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PAGE 8A TOP TEN Continued from Page t A accommodate over 500 inmates. S. Larry Walker 's "Interesting time" The number three story in Houston County for 2002 Rep. Larry Walker’s coalition bid to be speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives, could very well be near the top of the 2003 list also, because the story won’t be over until Jan. 13, 2003, when the vote is taken in Atlanta. On that Monday, the opening of the 2003 Georgia General Assembly, members of the House of Representatives will elect a Speaker of the House to succeed the legendary Democrat Tom Murphy, who served in that post for four decades before being toppled by a Republican challenger in his home district. Perry’s Larry Walker, who has long served as Democratic Majority Leader and has been considered a top contender to succeed Murphy, is squaring off against another Democratic leader, Terry Coleman of Eastman, for the Speaker’s post. A few days after Sonny Perdue’s victory in the gover nor’s race, Walker withdrew his name from consideration for the nomination of the Democratic Caucus, saying that while he had no plans to switch parties, he was not willing to be an obstructionist to the pro grams and plans of fellow Houston Countian, Governor elect Perdue. With Republicans in the minority in the house, Perdue and Walker are report edly working together at this point to build a coalition of Republican and Democratic representives to elect Walker to the speaker’s post when the vote is taken by the full assem bly. The outcome of this unprece dented bipartisan effort is uncertain at this writing, but Walker, long a major power in state politics, with an impres sive record of “bringing home the bacon” to his home county, says that either he will be speaker after Jan. 13, or he will be a completely independent representative after years of “carrying water” for Murphy and various governors, and that either way he’ll win. 4. Slicing, dicing and gerrymandering For Houston Countians, the 2002 primary brought a lesson home. However dull and remote the subject may seem while reapportionment and redistrict ing efforts are underway at the state level, the impact of the decisions that are made and the maps that are drawn is definite ly felt by the average citizen when it comes time to vote. Nowhere was that clearer than in the case of the twice-drawn state senate map for Houston County, which divided the coun ty between three senate dis tricts when it had previously been in one. Many voters were not aware until they went to the polls that they could not vote for local favorites. In the Lake Joy district, to take only one example, voters seeing signs eveiy day for Ross Tolleson and Michael Moore, realized that they were to choose between two candidates from Muscogee County. Voters keenly interest ed in the congressional race between Bibb Countians Calder Clay and Jim Marshall, found themselves choosing between three Savannah candidates. Why? Because of an approach to redistricting that focused almost entirely on maintaining Democratic party power and minimizing Republican gains. This strategy linked precincts that had voted Republican in recent races together in long distorted shapes stretching across the state. The “slicing and dicing” that originally led Republican Sonny Perdue to seek higher office, will now be among the first things he hopes to correct on taking office, and a bill has already been pre-filed to draw new maps with priorities of keeping counties intact, keep ing communities of interest intact, and minimizing political considerations. (See related front page interview with Governor-elect Perdue.) ft New Schools finally It took two sales tax referenda and a great deal of public educa- tion and persuasion, but new schools are finally being built in rapidly-growing Houston County, and classroom addi tions are on the drawing board in a massive building program that is still not expected to meet the public school system’s space needs. The schools that are under construction are a new Tabor Middle School on Thomson Road in Centerville, and two new schools for younger children in the housing “boom” area in the middle of the county: Lake Joy Elementary, which will relieve overcrowding in Perdue Elementary and Quail Run Elementary in addition to pro viding classroom space for new comers, and David A. Perdue Primary School, which is being built adjacent to Perdue Elementary, which -at last count - had 17 portable class rooms. The primary school will house kindergarten through third graders. 6. Year of the Road Work on the $23.23 million Richard B. Russell Parkway extension project got moving in 2002. The extension is part of sever al projects that led to Houston County Commission Chairman Ned Sanders dubbing 2002 as the “Year of the Road.” Up at the top of the list of those projects, the extension will add six miles to the existing Russell Parkway from its inter section with Houston Lake Road to Interstate 75. This will provide another main corridor that will help ease some of the bumper-to bumper traffic that now plagues parts of Warner Robins, said officials. When complete, the road will extend from 1-75 to Robins Air Force Base and Ga. 247. The project will include the construction of two bridges and an interstate interchange. Time to complete the project will take about three years, according to Warner Robins Community Development Director Jesse Fountain. Other ongoing projects include resurfacing on Ga. 96, work on the Houston Lake Road project in the Houston Lake/Feagin Mill roads area, and the Cohen Walker Drive extension. 7. A college campus lor Warner Robins Outstanding teamwork between a host of governmen tal,educational and business leaders including Mayor Donald Walker, Rep. Larry Walker, President David A. Bell of Macon State College and Robins Federal Credit Union got the ball rolling for a long awaited permanent college cam pus in Warner Robins. At the top of the agenda is a $5 million restoration and modernization of the historic Thomson School on Watson Blvd. Macon State will build a 25,000 sq. ft. addi tion, with classrooms, science and technology labs and a mul timedia auditorium. The Warner Robins center for MSC will offer a four year technology degree and will be positioned to serve both Robins Air Force Base and the Houston County community. People Pleasing! (We will delight you!) greendgrby 1-75 Exit 136 • 987-8877 ■ JOIN MEETINGS WOW FOR OMLV sls! 1 800 651 6000 WeightWatchers.com real food, real life.real results. Void where prohibited. Offer end* February 1,2003.02003 Weight Watchers International, Inc. Owner of the WEIGHT WATCHERS trademark. All right* reserved. Offer valid in participating locations only in Al. FI, GA, OK, TX, NC and SC. Fee for subsequent weeks sll-112 depending on geography. Not valid for Corporate Solutions (On Site Meetings) or online services. tHIp pLmstnn plume journal 8. Perry Post Office On May 29, 2002, Perry citi zens turned out en masse, brav ing a sweltering sunny day to celebrate the grand opening of their long-awaited post office. U.S. Sen. Max Cleland, one of several key players in the proj ect, spoke to the crowd gathered at the front of the new facility located on Macon Road. Cleland, who presented Postmaster Butch Kirkley with a flag, said that his participa tion in the event was a “rare privilege” and noted that he had first heard about Perry’s need for a new post office from Rep. Walker soon after he was elect ed. Others who were praised for their part included Mayor Jim Worrall, along with two mem bers of Cleland’s staff, Elsie Hand and Bill Chapman. 8. Board of Education Section Three new members were elected to the Board of NOTICE OF SALE OF CONTENTS OF UNITS By AUCTION ON JANUARY 11,2003 AT 8:30 AM Perry Self Storage Comer of Jeanne St. & Gen. 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Now at Weight Watchers get 'ln the Groove'- your cool guide to getting started, free when you join. Education in the fall. They are Karen Mertens, who won over appointee Chuck Summers and took office immediately to fill the unexpired term of Summers’ late wife, Pat Summers; Jim Boswell and Griff Clements, who will be sworn in at the first meeting in January. Thomas Walmer, who was appointed in January to fill the unexpired term of Terry Hedden, was re-elected with no contest. Members Shirley Lowery and George Nelson are retiring from the Board. 10. West Nile In late August, health offi cials confirmed a Perry woman was being tested and treated for West Nile Virus. The announcment made headlines state and nationwide as the list of victims grew. The disease that causes flu like symptoms can be fatal to the elderly and those with compromised immune sys tems. t™- .... n : M jsHLi Jv L. m* <»l|jyS . . -teww.land|^p|^peJ«^-coi» Two Locations to Serve You TODAYI THE MONEY TREE 3380 Pio Nono Avenue Macon, Georgia 31206 1220 Russell Pkwy Ste. 5 Warner Robins, Georgia 31088 THE MONEY TREE Of GEORGIA, Inc. INVESTMENT CENTER 114 S. Broad St. Bainbridge GA 39817 TOLL FREE 1-877-468-7878 Marvin Hall. Executive Director www.themonevtreelnc.com I IRAs and Retirement Investing Available West Nile Virus is carried by C > >or’s Clothing “High Fashion Men’s & Women’s Clothing At Warehouse Prices” • Kalian Design Suits, Dress Suits & Slacks • Women 2 Piece Suits, Dresses & Pants, Accessories & Much More • Top Of The Line Men’s Shoes in Fine Leather, Crocodile & Ostrich • Men’s Accessories - Watches, Silk Ties & Handkerchiefs j • And Much More! Rev. Shawn L Cooper, Owner Open: Tues. - Fri. 9am-6pm • Sat. 7am-7pm 205 Martin Luther King Blvd. • Warner Robins 228-0801 certain birds which in turn transmit the> disease to mos quitoes when bitten. Humans can get the virus when bitten by infected mos quitoes. The 69-year-old woman was one of those who survived West Nile symptoms which included high fever, aches and pains. As a result of the announce ment, many Houston County residents stepped up their efforts to reduce the number of mosquitoes by eliminating areas of standing water. Municipalities continued their regime of spraying for the insects and using larvae cide pellets in ditches and other places with standing water. Peace of mind. freedom of thought. Liborotfon. Lot ft begin art Be/fSouth. 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