28 MAY 06: NIX TO SIX

It's been months since this blog was out on the party circuit. In fact, this election year already has us feeling like we're only on the political party circuit....

But Saturday night we were invited to a special event - a going-away party for TV reporter Ashley Nix. She's moving to WBRC-TV, "Fox 6" in her home area of Birmingham. So you'll find Ashley Nix on channel six - and has she moved away from the sticks?

We walked in the door at Ashley Nix's party - and who did we find inside but Mayor Bob Poydasheff! Either he's strenuously searching for every vote he can find in an election year, or he was offering Nix a property tax break on her house.

(Someone told us Mayor Poydasheff gave a going-away speech for Ashley Nix before we arrived. Perhaps that was a joke - or perhaps it was a comfortable place to practice a farewell address of his own.)

We brought a plate of home-baked brownies to the farewell party - and we're delighted to report they were devoured quickly. This easily beats our track record with brownies at church dinners. But we should note at this party, people drank a lot of beer....

In fact, we learned a new game at the Ashley Nix farewell party. "Does anyone NOT know how to play this game?" said a man setting up a table for "beer pong." No, we did NOT know the rules for this - but we don't watch Spike TV, where this probably appears every week.

For those who don't know, beer pong is a bit like a relay race. Each player on a team downs a cup of beer, then has to flip the cup so it lands on the table bottoms-up. Somehow, I suspect people would be kicked out of the Valley Rescue Mission for playing this -- but not Locos Amigos.

A local law officer happened to be at the party, watching teams of four competing in this race. We suggested beer pong could be adjusted to soda, for the Georgia Police and Fire Games. To which the officer answered: "They'd probably prefer the beer."

Once people found out a blogger was at the party, an amazing thing began happening. People kept saying, "Don't put that in your blog!" over and over. As if we go around listing all the women about to turn 30?!?

But you can get all sorts of interesting little tidbits at a party like this. For instance, Saturday night we learned....

+ Some people are calling Columbus Police with non-emergency reports, only to wait 24 hours for a response. But it could be worse - they could be told to wait until public safety employees get a raise.

+ The new Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop is a big early success, with lines of customers extending "out the door." Of course, Bruster's ice cream could make the same claim -- since it has no inside seating.

+ Ledger-Enquirer reporter Erin Simpson was married during the day at a church in Salem. Her reception was held at "The Log Cabin" in Phenix City - which it seems to me could apply to at least a half-dozen barbecue restaurants there.

We wish Ashley Nix well, as she joins a growing list of former Columbus TV reporters in Birmingham. Jason Dennis and Jon Paepcke already are there. So did Tracy Flanagan and Patty Pan take wrong turns, to wind up in Atlanta?

BLOG UPDATE: We now have an explanation about Linda Parker's conversion to the Republican Party in 2002 - or better put, why her husband was upset about it being mentioned on the evening news last week. It turns out she followed the example of school board colleague Mary Sue Polleys, and went back on her word....

Linda Parker's husband says the former and perhaps future school board member changed her mind, shortly after announcing in November 2002 she was becoming a Republican. Simply standing around Governor-Elect Sonny Perdue apparently created an enormous amount of peer pressure.

So Linda Parker is at least independent, as she runs for the Muscogee County School Board -- and may even be a Democrat again. Now some people are wondering about another local candidate. Reginald Pugh is a Democrat, yet I'm told he's hanging around plenty of Republicans -- and every stray vote can count.

Now other notes from a steamy holiday weekend:

+ The air conditioner in my house was turned on for the first time this season, after a Friday evening run. When it's 93 degrees F. in the living room, and the living room is in the shade, it's time....

+ A federal appeals court ruled Russell County Administrator LeeAnn Horne-Jordan can proceed with her harassment suit against former Commissioner Tillman Pugh. Pugh is an insurance agent by trade - but I'm starting to wonder if he was smart enough to take out a liability policy on himself.

+ Outgoing Third Infantry Division Commander William Webster told a farewell luncheon at least one brigade will have to return to Iraq by Christmas. So if Peachtree Mall puts up an evergreen tree in mid-September, you'll know who to blame....

+ A public smoking ban took effect in Opelika. I keep waiting for Sean Combs to take advantage of rules like this - and open a chain of cigar bars called "Puff Daddy's."

+ The annual Masters Water Skiing competition began at Callaway Gardens. It's not quite like the Masters golf tournament in Augusta. For one thing, the contestants don't wear green life preserver vests....

+ Instant Message to Temple Baptist Church on Second Avenue: Can you do that - legally? I mean, that big Jim Wetherington for Mayor sign IS in your parking lot. Isn't there a tax exemption rule about that?

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