17 NOV 08: IT'S NOW OR NEVER

Today marks two weeks since a new mayor took office in Hurtsboro -- and already one man claims he's breaking the law. At least this leader had a political "honeymoon." I'm not sure some local high school students want Barack Obama to have one.

The new mayor of Hurtsboro is Rayford Tapley, and it sounds like he's already making changes. Tapley told the TV news the other day he's submitting the city's financial records to a group of auditors -- something he says hasn't happened there in eight years. Well, Hurtsboro IS a small town. Maybe the city treasurer simply trusted his calculator.

Mayor Rayford Tapley admits he's not sure why Hurtsboro's city records were not audited for eight years. An annual audit is required under Alabama law. But let's face it - the state's attorneys general have been busy in this decade. First they were fighting over monuments, then they started examining absentee ballots....

The mayor also says Hurtsboro will have a new police chief this week. Rayford Tapley plans to give the job to Jim Baxley, who's been serving as Municipal Court Clerk. Only a few more weeks of patience, and Hurtsboro could have had Ralph Johnson.

So isn't Hurtsboro's new mayor off to a good start? If you think so, you haven't read this blog much over the last couple of years. This e-mail reached us a few days ago:

"Sir" Richard:

I see by your latest Blog; that you have picked up another detracter! My My!! How easily folks get upset when their precious little whims are not catered too. I know you will survive, and will keep up the good work you are doing!!

I've finished licking my political wounds, and have set up my game plan for the next few months at least. Obama touted "change," but believe me. nothing has changed in "Hurt'sboro,.there are no new faces in Town Hall; they have just played musical chairs.

Mayor Tapley is orchestrating an effort to rebuild our "police" department with members of; "The over the hill gang," and have an old pal do an audit on the town's books. It sounds real cozy to me!

The old rascal (Mayor Tapley) has enough skeletons in his closet to start a memorial garden. There's quite a tale behind his efforts to minimize his bill to a tree trimmer, and of course, the "Mare" was in cahoots with him.

This attachment should emphasize the fact that; the Ol' Constable still has his one good eye on Town Hall!

Constable R.J. Schweiger

Mayor Tapley indeed told the TV news he plans to add more police officers. But he'll need to apply for the money to do it, apparently through a grant of some sort. Apparently he can't ask Hurtsboro voters for a one-cent sales tax, and put the former chief's picture on posters.

Robert Schweiger's attachment shows he's not surprised by Jim Baxley becoming Hurtsboro Police Chief. In a letter dated last Wednesday, Schweiger asks Baxley to find Mayor Rayford Tapley in violation of two city ordinances -- after only nine days in office. Older people sometimes can be impatient, because they know their time is short....

The letter declares Hurtsboro's mayor has violated a city ordinance since the summer of 2007, "by dumping or causing to be dumped, large tree trunk sections on public property...." Robert Schweiger contends such items are considered trash. But I suppose others would consider them fun things for children to climb in the Hurtsboro city park.

"Now that Mr. Tapley is the mayor of Hurtsboro; he is responsible for any violation that the city incurs," Robert Schweiger's letter continues. He then claims two police cars have been parked outside the Town Hall for months, and thus qualify as "junk cars." Never mind the fact that there may not have been any police officers to drive them....

If I understand this letter correctly, Robert Schweiger does NOT want incoming police chief Jim Baxley to move the two police cars. He wants Baxley to ticket the Hurtsboro Mayor first - or at least give him the keys, and have check under the hood first.

We held this e-mail for several days, because we wanted Mayor Rayford Tapley's side of the story. But a Thursday phone call to Town Hall was not returned. And when we reached him at home Sunday afternoon around 4:00, he was busy preparing dinner. Shame on me - I knew I should have called at halftime of the Falcons game.

Rayford Tapley invited me to call him today, so we'll try again. Robert Schweiger certainly has provided us plenty to ask. But in the meantime, perhaps the outgoing Constable should submit his "wish list" to the mayor personally - with an order for accomplishing them, and a deadline for arrests if he does not.

E-MAIL UPDATE: There's another gripe in our InBox -- this one involving Muscogee County schools....

Richard,

I was very upset with our local media after Friday night. As you know my wife and I serve on The Board Of Directors for Geoga PTA. Blanchard's PTA won a National Grant from our National PTA for their Healthy Life Styles theme that they submitted. I know for a fact that ALL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS knew about this presentation,as well as all media outlets in Columbus. What makes this such a huge event is Blanchard was the ONLY school in Georgia to receive the grant, as well only 23 schools across the COUNTRY were selected. Each school was awarded a check for $994.00 to use as they see FIT. It is a real shame that in a day when schools are being talked about in the media for BAD things taking place in the schools, here you have a school being recognized for the GOOD taking place in their school and not even ONE ELECTED OFFICIAL CHOSE TO SHOW UP. WOW!

--

Charles Lawhon

Charles may be saddened to know that I didn't see this honor mentioned on the school district web site Sunday night -- not even in the "recognitions" section. Perhaps the Jordan High School chorus drowned out the PTA members.

The Muscogee County School web site does show I missed "National School Psychology Awareness Week." Are you aware that if you give grade school students the incentive of a pizza night, they might read more library books?

I do have one question about Blanchard Elementary School. The outside sign says yearbooks are on sale now - and it also says an author will be visiting the school Tuesday. Are there any plans to combine the two, and turn the fifth-grade class into something like "Sweet Valley Grade School?"

Friday's item about our switch to HDTV brought a couple of helpful responses as well:

Hi Richard,

Channels 11 and 16 don't have digital companion channels. As low-power TV stations, they are able to "flash cut" to DTV on the same channel, but even after the "Big Switch," they will still be able to broadcast in analog. Channel 16 at least has a construction permit to broadcast in digital.

Both WTVM and WJSP want to take over channel 11 for their permanent DTV channel, so the LPTV on 11 will likely have to find a new home. Why do they want channel 11? GPB in particular has focused on VHF channels to save on their power costs. WTVM probably wants increased power relative to their permanent digital channel 9, which is limited in coverage compared to analog 9 due to the GPB's digital 8 in Dawson.

GPB is parked on many of those low power FM translator stations across GA. As I understand it, every translator station has to specify a full power station to relay, and there are restrictions about which stations can be relayed in the commercial FM band. These stations are temporarily using GPB until they can do something else.

I noticed that WJSP-FM is broadcasting in HD radio as of a couple of weeks ago. Almost all FM stations in Atlanta are already in HD, so Columbus has a lot of catching up to do.

Best,

Thomas

Wow - and all this time I thought a "flash cut" was something Knowshon Moreno did to gain yards for Georgia's football team.

I read recently about a possible change in dial positions coming to Columbus. But in this era, one station might have to be careful promoting itself as "News Leader 9/11."

A GPB engineer told me last week the Columbus radio signal at 107.7 FM has been borrowed from the WAY-FM network for a couple of years. WAY-FM seems to broadcast programs currently heard on Beacon University's station at 96.1 FM. So when Beacon goes out of business next spring, will we have a classic battle of "Way" versus No Way?

Another blog reader directed us to a web site which specializes in TV antennas. But when we entered our home address, it showed the ABC and CW Network digital signals in Columbus are on the same channel. This seems like potential trouble - although it might be interesting to see "Will and Grace" anchoring the 11:00 p.m. news.

We thank all of you who write us - and now for some short items from a relatively quiet Sunday:

+ The Ledger-Enquirer reported some of the write-in votes in Columbus races this year went to Mickey Mouse and Jesus Christ. If Mickey Mouse received more votes in a "Bible Belt" city, we should all be very concerned....

+ The Columbus Cottonmouths topped Twin City 4-3, in a game delayed from Saturday night. The delay was due to the Twin City team bus breaking down. You'd think with a name like that, they'd have a backup bus handy....

(The delayed hockey game also postponed plans to install a new scoreboard at the Columbus Civic Center. I guess even they have to make the "big switch" - although I'd be more interested in HDTV close-ups of the Columbus Lions dance team.)

+ Instant Message to Hibbett Sports at Peachtree Mall: OK, I give up. I'm stumped. Why do you have shoes for "technical running?" Are they for computer geeks, going back and forth between web servers?

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