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WEEKEND September 27-29,2003 Volume 134, Number 177 Award-Winning Newspaper 2003 Better Newspaper Contest INSIDE lODAY Shutout city Houston County’s Bears celebrated their third straight shutout of the season as Perry High’s Panthers were blanked by Northeast in yet another heartbreak ing defeat. In other area action, Warner Robins High’s Demons crushed Morrow 42-12, and Westfield trounced Monroe Academy 41-7. Sports, page 1B 1 jff Former Sen. Nunn takes a swing Friday brought a close to the 2003 Georgia Invitational Golf Tournament. See page 3A Sibyl Alligood Heard Lt. Col. Donald A. Utterback, USAF (Ret.) Claudia Mae Walker Obits, page 7A INDEX CLASSIFIED 6B CLUB NEWS 7A COMICS 4B CROSSWORD 4B LIFESTYLE 8A OBITUARIES 7A OPINION 4A SCHOOL NEWS . . .5B TV LISTINGS 4B WEATHER 2A PERIODICAL Ihllilliiiilliilliiiiililliliil 4 * jeoraia Newspaper Project MAIN LIBRARY UGA ATHENS GA 30602 MSIGIT 306 Serving Houston County Since 1870 [Tft Y 3fcusttm plame K Qim Smxrxml LEGAL ORGAN FOR HOUSTON COUNTY, ' city of Perry, city of Warner Robins and city of Centerville School board to raise taxes Millage hike deemed necessary to maintain standards; only one votes against By Jon Suggs HHJ Staff Writer WARNER ROBINS - It’s raise taxes or lower standards, according to the Houston County Board of Education. In a 5-1 decision Friday, the board proposed a 13.67 property tax mill age rate for fiscal year 2004, an increase of 1.91 mills over the pres ent rate. Perry honors officers, citizens Police Sgt. Ray Jackson receives Purple Heart By Emily Johnstone HHJ Associate Editor PERRY - The first-ever Purple Heart recipient for the Perry Police Department ..racaiuad his medal during the annual Community Neighborhood Watch dinner at Rozar Park Thursday evening. Chief George Potter pre sented Sgt. Ray Jackson, a 30-year veteran, the award in recognition for his heroic actions during a domestic that occurred in 1987. While answering the call to assist a fellow police offi cer, Jackson attempted to disarm a woman who was pointing a gun in the direc tion of Jackson’s partner, Dan Bray. Jackson was shot during the incident. He received a standing ovation from the 200-plus attendees at the dinner dur ing the presentation. Also honored with medals of recognition were Detective Sgt. Brian Emmons for an incident he was involved in during 2001. Emmons found himself face to face with an armed 14-year-old boy. The ser geant spent about 15 min utes persuading the youth to put down his weapon. Potter praised Emmons for keeping a cool head and finding a way to disarm the young man without having to shoot him. Col. Jack Johnson also received kudos for shooting a knife out of the hand of a Related photos, page 5A 1 CMSgt ALAN SHAW www.hhjnews.com One mill produces $1 tax for every SI,OOO worth of property value. In Houston County only 40 percent of the assessed value of property is tax able. Thus, a home assessed at SIOO,OOO is taxed at $40,000. At the current millage rate of 11.76 mills, that comes to $470.40 in taxes for education. Under the new rate, the same homeowner will pay $546.80. ■ ■ fp' 3§||§ll!|p f ' if fc / A ’ I lig ™ NX ■ 1 91 1 iMpyj j J h 1 rMai,i,-iii i § * 4 I fll Hat. jSK L B HHJ/Emily Johnstone Purple Heart recipient Perry Police Sgt. Ray Jackson, center, with wife, Tiny, right, and Chief George Potter. man who was attempting to assault a fellow officer in 2002. Potter called Johnson’s actions an “act of valor.” “It is important to recog nize our officers who put their lives on the line every day,” said the chief. He also noted excellent work by the Perry detective division, whose members solved a major bank robbery case that occurred in town earlier this year. After tracking numerous leads the Perry team arrest ed two men in Jacksonville, Fla., for the robbery. Potter noted the Perry detectives’ work solved a number of bank robberies previously unsolved by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He mentioned two other cases, one involving robbery of the Dollar General store, which led to an arrest of a former store manager for that chain. Potter noted the outstand ing work of detectives Leyon Roberts, Drew Dodson, Brian Emmons, Calvin Proffitt, Ken Ezell, Capt. Heath Dykes and their administrative assistant Gail Price. Perry Animal Control Officer Happy Shenal and a number of volunteers for the animal shelter were also recognized for their out standing service, as well as leaders of local neighbor hood watch groups. Shaw receives Bronze Star By Heather Fasciocco HHJ Staff Writer ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE - Chief Master Sgt. Alan Shaw was honored in front of his peers Thursday for an above-and beyond performance during Operation Enduring Freedom near A 1 Udeid Air Base, Qatar. “Chief Shaw represents every man and woman in the squadron,” said Lt. Col. The increase is a move to offset state funding cuts, and local officials say it is necessary, if Houston County students are to continue to receive the same quality of educa tion. State cuts for the past fiscal year, this year and next year are expected to cost the system $16.6 million. The only way to make up that dif ference is to approve an increase, : . ; pip? / jsliie siSw jr ,'Mm SB, 8 ..iraH . "X HHJ Joan Domett Perry Police Detective Sgt. Brian Emmons receives a medal of valor from his chief, George Potter, in recogni tion of how he handled a volatile situation. it jnßflßßßr *•' IB HHJ/Joan Dorsett Perry Officer Jack Johnson is recognized by Police Chief George Potter during the annual Neighborhood Watch dinner. Johnson’s actions during a situation saved a fel low officer from serious injury. Michael England, 19th Air Refueling Group’s 19AMXS commander. England said five 19th Air Refueling Group personnel were scheduled to arrive that day from serving overseas, “with 11 more to arrive home hopefully by the end of the year,” England said. While stationed for two and a half months overseas, Shaw oversaw the complete setup of all facets of the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar Systems (Joint STARS) maintenance branch under bare-base con ditions. Under his leadership, as a Squadron Maintenance Superintendent for the 12th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron, 366th Air Expeditionary Group and 366th Air Expeditionary Wing, he and 63 mainte- an Evans Family Newspaper 50c pm 8 “55108*0 0001"* 4 TWO SECTIONS • 18 PAGES according to Danny Carpenter, interim superintendent. “We still need to provide the same quality of education for the young people of Houston County,” Carpenter said. Houston is not the only system facing such a decision. School sys tems across the state have felt the budget bite, and are confronting the See TAXES, page 2A C'ville chief opts out By Emily Johnstone HHJ Associate Editor CENTERVILLE - Former Centerville Police Chief Michael Sullivan signed a severance agreement Thursday. Sullivan had been on leave since late August. According to the agree ment, Sullivan wishes to pursue other interests and is giving the city notice so “it can facilitate transition of the Centerville Police Department to a new chief.” The agreement also states the city recognizes Sullivan’s “desire to pursue other interests, but wishes to have him available as a resource during the transi tion of the Centerville Police Department to a new chief.” Part of the terms of the agreement specifies that Sullivan shall maintain cer tifications required of a police chief and be “reason ably available to the City of Centerville.” Sullivan’s retirement date is effective March 1, 2004. After Sullivan uses his annual and sick leave, he will begin receiving a monthly salary of $1,311, which will continue through Feb. 29, 2004. The agreement also speci fies Sullivan will not bring lawsuits against the city in the future. Though he signed the agreement Thursday, Sullivan can revoke the agreement within seven days. Capt. Ernie Pardo, who was acting chief during Sullivan’s leave earlier this year, is filling in for Sullivan. nance personnel led the first combat sortie to be launched within 48 hours of arrival. Which inevitably led to an unprecedented 247 consecu tive combat launches with a 100 percent launch rate and a record setting 98 percent combat mission effective ness rate. “I have always known how proud he is to do his job,” Jackie Shaw said of her See SHAW, page 5 A