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♦ WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2004
6A
OBITUARjES
MARY ELIZABETH BUFF
WARNER ROBINS - Mary Elizabeth Buff, 81, passed
away Monday, Feb. 23, 2004, in a local hospital. Services will
be at 11 a.m. Wednesday (TODAY) in the chapel of Heritage
Memorial Funeral Home, and an additional services will be
at 2 p.m. in Providence Baptist Church in Shady Dale.
Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation was from 7
until 9 p.m. Tuesday evening at the funeral home.
Buff was born in Shady Dale. She was preceded in death
by her parents, Thomas William and Ethel Gladys Spears
Thompson, and her husband, Julian C. Buff. She was a
member of the Sandy Valley Baptist Church in Warner
Robins and a member of the Senior Adult Sunday School
Class. Buff was a member of the Warner Robins Senior
Citizens Group and a homemaker.
Survivors include her daughter, Sarah E. (Roy) Pulliam of
Warner Robins; three sisters, Ethel Wood of Shady Dale,
Christine Kimball and Lucille Sims, both of Aiken, S.C.;
three grandchildren, Tammy Howard of Byron, Lisa
Urquhart of Warner Robins and Roi Ann Snead of Rochelle.
Family may be contacted at 104 Webb Street, Warner
Robins, the home of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Pulliam.
Heritage Memorial Funeral is in charge of arrangements.
ELMER O. HAWVER
PERRY - Elmer O. Hawver died at his resi
dence on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2004. Memorial serv
ices will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27, at
Watson-Hunt Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers,
the family suggests contributions to the
tuc laixuiy ouggcoto wiu.iiuuwvuo w
American Cancer Society, c/o Nancy Brown, 1110
Pineneedle Drive, Perry, GA 31069.
Bom in Coudersport, Pa., he was the son of James and
Ethel Varney Hawver, and had resided in Perry for 11 years.
Hawver was a retired supervisor with the American Can
Company in New Jersey and was a U.S. Navy World War II
veteran. He was also a Mason and a member of the
Consistory.
Survivors include his wife, Maijorie M. Hawver; four
daughters, Judy Bella of Thonotosassa, Fla., Linda Davis of
Genea, N.Y., Janice Bruni of Stoneville, N.C., Lesa Helstrom
of Kathleen; one son, Randy Hawver of Sarasota, Fla.; 10
granchildren; and a number of great-grandchildren.
Please express condolences online at watsonhunt.com
KENNETH C. THOMPSON SR
CENTERVILLE - Kenneth <T~
Thompson Sr. passed away on
the last evening of a family
vacation in Tybee
Island/Savannah, on Feb. 19,
2004. He is survived by his wife
of 24 years, the former Cheryl Jordan; chil
dren, David (& Karen) Haney of
Fernandina Beach, Fla., Kathryn (&
Charles) Kuchenbeisser of South Wales,
N.Y.; three adored granddaughters; and his
father Clair D. Thompson. He was pre-deceased by daugh
ter Susan Thompson and mother Oda L. Thompson.
Ken was bom in Erie, Pa., on Sept. 15, 1943, attended
Wesleyville High School and also graduated in Erie with a
computer programming degree.
After serving in the U.S. Air Force, he retired from U.S.
Airways with more than 27 years of service, most of which
was at Buffalo, N.Y. He relocated to Macon in 1996, and
then to Centerville in 2001.
He will be fondly remembered by friends at Kmart and
IKON Office Supplies in Macon, as he enjoyed parking his
motorhome on the infield with friends and co-workers for
the races at Hampton. He will be sadly missed by all who
knew him and his wonderful sense of humor.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb.
25 (TODAY) at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home, 701
Carl Vinson Pkwy., Warner Robins Georgia. Donations may
be made to the National Kidney Foundation or Muscular
Dystrophy.
HOMETOWN NEWS
Robert K. Burma
Air National Guard
Airman
Ist Class
Robert K.
Burwell
has gradu
ated from
basic mili
tary train
ing at
Lackland
Air Force
■** ' "T
Base, San Antonio, Texas.
During the six weeks of
training, the airman studied
the Air Force mission,
organization, and military
customs and courtesies; per
formed drill and ceremony
marches, and received phys
ical training, rifle marks
manship, field training exer
cises, and special training in
human relations.
In addition, airmen who
complete basic training earn
Credits toward an associate
degree through the
Community College of the
Air Force.
He is the stepson of Larry
Welty of Bonaire, and son of
Paula Brooks of Unadilla.
Burwell is a 2002 gradu
ate of Crisp County High
School, Cordele.
Cannes M. Unites
Navy Seaman Candice M.
Hindes, daughter of Julie L.
Perez of Kathleen, and
Steven D. Hindes of Fort
Gratiot, Mich., recently
made a port visit to Souda
Bay, Greece, while assigned
to the aircraft carrier USS
George Washington, home
ported in Norfolk, Va.
While in Greece, Hindes
and her fellow shipmates
eryoyed shopping at cultural
centers and visiting histori
cal sights. The sailors also
had the opportunity to eryoy
the local cuisine.
Hindes is a 2002 graduate
11 i
of Port Huron Northern
High School of Port Huron,
Mich.
HaroM I. Newhouse IV
Marine Corps PFC Harold
I. Newhouse IV son of
Beckie and Harold I.
Newhouse of Bonaire,
recently completed basic
training at the Marine
Corps Recruit Depot, Parris
Island, S.C., and was pro
moted to his current rank.
Newhouse successfully
completed 12 weeks of train
ing designed to challenge
new Marine recruits both
physically and mentally.
Newhouse and fellow
recruits began their training
at 5 a. m., by running three
miles and performing calis
thenics. In addition to the
physical conditioning pro
gram, Newhouse spent
numerous hours in class
room and field assignments
which included learning
first aid, uniform regula
tions, combat water sur
vival, marksmanship, hand
to-hand combat and assort
ed weapons training. They
performed close order drill
and operated as a small
infantry unit during field
training.
Newhouse and other
recruits also received
instruction on the Marine
Corps’ core values - honor,
courage and commitment,
and what the words mean in
guiding personal and profes
sional conduct.
Newhouse and fellow
recruits ended the training
phase with The Crucible, a
54-hour team effort, prob
lem solving evolution which
culminated with an emo
tional ceremony in which
the recruits were presented
the Marine Corps Emblem,
and were addressed as
“Marines’’ for the first time
since boot camp began.
2 5
Chairman: Eddie Wiggins
Treasurer: Homer Childs
Secretary: Morgan Law
The Chairman’s Message
2004 springs us into the second of a three-year
long BRAC decision process. Last year the DOD
focused on strategy reviews and will announce
their 20-year force structure requirements to
Congress this month. Later this year they will
announce their oversees basing requirements.
They will spend most of 2004 gathering data and
analyzing the Military Value of each base to
determine which bases best fit the 20-year need. The DOD’s BRAC
recommendations will be available for public release in Spring 2005.
The DOD continues to reinforce the same message about their
desires for the DOD base of the future. The DOD concept is to keep
bases that offer large, joint-operating locations that exhibit the ability
to grow and do all that at a reasonable cost. I feel very confident
Robins is the DOD dream come true. As we have said all along,
Robins is a large multi-mission joint operations center with room to
grow, supported by a vibrant focused community partner with a great
economic return on investment for the DOD.
The DOD began 2004 charging hard at gathering the data required to
make the BRAC recommendations in 2005. We expect more data
calls as the year unfolds. We spent 2003 helping Middle Georgia
gather data and asked the RDC to complete the required studies in
preparation for the 2004 data calls. When the DOD calls, the RDC is
ready to provide certifiable data demonstrating the strength of Middle
Georgia to support Robins AFB for the next 20 years.
The DOD also announced the formal Decision Criteria they expect to
use in next year’s decisions. The criteria brought no surprises. The
criteria have remained virtually the same through the previous four
BRAC rounds. The 2005 Decision Criteria repeat the previous criteria
with some additions calling for more emphasis on Joint Operations
and Homeland Defense. That is great for Robins since we stand tall
in both areas with the 116 th Command and Control Wing and Robins'
experience supporting Homeland Defense Air Interception and Escort
missions from the Robins Alert Facility.
We expect we’ll be busy during 2004 doing everything in our power to
ensure we get the Robins message in front of every conceivable
person who participates in the data gathering, data analysis,
transformation recommendation, and BRAC decision processes. We
anticipate a very busy year.
Along the way we will be engaging the Middle Georgia governments
and communities to address the key issues impacting the Military
Value of Middle Georgia. Recently, we have been involved in the
Joint Land Use, Air Nonattainment, and Peach County Landfill issues,
in addition to completing the studies and keeping the Robins story in
the forefront. We have been very successful thus far and look forward
to the coming months as the DOD turns its focus on Robins. Thanks
to your continued help, we'll be ready to show them exactly why
Every Day In Middle Georgia Is Air
Force Appreciation Day
——p
Robins Air Force Base Happenings
New Places and New Faces at Robins:
The AF announced Major General Wetekam will move to the
Pentagon to become the AF Deputy Chief of Staff, Installations and
Logistics and be promoted to the grade of Lieutenant General The
Partnership has enjoyed a warm and wonderful relationship with Gen
Wetekam during his tenure here at Robins. We are extremely proud
of his accomplishments here at Robins and look forward to many
more years of working with him as he assumes his new position.
Major General (s) Michael Codings will assume Command. Warner
Robins Air Logistics Center in February. Gen Codings is currently the
Director of Maintenance and Logistics at Headquarters Air Combat
Command. He has a very strong background in Logistics having
served in logistics assignments at the squadron, group and wing,
major command, and HQ Air Force levels. He is also an F-16 Pilot
with experience from the warfighters perspective. The Partnership
extends a warm Georgia welcome to Gen Codings and his wife Jan.
Brigadier General Chris Anzelone will become the Vice
Commander, Warner Robins Air Logistics Center in February. Gen
Anzalone is currently the Vice Commander of the Air Armament
Center at Eglin AFB. This will be Gen Anzalone's third assignment in
AFMC, and he brings a strong background in strategic planning and
policy. Likewise, the Partnership extends a warm Georgia welcome to
Gen. Anzalone and his wife Renee.
Maintenance Best in AFMC
AFMC Champions: The Warner Robins Maintenance Directorate led
Air Force Materiel Command in 2003 production and productivity
Touted as the Best performance in the past 5 years, the Robins
performance achieved the Command s highest percentage of
production over the Center g0a1—4.5% above target. Also Robins
ranked highest in the Commend by exceeding all productivity
measurement goals throughout the entire year.
LEAN PAYB OFF: Leading the way for the Center was the Aircraft
Division, which produced 190 Programmed Depot Maintenance
aircraft. Notably, 53 of those were ahead of schedule. The C-5 set an
all time production reoord by producing 23 PDM aircraft. The “23 in
2003“ record Included a 24 percent reduction In flow days for the last 9
aircraft, largely a result of Improvements gained through LEAN
productivity enhancements.
The Avionics & Instruments division provided the Right Spares-Right
on Time. Avionics increased production 14.4% to over 93,000 units.
The Division logged a 20% increase in productive hours over FYO2,
leading to a 7.1% increase in efficiency.
In the Industrial Products Division, record setting productivity was
commonplace. Industrial products recorded the highest productivity in
history by producing 1 8M hours—Total Output per Man Day was 21%
over Budget and their Direct Yield was 20 5% over budget.
Record achievements In production and productivity are visible In
every Division. When you total them all up, the Maintenance
Directorate exceeded their Net Operating Budget by an astounding
SBOM —the best in the Command In over 8 years.
Thanks to tha Bast Workforca In AFMClllll
LOCAL
21st Century Partnership Newsletter
A non-profit organization funded by Middle Georgians committed to the continued viability of Robins Air Force Base
Officers
Vice Chairman: Terry Smith
Aas't Treasurer: Paul Leath
Ass't Secretary: Larry Pugh
Page 2of 2 | Spring 2004
21st Century Partnership Newsletter
A non-profit organization funded by Middle Georgians committed to the continued viabHity of Robins Air Force Base
Robins AFB: A Multiple Mission Installation
Joint Basing Solutions
Elimination of Excess Infrastructure
DoD and Services Postured for Future Operations
Mission: The mission of the Partnership is, from a community
partner perspective, to enhance the Military Value of Robins Air
Force Base and the Military Value of the Middle Georgia
community.
BRAC Time Line
BRAC Time Una: The following is a list of the key events on
the BRAC 2005 time line:
• Publish draft selection criteria 31 Dec 03
• Publish final selection criteria 16 Feb 04
• BRAC Commission nominated by 15 Mar 05
President
• DOD list of proposed closures to 16 May 05
Commission
• Commission Report to President 08 Sep 05
• President sends list to Congress 23 Sep 05
• Congress has 45 days to disapprove
Joint Land Use
The Joint Land Use Study is now complete. The RDC
completed the study of the Air Compatibility Use Zone
surrounding Robips AFB. The study shows Robins is in
great shape-free to operate without any operational
restrictions. Development trends are away from the base,
allowing room for additional missions on Robins. However,
there are some small pockets of long-standing residential
housing on the north end of the base that require stricter
zoning to prevent residential housing in areas subject to
high noise generated from aircraft operating from Robins
AFB. This issue continues to draw significant media
attention. The Partnership is working with Bibb, Houston,
State and AF authorities to help develop appropriate
zoning and compensation plans to ensure the safety,
dignity and fairness to the existing homeowners, and
ensure future land use decisions compiy with strict AF
standards.
Ozone Air Nonattainment
The US EPA notified GA EPD of their intention to add
Houston and Monroe counties to the Bibb County Ozone
Nonattainment zone. The partnership helped craft a joint
GA EPD, Bibb, Houston and Monroe county response with
the support of numerous Middle Georgia agencies. The
Partnership is helping the stakeholders develop a unified
long-term action plan ensuring clean air in Middle Georgia
by creating a Middle Georgia Clean Air Coalition (MGCAC).
The MGCAC will work to identify and implement dean air
standards and actions to ensure continued attainment with
the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The coalition
is aimed at representing the interests of Bibb, Crawford,
Houston, Jones, Monroe, Peach and Twiggs counties.
Continued attainment of dean air standards weighs heavily
in the Military Value of Middle Georgia as the DOD
completes BRAC 2005 decisions.
New Executive Board Members
The new year brought about several membership changes
as new people assumed offices. Following are the
changes; please take the opportunity to welcome these
people to the Partnership Executive Board.
Mayors: Byron; Larry Collins
Centerville: D. Ronnie Brand
County Commission Chairmen:
Laurens: Emory Lake
Chamber of Commerce Presidents and Chairmen
President Hawkinsville Lee Slade
Chairman Hawkinsville Shelly Berryhill
Chairman Macon/Bibb Steve Kruger
Chairman Perry Jim Mehserle
Chairman Warner Robins David Carr
Military Affairs Committee Chairmen
Middle GA Military Affairs Committee: Ronnie Sanders
Warner Robins Military Affairs Committee: Ronnie Sanders
Region 6 Regional Advisory Council (RAC)
Chairman: James Copelan
Macon Economic Development Commission
Chairman: Charlotte McMullan
What You Can Do
Get Informed - Get Enthused - Get Involved!!!
• Gef Informed: Become intimately familiar with the details of
Robins’ unique Military Value (see our web site for details)
• Get Enthused. BRAC is Personal!
• Gef Involved. Personally and Financially
o Become a PUBLIC spokesman, convince others to join in;
build a unified voice with every citizen in Middle Georgia
o Donate your time, talents, and resources
Wear yoyr Rally Shirts on the First Friday each month
Rally Shirts are available for SIOO at tha following locations:
WimwßpMni centervuis WcgnamLEtta
Strato Cleaners Logo Pro Chambers of Commerce
J. Bryan Jewelers
Chamber of Commerce
AFGE Local 987 Office
Robins Federal Credit Union Lccattent
Robins AFB Bldg 166 and Bldg 646
Watson Blvd, South Houston Lake Road, Hartley Bridge Road
Quarterly Meeting
The next 21st Century Partnership Quarterly Meeting is
March 18, 2003, at 10:00 AM at the Museum of Aviation.
Contact Us
804 Park Drive Phone: (478)322-3367
Warner Robins. GA 31088 Fax: (478) 326-1114
Email: crouchl®2lstoentury mgaooxmail com
THE HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL
Page I of 2
Spring 2004