8 JAN 07: McVAY IN THE WAY

Sunday marked a first for me -- as I bought a copy of the Phenix Citizen-News. I did this because the Columbus Public Library still had the prior week's edition on display. That's my custom, you know -- drive a little, save 50 cents.

I had to buy the latest Phenix Citizen-News, because of a recent e-mail:

Richard:

Don't know if you noticed - but the Phenix Citizen just headlined what I've been talking about! This is just the tip of the iceberg. Believe me, there's a lot more to come.

Just like kiss - the first one is the hardest to get!

Constable R.J. Schweiger

Oh dear - the Constable's trying to clean up part of Russell County, and he has to bring up my single status....

Indeed, the top story in the Phenix Citizen-News deals with Constable Bob Schweiger's biggest concern. A Hurtsboro City Council member has been found in violation of Alabama ethics laws. The decision was made a month ago in Montgomery -- but sometimes things can get lost in the mail, during the holiday rush.

Hurtsboro City Council member Mae Dell McVay was found in violation of ethics laws, because surplus city vehicles were sold to her husband and her son last year for $100 per car. Only 100 dollars?! If I had known this, I might have bumper-pushed a car 28 miles back home myself.

The 100-dollar deal was approved by the Hurtsboro City Council after it turned down an offer of 300 dollars a car several months before. Let's hope the council members are NOT submitted by their relatives for "Deal or No Deal."

Russell County prosecutors apparently decided the 100-dollar sale to Mae Dell McVay's family was OK - but McVay had a conflict of interest, and should not have voted to approve it. Hurtsboro is in serious trouble, if adults aren't abstaining like they used to.

The matter of Mae Dell McVay now will go to a Russell County grand jury -- but a prosecutor told the Phenix Citizen-News that won't happen until April. Who knows what could happen by then? The surplus vehicles might break down for good, and the case will be moot.

The Phenix Citizen-News article did NOT say who brought the complaint against Mae Dell McVay. Constable Bob Schweiger's e-mail doesn't say if he did it, or someone else did. But one thing is clear - the Hurtsboro complainer might want to give Paul Olson in Columbus some pointers.

You may recall Constable Bob Schweiger sent another e-mail last week, naming two alleged "criminals" on the Hurtsboro City Council [4 Jan]. Mae Dell McVay was NOT one of them - so now I'm wondering if the "armed gang" in this town of around 600 people might be holding elected office.

We were planning to call these alleged Hurtsboro criminals Sunday night for a comment, before naming them here -- but then Calvin Floyd called from NBC-38, inviting us to return to "Rise N Shine" Monday morning. That meant an early bedtime, since this blogger needs all the "beauty sleep" he can get. Besides, I missed the station makeup artist in November.

So before we hit the proverbial hay, here's a quick check at other news from the weekend:

+ A strong line of thunderstorms moved through the Columbus area, leading to several tornado warnings north of the city. If we're having spring storms in January, does this mean I can put my snow shovel back in the closet for another year?

+ A "wedding extravaganza" was staged at the Columbus Trade Center, showing off all kinds of ideas for prospective brides and grooms. If I had known this was coming, I might have rented a booth - and made a giant "pick me" sign.

+ Cascade Hills Church held the first weekend of what it calls 35 new "real life" Bible study groups. They have 35 of them?! Some congregations I know do well to have two - children and adults.

+ Callaway Gardens announced it will start offering discounted entry fees to hybrid vehicles. If they're going to do this, the gardens should avoid any trace of hypocrisy -- and reveal how many of its flowers and plants are hybrids.

+ ESPN Radio reported the Atlanta Falcons are "very close" to naming a new head coach. If they can find a coach in one week while the University of Alabama takes more than five, the standard must be a lot lower.

+ Instant Message to the Chattahoochee Valley Community College library: Before the spring semester starts, could you please find time to update the "hours" section of your web site? It's not 2003 anymore....

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