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Legal Organ For Houston County, City of Perry and the State of Georgia 500
Volume 129 Ntimberlli
Twn Crtarft
INSIDE THIS WEEK
School
Funding held
The Houston County Board
of Education held the first of
four scheduled public forums
on April 13. The meeting,
which was held at Northside
High School, was attended by
a small group of parents,
teachers and other concerned
individuals Page 3A
Earth Day
celebrations
Saturday April 22 the
world will celebrate the 30th
anniversary of Earth Day.
Earth day fails on the same
day each year and commemo
rates the birth of
nationwideenvironmental
awareness. Earth Day began
from growing concerns over
a series of well-publicized en
vironmental disasters in the
late 60’s Page 5A
Tolliver wins
crown
Heather Tolliver 17-year-old
senior at Perry High School
was crowned Miss Houston
County 2000. The pageant
was held during the 10th an
nual Georgia National Fair.
The pageant was sponsored by
the Houston County Regional
Youth Fair and the Georgia
National Fair. Page 10A
Drafted by
Jaguars
Someone mentioned at
Kiwaukee Thomas’ house
Sunday afternoon that the city
of Perry ought to name a
street after the newest home
town hero.
Not a bad idea at all.
Kiwaukee Thomas made
history Sunday as he became
the first ever Perry High
School graduate to be drafted
by the National Football
League going in the fifth
round to the defending AFC
Central Champions, Jackson
ville Jaguars Page IB
Ugly Farming
Last year Scott Moore tried
a different approach to plant
ing 30 acres of peanuts at A.B.
S. Farms in south Houston
County. He liked the result
ing savings in money and time
so much that this spring he’s
taking the same approach
with 40 acres of peanuts and
660 acres of cotton Page 4B
Index
OPINION PAGE 4A
CLASSIFIED....PAGE 80
JUST VISITIN’..PAGE 7A
SPORTS PAGEIB
LEGALS PAGE 1C
NEWS BRIEFS..PAGE 2A
Perry Fire
See Page 3A
City alters land guidelines
By Emily Johnstone
News Editor
Perry City Council adopted
some new guidelines for the
City’s Land Development Ordi
nance during an April 18 meet
ing.
One area deals with new zon
ing regulations regarding agri
cultural districts.
As the city expands, the plan
ning commission decided to re
quest council’s OK for a Residen
tial-Agricultural District (R
--AG).
This district helps protect ru
ral properties from irregular
growth patterns and encourages
development of those areas, ac
cording to the amended ordi
nance.
Single family dwellings are
allowed on the property. Also
New Chamber
CEO announced
By Emily Johnstone
News Editor
The Perry Area Chamber of
Commerce has selected a new
President/CEO.
Patty G. Willard, who cur
rently serves in the president’s
capacity with the Walker County
Chamber of Commerce, will be
gin duties in Perry May 1.
Doug Barnett, Perry Chamber
Chairman, said he is pleased
with the selection. “While in this
position (Walker County), she
has increased membership,
managed the Walker County
Community Building, handled
the Chamber’s budget and ac
counting functions and been
very active in economic develop
ment for Walker County,” com
mented Barnett.
Willard is a past resident of
Perry, having lived here in the
1980 s.
“Perry is like home,” said
Willard during a recent inter
view. “I have lived in Perry and
had a daughter graduate from
high school there.”
Willard describes herself as a
“hands on” type of person. “I like
to get involved,” she said.
Previous work experience in
cludes a number of business, ac
County P&Z reverses position
By Charlotte Perkins
Staff writer
When a group of homeowners
came before the Houston County
Planning and Zoning Commis
sion last month to object to a pro
posed rezoning in their rural
neighborhood, they got what
they were seeking - a vote to
deny the request.
However, on April 4, the Hous
ton County Commissioners sent
the matter back to the P&Z
board for further review.
Then, on Monday night, the
P&Z board did an about face and
voted to approve the request
from Dutch Management, Inc.to
rezone a 30 acre site from RAG
to R-l for the purpose of build
ing a subdivision with 19 lots.
“We’re really disappointed,”
said Jim Dryden, one of the land
owners opposing the rezoning.
The reversal came after pre
sentations by local realtor
Donnie Free, and Macon attor
ney, Brian J. Passante, both of
whom were representing Dutch
Management, Inc. Passante ar
gued that a longstanding prece
dent for approving requests for
rezoning from RAG to Rl, had
Thursday. April 20,2000
permitted are churches, kinder
gartens, schools, and libraries.
Minimum property size re
quirement is five acres.
Agriculture, forestry, livestock
and poultry production can be
located on property within the
city limits on not less than 10
acres of land under the ordi
nance.
Such allowances may be an
incentive for rural property own
ers to request and be approved
to have their land brought into
the city limits, according to offi
cials.
In another move, council
agreed to a Convention Plaza
District for the area around the
Georgia National Fairgrounds
and Agricenter.
That move does not change
the present zoning in the area
counting and public relations
positions. She holds a degree in
business from Macon College.
“I have worked in sales posi
tions in the past and I feel like
I’m still in sales. I’m selling my
county,” she commented.
During her tenure in Walker
County, three Chambers around
the county have been combined
into one, she said. “For the first
time in a long time we have a
sense of unity,” added Willard.
Willard and her family will be
moving to Perry in the near fu
ture. Her husband. Richard,
works with Blue Bird Body Co.
She has three grown children,
Tracy Thompson, who is married
to former Perryan Phillip Th
ompson; Allison, who is married
and lives in Omaha, Neb. and
Ricky, who is stationed at Rob
ins Air Force Base in Warner
Robins.
Willard takes over the position
left vacant recently by the resig
nation of Chris Kinnas, who is
now in the investment business.
“The Perry Area Chamber of
Commerce is very excited and
fortunate to have Ms. Willard
accept this dynamic and chal
lenging position of leadership,”
said Barnett.
been established by the P&Z
board.
He pointed out that the last
time a similar request had been
denied was in 1987.
Free said that a change in the
property from RAG to the Rl
(residential) classification would
enhance property values, and
added that the developers would
be willing to agree to a covenant
limiting the use of the property
to stick-built houses.
Dryden and others presented
petitions in opposition to the re
zoning signed by 43 residents
living along Bear Branch Road,
Talton Road, Lake Road and
other roads in the immediate
area.
Les Walker, a resident of the
area, spoke against the rezoning,
stating that it was not in the in
terest of the landowners in the
area or the county.
“Cows don’t send their kids to
school,” he said, referring to tax
payers’ benefits from the rural
nature of the area, “and pecans
don’t require garbage service."
Dryden said that Dutch Man
agement had bought the prop
erty before it was rezoned, and
Helmets
See Page 11A
at present, but does provide a
vehicle for future changes, said
City Manager Lee Gilmour.
The new District is estab
lished to provide uniformity of
development in the area around
the Agricenter.
Special landscaping codes
have been included in the ordi
nance for the Plaza District.
In other business:
• Council approved to enter
into a lease purchase agreement
with the Municipal Gas Author
ity of Georgia for SBOO,OOO. The
monies will be used for improve
ments of gas lines on the west
side of the city, looping in the
direction of Hay Road.
• Approved the appointment
of Carl Lumpkin and William
Jackson to the Downtown De
velopment Authority.
Photo* by Emily Johnatonr
Personnel from the Georgia State Patrol, Houston County Sheriff’s Department, Perry Police
Department and Perry Fire Department survey damage done to a Cadillac Sunday morning after it
crashed with a Georgia State Patrol vehicle at the intersection of Larry Walker Parkway and Elko
Road.. According to GSP Sgt. Kenneth Peterman , 75-year old Annie Maude Bowen, operator of
the Cadillac, apparently failed to yield right-of-way to the GSP vehicle being driven by Trooper B.F.
McGhee. Bowen was transported to a local hospital for treatment of injuries. According to Becky
Sessions, spokesperson for the Medical Center of Central Georgia, she is listed in stable condition.
The trooper suffered minor injuries, said Peterman.
“now they’re stuck with a bad
business decision.”
The one resident of the area
siding with the developers was
Chad Houser, who argued that
if the land - now owned by Dutch
Management - remained in the
agricultural zoning classifica
tion, mobile homes could be
placed there.
Following presentations from
both sides, P&Z board member
John Trussell made a motion to
deny Dutch Management’s re
quest for rezoning, but failed to
get a second to his motion.
Board member Charles
Culpepper then moved for ap
proval of the request, and the
vote was three to two, with
Culpepper, Frank Cook and
Gary Garrard voting for ap
proval of the request, while
Trussell and Bill Fowler voted
no. P&Z Commissioner Eddie
Walker, who had voted against
the request in the earlier meet
ing, was not present.
The issue will be considered a
second time on May 2 by the
Houston County Commission
ers, who have the final vote on
the matter.
• Agreed to a Resolution of
Support for an apartment
complex proposed to be con
structed along Perimeter
Road.
• Agreed to a Resolution of
Support for a townhouse com
plex proposed to be built near
the intersection of Houston
Lake Road and Perry Park
way. Councilman Billy Jerles
opposed the motion, citing
concerns with the location.
• OK’d $2,500 to be used to
help with costs of the Big Bang
Boom at the Georgia National
Fairgrounds and Agricenter. Vot
ing no were Phyllis Grace, James
Moore and Bobby Glover. Yes
votes were Ralph Gentry,
Charles Lewis and Billy Jerles.
Breaking the tie was the yes vote
of Perry Mayor Jim Worrall.
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Local artist Butler Brown concentrates on a landscape painting
during a recent visit i.j Perry Primary School. Butler visited the
school in conjunction with art appreciation activities. For story,
see page 10A.
Relay for Life site at Rozar Park
By Charlotte Perkins
Staff writer
Perry’s Relay for Life, a mara
thon ft;r theA.nerican
Cancer Society will be held on
April 28 and 29 at Rozar Park.
“We’ve outgrown the high
school track” said Carol Hayes,
Relay chairperson. “This year we
have 23 teams participating.”
Hayes added that it remains
7h * ’cpians
age 6B
I hr<M Set lions Pages
Northrop
Grumman
may sell
By Charlotte Perkins
Staff Writer
Northrop Grumman Corpora
tion is reportedly in the final
stages of negotiating a sale of its
commercial aerostructures op
erations, which include divisions
in Los Angeles, Dallas, Perry
and Milledgeville.
In a tersely worded press re
lease, the company announced
on April 17 that it is “exploring
strategic alternatives” regarding
the commercial aerostructures
divisions, and that the firm of
Salomon Brothers has been re
tained to “aid in these efforts.”
Contiued on Page 3A
to be seen whether this year’s
Relay will beat the $46,900
record set last year.
“But we’re hoping!” she said.
The new site will mean more
recreational opportunities for
Relay participants, including
volleyball games, horseshoes
and square dancing.
Contiued on Page 3A
Photo by Lanorri* Fleming