15 MAR 07: THE REMAINS OF THE DAY
Wednesday must have been a difficult day for Lanny Davis. It would have been his murdered son's 29th birthday. He met with the local official who still has his son's body. And imagine how surprised Davis must have been, to find the wooded death site has been clear-cut like a Brazilian rain forest.
We've mentioned Lanny Davis's son here before - Captain Richard Davis, who was killed by fellow Fort Benning soldiers shortly after they returned from duty in Iraq. The case became a "Playboy" magazine article, a national TV newsmagazine topic, an upcoming movie - and if someone dares to make a video game out of it, the Davises should have all the royalties.
Lanny Davis and wife Remy came to Columbus from their home in Missouri for several reasons. They left flowers at the spot near Milgen Road where Richard Davis was stabbed to death. It used to be filled with trees, but has been cleared for new Columbus State University apartments. If C.S.U. students say they read about Richard Davis in "Playboy," I'd be a little skeptical.
It's amazing how the landscape along Milgen Road has changed in the last year, since construction started for new Columbus State apartments. The area looked like it could have part of an expanded Cooper Creek Park. Now it looks like an over-optimistic peanut farmer took over the land, after winning a lottery.
But I digress: Lanny and Remy Davis also met with District Attorney Gray Conger Wednesday about the body of their son. The D.A.'s office has held the remains of Richard Davis ever since his death, because it might be needed as evidence. Let's be thankful the body wasn't left in one of those overcrowded evidence rooms at the Government Center.
The body of Richard Davis never was entered into evidence at the trials of three Fort Benning soldiers. But District Attorney Gray Conger apparently thinks defense lawyers will want to check it during appeals hearings -- as if miscounting the stab wounds somehow will set one of the men free.
Attorney Mark Shelnutt is working for the Davis family, in getting the soldier's body released for burial. Shelnutt admitted Wednesday he doesn't understand why prosecutors need to keep the remains, after more than three years -- and I can see his point. The C.S.I. detectives on television take all sorts of pictures of the body, and they always win.
Lanny Davis admitted to the evening news he feels like he's "still fighting a war," attempting to get his son's body for burial. Let's face it: Iraqi insurgent groups would have released the Captain's body by now - even if it was left along the side of a highway.
In perhaps a small consolation, Lanny and Remy Davis will be allowed to view their son's body today. It will be the first time they've seen Richard Davis in five years, and the first time since he was murdered. Let's all hope two groups stay away from the morgue - Fred Phelps's protesters from Topeka, and local funeral directors with business cards.
As for the fictional movie based on the Richard Davis case: the IMDB web site shows "In the Valley of Elah" is in post-production. It's scheduled to come out this fall, a week after the anniversary of the September 11 attacks. And with Susan Sarandon in the cast, the pro-military crowd which might be interested in this topic might wind up boycotting it.
BLOG UPDATE: Now to what some have dubbed the "Bubba Battle" in Phenix City. City Manager Bubba Roberts spoke out Wednesday about the letter from the mayor, requesting his resignation. He stopped short of putting the letter in a shredder on camera....
Bubba Roberts admitted to WRBL the letter from Phenix City Mayor Jeff Hardin this week "hurts my feelings." This may come as a surprise to some people - the ones who think city managers are so wonky and focused on the bottom line that they don't have feelings.
Bubba Roberts showed off the letter from Phenix City's Mayor. Jeff Hardin writes his relationship with the City Manager has had "peaks and valleys." Only in the South would a new chicken processing plant be considered a peak.
Bubba Roberts expressed hope he can remain Phenix City Manager until the mayor's term ends next year. The more advance time he has to send resumes to other cities, the better....
But Bubba Roberts noted he "serves at the pleasure of the council" in Phenix City. At this point, three of the five council members are pleased to keep him as City Manager. The other two may be wondering why Mayor Jeff Hardin didn't ask them to cosign that letter.
Mayor Jeff Hardin refused to talk about his letter to the City Manager Wednesday. He explained it's a "personnel matter." Given the way this has been handled, I'd suggest the mayor cross "inquire at the White House about the Attorney General's job" off his "to-do" list.
Now a quick check of other news and notes from Wednesday:
+ The Blog Byway Patrol found part of Tenth Street downtown is closed for sewer repair. The big housecleaning some people expected from Mayor Jim Wetherington may be about to start....
+ The evening news went to West Point, one year after the big announcement of the future Kia plant. It found Rogers Barbecue has replaced its carpet with a wood floor, because construction workers have been eating in muddy shoes. Just wait until the barbecue aroma gets overwhelmed by "new car smell."
+ WRBL's "Evening Edition" found Phil Scoggins doubling as both news and sports anchor. This is how you know Blaine Stewart has left Columbus for good....
+ The blog of Ledger-Enquirer writer Sandra Okamoto noted the Columbus Civic Center did NOT sell out, for Tuesday night's performance by Blue Man Group. Apparently word spread that the name had nothing to do with Auburn football....
+ Playboy magazine announced it will be in Auburn next week, looking for college students to appear in a pictorial. This seems SO antiquated and "last millennium." Why doesn't Playboy simply publish the pictures students post on Facebook?
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