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WEEKEND July 1, 2006 VOLUME 136 , NUMBER 73 OUR FRONT PORCH INSIDE Baseball diamonds ■ The Houston Home Journal releases its All-Houston County baseball team tor 2006. Also. Staff Writer Matthew Brown begins a four-part series resulting from his attendance of the Pigskin Preview media day Thursday at the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. Today's story focuses on Patrick Nix, son of Northside head coach Conrad Nix, and his role as Georgia Tech's offensive coordinator, - Page 1B IN BRIEF State honors local student ■ On May 1, Secretary of State Cathy Cox honored Phillip Edward Jones of Northside High School with an Excellence in Citizenship award. Jones received a certificate signed by Secretary Cox and a letter from her office. For the ninth year, the Excellence in Citizenship Awards recognize high school seniors from across the state who voluntarily give of their time in the community, maintain a good scholastic and attendance record and, through their leadership, set an example for their fellow peers. Designed to distinguish outstand ing young Georgians who reach out to others and share their time and talents, one graduating senior from each Georgia high school was nominated to receive the award. Of Georgia's 386 public high schools and 274 independent schools with high school-level instruction, 345 schools participated in this year's program. Stay In school ■ A dropout prevention program run by the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education that shows great promise for keeping eighth, ninth and 10th grade students focused on school and their future career will be expanded thanks to a $1 million grant from Gov, Sonny Perdue. “Middle school is the ideal time to provide advice and counseling to students on their career choices,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “DTAE's Stay in School initiative works to share information with these students on the education needed for future job opportunities. It's a smart way to ensure that we keep students focused on staying in school and earning their high school diploma." Reminder ■The Houston County Landfill will be closed July 4. INDEX LOCAL 2 A WEATHER 3 A OPINION 4 A LIFESTYLE 1C SPORTS 1 B COMICS 4 B CLASSIFIEDS .. .6-7 B PERIODICAL Award-Winning Newspaper 2004 Better Newspaper Contest COOI 0 GEORGIA NEWSPAPER PROJECT Main Library UNIV OF GEORGIA ATHENS GA 30602-00CE2 3-DIGIT 306 July 1, 2006 Si Nv/ya Houston Cot m S/.vrv. IH7O ©re 1) LEGAL ORGAN FOR HOUSTON COUNTY, city of Perry, city of Warner Robins and city of Centerville Man pleads guilty to murder Plea comes six days after he shot girlfriend in the head By RAY UGHTNER HHJ Staff Writer Richard Ivanhoe Pannell Jr. pleaded guilty Thursday to the murder of his girl friend last Friday. Pannell, 25, who was indicted for the crimes on Tuesday, pleaded guilty through his and his mother’s tears in Houston Superior Court to murder, aggravated Who's in charge? Houston Healthcare fires CEO but there’s a question of legality By RAY LIGHTNER and CHARLOTTE PERKINS HHJ Staff Writers It comes as a shock consider ing the fact about two months ago he had been given a raise and showered with high praise, but Friday was Frank Aaron’s last day as CEO for Houston Healthcare. The Hospital Authority of Houston County announced Friday its intention to make a change in leadership in the chief executive officer posi tion at Houston Healthcare. That position had been held by Aaron since August 2000. According to Authority member Sonny Watson, the vote to Fire Aaron was held in executive (closed) session Wednesday following the regu lar meeting, which he said the Authority is allowed to do. But Hospital Authority Attorney Mike Gray disagreed. He said the Authority could discuss personnel issues but “cannot (legally) take a Final binding vote in executive ses sion.” Gray notified the legal organ - The Houston Home Journal - at 12:40 p.m. Friday that an “emergency called meeting” of the Authority would be held Friday at 4 p.m. to hold the final, binding vote, Watson said the meetings, in the future will be more open and he’s for open government. Authority Chairman Ed Dyson said at Wednesday’s meeting that the executive session and dinner would be held at the beginning of the meeting, instead of at the end. He would not comment on other personnel issues, but said the Authority has made no recommendations regarding termination of department heads. Watson would not say if the vote was unanimous, but said he See FIRED, page 7A ‘-Wi? I**; §£t yi •: f/Jf- ••■■ iKjBMBK ipi Aaron WWW.HHJNEWS.COM assault and possession of a firearm during a crime. He answered “yes sir,” choking up more each time, to* the charges read by Superior Court Judge George F. Nunn, Jr. Nunn sentenced Pannell to life for the murder and aggravated assault of and for the murder of Selicia Darlington; Pannell received The Houston County Hospital Authority is exploring an offer for U.S. 41 land. Hospital Authority looking at offer for U. 5.41 property By RAY UGHTNER HHJ Staff Writer The Houston County Hospital Authority voted to accept an officer on the 135 acres it owns on U.S 41. The offer from Land Shore Communities LLC, is just that for now, however - an offer, something the board said they were con sidering, and therefore was not disclosed. The Authority paid $40,000 an acres or $5.4 million for the land with the intention of eventually mov ing the Houston Medical Center from Watson Blvd. Those plans were dropped, however, after strong objec tions from the city of Warner Robins and residents about moving the hospital in 2004, when plans were made for expansion of the Warner Robins site instead. The vote to review the offer was not unanimous as Authority members Dick Bexten and Dr. Horatio Cabasares voted against it. Bexten asked if an apprais al had been done. Authority member Sonny Watson answered saying, an additional five years for the gun charge. Pannell’s attorneys - Carolyn Hall and Shelese Amos of the Public Defender’s Office, said the change in state law chang ing the eligibility of parole in a life sentence from 14 to 30 years, was not the only reason for the quick plea. “My client said he’s try- 'We don't wait to be embarrassed. WO know what the tax assessor says it's worth and what we paid for it.' - Authority member Sonny Watson “We don’t want to be embar rassed. We know what the tax assessor says it’s worth and what we paid for it.” Authority Vice Chairman Dr. Robert Carter also expressed concern about policy. “If we take the first offer, we’ll be open to criti cism.” Watson said another offer “could bring more. It could bring less.” Carter also asked about policy for selling assets. “Do we have a policy? Should we have a policy?” Authority Chairman Ed Dyson said there is no poli cy. “We can make a decision at our discretion.” Authority member Jack Ragland then pointed out the Authority, “can’t own real estate for speculation,” implying that by its char ter it can’t shop the land ing to put this to rest,” Hall said. “He said he loved her dearly and had planned to marry her.” District Attorney Kelly Burke said, “it was unusu al to move so quickly” and noted the defense “asked for quick discovery. We provided all police reports, photos, investigative reports, and charges from other inci dents. I don’t know what else we would be able to develop.” Hall agreed there was nothing the prosecution had held back. “We’ve gone over See PLEADS, page 7A around. The Authority also had an update on,the expansion project from Bob Farrow from HKS. The 144,00 square-foot bed tower and a central plant that will be part of phase one. The multi-floor building will be needed for adding addition al beds to the current 186 if the state approves the cer tificate of need request. Farrow said there would be “knuckle connections” between some of the floors and the new building will have higher ceilings than the current one, but said those connections would be in service and staff areas, not in patient areas. The bed tower will include a 36-bed orthopedic and neurological unit consisting of two 18-bed pods on the fourth floor; 20 critical care ■■ ■ 1 " " , t\ /WAVS /Will) ,\ I: H S/M/7.A’ t2Bz.iL : 50£ iiiiill! 8 5108*0 0 0 01"" 4 TWO SECTIONS • 14 PAGES w 9HL. S ■•' *ajjfc. B .. Mw — m — BBI H PANNELL ■■■■■■■Hi; IP* (v v.-- mT v Mm ’ -iW' I and three step-down beds on the third floor and a link to the Women’s Center on the second floor, which will also house 18 post partum beds and a nursery. In a related matter the Authority voted to approve staff requests for commu nication information tech nology professional ser vices, to review and make sure systems between the existing and new portions of the facility will work together. “They will write specs, diagrams and design the system,” explained Beth Benefield, director of Technology & Imaging Services. She contacted two compa nies, recommended by HKS for the job and recommend ed the low bid of $190,875 from EDI of Atlanta. “In the future,” Authority member Glynn Greenway said, “ the board should know when a bid goes up. The board didn’t know the bid was going out.” He was also concerned about end costs and set a cap on the bid, with travel expenses of $205,000. ENI/Gary Harmon