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Smith to better help themselves pre pare for retirement,” said Smith. The decision to retire from the school system and go into a different direction was not an easy decision for Smith and his wife, Sandy. “We prayed a lot,” said Smith. "Perry High has been an important part of my life more than what most people could imagine. “The decision to enter the education field was not a deci sion made lightly," Smith said of his earlier years. “Back in high school, I had an industrial arts teacher, Tribble are too hot for folks to get outside. The lowest obesity rates were in New England and the West where people are more active, but even those obesity rates are on the rise. The study indicates it is now settled once and for all that obesity does increase the risk of death and dis ease. It is now listed as the second leading preventable cause of death in the Unit ed States, right behind smoking. Past studies have sug gested overweight was less of a problem as people grow older. This study found many more deaths among overweight people of all ages, especially those more than 75 years of age. According to this study, more adults and children are overweight than ever before, with 55 percent of American adults weighting more than their ideai body weight. “The message is we re too fat and it's killing us. We need to come up with ways as a society to eat less and PpWgjJ Announcing my V new hours: Tommy Storey iI When you call my office, someone will be available to assist you. Any time, day or night. Weekends, holidays... whenever you call, you'll speak to someone who cares. 24 Hour Good Neighbor Service™ ,2mm.. MKIOHBOB I Slate Farm Insurance Companies V J 'ZmwZmmmmmmjJ Home ()t I ICON lilnomttlglon. Illinois 4 Physicians 3 Audiologists 2 Free Hearing Tests 1 Roof. ZERO Problems Parking GEORGIA HEARING INSTITUTE Free hearing aid evaluations for you and a friend. Call today for appt. Physicians C Warren Dunn, M.D Keith D. Holmes. M.D. Matthew L. Jorles, M D. John W. Griffin, M.D. Audiologists Kelley White, M.A., CCC-A Lisa Bevill, MCD, CCC-A Julie Fortenberry, CCC-V W.J. Webb. He planted the seed about teaching in me. I decided teaching was what 1 wanted to do. It was a very good choice. It has given me the opportunity to touch a lot of lives and, I hope, to have had a positive impact in most.” said Smith. Smith said being principal of Perry High has meant “a lot of our leisure time as a family was spent around school activities. Our children, Paul and Stephanie, were raised around school activities like ball games. One Act plays, and such. I had to be there and they had to be there so I Continued from page 5A exercise more,” a spokesman for the Ameri can Cancer Society said. Finally, the story is told about a big fat man who was trying to cross the street when this little lady driver accidentally hit him with her car. She just bumped him a little b ut didn’t really hurt him. The lady driver told the man she was afraid she didn't have enough gas to go around him. Remember, the experts say eat less and exercise more if we w'ant to live longer. Probably wouldn’t hurt to try' it and see if they are right. (Bob Tribble, who is pres ident of Houston Communi cations, is within five pounds of his ideal body weight. He eats carefully and maintains a healthy lifestyle.) USED CARPET FOR SALE - $lO Scottish Inn 106 Courtney Hodges Blvd Perry - 987-3622 m 741-1800 or 1-800-253-8953 Visit our new location at 540 Hemlock St. Macon could have some time with them. But Sandy and I made the choice to do that. 1 would n’t have done it any other way.” The idea of retiring started about 4 years ago. “First, 1 want to say, 1 have a really big. deep faith in God. Every decision you make in life, you have to pray. Big decisions require a lot of praying. I don’t want to be out of His will. God placed me at Perry High. I iirmly believe that. The, suc cess we’ve had over the years. I credit to Him," Smith said. “Yet, I am a realist. 1 try to plan to look to the future in all aspects of iife. In fact, one of the questions I ask my teachers is ‘What are you going to retire to,’ not from?" said Smith. “So many retire without a plan. I’m only 53. I’m young. I started looking what my options were. Danny Hope with VALIC and I discussed the possibility of my joining VALIC and over a three-year period. I came to think this is what 1 wanted to do with my life," Smith said of his deci sion. “Danny and I talked. He came last winter and asked if 1 was serious about making tin change. He knew I u'as getting close to retirement. Last spring, they offered me the job. They wanted me to start in January 2000," explained Smith. “I went to see Dr. Charles Holloway and asked permission to retire mid-year. Dr. Holloway was very positive and said he ‘OO EXPLORER paripc 2DR SPORT , SPORT GROUP A ■». ««? CONVENIENCE '•yBtIZW STK #2004 S2O, 995 •oo RANGER XLT CD. Chorme Wheels. Special Introductory Stk#2olo $11 ,995 ‘99 RANGER Am/Fm Cass Sport Pkg . Air. Stk#2lß2 $10,099 ‘OO EXPLORER $18,799 A Capt Chairs. Keyless Stk #2042 USED CARS AND TRUCKS CALL FOR OUR LIST OF CARS UNDER SSOOO 99 Windstar LX $21,900 Dual A/C, Low Miles, 1 Left 97 Mustang GT Conv. $18,995 12k miles. Leather, Loaded 97 Crown Victoria $14,995 White, Low miles. Clean, Stk HP 1826 97 Expedition $20,995 Eddie Bauer. 5.4, Dual Air. #1216A 97 Thunderbird $13,995 V-8, Leather 97 Explorer XLT $17,995 4dr. Leather V-8, Stk HP 1824 95 T-Bird LX $8,550 V-8. idr, pwr seat 98 Crown Victoria LX $16,995 Loaded. Pwr Seat 97 Ranger XLT $10,995 White, Air, Stereo Supercab 98ZX1 $11,650 Spoiler, Auto. Air 97 Ford F-150 XLT $18,350 V-8, Silver. Supercab 98 Taurus $11,995 4 to choose WAY N E3SMO R FI IS ' 987-2411 Exit 43 off I-75 - 1/2 Mile - West 341 » Perry, GA hoped it would work out for me.” The road to this new adven ture was not easy. Smith said he had to pass several securi ty tests and “the tremendous amount of studying it took" him. “When you are more than 50 years old and you haven’t studied in a while. It can be scary," Smith said of his preparation time. “My biggest challenge with this new job will be trying to educate people on why they should invest in a tax shelter annuity. I can personally say it has made it where my lifestyle will not be changed once I retire. I’ll probably bring home more money in retirement than when I worked," said Smith. “That is literally what it does. “Compounding is the key. I’ve been with VALIC for about 20 years or more as a cus tomer. I believe in it. This will be fun," said Smith. The Smiths are excited about the changes this will bring. There have been a lot of times we could have been involved with other things but school functions came first. Now we’ll be able to pick and choose what we do," said Smith. The Smiths have talked about visiting a friend in Ger many during the early part of June next year, something he was never able to do before because of school obligations. According to Smith, Sandy still has to work another three years before she retires and WAYNE MORRIS FORD r/o aff our friend# in , (fiddle ffeorgia - c /f v tois/i //or/ a f/)//() ffs (/irist/nas season SHOP VIA OUR WEBSITE AT: waynemorrisford@alltel.com ‘OO MUSTANG GT VB. AUTO. CD MACH STEREO. T -j 17" WHEELS ifl irjWM!WnbNiKL. LEATHER CONV GROUP $23,499 ‘OO F-2SO turbo, supercab. 7 3 SAVE! ‘99 F-150 XL Am/Fm Cass Sport . __ Pack, Stk #1193 $f5,299 98 Escort SE $9,995 Keyless, Low Miles 97 Expedition $24,995 Dual Air, 3rd Seat Auto, V-8 97 F-150 XLT $17,995 Loaded, V-8. 6000 miles 99 Ranger 4X4 $19,350 Supercab 8k miles. V-6. Auto 96 Explorer XLT $16,995 4dr 41K miles. Local Trade 97 Taurus GL $8,995 VB, Loaded. Stk# PIBI2A 99 Contour $12,200 4dr, Auto. An. Every Option. 2 to choose 88 Toyota X-cab $5950 4X4. V 6. Auto 97 Toyota Camry LE $13,995 Auto. Air 98 Explorer Eddie Bauer $23,750 4dr, Sunroof. CD. 22k miles 98 Ranger Supercab $17,995 4X4 Auto, V 6. 4dr option, 13k miles Apply by Phone. Call the Credit Hotline 1-888-215-3673 www.fastcarloan.getayes.com . - Jesus is the . V reason for ■ i V .the Season both children are still in col lege; however, they are looking forward to the future. “We’ve been blessed. We’ve done a lot of things we wanted to do and I expect we will con tinue to do that," said Smith, adding he went elk hunting last October. Smith says he will miss the day-to-day contact with the students, but acknowledges he is “physically tired when it comes to the after school activ ities. Being able to pick and choose will be a nice change." He said he will not miss “having to deal with some of the dumb decisions that some kids make that affect them and others." Holloway said, “ Anytime you lose someone with his experience, you are always concerned about finding the right replacement. Phil Smith did a great job. We wish him the best. It will be hard to replace him.” The School Board does not have a list of possible replace ments for Smith. A selection committee was formed to pro vide the Board with a list of desired traits for the next principal. Among the traits listed were: \ Leadership in education v High morals and ethics \ People skills V Dives kids and loves being a high school principal. Holloway said the Board hopes to have a new person by about March 15, but does not expect “to get anyone until at least June 1 with the experi ence we are looking for. 00 EXPLORER XLT **K 4DR. LEATHER. $23, 299 99 CROWN VIC LX VB, Conv Spare. sjj/M Floor Mats. Leather. $^499 •99 F-150 XLT Am/Fm Cass. Sport Pack. Alum Wheels' Slk $23,450 99 Mercury Cougar $17,995 Auto, Spoiler. CD. Every Option! 98 Explorer Sport $17,995 2dr, Auto, 20k miles, Loaded 96 Explorer XLT $13,700 4dr Auto, Red, Privacy Glass 98 Windstar GL £15,995 Dual Air. Loaded Stk #P1441 95 Mustang $8,995 V-6. Auto Every Option 99 Expedition 529.995 Eddie Bauer, 17K miles 5.4 Dual Air, CD 97 Wind Star GL 58.995 Dual Air. PW. PDL, Tillt Cruise Wed., Dec. 1, 1999, Houston Home Journal "Applications will be taken through Jan. 1, 2000." Smith said his advice to the possible replacement would be “you need to be a part of the community. You need to live in Perry. You have to be committed to the kids to ensure they have the best education available. And you must have the ability to listen, and make good decisions in a short period of time. You need to be constant." He suggested the future Perry High principal find a good mentor as well. “Ed Dyson, principal at Northside High School, is my mentor. When I don’t know what to do, I call him. He’s been in the business longer than I have. I might not always his advice, but it is nice having someone to talk things out with," explained Smith. “There is nothing like experience. It really is easy to deal with things you’ve done before not so easy to do with new situations. “In our business, you either have problems or opportuni ties for growth. You have to look for opportunities to grow. That makes us stronger," said Smith. "I've been blessed over the years with a good staff. My secretary', faculty, and sup port personnel I thank for whatever progress that has been made at Perry High. I want to give them the credit. It has been fun and I’ll miss it, but it is time for a change. And change is not always a bad thing. It can be good.” |B| ‘OO EXCURSION 9TO CHOOSE FROM Aji'l Sifc LIMITEDS AND SAVE/ ‘99 CONTOUR SE Sport Group. Keyless Entry. « ~ Fog Lights $14,099 h99HB Flbor Mats Stk#3oo4 $9,995 ‘OO TAURUS LX —. $16,995 V-6. Itoor mats auto, alum wheels Stk #9OOO 96 Dodge Neon $4,995 Auto, 4dr Air 98 Expedition $28,900 XLT, Leather, CD, 3rd, 5.4 engine 99 F-150 Pkup $16,400 VB, Auto, 300 miles 97 Aerostar Sport $14,995 Dual Air. Every Opt.. Tilt. Cruist, Pw, PI 92 Corvette $16,995 Leather, 42k miles, CD 96 Ranger Supercab XLT $7,995 40k miles 99 Mustang $15,995 4,00 miles. Black Loaded 97 F-150 $14,100 Reg Cab. XLT Auto, Short Bed Page 5A