11 JUN 08: A TIGHTER SHIP

This may come as a shock to you -- but my family background is NOT in joke-writing, or even in writing at all. My late father and older brother have spent their careers as freight drivers. Yes, you can say I come from a truck line....

My father had a small business hauling freight around the Kansas City area. My older brother now has a regular route between Kansas City and St. Joseph, Missouri. But I'm a very different son - who trembles a bit at the idea of driving a stick-shift car up any kind of hill.

I bring this up today because the price of fuel is making it expensive to have any kind of business involving trucks or shipping. While most Columbus stations still have unleaded gas below four dollars a gallon, diesel can cost more than $4.50. In fact, I'm a bit surprised BMW dealerships haven't switched to selling Kias.

Shipping costs often are added to the items you buy, and that's leading some people to drastic action. Columbus fireworks maven (and blog patron) Stephen King tells me he recently drove to Michigan to pick up explosives personally. I assume he drove home very carefully - dodging every pothole he could....

Stephen King says it was cheaper for him to drive to Michigan and back, than order fireworks up north and pay the shipping costs. So imagine how much fireworks stands are paying for items made in China. You almost wonder if we should postpone Independence Day celebrations until Labor Day, so U.S. athletes can get better calls at the Beijing Olympics.

Another business feeling the pain of higher fuel prices is landscaping. WRBL talked Tuesday with one company, which estimated its fuel prices have gone up 350 percent in the last five years. You'd think there was an easy way to respond to this. It's called push mowers....

Aesthetic Landscape Services increased its prices as much as 20 dollars in May, because of the high cost of fuel. Co-owner Barry Deal says as a result, some churches are limiting their business - or maybe making their members feel guilty about only showing up for one worship service a week.

Barry Deal adds his landscaping business lost a big customer way back in January - an unnamed group of local banks. But I'm not sure we should blame that on the cost of gasoline. After all, foreclosed houses cost a whole lot more.

So the high price of fuel is affecting our local economy in all sorts of ways. You'll know things have gone too far if engaged couples set up a bridal registry at Circle K.

By the way, the e-mailer who has called here for Columbus to cut garbage collection could get his wish. I'm hearing a reduction to one day a week is being considered - and again, fuel costs are the reason. It's either pick up less or pay more. Unless you're the city recycling director, and your name is Les Moore....

E-MAIL UPDATE: Sometimes I need to check my InBox early in the day. Otherwise, I miss things....

Today at 11 am at the plaza level of the government center, Mrs. Reba Rae will announce her candidacy for the office of Clerk of Superior Court. Refreshments will be provided.

Sent from my iPhone

That's the iPhone of Muscogee County Republican Chair Josh McKoon. So much for the theory that Apple is to Microsoft as blue states are to red states....

I wondered who Ruby Rae was, when I saw her name listed Monday at the Muscogee County Election Board's web site. It was the first time I'd heard of a challenger for Superior Court Clerk Linda Pierce. Rae is a deputy clerk in Harris County Court - so her main goal in running is energy savings.

Ruby Rae told WLTZ she would keep accurate court records, if she is elected. Her disclosure forms online show how important that is, as Rae crossed out a line on one form and wrote over a number on another. What IS the monthly budget in Superior Court for liquid paper?

But some might say the timing of Tuesday's announcement was terrible for Ruby Rae. After all, there's a health alert right now for ruby red tomatoes - and confused voters might think she's developed salmonella.

Now some other jewels from the Tuesday news....

+ Columbus Council approved the city budget for next fiscal year. City employees will receive a raise in September. If they can recruit people to vote for the one-percent sales tax in July, the raise will have a lot less guilt attached.

+ Russell County officials announced more caution lights will be added around Ladonia Elementary School. They're needed because U.S. 80 can be very busy in the morning - and there's still no Starbucks Coffee shop to provide a natural traffic break.

+ The Jack Cook Little League All-Star tournament had several games in Harris County. Wow - we haven't heard from any Little League parents in about three months. Is everybody happy now? Or have the parents been distracted by other things - like making sure the children play well?

+ The Associated Press reported about 30 people staged a Native American rain dance on the steps of the Georgia Capitol building. Talk about going back to your roots! These days, you're more likely to hear about gamblers staging victory dances in tribal casinos.

+ Instant Message to Mi Casa Mexican buffet on Woodruff Road: The server left me a bill that said about $9.95. I gave you a 15-percent discount coupon. So why was the final total still $9.74? I hope your staff doesn't have side work helping immigrants with their tax returns.

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