17 JAN 07: PAST, LESS TENSE

Three-day weekends allow plenty of time to rest - but it also allows plenty of time for news to build up. Several big stories gushed out Tuesday like a volcano. And when our own breaking news gets shoved way down the page, the other stuff MUST be big....

Let's start with a big move in the Kenneth Walker case. Columbus Council voted 8-2 Tuesday to settle a lawsuit with the three men who were in a car with Walker on that fateful night in 2003. None of the four turned out to have drugs - but three of them could wind up with enough money to be tempted by them.

The three men with Kenneth Walker claimed their rights were violated, because Columbus authorities held them for four hours without charging them. But those three should have looked on the bright side - they could have been at a base in Cuba for four years.

City Attorney Clifton Faye recommended the city pay $125,000 to each of the three men in the car. He said that will save money, compared to how much the city could lose if a federal civil rights lawsuit goes to trial. Recalling what a grand jury decided about David Glisson, Fay must think it's the city's turn to lose in court.

Attorney Joseph Wiley spoke for the three plaintiffs, saying they decided to settle the case so Columbus can heal after the Kenneth Walker controversy. This may have surprised some people -- since the case has been out of the headlines so long, they thought the healing already happened.

(You may recall it was Joseph Wiley who called for a "cooling-off period" in the Kenneth Walker tension, after civil rights groups came close to boycotting Riverfest in 2005. Now he's worked out a legal settlement for three of Walker's friends. So can he donate some of his "cut" to help Riverfest reopen next year?)

But not every member of Columbus Council was in a mood to settle the lawsuit. Red McDaniel said he saw no reason to spend money on a settlement, if a jury didn't order the city to pay it. It looks like he's out of the running to promote Georgia Power's "Project Share" program.

Councilor Glenn Davis agreed that the city should NOT settle, and let the civil rights lawsuit go to trial. He declared Columbus residents could live with the decision of a jury. Oh really?! Have most people nationwide done that with the O.J. Simpson trial?

On the other hand, Councilor Wayne Anthony said continuing the civil rights lawsuit would leave a "negative component on our city." In more than three years, I've never heard the Kenneth Walker case compared with stereo systems before....

In one of his first comments as a Columbus Councilor, Jerry "Pops" Barnes said the city should admit "a wrong was done" in December 2003. I'm not sure a $125,000 settlement officially does that. I don't recall Sheriff Ralph Johnson even giving one of those "mistakes were made" speeches.

This settlement does NOT end the Kenneth Walker case completely. There's still a civil suit pending, filed by Walker's family against former deputy/shooter David Glisson. Based on what I've heard, Glisson remains unemployed - and he might wind up doing odd jobs for the family, to pay any damages.

CLASSIC BLOG: Another attorney represented Kenneth Walker's fellow passengers when the controversy erupted. We noted this when we attended a protest meeting, for the 6 Jan 04 blog entry:

Montgomery attorney Dwayne Brown represents the three other men with Kenneth Walker on the night their car was stopped on I-185. He wants a "special prosecutor" brought in from outside Columbus to handle the investigation. Someone should tell him that strategy didn't stop the property tax freeze.

Dwayne Brown argued the District Attorney's office can't be impartial in the Kenneth Walker case, because that office has to be linked with law enforcement to prosecute other cases. He makes a good point. So far there's no TV show called "Law WITHOUT Order."

Dwayne Brown also hinted the still-unnamed deputy who shot Kenneth Walker may have used excessive force once before. If they try to make spanking children an issue in this....

BLOG UPDATE: Back in the present and back at Columbus Council, City Manager Isaiah Hugley released a list Tuesday of which businesses are behind in paying landfill fees. They're actually more than "businesses" - because the Muscogee County School District owes almost $49,000. Is THAT what happened to all those missing textbooks?

A five-page report on companies behind in landfill fees shows the biggest tab was run up by The Sandman, at more than $324,000. Before some of you become enraged and demand tough punishment - I really don't want that giant trash bin outside my bedroom window again.

Several companies and agencies are surprisingly behind at least 60 days in their landfill fees:

+ Columbus State University. The Riverpark campus DID open three months later than planned, after all....

+ Dolly Madison. I wondered what happened to Hostess cupcakes, when the curly icing didn't come out quite right.

+ Georgia Power. "Always on" doesn't mean always on time.

+ Green Island Country Club. Why don't they simply recycle the golf balls from the water hazards, and sell them in the pro shop?

So who's to blame for the landfill fee-asco? A report from Muscogee County Sheriff Ralph Johnson finally went public Tuesday - as District Attorney Gray Conger said he'll file no charges "at this time." Perhaps closer to next year's primary, that could change....

Sheriff Ralph Johnson's investigation reveals former Revenue Division manager Craig Strain may have shredded documents in his office, days before leaving city employment. But the city has NO written rules on destroying documents - so for all we know, there may no longer be any proof Jim Wetherington won the mayoral election.

The Sheriff was unable to determine whether then-city Finance Director Angela Cole knew about what Craig Strain was doing. Strain reportedly wanted to resign a couple of times, but Cole wouldn't let him - in a classic case of Strained relations.

The Sheriff's investigation traced the problem with uncollected landfill fees back to 2003 - and then-City Manager Carmen Cavezza reportedly knew about it. If any of you want to get even with Cavezza for this, he's accepting the "One Columbus" award for unity at a dinner Thursday night.

Sheriff Ralph Johnson even found a case from five years ago, where a city finance employee wrote two bad checks to the city. This woman obviously is in the wrong job. She should work for the federal government, where deficit spending is allowed.

Despite all this, the District Attorney says evidence of negligence by city workers does NOT mean any crime was committed. We'll now see if any Columbus state lawmakers introduce bills to outlaw laziness and stupidity by municipal employees.

Former Mayor Bob Poydasheff said Tuesday night he agrees with Gray Conger's decision NOT to file charges. He noted Angela Cole was demoted from Finance Director, after "landfill-gate" became public knowledge last year. But if our e-mail is any indication, some people won't be happy until someone is "Cole-fired."

E-MAIL UPDATE: Let's get away from all these Columbus scandals -- and head to another place with some, in Russell County:

Richard,

Just wanted to let you know that Bob Scheiger is a convicted criminal. He has been convicted of practicing law without a license in the Hurtsboro Municipal Court. He has appealed this conviction. He has made numerous accusations against many people in this town from the guy who owns the hardware store to the guy that owns the only gas station in town, to the police department and also the mayor. Unfortunately he doesn't get his facts right before he starts spewing his venom. If he continues on the path he is going he will not only be a convicted criminal but he will also be sued for what little he does have. By the way the man lives in a barn and sleeps on top of a dog kennel. He needs to get help and stop harassing the good people of Hurtsboro.

A concerned citizen of Hurtsboro

So let me get this straight - you're saying the "Constable" is a con, and not very stable?!

This e-mailer DOES have his/her facts right - as your blog confirmed Tuesday Constable Robert Schweiger faces a February 6 arraignment in Russell County Court. He was found guilty in Hurtsboro Municipal Court in November not only of an unauthorized law practice, but contempt of court -- which could mean he doesn't have much future in mediation work, either.

First of all, I'm a bit surprised Hurtsboro even HAS a Municipal Court. As small a town as that is -- does it meet at the hardware store, with a hammer used instead of a gavel?

We went to the Russell County Courthouse to check the records on Constable Robert Schweiger - and a poster on the court clerk's office window noted the staff is barred from giving legal advice. The Alabama Chief Justice says it's against state law. So is the Constable in trouble, for telling someone to sue the gas station owner?

The court report suggests Constable Robert Schweiger actually was arrested in November. If I read it correctly, he had to post a $552 bond. Perhaps it's one dollar for every resident of Hurtsboro he's accused of breaking the law.

The court records also revealed Constable Robert Schweiger is 76, and filed a small claims court case two years ago against Hurtsboro Mayor Shirley Tarver. It did NOT say anything about him living in a barn -- but I keep waiting to hear about how BRAC at Fort Benning will bring new subdivisions to Hurtsboro.

The upcoming Russell County arraignment reminds me of a Robert Schweiger e-mail which I have NOT posted here [4 Jan] -- the one naming two people he considers "criminals." Perhaps it's time to name one of the people he's accusing: Russell County Judge Michael Bellamy. Bellamy can recuse himself, ignore the accusation completely - or clear Schweiger, and leave his jaw dragging the floor.

It happens that on the day we heard from this "concerned citizen," the controversial Constable wrote us again:

Richard:

You may recall my admission of total surprise and gratitude when I found that you had mentioned my name on your BLOG. That euphoria was eclipsed by your announcement that I was your "Official "Hurt"sboro Correspondent!

" That announcement prompts one to ask? "Why does anyone need news from "Hurt"sboro?" Here's the answer.

"Hurt"sboro's problems are about to become Russell County's problems! That means folks all over the County will have to dig into their pockets and County Agencies will be splitting their resources to include the needs of "Hurt'sboro's citizens! County Officials are quite aware of the impending disaster (I've warned them) and they sure don't want it to happen!

The doomsdayers are saying; "Let it Happen!' I hold the veiw; "That it is never too late!" Only time will tell who is right.

There are many reasons that this situation exists, but the primary cause is; "mare" Tarver and the City Council. Since publicity seems to be the only thing that gets the "mare's" attention and stirs outside agencies to act - it's time to air the dirty laundry, and sweep out City Hall.

I've been fortunate enough to espouse my views on the OPINION pages of several area newspapers, but I'm certain your BLOG reaches out to a lot more people.

Thanks!

Constable R.J. Schweiger

OK, your Constableship -- we're airing that dirty laundry right here. And we hope you realize that even the accusers might be wearing some....

I can almost predict what R.J. Schweiger will write us about what we're posting today. He'll call the two counts against him "trumped up," in an effort to silence him. But the way things are going, maybe all sides will be convicted - and the entire population of Hurtsboro will fill the Russell County Jail.

At this point, we must make an important disclosure. Constable Robert Schweiger is a "blog patron." He's sent a financial donation to this blog, just as anyone is welcome to do. But we post e-mails from our readers, whether they donate or not. And what we've posted today is rooted in an old message of truth from the Beatles - money can't buy you love.

If you're ready for a break after all of this, I don't blame you - so stretch your legs, and come back for some other brief notes from Tuesday:

+ Fort Benning Captain Luis Carlos Montalvan appeared on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered," and claimed Iraqi army commanders are pocketing paychecks from "ghost soldiers" - personnel who were killed in action or went AWOL. If any soldiers really have become ghosts, they're not scaring the insurgents very well at all.

+ Arthur Sumbry Junior was sworn in, as Russell County's new coroner. He makes history for two reasons. He's the first African-American coroner in Russell County - and he's probably the first coroner who dares to call himself by the nickname "Pee Wee." [True!}

+ Developers of The Phenixian project on the Phenix City riverfront announced it's on schedule to begin construction in June. The condominium building will be ten stories high - so if kayaking in the Chattahoochee River doesn't prove adventurous enough for tourists, they could try platform diving.

(Developers added The Phenixian condominiums will have a hot tub and barbecue grills. This may prove awkward for some east Alabama residents - as their instinct would tell them to fill the tub with ice, beer and soda.)

+ The Broadway musical "The Producers" opened a three-night stand at the RiverCenter. How frustrating this must be for the audience - as "Springtime for Hitler" comes to town at the same time real winter weather returns.

+ Georgia football coach Mark Richt shared his Christian testimony on a Billy Graham TV special. Richt revealed before becoming a coach, he was fired from a bartending job. Maybe he thought a "CC and Seven" required kicking an extra point.

+ Congratulations to Margaret Johnson, who marked 50 years of work at WRBL! And they say there's no job security in the television business. If you simply answer phones and handle paperwork instead of going on the air, you're fine....

SCHEDULED THURSDAY: E-mail about the Mayor Pro-Tem.... and our day of "clubbing"....

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