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TUESDAY June 21, 2005 Volume 135, Number 377 Award-Winning Newspaper 2004 Better Newspaper Contest inside TODAY J^H American arm-istice Members of the Warner Robins American Little League T-ball All-Stars huddle up Saturday at Flint Energies Sports Complex in Warner Robins. Sports, page 11A Happy BIRTHDAY! Nick Campbell Dorothy Flynn Kelton Lee Morgan (Kel) Kathryn Peters (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 Richard “Ricky” Taylor Bone Sr. Earnest “Ernie” Frye Clarence V Hayes J. Howard Rodgers Jerry Thompson Obits, page 2A INDEX BUSINESS 5A CLASSIFIED 9A COMICS 8A CROSSWORD ... .8A OBITUARIES 2A OPINION 4A SPORTS 10A TV LISTINGS 8A WEATHER 2A PERIODICAL 6* Georgia Newspaper Project Mam Library UNJV OF GEORGIA ATHENS GA 30602-0002 3-DfGIT 306 June 21,2005 Serving Houston County Since 1870 Momef Qlm .jjmtrmu LEGAL ORGAN FOR HOUSTON COUNTY, city of Perry, city of Warner Robins and city of Centerville v ~ gjßfpr 1' ■HpB ■Kig submitted Mackenzie Persinger poses at an April horse show. Mackenzie's memory 4'H horse club makes special tribute to Perry By TIM HOSKINS HHJ Student Writer Last week the 2005 Georgia State 4-H Horse Show came to the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter. Almost 500 children with horses com peted in numerous riding, racing and roping events. When not competing, the horses stayed in the horse barn south of Reaves Arena. Locals turn out fop Saxby Reception held at agricenter for senator By TERESA D. SOUTHERN HHJ Staff Writer In the South there’s noth ing that shows thanks like a fried chicken dinner - and this is what was done for U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss on Friday at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter. Bill Stembridge, regional representative for Chambliss, said farmers and agribusiness leaders from all over Georgia including Houston County, Moultrie and Ocilla, held the dinner to show appreciation for the senator. Chambliss currently serves as chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. Duke Lane of Lane Packing Company intro duced Chambliss saying, “This dinner is in honor of a guy whose deserving of the job he’s done for agriculture in the state. “He has so much leader ship for our industry and he’s working hard to help Georgia in Base Realignment and Closure,” Lane said. Houston County schools announce Teachers of the Year Special to HHJ At the end of the school year, each Houston County school announced its 2005- 2006 Teacher of the Year. The honorees will be rec ognized at the system wide opening session on August 1, 2005, at the Miller, Murphy, Howard building at the Agricenter in Perry. The Houston County Teacher of the Year and finalists will be www.hhjnews.com The bam is a huge build ing filled with long rows of wooden stalls. Last week, each row housed a different county’s 4-H contingent. No two rows were alike; one done up like a county general store, and another was adorned with stars and rocket ships and the exhor tation: “Reach for the Stars.” In contrast to the flash and glitz of the other rows, ™ i ""IB * jgj|v - fj&jk HBBB §m w. I f M'w/ i ?;■'n .■ iifP HllJTeresa D. Southern Senator Saxby Chambliss talks to Al Pearson of Pearson Farms at the 2005 Agricultural Appreciation dinner held at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry on Friday. Chambliss discussed trade issues and immigration with guests who were farmers, individuals involved in agribusiness, and other agri cultural aspects. Speaking on trade issues announced at that same meeting. Listed are county schools and their winning teacher. Matt Arthur Elementary, Susan Potts; Bonaire Elementary, Lee Ann Cladin; Bonaire Middle, Bill McCarthy; Centerville Elementary, Marcie Shaw; Eagle Springs Elementary, Susan Mazzarella; Feagin Mill Middle, Rose Powell; gAjE ** '■ ’, a| 9.\-jdm~ m 1 r] - -- ■ M f *3l]? - • »-f». ~ -jinin * ’»,a > «i ."‘V ' A saddle and riding boots belonging to Mackenzie Persinger, who was killed in a car accident on May 28, sit in the center of a stall decorated in her honor. the stalls housing the Middle Georgia 4-H Horse Club (made up of 4-H’ers from Houston and Peach Chambliss said, “We have the finest prod uct of agriculture anywhere within 10 miles of here,” Chambliss said. “ We can survive by exporting our products at a descent price.” Houston County Career & Technology Center, Susie Jarrett; Houston County Crossroads Center, Kristen Honaker; Houston County High, Ronnie Thomas; Kings Chapel Elementary, Tammy Morrow; Lake Joy Elementary, Susan Hambrick; Lindsey Elementary, Nadine Davis; Linwood Elementary, Catherine Bridges; Miller counties) were dressed in black. On Saturday, May 28, 11- See MACKENZIE, page 3A On the issue of immigra tion he said, “We have to be realistic with the issue, that there’s nothing being done without migrant labor. We need to deal with that. There are about 8 to 13 mil lion immigrant workers in the country and a 5 million gap we don’t know about. “We need to identify who they are and be sure they are here for the right rea son, which is for a better quality of life, also that they are law-abiding citizens and not misplacing American workers. “We need to seal borders. We will never accomplish anything respective to that issue if we don’t come up with plans for a bill on the floor for this. Immigration relief is just as important for our children as the fight against terrorism,” Chambliss said. At the dinner, music was performed by Playin Possum, a band composed of Bill and Sue Davis of Macon. Chambliss and others danced to music by the band and enjoyed dinner and a reception. Some locals in attendance were Bob Ray, Rick and Judy Goddard, Billy and Ginger Edenfield, Ralph and Joan Dorsett, Billy Jerles and A 1 Pearson. Elementary, Madonna Birdsell; Morningside Elementary, Karen Turner; Northside Elementary, Janet Kirchoff; Northside High, Susan Murchison; Northside Middle, Shana Arline; Parkwood Elementary, Betty Barnes; David Perdue Elementary, Doris Peavy; David Perdue Primary, Denise Duke; Perry High, Deonna Pudder; an Evans Family Newspaper 50c mm. ONE SECTION • 12 PAGES Sparklers spark debate Opinions vary on legality of fireworks bans By MIKE GEORGE HHJ Staff Writer With Independence Day less than two weeks away, local governments in Houston County are taking careful steps to restrict the sale of fire works. The municipalities are considering an ordinance based on one passed in May in Covington with a 3-2 vote from the city council. But at least one Georgia community has rejected a similar meas ure, citing concerns that an outright ban of the sale of fireworks made legal by the Georgia General Assembly might leave the city open to a lawsuit. The City Council in Peachtree City rejected an ordinance Thursday that would have banned the sale of all fireworks within city limits. Peachtree City Attorney Ted Meeker said he felt that such an ordinance would have pre-empted state law. “We were concerned that the law would not survive a legal chal lenge,” he said. Meeker said the ordi nance would have violat ed the general constitu tional concept of pre emption, which he said prevents local laws from superceding state and federal law. “It’s my understanding that no special law can be enacted that conflicts with general laws,” he said. The Peachtree City council members voted down the proposed ordi nance 4-0, with one coun cil member absent, according to Peachtree City Public Information Officer Betsy Tyler. The fireworks ban was sup ported by local fire safety officials and at |east one council member, Murray Weed, said he will push for changes at the state level, adding a specific provision that allows local government to make their own restrictions. Covington City Attorney Ed Crudup said there is nothing specifi cally in the state law that allows municipalities to ban fireworks outright, but said he found nothing specific that would stop a city ban, either. “The fireworks law See FIREWORKS, page 3A Perry Middle, Tim Simmons; Perry Primary, Kayleen Mims; Quail Run Elementary, Paula Oxyer; Bert Rumble Middle, Tammy Love; Russell Elementary, Sheila Boutselis; Shirley Hills Elementary, Robyn Rogers; Pearl Stephens Elementary, Yolanda Felder; Thomson Middle, Deena Hoch; Tucker See HCBOE, page 3A