24 FEB 08: HURTS-NO MORE?

Well, well - so much for the speculation that Robert Schweiger might run for Mayor of Hurtsboro. Instead, he's filed a petition to dissolve the entire town. If you can't beat 'em, put 'em out of business -- a little bit like Microsoft with Yahoo....

Constable Robert Schweiger and four other Hurtsborite.... uh, Hurtsboroia.... well, what DO you call someone who lives in that small, slow-paced Russell County town? A Hurts-burro?

But I was saying: Constable Robert Schweiger and four other Hurtsboro residents have filed a petition at the Russell County Courthouse to put the town out of business. It would become a community under county jurisdiction, much like Seale. And who knows - someday Hurtsboro might also have a four-lane highway racing through it as well.

Fresh off his Big Blog Question triumph, Constable Schweiger told WRBL the people of Hurtsboro deserve better than their current city government. But is literally closing down the town the right answer? Columbus Police officers came up with an alternative - and Jim Wetherington was elected Mayor fair and square.

Robert Schweiger repeated a claim he's said in various ways here for more than a year -- that Hurtsboro is going downhill in a hurry. And it's happening despite a very level Main Street....

Robert Schweiger said he's moved to Hurtsboro to stay: "I don't intend to move until I pass away." There are a number of other residents who were saddened by this comment - like the man who told us last Thanksgiving he wants the Constable to move back to Illinois.

Constable Schweiger also repeated his complaint that Hurtsboro's Mayor is not available to the public, to hear about local problems and explain what's being done about them. There's one sure way to get a mayor out of hiding, to talk about her city - and the next time a company decides to locate in Hurtsboro, that could happen.

If this request for a Russell County takeover of Hurtsboro sounds familiar, you must be a regular blog reader. It's been about a year since we noted Constable Schweiger had submitted several pages of signatures to Alabama's Governor, asking for state intervention [12 Feb 07]. Bob Riley seems to have responded with all the speed of a Hurtsboro police cruiser....

But Alabama state code states any five qualified voters can file a petition with a county Probate Judge to forfeit a city charter. Only five?! This means Phenix City could be dissolved, because a basketball team was upset about not getting to play at Idle Hour Park.

Russell County Probate Judge Alford Harden says he'll schedule a public hearing in Hurtsboro, so the city at large can comment on this proposal to dissolve the town. Maybe someone will suggest a merger with Hatchechubbee, nine miles up the road - and the combined town will be called Hurts-to-be-Chubbee.

Let's presume this petition is successful, and Hurtsboro is dissolved. Do you realize what that means? Constable Schweiger may never send us any more e-mails complaining about.... no, hold it. I think I know better. He'll turn things up a notch, and start complaining about Russell County commissioners.

E-MAIL UPDATE: Spring training for blog writers clearly is underway, as a message from Friday is tossed back....

Pioneer team newsletter??????????

I need to get that info cause the website for them is lacking information. http://pioneerlittleleague.org/index.html

According to it I have to sell two boston b**ts before March 9th... That is before the season starts.

To the new blog reader: Please send information on anything Pioneer to me at asouthern_girl25@yahoo.com!

I would like to know what is going on prior to the end of the season. And if Rick is offering to help with pictures, well I want to see that for myself. Think he would help with uniforms too?? One of the VP's in the league is the one selling them, maybe he would cut Rick a deal!

Thanks!!

From my review of the Pioneer Little League web site, you also can buy a season-long sign on the outfield fence for 250 dollars. So your money can buy two, uh, you-knows - or many more eyeballs.

We haven't heard the last about Pioneer Little League, but another e-mail must be held until we do some checking on it. In the meantime, let's send some Instant Messages....

+ To Fourth Street Baptist Church Pastor J.H. Flakes: That march against violence in the Historic District Saturday was a good idea. But I couldn't help noticing you went north on Veterans Parkway - instead of east, into the Booker T. Washington apartment complex.

+ To Georgia NAACP President Edward DuBose: Are you kidding me?! I mean, that newspaper ad. You actually bought a car from Rob Doll Nissan? Did anybody bother telling you he's a Republican?

+ To Glynn Smith Chevrolet in Opelika: I read the fine print of last week's "Scratch & Match" contest mailing, and I'm puzzled. How can a "$1,000 shopping spree" have a retail value of ten dollars? That makes about as much sense as the sentence which says, "Offer ends at 6:00 PM January 19, 2007."

+ To whomever left chalk messages on the Riverwalk at 11^th Street: I don't care if you wrote "Thank you God" in big letters. Graffiti on the wall is still graffiti on the wall -- and I think Jesus would clean it up.

This blog had more than 43,000 visitors in 2007 -- up 53% from 2006! To advertise to them, offer a story tip or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

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The views expressed in this blog are solely those of the author -- not necessarily those of anyone else in Columbus living or dead, and perhaps not even you.

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