Newspaper Page Text
WEEKEND
June 24, 2006
VOLUME 136, NUMBER 124
OUR
FRONT
PORCH
CLARIFICATION
■ in the June 21 issue, information
beneath a photograph stated that
during a visit to Robins Air Force
Base, Mac Collins, Republican can
didate for U.S. Congress was “given
a classified briefing on advanced
military technology being used in
the War on Terror.' This informa
tion was provided by Collins' press
office, but according to Faye Banks,
a spokesperson for the base, it was
not correct.
IN BRIEF
Breakfast at Sonny's
■ A Republican breakfast meeting
will be held July 8 at 8:30 a.m. at
Sonny s BBQ at 811 Russell Parkway
in Warner Robins. The guest speak
er will be Brent Brown, candidate
for labor commission. A continental
breakfast will be available for $3.25.
No reservations are necessary.
Blood Drive Monday
■ The Perry Community American
Red Cross Blood Drive will be held
Monday from 2-7 p.m. at Crossroads
UMC. Please bring photo identifi
cation. For questions, call Eunice
Galloway at 827-1377.
Quallying begins Monday
for State Court Judge, BOE
■ Candidates for Board of Education
Posts 2, 4 and 6. and for Judge of
State Court must qualify at the Board
of Elections Office between Monday
and Friday noon. Qualifying, which
will begin at 9 a.m Monday, will take
place in Room 237 of the Houston
County Government Building, 8901
Main Street, Perry. Qualifying will
continue during office hours until
noon Friday. The qualifying fee to
run for Board of Education is SIOB.
The qualifying fee to run for Judge of
State Court is $4,140.
BIRTHDAYS
Saturday
■ Mary Bacon
■ Chris Thomas
■ Ray Thomas Jr.
Sunday
■ Eddie Blount
■ Dick Kistler
■ Sandy Williams
Monday
■ Debra Cralley
■ Richard Tibbetts
ANNIVERSARIES
Saturday
■ Ronnie, Bonnie Bryant
Sunday
■ Corey, Jessi Bradshaw
Monday
■ Sarah Hawk
Having a birthday or anniversa
ry? Call Charlotte Perkins at 987-
1823, ext. 234, or e-mail her at
cperkins@evansnevvspapers.com.
DEATHS
■ Henry G. Andel
■ Roy Phillip “Chip" Gatlin Jr.
INDEX
WEATHER 3 A
OPINION 4 A
LIFESTYLE 1C
SPORTS 1 B
COMICS 4 B
CLASSIFIEDS .... 7 B
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June 24, 2006
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LEGAL ORGAN FOR HOUSTON COUNTY,
city of Perry, city of Warner Robins and city of Centerville
Centerville gets earful on taxes, alcohol
By KIMBERLY CASSEL
PRITCHETT
HHJ Contributing Writer
It was standing room only with
more than 100 residents attend
ing a Centerville town hall meet
ing Tuesday to discuss the possible
repeal of a property tax law that
gives 100 percent exemption to
seniors age 70 and older and the pos
sible granting to sell alcohol by the
drink on Sunday in restaurants.
Several residents pounded city
council with promises to get peti
tions to get them out of office and
put someone else in their place,
while many clapped and cheered for
the idea.
Gingerbread girls caught
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From left. Vacation Bible Schoolers Kaley Sikes, Samantha Becerra, Gillian
Pritchett, Julie Chambers, Mary Rogers and Michelle Cannon, “gingerbread
girls", practice for “Once Upon A Time” Thursday at Second Baptist Church. The
children will present the play Sunday at 6:30 p.m. in the church’s sanctuary. The
drama/musical is part of their Summer Son Seekers program, which was held
Monday-Friday for children K-5 through the sixth grade. For more Vacation Bible
School photos, see page BA.
Mayops talk, field questions oven breakfast
By RAY UGHTNER
HHJ Staff Writer
The mayors of Warner
Robins and Centerville
spoke about their cities at
the appropriately named
Eggs and Issues breakfast
put on by the Warner Robins
Area Chamber of Commerce
Thursday.
Centerville Mayor Bubba
Edwards said the city is at
the center of economic devel
opment in Houston County
and announced the Charlie
McGlamry’s Eagle Springs
development has completely
sold out. He said the city,
thought of as a bedroom
community with a mall, is
looking at business develop
ment.
Some future plans for the
city include developing a
downtown. The city’s down
town development authority
has just received a SIO,OOO
grant and will be looking at
an overlay zoning district to
determine what the down
town will look like.
He said the city also bal
anced the budget and was
able to give employees a cost
of living and incentive raises
while lowering the millage
rate. While the city is con
solidating animal control
with Warner Robins, “what
we do do is efficient. We’re
lean and friendly.”
When asked if the city
would consolidate entirely
with Warner Robins “since
it is basically an island,”
Edwards said emphatically,
“no. The city has room to
grow to the north, and has
had some annexations north
of Dunbar Road.”
Edwards said the city is
looking at expanding water
and sewer service that way.
“I’m not a septic tank lover,”
www.hhjnews.com
A majority of those attend
ing voiced their opinion that they
didn’t want the property tax law to
change.
“I don’t understand why you’re
suggesting this,” said Centerville
resident Troy Wyndom. “It’s obvi
ous these people didn’t suggest this.
The people are not talking in favor
of it.”
Mayor Pro-Tern Sherod Wilson,
who presided over the meeting, said
that the council is looking “long
ternT’when the possibility might
arise to completely do away with the
exemption.
“We’re looking at ways we can bal
ance out the burden for the city to
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Centerville Mayor Bubba Edwards, seated next to County Commission Chairman Ned Sanders, won the door prize
of a basket of peaches from Pearson Farms at Thursday’s Eggs and Issues meeting. Warner Robins Mayor Donald
Walker selected Edwards’ name in the drawing.
he said. “I’d like to see us
move away from it.”
He noted the city plans
to run sewer to the Sentry
Oaks subdivision, which
was annexed, into the city a
whole ago.
Warner Robins Mayor
Donald Walker started his
talk off with a joke. He
said “Representative Willie
Talton was here on offi
cial duty, undercover for
the Warner Robins Police
Department.”
Walker said he was grate
have services for everyone,” he said,
adding that gas prices have hurt the
city more than any other one par
ticular item.
“Long run - people who sit here
don’t have a long run to go,” Wyndom
fired back at council, referring to the
seniors sitting in the audience.
“This leaves a lot to be desired,”
commented Harold Thompson of
Centerville, “I’m sorry to say that’s
how I feel. I’ll see what I can do
about putting somebody else in your
place.”
Despite facing a hostile crowd,
Councilman Cameron Andrews told
the audience that he had invited
a number of the residents person-
ful for the leadership in the
county and the current rela
tions with the cities and
the county. “It’s the first
time we’ve come together to
make the government work
for the people,” he said.
He noted how his city is
growing, with annexations
and housing permits helping
to make the city be listed
as one of the 100 hottest
cities in the nation and the
fastest growing city in the
state. “We’re standing on
the potential of building
Perry Rotapians
change guapd
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Steve Rodgers is the new
president of the Perry Rotary
Club. He was sworn in at the
club’s annual banquet.
1,100 home in Peach County.
Warner Robins could be the
largest city in population in
Peach County.”
To meet that growth the
city has plans for a law
enforcement center, a new
animal shelter that will be
coming on line in the fiscal
year and a sports complex
that could attract region
al tournaments. He also
reminded those gathered
that things don’t happen
over night.
“It took 10 years to get
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THREE SECTIONS • 22 PAGES
ally to voice their opinions. He said
he wanted residents to speak, but
asked them not to “throw rocks. “
“If you have a comment, speak
your piece, make it known - but don’t
be ugly,” he said, trying to maintain
order in the meeting room.
One resident, Holly Mills of Eagle
Springs, had a different idea, how
ever. She said that she is tired of
paying high taxes and would like to
see a referendum passed with stipu
lations of an age limit and income
level in it.
“I’d like not to have to bear every
body’s burden,” she said.
Other residents suggested adding
See TAXES, page 6A
Steve Rodgers is
new president of
local civic club
By CHARLOTTE PERKINS
HHJ Staff Writer
Steve Rodgers is the new
president of the Perry Rotary
Club.
Rodgers, a CPA who has
long been active in Perry
civic affairs, was sworn in as
the 2006-07 president at the
organization’s annual ban
quet on Thursday night at
the Houston Lake Country
Club. He accepted the gavel
from Bob Largent, last year’s
president.
Other officers for the com
ing year are Rob Brooks, vice
president; Mike Gray, secre
tary-treasurer, and Elwood
Waites, sergeant at arms.
See ROTARY, page 6 A
Macon State across from
City Hall and five years for
the recent land swap deal
with the state adjacent to
Robins Air Force Base,” he
said.
The most important proj
ect for economic develop
ment in Houston County,
Walker said is the widening
of Ga. 96. “It will be the
fall line freeway, connect
ing Savannah to Columbus
through Warner Robins. It
will connect to the Golden
See ISSUES, page 6A
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