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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 email homeJmOhom.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 Alline Kent Sports W Pauline Lewis Lifestyles Rob Mead News and Circulation Charlotte Perkins . News and Composition Andy Stuckey Classified Susan R. Thomas Bookkeeping Our Policies 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 this page (and elsewhere in this newspaper) 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. • •• comed. Please limit letters to 300 words and Include addresses and a telephone number for verification purposes. Letters are not published without verification. Let ters should be sent to P.O. Drawer M, Perry. Ga., 31069 or brought to the news paper office at 807 Carroll St., Perry. Our liability for an error will not exceed the cost of space occupied by the error. Wr 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 pub 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] lished proudly for the citizens of Houston and adjoining counties by Houston Publi cations Inc., Perry. Ga. Our goal is to pro duce quality, profitable, community-orient ed newspapers that you. our readers, are proud 01. 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. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof: or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or of the rl#it of the people peaceably to assemble. 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 news as well, like community 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 and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Your right to read this newspaper Is protected tty the First Amendment to the United States Constitu tion. The Houston Home Journal (USPB 000471) Is published weekly for 821.40 per year (Including sales tax) by Houston Publications Inc.. 807 Carroll St.. Perry, Oa.. 31069. Periodicals Class Postage paid at Perry. Os. POSTMASTER : Send address changes to the Houston Home Journal, P.O. Drawer M. Perry. Oa. 31069. ISSN: 1075-1874. LL