17 MAY 06: FOUNTAIN CITY OF WAYNE?

Nope, at least not this year. Columbus Councilor Wayne Anthony announced Tuesday he will NOT run for Mayor. Perhaps this minister noticed how successful Roy Moore's campaign is going in Alabama....

Wayne Anthony announced his decision not to run for mayor during the Columbus Council meeting. Anthony revealed some people in his district had approached him about seeking the top job. How many of them do you think were police officers, wanting their own candidate in his current job?

Wayne Anthony gave several reasons why he isn't running for mayor. For one thing, he says two qualified candidates already are in the race. That's open to debate - and I'm sure the Chamber of Commerce will hold one sooner or later....

Wayne Anthony also noted a three-way race for mayor probably would result in a runoff, which would cost the city about $100,000. So if all the Parks Department employees hold a caucus meeting and determine their slate of candidates, there might be money to keep all their jobs.

Qualifying for Columbus city offices doesn't occur until the last week of June. So there's still time for rumors to percolate about someone else entering the mayor's race -- but I really can't imagine Bobby Peters giving up his judgeship.

So where are the rumors about possible African-American candidates for mayor? Does no one in that community want the job? Or does that community believe City Manager Isaiah Hugley gives them all the clout they need already?

Meanwhile, have you seen the first "attack ad" of the election year? It surfaced Tuesday from the Kim Benefield State Senate campaign. Well, she never said one of the values in "our part of Alabama" was being nice....

The attack ad accuses incumbent State Senator Gerald Dial of offering special favors to "payday loan" shops, which charge "455 percent interest." After hearing this, I might never grumble at a gas pump again.

If Gerald Dial is running his own commercials for re-election, I haven't seen them on Columbus television. But perhaps we shouldn't be surprised by this -- since we all know how slow "Dial-up" can be.

BLOG UPDATE: Russell County Middle School was back in the spotlight Tuesday. This time, a 13-year-old student caught with a razor was suspended for a year. By comparison, any teacher who noticed this and said nothing can return to class in one day, after posting bond.

Michael Whitehead was upset, after his daughter appeared before a Russell County school tribunal. He says his daughter cut a classmate by accident with a razor last week, and even the classmate agrees with that -- so he contends a one-year suspension is too harsh. But then, if the daughter had a gun, it could have been called manslaughter.

Michael Whitehead told one journalist the one-year suspension is unfair, because his daughter has had perfect attendance and grades of "straight B's and A's." Can someone have a "straight" in TWO grades? It doesn't work that way on that televised "Heads-Up Poker" tournament.

In response, Russell County school officials say they have a "zero tolerance" policy when it comes to weapons. The "three strikes" rule there only seems to apply to reporting abuse cases....

The Whitehead family plans to appeal to the Russell County Superintendent and school board, on behalf of their daughter. After what happened to the arrested teachers and middle school principal, the big challenge for the audience at the appeal hearing might be trying not to laugh out loud.

E-MAIL UPDATE: The discussion continues about last Wednesday's severe weather, and how television stations handled it. As we wrote Tuesday:

This writer may not realize how territorial some television viewers around here can be. When severe weather threatens Alabama, some viewers on the Georgia side can't stand having their favorite programs interrupted for updates. For them, "One Columbus" can't possibly include Phenix City or Lanett.

This sounds correct..........

Also..when notices are given out from power company's on power outages...some turn to portable TVs and have you tried to look at the screen of a small portable TV and try to see what that image is in the lower left corner...it's not a bug on the screen..it's that image of severe weather in the area...where's the magnifying glasses....

Maybe guys can't see that weather map in the corner of that small screen - but they're somehow able to see whether or not the official blew the big call at the game.

There's an alternative in severe weather cases such as this, which no one has mentioned. But then again, the only Columbus radio stations I've heard interrupt their programs for storm warnings are the noncommercial stations hardly anybody likes.

Now from last week to this week, and headlines from Tuesday:

+ Which local business leaders reportedly went on a hunting trip to Fort Benning? This week? I'm hearing it did NOT go well - mainly because they were NOT hunting for land to build new homes, if you know what I mean....

+ Columbus Council approved new rules, punishing bars and restaurants which overcharge alcohol taxes. Is THIS what really caused all that gunfire outside The Fire House?

+ Twelve former drug users graduated from the Muscogee County Drug Court. I doubt any of them will take graduation trips to Aruba. In fact, their parents might not even let them visit Alabama.

+ Atlanta outfielder Kelly Johnson spent a second night in Columbus, getting three hits again against the Catfish. This "rehab assignment" in Rome may be improving his health, but it's downright painful on the opposing pitchers.

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