27 SEP 05: THE PARENTS TRAPPED

More than 100 children gathered at the Columbus Public Library Monday. They couldn't go to school. Their parents had no other place to put them. And with the high humidity, it was like early-June all over again.

Dozens of parents rushed their children to public libraries, because Georgia's Governor called for a two-day closing of public schools to conserve fuel. So many went to the main library on Macon Road that its "CLOG" meant something other than its information blog.

Library director Claudya Muller described the offer to take children as a "last resort" for parents with emergency cases. We really should consider the entire library system this way. Countless authors will starve if you simply check out their books for free.

But some parents were left frustrated at local libraries - because they refused to take any children younger than seven. Library policy requires all young children to be accompanied by a parent. You'd think some teachers sitting idle could have stepped in, to make extra money....

The frustration may continue today, as Columbus libraries are imposing a limit of 40 children each. Remember, parents - that's still 38 more than some convenience stores allow inside at one time.

Why the tighter limit today? As it happens, children's librarians in Columbus are going out of town for a conference! Given what Governor Perdue did, they'd better be car pooling....

At least one local mother called Governor Sonny Perdue's call to suspend school "stupid." She noted such an action was NOT taken when Hurricane Katrina landed. She may have a point - why not extend the fuel tax holiday another month, through my upcoming vacation?

Some parents were so upset with Governor Perdue that they went to the state Capitol building in Atlanta with their children, and staged a "teach-in." Now hold on a minute! If you're outside the building, isn't this a teach-OUT?

One Atlanta mother said the education of Georgia's children should NOT be sacrificed, to conserve fuel. Maybe instead, we should make this truly memorable - and leave schools open, but require all children to walk. Years from now they could brag: "I walked to school on snow days in September."

Chuck-E-Cheese's at Cross Country Plaza brought in extra staff members Monday - but there wasn't that big an increase in the number of children there during the afternoon. They expected an extra-large, and parents only delivered a medium.

National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" checked Atlanta area malls, and found some filled with mothers and their children. You don't think the Governor was persuaded to make his announcement by Gap Kids, do you?!?!

Yet Governor Perdue received support from a high place Monday. President Bush praised him for taking a precaution, and urged all U.S. drivers to use less gas. C'mon, NASCAR - tell the drivers not racing for the Nextel Cup to stay off the track. Dale WHO?!

Governor Sonny Perdue even was complimented on ABC's "World News Tonight" by the president of the "Environmental Trust Fund." It's yet another reason why some Republicans are skeptical about his conversion level....

While Muscogee County schools are closed for two days, Columbus State University remains open. Hopefully some scientist there is working on developing a less expensive fuel. Some of us would settle for hamsters on a treadmill.

The timing of the two-day school shutdown would have been perfect for the Greater Columbus Fair, under its old schedule. But it isn't opening until this evening. Why not open at noon? Can't the Exchange Club find enough foot-long hot dogs for the extra crowd?

BLOG UPDATE: My humble Honda is working again - and the problem was something I never could have guessed. The service experts told me Monday oil leaked from my distributor, damaging it and my ignition system. So the gas stations aren't the only ones getting burned by distributors....

The service expert said distributor oil leaks are a "common problem" for Honda Civics and Accords. So why did my engine die so suddenly, and without warning? Are my "idiot lights" so idiotic that they won't come on when you need them?

My Honda needed a tune-up, a new distributor, new ignition lines and more. The total cost - welllll, let's just say it was several hundred dollars. It was enough to make that Piccadilly Cafeteria man asking for 15 or 20 dollars look like a cheapskate.

With that problem hopefully fixed, let's address other Monday items:

+ A Columbus Police official told WRBL even though local crime statistics are up, the city remains safe. This reminded me that we've had no "Is Our City Safe" e-mails in a long time. We DO hope Wade Sheridan wasn't kidnapped by a city official.

+ Troy Public Radio broadcast the business news program "Marketplace," as it does each evening - but for some reason, it played a program from four weeks ago! What a relief to know the levees in New Orleans held after all....

+ Instant Message to "The Kaos Blog" of Bibb City: Our condolences to you over the death of Don Adams. Without his TV comedy "Get Smart" years ago, your blog might be spelled properly with a "ch."

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