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Viewpoints
Our
Views
Giving thanks
Sometimes we can get so burdened
with cares {both petty worries and real
crises) that we don’t even think of our
selves as blessed.
Sometimes we can hear words like
“Count your blessings" so often that we
cease to hear their true meaning at all.
Even so, most of us will take at least
a moment or two on Thanksgiving Day
to think about what we have to be
thankful for on a personal level.
We should give thanks for our com
munity’s blessings as well.
Periy is growing in many good ways
- making substantial progress without
losing its small town advantages. Our
schools are good. Our churches are full
on Sundays. Our leadership is made up
of conscientious and capable men and
women.
And, finally, we are about to move
together into the Christmas season a
time that brings out the best in our
community as so many people volunteer
through church and club groups to help
others in need and make sure, in the
words of Stephen Vincent Benet, that
“Christmas comes to everyone’s house."
Let’s all remember to count our bless
ings not just on Thanksgiving Day,
but throughout the holidays ahead.
What a party!
Sometimes important dates just slip
on by without notice, and that could
have easily happened to the 175th
Anniversary of Perry’s founding.
However, thanks to Mayor Jim Wor
rall, the city had a fine birthday party.
Not as big, perhaps as the Sesquicen
tennial, and not as big as the splash the
next generation may come up with for
Perry's 200th birthday, but just right all
the same.
It was a happy celebration under
sunny skies with an outstanding high
school band and a visit from the Gover
nor of Georgia. There was a cake so
beautifully decorated that few will forget
it. Brownie Scouts were everywhere,
handing out souvenirs.
Such events give us an occasion to
pause and take stock, to notice who we
are what we’ve achieved and where
we’re heading.
We’d like to think that when Perry's
Bicentennial planners do their research,
they’ll look back in some 25-year-old
papers and take some notes.
We also hope that the Pride of the
Crossroads Band will be as outstanding
then as it is now, and that quite a few of
those who showed up for the 175th
birthday party will be around for the
200th remembering the “old days’
and talking about the amazing progress
the little town of Perry has made since
1999.
Recognition
The Perry City Council voted last week
to set guidelines for honoring city
employees who go above and beyond the
call of duty.
The honored employee would receive a
SSO check and have his picture taken
and hung in City Hall.
We think this is a fine idea, but con
sidering how many Perry city employees
go above and beyond the call of duty on
a regular basis, the walls may well wind
up crowded with photographs.
Let’s hope that all hardworking city
employees know that they are appreciat
ed and respected, with or without a SSO
check.
Houston Km Journal
P.O Drawer M • 807 Carroll St.
Perry. Ga. 31069
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Unsigned editorials appearing in larger
type on this page under the label Our Views
reflect the position of the Houston Home
Journal. Signed columns and letters on
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reflect the opinions of the writers and not
necessarily those of this newspaper.
Signed letters to the e'dlbs wel
Blessings to count...despite troubles
Thanksgiving is here. It is a
time of great Joy. The gathering
of family and mends to celebrate
the success of the Pilgrims’ first
year in the New World. It is a
time of reflection.
Over the past year, so much
has happened. Last December,
my daughter got married and
now will be celebrating her first
anniversary. My son became
engaged to a wonderful young
lady and they are now planning
a March 4 wedding. My grand
son began kindergarten at Perry
Primary School. My husband is
in college, working hard.
It is easy to forget the simple
pleasures of life and the joys that
fill our hearts when things don't
always go right for us. Take for
instance, I have been working to
coordinate my life with my dia
betes. I've been winning the war,
but some of the battles were lost.
I've had both my grandson and
my brother go through surgery.
My sister-in-law had to deal with
possible breast cancer (her doc
tor just wants to wait smother six
months to see if any change
occurred). My pipe under the
kitchen sink gave way and filled
my house with water and for the
The Peanut GauerV
Decatur City Limits
1 lAM SOMBODY.
WHO KNOWS IT
! " I ALL! NEVER
\ I BEEN WRONG
I JON ANY CALL.
©Aim l 99 rayloonslPhoin.net
Shrimp for Thanksgiving,? Why not?
Happy Thanksgiving,, everybody.
Enjoy your turkey and be sure to
count your blessings. One of mine is
going to be taking a trip to Savan
nah, which probably will mean eat
ing shrimp on Thanksgiving Day and
taking a walk on Tybee Beach just to
enjoy the sounds and smell of the
ocean. I’ll get my turkey on Saturday
at my brother's home with a big fam
ily group, so that's another blessing.
•••
Many thanks to Mayor Jim Wor
rall for a very fine 175th anniversary
celebration. He was the main orga
nizer and he did a great job. 'Die
cake was delicious, the music was
excellent, and the speeches were
short. Everybody there seemed to be
having a good time. I know I did.
Mayor Worrall is one of Perry’s
blessings, I think, because he puts
so much of himself into his job and
cares so much about Perry.
•••
Taking care I had a call from
Carol Dyer, who wanted to share an
experience she had at Harvey’s gro
cery store. Carol is a diabetic and
she was in the check-out line last
Saturday when she began to experi
ence the symptoms that come with a
drop in blood sugar levels. She was
dizzy and confused, and she couldn’t
manage at all.
Page 4A
Wed., Nov. 34. 1909
Torey
Jolley
Home
Journal
Staff
last week, I have been dealing
with backed up plumbing a
nightmare in its own right.
I cannot say I haven't had
days when I’ve wanted to pull my
hair out and scream, “Why Me?”
(And actually, if you talk to those
close to me, they’d tell you I did
at least scream.) Sometimes, it
feels as if the world and all its
problems are landing squarely
on your shoulders. But take a
breath.
Let it out slowly
I, recently, stopped my
screaming to look around and
see the things I've been. I’ve
missed watching the changing of
the leaves from green to various
fall colors. IVe missed watching
those same leaves dance in the
wind as they fall from the trees.
IVe missed Jumping in piles of
Charlotte
Perkins
Home
Journal
Staff
Fortunately, Virginia Sloan was at
the cash register, and recognized
what the problem was. She said,
“Ma’am , 111 tell you what to do. Just
look over your right shoulder and get
one of those sweet drinks, and 111
make out your check for you."
Then Vino Code, who was bagging
Carol's groceries took everything out
to her car for her, but was so con
cerned that he went to get co-man
ager Eddie Howard to make sure
that Carol didn’t drive home in an
unsafe condition.
Fortunately for Carol, nobody just
ignored her distress or stopped car
ing once she left the store. They
stuck with her, and made sure she
was OK. She thinks they deserved
special thanks! And she’s right about
that.
• ••
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those leaves with my grandson
laughing and giggling.
I'm ashamed to admit that
when I was angry about cleaning
up the backed-up tub, toilets,
and shower for the eighth time, I
forgot to thank God for the bless
ings He bestowed upon me. My
brother and my grandson are
fine. My son has a great job, a
loving relationship, and an
adorable son. My daughter has a
strong marriage, a terrific job,
and she is so very happy. My
husband and I will celebrate our
25th anniversary March 21.
I do have diabetes. However,
thanks to my friends at work, I
am doing OK.
They have supported me
even getting an occasional none
sugar coated doughnut for me.
When I’m down, I get a lift
from my friends maybe a good
ear while I complain or a painted
pot of angels to remind me how
special I am.
I thank God for the many peo
ple who have touched my life
and made a difference.
This Thanksgiving Day, I will
count my blessings. I have a lot,
just hope the dinner doesn’t get
cold while I’m counting!
.V
Christmas at the Crossroads is
just around the corner, and It should
be super-special this year with the
addition of a Christmas play by the
Perry Players youth workshop. The
schedule is Just right on Saturday,
because you can walk straight
around to the theater after you see
the parade.
Also, here's a note for any of you
who haven't ever attended the com
munity worship service, which will
be on Dec. 5 this year. You don’t
want to miss seeing all the luminar
ies lighting both sides of the streets
that lead into downtown Perry. The
candlelight service is lovely, and so is
the lighting of the Christmas tree.
This is an especially nice program for
children, since it starts out the
Christmas season in just the right
way.
•••
Kidstuff I enjoyed watching
David Feldman and Durand Cainion
working with their students at Perry
Taekwondo the other evening, and
by the time I left. I was ready to call
my daughter and suggest that all
three of my grandchildren get into
the martial arts.
Be sure to watch next week's
paper for information on the big
Taekwondo tournament coming up
at the Agricenter.
I
| |Hp'" if]
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Houston Home Journal
Bob
Tribble
Home
Thanks for allowing us
to be your newspaper
After more than 30 years in the
newspaper business, 1 have learned
there are three guaranteed ways to
avoid criticism. First, you can say
nothing. Second, you can do noth
ing. And third, you can be nothing.
Those of you who have been a
reader of our newspapers and this
column during those years know we
don’t subscribe to the above. We
believe that if there are things you
need to know we should tell you,
and often times we are criticized for
that. But, its our job, and you expect
that from “your newspaper."
My wife would tell you that I am
often wrong, but never in doubt.
Right or wrong I have no doubt but
that it is our job to keep you
informed about your government,
your schools, your community, and
many other areas of happenings
that you need to be informed about.
Should we no longer do that, we
would not be worthy of you calling
us “your newspaper.’
The mission statement in our
newspaper says: “Our goal is to pro
duce quality, profitable, community
oriented newspapers that you, our
readers, are proud of. We will reach
that goal through hard work, team
work, loyalty, and a strong dedica
tion towards printing the truth.’ By
reaching our goal, we will be worthy
of you calling us ’your newspaper."
One newspaper group that I am
close to uses the slogan, “strong
newspapers build strong communi
ties.’ No doubt, newspapers who
take the lead in their communities
for what is good, and takes a firm
stand against what is bad, certainly
help build strong communities. You
can rest assured that no other
media cares more about your com
munity than “your newspaper*’
Tour newspaper" reports history
on a weekly basis in your communi
ty. Not only do they print the big
news that happens, but the small
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columns, births, honor rolls,
engagements, weddings, anniver
saries, obituaries, and so forth. We
center our efforts on local news
because we feel this is what you
want in “your newspaper."
“Your newspaper" should never
forget that we are the guardians of
the First Amendment which protects
the rights of those with whom we
disagree as well as the rights of
those with whom we agree.
Our editorial pages are a place for
locally written editorials, letters from
our readers, personal columns, and
editorial cartoons. It is a place for
you and us to sometimes vent our
frustrations, and where everyone's
opinion is welcomed.
Matthew Arnold once wrote,
“America is the chosen home of
newspapers." Thomas Wolfe once
said, “American love their newspa
pers. “ Benjamin Franklin said, “I
had rather live in a country with no
government and free press, than to
live in a country with a government
but no free press."
Yes, America is still the chosen
home of newspaper, most folks do
love “their newspapers" and no
doubt a strong free press is vital to
our communities and to our nation,
even with all our faults considered.
DeWaine Gahan, editor of the
Oakland (Neb.) Independent, wrote
the following recently in his newspa
per. It puts the finishing touches on
what I am trying to say today.
“I Am ... I’m Not
I’m not a camera, but I take pic
tures. ,|
I'm not the mayor or the chamber
of commerce, but I love promoting
this community.
I’m not a preacher, but I go to bat
for the Lord.
I’m not a 7-Up, but I quench your
thirst for local news.
See TRIBBLE, Page 5A
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redress of grievances." Your right to read
this newspaper Is protected tty the First
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