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PERRY — Despite increased attendance this year, revenue from the Georgia National Fair was down 7 percent over last year, mostly because of poor concert sales, the Georgia Agricultural Exposition Authority reported Nov. 11.
The fair, which took place Oct. 8-18, brought in $3.9 million this year, down from $4.2 million in 2008, according to figures from the authority. The fair’s four concerts generated $322,644 from ticket sales, fair admission, service charge fees and merchandise sales. The cost of producing the shows, however, was about $167,000 more than what they brought in, figures show.
As a result, fair organizers plan to hold only two concerts next year.
“We are aiming for two higher quality concerts,” board member Danny J. Brown said.
None of the concerts sold out this year. The concert with the highest attendance, Montgomery Gentry with special guest Julianne Hough, was at about 61 percent capacity, according to the authority. Other concerts featured Rodney Atkins and Chuck Wicks; Mitchel Musso and Nat & Alex Wolff; and David Cook.
— Angela Woolen
Another couple indicted for false enrollment
WARNER ROBINS — A Houston County grand jury indicted a Fort Valley couple Nov. 10 as part of an effort to curb improper enrollment in Houston schools.
George Randall Lucas and Debra Lucas, of 109 Summer Breeze Court, were indicted on two counts of false statements and writings in reference to address, Houston County District Attorney Kelly Burke said. The couple had been using a Perry address.
The indictment against the husband and wife is the first against parents falsifying addresses presented to a grand jury since Sept. 15. Under those charges, parents are accused of lying or misstating a material fact to a governmental agency, in this case, the Houston County Board of Education.
To date, Burke has presented two other cases to a grand jury.
Terry O’Rear of Hawkinsville was indicted on two counts of false statements and writings. The case against O’Rear still is pending, Burke said.
Cliff and Tammy Pulsifer of Fort Valley also were indicted on one count of false statements and writing, but their case has been dismissed, and they have worked out a restitution agreement with the school board, Burke said.
— Andrea Castillo
Houston BOE chairman asks to review enrollment policy
PERRY — Houston County Board of Education Chairman Tom Walmer urged the school board to consider making changes to two of its enrollment policies during its Nov. 10 monthly board meeting.
Walmer asked the board to consider in January changing the policy that allows children of school employees to attend the schools of their choice, looking at excluding schools that have been open for four years or fewer unless the employee works there. That would include Veterans High School, which will open next year.
Walmer said the board would not consider removing that benefit to employees entirely because providing such benefits is not unique to Houston County schools and helps attract stronger job applicants.
Walmer also suggested allowing rising ninth-, 10th- and 11th-grade siblings of rising high school seniors to continue attending the same schools as their older siblings after the rezoning takes effect. Rising seniors will be grandfathered in to current school zones.
The suggestion was made in response to concerns from parents worried about splitting up high-school-age siblings next year under the new zoning.
— Andrea Castillo
WR to host Special Olympics State Masters Bowling
WARNER ROBINS — City, state, business and community leaders rolled out the red carpet Thursday for Special Olympics Georgia.
Leaders packed the council chambers at City Hall for a news conference to welcome the Masters Bowling event back to Warner Robins.
Marsha Buzzell, executive director of the Warner Robins Convention & Visitors Bureau, said Warner Robins will host Masters Bowling not only in 2010 but also in 2011 and 2012.
The first Masters Bowling was held in Warner Robins nine years ago. Also, the city hosted the first Summer Games in the 1980s.
The 2010 event will be held Aug. 20-22 at Gold Cup Bowling in Warner Robins and Robins Lanes at Robins Air Force Base.
Between 800 and 1,000 athletes and coaches will arrive in Warner Robins next summer for Masters Bowling, which is expected to benefit area hotels and retailers, organizers said.
— Becky Purser
Frito-Lay to invest $75 million in plant
WARNER ROBINS — Frito-Lay will continue its investment in Houston County as it makes $75 million in improvements to its plant.
The Houston County Development Authority unanimously approved Nov. 11 a $75 million bond resolution for the snack-food maker. The bond will have no liability to the county and will allow Frito-Lay to receive tax benefit incentives, said Mike Long, the authority’s attorney.
“In these times, that’s a big investment in this county,” authority Chairman Neal Talton said.
Investments at the Kathleen plant will include building and equipment improvements, Frito-Lay spokeswoman Aurora Gonzalez said from the company’s Texas headquarters. No new jobs are expected, she said.
The Kathleen plant “is a strong site, and the county has been a good partner,” Gonzalez said. “That makes (it) a desirable site to invest in.”
The Frito-Lay plant, located on Ga. 247, is one of Houston County’s largest employers.
The company added 80 jobs in Houston County in 2009, said Andrea Griner, projects manager for the development authority.
— Jennifer Burk
WR City Council hears changes to sign proposal
WARNER ROBINS — The City Council discussed changes made to the city’s sign ordinance Nov. 9 and held the first reading on the new document.
Changes to the document mostly include using different identifiers for various types of signs to conform with state regulations and giving business owners the ability to cover half their window spaces with signs.
“Some of the definitions (of specific sign types) have changed,” said Robert Sisa, director of city development.
The changes are the result of claims by a Con- yers company that some of the city’s current sign protocol was unconstitutional. Southern Advertising and Sign Erectors wrote a letter to the city regarding several things, including speech restrictions and a permit requirement.
Before it can go into effect, the new ordinance will receive several readings and then go before the council for a vote. If approved, it will go into effect Jan. 1.
— Marlon A. Walker
Georgia Military College holds ground-breaking
WARNER ROBINS — Officials broke ground Nov. 9 for an administrative building at the Warner Robins campus of Georgia Military College that’s expected to be completed by March.
About three dozen people attended the event, which included elected officials and ambassadors and staff from the Warner Robins Chamber of Commerce.
The 12,000-square-foot building will house the admissions office, business office, bookstore, seven faculty offices, five humanities and education classrooms as well as a computer lab.
Once the building is complete, it would expand its 15 classrooms to 22, said Ted Ramsdell, director of the school’s Warner Robins campus.
Enrollment at GMC in Warner Robins is just below 1,100 for the fall quarter, said Ramsdell, and is expected to grow to 1,150 in January. Just five years ago, that number stood at 700.
— Andrea Castillo
Houston DA seeks death penalty in murder case
WARNER ROBINS — Houston County District Attorney Kelly Burke said Nov. 9 that he is seeking the death penalty for two Eatonton men accused of slaying a Warner Robins man for his car in 2008.
Joshua Dupree Rounsoville, 21, and Stewart Calvert Brannon, 20, were indicted by a Houston County grand jury on charges of murder, armed robbery and aggravated assault with a firearm.
Rounsoville and Brannon both entered not-guilty pleas during arraignment in Houston County Superior Court.
When indicted, the grand jury found the existence of aggravating circumstances in the fatal shooting of Mario Maurice Smith, 25, a maintenance worker for the Houston County Board of Education.
Aggravating circumstances are required before the death penalty may be considered, Burke said.
Smith’s body was discovered by his brother Aug. 24, 2008, inside a storage unit at The Glass Doctor at 2305 Watson Blvd.
His prized red 1987 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, which was stored in the unit, was gone. Police said the motive for the slaying was the car.
— Becky Purser
Perry woman receives $14,000 home makeover
PERRY — Ruth Usher repeatedly screamed “Oh no!” after finding out she was the winner of a $14,000 home makeover Nov. 11.
Usher was the grand prize winner in Aaron’s Inc.’s National Lucky Dog Day contest. More than 1.6 million letters were distributed nationwide. Customers who brought those letters in to Aaron’s were entered in a random drawing for the grand prize.
“I didn’t think I had a chance,” said Usher as she held her hands on her face. “This never happens to me.”
Usher received a seven-piece living room set, a nine-piece dining room set, two seven-piece bedroom sets, a 60-inch television with a stand, a 42-inch flat panel television, a 32-inch flat panel television, two home theater systems, a refrigerator, a washer and dryer pair, a laptop and a netbook.
— Angela Woolen
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