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ptmtsicm —1 \olumc I,'H Xumlx'i T (1 lain Crier* INSIDE THIS WEEK JVews Flash! Larry Thomson will run County Commissioner Larry Thomson will run for the position of County Com mission Chairman. Thomson, who is currently serving his first term on the Board of Commissioners, made the an nouncement Wednesday morning. When he qualifies for the position next week, his current post will be automati cally vacated. Class of 1955 Reunion 5ee..—.... .... Page BA D.A.R.E. essay winner recognized Each year the D.A JR.E. pro gram holds an essay contest for its participants. Each el ementary school is repre sented. The essays are to in clude what the students have learned during the year and what they would do if a friend were to approach them and ask them to try drugs. The essay finalists are chosen and assembled in a program where they read their essays aloud to judges and parents <****«««M**«MM**M« Page 9B Financial help for crime victims Violent crimes frequently result in serious irqury, lost work, traumatic symptoms that require counseling, and sometimes even death. The victims and/or family mem bers are left with unexpected financial burdens in the after math, often with limited re sources. The State of Georgia helps these victims and their families through the Crime Victim Compensation Program .Page 8B Good-bye to a new friend I lost a new friend last week. To many of you, Sherrill Stafford, was an old and re spected friend. I had only known him a few short months. However, during that period of time, I grew to admire and enjoy this special man. I know that this column usually talks about fashion, cosmetics and dresß styles, but this week, I wanted to ex press a few thoughts about friendship.™ -Page 7A Index OPINION PAGE4A CLASSIFIED....PAGE 70 LIFESTYLES....PAGE 6A SPORTS PAGEIB LEGALS PAGE 1C NEWS BRIEFS..PAGE 2A Huff& Puff See Page 118 Legal Organ For Houston County, City of Perry and the State of Georgia Group By Emily Johnstone News Editor Concerns of keeping downtown Perry attractive with the current Department of Transportation work going on, searching to bring in more tourists and improving the upkeep of the area were just a few topics discussed by the Downtown Development Author ity May 11. That afternoon, members donned their walking shoes and took a close look at the heart of Perry’s business district. During the tour, the group ex amined the present designated downtown business district boundaries and walked around town examining lots, structures and landscaping, among other things. Member Kim Mullins led a dis course of how DOT work may ef fect streets. Currently, DOT is digging up portions of downtown street cor ners. The corners will be recon structed with handicap-acces sible ramps. Mullins said he hopes the ramps will be constructed in such a way to blend in nicely with the current downtown atmosphere. And, a lively discussion took place of how to improve the ap pearance of the downtown area and possible ways to attract more tourists to the area, including ideas of extending the present district to encompass some resi Special election for Commission Chairman will be held on July 18 By Charlotte Perkins Staff Writer Meeting in regular session for the first time since the death of Commission Chairman, Sherrill Stafford, the Houston County Commissioners voted to hold a special election to fill the late chairman’s post and also unani mously approved a motion to name a new building in his honor. The election will be held on July 18, in conjunction with the Primary election already set for that date. Qualifying will take place May 22 through May 24 at the Board of Elections office in Perry. The qualifying fee will be $2,574. The salary has been set at $59,940. Later in the meeting the Com missioners approved a motion by Commissioner Larry Thomson ~ SB -firAs '■’’■'r s£&xffi'n&uA '■" & ASs&swaM&Sy ’jsnflr •>. .-<ridKE&HEßildlES^ Bearly visible - Lora Arledge accepts a contribution of stuffed bears for Project Agape Love (P.A.L) from students at Perry Elementary School. Stuffed bears, donated by Belks, were dressed by children in the after school program at Perry Elementary School. The project was coordinated by HODAC, Volunteer Houston County and Region 8 MHMRSA. Vhui stlav. Mas IS.. 2000 gets to heart of problems dential areas, installation of a “pedestrian area” that would en courage more walking about town and possible future park ing garages.. On the subject of present lim ited downtown parking, Mullins said he has some problems with courthouse employees having designated parking spaces in the courthouse square areas. Those spaces could be used by shoppers, he said. Member William Jackson said he favors a pedestrian area that would connect shops located on different streets and provide a scenic walking path for shoppers to stroll. Street vendor licensing may be another subject to visit, agreed the members. Perry city council is seeking ways to upgrade current regu lations regarding transient mer chants following complaints of such practices taking place in the downtown area recently. Councilman James Moore said some people are concerned that transient merchants may come into the downtown area and “take business from” shops already located there. “We do not want to do away with your food and fruit vendors, but we do not need to have people selling recliners “ on street corners, he said. In another area regarding aes thetics, it was decided an ar to seek an architect to design a new health department build ing. Thomson , who had pointed out that the project was “close to Chairman Stafford’s heart” then proposed that, the building be named in Stafford’s honor. The motion was approved unanimously. The Commissioners also read and approved a resolution com mending all Vietnam veterans and their families on the occa sion of the 25th anniversary of the ending of the Vietnam War. In part, the resolution stated that more than 228,000 men and women from Georgia served during the war. that 1,584 Geor gians were killed in action, 8,534 were wounded in action, 21 were held as prisoners of war, and 39 are still unaccounted for. Photo* by Charlotte Perkin* Miracle See Page 8B borist will be brought in to give counsel on what to do about the Japanese Oak trees that line Carroll Street. Now approaching the two de cade age mark, there is a possi bility that another type tree might be better suited to the area, according to Public Works Director Hugh Sharp. Several years ago, there was some dialogue among city offi cials concerning the removal of the trees because of interference with street lights and causing possible damage to store fronts. However, it was decided the trees would be spared with the city halting trimming of the Oaks to allow them to grow above the light poles and store roofs. Jim Mehserle, chairman of the group, said the group was able to accomplish much during the tour. “We got a lot accomplished and were able to see first-hand de tailed things we need to look at to beautify downtown,” he said. “Overall, we are pleased with the downtown area,” said Mehserle. As to the group discussing plans for the existing court house that will be vacated by its present tenants when the new courthouse is finished, Mehserle commented that “we will have to wait until the county figures out what to do.” At Vice-chairman Jay Walker’s request, a number of Vietnam veterans in the audience stood and were honored with applause. A moment of silence was ob served at the beginning of the meeting in honor of the late Com mission Chairman, and his chair remained empty. Council agrees to pay now, talk later By Emily Johnstone News Editor Perry City Council made a de cision to pay now and talk later during their May 16 meeting. In response to a request from the Perry Area Chamber of Com merce to renew a contract that provides $12,000 of city money to the Chamber each year, council Perry High Band on the march By Lanorris Fleming Staff Writer The Perry High Pride of the Crossroads band is on the move again. This time the group has been afforded the opportunity to march in the Boscov Thanksgiv ing Day Parade in Philadelphia, according to Band Director Joe Hutcheson, Huchteson said this is the big gest trip they have ever taken. The trip will include a plane ride to Philadelphia, sight seeing, the parade, a bus trip to New York , and a plane ride back home. “We expect to have about 200 people go on this trip,” said Hutcheson. “About 150 students and 50 chaperones.” Once a theme for the parade has been decided upon, a letter will go out to all of the partici pant schools so music can be pre pared. "Special music will be com posed for our band by a composer in Atlanta,” , said Hutcheson, Hutcheson has been the Direc tor of Bands at Perry High 9 ffjjS ■ w lTi '»WBWr kk 1 •- »-M.4 J»sfc l ßj Photos by Emily Johnstone Authority members: Carl Lumpkin, William Jackson, Ron Tuggle, Kim Mullins, Jim Meshserte, Nadine Weems and Pearlie Dixon. A time of political uncertainty Who will be on the ballot wnen voters choose a new County Commission Chairman on July 18 for the unexpired term of the late J. Sherrill Stafford? The only thing certain at this point, is political uncertainty. member James Moore said he would like to table the request so it could be discussed during a later work session. Fellow mem ber Charles Lewis agreed with Moore. Members Billy Jerles and Ralph Gentry opposed the mo tion. Perry Mayor Jim Worrall said he would break the tie by School since 1995. Under his guidance, the band has grown from 42 members to its 1998 en rollment of 165. Under his leadership the band has received performance invita tions to: the Grand Bahaman Islands: the Brach’s Children’s Christmas parade in Chicago, Illinois; the Eagleston Children’s Christmas Parade in Atlanta, Georgia; the Salute to America Parade in Atlanta, Georgia; the 1997 Georgia Day ceremonies at .-.■** *m*"mr»«*>-m«** i wfn>»*•»* 1 ■ •<:-•"’' xEotry?EfffWF3^M..V'' ~• _ . ■•• 'iwi i ; i ■ i^^^v^Wa^A/^rYMBMEawI Batter-up See Page 2B Hire*' St>< lionv 32 I’ajji s City building official Steve Howard, right and Downtown Development Authority members inspect the rear of Carroll Street shops during a recent tour. Commissioners Tom McMichael and Larry Thomson have each acknowledged that they are considering a run for the office but have not yet made final decisions. Their decisions are compli- Continued on Page 2B voting “no.” “Mayor, you’re opening a can of worms, you know that,” re plied Gentry, who asked what needed to be discussed about the matter. Worrall said the amount of money had nothing to do with Continued on Page 3B the State capitol in Atlanta, Georgia; Georgia Southern Uni versity; the Shenandoah Apple- Blossom Parade in Washington DC; and the 1996 centennial Olympic games in Atlanta. This list of achievements con tinues to grow. According to Hutcheson fund raisers are being planned to help with the cost of the trip which Continued on Page SB 500