Newspaper Page Text
FRIDAY
July 11, 2003
Volume 134, number 121
Houston welcomes 6,003 new residents
Since 2000 Census, Perry clears 10,000; Warner Robins, Centerville continue rapid growth
From staff, wire reports
The latest U.S. Census Bureau popu
lation estimates show growth across
Houston County and in each of its
incorporated cities.
Countywide, an estimated 6,003 peo
ple were added to a 2000 population of
110,765, for a new, 2002 total of
116,768.
This represents a 5.4 percent
increase and includes 914 people not
accounted for in growth attributed to
Centerville, Perry and Warner Robins,
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Local kids sift
through owl,
er, pellets for
science camp
this week at
Museum of
Aviation
By Luci Joullian
HHJ Staff Writer
WARNER ROBINS - Sorting
through barn owl feces isn’t
normally considered a fun way
to spend your summer vacation,
but for the kids taking part in a
series of science day camps at
the Museum of Aviation in
Warner Robins, it was the per
fect way to indulge their curios
ity and enthusiasm about sci
ence.
One of 14 similar centers in
the state, the Middle Georgia
Youth Science and Technology
Center (MGYSTC) at Robins
Air Force Base recently taught a
group of 15 fourth- through
eighth-graders - most of them
from families affiliated with
Robins Air Force Base - about,
strangely enough, owl pellets.
The purpose of the two-day
course was to learn about the
predator/prey relationship of
the barn owl and the animal
food chain by dissecting owl pel
lets and identifying skeletal
remains found in them.
Summer camps and classes
can be a time for children to
learn things that are outside
the realm of normal school cur
riculum, said Julie Celebi, the
director of the Center, which
also offers continuing education
classes for teachers throughout
the year.
“The kids love it because to
them it’s fun,” Celebi said.
“They have no idea that they
are learning.”
While examining some small
animal bones she found in the
owl pellets, fourth-grader
Hayley Johnson from Warner
Robins said she decided to try
the camp because of her love for
science and experiments.
Camp participant Ashley
Watts reassembled the bones of
a rat that were found, along
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each of which posted significant gains
during the same period.
With a 7.7 percent increase (3,761
people) since 2000, Warner Robins
remains one of the fastest-growing
cities in the state. Among Georgia
cities of at least 10,000 people, it
ranked 14th in growth in the last year
alone.
“Houston County has grown tremen
dously and Warner Robins is right in
the middle of it all,” said Warner
Robins Mayor Pro Tern Dean Cowart.
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HHJ Luci Joullian
Seventh-grader Mark Barrett investigates a group of hairballs that were found in owl pellets.
with a fur ball, in an owl pellet.
“That smelt really bad,” she
said, crinkling her nose.
Taylor Schott agreed.
“Dissecting was the smelliest
part!” she said, laughing.
If any local aspiring scientists
missed the owl pellets camp,
don’t worry. MGYSTC will be
hosting a crime lab detective
camp next Thursday and
Friday, July 17 and 18.
Participants will have the
chance to investigate a mock
crime scene for “evidence.”
Using the evidence they find,
the children will then use scien
tific procedures such as chro
matography, basic DNA testing
and analysis of fingerprints to
solve various mysteries. Those
wishing to participate in the
camp should contact Celebi at
(478) 926-6398.
Houston County’s legal organ since 1870
Regarding the population’s growth
in size and within the economy, Cowart
said, “The political leaders set the
wheel in motion, but the people push
it.”
“Principally our growth is a result of
multiple factors, such as a good school
system and low crime rates,” Warner
Robins City Development Director
Jesse Fountain said. “With the right
mix, it makes an adequate structure
and the environment conducive to
growth in Warner Robins, and influ
■ 4 I MB
HHJ Emily Johnstone
Josiah Mergele displays a miniscule bone, found in an owl pel
let, that is part of a rat’s backbone.
Forty acres of
summer's bounty!
Sunflowers form a sea of gold
on the forty-acre tract planted
on Kersey Road in South
Houston County. Sunflowers, a
cousin to the daisy, are the only
single flower that can grow as
high as 100 inches tall at a rate
of almost 12 inches a week.
Story and photos, page 10A
ences growth in surrounding areas.
People want to go to areas merging
toward growth.”
In Perry, growth has finally pushed
the city over a major population mile
stone.
“We’re real pleased to get 547 to
push us over the 10,000 mark,” Perry
Mayor James Worrall said.
The change could lead to some fund
ing assistance in the future. Worrall
said there are several grant programs -
both state and federal - that are avail
Rottman takes
command of 19th
By Heather Fasciocco
HHJ Staff Writer
WARNER ROBINS - The
19th Air Refueling Group gave
a final salute to its group com
mander Col. Barbara
Faulkenberry as she handed
over the responsibilities to
Col. Raymond J. Rottman.
Faulkenberry, who led the
Black Knights through two
consecutive years of combat
operations, will become the
375th Airlift Wing commander
at Scott Air Force Base, 111.
Rottman assumed command
after Wednesday’s ceremony
at the Museum of Aviation’s
Century of Flight Hangar
after being handed the group’s
flag by the ceremony’s presid
ing officer Maj. Gen. George N.
Williams.
Willicommander of
21st Air Force, Air Mobility
Command, spoke about both
colonels’ accomplishments in
the service and complimented
them on their enthusiastic
dedication toward the 19th Air
Refueling Group.
“Everyone knows the sacri
fice each military member
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HHJ Heather Fasciocco
Wednesday’s change of command ceremony’s official party
(from left) were Maj. Gen. George N. Williams, Col. Barbara
Faulkenberry and Col. Raymond J. Rottman. Rottman took
command of the 19th Air Refueling Group as Faulkenberry
became the 375th Airlift Wing commander at Scott Air Force
Base, 111.
Inside
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WEATHER 2A
TWO SECTIONS • 20 PAGES
able only to cities with populations
above 10,000.
At the same time, many grant pro
grams for smaller cities include only
those with populations 5,000 or small
er, leaving Perry in limbo for many
years.
“We were in no man’s land,” Worrall
said.
Now, at “the magic number of
10,000,” Perry will have new opportu
nities ahead.
See CENSUS, page 7A
makes,” Williams said. “On
one hand we will celebrate one
person’s contribution, and on
another we are excited for an
addition to the Robins family.”
The change of command cer
emony’s historical significance
dates back to the 18th century.
Organizational flags that rep
resent military groups with
specific colors and a theme
would be passed to the presid
ing officer of the unit from a
superior. The passing of the
flag would and remains to take
place in front of the unit so as
to witness and see the new
leader assume their position.
Faulkenberry spoke about
her memories of Robins after
relinquishing command of the
19th Air Refueling Group.
She thanked business lead
ers for their support in the
group and thanked the mem
bers of the Black Knights.
“You are an award-winning
group and you will continue to
take care of each other at
home as you did when you
were deployed,” she said. “It
See COMMAND, page 7A
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