13 APR 05: THE CHIPS ARE DOWN

Tuesday's Ledger-Enquirer reported Tom's Foods has filed chapter 11 bankruptcy papers. No doubt this caused rejoicing at its competitors - with a Frito-Lay executive saying, "Betcha can't file just one."

While the Ledger-Enquirer was the first local news outlet to report Tom's troubles, a check of Google News shows the Atlanta Business Chronicle actually broke the story last Thursday. When it takes five days for anyone locally to notice it, we have yet another example of how well Columbus corporate executives keep secrets.

The bankruptcy papers show Tom's Foods owes $63 million in debt to bond holders. So much for asking that company for a loan, to cover the Columbus city budget gap....

(But did the court paperwork from Tom's match the style on the back of their chip bags? You know, with WILD words emphasized in HUGE letters to drive home the POINT to you?)

Tom's Foods C.E.O. Ron Divin told the newspaper since the bankruptcy filing last week, sales have been "heading north." We'd like to thank all the Harris County residents who are buying more corn chips.

(Of course, this raises an important question - what about the months before the filing? Did sales of chips take a bad dip?)

The good news from Tom's Foods officials is that they plan no layoffs, and do NOT expect to close any plants. But there must be some bad news for employees here somewhere. Will the staff have to eat defective crackers now, instead of having free concessions?

(Of course, things could be worse. "Bob and Tom" on "The River 95.7" could have laid off Tom, for not bringing in enough money.)

Preliminary figures from Tom's Foods show the company had a net loss of $6.8 million last year. And this year could be even worse - since "Sesame Street" plans to make the Cookie Monster eat more fruits and vegetables.

Over the last two years, overall sales by Tom's Foods have dropped by more than 12 percent. But again, I don't expect much sympathy from other snack food companies. They'd probably shrug their shoulders and declare, "That's the way the cookies crumble."

Since I brought it up: 20 years ago a co-worker at CNN Headline News in Atlanta told me about a strange dream he had. He was at his work computer, but had a special key where he could print out cookies - as in the sort of cookies Tom's Foods makes. I told that man in response: "That sort of computer must need a lot of chips."

BLOG UPDATE: A key African-American official announced Tuesday he supports Riverfest, and probably will go to it. Columbus Councilor Nathan Suber disagrees with the planned civil rights boycott - and perhaps for the first time, he agrees with most of the callers to WRCG's "TalkLine."

Nathan Suber told WRBL it "makes us look kind of stupid" to boycott Riverfest, when the Historic Columbus Foundation putting on the event does a lot to benefit Columbus. Of course, civil rights leaders probably would ask where the Kenneth Walker statue is downtown....

Ed DuBose of the Georgia NAACP attended the Columbus Council meeting, complete with a yellow NAACP jacket on. Did he wear that to avoid an extended security check? Or is the next picket line going to be outside a local dry cleaners?

Ed DuBose and Nathan Suber debated whether Columbus city government has done all it can in the Kenneth Walker investigation. DuBose should realize it's awfully hard to call out the Georgia National Guard in this case, when Deputy David Glisson lives in Alabama.

After the Columbus Council meeting, Ed DuBose insisted city officials could do more. He suggested writing a unanimous letter to Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker, or to "Ken Hodge." [True/WRBL] I'm not really sure what good it will do, writing a retired Boston Bruins hockey player....

In fact, one report indicated the Columbus Council HAS sent a letter to Atlanta - to the state legislature, asking for a quick end to the Kenneth Walker investigation. You probably didn't hear more about that, because City Manager Isaiah Hugley gave it to his wife Carolyn at the dinner table.

Now other brief blurbs from a Tuesday which was supposed to be rainy, but somehow was not:

+ City Manager Isaiah Hugley said he's offered a deal to the U.S. Justice Department, to hire four new jailers a year for the next six years. Right now the Muscogee County Jail is 24 staff members short - but at least no rap stars have made music videos while in their cells.

+ WRBL showed Spencer High School seniors on duty as hall security officers, complete with uniforms. The way things are going, they could be hired as Columbus Police officers before they graduate.

+ Warm Springs held a ceremony marking 60 years since the death of President Franklin Roosevelt. I didn't realize his historic Georgia home has a staff of "Little White House Rangers." It almost sounds like a kinky program President Bill Clinton might have set up.

+ Instant Message to the Spectrum station on Fourth Street: I never thought I'd write this - but $2.11 a gallon for gasoline is a good start in the right direction.

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