Newspaper Page Text
WEEKEND
July 2, 2005
Volume 135, Number 386
Award-Winning
Newspaper
2005
Better Newspaper
Contest
Inside TODAY
Hv4
Around the world
You can go a long, long
way in a go-kart.
Sam Odom did and it
took him not only all over
the state but overseas as
well.
Sports, page 1B
in BRIEF
Peppy tpash
pickup delayed
Advanced Disposal,
which provides residen
tial trash pickup for the
city of Perry, reports that
pickup next week will be
conducted one day behind
its regular schedule, due
to the Monday
Independence Day holi
day.
Happy BIRTHDAY!
July 2
Don Ganas
Amy Ganus
Lydia D. Nigro
Horace Schwalm
July 3
Alexis D. Starley
July 4
Judy Drawhom
Happy ANNIVERSARY!
July 2
Wayne and Sharyn
Holley
July 4
Chris and Tammy Kothe
Area DEATHS
Pauline “Polly” Marie
Kessler Hoffman
D.W “Dee” Stotts
Obits, page 2A
INDEX
CLASSIFIED 5B
COMICS 10A
CROSSWORD ...10A
HOMETOWN 4B
INDICTMENTS ... .6A
LIFESTYLE 7A
OBITUARIES 2A
OPINION 4A
SCHOOL NEWS .. .6B
TV LISTINGS ... .10A
WEATHER 2A
PERIODICAL
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Serving Houston County Since 1870
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city of Perry ; city of Warner Robins and city of Centerville
DA files suit against WR company
Video poker machine owner served with lawsuit; Perry PD, DA’s office can keep seized funds
By MIKE GEORGE
HHJ Staff Writer
Details continue to emerge sur
rounding a case involving five video
poker machines seized in an after
noon raid in Perry June 11.
Houston County Superior Court
Judge Edward Lukemire has issued
a court order that allows both the
Perry Police Department and the
Houston Circuit District Attorney’s
Office to keep the $2,098 seized at
the OM Food Mart on Sunset
His flock runneth over
Preaching since the age of 16, Pastor Jeremy Morton hopes
to make Cross Point Baptist Church a ‘pillar of the community’
By TIM HOSKINS
HHJ Student Writer
A huge building complex
lies near Perry, at Exit 138
of Interstate 75. The com
plex, a Cold War-era factory,
has lain dormant for years.
Most of the week it is empty.
Occasionally workers trim
the grass, and security
guards check in from time to
time, but on Sundays it
comes alive. Cars pour into
the parking lot and signs are
put out indicating that a
church now meets in this
building.
Inside, the church has
taken over. The receptionist
desk is manned by greeters,
and an old corporate logo is
covered by a banner reading
“Cross Point Baptist
Church.” The sanctuary is
in a former conference
room. A young man, the
youth pastor, comes out on a
stage at on end of the large
room. He welcomes the con
gregation, and a small band
leads them in a few songs.
Another young man hops
out on stage. He bounds up
and addresses the congrega
tion with a voice full of
energy and enthusiasm. The
man, clean-shaven and
slightly baby-faced, seems
like another youth pastor,
but he’s not. This is Pastor
Jeremy Morton, head pastor
of Cross Point Baptist
Church.
He’s 23.
Even at that age, he’s old
hat at the preaching busi
ness.
“I’ve preached almost
every Sunday since I was
16,” said Jeremy Morton.
See MORTON, page 12A
Leaving her post
Carol Hanna leaving Rainbow House after seven years
By TIMOTHY GRAHAM
HHJ Staff Writer
After seven years at the helm of The
Rainbow House, Carol Hanna is ready to
turn over the post of executive director to
other hands.
The Rainbow House Children’s Resource
Center is an organization devoted to reduc
ing the occurrence of child abuse and to
assisting its victims. The House provides a
safe and child-friendly place for authorities
to interview the victims of abuse.
Hanna came to Rainbow House seven
years ago after serving as executive director
of Volunteer Houston County. She and her
husband moved to Houston County in 1984
and after he retired from the Air Force, they
decided to stay here permanently.
“I really eiyoy working with children,”
said Hanna. “Your heart really goes out to
children who have been abused and you
want to reach out and help them.
“These seven years have gone by quickly,
www.hhjnews.com
Avenue. But the future of the five
machines believed by police to be
used in an illegal casino operation is
still uncertain.
“The law allows for police
seizures, but there is a specific
process,” said Houston Circuit
Assistant District Attorney James
Balli. “We have to give the owners a
chance to prove that their machines
were not being used for illegal gam
bling.”
Under the Video Poker Act passed
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JEREMY and CARRIE MORTON
but we have been able to accomplish some
things of which I am proud,” she said. “I am
very proud of the staff we have. They are
very professional, accountable and caring.
We were recently able to give them a much
deserved pay raise with the help of local con
tributors and the state.”
Hanna explained that The Rainbow
House considers itself as part of a team with
the sheriffs department, the district attor
ney, the Department of Family and Children
Services, and others.
“We are not a shelter as most people think
of one,” said Hanna. “Children do not stay
here - they just come here for services. We
are a place for children to be cofnfortable
and be in a child-friendly environment.”
The Rainbow House now has an impar
tial, forensic interviewer on staff. And a pre
vention program called First Steps allows
Rainbow House to reach thousands of ele
mentary children every year.
See HANNA, page 12A
by the Georgia General Assembly in
2001, “video poker” machines are
illegal under state law, but business
es can apply for a state gaming
license regulated by the Georgia
Department of Revenue for coin
operated “amusement machines.”
Most businesses can escape prosecu
tion if they hand out merchandise
for winnings instead of cash.
Balli said that police found SBO in
two cash registers at the store, but
the majority of the money authori-
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HHJTimothy (iraham
Carol Hanna is retiring as executive director of Rainbow
House after serving in that role for seven years.
TWO SECTIONS *lB PAGES
ties seized in the store was found in
the machines and in cash bags rolled
under the counter. Balli said detec
tives found SBOO hidden under the
counter and the remainder of the
money in the machines. The police
also found five S2O Wal-Mart gift
cards that store employees reported
ly admitted were being used as pay
outs.
Balli said that his office has
already shifted the focus of the
See DA, page 12A
C'vilie
named
City of
Ethics
GMA honors
municipality
for upholding
standards
By TERESA D. SOUTHERN
HHJ Staff Writer
Councilman Bob Smith
took a trip to Savannah on
Tuesday - not for leisure
but on behalf of the city of
Centerville - to receive the
designation of being a
Certified City of Ethics.
Mayor Ronnie Brand said
the city applied for the
award because it was a good
thing to do.
“This will make citizens
proud,” Brand said. “The
designation is something to
live by.”
Smith said the designa
tion is a terrific honor.
“We felt we had the guide
lines it required, and we act
with integrity in everything
we do,” the councilman said.
The award is given by the
Georgia Municipal
Association and encourages
cities to adopt and adhere to
a set of key ethical princi
ples and a comprehensive
ethic ordinance.
According to Amy
Henderson, public
See C’VILLE, page 12A
an Evans Family Newspaper
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