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for 18 JUN 04: LOST AND FOUND

Were your prayers answered Thursday afternoon? Mine sure were -- as little Tellious Brown was found safe and sound. Well, perhaps that was really the second answered prayer. The first was having money for three wonderful Subway chocolate chip cookies....

But I digress: two-year-old Tellious Brown was recovered at the Super C store on Buena Vista Road near Brewer Elementary School. First came the relief, at knowing the toddler was safe. Then came new concern - because that boy could have wandered into all those weird intersections, or onto railroad tracks.

(That Super C store is located in an area Columbus police call the "spider web." If Carmike Cinemas has any smarts, they'll give Brown and his family souvenir tickets to see "Spider Man 2.")

A young woman says she first found Tellious Brown in an alleyway on Illges Road, crying for his mother. You can't blame him, really -- since he's probably too young to know Sunday is Father's Day.

A Columbus police officer brought Tellious Brown back together with his family, and give him a white teddy bear during the ride. [True/A.P.] Please, Edward DuBose - PLEASE don't look for a deep, hidden agenda in this.

The kidnappers of Tellious Brown reportedly demanded a $100,000 ransom from his parents. If the kidnappers knew his mother works at a nail salon, they must have ridiculous ideas of how much her customers tip.

Before Tellious Brown was found, an F.B.I. Special Agent suggested to reporters the kidnapping and carjacking on Staunton Avenue was NOT a random act. I'm not sure what he means by this - but maybe that Sean John shirt the boy wore made the criminals think his parents were wealthy.

At that news conference, Tellious Brown's mother made a tearful plea for his release. Authorities believe that moved the kidnappers to give up the boy - either that, or the F.B.I. only placing the reward at $5,000 instead of $100,000.

The 2:00 p.m. news conference at the Public Safety Center brought in some reporters Columbus hadn't seen in years. Tracy Flanagan came here from WAGA in Atlanta. And I thought I heard Terry Mann from WSB-TV - who used to work in Columbus, before he took an assumed name.

One leftover question of the Tellious Brown case is why it took more than 12 hours after the kidnapping for a "Levi's Call" alert to be issued across Georgia. You don't think Columbus police were looking for someone named Levi, to make this call?!?!

The curious quote of the day award goes to F.B.I. Special Agent Jeff Holmes, who was asked about the Levi's Call delay at a news conference. He said Columbus police handling of the Tellious Brown case was "extremely adequate." Extremely
adequate?! This sounds like how I'd describe a good counter worker at Krystal.

The Levi's Call alert made the search for Tellious Brown national news. It was one of the top stories when I logged onto AOL Instant Messenger Thursday afternoon - right next to whether Cheerios give women a bigger bust line. [True!]

The parents of Tellious Brown say they give him the nickname "T-Man." We suggest the neighborhood throw a big welcome-home party, and call it a "T-Ball."

Let's all breathe a sigh of relief (aaaaaaaaaaaaah!), and send out a few Instant Messages:

+ To the Phillips station on Wynnton Road: What did your sign mean - "The Hooch Turns 43"? What divided Columbus and Phenix City before 1961, a barbed wire fence?

+ To American Town Marketing: I practically live on Victory Drive. So why didn't my envelope full of coupons have the one for "Grits n' Sweet Tea" you mention in your radio ad? Did someone tell you I prefer unsweetened tea?

+ To the driver who parked a car with the Alabama license plate "C LOVE" on Fifth Street: You can't fool me, Courtney! I'll turn you in to the Los Angeles police next time.

+ To Sundays Day Spa on Armour Road: Let me make sure I have this straight. You're open from Tuesday through Saturday, you're closed on Sundays - so where did you get that name?

COMING THIS WEEKEND: We had a date, and she stood me up....

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© 2003-04 Richard Burkard, All Rights Reserved.