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11 FEB 04: RESPECT YOUR ELDER?

Former Russell County School Superintendent Dr. Phillip Elder has found work. He confirmed Tuesday he's becoming the headmaster of Glenwood School - and he should be thankful those sports teams never play Russell County High, because things might get ugly.

(Instant Message to the Redneckin' blog in Phenix City: I'll give you credit; you beat the TV stations by four days on the Phillip Elder story. But doesn't feel a bit lonely, knowing no one in the media seemed to notice -- not even me?)

Phillip Elder resigned as Russell County superintendent in December, saying he had accomplished much -- including getting all the county's schools off state probation. Now he'll face a new challenge: persuading potential Glenwood families
those schools still really aren't that good.

(Of course, some could call Dr. Elder a wimp - because Glenwood isn't subject to Alabama state supervision at all.)

Phillip Elder says he realized he faced a tough task as Russell County Superintendent, because there was dissention on the school board. Apparently that's one area where he didn't do well, because board members still can't agree on his replacement.

Phillip Elder explains at Glenwood School, he's entering a situation where everyone agrees on what should be done. Maybe they do now - but we'll see what happens if the football team has another losing season.

Somebody's gotta say it: Isn't Phillip Elder slapping Russell County schools in the face by taking the headmaster's job at nearby Glenwood? For one thing, he probably arranged for that grant money to put PlayStation game systems in grade
schools - and now he's going to a school which can afford broadband in every classroom.

BLOG UPDATE: The Columbus Council voted Tuesday to begin "booting" the cars of people with three or more outstanding parking tickets. Councilors could have voted to boot the drivers, too - but then the city would never get the fines paid.

METRA Director Lisa Goodwin says the booting rule for downtown parking will take effect April 1. But first, March will be "amnesty month" -- when people can pay off their parking tickets at face value. If this idea is successful, SOA Watch protesters in November might never face jail time again.

One TV station asked a co-owner of Bonehead's club on Broadway about the downtown parking situation - and he said: "They need to re-look it." [True] Next time you visit this club, the bartender will be happy if you let him re-beer you.

Now a tableful of other Tuesday topics:

+ A jury in Talladega, Alabama recommended Jimmy Lee Brooks Jr. receive the death penalty, for murdering Brett Bowyer. A Russell County judge will make the final decision on a sentence in April -- but will go back to Talladega to do it. What's the point of going back there? Is Brooks's attorney getting paid by the mile?

(Hey, Jimmy Lee - did you blow kisses at the Bowyer family again Tuesday, like you did after the jury found you guilty? Somehow I don't think any of them are going to send you Valentine cards in jail.)

+ WRBL began a special report on unsolved "cold cases" in the Columbus area - complete with mysterious music, and Brian Sharpe standing close to fog. For a second, I almost believed he really was David Caruso....

(I wondered why Brian Sharpe was selected for the series on "cold cases." But then I remembered he's the "Restaurant Report Card" guy, so he reports on problems with cold cases all the time.)

+ State Rep. Calvin Smyre of Columbus spoke against a bill to ban smoking in all Georgia public places. He called the proposal an "unnecessary government intrusion." Now I'm confused! I thought Mr. Smyre was a Democrat - and thus in favor of big government.

+ Meanwhile, the Georgia House session broke down in laughter over a bill granting tax exemptions to worm farmers. [True/GPB-TV] And they accuse the Auburn University trustees of "micro-management...."

+ I discovered the main library in Columbus is letting you print out federal tax forms for FREE. Maybe this explains how places like B&B Tax Services can afford to run TV and radio commercials.

+ The South Georgia Waves baseball team confirmed they've changed their name to the "Columbus Catfish." We predict the weird-looking blue mascot of the Waves will sell for at least $1,000 on eBay.

(The new General Manager of the Cats - er, Fish - said half of Columbus doesn't know the team exists. The other half "thinks we're still the RedStixx." And not one of them has bothered to track down the General Manager who skipped town last summer.)

+ Basketball's Atlanta Hawks traded for Portland's controversial Rasheed Wallace. We DO hope the team keeps him away from Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston's neighborhood....

+ Auburn men's basketball coach Cliff Ellis and his wife are weeklong sponsors of "All Things Considered" on public radio. What makes this strange is, it's TROY STATE Public Radio. Is this how the coach is getting around putting T.S.U. on the schedule?

(To be fair, the only public radio station I've heard in Auburn is run by students - and the music they play is more like "All Loud Rock Considered.")

COMING SOON: Why I need an extreme makeover....

© 2003-04 Richard Burkard, All Rights Reserved.