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FRIDAY July 1, 2005 Volume 135, Number 385 Award-Winning Newspaper 2005 Better Newspaper Contest Inside TODAY wmm New Y(trk Timei IkfiSMt •(* Mutftcr A DKFICITOF DECENCY roßi.wmmn si- w nw\m Walker reviews Miller's new book HHJ Columnist (and former lawmaker) Larry Walker looks between the pages of the controversial former governor’s new book, “A Deficit of Decency,” and does n’t find much to quibble with. Opinion, page 4A WALKER Happy BIRTHDAY! Robert Dayton Nan Johnson Ron Street (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 DEATH John W. “Bill” Hafley Obit, page 2A INDEX CLASSIFIED 9A CLUB NEWS 3A COMICS 5B CROSSWORD ... 5B LIFESTYLE 7A NASCAR 6B OBITUARY 2A OPINION 4A SCHOOL NEWS . .10A SPORTS 1B TV LISTINGS 5B WEATHER 2A PERIODICAL 6* Georgia Newspaper Proved IWtarn uorarw UNIV OF GEORGIA ATHENS GA 30602-0002 3-DIGIT 306 Serving Houston County Since 1870 EDIMGIAFAD Every Day In Middle Georgia Is Armed Forces Appreciation Day Houston Honu'f dim Jjmmtm W LEGAL ORGAN FOR HOUSTON COUNTY , city of Perry, city of Warner Robins and city of Centerville Peach fuzz on the digital scanner Neighboring county now using Houston’s 800-MHz system for communication By RAY LIGHTNER HHJ Staff Writer Peach County joined Houston County’s 800-megahertz communi cations system this week. Wbrrall named to Hall of Fame Perry mayor the first Houston Countian honored by GMA By MIKE GEORGE HHJ Staff Writer Perry Mayor Jim Worrall was hon ored this week at the Georgia Municipal Association’s annual con vention in Savannah. Worrall was inducted into the Municipal Government Hall of Fame, designed to single out Georgia officials who have made significant contribu tions to their communities and who Eagle-to-be paints historic flight WR Boy Scout contributes to Museum of Aviation By TERESA D. SOUTHERN HHJ Staff Writer Skyler Holcomb dips his paintbrush into a Cool Whip container filled with green flat latex paint. By his strokes you would think he had done this many times before, but he admit ted this was his first paint ing ever, confessing that he is more of a sketch artist. And what better place for your first painting to be dis played but in a museum? Holcomb, in a hidden cor ner of the Century of Flight Hangar at the Museum of Aviation, is completing this artwork as a community service project to become an Eagle Scout in Troop 566, which meets at Trinity United Methodist Church. His mother, Robin Holcomb, said Skyler began as a Tiger Cub at the age of 4, or as “a lil bitty fella” she said smiling watching him paint. Skyler said his art lessons See PAINTING, page 5A submitted WIC Nutritionist Mary Daigle was the cheerleader for the Houston County Health Department team, which received an award for collectively losing the most weight during the 12-week program. www.hhjnews.com “It’s been official for a while now,” said E-911 Director Ricky Harlowe. The counties approved the intergov ernmental agreement back in December. personify public service. Worrall is the first public official from Houston County to be inducted since the hall of fame was created in 1992, according to Amy Henderson, public information officer for the GMA. “I was humbled by the whole thing,” Worrall said. “...When you think about all the cities in the GMA, every one with mayors, city councils. “It was real special.” Ik |g§ v .flfTwiraKY W* Hips --w % .-jdl ' ' : . ~v ' &'s.■ V ll . J&ffl njfc". ‘ HHJ/Teresa D. Southern Skyler Holcomb paints a mural at the Museum of Aviation, as part of a community service project to become an Eagle Scout. “We’re testing all this week to make sure all radios and equipment are working, and we expect to be online by the end of the week, said Tim Becklar, assistant fire chief for Worrall said he did not know he had been nominated until his name was announced. He has served as the mayor of Perry for 17 years, first elect ed in 1988. He was instrumental in the city government’s move into the for mer Houston County Board of Education building on Washington Street in Perry. He also pushed to the city to buy the former National Guard See WORRALL, page 5A Melting llie pounds away Houston public health workers lead Middle Georgia counties in weight loss competition By RAY LIGHTNER HHJ Staff Writer Local public health employees were among those from the North Central Health District who lost over 250 pounds in 12 weeks. The Houston County Health Department team collectively lost the most weight during the 12- week program, with an average of about 6 pounds per team member, said Mary Daigle, who was the team cheerleader. The Houston County Health Department participated along with others from Bibb, Hancock, Jasper, Monroe, Putnam, Twiggs, and Wilkinson counties. As a result of the Stepping for Better TWO SECTIONS *l6 PAGES Peach County. The agreement will provide better communication between the Houston and Peach emergency See PEACH, page SA pF . ** Health program, these public health employees lost 267.5 pounds collectively, and their total body fat levels also by 142.6 percent. The 12-week Stepping for Better Health Program began March 14, with 115 of the public health employees of the North Central Health District clipping on their newly issued pedometers and started walking. Daigle said during the first week, she helped team members set up with the pedometer, “getting the stride right and adjusting it does differ ent shoes.” In addition to wearing the See POUNDS, page SA an Evans Family Newspaper 50c I! mill JAMES WORRALL