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WEDNESDAY June 15, 2005 Volume 135, Number 373 Award-Winning Newspaper 2004 Better Newspaper Contest Inside TODAY WfrM I Friendly Falcons Steve Morningstar, 8, busts through a pair of tackling dummies as Falcons fullback Justin Griffith pursues. Sports, page 8A 51 Bacon basics The smell of sizzling bacon is one of those things that can wake you up in the morning. Hearth&Home, page 11A Happy BIRTHDAY! Tina Lowe Waylon O. Starley Bill White (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 returnsl) Bert Bivins Jr. Obit, page 2A INDEX CLASSIFIED 10A COMICS 9A CROSSWORD ... .9A HEARTH&HOME .11A OBITUARY 2A OPINION 4A SPORTS 6A TV LISTINGS 9A WEATHER 2A PERIODICAL 6* Georgia Newspaper Piojea Man Librarv UN IV OF GEORGIA ATHENS GA 3J802-4X5G2 3-OIGIT 306 June 15, 2005 Serving Houston County Since 1870 Y <^r f ptonstot dim soxxvxml * LEGAL ORGAN FOR HOUSTON COUNTY, city of Perry, city of Warner Robins and city of Centerville * i School board considers raising fees Organizations may soon see hike in fees charged for using public school facilities By TERESA D. SOUTHERN HHJ Staff Writer Many churches and organizations have used Houston County Board of Education facilities for events for a minimal cost, but this may soon change. In their work session on Monday night, the board considered the revi sion of a 23-year-old policy that sets rates for the renting of school audi toriums, gymnasiums, classrooms, playing fields and stadiums. Perry denies request Planners side with neighbors of proposed car wash property By MIKE GEORGE HHJ Staff Writer The Perry Planning Commission denied one local partnership’s plans to build a £ar wa-sh at the intersection of Wespark Drive and Houston Lake Road during its regular meeting Monday night, sid ing with neighboring busi ness owners who com plained that the building would cause problems for the surrounding communi ty The commission voted unanimously to deny devel oper Art Hall’s request to build a car wash in a C-2 (General Commercial) dis trict, which requires a spe cial exception from the plan ning commission and the Perry City Council. Planning Commission Chairman Martin Beeland said that these businesses require special exceptions because a car wash some times doesn’t fit in among surrounding businesses. Several neighboring busi ness owners challenged the partnership’s request. Nicole Emmons, who owns the Bright Beginnings Day Care on Wespark Drive, said the car wash would lower property values, create traf fic problems, bring loud noises from stereos and encourage loitering. Emmons said she came to the meeting because she wanted to protect the 86 children under her care. Emmons also said that a 24- hour car wash could create even more problems, bring ing more crime to the area. See PLANNING, page 12A ARK plans Saturday event to raise funds Animal rescue group to hold flea market; hopes to raise ‘several thousand dollars’ By TIM HOSKINS HHJ Student Writer Animal Rescue and Kindness (ARK), a six-year old Middle Georgia group dedicated to finding good homes for stray dogs and cats, will be holding a bene fit flea market sale from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at 115 Bonanza Drive in www.hhjnews.com Facihties Director Dave McMahan said the attractive prices have encouraged more people and organi zations to request the use of board facilities. Among the groups requesting have been seed churches with small memberships who hold services in cafeterias; Girl Scouts; the YMCA; the city of Warner Robins; private schools and many other organiza tions. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University also uses school facilities. ■*!Sm fl|jpbjg£'' in WKKm v^^B HHJ/Mike George Firefighter Kelvin Ross takes measurements recently from a device that measures square footage at Farmer’s Furniture on Main Street in Perry. Planning for the fire .jBBBBHBBte ' 1 ’Hiri****’*' X JBK <■■■ rBBHRP -I,; L'tdi ■ . Xm ‘ijiHllff' S'* ' HHJ/Mike George Perry Firefighters Ephraim Wheeler and Billy Gordon talk about the layout of Farmer’s Furniture on Main Street in Perry. Bonaire. The sale will be of donated items and the pro ceeds will go to fund the group’s animal rescue efforts. “We need to raise several thousand dollars,” said ARK founder and president Virginia Waller, who says that there has already been a positive response. Many times when brought before the board the use of facilities is approved, providing there is not conflict with school activities and the school’s principal approves the use. If the revised policy is approved after being tabled for 30 days, some rental fees may increase by as much as $225. Board member Jim Boswell said the size of organizations should be taken into account when deciding, “We’ve received three sofas, a dining room suite, several microwaves and other sizeable items,” said Waller. “The money will go to get the animals spayed, get their shots, house the ani mals, feed them, the cats need kitty litter, things like that,” said Jacqui Rengstorf, an ARK member. “Anything a pet owner needs, we need only a zillion times more.” ARK has facilitated over 2,500 pet adoption, helped about 1,000 low-income families pay for spaying or neutering their pets, and rescued almost 650 abused and neglected animals. The an Evans Family Newspaper 50c Mill 8 ”*55 108*0 00 01*" 4 ONE SECTION • 12 PAGES because they could afford to rent commercial property. In January the board turned down a request from Beulahland Bible Church to use Northside High’s gym. The church has over 3,000 members, and board members said they would induce “wear and tear” on the facility. The Macon-based church wanted to hold weekly serv ices for 400 of its members who live in Houston County. See BOARD, page 12A Firefighters visiting Perry businesses to plan - in case of fires there By MIKE GEORGE HHJ Staff Writer The Perry Fire Department is working to prevent the kind of unex pected surprises that can end up causing deadly con sequences during a fire. Since January, the depart ment has been visiting local businesses, drawing layouts, checking for working fire extinguishers, identifying exits and spotting safety hazards, and out of the way closets and attic spaces. “This really helps us iden tify any hidden areas and things like staircases,” said See FIRE, page 12A group has about 25 mem bers and meets at 7:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Flint Energies building on Elberta Road in Warner Robins. ARK’s programs include Seniors for Seniors, which pair aging animals with See ARK, page 12A