18 MAY 07: WHEN EDDY MET TAVIS

The fuss about the book "The Big Eddy Club" went national Thursday night, when author David Rose appeared on the PBS "Tavis Smiley Show." Smiley called it an "acclaimed" book -- which shows he hasn't met Mayor Jim Wetherington yet.

David Rose said he expects a decision "any day" from Columbus federal court, about a key new piece of evidence in the Carlton Gary case. At issue is whether a "bite cast" from one of the "Stocking Strangler" victims matches Gary's teeth. And some of us thought a "bite cast" was what many radio news reports had become....

David Rose accused current Muscogee County Judge and former District Attorney Doug Pullen of urging a dentist to lie, and claim the bite cast from a Stocking Strangler victim had been destroyed. But in reality, the dentist had passed it on to the County Coroner -- who apparently pulled a Quincy, M.E. and wouldn't let evidence die.

David Rose believes Carlton Gary was convicted of murder in 1986 not so much by the evidence, as by the "weight of prejudice." That weight of prejudice still surfaces at times today. But enough of the jokes about Kirstie Alley....

Recent arrivals in Columbus may not realize Carlton Gary was NOT the first person arrested in the Stocking Strangler killings. David Rose says another man was arrested and confessed - but later, he also confessed to killing President Kennedy in 1963. Nowadays, that man still might go to prison for wasting a police officer's time.

David Rose says the fingerprint evidence against Carlton Gary is "deeply suspect," and a purported confession written from memory by a Columbus police detective hours later "wouldn't stand up in a British court." Of course, some British things wouldn't stand up in U.S. courts - such as attorneys wearing white wigs.

David Rose noted Federal Judge Clay Land is a great-nephew of Carlton Gary's trial judge, John Land -- and John Land's father led a lynch mob in Columbus in the early 1900's. Talk about a family conspiracy -- or maybe guilt by DNA chain....

So did Tavis Smiley challenge any of David Rose's claims about the Carlton Gary case? Not in the least. He let Rose tell his story, with no critical words at all. Maybe that's why ABC doesn't even consider Smiley a news analyst anymore.

(At least Tavis Smiley sounded like he read "The Big Eddy Club" - which puts him one step ahead of Larry King.)

Tavis Smiley called the Carlton Gary case "compelling" - but if he's evenhanded, he ought to let the prosecution and police side of the case on his talk show to respond. Even Rush Limbaugh talks a phone call from a Democrat once in a while....

By the way, did you know Carlton Gary once played in a band with Ike and Tina Turner? David Rose revealed that tidbit during the Tavis Smiley interview. Maybe the prosecutors realized that, and tried to send him "Rollin' Up the River."

BLOG UPDATE: Thursday was a historic day in Columbus for several reasons. The price of gasoline hit a milestone record high. A radio station cut the price by a record low amount. And a traffic jam developed downtown during the morning rush hour, with most drivers probably not having the slightest idea why.

The record came early in the morning, when several Columbus gas stations moved the price of regular unleaded above three dollars a gallon. This was certainly one time when a "three" was NOT on anybody's side - except the oil companies, maybe....

In my neighborhood, a popular convenience store jumped from $2.88 a gallon to $3.03. Last week's big 12-cent jump was reduced some during the weekend - and now stores have come back and gone 15 cents higher?! Are they imitating the troop surge in Iraq or something?

It's at times like this when I feel smart for buying and driving compact cars since 1990. Your impressive SUV with a vanity license plate may outrace my humble Honda up a hill - but when I see you at a couple of gas stations, I'll wave while driving by.

Of all the days for the three-dollar barrier to fall in Columbus, it was the day that Davis Broadcasting started a big promotion. A mystery location was selling gas to the first 50 customers for $1.05 a gallon - as in Foxie 105-FM. Here's hoping we never reach the point where WDAK does this, with a discount price of $5.40.

You had to listen to WFXE at 7:00 a.m. to find out where the mystery gas station was. And when the location was announced as the Chevron at 13^th and Veterans Parkway, it did two things. It gained "Foxie 105" a lot of free attention. And it made a crowded crossroads of downtown Columbus something close to Atlanta's downtown connector.

I had forgotten about the $1.05 gas promotion, but it suddenly occurred to me as I headed for work by turning onto Veterans Parkway at Ninth Street. I found myself in a long slow line of cars heading north. For a moment, I thought there was a wreck up ahead - but then I realized the radio station was living up to a nickname: "Foxie 105 Jams."

WRBL later reported the northbound traffic on Veterans Parkway was backed up nine blocks, to the Civic Center. This usually occurs only for southbound traffic, heading to a big college football game like the Fountain City Classic. The only other time it might happen northbound is if Columbus Water Works decided to go out of business.

(No, I didn't wait in line for a chance at $1.05 gasoline. After all, I had to get to work. And I'm still early in the gas tank I pumped last Friday, at $2.76 a gallon. Those country car dealers were right after all - you can drive a little, and save a lot.)

Give Davis Broadcasting credit for coming up with a promotional stunt with a lot of public interest, and showing why Foxie 105 is the top-rated radio station in Columbus. But was 13^th and Veterans Parkway really the right place for this - especially during morning rush hour? Wouldn't the stations on Cusseta Road cooperate?

Davis Broadcasting isn't stopping there, promising another mystery gas special today on WKZJ "K-92.7." This time, the cut-rate gas price will be 92 cents a gallon -- which is only fitting for a radio station which bills itself as "old school."

E-MAIL UPDATE: Now for a reminder that if you want to do a good deed, someone may be watching....

AboutColumbusGA : Message: Re: Georgia Prayer Center- Talbot Resource Center

Why is this woman so worried about the Georgia Prayer Center in Talbot County that is trying to start up a food pantry for those people in their time of need and to help make their lives a little easier and better. I thought that was what she was so proud of in Talbot County.

The Prayer Center's letter in the newspaper stated that their food pantry would not be Opened until August, so what is her problem. This is a mission that is badly needed for Talbot County.

I'm merely linking to the message board item in question, since I'm not allowed to quote from it here. But the woman who oversees that message board is very nit-picky when it comes to people and groups following rules. She's still trying to track down the names of everyone who's ever served on Muscogee County Library Board committees.

One big concern expressed on this message board is the naming of elected officials to the food pantry's Board of Directors. Let's face it, this IS Talbot County - where some people might keep a can count by district, and put a new meaning on the Winn-Dixie "Even It Up" campaigns.

Another message board concern involves the nonprofit status of the Georgia Prayer Center's food pantry. The founding minister apparently is asking for contributions, when proper documents haven't been filed with the state yet. Some ministries would call this a "seed faith" gift - only they'd promise you houses or cars in return.

Keep in mind what happened a year or so ago, when a nursing home for veterans was proposed in Talbot County. The more nearby residents learned about it, the more they opposed it. So it's not merely resistance to a food pantry - people in Talbot County might have problems with a full-fledged supermarket.

This message board overseer wants every detail of the food pantry in order right now, since the founder already is asking for contributions and plans a kickoff prayer event this weekend. If the minister isn't careful, he'll be quoted that Bible verse about God "declaring things not yet as though they already are...."

A prayer-related topic begins our look at other news from Thursday:

+ A federal judge in Atlanta ruled Bibles CANNOT be made exempt from sales taxes. The Georgia General Assembly voted to do that several years ago - perhaps forgetting another verse which says, "render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's."

+ Ground was broken at the Port Columbus museum for a large restored Civil War-era ship, called the "Water Witch." I'm a bit surprised Southern Baptists didn't set up a picket line along Victory Drive....

(You can help raise money for the Port Columbus Water Witch project, by purchasing a plank for 100 dollars. But many people in Columbus may feel more at home driving down the road to Long John Silver - where you can buy several chicken planks for less than ten.)

+ The Garden Club of Georgia warned the official state tree might have to be changed. It fears climate change and warmer temperatures will kill all the live oaks. So? Just change the name to dead oak, and add to the history....

+ The Columbus State softball team lost to Lock Haven 3-0. The Cougars face an elimination game today against the C.W. Post.... well, what IS this team's nickname? The Toasties?

(So you don't get confused: C.W. Post College is the Old C.W. WLGA TV-66 is the New CW.)

SCHEDULED THIS WEEKEND: A personal health update.... and a woman who says birds talk to her....

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