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Volume 128, No. 21 2 Sections 14 Pages Wednesday, July 7, 1999 50 Cents |k Hone of Um dfe Georgia National Fair I The Crassraa Thl S JvSBC Week 4-Hers coming to Perry Some 300 Georgia 4- Hers will come to Perry July 15 for a farm safety camp. The vent will be held at the Georgia National Fairgrounds. That same day, the NBHA/Ga Barrel Race Championships will open at the Fair grounds. VBS on the web Want to see more pic tures of the Perry United Methodist Church Bible school with the them of Marketplace 29? Perry native Terre Walker has posted sev eral pictures of the VBS to her web pages about Perryans. To see the pictures go to http://members . aol .com / dixieten / perry / vbs.html Want to see more about Perry people? Try this address, http:// members.aol.com/dixi eten/perry.html New book about Houston County Local author and compiler William A. Mills has produced a new book which may be very useful to persons studying family history. The book, Houston County, Georgia, Administrators and Guardians Bond Abstracts, 1871-1900 was funded through a grant from the R.J. Tay lor Jr. Foundation of Atlanta. “Since Administrators and Guardians Bonds are two of the most important types of court records available for genealogical research, they have both been included in this book. These records sometimes include infor mation that is available nowhere else," Mills said in a release to the Home Journal. The book will be placed in the Perry Pub lic Library, the Houston County Probate Court record room and at the Genealogy Department of the Washington Memorial Library in Macon. Mills is also working on other books of inter est including Eyewitness Accounts of Houston County, Georgia, 1821- 1871. He said this book would include eyewit ness accounts of live as it was in the county at that time. Topics will include the houses and roads of the time, and Houston Academy. For more information, contact Mills at wmamills@juno.com Hnm Contact the Home Journal Contact the Houston Home Jour nal: Voice (9! D 987-1823 Fax (912)Voo ! 1 ° 1 email. homejrnohom.net Mail P.O. Drawer M, Perry, 31069 Street 807 Carroll St., Perry. 31069 ■ . •. ■ ■ 1 The Old Reliable, Scrying Cointtiy Slfice Dec. l 7. IS7P ' I Last of the series... ICommunitv < r.Q/99/99 GEORGIA NEWSPAPER PRUJE u. GA. MAIN LIBRARY ATHENS, GA 36E0E I See page 4A\ Houston Home Journal Official Legal Organ for Houston County, the City of Perry and the State of Georgia Commissioners OK $51.6 million financial package By CHARLOTTE PERKINS Home Joumai Staff Houston County employ ees will get a small cost of living raise thanks to a new $51.6 million budget approved by the Houston County Commission July 6. County property owners will not find out how the budget affects them until September. That is when the county tax digest will be approved, J. Sherrill Stafford, Commission Chairman, said. The millage rate will be Pets, horses threatened by hot days By CHARLOTTE PERKINS Houston Home Journal With the temperature soaring into the 90s, pet owners need to be aware animals can suffer and even die from if their owners fail to make humane provisions for them. Heat stroke in animals, as in people, can come on quickly and result in severe organ damage leading to death. According to Perry veteri narian Dr. Brian Burnham, certain breeds of dogs particularly the short nosed breeds such as bull dogs, terriers and Shih Tzus are especially sus ceptible to overheating, because they do not have the ability to regulate their body heat as well as other breeds. Burnham also cautions dog owners who have recently moved to the South from cooler parts of the country that their dogs will need some time to get acclimated to the hot Geor gia summer days. All dogs, Burnham said, need “shade and lots and lots of fresh water" if they are kept outside. He strongly advises families not leave their dogs unatt ended when they are leav ing town for trips of a day or two or more, unless the dogs will cared for by very responsible people. Water should be in a heavy bowl that cannot be turned over accidentally. Dogs should never be left in parked cars for any length of time. Burnham says. A car parked in the sun can reach temperatures as high as 160 degrees in a matter of minutes, causing fatal heat stroke, according to P.E.T.A., an organization promoting humane treat ment of all animals. P.E.T.A. also recom mends providing inexpen sive “kiddie" wading pools for dogs kept outside. Burnham recommends using common sense in regard to exercise for dogs during the heat of the day, even with active dogs used to exertion. Those sentiments are echoed by Dr. Jim Brett of 8m HEAT, page 5A * Hi :ct -II set after the tax digest is received. At that time, the county’s tax cap formula is used to establish maximum millage rates. The financial plan includes a two percent cost of-living increase for all county merit employees, elected officials, superior court judges, the juvenile court judge and the magis trate judge. Some $30.4 million of the fiscal year 2000 is for the general fund budget, and sll.l million is for the jail Oil, tile: t.istc o( iee cream on a hot clav! L JHr / , v -* v t ■' ./■ ' A jfe IBr 4 m , v,' \ A • J?* iitlfw x w , J if ' gSt-s-'-if.- -AS? JB f > 4iltBE tUT fir m?* , ,4 „ “ ft. .# .JPS . W,. : • % - • BBH; „ .... ~1 —— ..a885,.,, COOL CONTEST These youths dive into ice cream during an eating contest at the Big Bang Boom July 3. The event provided several contests as well as a major fireworks show after dark. The Potter now interim city clerk He will serve in that duty until a new city manager is named By Torey Jolley “It is an honor to pitch in to help," said Police Chief George Potter about his appointment as interim city clerk. Potter began his new duties June 25. Potter’s appointment fol lowed the resignation of Skip Nalley, city manager. Nalley left the Perry city managers position to take on the job of county manag er for Upson County. Potter’s new duties will focus on personnel and administrative issues. “Perry is blessed with great employees. The department heads are very capable. They really care," said Potter, adding that makes his Job much easier. Potter held a staff meet ing June 28 with the department heads. The goai of the meeting was to see what is needed in each department and what he could do to help. Potter said his 20-plus Tennis camp draws many Event at Rozar Park earns with tournament for youths Get results, page 6A and courthouse fund. Also included is almost $3 million for the water fund budget; $2.4 million for the landfill fund budget; $546,740 for the Communi ty Development Block Grant (CDBG) budget; $l.B million for the E-911 fund budget, and $2.3 million for the internal service fund. In other business, the Commissioners: V Approved a contract with Turner Construction Co. of Atlanta. The company will serve years in leadership and management roles have honed his skills. He said he is happy to be the Police Chief and, though not cam paigning for the city man ager’s position, he would not mind taking the posi tion on permanently. “We have a great police department. We have come a long way. The crime rate is pretty low. I have an excellent staff. They consult me about major issues but are competent enough to do their own work," said Pot ter. Potter said the police department has made sev eral changes in the recent years. The department has updated its computer department and require ments for officers include a two-year college degree. “Its paid off. This year we have cut burglaries 10 per cent and robberies by 50 percent. All of our reports are handled by computers. This saves our officers time as construction manager of the courthouse and jail building projects. V Voted not to abandon the Henderson Springs Road as requested by ABS farms. Attorney Tom Hall recommended the Commis sioners not approved clos ing the road to through traffic because of its loca tion as a connecting road between Ga. 26 and County Line Road. Commissioner Tom McMichael said a cemetery is located along road and is Home Journal photo by Torey Jolley show attracted an estimated 35,000 to the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter. See additional pictures, story, page 18. writing reports; now they can be out patrolling more." said Potter. According to Potter, the credit all goes to the officers and his staff. “Without their efforts, 1 would be unable to perform the interim city clerk duties," said Potter. During his short time as interim city clerk. Potter has taken persons fined community service work in the municipal court and put them to work. “I’ve sent community ser vice workers to the Recre ation Department. They are cleaning out the lake. We now have some painting the city's buildings, picking up litter. This saves taxpayers money. I am a firm believer in community service work ers. We can use their tal ents and skills to help the city," explained Potter. As for how long Potter will remain in the interim position, “I haven’t the fog giest." 71 . Big | Bang ( Boom I The event In pictures See page IB| still in active us V Heard a report on the construction of the new Georgia State Patrol head quarters off Larry Walker Parkway in Perry. V Discussed steps to be taken in case power out ages jeopardize the health and welfare of citizens. Stafford reported that a cit izen had called him to seek help because of an elderly relative who had no power and was suffering from the See COUNTY, Page 5A Martin compares hiking to developing community By JOAN DORSETT VsMJsaaeaLittEL Tim Martin, fresh from a hike along the Appalachian Trail, shared thoughts about reaching goals with members of the Perry Kiwa nis Club July 6. Martin, the executive director of the Houston County Development Authority, spent time on the trail with his son, Stephen, a recent graduate of Houston County High School. Martin told the Kiwani ans he was able to apply things he learned while hiking to things necessary to developing a successful community. Among Martin’s ideas were: V Set big goals. V Have a tactical plan V Hike your own hike, focus on what is best for you. V Falls definitely are not failures. Get up and keep moving. V It is important to hike a few miles each day. Do the same thing the next day. V Rain will fall during a 300-mile hike. Be flexible when plans don’t work. V Give care to feet. Keep socks and boots dry. V Boulders don’t trip hik ers. little rocks do. \ Eighty percent of the time it is not perfect when you are camping. Commu nity development is the same way. Martin, introduced by Kiwanian Dick Kistler, said community development follows the same type of rules. His thoughts on community included: V Value the work and effort by those who preced-. ed you. V We have met the enemy and the enemy is us. Com munities get what they deserve. V Don’t be surprised if you aren’t pleased with the results. The long run differ ence matters, not the immediate cheers. Martin said he thought about those lessons while hiking the trail earlier this summer. See MARTIN, Page 5A