Newspaper Page Text
Viewpoints
Our
Views
Renumbering
Several months ago, this newspa
per passed along to you information
concerning changes to the numbers
of interstate exits in Georgia.
No, you haven’t seen the new
signs in Perry, despite our anticipa
tion they would be up already. Our
expectations ran much faster than
the workers for the Department of
Transportation.
Caution is advised however, in
giving directions to friends. There
are some changes in place. New exit
numbers have been installed along
1-675, a connector in the southern
part of Atlanta. New exit numbers
are also in place along 1-75 north of
Marietta, including the Cartersville
area.
No signs of change in the Atlanta
area appeared on 1-75 or 1-285 dur
ing the past weekend, but the
chance remains the numbers could
be replaced at any time.
Make note that in giving direc
tions. your visitors may find exits
42, 43 and 43A or exits 134, 136
and 138, depending on the speed of
the conversion project.
Are you a doctor?
Editor:
An increasing number of individuals
such as psychologists, nurses, medical
assistants
and
optometrists
want to act
as your
physician
even though
they never
graduated
from med
ical school
or complet
ed an
Letters
to the
Editor
p.o.
Drawer M
Perry, Ga.
internship, residency, or fellowship.
Admittedly, these individuals do have
some experience in providing significant
patient services. Now. however, they want
to leap over years of education and train
ing to make a diagnosis, decide on treat
ments, and write prescriptions for the
medicine you would receive.
While arguments in favor of this may
appear reasonable, the physicians of the
Medical Association of Georgia believe a
simple question must be asked before
heading down this path: Is it good medi
cine?
We recognize some areas of Georgia
require more medical support. Efforts to
meet this need have begun to bear fruit as
more physicians begin to set up practice in
rural Georgia. Still, some would allow non
physicians to practice medicine in medical
ly underserved areas. Is it good medicine?
Health plans, with an eye on cutting
costs, are pushing patients to see mid-level
health professionals instead of doctors.
Further, they would limit your access to
specialty care and other forms of needed
diagnostic treatments. Is it good medicine?
Although some states have granted
these mid-level practitioners wide latitude,
this trend is reversing. California recently
enacted legislation which prevents hospi
tals and health plans from assigning nurs
ing tasks to unlicensed practitioners. The
same is true for the practice of medicine.
Of course, we recognize mid-level profes
sionals provide a multitude of important
services in a number of professions. But
we don’t allow paralegals to argue a case in
court. We don't allow bookkeepers to per
form higher level duties better left to a cer
tified public accountant. We shouldn’t
allow non-physicians to make important
decisions about your health care.
We believe everyone should practice
within their area of expertise. It’s one thing
to select a medication: it’s quite another to
understand why the medicine will work
considering the medical condition and
interrelated body functions.
Patients deserve better. Lowering costs
should never lower the quality of care.
See DOCTOR, Page 8A
Houston Home Journal
P.O. Drawer M • 807 Carroll St.
Perry. Ga. 31069
email homejrn@hom.net
(912) 987-1823 (voice)
(912) 988 1181 (fax)
Bob Tribble President
Jj Johnson ...Editor and General Manager
Jay Phillips Advertising Director
Phil Clark Sports
Joan Dorsett Lifestyles
LaNorrls Fleming News
Alline Kent Sports
\7\
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 |x>sttion 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 editor arc wel
Perry is on my mind and now my home, too
Perry is on my mind. I’ve only
lived here a few years. I wonder
if it looks different to strangers
than it does to those who live
here.
I remember well the first time
I drove up Main Street seeking
the Crossroads United
Methodist Church. I was a visi
tor. I drove slowly, taking note of
what I passed. The well-kept
lawns with the homes set back
from the road were appealing. It
was also spring a big bonus.
The azaleas were shouting out
“Glory!”
I drove up a slight knoll and
there ahead I could see only a
steeple, but it looked for all the
world like the road led directly to
~Tm Pemur GMienV
stay calm! as you
|H KNOW, BRADLEY JUST
[A\ v PLAyED THE GAME. I
4, f INVENTED IT!
ft
Honesty rated most important trait
In a poll conducted by the
Associated Press late last fall,
one third of those interviewed
said that honesty was the most
important quality they were
looking for in a candidate. Well,
this is an election year so we will
see if honest people are elected
to political office.
Other findings in the poll
show that most Americans real
ly don’t care whether the man
elected president in 2000 is a
Democrat or a Republican.
Nearly 40 percent said they
might consider voting for a third
party candidate.
The poll was conducted by
ICR of Media, Pa. Some 1,203
people were interviewed between
Nov. 19-23 of last year.
Norman Carter says in his Po
Bitty Joke book that the biggest
problem a politician has is trying
to look underprivileged. It’s
kinds like an undertaker trying
to look sad at a $25,000 or
$50,000 funeral.
Surprisingly, poverty was not
a big issue to those interviewed
for the poll. Sixteen percent said
that having a candidate who
cares about people was impor
tant, but a large majority has
positive feelings about the econ
omy. Forty percent said they
were better off today than four
years ago. and about the same
percentage said their economic
standing was about the same.
Education was chosen as the
most important issue by 25 per
cent of the respondents, fol
lowed by Social Security and
Medicare, the nation’s moral val
ues and healthcare. Younger
adults listed education as the
most importani issue, while
Page 5A
- Wed., Jan. 19. 2000
Betty
Cundy
Guest
columnist
it. “A nice thought," I said aloud.
This is a picture book town."
Never guessing that I would
someday reside here, I drove
about after church.
Carroll Street with its quaint
neatness was beguiling. The
courthouse was imposing. I
Bob
Tribble
Home
Journal
President
older Americans pointed toward
Social Security and Medicare.
The story is told about this
fellow who once about
being a magician. He said he
could make a hundred dollar bill
disappear. Another guy said,
“Did you say magician or a
member of the U.S. Congress?"
This particular poll did not
show a large concern about
taxes, as only one out of 12
interviewed listed taxes as a top
priority. Maybe the strong econ
omy is responsible for the low
ranking of taxes as an issue.
In other findings, the poll
showed that 15 percent said
leadership was important and
13 percent chose having a
vision. Ten percent said the top
trait of a candidate should be
their willingness to take a stand
for their beliefs, while eight per
cent said it was very important
that someone share their view of
government.
On the presidential race,
Texas Gov. George W. Bush led
Arizona Sen. John McCain by a
five to one margin among those
inclined to vote Republican.
Vice-President A 1 Gore led for
mer New Jersey Senator Bill
Bradley by 43 percent to 32 per
cent, among those inclined to
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
We 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
stopped to read the inscription
on the Confederate memorial.
The town fathers had hung flow
ering baskets and begonias and
pansies were planed everywhere.
How good for a community
when attention is paid to these
charming details.
As 1 approached Interstate 75,
I found the library, fire station,
and town hall. I feasted my eyes.
I was also surprised whdn I
came up on the more modem
Perry restaurants, small
shopping plazas, quick food
establishments before reach
ing the highway.
One wonders if the natives of
the town notice the efforts to
beautify and maintain. With the
I . .
■PP^:: ' xc^
l m >
vote Democratic.
On issues, Democrats were
most likely to choose education.
Social Security-Medicare and
the economy, while Republicans
were more inclined to choose the
nation’s moral values as the top
issue. Women were more
inclined to describe themselves
as Democrats, while men were
pretty well split.
Black voters were largely
Democrat, more likely than
whites to list education as the
top issue and less likely to say
honesty was the most important
trait of a candidate.
As one would expect, those
over 55 chose Social Security
and Medicare as top issues,
while those between 18 and 44
were most likely to support edu
cation as the top issue. Those
who were younger and less edu
cated were more likely to vote for
a third party candidate.
Finally, the story is told about
this man who has been in the
legislature for about 20 years.
While he was at home on week
end, his wife woke him up late
one night and said. “There’s a
thief in the house.”
He said to his wife, “Maybe
there is a thief in the Senate but
certainly not in the House."
Americans say that, honesty is
the most important quality they
are looking for in a candidate
this election year. Let’s see if vot
ers hold true to that feeling
when the elections come
around.
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 of 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
right of the people peaceably to assemble.
Houston Home Journal
automobile making speed
between two points an enor
mous plus, villages have
changed. People seldom walk to
the grocery pushing a baby car
riage. Evening family strolls are '
not a common event. Jogging
perhaps, but not strolling.
Cars whiz by. The village is a
blur. It’s part of our era. We’re in
a hurry to get someplace for
something. Then we rush home
again.
There, where the roads split,
there's the “Welcome to Perry"
sign, surrounded with shrubs
and flowers. People tend them
with care.
Yes, Perry is on my mind and
I like it.
Charlotte
Perkins
Home
Journal
Staff
Confessions of a
non-surfer ...
For a variety of reasons
(including the necessity of earn
ing a living). I've had to deal
with computers steadily for the
last 15 years or so. They've
made newspaper work easier in
many ways, but nobody's con
vinced me yet that they've made
newspapers better, or that any
body writes better on a comput
er. It's a working tool, not an
end in itself.
Now. along with the computer
though a little later came
e-mail and the internet. I like
both, and I use both. I think e
mail is one of those things (like
microwave ovens) that really IS
all it’s cracked up to be, espe
cially for correspondence with
family and friends at a distance.
It saves postage and money
both!!
The web is a big convenience
at times, too. My sister has
found it a wonderful research
tool for genealogy and I like it for
finding recipes and jokes, but I
also get tired of all the waiting
and mousing around, and find
ing the right way to ask for
information.
I've also frequently found that
although information’s there,
the information is often shallow
(and sometimes commercial). In
other words, you can’t get any
thing better out of it them is put
into it. I’m not so busy that I
can't go shopping in real stores
and. as for chat rooms, I kinda
like talking to the people I know,
not total strangers with code
names. (All the chat room stuff
reminds me of the days when
CB radio was the big rage.)
I know some people see it very
differently just as some peo
ple really think that “cyber
space" is a real place, worth vis
iting in for hours or practically
using as a residence. What wor
ries me is that we’re going to
have a lot of zombies in our
midst in another few years. Not
highly intelligent, well-informed
zombies either. Just people who
are glued to a computer screen
going click, click, click.
Anybody want to argue?
• ••
What’s in a name?
Last week we had a typo
graphical error in the
announcement about The Bank
of Perry’s new retail banking
of ficer, whose name is Siobhan -
not “Sibobhan” - Beasley.
Now, if you didn’t even notice
that her name was misspelled,
because you were wondering
how to pronounce it, here’s the
scoop.
Siobhan is a beautiful old
Gaelic name, and it’s pro-
See PERKINS, Page 8A
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tion.
The Houston Home Journal (USPS
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Publications Inc., 807 Carroll St., Perry,
Ga., 31069. Periodicals Class Postage
paid at Perry, Ga. POSTMASTER : Send
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Journal, P.O. Drawer M. Perry, Ga.
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vj