23 NOV 05: WE'RE COOL, WE'RE COOL

Today marks one year since Columbus had its "Thanksgiving surprise" - when a grand jury suddenly came together to consider the shooting of Kenneth Walker. If the special prosecutor in the case has been to Columbus since that day, he's been incredibly quiet about it.

You may recall last November 23, a grand jury decided NOT to issue indictments in the deadly shooting of Kenneth Walker along Interstate 185. Walker's family and supporters were stunned. The family and supporters of former deputy David Glisson felt vindicated. And the special prosecutor left town faster than the Columbus Riverdragons.

What has happened in the Kenneth Walker case since the grand jury's afternoon session one year ago? You can look at that question in a couple of ways. First, here's what HAS happened:

+ Jesse Jackson brought a large protest march to downtown Columbus - an event many people only remember now for one woman's complaint about bananas.

+ Columbus has added an African-American Marshal - and the Marshal's office has fallen out of the limelight so far, the officers might be on secret spy missions.

+ Civil rights groups called for a boycott of Riverfest, then called it off at the last minute. They flip-flopped about as fast as some Democrats have on keeping soldiers in Iraq.

+ Even with this, Edward DuBose has been promoted to Georgia NAACP President. Nothing succeeds like success, they say....

On the other hand, other things have NOT happened since the grand jury met one year ago today:

+ As far as we know, fired deputy David Glisson has NOT found work. There haven't even been any reports of him attending all those job fairs at the Columbus Career Center.

+ The Georgia Attorney General has NOT ordered a new grand jury to hear the case, with David Glisson answering questions under oath. Maybe Thurbert Baker is getting campaign donations from major oil companies.

+ Local and state officials have NOT resigned, even though Columbus Rainbow/PUSH President William Howell demanded it. Howell is due to make his quarterly public appearance any day now.

+ Perhaps most important, Muscogee County Sheriff's Deputies have NOT shot and killed any potential suspects. So much for that alleged pattern of corruption....

Your blog called Spirit-Filled Ministries Tuesday, hoping to talk to Pastor and Walker family supporter Wayne Baker about the case. He didn't return our message - so either he was busy, or he's read this blog and is trying to copy Oprah Winfrey's example of avoiding David Letterman for years.

I wanted to ask Wayne Baker if his Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance has met with Georgia's Attorney General in the last year, or if ANY local civil rights leaders have. If not, why not? Isn't Thurbert Baker one of "them?" Or is another surprise political party switch about to happen?

Perhaps Wayne Baker didn't return our call because he's waiting for the massive civil suit by Kenneth Walker's family to go to trial. It appears that will happen in 2006, and might go down as the trial of the decade in Columbus. Our apologies if that offends any SOA Watch protesters still in town....

Whatever the reason, it seems fair to say Columbus residents on ALL sides have cooled their emotions since last November 23. The Kenneth Walker case doesn't come up much in local discussions any more - so perhaps it's fading like that other Walker. You know, the Texas Ranger....

BLOG UPDATE: We've found an interesting leftover to last weekend's big events. Another local blog reports Fort Benning soldiers were REQUIRED to attend "God Bless Fort Benning." So one side used freedom of speech - while the other may have had no freedom to avoid a peaceful assembly.

We already noted soldiers helped set up South Commons for God Bless Fort Benning last Saturday. Now soldiers reveal they were required to attend, apparently on orders from their superiors. Is that why those helicopters hovered overhead - to make sure nobody went AWOL?

(It should be noted that for other big events at South Commons such as the fair, the set-up crew usually consists of jail inmates. I guess I can understand why they weren't used for God Bless Fort Benning - too many comparisons to Cuba's Camp X-Ray.)

Now for tidbits and topics from Tuesday's headlines:

+ Russell County Administrator LeeAnn Horne-Jordan revealed Ronnie Reed can remain a Commissioner despite his 1975 burglary conviction, as long as no one files a complaint. And we all remember how quickly residents rushed to recall the Commission last year, don't we????

(Ronnie Reed declined to comment for WRBL after the meeting about the cloud over his office. He referred all questions to his attorney - which could mean he has a future working for Vice President Cheney.)

+ Columbus Council heard a traffic department proposal to install 250 new traffic lights. We're told they'll save energy, which will save the city money. And they'll be brighter - so maybe now drivers finally will see the lights changing, and stop running reds.

+ Road America announced it will open a new call center on Victory Drive, employing 300 people. The company provides roadside assistance for stranded drivers - so is it just a coincidence this center will be down the street from The Waggoners Trucking?

+ The Columbus YMCA announced plans for a new downtown complex on Broadway. It will be built across the street from Country's Barbecue - so which building should exercisers visit first? Should they reward themselves for a nice game of racquetball, or use the game to work off lunch?

+ People lined up outside Best Buy for the new X-Box 360 game system - then complained it was bundled with other games they don't want, making it cost more than $500. It's called Minesweeper, folks, and most computers have it already....

SCHEDULED THURSDAY: We're making a list and checking it.... well, at least once....

Your PayPal donations can keep this blog ad-free and independent-minded. To make a donation, offer a story tip 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.