Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

THE HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL Crowd excited to see country star By KIMBERLY CASSEL PRITCHETT HHJ Contributing Writer More than 100 people gathered close to the stage as country music artist John Berry began to perform. Berry, along with his wife, Robin, and pianist John Hall, played with the Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve at the event. Berry played a variety of songs including his first No. 1 single from 1994, “Your Love Amazes Me.” He also played several other hits includ ing, “She’s Taken a Shine,” “Standing on the Edge of Goodbye,” and “I Think About It All The Time.” Beriy played 11 songs and two finales for the crowd, including three songs off his new, soon-to-be released album, “Those Were The Days,” which is expected to be in Wal-Mart some time in September. The new songs included, “Somethin’, Somethin’,” “A Woman Like You,” and “You Still Own Me.” Berry told the audience that they were his “guinea pigs” for one of the new songs on his album because he had never played it in front of a crowd before. The album, according to Berry, will feature all new songs, mostly written by Kerry Kurt Phillips, who has scribed 43 No. 1 songs in country music. Some of Phillips’ hits include “Don’t Take The Girl” and “Down on the Farm” by Tim McGraw; “I Don’t Need No Rocking Chair” by George Jones; and “That’s What I like about Sunday” by Craig Morgan. “He’s a great writer,” Berry said. “I’m awfully excited about this record; New Web services for Georgia drivers State Point Wire Service Georgians can now avoid those long lines at the Deparment of Driver Services in favor of no lines in front of their own home computers. More online services are debuting for Georgia drivers from the Georgia Department of Driver Services. Georgia citizens can now obtain a copy of their per sonal driving histories and request replacements for lost licenses through the agency’s Web site at www. dds.ga.gov. The expansion of online licensing services is another step in the effort to reduce wait times at department’s Customer Service Centers located throughout the state. Approximately 210,000 personal driving history reports are issued annu ally at ‘Customer Service Centers statewide. The department issues approximately 150,000 replacement licenses at the centers each year. “Offering these services GUILTY From page 1A gun in their direction while being chased. He has a long history of mental illness and a closed head injury, all of “which is exacerbated by his volun- BOARD From page 1A School, Linwood Elementary School, Pearl Stephens Elementary School, Bert Rumble Middle School, Crossroads Center and Warner Robins High School. Post 6, county-wide Three candidates, Walter “Griff” Clements of Kathleen, Bob Swecker of 1 I fw I II ■ %-fflpvy Jig f<l _ 1 IkjHl ■ Hll«) Kimberly CaK-sel Pritchett Capt. Chad A. Steffey, commander and conductor of the Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve, about 60 members of the band at the Thursday afternoon practice with John Berry and his wife, Robin, who can be seen in the background. I’ve been working on it for a year now.” Berry said he had dinner Friday night at the Officer’s Club.' “People have been so kind to us,” he said. “It’s a great place you picked to live in.” Berry, according to his manager, Terry Oliver, had a long day, beginning at 5 a.m. with television interviews. “We’ll come back,” he said. “They’ve been really won derful to us.” Oliver said that Berry, a licensed pilot, was offered the opportunity to fly in an F-15, but he declined because he wanted to make sure he would be able to perform at online will save thousands of customers a trip to a licensing center,” said Gov. Sonny Perdue. The DDS Web site now allows customers to cre ate an account to access enhanced Internet services and track pending transac tions. The following transac tions are available online for Georgia residents with a valid Georgia driver’s license: ■ Replacing a lost license ■ Viewing and/or down loading a copy of driving history ■ Change of address ■ Renewing a license or Identification Card Payment methods for Internet transactions include credit cards and most debit cards. “If you are eligible, I encourage you to use one of the alternative Internet services. “It is fast, friendly and secure and can be accessed even when our offices are closed.” said DDS commis sioner Greg Dozier. tary drug use.” He was sentencd to 25 years, 15 to serve and will have to serve 10 years of probation once he gets out. One of the conditions of his sentence is to have no contact at all with his mother, who wants no con tact whatsoever, Lumsden Warner Robins and Jehad Yasin of Perry are vying for Post 6, an at-large seat to be voted on countywide. Cheerful Cherubs Wc offer a Half Day Pre-K Program for 6 months • 4 years Highßead And Zoo-Phorius Curriculum. We encourage each child to develop his or her potential through new experiences including physical, emotional, social, cognitive and spiritual. N 205 N. Davis Dr. • W.R., GA 31093 • 922-8448 / the concert. Berry told the crowd that he’d stay after the fireworks to sign autographs and talk. “I’ll be the last person to pull out,” he said. “If you’ve got time, I’d love a chance to say ‘hello,’ hug your neck, mow your grass and make some friends,” he said laugh ing. More than 70 people stood in line after the fireworks to get a chance to talk with Berry or get an autograph. Theresa Poss of Milledgeville, along with her two daughters, Taylor Poss, 14, and Maranda Poss, 16, stood in line to talk with Berry. A lawn well done ■ wM'' ESSflttS submitted The White Columns Homeowners Association recently announced that the Scheideler family was the winner of the Yard of the Month for June. Pictured, from left, are Cindy, Emily and Bob Scheideler. said. “Through all this whole thing,” Joiner said, “I didn’t want anyone hurt. I’m so sorry for what hap pened.” He was given credit for time served in pre-trial detention, which he has been in since September of 2004. Clements, an employee of the City of Warner Robins, is the incumbent, Yasin teaches at Fort Valley State LOCAL Theresa Poss said that she had never been to the Independence Day Celebration in Warner Robins, but had heard about it on the radio. She said that she used to see Berry play in Athens and wanted to come hear him. “Loved it,” she commented about the event. “Now we’re trying to get up to the front to meet him. We’re willing to wait as long as it takes to get up there.” “We’ve had a great visit,” Berry said after the concert. “We haven’t seen a whole lot more than the base, but the hospitality has been over the top. It’s been great.” i ; f Garlic Butter, GrwtrT PepfrenfOnions, Tomatoes, Louisiana Cajun Style Shrimp, Mozzarella, and Provolone Cheese j mm IT HOURS: Mon-Thur 11 am-10pm; Fri-Sat 11 am-1 Ipm I 2507 Moody Road, Warner Robins, GA mMWASM JUST NAMED ONE OF THE TOP 100 RESTAURANTS IN THE USA! , mm 9H ' ■ * '■ II I - m ;tm 1 > v «i k» JBvVv i Hr HHJ Kimberly i aiwel Pritchett Country music artist John Berry and his wife, Robin, rehearsed with the Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve Thursday afternoon. Berry, artists donate their time, talent to celebration By KIMBERLY CASSEL PRITCHETT HHJ Contributing Writer Country music art ist John Berry rolled into Warner Robins on Thursday afternoon and went straight to work prac ticing for Friday night’s 23rd annual Independence Day Celebration at the McConnell-Talbert Stadium on South Davis Drive. Berry, along with his wife, Robin, and pianist, John Hall, donated their time for the performance, said Deputy Director of Operations David Ballengee. Bellengee said for the last several years, he has been trying to get artists from Georgia to perform at the yearly celebration. “One of our goals here for this Independence Day Show is for Georgia artists to come home and enter OBITS From page 3A Mesa, Ariz., Maralue Dalgarno, Escondido, Calif., Electa Smith, Hemet, Calif., Brothers; Bill Downing, Casper, Wyoming, Gary Downing, Lamar, Colo. Grandchildren; Jay Griffin (Cricket), Pooler, Michael Griffin, La Fayette, Chantry Murray, Scottsboro, Ala, Jessica Ratliff (Bryan), Calhoun, Tenn., Robin Lee, Hawkinsville, Samantha Smith, Bainbridge; Amanda Chaney and Robyn Smith, both of Perry. Her husband, Rufus Griffin Jr. preceded her in death. Please sign the on-line register at watson LA FpMciTA MEXICAN RESTAURANT SPECIAL!**® Starting At.. * * 1 lam ' $4.99 *“< La _ /.JU HOME MADE TORTILLAS Authentic Mexican Dishes Made Fresh Daily From Fresh Ingredients "REAL MEXICAN FOOD 1 ' Hours* rpm ■ms®,! ' Un/i '3 S n l , II mm WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 2006 tain troops from Team Robins, the military and civilians alike,” he said. “Another interesting fact is that these artists that come home do it gratis.” The event was not only special to the Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve because they were getting to play at home, but it is also special to the Berrys. “The most exciting is first getting to play with these people,” said Robin Berry. “It’s just cool to me.” And to make it even more personal, she said it hits close to home because she has two older brothers who are in the military. Although the band plays all over the country and in Canada, she said it was great to be able to play “in our own state just down the road from home.” “It’s a great bunch of players,” said John Berry. hunt.com. P warner N W rob?n S - Peggy Ann Woods, 73, passed away on Wednesday, June 28. Woods was born on September 15, 1932 in Pinehurst. Her husband, Jerry Woods and her par ents, Richard Gilbert Cooley and Ada Frances Cooley, preceded her in death. Survivors include her children and several grand children and great grand children. All-You-Can-Eat Shrimp-slo'* 5 /Catfish-S9' )5 Friday & Saturday - spm -10 pm IT 6 t»W I 3« •M7-M77 9 f,. *. •* * 5A |00034600^ Ui