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Safety issues plague Panther Pit press box safety By Tomey Joluey HOMK JOMMIAI. STAFF The first game of the season is two days away at Perry High School. Concerns about the safety of the the press box at the Panther Pit continue. According to Beth Burris. Houston County Director of Com munity and School Affairs. “We are aware of the concern with the press box. We are doing every thing we can to address these concerns." Taxes The effect on the millage rates of either the county or the city is likely to be minimal. According to Commission Chairman Sherrill Stafford, the setting of the millage rate for FY1999-2000 still depends on the tax digest, which establishes on a year ly basis how much property there is to be taxed. Growth in the county could very well mean that no increase in millage will be necessary. However. Stafford said that even it the county were to have to increase the millage to cover the new costs, the amount would be minor. “If you had a SIOO,OOO house," Stafford said. “You might have to pay $6.45 more per year." The Warner Robins City Council had asked at one point that the county also provide full supplemental funding for the E 911 ser vice, but dropped that demand in order to reach a compromise. 2. The City of Warner Robins will pay for a study of the county budget, to be conducted by the Carl Vin son Institute of Govern ment. The purpose of this study will be “to determine the precise functions (and the respective amounts) of jibe* »cou ntytifaudgct which Tor the bene fit of the unincorporated area of the county." The over all goal of the study, which has been a major arguing point for Warner Robins Mayor Don ald Walker, is to determine if there arc any areas double taxation or inequity which need to be corrected in fair ness to city taxpayers. Under the terms of the agreement, the four (city and county) governing bod ies will convene to address implementation of any findings or recommenda tions once the study is Rec Department offers karate lessons Lessons in Okinawan Karate will be offered on Tuesday and Friday evenings at the City of Perry Recreation Depart ment at Rozar Park. The training is for youth from age six to adults. The classes will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The cost is S4O per month. For more information, please call 988-2860. Hear Rev. Randy Reese Tharpe Memorial Baptist Church 2758 U.S. 41 No. 1/2 mile north of Hwy. 96 7:30 p.m. nightly Sun., Aug. 29 - Fri., Sept. 3 “.vZc OZut/H'/i (off A a new foeyinniny one/ a t/lriyAf f/onton/'oio ” Serving Our Lord since 1913 B. Condred Pirkle, pastor Dave McMahan, Director of Maintenance, said to replace the press box, which is the best situ ation, would cost $70,000. "There are no funds in the current bud get to replace it." General maintenance on the press box began Aug. 24 with changing out the light bulbs. McMahan said, “Maintenance will make the press box as safe as possible. Regular maintenance will be done as needed." Burris noted the press box replacement was place on the completed. In the last stage of nego tiations, the Warner Robins City Council dropped its The way it will be shared Under the terms of the compromise agreement hammered out during the H 8489 discussions, After this year, The Houston County Government will pay half the local cost of the Library system this year. The County will pay the full cost of both the library system and the Development Authority thereafter. The costs given below are full-cost figures. Budgeted amounts change from year to year. Total additional county cost $191,980 Savings to Perry $38,963 Savings to Centerville $13,187 Savings to Warner Robins , $139,830 BARROW ♦ OFFICE HOURS: Monday 8:30 - 5:30 Thursday 8:30 - 5:30 Tuesday 8:30 • 5:30 Friday 8:30 - 5:30 Wednesday 8:30- 12:30 Saturday 8:30-12:30 203 S. Dooly St. Montezuma, GA Office Number: Toll-free number: ‘ - 472-7072 1-800-782-4209 GETTING BETTER MILEAGE FROM YOUR CAR THAN YOUR CUT-RATE CAR INSURANCE? 9HB Tommy Storey ■ Don’t trust just anyone to insure your ear. see me Agent Name. Agent 100 Washington St. 987-1224 Like a good neighbor, State harm is there ® Stott Form Mutual Automobile Inturantt Company Inal in NJ) Stott Farm Indtmnity Company (NJ) • ttamt Of Fitts Bloomington, Illinois Burris said the Houston County Board Board would be open to a sponsor or a group of sponsors if they wanted to donate the money for a new press box. budget; however, "due to the number of new schools and reno vations, the new press box was removed from the budget. It came down to necessities, such as Continued from page 1A request that all four govern ing bodies share the cost of the study and offered to pay the whole cost. Rev. Randy Reese SAVE UP TO A TOTAL OF ORIGINAL PRICES WHEN YOU TAKE AN EXTRA 25% OFF EVERYTHING WITH A RED DOT! HIRE'S HOW IT WORKS: Original Price 50.00 Current Sale Price 25.00 Less Additional 25%.. ..6.25 RED DOT PRICE.... 18.75 A total savings of 60% on this item. PERRY gg gg Tg J g fluCrV 1361 sam nunn blvd. .M M m mon. -sat. 10-9 classrooms, or luxuries, like press boxes. The School Board had to make a decision.” Burris said the Board would be open to a sponsor or a group of sponsors if they wanted to donate the money for a new press box. “We would be happy to place their name or names on the press box. Bottom line is $70,000 is needed," Burris said. According to Perry High School Principal Ptyil Smith. “The press box was built in the late 1970 s by the Football Booster Club. The Wed., Sept. 1, 1999, Houston Home Journo! ■ basic upkeep, painting and such, has been done by the school. We replaced the flooring several years ago trying to make it more secure. "The Fire Marshall was already here and had several concerns with the press box," said Smith, adding the Fire Marshall plans to return soon to formally address the safety issue. Smith said, “This is a safety issue. Replacing the press box is the right thing to do. The. Board should just do it." Page 3A