29 JAN 05: ICY-YOU
If you can read this in Columbus on a Saturday night, one of two things must be true. Either you have electric power on an icy weekend - or your laptop must have powerful batteries, and you're seriously addicted to the Internet.
The Historic District where I live did NOT lose power today from ice-covered power lines. At least I don't think it did - but I still haven't turned on the TV set, to see if it's set on channel 2 for no good reason.
In cities such as Atlanta, a storm like what we had is called a "wintry mix." I've never liked that term - because it sounds too much like something you should make with Chex cereal.
Online reports indicate more than 36,000 people in thr Columbus area lost power from the storm. From what I was told, parts of northeast Columbus were in the dark this morning. And as of late afternoon, the Green Island Hills neighborhood still lacked power. And you northsiders don't think there's anything good about living on the south side....
The winter weather knocked the two noncommercial religious FM radio stations in Columbus off the air all day. If the managers blame this storm on the devil, they'd better be able to explain how the AM gospel stations kept running.
Based on a late-afternoon drive I took on Veterans Parkway, the "ice line" seemed to be Whitesville Road. North of that intersection, trees still had plenty of ice on them. South of there, you still had to pay for it at convenience stores.
I noticed several broken and fallen limbs on Weems Road and Moon Road - but thankfully, there was nothing blocking traffic. On Moon Road, of course, SUV drivers would have plowed over those limbs without noticing a thing....
Someone told me she spotted a line of electric repair "bucket trucks" on Macon Road - not from Georgia Power, but Mississippi Power. Apparently they've been sent this way to handle damaged lines. But please be patient -- because Mississippi needed 40 years to arrest a suspect in a civil rights case.
(We DO welcome the help from Mississippi - but we don't want to hear of them talk about this assignment with the phrase, "Ivan's revenge.")
An amazing sight could be seen at Moon Road and J.R. Allen Parkway. A man who runs a portable "boiled peanuts" stand near the bridge had it up, like nothing was different. And when I drove by, someone actually had stopped to buy some. It's nice to see I'm not the only person in town who has pity on desperate beggars.
I took this late-afternoon drive because the church I attend called off its afternoon service. The presiding Elder made this call before 9:00 a.m., so people south of Columbus wouldn't start driving this way. Why they didn't offer to take everyone else in and warm us up, I have no idea....
I wound up attending the Cascade Hills Church Saturday evening service. Pastor Bill Purvis revealed the building lost power early Saturday, and left the baptismal pool ice-cold - but a young man went ahead and was baptized anyway. If you're going to make that sort of commitment, you want to remember it every way possible.
Instant Message to Auburn sportscaster Rod Bramblett: After a winter storm like we had today, couldn't you take a one-day break from claiming a team took time out to "ice the shooter?"
To offer a story tip, make a donation or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post a reply.
If you quote from this in public somewhere, please be polite enough to let me know.
© 2003-05 Richard Burkard, All Rights Reserved.