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28 DEC 03: QUICK IN, QUICK OUT
It's a busy couple of days for me, so I only have time for a few quick notes:
+ The Columbus Target store apparently has an internal radio system, which employees can hear but customers cannot. I happened to hear a bit of it Saturday night, as staff members were told to offer "guests" Target credit cards. It's always better to prepare your "no" answer in advance.
The Target store's in-house radio also said closing quickly Saturday night should not be a problem, because business was light. I could understand why. From what I saw, most of the leftover half-price chocolate was grabbed Friday.
The store with the most obvious "inside radio" system for employees is Old Navy. The checkout staff wears headphones, and even seems to answer customer phone calls while they check you out. It's too bad companies can't afford to hire switchboard operators anymore.
+ A row of nice new trees has been planted along the Riverwalk in the last couple of weeks, near the Trade Center expansion. Now if city crews please will plant a few lights as well, so joggers don't run into them in the dark....
+ This morning's "Beginning of a New Season" broadcast on WEAM Radio featured a Phenix City preacher declaring, "The only person who can deprive you of your blessing is YOU." This is the first preacher we've heard siding with the Muscogee County Sheriff's Office, against Kenneth Walker.
(Instant Message to WEAM: In Georgia the town is called BYOO-na Vista, not "Buena Vista." As long as you've been in town, why doesn't your announcer know that?)
BLOG YEAR-IN-REVIEW CON'D: Phenix City made history in July, when the City Council approved Sunday liquor sales. Before you start any conspiracy theories - the Russell County Commission vote to reinstate Administrator LeeAnn Horne-Jordan took place on a Wednesday.
Mayor Bob Poydasheff announced in July the "Vice Squad" is coming back to Columbus. The way things are going, they'll be joined sometime in 2004 by the Guardian Angels from New York.
Members of the Third Brigade began returning to Fort Benning in July, after liberating Iraq. It must have felt good returning to those all-American, trustworthy tattoo parlors on Victory Drive.
Talk surfaced in July about a new one-cent sales tax for Muscogee County schools. Several months later, the School Board should be thankful the Sheriff's Department didn't attempt any drug stings for months.
A new monthly publication came to Columbus in July - "La Voz Hispana," with items in both English and Spanish. I'm still waiting for Ritmo Latino Radio to offer this same sort of thing on weekends, so people can understand more than "O-K" and "Party time."
Direct Optical Center unveiled a unique new TV ad in July - where a woman gives a message in sign language, and there's no sound for 30 seconds. How I wish the guys at King Ford would borrow this idea....
The South Georgia Waves named a new General Manager in July. Then within a week, Dan Madden slipped out of a game early and was never seen again. Not even the owner of the Wardogs could make a clean getaway like that.
BLOG-BLAH-BLAH: We want to hand out year-end awards in a few days to noteworthy people in the Columbus area. If you have a suggestion, write us in the next couple of days.