13 MAR 07: PHENIX A-BLAZE

Another announcement of new jobs was made Monday by The Valley Partnership. A new recycling plant will open on State Docks Road in Phenix City. I assume a statue of Al Gore will be displayed somewhere on the grounds....

The new business is called Blaze Recycling - and that's because it's owned by a family named Blaze. There's no connection with the Phenix City name or seal. And I hope the fire department is ready for prank calls from teenagers, who think that name is funny.

Blaze Recycling will be different from other recycling businesses, because it will focus on used cars. WRBL reported the plant can shred one car every minute. In other places, this might be called a chop shop.

(Shred a car in one minute? This finally would provide a sequel to the movie "Gone in 60 Seconds.")

Blaze Recycling will have about 20 employees at first -- but a year from now, it could have 100. And imagine how busy this place will be, if the Kia plant in West Point makes defective cars....

Blake Recycling is the second big economic gain for Phenix City in seven days. Last week plans were announced for a poultry processing plant with 500 jobs, in the city industrial park. Officials might want to develop a new nickname -- the "city of sharp knives."

So is everybody happy about Phenix City gaining hundreds of new jobs? Of course not. I'm reading predictions by Phenix City bloggers that all the poultry jobs will have low wages, and go mostly to illegal immigrants. Apparently the staff of Gonzoes' Sports Bar isn't big enough to fill all the openings.

Keep in mind that Russell County's unemployment rate is well above the Alabama average, at 5.3 percent for January. I would imagine there will be some overall interest in these new jobs. For one thing, Blaze Recycling staff members might find some surprising forgotten valuables in the glove compartments.

If you're concerned about immigrants (illegal or otherwise) taking these 600 or so new jobs, let me offer some advice which may sound startling. Go apply for them yourself. After all, "equal opportunity employers" probably will need some token white guys - like Charles Barkley used to say about pro basketball.

Another sign of economic growth in Russell County was the opening of a new Waffle House Monday. No big deal, you say? Well, this one is on Crawford Road in Ladonia - long before anyone's started clearing land for Interstate 14.

No, I haven't heard how many employees of the new Ladonia Waffle House are illegal immigrants. Federal agents will have to determine that, I suppose. When they show up, the illegal cooks will be "scattered and covered" like never before.

E-MAIL UPDATE: We have several messages to address today. We begin with new words of Love....

Mr. Burkard,

You are correct that I have signed Concerned Citizen Activist, OAAU [25 Feb]. However, as of the official results of the December 5th runoff in District 1,, in which The Movement was very instrumental, that has changed officially to the Grassroots Unity Movement for Change. The Movement will be focused on social activism in Columbus, probably more human rights than civil rights. Although, many seem to think civil rights is specifically reserved for black people nothing could be farther from the truth. Just as MLK Day is not just for black people neither are civil rights. The Movement will not be focused on political solutions. We will only enter into politics when it is absolutely necessary for the good of the community. In District 5 it was important to awaken the masses to the fact that they had the power to effect change, the power of the vote. The Movement functioned in the same way in the mayoral race earlier that November. The Movement promoted change in both seats throughout South Columbus. We believe politics is not the answer, but is only one of many needed answers. Love and Understanding is the best way we know to bring this community and any community together, as best as humanly possible. We are a movement committed to non-violent social change in the tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Change begins with communication and education. Thank you for allowing the Grassroots Unity Movement for Change this opportunity to do both.

Unity begins with "U"

Be Blessed,

Brother Love

I'll certainly "allow" your group to do whatever it pleases. After all, a little blogger like me doesn't have much power to stop it. If I really had the power, WRCG would have broadcast a Thrashers hockey game Monday night - and not the "Bulldog Hotline" for a basketball team which did well to make the N.I.T.

(I'm a little concerned about this group's new name, though. "G.U.M. for Change?" This sounds like something a beggar might offer downtown.)

But I would ask about last year's District 5 Columbus Council race - weren't the "masses awakened" when Mayor Pro-Tem Jack Rodgers announced he wasn't running for reelection? There's no better way to "affect change" than not have an incumbent on the ballot.

Next we move to the compassion so many people are showing about the March 1 tornadoes.... well, I thought they were....

With the news media still acting like the storm happened last might, why not charge people that drive thru and clog up the streets of the area's that were hit by the storm and give the money to ones that need it for repairs (you know - like a freak show at a circus or amusement park..people stare and talk a lot at things like this...)

The news media are making money off of the storm in advertising dollars, why not add a surcharge to them too? It's a thought.

What is not mentioned much at all is the livestock and pets that have disappered from the storm - like the movie "Twister" with the floating cow.

I can understand how you feel about "aftermath overkill." But keep something in mind - we haven't had any rain since the night of the tornadoes. There's no new damage to cover yet.

And what do you mean, the news media are making "advertising dollars" from the storm? I haven't seen any commercials for roofing companies -- much less discount pricing on weather radios.

My only glimpse of the tornado damage in Columbus occurred last week, when I turned from Interstate 185 onto the J.R. Allen Parkway -- with deer only four miles away [7 Mar]. I've had no reason to drive into the "damage zone." But if I must, I'll buy some Krispy Kreme doughnuts while I'm in the neighborhood and hand them out door to door.

The idea of charging people to drive through the tornado damage is interesting, though. Especially since the Pope Farm "haunted hayride" is only open in October....

Our last message today goes completely off the board, in terms of our recent topics:

Did you see Newt's explaination in the paper ..He said he was different Clinton because Clinton lied under oath...duh..What does Newtie think marriage vows are?

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia, you mean? The man who went to "Focus on the Family" the other day to confess his sins? I think that group applies the "two strikes law" to divorces -- and he's at two and counting.

In case you missed this story: Newt Gingrich admitted to Focus on the Family last week he had an adulterous affair during the 1990's, while he went after President Clinton for having an affair with Monica Lewinsky. There's nothing like having advice from counsel from someone who's sharing your experience.

But Newt Gingrich claimed he's NOT a hypocrite for going after President Clinton, because the former President lied under oath to a judge. It's a bit like the convenience store robber claiming he at least had enough sense not to rob a bank.

Keep in mind this is the same Newt Gingrich who filed divorce papers against his last wife, while she was in a hospital. Yes indeed, he had what he calls a "period of weakness." And callousness, and.... well, where was Brother Love when this House Speaker really needed a lesson in it?

At the risk of getting too Bible-based here, I'll repeat a comment I wrote to someone else's blog about Newt Gingrich saying he's not a hypocrite. Verily his sin remains. And if Republican voters don't panic, they probably can find a better choice for a Presidential nominee. Such as.... hmmmm.... what's Bob Poydasheff doing these days?

We thank all of you for writing us - and maybe the Monday news will inspire you some more:

+ The Muscogee County School Board discussed a proposal to rename Eastway Elementary School after the late Lonnie Jackson. Finally there would be a large enough trophy case for all his plaques....

+ A Marion County Judge threw out a petition drive to recall Commissioner Frank Powell [27 Feb]. The judge said the campaign came close to abusing the judicial process. So the critics will need to borrow those allegedly high-powered microphones from Talbot County, to pick up what commissioners are whispering.

+ LaGrange Police claimed Jonathan Buckingham robbed a Charter Bank - but then was arrested on Interstate 85, after he stole a taxi to make his getaway. You don't think he was even dumber, do you? Such as trying out the cab's two-way radio?!

+ The AAA champion Jordan High boys' basketball team received a surprise victory rally, including cake. When I was in high school years ago, a state title like this would have earned the entire school a day off for celebration. Thank you, Mr. President, for being such a killjoy.

+ The Georgia rock band R.E.M. was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. If you're not sure where this hall of fame is, simply listen to one of the band's songs. Stand in the place where you work. Now face north....

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