Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

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 1..11.11...,11„||, 1 ,„| 1 H|...1l, M || i .„ i |,||„ i || 6 * Georgia Ne*sptap«j Proved Man utrarv UNIV GF GEORGIA ATHENS GA 30602-0002 3-OIGfT 306 Serving Houston County Since 1870 i i^icrustoit (Him smxxxxm W LEGAL ORGAN FOR HOUSTON COUNTY, 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 • I Njm liiTi “ ( ifjf J j ' fc, A ||| f W 3 iii | V , |I f I 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- 9 (*■ fs\ \T iggSj \ J "jA ; I / * \ 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 50c lli HI