston
County received diplomas and
headed across the threshold into
the adult world.
Both ceremonies were fitting
events to commemorate the
achievements of the class of 1999.
Those who distinguished them
selves offered their thoughts to
their classmates. Those who earned
their diplomas received the pieces
of paper which mean so much in
the adult world.
We appreciate the serious nature
of the ceremonies at both The
Westfield Schools and Perry High.
The persons responsible for plan
ning the programs reflected on
community values and included
items sure to make the services
memorable. Both schools have
excellent traditions established
which remind participants year
after year about the important
choices and decisions ahead.
Members of the class of 1999 at
both schools have left their mark in
both academic and extra-curricular
activities. Many of these class mem
bers have earned scholarships for
their reward. Some have set records
likely to stand for a long, long time.
Way to go, members of the class
of 1999. Good luck. Welcome to the
world of work, higher education
and, yes, greater responsibilities.
We wish you well.
Houston Homo Jouposl
P.O. Drawer M • 807 Carroll St. • Perry. Ga. 31069
email homejmfflhom.net
(912) 987-1823 (voice) • (912) 988-1181 (fax)
Bob Tribble President
JJ Johnson Editor and General Manager
Ellen T. Green Advertising Director
Phil Clark Sports
Joan Dorsett Lifestyles
Torey Jolley News and Classified
Alllne Kent Sports
Pauline Lewis lifestyles
Rob Mead News and Circulation
Charlotte Perkins News and Composition
Paula Zimmerman Bookkeeping
w
Finding a new source for Texas
I have to tell you I got a shock
last week. While coming into
the office last Thursday morn
ing, 1 thought I was seeing
things. I thought I was seeing
the Blue Belle ice cream girl to
be exact.
Now, you have to remember I
am originally from Wichita
Falls, Texas. Blue Belle ice
cream is the number one ice
cream in Texas (at least if you
are talking with Texans). 1,,
often, enjoyed a scoop or two of
the various flavors offered from
Blue Belle while growing up
and I still enjoy a scoop or two
when my family and I travel to
Texas to visit our families back
there.
However, Blue Belle isn’t (or 1
should say wasn’t) available in
Georgia and I have had to
“force" myself to find other tasty
The Peanut GauerY
Tf $ rj.
tHU I
11 F
Thoughts on help for Perry downtown
Last Thursday, the Chamber
of Commerce hosted a meeting
on the future of Downtown
Perry, and in the course of
brainstorming, some interest
ing ideas popped up. Some peo
ple think that the downtown
area needs smother restaurant.
Some think it needs a movie
theatre. Some would like to see
a trendy dress shop for women.
Tell you what I think.
I think it ought to be possible
to buy a cup of cappuccino in
downtown Perry. (Hey, you can
get it at Conoco!) I'd like to see
an art gallery the kind that
offers work by regional artists,
and even though I'm not likely
to buy one of those trendy
dresses, I can definitely see
that argument.
If people are coming out of
their way to buy upscale chil
dren’s fashions (which they def
initely are), then some of those
moms and grandmoms might
like to shop for themselves.
Also, how about some col
lectibles besides Beanie
Babies?
This all reminds me of a visit
I made with my kids and grand
kids to downtown Madison on a
Saturday afternoon last fall.
The town was bustling with
activity, and there were plenty
of young couples with children
rambling around, window
shopping, checking out
antiques and eating in the
downtown restaurants (none of
Our Policies
Unsigned editorials appearing In larger type on
this page under the label Our Views reflect the posi
tion of the Houston Home Journal. Signed columns
and letters on this page (and elsewhere In this news
paper) reflect the opinions of the writers and not nec
essarily those of this newspaper.
Signed letters to the editor are welcomed. Please
limit letters to 300 words and Include addresses and
a telephone number for verification purposes. Letters
are not published without verification. Letters
should be sent to P.O. Drawer M, Perry, Ga.. 31069
or brought to the newspaper office at 807 Carroll St..
Perry.
Our liability for an error will not exceed the coot
«td., JtaiM 9. 1900
Page 4A
Torey
Jolley
Home
Journal
StafT
ice cream treats. (It was hard
work, but, hey, someone had to
do it.)
But back to my story: I shook
my head and looked again. Yep!
It was the Blue Belle ice cream
girl minus her cow. However,
she was surrounded by men in
fancy suits and the Blue Belle
ice cream truck was really
parked in front of the Home
Journal office. I introduced
Charlotte
Perkins
Home
Journal Staff
them fast food).
McDonough is another city
that has a lively downtown. So
does Stone Mountain.
Obviously those towns are
pulling customers out of the
Atlanta area, but Perry could
probably draw a crowd from
Macon or Warner Robins in the
same way.
Maybe some field trips are in
order.
•••
Now, once more, let’s head
back in time, into the pages of
our old Houston Home Journal
volumes.
Forty years ago:
Four Perry Student leaders,
Pierce Staples, Riley Hunt,
Wilson Martin and Larry
Walker, were headed to Boys
State in Athens. In the mean
time school patrol boys, includ
ing Bill Malone, Travis
Edwards, Bobby Humphries,
David Kemp, Sonny Wilson,
Henry Colter, Larry Bailey,
Allen Brown and Joel Irby,
headed for a trip to Daytona,
of space occupied by the error.
We cannot be responsible for the return of pictures or
submitted materials unless a stamped, return address
envelope is Included
Our Goal
The Houston Home Journal Is published proudly
for the citizens of Houston and adjoining counties by
Houston Publications Inc., Perry. Ga. Our goal is to
produce quality, profitable, community-oriented
newspapers that you. our readers, are proud of. We
will reach this goal through hard work, teamwork,
loyalty and a strong dedication toward printing the
truth.
Member of Georgia Press Association and
National Newspaper Association.
v . m
i
Houston Home Jomal
ice cream in Perry
myself and exclaimed. “Hey,
you’re supposed to be in
Texas!"
They laughed and explained I
was not seeing things. They
were in town to drop off four half
gallons of vrrious ice creams for
the Home Journal office in order
to announce they are going to
expand into Georgia.
Now many of you will not
understand the importance of
that. However, regions have
their food specialties. I love
many tasty foods sweet tea
and Vldalia onions to name a
couple, from Georgia; however,
I often long for real Tex-Mex
food and Blue Belle ice cream.
My family knows that when
we get “home” to Wichita Falls,
we will be eating Tex-Mex near
ly every day and finishing the
meal off with Blue Belle ice
accompanied by Police Chief
J.B. Hawkins.
Edna Perdue received her 10-
year service pen at the Georgia
Power district meeting.
Houston Home Journal adver
tised a “Sumit” adding machine
for $18.95, and Gulf brand
tires were on sale for $11.95
each.
Mr. and Mrs. Avon Buice
moved into the Bubber Pierce
home on Duncan Street. He
had Just graduated from law
school at Mercer.
Mrs. Gardner Watson and
children. Draper and Martha
Lyn, and Ellyn Lassiter and
Mrs. Hubert Aultman and chil
dren Andy and Ann spent sev
eral days at Jekyll Island.
25 years ago.
Mark Mitchell of Perry gave
the valedictory address at the
Macon Junior College gradua
tion.
Foster Rhodes joined Gray
Walker Tractor Co.
Roobins of Cordele had a
special father’s day offer
plaid double knit polyester
pants for sl4-$25.
Rose Cook wrote in the “Book
Nook" that she was reading “Dr.
Atkins Diet Revolution." She
also reviewed “Cashelmara" by
Susan Howatch.
Larry Walker (the same one
who was heading to Boys State
in 1959) was named to the
Governor’s Commission on
Crime.
cream.
Our family in Texas often call
us to let us know they are
enjoying a bowl of Blue Belle. In
fact, that happened just the
evening before I saw the ice
cream girl here in Perry. That
conversation was why I
dreamed of it pralines and
cream ice cream all night. I
was thinking about that dream
when I came to work last
Thursday. Talk about surprise
upon seeing the ice cream girl!
And she was delivering ice
cream! (Miracles do occur!)
' I am not insisting people
avoid all other types of ice
cream. I am just thrilled to have
a “taste of home’ here in Perry.
Now, if Casa Manana could
expand here ... mm, their chili
topped with Vidalia onions and
a tall glass of Georgia sweet tea.
Bob
Tribble
Home Journal
President
What about
school vouchers?
The State of Florida is on the
cutting edge of putting into
effect the first statewide school
voucher plan that would give
tax money to students attend
ing poor public schools to use
to attend a private or parochial
school.
Florida’s plan would provide
at least $4,000 per year for
tuition for many of the state’s
two million public school stu
dents.
Those who oppose the plan
say that it would cripple public
education and violate the con
stitutional separation of
church and state. Proponents
say it would give public schools
and incentive to improve, and
those students stuck in bad
schools an opportunity to
improve their education at
another school of their choice.
They say the vouchers will not
cost taxpayers anything extra
because the money will be
taken from the public schools.
Jeanne Allen, president of
the Center of Education
Reform based in Washington,
says the voucher plan will be
great for the kids. “You have,
first and foremost, a law that
puts public schools on notice
that they have to ’fish or cut
bait', and you have a bill that
helps children that are the
most in need."
Two states, Maine and
Vermont, have voucher pro
grams to assist students in
rural areas where there is no
public school nearby.
Milwaukee and Cleveland have
citywide voucher plans. Severed
other states have considered
vouchers, going all the way
back to the days when Lyndon
Johnson was president.
Under the plan. Florida
would begin a testing program
for students in grades three
through 10 and the results
would be used to grade the
schools.
Estimates are that as many
as 169 of the state’s 3,000 pub
lic schools could receive a fail
ing grade under the new stan
dards. The voucher program
would be available to students
at public schools that get a fail
ing grade.
In addition to the vouchers,
expanded student testing and
grading of the schools, the new
See TRIBBLE, page SA
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