15 FEB 06: THE PLOT THICKENS

Columbus Council heard a complaint Tuesday from an attorney who claims the city is playing favorites over a corner of land in midtown. Of all the days to be accused of "sweetheart deals," February 14 seemed rather appropriate.

Attorney Neal Callahan says his client had the high bid, in a city auction for land at 13^th and Cedar. The city approved a contract, but now City Manager Isaiah Hugley wants to take it back. Could it be possible - TWO Starbucks Coffee shops in Columbus?

City Manager Isaiah Hugley says another man asked to be notified when the plot at 13^th and Cedar was up for sale. That apparently never happened before the auction -- which shows city officials are consistent. They didn't notify reporters of committee meetings on the budget, either.

Neal Callahan told WRBL last week his client was contacted by an "influential person" in Columbus, saying he had first rights to the land at 13^th and Cedar. The attorney wouldn't name this man at the time - but I figured the Amos family still had unused real estate in Elena Amos's rooftop home.

It now appears this influential person may be downtown attorney John Sheftall. He's the one who asked the city to notify him about the pending property sale. I've lived in Columbus nearly nine years, but this name is new to me. If Sheftall is so influential, I'd expect him to be on the Library Board or something....

It's not clear if John Sheftall wants to develop the land at 13^th and Cedar himself, or if he's representing someone else. Who IS O.J. Simpson's attorney, now that Johnnie Cochran is dead?

It's also not clear to me exactly who Neal Callahan is representing. WRBL says Ted Pearce won the auction for the land at 13^th and Cedar. Other reports say it's "C&A Family Partnerships" - and Ted Pearce doesn't have a C or A in his initials. Maybe the partnership is expanding beyond the Chattahoochee and Alabama.

But the biggest surprise Tuesday may have been the revelation that Columbus has a city policy, letting you be notified when land you like is about to go up for sale. It's a bit like Outback Steakhouse - only there, there's no guarantee you'll sit in your favorite booth.

Neal Callahan says all city auctions are advertised, so there's no reason to give someone like John Sheftall advance notice of a land sale. But isn't this assuming something? I've been told newspaper readership is going down....

City Manager Isaiah Hugley says the contract for 13^th and Cedar gives the city the right to refuse all bids. Attorney Neal Callahan says the contract was approved, and a deal's a deal. Not with this city manager, it's not - else you'd see billboards up promoting a split sales tax already.

Neal Callahan is threatening to take the city to court over the land at 13^th and Cedar. He hinted last week the lawsuit could ask for $800,000 in damages. Compared with Kenneth Walker's family, this lawyer is a cheapskate....

YOUR INCREDIBLY TOP-NOTCH LOCAL BLOG WINTER OLYMPIC COVERAGE: No one from Columbus competed at the Winter Olympics Tuesday. Maybe if the city set up poles on the hills along the Riverwalk, so people can try slalom skiing....

BLOG CORRECTION: We said 5 Feb the Auburn-Opelika Airport would have a "fly-in" on the same weekend as "Thunder in the Valley" in Columbus. It turns out the Columbus air show is one week AFTER the Lee County event in March -- so people on the north side of town can hear the thunder approach for days.

Now let's catch up on Tuesday topics of interest:

+ An evening jog downtown found at least four couples out on the Riverwalk. Did they have early romantic dinner reservations at Houlihan's - or were they warming up for late-night Spicy Chix at Krystal?

+ Columbus law officers received training in how to teach children to be safe from crime. The TV reports called it "radKids" -- but it was Valentine's Day, so maybe they meant red.

+ A hearing in Ozark, Alabama focused on Barbour County parents sending their children to Dale County schools. Some parents say they do it for a better education. This may explain why you don't hear reports of Barbour County children going to Russell County.

+ Auburn University faculty members complained about a planned change to their health insurance plans. The premium would go up $20 for anyone who smokes. Well, it could be worse - there could be a surcharge for Georgia and Alabama graduates.

+ LaGrange had its fourth big lottery win in six months, as 70-year-old Marion Williams won the scratch-off "Win for Life" game. It seems like all you have to do is MOVE to LaGrange, to win for life....

+ The Georgia Legislature marked "tourism day," and state Senator Jeff Mullis put on a hat shaped like a barn with the words "See Rock City" on it. [True/GPB] I guess you really can see seven states from there - including a state of silliness.

+ Alabama gubernatorial candidate Roy Moore demanded state Republican chair Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh resign. Moore claims she's biased in favor of incumbent Bob Riley -- which is amazing, because I thought he'd be upset with calling someone "Chairwoman Twinkle."

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