8 SEP 06: THE BADGES ARE BACK

So whatever happened to former Muscogee County Marshal Ken Suddeth? Thursday's Ledger-Enquirer provided the answer. He's found a new job, as the first Chattahoochee County Police Chief. So once again, he'll face officials who want to see his job abolished....

You may remember Ken Suddeth survived a citywide referendum on abolishing his office, when he was Muscogee County Marshal. Now he's becoming a Police Chief, and a potential rival for the Chattahoochee County Sheriff. So which leader do you think will investigate the other one first?

Ken Suddeth is taking over what essentially is a brand-new police force. The Chattahoochee County Commission created it, while slashing the budget for the Sheriff's Department. Perhaps someone forgot to tell the commissioners that Suddeth turned in all those souvenir marshal's badges last year....

We actually joked in this blog two weeks ago about Ken Suddeth possibly moving to Cusseta [22 Aug]. Now here he is, becoming Chattahoochee County Police Chief - but come to think of it, maybe he'll have his own squad to commute to and from Columbus.

Someone told me Thursday the Chattahoochee County Manager lives in Columbus. Now Columbus resident Ken Suddeth is becoming Police Chief. Well, at least they can promote car pooling....

Someone else wondered what it says about Chattahoochee County to have the county manager, and now possibly the county police chief, living outside the county. But things could be worse. Former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge just took a job advising the government of Albania. [True/Marketplace!]

Another issue involving Ken Suddeth is where he's going to find officers for his new police force. Columbus is trying to fill dozens of police openings. So what can Chattahoochee County offer than Columbus can't - except maybe that Bojangles chicken stand on Highway 520?

(Before you get big ideas: no, I can't see Ken Suddeth offering a job to David Glisson. Glisson shares the same attorney as the Chattahoochee County Sheriff - and if that sheriff hasn't hired him, maybe Glisson should try working as a private investigator.)

Meanwhile, Thursday's paper also reported there's still no budget agreement between the Chattahoochee County Commission and the Sheriff The Sheriff says the future of his department is at stake - and you might have to add an extra ten percent gratuity, for attorney Richard Hagler taking the county to court.

BLOG UPDATE: The coaches of the Northern All-Stars gave the team a surprise Thursday - driving the players to metro Atlanta to meet President Bush. The coaches say they kept it a secret from the players. Considering WRBL mentioned the trip during Wednesday night's news, it's clear what stations the players are watching.

President Bush went to Cobb County for a speech, but the Little League champions did NOT attend it. WRBL showed them in a waiting room at Dobbins Air Force Base. When you win a world title in baseball, you don't want to be bored with something as mundane as stopping terrorism.

The Little Leaguers lined up to meet President Bush, as he arrived at the air force base to fly to Savannah. Instead of baseball uniforms, they wore Columbus championship T-shirts - with a Russell Athletic logo VERY noticeable on the back. Apparently the candidates for Mayor didn't want to pay a little extra....

The President posed for a group photo with the world champions, and signed autographs for some of them. Mr. Bush told Josh Lester he could NOT hit the Little Leaguer's pitching. This may explain why they play T-ball games on the White House lawn during the summer.

Both children and adults seemed wowed by their moment with the President. Northern Little League's President called it a "once-in-a-lifetime experience" to meet a President. Well, unless you donate $10,000 like the Republicans near Savannah did....

The Little League champions head back to Atlanta this weekend, for V.I.P. treatment at Turner Field. Perhaps in their honor, the "Francoeur Franks" will dress up for a day as Northern light bulbs.

(But hold on here - two trips to Atlanta in three days?! Why not save on gas, by taking a few substitute teachers along on the trip and having class today in a motel?)

E-MAIL UPDATE: Speaking of education....

Are kids counted absent when their bus never arrives to pick them up for school? Thanks to the parent who rode the neighborhood picking up HHS students when the bus never came..Also, thanks to the policeman who broke up the fight of middle school students at the bus transfer behind the library.These kids sit on busses up to 30min awaiting the arrival of busses that are hemmed in by parents at Blackmon Rd. Hey,Principal at Blackmon...do your job and move those parents this is getting old...

OK, I give up - which school board candidate is this e-mailer trying to endorse?

The long wait for Muscogee County school buses apparently is due to more students riding them, but fewer adults driving them. Ridership seems to have increased this term, perhaps because of high gas prices. It's nice to see so many parents thinking of their children first, in planning budgets.

But as we noted here Thursday, the Muscogee County School District has about 30 openings for bus drivers. Who knows how many convicted sex offenders heard that news and said, "I wouldn't go within 1,000 feet of a job like that."

I haven't confirmed whether there actually was a rumble behind the Columbus Public Library, involving middle school students. But maybe this will inspire the library to show "West Side Story" in its theater one of these weekends.

Maybe this e-mailer wants to see more of what a Columbus police officer did Thursday. WRBL showed a fifth-grade student being handcuffed, outside River Road Elementary School. If this seems unusual, remember - most grade schools don't have lockers, for locking up children inside.

Muscogee County Superintendent John Phillips said the fifth-grader's parents actually asked for police intervention, because the child was acting dangerously in traffic. But he suggested River Road School did NOT ask police specifically to use handcuffs. So what's the second choice in a case like this - a billy club or pepper spray?

Let's all line up single-file now, and look at other Thursday news items:

+ A three-day conference ended in Phenix City, on improving law enforcement relations with the news media. I personally think local law officers do a good job now - because I hardly ever hear one on TV or radio describe a criminal with the word "perpetrator."

+ The Ledger-Enquirer reported the former managers of The Fire House club are trying to take over Club Roc in Phenix City. There's one small advantage to this move across the river. Club Roc is located across the street from a 24-hour pharmacy, for treating the injured.

+ The Columbus United Way had a kick-off luncheon, for this year's fund-raising campaign. The 2006 goal is $6.4 million - so if you stumble upon executive Guy Sims buying a Mega Millions ticket today, that's the excuse to expect.

+ Instant Message to All-Pro Muffler and Tire on Crawford Road in Phenix City: That's a new one on me. When did your car repair shop start selling pottery? Do you plan to go all the way in challenging Wal-Mart, by selling groceries?

COMING THIS WEEKEND: An e-mail about Power Frisbee you have to see to believe....

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