Houston Peach

• Whale of a find: Oaky Woods backers cite fossil discovery

  John Trussell has spent 31 years looking for a whale bone in the Oaky Woods wilderness in Houston County, but Amanda Rhonemus found one on her first visit.

• Through the fire: State Rep. Tony Sellier is a survivor

  State Rep. Tony Sellier is a self-made man who has gone broadside with death three times, with the latest brush coming three months ago.

• Construction set to boom at FVSU

  Fort Valley State University will soon be buzzing with the sounds of construction equipment.

• New Robins commander comes highly recommended

  Maj. Gen. Polly Peyer - announced Thursday as heir apparent commander for the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center - will come to Robins Air Force Base highly recommended by her former Pentagon boss.

• Murray column: In loving appreciation for a job well done

  She was a working mother when working mothers weren't cool. It was a choice born not out of any sense of gender liberation, but from the necessity of raising a family in a South slow to reap the post-war recovery from the Great Depression.

• Officers plan events for National Police Week

  Firearms competitions, displays and a candlelight vigil are among the activities scheduled next week by local law enforcement officers from Houston County agencies and Robins Air Force Base to mark National Police Week.

• Perry High's top scholars set lofty goals for themselves

  Perry High School's valedictorian will receive two degrees this month - an associate in science and a high school diploma.

• Westfield's top grads a close-knit team

  While Westfield may graduate just a few dozen seniors each spring, the independent Perry school knows how to prepare its students for college and beyond.

• Ten questions for Judy Sanders

  City of residence: Cochran Occupation: Manager of Office of Child Support Services, Houston County

• Olive Garden, Bar-B-Cutie opening doors; McDonald's will be near new Perry Publix

  Two new restaurants are expected to open on Watson Boulevard next week.

• EDUCATION BRIEFS

  Feagin Mill Middle awarded $10,000 Goody's grant Feagin Mill Middle School has been selected to receive a Goody's Good Deeds for Schools grant of $10,000. Julie Bailey, local store manager, will make the presentation at 1:45 p.m. Thursday at a school-wide rally in the gymnasium.

• Huntington hears the Who with 'Seussical Jr.'

  Dr. Seuss fans old and young will want to reserve time next weekend for Huntington Middle School's production of "Seussical Jr."

• Optimists honor students of the year

  The Warner Robins Noon Optimist Club honored three students at the civic group's annual student of the year banquet May 1.

• Southern magnolia is a local favorite

  Southern magnolias in central Georgia may look bad now. Older leaves look wilted or dead and are falling off. Some of the leaves have spots on them while others are yellow. What should we do?

• Perry High's Burgess signs with Fort Valley State

  Kim Burgess already had the royal blue and gold of Fort Valley State running through her veins.

• Demons secure college future

  The mood was festive Wednesday in the Warner Robins High School media center.

• COMMUNITY BRIEFS

  WR group nears completion of home for veteran Through a Sears and Kmart Home to Heroes grant totalling $21,838, Rebuilding Together Warner Robins has nearly completed the home of Army veteran Charles Moore and his wife, Valorie. Throughout the past two months, the Sunstede home received numerous repairs, including an add-on room to house a washer and dryer, new siding, carpet, paint and a new door from the kitchen. Friday marked the couple's 19th wedding anniversary.

• BIRTHS

  Abbate, Gavin Alexander, born May 1 to Heather Cromer Abbate of Byron.

• CRIME REPORT

  These cases were referred for investigation by the Warner Robins

• AMEN CORNER

  MOTHER'S DAY APPRECIATION A special Mother's Day service will take place Sunday at Southside Baptist Church in Warner Robins. To show appreciation to the nation's military, mothers whose husbands are deployed are being offered a free premium oil service from Jim's Quick Lube. The church services are at 9 a.m. at 10:30 a.m. at 1040 S. Houston Lake Road. The service will also honor widows and single mother. For more information, visit www.southsidefamily.com.