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DECEMBER 24,2002 Stillwater going strong after 30 years By Luci Joullian Staff Writer Stillwater will hold a reunion concert on Friday, December 27th at Whiskey River. Says Stillwater’s Mike Causey, “not only is it a reunion for us, but also for the people that came out to see us and hung out with us for years. We’ll see people we haven’t seen in years. It’s kind of like going to a school reunion.” This reunion will be a special one, though, in that it marks 30 years since Warner Robins boys Causey, Rob Walker, Bob Spearman, Jimmy Hall, Sebie Lacey, Bobby Golden and A 1 Scarborough formed the band in 1973. The band members, who knew each other since childhood, left college in 1973 and began to pursue music full time. They performed around the southeast for a few years and then signed on with Capricorn Records and put out their first album, entitled “Stillwater,” in 1977. With the help of legendary music producer and Capricorn founder, Phil Walden, “Mindbender,” a single on the band’s first album was a top forty hit across the country and went all the way to #1 in several markets. While this Local delegation looks toward 2003 Assembly session < - vliipy ||fl|Sj *B ' MR-:. IBh. 8 Jlj I _HL -OB Photo by Charlotte Perkins Rep. Larry O’Neal speaks at the breakfast. By Charlotte Perkins Staff Writer Four members of Houston County’s legislative delegation spoke last Thursday to mem bers of the Warner Robins Chamber of Commerce and a host of county and city govern ment officals at the Chamber’s annual “Eggs and Issues” breakfast. Issues touched on in the free wheeling, informal session included expectations of a very tight budget for the upcoming General Assembly session; plans to work with Governor elect Sonny Perdue; drought; human services funding, and the future of the two-party sys tem in Georgia. Representatives Larry Walker, D-Perry; Larry O’Neal, R-Wamer Robins; Robert Ray, D-Crawford County; and Senator-elect Ross Tolleson, R- Perry were present for the event. Sen. Robert Brown, D- Macon, who represents a small portion of northern Houston County, and Sen. Seth Harp, R- Midland, who represents a sub stantial portion of middle and western Houston County, were not present. Rep. Larry Walker, in a relaxed mood, drew a laugh from the crowd when he reflect ed on past and present delega tions, saying that there have been “Two Sonnys, two Walkers and two Larrys, and at one time a Watson, a Walker and a Waddle.” Walker said that the coming year would mean “hard times” in Gerogia, and noted that just one local nursing home stood to lose $700,000 due to declining tax revenues and resulting state seemed to be a sure road to fame, Causey says that Capricorn hadn’t anticipated and wasn’t prepared for the reaction that the band’s first single attracted. He says, “afterwards, Phil said, ‘we lost that one, but we won’t lose the next one.’” Causey continues, “Then we put out the next album, which was “I Reserve the Right,” and then the label went bankrupt. So it was just a case of wrong place, wrong time.” The members of Stillwater parted ways in 1983, but came together once again ta record a live album, “Running Free,” produced by the renowned Rodney Mills, and released under Stillwater’s own label in 1998. The band garnered a second wave of recognition when the movie “Almost Famous” was released in 2000. The film, which was a semiautobio graphical account of director Cameron Crowe’s time as a music reporter for Rolling Stone, centered around a band called Stillwater. “They want ed to use our name,” says Causey. “The movie really was n’t about us, but it could have been,” he adds. “In reality, it’s kind of funny because, I mean, we were about almost famous,” cutbacks. However, he said that he thought “education will be spared.” On a positive note, Walker said that he was “excited about our new governor,” calling Gov.- Elect Perdue “a man of integri ty.” Walker, who is currently working in alliance with Perdue to win the position of Speaker of the House through a coalition vote, said, “I’m living in inter esting times, complex times.” He described recent weeks as “an emotional rollercoaster,” but said that he felt good about Closings The HHJ offices will be closed Dec. 25-27 in observance of Christmas. The City of Perry offices and Houston County offices will be closed Dec. 24 and 25. Warner Robins offices will be closed Dec. 25-27. Centerville city offices will close at noon Dec. 24 and reopen Dec. 27. tEh* Mmtstmt Moth* he laughs. Causey and the other mem bers of Stillwater aren’t ones to dwell on the past, though. Every member of the group has stayed a part of the music scene. Causey, Lacey and Scarborough now enjoy occa sionally playing in a band they call The Hasbeens. The group recently performed at a fundraiser for Governor-elect Sonny Perdue. This year’s reunion concert will pay tribute to band mem ber and keyboard player Bob Spearman, who died earlier this year after battling cancer. “It was very unexpected,” says Causey. “When Bob passed away, that was very sad. When we do these reunions, we real ize that we can’t do it forever. You just don’t know what’s going to happen.” But for now, Stillwater is still going strong. Their song, “I Reserve the Right,” will be featured on an upcoming episode of the Sci Fi Channel’s new television series, “Tremors.” “It’s kind of funny how things come full circle,” muses Causey. “This is 30 years we’ve been together and this is kind of an important year, a little mile mark.” Causey says that he is con stantly amazed at the tales he his chances, and that he would “either be Speaker of the House or a totally independent repre sentative.” Rep. Ray, who is recovering from heart surgery, thanked those present for their support during his “seven bypasses and three tune-ups,” and expressed concern about Georgia’s water supply and the economic impact of the sustained drought. Ray referred to Perdue as “the smartest man I know”, adding, “the main thing is that he has good common horse sense.” Commenting on the possibili ty of party-switching, Ray said that if he changed parties at any point, it would not be ‘right after an election,” and noted that “I’ve always voted conser vative, always voted my con science.” Ray initially declined to com ment on how he will vote in the speaker’s race between Larry Walker and Terry Coleman, but apparently told members of the press at later time that he had made a commitment to vote for Coleman. Rep. O’Neal, who will be one of Perdue’s floor leaders in the house, spoke with warmth of Walker and Ray and the help they gave him during his first session in the legislature. Asked about the future of mental health and human service fund ing in Georgia, O’Neal said that the whole system will be under review, and noted that while earlier funding formula’s had “sounded great”, the end result had been that Houston County’s mental health services lost money. Sen. Tolleson reiterated his campaign pledge to “be a work horse, not a show horse,” and won a round of applause when he said that “It’s fabulous to have the next governor from Houston County and to have the next speaker of the house -mkrnm - : M ■ , 4 H. M Hr * • qmbbv! z nsnunK ' '■* -,i 4*, . i y ■ ■ *.'V " v .- v . -a s. r>* : : ■ (L-r), Mike Causey and Sebie Lacey of Stillwater rehearse for their reunion concert at Whiskey River. hears of Stillwater fans from all over the country. “People come up to us all the time and we’re always hearing stuff about how people recognize and remember us,” he says. “It’s amazing how it comes back to you. It’s kind of like the past to us, but it still just pops up every other day.” from Houston County.” Tolleson told the audience that his grandfather, James Douglas Shannon, Jr., of Twiggs County had served in the house and the senate in the early 20th century, and said jokingly that his mother had already warned him to do the right things in Atlanta. A-1 CLEANERSX SUPERIOR CLEANERS 1220 Russell Pkwy., Warner Robins \ 2509 Moody Rd., Warner Robins (Next To Advanced Auto) (Next To My Father’s Place Pizza) Mon. Frl. 7am - 7pm • Sal. 7am - 6pm Mm. - Sat 7am -10 pm • Sun. 9am ■ 7pm 922-5739 918-0029 ■ 5 PC. ! DRY CLEAN | i *ll * 5 i I Silk, Linings & Pleats Extra | ■ Mi Coupon ■ foe Capon Pei Cistra Ity W Be Cartred. WtiAnyOtwOfetotaiißeaiclKreAppiy 25° /o Off All Merchandise 50 ° /o Off All Christmas Merchandise Dec. 27th - Jan. 4th 923-0000 504 Russell PRwy ■■■ *33 FOR £. PHONES *with SL value plan activation of phones. 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