Newspaper Page Text
JANUARY 24 2002
I*WHH
Larry Walker
Columnist
lwalker@whgbc.com
Joe and Connette Gayle are
two of my favorite Perryans.
Oft times, I stop by their store,
Antiques From The Shed, to see
what they have that’s new (or is
it new that’s old?), but mainly
to chat with the two of them
and two other long-time family
friends, Joan Ogletree and
Virginia Bryant. Such was the
case right after Christmas, but
I ended up buying a table and
Mr. Gayle “threw in” a small
mirror and a framed picture of
President Franklin D.
Roosevelt. I am particularly
pleased with my picture,
although I have no idea where I
will put it. It reminds me of the
time I spoke at Warm Springs -
the annual Roosevelt Memorial
- and spent the day with
Celestine Sibley. Three great
Americans: Franklin Roosevelt,
Celestine Sibley, and Joe Gayle.
Joe is a World War II combat
veteran who was seriously
wounded by the Japanese.
Fortunately, you can still go by
and visit with Mr. Gayle. I guar
antee that you will find a treas
ure even if you don’t make a
purchase.
Speaking of great Americans,
I think we ought to consider
honoring outstanding Houston
Countians whose past contribu
tions have helped bring us to
where we are today. What about
a “Wall of Fame” in the new
courthouse? Perhaps the
Houston County Board of
Commissioners could appoint a
commission to make the selec
tions. I would suggest a broad
based, county-wide commis
sion. Maybe there should be ini
tial selections based on estab
lished criteria and additions
each year, thereafter. You know,
‘sorta like the baseball and foot
ball halls of fame or Georgia’s
sports and music halls of fame.
Another thought, no current
office-holders to be eligible.
What do you think about the
Houston County Commission
doing this, Chairman Sanders?
Speaking of our county, I have
been working with Governor
Roy Barnes and Industry and
Trade officials on a possible
new industry for the county.
Governor Barnes has been
great - “let’s do what we need to
do to get them.” Five hundred
jobs and a substantial invest
ment. Keep your fingers
crossed. I am also working to
get money in the state budget
for the Macon State College
expansion in Warner Robins -
we need the new business and
we need $5 million in the budg
et. A new industry and a major
college expansion. We live in a
great state and a great county.
And, we are surrounded by
American heroes, like Joe
Gayle, who go about their daily
activities with little fanfare and
wanting no attention called to
themselves. Aren’t we fortu
nate?
HELP
WANTED
> * ■'
THE HOUSTON HOME
JOURNAL, the legal
organ of Houston County,
has immediate openings
for Graphic Artist/Layout
Positions. Must be familiar
with Macintosh operating
system as well as experi
ence with QuarkXPress
and Photoshop. We offer
competitive salary and
benefits package. Come
Join our professional team.
Please fax, mail or email
resume to: Beverly Ellis,
Technical Director, PO
Box 1910 Perry, Ga 31069,
Fax 478-987-7243 Email:
bellis@evansnewspapers.c
om
Memories of Washington County
A few days ago I was con
tacted by a publisher who
wanted me to submit a story
to her about living in a small *
town. She is collecting this
type of stories in a book.
When I asked her why she
specifically wanted stories
about small towns, she
replied that she thinks there
is a longing today for the
simplicity of life these small
towns offered.
I guess I am a natural to
write such a story as I grew
up in a small town, went to
college in a smaller town,
and now live in a moderately
small town. And I couldn’t be
happier about it all.
My hometown of Clinton,
South Carolina is a town of
about ten thousand people. It
has been around the same
size for all of my life. It is the
home of Presbyterian College
and Thornwell Orphanage. It
has a town square with a
monument in the center to a
soldier I think fought in the
Revolutionary War. I could be
wrong about that. He might
have fought in the War
Between the States.
Local people say Clinton is
££fl(teftfi 9To 97k Prfiloi^jk
L v
Editor: //
Since returning home in 1986, family responsibilities and my job have left little //
time for anything else.
September 11, 2001, has made me re-evaluate my life as it has for so many others. I’ve decided to
get off the bench and step up to the plate...get involved...attempt to channel my God given talents in
hopes that somehow or some way that I can make a difference in my community.
Granted I may never hit a home run, may never even get to first base, and more than likely will
‘strike out’ many times, but at least I will know that I have tried.
It is the bottom of the ninth (last week before the special senate election) as I step up to the
plate...as in most games, you must endure a little background history about the batter...
While in Florida, I was active in politics for 20 years. I worked in a presidential campaign office,
served as Seventh District Legislative Chairman in the American Legion Auxiliary and was a regis
tered Lobbyist for Veteran’s Affairs in Tallahassee. This involvement intensified as a surety and
fidelity bond underwriter. One of my duties was to monitor the activities of politicians. For those of
you who may ask why are public official bonds needed, let me explain. We know that an employee of
an individual or private firm must perform his duties (his/her contractual obligation) honestly. The
same applies to a public official. In addition the public official is often charged by law with perform
ing his duties competently and faithfully also.
We as voters have a right to expect honesty, competency, and faithful performance of all of our pub
lic officials whether or not they are required to be bonded. I may no longer represent a major insur
ance company’s interest, but that should not have stopped me from being a responsible voter. I have
been negligent by becoming complacent regarding my country, my state, my county and my city.
I intend to become a more competent voter and challenge those who have also been complacent
about their voting privileges. I will have managed to hit the ball if at least one person accepts this
challenge and/or someone decides to vote Tuesday, that might have not done so otherwise.
See ya at the polls.
Ms. Stanford Griggs Durrance
Perry
viF* 50% OFF /
m Shop Now! Sale Ends 1-31-02 f *
an Exciting Addition BRING IN THIS COUPON AND \
( m AcSSt RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL 10% OFF
\ That's Affordable! ANY EVENING SHOES! /
/ Jm 19.18 Watson RIvH •WR • 1 O V
Answers to Tuesday’s puzzles
solution OH
s|w|A| B mi7TTT]77fprr[rpr™ < 11 <■ i > 'in
H A R E~M E C R UMo V?R tB I NAN E
HI I I LIA RI T E aMv IRTUO SIT E A
UT e mM~m cjl e a nWb o o TMi
L A sfs oirA R N E lMp R XJLJL.L
A|n|G|E~LMC Ra S sMr A MIMrA _9
S T X O s I T E aMr O Y a]l TEA
A D AMO A fMd E E dBrOO iMI N D
BMj~S ulr M I sir dM L a] YMw I gBMBM
iiAJ±aMTe, e TJMBb a nMbIl o o p e r
A D E P tM l eJg a l i t[e aM£ U R X
DES I R eTdMa~ P T|HgT R cTJM n M
IMBBn~ e tMats'hMf olu r l e[a~~f~BMß
X a rM V A M p| I BA rM E O 77MT WJD
gr a vt T t xaJBLd AJLA.L 1 XAJLJLA
L I v ~eBMBa~ R cMT I M I tMO N S E T
E D I s Q nWt R A I NM s ¥Te D ~S~pMB|
MMBMt R E eM A D VeTr Tip E T I tl
A _L_LA A Oil E AMriT E R E D i TEA
ADA G~eM~S TEE RME r ~i eBI XA JL
wIEIB|EIRMTTnn|nMl 11 l MM 1 1 111 I" 1 1
tUlfe pious iott plume
Jackie Cooper
Entertainment Editor
jackiekcooper@hotmail.com
the “ABC Town.” The three
main families are Adairs.
Baileys and Copelands. As a
Cooper, I always said the “C”
stood for Cooper. And there
were enough Coopers in the
town to support such a claim.
My father and his five
brothers all lived in Clinton.
Uncle TL died when he was
in high school, the victim of a
car wreck. Uncle Lewis was
sickly from birth and died
when I was a little boy. I only
have vague memories of him.
Uncle Lynn was the slickest
of the group. Family legend
said he dated his teachers in
high school. He was also
PHONES
rrrf
000 A M
known to be good with cards.
Plus he was a salesman
through and through. He
established Cooper Motor
Company and made it a
major success. It still thrives
in Clinton today.
Uncle Charlie owned and
operated a garage. He could
fix any car of any problem.
He and Aunt Maynette lived
in a huge two-story rock
house downtown. Whenever
there was a storm with any
wind in it Uncle Charlie and
Aunt Maynette would come
over to our house. Uncle
Charlie said he didn’t want
all those rocks falling in on
him.
Uncle Russell worked for
Uncle Charlie. He was a
mechanic. He and Aunt Lena
never had any children and it
was a shame. Uncle Russell
loved kids and always kept
chewing gum in his pocket to
give to them. He also would
give me a quarter from time
to time “just for being me”.
My father started off as a
bus driver, then changed to
Pepsi Cola salesman, and
ended up a Merita bread
man. He wasn’t the richest of
START THE YEAR OFF RIGHT
Start The New Year Off
With A New You!
HHHBK JMUW| anmMMn jnMHHMHHMjI
-i'% lipiM.
IPlisillialli
• tfmiTrr
V.. L. f&ft., . . J « - - -
the brothers but he lived the
longest and probably had the
happiest life.
When I was growing up in
Clinton I had the whole town
as neighbors. I could go any
where and feel completely
secure. I knew just about
everybody in town and those
I didn’t know, well I knew
they either knew my Daddy
or one of my uncles. If I was
downtown and wanted a coke
from the fountain at the
drugstore, I could get one
and tell them my daddy
would pay for it.
In the summer there was a
swimming pool near Clinton
Mill where we could swim. It
was so safe that my parents
let my brother and me walk
there and back, and it was
quite a few blocks. But it was
safe. I don’t think I ever
heard of any child having
trouble of any kind while
going to the pool and back.
We didn’t have a park per
se but the grammar school
was near where I lived and
we could go there and play on
the swings or sliding board.
There were also open lots all
over town where you could
play baseball. The college
Advertising Works!
Call 987-1823
For More Information on
Our Great Rates
l|Oj j Chiropractic Care
& Rchaljilitatioii^
\ JgAj If * tfftill Neil Schwartz, D.C.
Board Certified Physiological
” Therapeutics
office: (478) 971-4110 • FAX: (478) 971-4072
C —Watson Blvd. • Suite 3 • Warner Robins, GA 31088
NOTICE
SPECIAL ELECTION
RUNOFF
JANUARY 29, 2002
POLLING PLACES OPEN
7:00 A.M. UNTIL 7:00 P.M.
Houston County Board of Elections
987-1973
3 Ways To Join:
1 Month for S3O
3 Months for $75
1 Year for $199
Open 24 Hours A Day • 7 Days A Week
For More Information Call Julie at
478-987-1823
had a library where you could
get any book you wanted to
read, and downtown there
was a movie theater where
the movies changed four
times a week.
Clinton had a mild climate.
There was rarely any snow in
the winter, and the summer
got hot but there always
seemed to be a breeze. But in
truth I do remember walking
barefoot on the roads in the
summer and the tar would be
melting. So I guess it did get
hotter than I remember.
I played Small Fry and
Little League ball and also
went to dance lessons when I
was about twelve years old.
We learned the waltz, the
samba, and other variations
on dance. All the kids in my
class went. Our parents made
us. I don’t know where they
expected us to do these
dances, but we learned them.
I still do a mean mambo.
It was a wonderful time
and a wonderful place. I
wouldn’t trade growing up
there for anything. At one
time people spoke of “small
town” with a sneer, but I
claim my small town heritage
with pride.
Where Your
Friends Meet
& Eat!
fljifPigfcy
-75 Exit 136 « 987-8877
• Family
Memberships
•3000 Sq. Ft
•Machines
•Free Weight?
•Bikes
•Treadmills
•Lots More!
•Personal
Trainer
Available
PAGE 5A