15 AUG 05: ADAM AND EVE

Perhaps it's only fitting for a "Bible Belt" city such as Columbus that an Adam and an Eve made news on Sunday. Only this tale is different from the book of Genesis - because the man appears to have sinned first.

In OUR beginning, there is Adam - Adam Johnson, the son of the Muscogee County Sheriff. He may have been caught driving with a suspended license Sunday, when he was in a wreck on Warm Springs Road. If he's not careful, police will bring out that old code "Adam-12" from the TV show especially for him.

Police say Adam Johnson rear-ended another vehicle at Warm Springs Road and Hilton Avenue. One witness claims Johnson carried a cell phone, but did NOT call 911 after the collision. As much trouble as he's had, he probably has his attorney's number programmed instead.

Adam Johnson was hurt enough by the collision to need hospital care overnight. But Columbus police expect him to face charges, because his six-month driving suspension has not expired. This young man may need a wife even more than I do....

This is the same Adam Johnson who collided with a little girl on Oates Avenue last October, and pleaded guilty to drunk driving and marijuana possession in February. If I was Sheriff Ralph Johnson, I'd consider buying his son a bicycle.

One mother asked me Sunday why Sheriff Ralph Johnson doesn't do more about his son. I tried to explain Adam Johnson is past age 18 so he's an adult, but this mom wasn't satisfied. Maybe it's time for Columbus Council to consider expanding the leash law.

Sheriff Ralph Johnson had no comment Sunday on his son's latest difficulty. Perhaps he made his official comment awhile back - when he recorded the public service announcement on TV about talking to your children about drugs.

In contrast with Adam, there is Eve. Eve Tidwell surprisingly was back in Columbus Sunday, after two days in Texas. A Sacramento newspaper claimed she was going to stay near President Bush's ranch through Wednesday -- so you shouldn't Bee-lieve everything you read there.

Eve Tidwell returned to Columbus Saturday night, but she flew back to Texas Sunday night. Meanwhile, Iraq war opponent Cindy Sheehan has remained near the President's ranch all along. So you can see which woman doesn't have to worry about high fuel prices....

Eve Tidwell apparently spent Sunday making a new sign, to display outside the President's ranch. May the day soon come when Crawford, Texas has its own OfficeMax.

Eve Tidwell explained Sunday her new sign specifically has Cindy Sheehan's first name on it: "Cindy, your son is a hero, not a victim." Apparently Tidwell's earlier sign wasn't personalized enough -- or maybe Sheehan's being surrounded by parents of abused children.

Eve Tidwell admits she wants a face-to-face meeting with Cindy Sheehan. Cindy Sheehan is outside the ranch, wanting a face-to-face meeting with President Bush. Why do I get this feeling this will end with the President inviting Tidwell to dinner?

But Eve Tidwell says Cindy Sheehan's supporters will only allow opponents of President Bush's Iraq policy to talk with her. So what do you know - Ms. Sheehan and Mr. Bush have something in common.

(Tidwell adds the Sheehan supporters keep her "very desensitized" from the pro-military group. This is shocking - because I thought Democrats were supposed to be the party of "sensitivity training.")

But did I hear Eve Tidwell correctly, when she said she's part of "a group that will get the attention of the media"?! Comments like that indicate she wants more than a chat with Cindy Sheehan. She'll talk with Laura Ingraham, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck....

Eve Tidwell says her message of support for soldiers is being drowned out by the politics involved in Iraq. It's too bad the local high school marching bands are too busy preparing for football season to join her.

Eve Tidwell suggested Sunday news reporters are asking Cindy Sheehan the wrong questions. She wants them to ask about Sheehan's soldier son: "Would your son be proud of the way he died?" Of course, Tidwell could do this herself - but I don't think "What's New, Miriam" is on TV-16 anymore.

THE BIG BLOG QUESTION on the start of the school year closed Sunday, with a bit of a surprise. Of the three options we gave you, the leading choice was putting all schools on a year-round schedule. That should scare the Ledger-Enquirer - as its money from back-to-school ads would drop.

Our incredibly unscientific poll found 47 percent of you want year-round schools throughout the area. But I can see a disadvantage to this. A small number of students might be hurt in a significant way - by putting grades ahead of Little League baseball playoff games.

The main goal of our question was to see if area schools start the year too early. Forty percent of you say yes, while 13 percent say no. We can't help wondering if 13 percent consist of children with no home computers or video games.

One supporter of year-round schools wrote in our "comments" section: "Utility costs for August are far greater than in the autumn months." But then he calls for schools to "go year 'round with increased instruction days." Wouldn't utility costs go up then -- in not only August, but June and July?

Another suggestion we received for a later start to the school year is to end "professional days." A voter claimed in-school training is a waste of time and "a farce." When I was in school, these days were combined as a "teachers' convention" -- where I presumed they were partying half the time.

One opponent of an early-August start to school wrote: "You know things are not right when all of Columbus' public pools close for good on July 31^st." As tight as the city budget is right now, that could have happened even if school didn't start until October.

This opponent wonders why school officials are so concerned about finishing the first semester before winter break. "Are the students going to forget everything after a two-week break?" he asked. Believe it or not, some instructors say yes. In fact, that's what Rafael Palmeiro is trying to do right now....

We thank you for your input (even if Muscogee County school officials ignore it) - and now let's have some more output from the weekend:

+ WRCG's Program Director announced Clark Howard will return to Columbus radio today. In effect, he's replacing Chuck Scarborough - which should prove once and for all Columbus is a city, not in the "Country."

+ WCGQ-FM unveiled a new blog, focusing on "Hollywood Dirt." I hereby nominate Jude Law for poster boy....

+ New Census Bureau statistics showed Harris County's population has grown by nearly 13 percent since 2000. If this trend keeps up, Waverly Hall will need to add a Waverly Corridor.

+ Oxbow Meadows held a "Discover Earthworms" day for children. Hopefully this was an educational program - and youngsters were NOT given tips on how to stuff a handful inside your brother's or sister's shirt.

+ Instant Message to the family of early NASCAR racing star Coo Coo Marlin: Our sympathies at your loss. We can only imagine what might have occurred, if he raced today. Certainly someone named "Coo Coo" would drive a car sponsored by Cocoa Puffs.

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