22 JUL 07: WALKER-ING AWAY
So now the U.S. Justice Department has come down on the side of David Glisson, in the killing of Kenneth Walker. Is it time for Sheriff Ralph Johnson to do the trendy thing in local government -- and bring Glisson in for a personal apology?
The Justice Department announced it's ending a criminal investigation into the death of Kenneth Walker in December 2003. It decided there's no cause to file federal charges. It's now up to Democrats in Congress to find evidence that someone in Columbus called Karl Rove or Dick Cheney, to bring about this conclusion.
The Justice Department decided there's NO evidence that then-deputy David Glisson willfully shot Kenneth Walker. That seems to support the theory that Glisson slipped or stumbled, on that fateful night along Interstate 185. Maybe now there will be a public campaign to buy Sheriff's officers better shoes.
Remember Rainbow/PUSH President William Howell's big announcement last year, that he'd requested a meeting with the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee about the Kenneth Walker case? That meeting still hasn't happened - and I wonder if anyone's told Howell the Democrats are in charge of the Senate now, so he might want to try again.
(Of course, the Senate Judiciary Committee has plenty to investigate already. Democrats may have to get Don Siegelman out of his prison cell first, before they put David Glisson in one.)
Local NAACP officials promise to keep up their fight, to bring what they consider "justice" in the Kenneth Walker case. In fact, people attending the next NAACP chapter meeting might watch for the group's tribute to Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker. Look for the Oreo cookies on the snack table....
For all the appeals to Washington and local prosecutors, the silence from Georgia's Attorney General in the Kenneth Walker case has been deafening. Yet civil rights groups really haven't taken Thurbert Baker to task, as they have his handling of the Genarlow Wilson case near Atlanta. But then again, Wilson's videotape admittedly is a lot steamier.
When WAS the last time Thurbert Baker visited Columbus, anyway? I couldn't tell you the last time Georgia's Attorney General came to town. If he has to bring election endorser Nick Giles in from Taylor County to guard him and speak for him, I could understand that....
There's someone else who has been silent for a long time about the Kenneth Walker case. While Walker's mother has been busy writing letters and appearing before Columbus Council, Walker's widow has not. She may be busy working, raising the children - or perhaps rehearsing her testimony with attorneys, for the civil trial.
A civil lawsuit stemming from the Kenneth Walker killing is still lingering in federal court. The next big hearing in that case is expected this fall - but at the pace it's going, it could challenge the 61 years it took to give Taylor County's Maceo Snipes a funeral.
E-MAIL UPDATE: Without even asking, your blog is now on the e-mailing list of a local state representative. We won't post everything he sends, but this first one seemed interesting:
Governor Perdue announced today that he has appointed attorney Bill Rumer to the Georgia Public Defenders Standards Council.
Congratulate (or give condolensces) Bill the next time you see him.
Richard Smith
Representative, District 131
A news release from the Georgia Governor confirmed this appointment - so it's not really a Rumer, it's a fact.
Now to the Phenix City "sickbay" - which may be sick in more ways than one:
Think about It!, Several years ago Cobb Hospital filed for bankruptcy and closed. Why did they do that. The hospital was old and inefficient. Most of the patients had no insurance or were covered by Alabama Medicaid which did not pay enough to even cover the costs of treatment. To simplify what caused the closure, expenses exceeded income.
Since Phenix City had no hospital all those people came to Columbus to our hospitals and received care paid for with Georgia and Columbus tax dollars
The Columbus Regional folks with all their infinite wisdom decide to buy Cobb. They figured that with all their expertise and experience they could profitably operate the hospital despite the lack of paying patients, low Alacaid payments, a large, old, inefficient building that was obsolete and poorly equipped.
It didn't take long for them to begin losing money in large quantities so they closed again. The reason, Expenses exceeded income. The Columbus Regional owned a red elephant with little or no value. I would really like to know how much Columbus Regional really lost on this "investment".
Then another group comes along that is even smarter than the last two owners and decide that if they build a new, modern hospital with many efficiencies they can be profitable and provide health care to the residents of Russell County. They spend millions of dollars in tax money and investor money.
Now they begin to cut services, reduce room numbers available, layoff help and anything else they can do to cut overhead. Expenses already exceed income.
How long will it be until they close and file for bankruptcy?. Probably within a year. Taxpayers and investors will lose their millions. Do you think the politicians of Russell county will approve a tax to support their hospital?
In the meantime Georgia and Columbus taxpayers will continue to pay for Alabama residents to receive free medical care in our hospitals.
Lon Gammage
Thanks for your economic analysis - but hold on a second. Don't they call a complex like the old Phenix Regional Hospital a "WHITE elephant?" Or is this an Auburn fan, taking a swipe at Alabama?
The operators of Summit Hospital may have received tax breaks to build it - but as I understand it, NO tax money is supporting it now. I think the Russell County Commission would approve a "hospital tax," if it came to that. That's only ten more cents a soda, after all.
Our last e-mail goes back to school:
I can't believe Dr Philips of MCSD got a $7000 raise ,but he can't find time to go to high school graduations...I wonder if the board has ridden by some of the schools that not only use old portable classrooms but worn out old 10'wide metal trailers that leak and stink of mildew.The board should tour these monsters on a rain soaked day so they will get wet as there is no shelter to the buildings and get muddy because they sit in puddles with no walks.
What a shame our elected board does not represent our children.
Now wait a minute here. Who said Superintendent John Phillips missed commencement weekend in May? Even I know that's a bad time of year to go hunting in the Rockies....
Didn't the Muscogee County School Board go on Saturday "walking tours" of schools a few years ago? Those trips may have accomplished something. After all, they're building a new Rigdon Road Elementary School before they build a new Administration Building a couple of blocks away.
Thanks to all who write us - and let's see if the weekend headlines will provoke you to write some more:
+ The Fourth Avenue Car Wash closed, for nearly two weeks of renovations. I can't wait to try out their new state-of-the-art water....
+ Jazz and soul singer Melba Moore performed at the Liberty Theatre. It's nice to know she's still performing after all these years - and her career hasn't turned to "Melba Toast."
+ Online reports claimed the Atlanta Falcons may ask Michael Vick to take a "leave of absence," while he handles the dogfighting charges against him. Hopefully he won't hire one of those old-fashioned Southern attorneys - the ones who talk about witnesses "having a dog in this fight."
(It could be worse for Michael Vick, you know. The federal grand jury could have indicted his phony hotel name "Ron Mexico" as well.)
+ Atlanta sank St. Louis 14-6 in baseball. Willie Harris tied an Atlanta franchise record, by batting six-for-six. Why, Bobby Cox hasn't even come close to that standard in ejections....
+ Instant Message to Fort Benning: I'm glad you've opened 74 new homes for soldiers in "McGraw Village." Do you plan the overall area after Mr. McGraw's wife - you know, Faith Hill?
BURKARD'S BEST BETS: Gas for $2.63 at Jeff's Petro on South Lumpkin Road.... 20-ounce Vanilla Cokes for 50 cents at the Phenix City Wal-Mart.... and with no football games or big NASCAR race, a perfect Sunday for family bonding....
SCHEDULED MONDAY: A tax refund check finally comes....
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