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TUESDAY May 17, 2005 Volume 135, Number 352 Award-Winning Newspaper 2004 Better Newspaper Contest inside TODAY JH Flint, Sonny’s host first family friendty Business After Hours Business, page 7A Happy BIRTHDAY! Donald Godfrey Linda Greer Hunter Law Happy ANNIVERSARY!. Travis and Heather Sorrow (Surprise your friends! Let us know when their birthday or anniversary is, and we’ll put their names in the paper that day. Just send the name and date at least a week in advance, and we’ll do the rest. E-mail to hhj@evansnewspapers.com, or mail them to us at the address inside. No phone calls, please. Many happy returns!) Area DEATHS Robert E. “Bob” Baer John H. Bell Jr. Anna M. Haberer Charles Wolff Obits, page 2A INDEX BUSINESS 7A CLASSIFIED 11A CLUB NEWS ... .12A COMICS 10A CROSSWORD ...10A OBITUARIES 2A OPINION 4A SCHOOL NEWS . .13A SPORTS 14A TV LISTINGS ... .10A WEATHER 2A PERIODICAL liililli«lMlltflflllMf>illllllll|||||||M| l || l , l || 6 * Georgia Newspaper Project Mam Library UN IV OF GEORGIA ATHENS GA 30602-0002 3-DIGIT 306 Serving Houston County Since 1870 (/SprX fplcrustcm (Lite Saxmml * LEGAL ORGAN FOR HOUSTON COUNTY, city of Perry ; cm of Warner Robins and city of Centerville Talton thinking of retirement Chief deputy may step down as lawman, but would stay on as lawmaker By MIKE GEORGE HHJ Staff Writer PERRY - In a recent meeting, Rep. Willie Talton, R-Warner Robins, told the Perry Kiwanis Club that he is considering leav ing his post as chief deputy of y. V a [Hi .t JKff t tffc* jmf/y The survivors' walk began the relay with survivors of every age taking the first lap. They were joined by caregivers on the second lap, Kids Against Cancer on the third and costumed contestants on the fourth lap. Relay raises $234K ... so far Some 1,500 participants turn out to raise funds for cancer research Story and photos by Ray Lightner PERRY - The second United Houston County Relay for Life raised $234,392.58 for the American Cancer Society - so far. Houston Relay Chairman Bill Grabowski said that was the total as of Saturday morning, “but we’re not done yet.” Grabowski said he expects more to come in, with some companies providing match ing funds by the deadline for contributions on Aug. 31. Last year, the first united relay raised $260,000, and Fire guts home on Elko Road ByRAYUGHTNER HHJ Staff Writer PERRY - Herman Duncan had an electrician come out Thursday and tell him “everything was straight.” Duncan’s Elko Road home had a small fire May 6, which he’d put out by the time firefighters got there. That fire was caused by a short-circuit in a fan. according to firefighter Jimmy Kersey, from Houston County Station 4 in Henderson. Kersey and fellow Houston firefighters were called back out to 2013 Elko Road again Saturday to find flames shooting out the front door of the residence. Kersey said the fire quick ly went through the roof of the mobile home, which was destroyed by the Saturday fire. Responding firefighters could see smoke from the fire in Perry and as far north as Crestview www.hhjnews.com the Houston County Sheriff’s Department by the end of this year. “This is probably my last year at the department,” he said. Talton said he has not “offi cially” decided when he will this year’s goal is $276,000. The American Cancer Society’s Jennifer Luker praised the Relay for raising more than $200,000 and coming a long way towards the goal of $1.5 million for the 12 area events over the weekend. The united Houston Relay had some 84 teams from local businesses, churches, schools and Robins Air Force Base, with about 1,500 participants. Teams raised money not only with pledges for the walk, but fund-raisers from barbecues to hat days, tip jars to food sales at the Relay. The Perry Georgia State See RELAY, page 6A - ' ' . ~ ■'• ■ Jjj, ' >*'*■ ; HL FI » t If‘l 'A ’P\,~ JSE , HHJ Kay Lightner Houston County firefighters work to knock down flames Saturday in a home on Elko Road. No one was home at the time the fire broke out. Road where it intersects with U.S. 41. Houston County engines 31, 41 and 51, A-l Air Light Support, Rescue Brush 5 and Tanker 53 were called out for the fire. Because the nearest hydrant was at Hay Road, the tanker truck filled the pumpers as they emptied, left to refill and returned. Perry Fire Department R-l also retire, but told the club that he will continue serving the people of his district in the Georgia leg islature. Talton was unopposed in his bid to serve District 145 in the Georgia House. During his W" "% t * jh . r uMj *%-fflßngg Jr? agg - *V U& - Cancer survivor Barbara Conch was the torchbearer for the opening ceremonies at this year’s Relay For Life. More photos, page 34 responded to fight the fire and Perry Police provided traffic control. Perry Police Cpl. Ron Brainard took two kittens found covered in soot at the scene to another officer for transport to a veterinarian. He and firefighters help console resident Betty Duncan, who briefly did not know if her husband was in the house. But husband months in office, he has taken bold, yet controversial stands against the black caucus and its opposition to the voter ID law, which requires registered voters to present proper identification See TALTON, page 64 Herman Duncan had taken family members to get something to eat and was not home when the fire started. The Duncans had lived there with their daughter, four grandchildren and his brother-in-law for about two and a half years. A neighbor offered them any help he could. an Evans Family Newspaper 50e iiiaiin 8 "5 5108*00001"" 4 ONE SECTION • 16 PAGES Homeless shelter planned for Perry By MIKE GEORGE HHJ Staff Writer PERRY - Plans to build a shelter for homeless women south of Perry are moving forward. The Perry Planning Commission has approved a request from the city to annex and rezone a 12-acre tract along U.S. 41 South, despite confusion over what type of shelter would be built on the property. Planning Department staff said they were told that the new shelter was being built to protect battered women and their children. Several commissioners expressed concerns over locating that type of shelter so close to a major highway. “When you’re dealing See SHELTER, page 3A TALTON