Johnson City Press from Johnson City, Tennessee • 5

JOHNSON CITY PRESS Friday December 24 1993 Page 5 Fiscal news a holiday boost 4 J-? 4 A' wy 1 A 3 x- as'5''1 $k4 The Associated Press WASHINGTON The nations economy is growing ever stronger near year-end according to fresh reports of rising incomes consumer spending and orders for durable goods "It suggests the American public was given an early Christmas present said Robert Dedenck an economist with the Northern Trust Co Chicago "The data for November were yery favorable across the board The Comhierce Department reported Thursday that personal incomes rose 06 percent November the fourth straight advance Consumer spending was up 04 percent the eighth consecutive gain The department also said factory orders for durable goods items from airplanes to appliances expected to last more than three years shot up 2 percent It was the fourth straight advance the longest string in more than six years "We seem to have a cycle where strength in spending has led to increases in orders which have led to increases in employment and income which in turn should lead to more spending and orders Dedenck said "Everything was on the upstroke in November Analysts said the data supports fourth-quarter economic growth exceeding 4 percent at an annual rate although many believe the expansion will slow to about 3 percent during the first three months of the new year Still Dedenck said "Theres no reason to think the economy will be screeching to a near-halt as it did a year ago The fundamentals are positive 1 -s3peSlW ww 5 4 rJrXc- 3 jjf tyfT 4 Iff -O iVL tW If1 MW i'i-- iSrvi xj kf jti-V- 5 75 Hsjs yi)iiP4 Highway opens 7X wA4 S45'T' sS- jv A first of three sections of new highway to open between Erwin and the North Carolina state line at Sams Gap The Tennessee portion should be completed by late 1994 (Staff Photo by Tony Duncan) A four-mile section of US Highway 23 between River Hill and Temple Hill communities is now open Rep Zane Whitson R-Erwin Executive Paul Monk and Erwin Mayor Russell Brackins were on hand for the opening Tuesday at 11:30 am This is the Father of 1 7 one winner of lottery hank you for your kindness and good will To all we wish a very merry Christmas season 2fii3f A WT i rl xs msiMtok Chuck said he his wife and their 4-year-old daughter Tiana will travel immediately to Pans "Its going to be an early Christmas he said Gill 35 added "Im going to try to give something back to my neighborhood because my brothers out there theyre killing one another He said he has worked as a barber and a government employee but has no job now Pridgen and Gill each the sole owner of his winning ticket will receive their first checks in about 10 or 15 days said Lottery spokeswoman Beverly Hunt The owners of the Washington liquor stores where the grand prize tickets were sold will each receive $25000 The Powerball game played in 14 states and the District of Columbia had not yielded a winning ticket in 16 previous drawings over the past eight weeks The winning numbers were 1 who are not directly involved with the courts participate this objective look and identify any problems they find he said "This effort will result a court system that glides easily into the next century flexible enough to meet a changing societys needs while retaining the traditions we cherish 1-y i "sS The Mall At By Jennifer Loven Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON A retired bricklayer with 17 children and 29 grandchildren said Thursday he plans to buy a country home for his wife with the $45 million lottery winnings that moved him to tears and trembling He will split the $90 million Powerball payoff with the holder of the only other winning ticket who said he wants to use part of his $45 million to move to a place "with a lot of palm trees and a lot of umbrellas Percy Ray Pridgen 69 could speak only a short time before having to bury his head his hands "and cry After disclosing his plan to buy a house he said "Somebodys going to have to tell me how to spend the rest $225 million a year minus taxes for the next 20 years Gill of Richmond Va he told one reporter the stands for 3 13 15 and 29 The powerball was 12 Pridgen a Washington resident who formerly worked for a construction company said he wasnt certain of his good luck until Thursday even though the drawing was Wednesday night He had a friend help him identify his ticket and make sure he had actually won 'T couldnt trust nobody but him I was trembling so fast he said Gill who traveled to Washington to buy 15 $1 tickets saw his winning numbers on television He said his wife didnt believe him The odds of any one ticket being the big winner were one in 55 million But 54 lucky ticket-holders matched every number but the Powerball raking in "Austin" Statuary Dept 56 "Snowbabies" Waverly" Chair Cushions Closing at 4 Chnstmas Eve yieasuie tffcuze Peerless Center 2527 Roan St Suite 4 (615)282-8034 JC nsv spat i A $100000 each And 192 lottery players won $5000 each for matching four numbers and the Powerball There were also 8396 tickets with four numbers but not the Powerball and 7316 matching three numbers and the Powerball each worth $100 Tickets costing $47 million were sold since Sunday said Charles Strutt executive director of the Multi-State Lottery Commission the Iowa-based organization that runs Powerball fytC Johnson City Panel seeks public input on shape of court system May Holiday time bring you Happy moments happy memories And renewal of old friendships And may the New Year be prosperous! Wishing the seasons best to your family EASTTEiYIV IUOT-A5JLS Bristol Hwy North Johnson City 282-322J1 YVfr- A panel of Tennesseans recruited by the state Supreme Court to examine the judicial system and recommend changes to help shape its future is seeking the publics assistance Chairman John Seigenthaler said "We want to hear what Tennesseans think about their court system he said "We are just beginning our task and believe there are citizens who could help us by sharing the experiences they have had with various elements of the system We need their input as we analyze the present state of the system and consider recommendations for the future Seigenthaler urged the public to send comments and suggestions to the Commission on the Future of the Tennessee Judicial System Administrative Office of the Courts Nashville City Center Suite 1400 -Nashville Tenn 37243-0607 The 34-member commission including representatives of labor business medicine civic organizations education and the legal community will spend two years probing the judicial system and preparing a report for the Tennessee Supreme Court Seigenthaler said the goal is to come up with changes designed to make the system user-friendly and efficient "We know that the process is confusing to many people who use it or may use it during their lives Seigenthaler said "We hope our recommendations will result in less confusion The chairman said the state Supreme Court should be congratulated for appointing the committee of "outsiders as well as attorneys prosecutors and judges to scrutinize the judicial system "Chief Justice Lyle Reid and the entire court recognized the importance of having citizens hen Christmas approaches we turn our thoughts to you our dear friends ana patrons We send you our heartfeh blessings and our hopes for renewed togetherness among all of natures creations throughout the world Thank you lor your ever-loyal support and friendship Market Street Johnson City TN 926-6134.