The Blog of Columbus, Georgia

30 JUN 08: SLEDGE HAMMERED

" I fear the local newspaper is becoming an anachronism," a woman told me over the weekend. If the woman is using a big word like "anachronism," I doubt she's someone who would leave a comment in the "Sound Off" section.

BLOG EXCLUSIVE: Your blog has been told one of the best-known names at the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer will leave the newspaper's staff this week. Kaffie Sledge's last day apparently will be Friday -- so please, can we all get along at Thunder on the Hooch?

Perhaps without even trying, Kaffie Sledge has become one of the most divisive people in Columbus. Some people agree with her columns in the Ledger-Enquirer. Other people can't stand them, and by extension can't stand her. I'm not sure anyone has arranged peace talks between Sledge and Doug Kellett yet.

Yet also perhaps without trying, Kaffie Sledge has become one of the most public voices for the African-American community in Columbus. Even though the Columbus Times is free, that doesn't mean a lot of Euro-American people drive south of Airport Thruway to pick one up.

Kaffie Sledge also has upset some people by taking liberal views on issues. A good number of Ledger-Enquirer readers want everyone on the paper to be just like them - and they somehow think Tim Chitwood and Brad Barnes actually are.

But before the Columbus right-wingers organize a victory dance, be advised - we're also told Kaffie Sledge is being offered a "retirement package" similar to what Richard Hyatt received. That means Sledge may keep writing occasional columns for the Ledger-Enquirer. Or she could go into complete obscurity, and take the open Editor position at The Courier.

We're also told the same sort of retirement package is being offered to veteran Ledger-Enquirer reporter Mick Walsh. This is apparently his last week on the staff as well. Put all these retired reporters together, and the Gallops Senior Center might have the best newsletter in town.

The retirement packages are part of a company-wide belt-tightening by McClatchy newspapers. Yet on my May vacation, I reviewed two McClatchy papers in Missouri and saw no sign of the serious cuts being made in Columbus. Why, the Kansas City Star still could afford color pictures on the front page....

The departure of these veteran reporters has some Ledger-Enquirer readers concerned. The woman who said "anachronism" over the weekend also expressed concern the Columbus daily newspaper might go out of business someday. Is this really possible? And without the paper, could WLTZ still be the "most powerful news source in the Chattahoochee Valley?"

(Some companies might not mind if the Ledger-Enquirer went out of business. Paper towel sales would soar, for lining the bottoms of bird cages.)

Here's hoping the Ledger-Enquirer doesn't go out of business completely. For one thing, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution bailed out of Columbus a couple of years ago. For another thing, Boy Scout paper drives will lose a lot of money.

>> Our latest blog deals with Columbus poker, and the interesting things that happen there. Try the all-new "On the Flop!" <<

THE BIG BLOG QUESTION about Columbus Council meetings ended Sunday - and 10 out of 12 voters oppose the proposal to limit how often members of the public can speak. So if you watch CCG-TV on a regular basis, it's up to you to press the mute button.

Councilor Red McDaniel's proposal would limit public speakers at Columbus Council meetings to one appearance per month. One e-mailer prior to our poll suggested the speaking time limit be cut from five minutes to two. This would be roughly the same as a trim from "Open Mic Night" at The Loft to an American Idol audition.

Several people commented during our poll that it's all about Columbus Council hearing from the people they're supposed to serve. Of course, there are other ways for the public to express their views. But for some reason, the Fraternal Order of Police removed those billboards with Councilors' phone numbers.

One commenter actually accused Columbus Council of desiring "to dictate, rule and control the population, money and future of Columbus." Now that seems a bit harsh. We could have Zimbabwe's government running the city - then everyone would have been chased down with chainsaws, and forced to attend the Aflac Outdoor Games.

Another voter called Columbus Councilors "very rude" during public speaking time -- adding: "They stop listening AND caring after five minutes." Perhaps all the candidates in this election should be tested for attention deficit disorder.

Then there was the voter who admitted some public speakers "talk about the same stuff over and over again" - but added: "A lot of information has come from people going before council.... that I wouldn't have known about otherwise." For instance, countless law school students have been helped with their homework by Paul Olson citing state statute numbers.

We don't often have three Big Blog Questions in a row - but right now we do. The current commercial on TV compels me to do it. The Fourth of July feud at Fireworks Outlet (check the bottom ad at our link) simply must be resolved. You know, before it gets too explosive....

Now let's check a small stack of weekend news headlines....

+ The Aflac Outdoor Games concluded at South Commons. Yet for some reason, the event's web site has not posted any results. Do we really have to watch ESPN in October, to find out who cooks the best barbecue plates in Columbus?

(Stihl saws were a big sponsor of the Aflac Outdoor Games - so big that a small plane flew the company's logo around South Commons for hours. Maybe by next June, "Mike and Mike in the Morning" finally will have their own blimp.)

+ Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue issued a statement of mourning on the death of UGA VI - the University of Georgia real-life bulldog mascot. All the tributes for this dog leave me asking a question. Did the Georgia baseball coach know UGA VI was sick? And if so, why didn't he mention it in a motivational speech to help win the College World Series?

(UGA VI is being buried today at Sanford Stadium in Athens -- which strikes me as fascinating, because I have yet to hear anyone suggest burying Vince Dooley or Larry Munson there.)

+ Instant Message to the Piggly Wiggly store on River Road: Have you changed your photocopied ads at the entrance yet? I mean, Kinko's is NOT that far away -- and I'm probably not the only one who was disappointed this weekend to find a gallon of milk cost $1.10 more than expected.

SCHEDULED TUESDAY: Yet another local media departure.... someone making quite a career change....

To offer a story tip, make a PayPal donation, advertise to our readers or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 784 (- 32. 3.9%)

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.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.

29 JUN 08: LIGHT'S OUT

"Choosing a college can be a BIG decision." So said the electronic sign outside Beacon University on Veterans Parkway Saturday night. At least the administrators are making things a bit easier in Columbus - by going out of business.

If you haven't heard, Beacon University made a stunning announcement Friday - that it will shut down after the next academic year. So when the speakers at the 2009 commencement say it's "not an ending, but a beginning," feel free to laugh.

Beacon University officials will explain their situation in detail at a Monday afternoon news conference. But the news release Friday reportedly had the words "financial crisis" at the top. Of course, anyone who's 30 days behind in paying the mortgage right now probably is using those same words....

It was merely Beacon College when I moved to Columbus 11 years ago - and it had no campus at all. Beacon was located in a small building, attached to a church on 13^th Avenue near the old Lewis-Jones grocery store. I went there one evening, and left convinced that Beacon only held "classes" on Wednesday Bible study nights.

But Beacon grew to university status, and moved into a multistory office building on Veterans Parkway eight years ago. So couldn't it put some offices up for rent, to help pay the bills? Or does a Christian university really need that many prayer closets?

I visited Beacon University a few times in recent years -- using its religious library to sort out some Bible questions. I hope the reference books are donated to a place where they're still accessible. And no, the central Columbus library does NOT count -- since many of its religious reference books somehow vanished between the Bradley Library and Macon Road.

Saturday's Ledger-Enquirer said Beacon University will NOT accept any more new students. Yet the electronic sign didn't indicate that Saturday night, and the Beacon web site hasn't been updated to say that. You can e-mail "admissions" - but if you get a security warning from PayPal in reply, don't touch it.

I didn't realize until I read the newspaper article that Beacon University had bought the old El Carrizo restaurant site down the street on Veterans Parkway. It planned to move the campus library there - and hopefully keep the flavor of the old management, by offering courses in Spanish.

I also didn't realize that Beacon University recently added former Muscogee County School Superintendent Guy Sims to its staff. You'll recall Sims left the local United Way to help low-income people in Columbus - and now he again is close to becoming one of them.

But it still seems stunning to me that a Christian university in a "Bible belt" city would have financial problems, and even go out of business. Aren't local churches willing to help Beacon out? Or does it cost that much to hold a week of vacation Bible school nowadays?

Assuming Beacon University actually folds, it has some assets to sell. WBUE-FM is a low-power radio station, but still should attract some buyers. And there's that old-fashioned bus parked in front of the office building - which Country's Barbecue can add to its collection on Broadway.

But there's one other option that Beacon University doesn't seem to be considering. Why not simply raise tuition? That seems to work for public universities across Alabama. The Auburn trustees approved a 12-percent tuition increase Friday - which I think is more than the increase for football season tickets.

BLOG UPDATE: The field is now set for the upcoming Columbus elections - and you'll be pleased to learn everybody loves two Columbus Councilors. Glenn Davis and Evelyn Turner Pugh are unopposed for another term. Davis is especially thankful, because he won't have to add to those $22,000 in campaign debts.

Only one candidate for Muscogee County School Board will be unopposed in November. Robert Varner of Synovus will replace Fife Whiteside - and with his financial background, maybe we'll finally learn exactly how much the new administration building costs.

>> How did things go for us at Thursday's poker night? The answer's waiting at our new blog -- "On the Flop!" <<

BIG PREDICTION UPDATE: Again this year, I misfired in predicting the Miss Georgia pageant. Miss Augusta did NOT win Saturday night - but at least she won a preliminary event Friday night. Can I declare myself ten-percent right?

Your new Miss Georgia is a Columbus woman. Chasity Hardman is the daughter of Impact Center Pastor Ann Hardman - so maybe it's no coincidence that her church moved to Victory Drive awhile back.

But Chasity Hardman did NOT compete as Miss Columbus - she was "Miss Capital City." It's an open secret that Miss Georgia hopefuls enter multiple pageants, looking for a win anywhere they can. It's tempting to compare it with singles nights at nightclubs....

E-MAIL UPDATE: Why so many infomercials? We asked that question Thursday, and the station we asked it about offers an explanation....

Richard: We will continue to show the White Springs TV network soon. Over the last few weeks the trees around our transmitter site have grown significantly and are now causing a problem with our satellite reception of White Springs. (Blocking the Satellite signal) We hope to have this fixed soon. Thanks for Watching.

Mark Snow

Columbus 11 Television

MD Broadcasting

Wow -- fast-growing trees can affect a TV station? I guess weekend rain to alleviate a drought can be bad after all.

I think we've run out of updates, so let's check other weekend headlines:

+ The Chevron station at 13^th and Veterans Parkway blasted through the four-dollar gasoline ceiling in Columbus, pushing its price for regular unleaded up to $4.10 a gallon. Yet for some reason, I didn't see a long line of Cadillacs and limousines filling up there.

+ The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a final appeal of the Continental Carbon pollution case. This should settle the issue once and for all - the only "carbon nation" people in South Columbus want is a return of the old RC Cola plant.

+ The web site of meteorologist Mark Prater confirmed he's left WLTZ, and will begin working at a Birmingham TV station Monday. This must have confused the moving company - being told to send the van to Iowa, several hundred miles away from Columbus.

+ The Aflac Outdoor Games opened in South Commons. From what I'm hearing, the crowds are good and people are enjoying it. But if no Georgia Power employees are climbing those tall poles, do we REALLY know who's the fastest?

+ Former "American Idol" winner Ruben Studdard was married in suburban Birmingham. If I'm not mistaken, he's the first "Idol" champion to become married - and if Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood would like to be next, please click on the "write me" link below.

SCHEDULED MONDAY: Big news about a familiar local name, which might lead some people to celebrate.... but don't do it too soon....

To offer a story tip, make a PayPal donation, advertise to our readers or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 816 (+ 26, 3.3%)

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.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.

28 JUN 08: IF ONLY HE KNEW

(BLOGGER'S NOTE: You may find this item humorous, serious, or a little of both - but we offer these thoughts from time to time, as we keep a seventh-day Sabbath.)

The letter was postmarked 16 June - so that made the item inside the envelope even more puzzling. It was a Father's Day card, apparently mailed the day after Father's Day. Some places take Army Day more seriously than others....

But wait a minute - a Father's Day card?! Sent to me?! I'm not a father. I'm not even a Larry Bird dad - if you remember all the years when he denied having a daughter out of wedlock.

"A wish for my brother," the card says in front with a picture of a dog and sports equipment. Inside it reads: "Hope your Father's Day is filled with everything that you enjoy!" Well, I did go out and whack a racquetball. If a dog had chased me while I was running, I would NOT have enjoyed that.

So who sent this after-Father's Day card to someone who's not a father? Not my older brother, who gave away his last daughter in marriage in May. It was my younger brother - or at least someone who signed the card with his name. No, he's not THAT wealthy that secretaries do the signing for all his important documents.

I should explain - my younger brother doesn't know any better. Donald doesn't know if I'm a father or not. He probably doesn't even know I'm related to him. When I visited him in May, it was our first face-to-face meeting in three years. And all he did was stare at me a bit - perhaps because I woke him up from an afternoon nap.

This isn't a matter of adoption, but of retardation. Donald has been mentally disabled from birth. My parents placed him in a neurological institute when he was about four years old, because he was too difficult to handle -- and he remains there today, about 40 years later. I've lived in seven different cities in that time, so in one way he's more stable than I am.

Donald couldn't walk when he entered the institute -- but the staff somehow taught him to do it. This was a such big deal that I skipped school for a day, to join the family at a ceremony celebrating the accomplishment. But Donald doesn't walk today -- allowing the people pushing him in a wheelchair to get all the exercise.

Yet Donald has left the institute for some surprising road trips. I mentioned in January that his unit was bused to see Kansas play in a football bowl game in Texas [4 Jan]. As long as the group wore blue shirts and waved pompons with the proper colors, most TV viewers probably never noticed the difference.

I could focus on why Donald might be mentally disabled -- such as my father's occasional drinking, my mother's years of smoking or something else. But my visits with him look toward the future. I tell him of the wonderful things ahead for him -- even though he apparently can't hear, and doesn't understand.

I tell Donald that God will give him healing someday, so that his brain will be made normal. How can I say that? Because the Bible says in Revelation 20 that all of the dead will stand before Jesus and be "judged according to their deeds." The institute's staff has given Donald a good deed to do -- even if it's only pressing a button to welcome people to a work area.

I refuse to believe the common idea that Donald is doomed to burn "you-know-where" because he didn't accept Jesus in this life. In his current condition, he can't accept Jesus -- not unless someone presses a yes-or-no button for him at a church service, and I don't see in the Bible where that's legal.

My Bible shows from II Peter 3 that God wants "all to come to repentance." If Donald can't because he doesn't know how, I believe God will show mercy in such cases -- and heal him so he CAN know how. And I suspect at that point, Donald won't be surrounded by agnostics and atheists calling him silly.

Admittedly, my talks with Donald about these things are in effect talks with God. They're statements of faith, and I pray my understanding is right as I state those words. Without that faith, Donald's time on this planet is essentially meaningless - and our family has been going through the motions, in the name of a less-than-perfect life. The Bible says God's way is perfect. May he make my brother that way someday.

SCHEDULED SUNDAY: Who's getting a free pass, in this year's local elections.... and who cracked the four-dollar ceiling in a big way....

To offer a story tip, make a PayPal donation, advertise to our readers or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 790 (- 40, 4.8%)

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.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.

27 JUN 08: YOU DROPPED A BOMB NEAR ME

Columbus Fire investigators ruled Thursday a fire at the old Swift Mill on Sixth Avenue was accidental. In a way, that was a relief - as there are too many laid-off mill workers who could be considered suspects.

But the investigation revealed something surprising. Shortly before the fire broke out Wednesday afternoon, part of the mill was being used for training with smoke bombs. If a company can do that, why doesn't someone renovate the entire mill for paintball and skateboarding?

The smoke bomb exercise was conducted by a local company called National Security Associates. Its web site promises to provide "technical and tactical counter-terrorist training...." Critics will say it's simply advancing the Columbus "police state" several blocks northeast - and before long, METRA bus drivers will be uniformed.

National Security Associates has a location in Cusseta which it uses for training. Based on the company's web site, the staff might want to "stand down" one week soon - for training in how to properly spell Cusseta.

The NSA training site in Chattahoochee County is next to Fort Benning - and it sounds a lot like a proposed development which has caused debate in Marion County. It has a building for shooting practice, as well as seven different ranges. Why, I think it has almost as many ranges as the Columbus Sears store.

NSA offers to do security training at all kinds of locations around the world, from apartments to casinos. Based on what I saw at a Kansas City casino in May, a team could fire smoke bombs all day without most slot machine players noticing.

That sort of remote training apparently brought NSA to the old Swift Mill - but that didn't please workers in nearby offices. One of them told WRBL Thursday her staff should have been told about the smoke bomb work. After all, the health effects of second-hand smoke have been known for years.

But Columbus Fire Marshal Thomas Streeter said security training occurs in run-down mills all the time, and the companies are NOT required to tell anyone what they're doing. If they told all, Iran would know how to move its nuclear secrets before Israel launches its.... oops, please ignore that last sentence....

I can understand why the people in nearby offices would want to know about smoke bomb training. But shouldn't this standard apply to everyone? The Port Columbus staff needs to pass out warning flyers around South Commons, before firing those old cannons.

The owner of NSA indicated all was well when his company's training mission ended. But an explosion was reported at Swift Mill around 4:30 p.m. So this was one time when the company was happy to end a project with a whimper, not a bang.

The Columbus Fire Marshal decided the Swift Mill fire largely had another source - sandblasting in another part of the building, which ignited cotton dust. This happened only months after that deadly sugar dust explosion near Savannah. It's enough to make some people run out this weekend, and buy several cans of Pledge.

>> How did things go for us at Thursday's poker night? The answer's waiting at our new blog -- "On the Flop!" <<

BLOG UPDATE: Thursday's qualifying at the Muscogee County Election Board brought a couple of familiar names. Sheriff Ralph Johnson filed for re-election. So did Mayor Pro Tem Evelyn Turner Pugh - who has to be thankful her husband's race for State Senate will be over in mid-July, so she won't be torn about which campaign event to attend.

A second challenger emerged Thursday for Red McDaniel's Columbus Council seat, when Steve Miller filed for office. With a name like that, he could get lots of votes. But personally, I grew tired of his band playing "Fly Like an Eagle" when I was in college.

Muscogee County School Board member Patricia Hugley Green received opposition from realtor Mary Walker. There's already a James Walker on the board, who's running for another term. Put two Walkers on the same board in Columbus, and most people automatically will assume they're as married as the Hugleys.

E-MAIL UPDATE: Our mention of Columbus gas prices Thursday brought a note from the suburbs....

Mr. Burkard,

Just so you know, the Castle station just south of Smiths Station always has fuel priced a few cents lower than places in Columbus. And it is not an Ethanol mix. Two other places in the area with prices that beat Columbus are the station on the Phenix bypass (just south of Arbys) and the Castle Fuels at the intersection of US 431 and hwy 165, just south of CVCC.

And,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I love your Blog. D. Whitley

Phenix City

Thank you, D. -- and I've found gas stations across Lee County have beaten Columbus's lowest price in recent months. I guess the oil companies are running scared, from that little school in Salem with algae fuel.

Now for other Thursday short subjects....

+ The Ledger-Enquirer reported there's a new bronze cougar on the Columbus State University campus. But the artwork was a bit disappointing - because the cougar's face doesn't look like outgoing President Frank Brown at all.

(The cougar outside the Lumpkin Center cost Columbus State $13,000. But remember, you college pranksters - it's bronze, not gold. You can't haul it down the street to that jewelry shop and hock it for extra money.)

+ Friedman's Jewelers at Peachtree Mall went out of business. That's a shame for shoppers - because now there's one less place at the mall to trade in your gold, to buy a nice suit at Dillard's.

+ Hurtsboro Constable Robert Schweiger appeared on the noon news, promoting a weekend horse show at Austin-Sumbry Park in Russell County. He's so involved with horses that it doesn't seem right to call him a lame duck.

+ WLTZ continued a week-long focus on Eufaula, which happens to be sponsored by "Eufaula, Alabama." I guess this explains why Wednesday evening's lead news story was the Shorter Mansion -- which is only 124 years old.

+ WRBL announced morning news anchor Tammy Terry had a baby boy. Congratulations to both of them -- and it's comforting to know the baby will match his mother's schedule, by waking up in the middle of the night.

+ Instant Message to North Korea: OK, I guess I'll follow the President's example. In one of this blog's first entries in 2003, I declared war on you. You've made no effort to ban me, or fire missiles toward Columbus. So let's call it a temporary cease-fire.

To offer a story tip, make a PayPal donation, advertise to our readers or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 830 (- 36, 4.2%)

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.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.

26 JUN 08: CUT 'EM UP AND MOVE 'EM OUT

You may not know this, but a sneaky little secret is scattered throughout the Columbus Historic District. Not all the homes have been on those spots more than 100 years. Plenty of sunny 95-degree summer days simply have worn them down, to look that way.

An old house from the 1850's was moved into the Historic District Wednesday. Well, half of it was - because I found only part of it sitting on a lot in the 600 block of Broadway Wednesday night. Maybe the other half was used by a contestant in the Miss Georgia pageant, for a dramatic reading.

A woman with the Historic Columbus Foundation told WLTZ the house had to be cut in two, because it was too wide to move in one piece. And you thought obesity was only a modern-day problem....

The news report didn't explain how the old house was cut in two. Did some experts have to make an evaluation, as gem experts do with a diamond? Or was this home used as practice for this weekend's Aflac Summer Games?

The roof of the house needed to be removed as well, so it could pass under traffic lights on its way to Broadway. You know, solar panels could be put on this home to make it energy-efficient - but the Historic Columbus Foundation has a lot more clout around here than the Sierra Club.

This large old house was moved to 625 Broadway from 1055 Brown Avenue. It sat vacant for the last five years -- mainly because the Habitat for Humanity houses nearby were much more affordable.

It happens that the house's new location on Broadway also has been vacant for years. We noted here four years ago that an apartment building on that lot was bulldozed, only weeks before Riverfest [26 Feb 04]. And I've never seen any Columbus State University art students use it for touch football games.

Apparently Aflac was involved in the movement of this house from Brown Avenue to Broadway. I'm not sure why it's involved - especially when Elena Amos's old home atop the parking garage remains more noticeable.

The TV report noted this makes about 30 old houses in the Historic District which have been moved there, thanks to the Historic Columbus Foundation. Yet something seems missing in all this. Couldn't one of the shut-down Krystal restaurants be brought in, so residents have a place to eat dinner?

The Historic Columbus Foundation hopes to find a buyer for the new/old house on Broadway. Of course, that will have to take place after the two parts are put back together - or is this a new approach to the concept of a down payment?

(And how do you put a "house divided" like this back together? Will there be an open-air or glass-covered courtyard between the sections? Or does Home Depot some kind of industrial-strength Krazy Glue for a project like this?)

Whomever buys this house in the 600 block of Broadway should have no problem finalizing the details of it. The lot happens to be located between two law offices.... [true!]

Wednesday was a different sort of moving day for some people in Phenix City. They moved from the old brick Frederick Douglass Apartments to new housing - apartments with modern-looking siding and cable TV hookups. Hopefully residents are being told which channel shows reruns of "The Jeffersons," since they feel like they're "movin' on up, on the east side."

BLOG UPDATE: Someone's plea in the comments section of our current Big Blog Question was answered Wednesday. A challenger filed for Gary Allen's Columbus Council seat. There's no word yet on whether the challenger is a disgruntled firefighter....

Clint Perkins entered the race for Gary Allen's District 6 Columbus Council seat. The phone book shows someone with that name at a Midland address - but when we dialed it Wednesday night, we heard a "disconnected" message. Being disconnected with the voters never works at election time.

With two days left in qualifying week, several big names apparently have yet to file their papers. Sheriff Ralph Johnson hasn't. Councilor Glenn Davis hasn't. And independent state House candidate Zephaniah Baker may be waiting for a shuttle bus, to take him to the state Capitol in Atlanta.

Now let's see what else caught our eye Wednesday....

+ Which member of the WRBL news team lined up in the left-turn lane at Ninth and Veterans Parkway - then went straight ahead when the light turned green, instead of turning? You were "on my side," and then you cut me off.

+ Gas prices continued a slow decline in Columbus, with two stations near the Civic Center falling to $3.89 a gallon for regular unleaded. To the guerrilla groups in Nigeria, I beg you - quit destroying those oil pipelines, and go back to sending e-mail scams.

+ Muscogee County Assistant Superintendent Robin Pennock gave a farewell interview to WRBL. She said the school district reflects the community, because it has "high standards." There, you see - the new administration building HAS to cost as much as it does.

+ Uh-oh - my choice for Miss Georgia failed to win on the opening night of preliminaries. One winner was Miss Cobb County, who has a health condition called scoliosis. And even more impressively, she's probably one of the few contestants who can spell that word.

+ WWCG TV-11 spent a second day showing nothing but infomercials, instead of its usual classic movies and old cartoons. And here's the most curious thing -- Jessica Simpson's Proactiv Solutions ad still looks like it's about ten years old.

+ Macon radio station WMAC suspended morning host Shayne McBride, after he was arrested for possessing marijuana. The audio knobs on a radio console are called "pots," but I don't think he needed to be reminded of that after hours.

+ The University of Georgia announced its "Research Foundation" will buy a commercial TV station in Toccoa. I can remember when that station had prayer times on Saturday evenings. Now that may be replaced by Georgia fans praying for sports victories.

+ Fresno State stunned Georgia 6-1, to win baseball's College World Series. Oh well - at least Georgia won national titles this spring in men's tennis and women's gymnastics. Maybe next spring, the local sportscasts actually will give them as much attention.

+ Instant Message to the crew building the Riverchase Drive exit off U.S. 80 in Phenix City: Wow - you're getting finished six months early?! Can you head down to Broad Street, and show those workers how it's done?

COMING SOON: How I spent my stimulus check in one fell swoop.... and one of the strangest greeting cards we've ever received....

To offer a story tip, make a PayPal donation, advertise to our readers or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 866 (+31, 3.7%)

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.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.

25 JUN 08: PRE-K HALFWAY

The Georgia Lottery held a celebration in downtown Atlanta Tuesday, to mark its 15^th anniversary. So why didn't it give the gamblers a gift - and have the number 15 come out during Mega Millions?

For those who may not know, the Georgia Lottery was the idea of Zell Miller. He ran for Governor on the promise of a lottery - and not only was he elected, the lottery was approved in a referendum. This is one of the few issues where Miller has NOT publicly changed his mind in this decade.

Zell Miller promised money from the state lottery would be set aside for education - and Georgia lawmakers have not tampered with that promise. The lottery web site boasts about $9.9 billion has been collected for pre-Kindergarten programs and HOPE college scholarships. And you've noticed the two national sports titles Georgia has won so far this spring, right?

Yet all that boasting made another news item from Atlanta Tuesday quite surprising. The Southern Education Foundation reported pre-Kindergarten programs are NOT available for about 45 percent of Georgia's four-year-olds. But don't feel sorry for those poor youngsters - they're giving "GPB Kids" an audience during the day.

How can this be - that 45 percent of Georgia's four-year-olds are NOT enrolled? Why, this seems to show pre-K is not O-K....

The report indicates 63,000 Georgia youngsters have no access to pre-Kindergarten, and funding for the program has not increased much in recent years. I guess this means more money is going to HOPE scholarships. At least, I hope it's for HOPE - and not for staff salaries.

Muscogee County's pre-K enrollment apparently is lacking as well. Spokesperson Valerie Fuller told WXTX "News at Ten" the school district hopes to add extra classes soon at three grade schools. Maybe it's in a bidding war for teachers, who also want to be Phenix City swimming pool lifeguards.

I checked the Muscogee County School District web site Tuesday night, and found several grade schools have no pre-Kindergarten classes at all. Britt David doesn't. Edgewood doesn't. And amazingly, Martin Luther King School doesn't - although the old 30^th Avenue Elementary is listed with three. So which part of that school kept the old name?

The development of pre-Kindergarten classes may have put some Georgia parents in an ethical dilemma. If you oppose a lottery for religious reasons, do you enroll your child in pre-K for the promised educational benefits? Or do you decide things already are hopeless, and start home-schooling at age three?

I know one church-going Muscogee County mom who had no qualms about enrolling her children in pre-K. She said something to the effect that other people provided the money for it. I'm not sure that logic would work if gang leaders provided the money....

But don't look at me - I haven't provided one dollar in 15 years for the Georgia Lottery. It's my longstanding policy NOT to gamble. Welllll -- except when the casino cancels the poker tournament, and you feel like you wasted gasoline for two trips.

In fact, I made it a point in the mid-nineties to avoid any gas stations with lottery games. That approach became almost impossible - but hold on. Come to think of it, there's still one station in Columbus which doesn't sell those tickets. The Dolly Madison thrift store is loaded with Twinkies instead.

As it happened, summer exams ended Tuesday for some Muscogee County students. They had to take remedial courses and a second round of tests, after scoring poorly on them in the spring. Which means those students were in-CRCT....

Many Georgia students still struggle with test scores, and the high school dropout rate remains among the highest in the country. So can we really say the "education lottery" has succeeded after 15 years? Many parents probably would answer yes - because they're now off the hook for their children's college tuition.

>> Our poker adventures now have a blog of their own. Visit the all-new "On the Flop!" <<

BLOG UPDATE: The Muscogee County Election Board tells us no one filed campaign qualifying papers Tuesday. We were not told which staff member succeeded in "Plan B," and won the office card game.

But there was action in Atlanta, as Columbus attorney Gil McBride filed papers to run for the Superior Court Judge position Kenneth Followill is vacating. That means McBride will face Alonza Whitaker in November - and it appears this race is too close to call. That's because neither attorney has a big ad in the Yellow Pages.

Now let's talk about other Tuesday topics....

+ The Russell County School Board approved four-day work weeks for all employees during July. If we aren't careful, this trend is going to become habit-forming - and we'll need to come up with about 40 new national holidays to mark on Mondays.

+ A comparison on the evening news found Piggly Wiggly had the lowest average grocery prices in Columbus, with Wal-Mart second. Piggly Wiggly is probably the most entertaining place to shop as well - because Bear O'Brien makes customers sound silly when he gives away prizes over the store radio.

(This comparison confirmed what I'd already concluded from years of grocery shopping. But my secret spot for even better "store-brand" prices is Target. If PetSmart would kindly move to Midland, so we can have a full-fledged supermarket....)

+ The longstanding sign for WPNX radio on Wynnton Road finally came down, replaced by one for WBOJ-FM "103.7 the Truth." Clear Channel moved away from that location several years ago, and dropped those call letters for 1460 AM years ago as well. It must be easier to change music formats than large signs.

+ Alabama Governor Bob Riley showed off the state's new postage stamp. He declared the flag on the stamp the "most beautiful flag" of any state, because it symbolizes what many Alabamians stand for. Sure it does - a big red X against lotteries, Northerners, and in some places honest elections.

(Oh wait - Governor Riley called it a "Saint Andrew's cross" on that flag. And Saint Andrew supposedly was killed by crucifixion. Boy, I hope the Alabama Ku Klux Klan doesn't hear about this....)

+ University of Alabama linebacker Jimmy Johns was arrested in Tuscaloosa on charges of selling cocaine. He's been suspended from the school, kicked off the football team - and I'm not sure even Erin Andrews of ESPN will want to interview him about it.

+ Fresno State pulled even with Georgia in the College World Series, winning 19-10. This was a bit embarrassing - since Fresno State scored nine more points than Hawaii did in the Sugar Bowl.

To offer a story tip, make a PayPal donation, advertise to our readers or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 835 (+ 22, 2.7%)

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.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.

for 24 JUN 08: JIM AND SILENT BOB

It's a rare day when a politician refuses to comment on an issue - and even rarer when a former politician refuses to do it. After all, the former official is less likely to be sued for not fulfilling a promise....

BLOG EXCLUSIVE: "I will not answer that. I will not answer that." Those were the stunning words of former Columbus mayor Bob Poydasheff Monday, when your blog asked if he supports the one-percent city sales tax question. It's not like we asked him to pick the winner of the Miss Georgia pageant.

It seemed like a simple, almost softball question - does the former mayor back the LOST question? Yet Bob Poydasheff's decision not to answer that question actually raises more. For instance, is he practicing neutrality for an upcoming vacation in Switzerland?

Bob Poydasheff explained his silence by saying it's his policy NOT to comment on the actions of a sitting mayor. Well, OK - but I thought the entire Columbus Council approved the LOST issue. Maybe I should have asked if he agrees with Mimi Woodson's statements about it.

If this question had been put to Bob Poydasheff's predecessor in the mayor's office, the answer would have quite different. Bobby Peters endorsed a proposal along the lines of the 2004 LOST question -- and Peters went on to win a testy race for Superior Court Judge. But then again, I guess we expect Judge Peters to be unbiased and neutral now....

Could memories of the November 2004 LOST issue explain why Bob Poydasheff is so quiet now? That 60-percent vote against that one-percent sales tax happened while Poydasheff was mayor, and surprised a lot of people. Perhaps he's a student of history - and knows how it can repeat itself.

On the other hand, maybe Bob Poydasheff is laying low on purpose. Mayor Jim Wetherington could be waiting for a dramatic moment to bring him out of hiding, for a statement of endorsement. If it worked for Barack Obama during the Presidential primaries....

As for the people actually speaking out about the LOST, "Yes for Public Safety" put its first commercial on TV Monday. It's a ten-second appeal from Mayor Jim Wetherington - but the camera was so shaky, you have to wonder if a little of the sales tax money can be used to buy a tripod.

The "Yes for Public Safety" web site is now fully loaded. One page answers a puzzle we mentioned here Monday - explaining Georgia law exempts hotels, motels and car dealers from local option sales taxes. So if the LOST passes, busloads of people could come here from Macon to shop at the Jay Auto Mall.

While the "Yes for Public Safety" billboards feature a police officer and a firefighter, the web site is dominated by pictures of Mayor Jim Wetherington. His political reputation certainly is on the line three weeks from today - but can you really become a lame-duck mayor, in the second year of a four-year term?

The opponents of the LOST expressed their view on WRBL Monday afternoon -- but Paul Olson had so much to say, Phil Scoggins couldn't even ask him a second question. And then Olson considers politicians fast talkers?!

If I understood Paul Olson correctly, he said two local sales tax should be allowed to expire this year -- and the effect would be a $72 million "economic stimulus" for Columbus. As if all those additional pennies are going to fill our piggy banks next January....

Paul Olson also warned part of the street improvements under the one-percent sales tax question will remove rail lines downtown. Olson says we'll need those rail lines "if we have a depression." Yeow - we're not even officially in a recession yet, and Olson sounds like he's rooting for $200 oil.

E-MAIL UPDATE: We actually called Bob Poydasheff Monday about a completely different topic - one brought up by a blog reader:

Richard, In yesterday's blog [20 Jun] you mentioned "keys to the city" which reminded me of something I overheard at the Grand Opening of the new USO last Saturday at the Suburban Extended Stay Hotel on Victory Drive.

I happened to overhear former Columbus Mayor Bob Poydasheff tell someone that he had recently given a "key to the city" to the Atlanta developer of the hotel because he thought he deserved one. My question is : Does a former mayor have the authority to continue giving keys to the city of Columbus? By the way the current mayor was not in attendance at the ceremony. Do you know if Mayor Wetherington was invited, did he decline an invitation or did he have another commitment? Eavesdropper

Bob Poydasheff says yes, he can do what he did. He told me there's no "specific protocol" on keys to the city, and he took several keys with his name on them when he left the mayor's office. Uh-oh - I hope this doesn't lead to a police raid across Second Avenue, toward his law office.

Bob Poydasheff says the key to the city for the developer of the Victory Drive hotel was the first he's awarded since leaving office. So at least he's handling these keys responsibly. Former Marshal Ken Suddeth seemed to spread honorary badges from coast to coast.

Bob Poydasheff says that key to the city was awarded at the opening of the USO office on Victory Drive 14 June. A woman in Jim Wetherington's office told us Monday that opening was NOT on the mayor's schedule. So we don't know if he was invited, or if the invitation got lost amid all those federal stimulus checks.

We broke a very different story about Bob Poydasheff last year, when he was hospitalized for a broken hip [14 Aug 07]. Poydasheff assured me Monday he's much better now, and is walking around without a cane. What he's using instead to prevent downtown carjackers, he didn't say.

>> Our poker adventures now have a blog of their own. Visit the all-new "On the Flop!" <<

BLOG UPDATE: To bring this all full-circle, one of Bob Poydasheff's opponents in the 2006 mayoral race is running for office again. LOST opponent Bert Coker filed qualifying papers for Columbus Council Monday. So he won't be a write-in candidate this time, as he was in 2006 - and supporters won't have to worry about that "e or u" question.

Bert "Cowboy" Coker isn't settling for one of the smaller districts in Columbus. He filed for District 10 - the citywide at-large seat held by Skip Henderson. So it's Skip and Bert, eh? They sound like they could be executive chefs at Waffle House.

Bert Coker wasn't the only outsider to file documents for Columbus Council Monday. David Yarbrough will challenge Red McDaniel in District 8, on a platform of revitalizing midtown. If that's his goal, Yarbrough needs a nickname like "Greenspace."

Another interesting filing moment occurred when Norene Marvets qualified for the school board seat Joseph Roberson is giving up. Marvets's husband filed the papers in her behalf, because she was starting a three-week road trip to Utah. This will have to change if Marvets is elected - because only the school superintendent takes odd-looking vacations like that.

Norene Marvets has gained the backing of former school board member Owen Ditchfield. This must mean Ditchfield will not try to regain the seat he lost four years ago - and he can stick to the Fort Benning schools where he's worked for years.

A news release promoting Norene Marvets notes she serves on the school district's "Sex Education Advisory Committee." She also teaches "religious education" each morning to high school students -- which indicates she takes the idea of penance seriously.

Enough politics already - let's see if anything else made news Monday:

+ Phenix City Mayor Jeff Hardin admitted the "streetscape" project on Broad Street is $600,000 over budget, and will NOT be finished as planned by the end of September. This cannot be what Hardin had in mind - to have that construction work staring at drivers, as they head to the city election in August.

+ Muscogee County Schools Transportation Director Russell Curry warned high fuel prices may mean fewer "fan buses" going to events next term. Car pooling worked when I was in high school -- and sometimes the mothers even drove our debate team to tournaments.

+ The Atlanta Journal-Constitution rated the highest-paid executives in Georgia. Aflac's Dan Amos placed fifth this year - so the shareholders hopefully won't mind another vote on compensation next spring.

+ WLTZ reported the Columbus Catfish have rescheduled the rained-out "Bark in the Park Night" for 12 July. If rain falls then, I suppose the team could have Three Dog Nights....

+ Georgia edged Fresno State 7-6 in the first game of the College World Series finals. Georgia is 4-0 in the tournament, and has only played four games in ten days. Wow - even the National Basketball Association settles four-game sweeps faster than this.

(BLOGGER'S NOTE: The jokes for today have concluded, but you're welcome to keep reading for thoughts about one more Monday news item.)

BUT SERIOUSLY: It was sad to hear Monday morning about the death of George Carlin. He had some funny jokes over the years - but if you wonder if he was an inspiration for this blog, I'd have to say no.

The reason involves the very things George Carlin will most be remembered for - the "seven dirty words" he dared to say during performances and in albums. To this day, I don't know what those seven words are. And I don't want to know them. I don't need dirty language to carry on a conversation, or even write a blog -- not even the "four-letter words" TV has permitted for decades.

Maybe I'm wrong about this, but we all seem to have personal boundary lines when it comes to the words we use. Only minutes before I learned about George Carlin's death, I heard Dr. Laura Schlessinger on WDAK prod at a caller for referring to "the birds and the bees." "Can you say sex?" she asked -- proving even some conservatives have their own version of politically correct speech.

George Carlin openly admitted he felt it was his duty as a comedian to find those boundary lines, and go through them. In doing that, he pointed out a basic difference between liberal and conservative views about life. The former want to test and break through barriers. The latter want to build up and protect them.

As George Carlin admitted in a comedy bit I heard Monday on NPR, there are millions of clean words in English you can say - but seven you supposedly can't. Yet some people are not satisfied with the millions, including some they've probably never even tried to use. It's like the classmates of mine in school, who said they took other languages merely to learn the "swear words."

From time to time we've posted above our title a quote from Groucho Marx: "If you have to be dirty to be a comedian, you're not a comedian." George Carlin could be funny without being dirty -- but many times, he chose to be dirty anyway. And in doing so, he inspired more than the Chris Rock style of comedy. I fear he also inspired dirty-talking "radio stars" such as Howard Stern and the Greaseman.

I write this as someone who grew up hearing "blue language" on a regular basis from one parent, and occasionally from the other. I resolved in my youth NOT to use words like that, and I still don't today. Call me old-fashioned and out of touch if you wish -- but consider George Carlin's legacy as you do. Do YOU want to be remembered for generations to come by the dirty words you said?

Part of today's entry was the result of a blog reader's tip. To offer a story tip, make a PayPal donation, advertise to our readers or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 813 (+ 27, 3.4%)

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.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.

23 JUN 08: BRING ON THE BEAUTIES

OK, I guess I'm not supposed to call them that. But a procession of contestants begins parading downtown today -- people with definite stands on issues, looking for strong showings of support and affection. And across First Avenue from the Election Board office, the Miss Georgia preliminaries will start as well.

This is qualifying week for nonpartisan candidates in this year's Georgia elections. This includes the independents, as well as the people running for Columbus Council. And we all know the council candidates are independent - as long as you ignore the attorneys and business owners donating them money.

A couple of people already have announced they're running as independents. Sheriff Ralph Johnson has done that ever since taking office -- so for him, Independents' Day comes even earlier than the party at Fort Benning.

The other announced independent in Columbus is Zephaniah Baker. The son of Pastor and civil rights activist Wayne Baker is challenging state Representative Calvin Smyre. But by running as an independent, he risks being considered strange by some voters - perhaps even half-baked.

Some people have accused Zephaniah Baker of acting more like a Republican than an independent, seeking G.O.P. supporters in his campaign. I think Muscogee County Republican Chair Josh McKoon even showed up at Baker's kickoff announcement. But then again, Calvin Smyre is a Democrat -- so McKoon is content with an A.B.C. approach: Anybody But Calvin.

Five Columbus Council seats are at stake, as well as four seats on the Muscogee County School Board. This year it's the even-numbered Council districts and the odd-numbered school board districts. Whether you consider the councilors evenhanded and the board members odd is up to you.

Two school board members already have announced they're NOT seeking another term -- Joseph Roberson and Fife Whiteside. You have to admit, campaign signs with the phrase "Fife for Six" wouldn't be as catchy as four years ago....

The Columbus Council race already has seen one candidate announce he would NOT run -- only to take it back, then take it back again. Don't be surprised if Red McDaniel goes to Jeremy Hobbs's home this week and asks: "Is that your final answer?"

Remember the groundswell around town two years ago for change in Columbus Council -- including letters to this blog? I haven't heard much of that this time around. Maybe it's because the people who wanted more attention paid to public safety got their wish - and some of them now have been reprimanded, or worse.

So we'll see who files papers to run for.... what? What's that you're asking? You want me to mention those other contestants, across First Avenue? You say they're more interesting? Well, I'm not so sure about that. If someone has a picture of Mayor Pro Tem Evelyn Turner Pugh in a swimsuit, we could do a comparison....

This year's Miss Georgia pageant has 38 contestants from across the state. Well, I think they're all from across Georgia - but then I checked the list, and there's a "Miss Music City." I didn't realize the state legislature wanted to move the Tennessee boundary that far north.

It's become a custom for this blog to predict a winner of the Miss Georgia pageant. Sometimes we come very close, while sometimes we're way off. And sadly, the women we pick never contact us to say thanks - so we could invite them to a one-on-one dinner.

It's challenging to pick the winner of Miss Georgia, because all the pageant's web site gives you for guidance is pictures of the contestants. We don't know their "platform" issues of concern. And we don't even know if they plan to wear platform shoes, with their evening gowns.

BIG PREDICTION: This is a close call, but I'll pick Miss Augusta (Laura Stone) to win the Miss Georgia pageant. Miss Rome is second on my scorecard, followed by Miss Elliottia - and she might have placed higher, if "Elliottia" was easier to pronounce.

>> Our poker adventures now have a blog of their own. Visit the all-new "On the Flop!" <<

THE BIG BLOG QUESTION changed Sunday evening -- and our non-scientific poll found 59 percent of our voters oppose the one-percent city sales tax question (7-10). Maybe if some money had been promised for scientific programs....

Our result is similar to a survey WRBL did on its web site this past week. It also found a majority of online voters are against the LOST question. So supporters may need to get those commercials out quickly - and of course, avoid any mention of the yes vote being a "LOST cause."

The only person to leave a comment on our poll raised a series of objections, including one which we didn't quite understand. It implied the sales tax question would give one Columbus Councilor "outrageous tax breaks." What does Mayor Wetherington need to do - pick the spots for new fire stations, by throwing darts at a city map?

The commenter even suggested a recall drive might begin against Mayor Jim Wetherington, because a law officer used swear words toward opponents of the sales tax question. I'm still waiting to see the threatened recall petitions against a couple of Muscogee County School Board members - for simply doing their duty, and casting votes.

The comment went on to declare the Government Center a "new police state." I'm not sure Mayor Wetherington is to blame for that. My calendar shows the September 11 attacks occurred five years before he took office.

Our new B.B.Q. deals with an issue currently before Columbus Council, which an e-mail last week brought up. Should there be limits on how often citizens can speak before Columbus Council? And what about those of us who have never spoken there - can we have "rollover minutes," to talk as long as we wish?

E-MAIL UPDATE: Our Sunday topic brought a message from that local baseball blogger....

Thanks for the link. I do appreciate it.



Regarding the building of a stadium, I'm not opposed to it. Heck, living west of the Chattahoochee means I wouldn't have to pay for it. Except if they charge to park there.



But about the stadium, I don't think it would solve the problem.



Don't get me wrong, I think Golden Park will not draw a new team. Heck, it didn't draw the Catfish (nee Waves); they could have easily ended up in Macon -- where they would have drawn better. But the SAL liked Columbus for its history (an original member of the Southern League).



Anyway, Golden Park has outlived its usefulness. But if the city built a new park, I'm of the opinion that, following an initial surge of "newness," it wouldn't draw any more folks than Golden Park.



My reasoning: if someone wanted to go to a baseball game in Columbus, they'd go.



That's not to say that the city wouldn't get use of it. They could bid to host various baseball venues, such as state tournaments, college conference tournaments or championships, regionals, or championships (other than Division I, in Omaha for 25 years more).



So, while I'm not opposed to a new stadium -- I'd actually enjoy it, I think -- I do not think it will solve the problem. The current stadium isn't the problem, it's an excuse. The problem is that people don't care enough about baseball to support a team.



Anyway, thanks for putting up with this. And,yes, "How 'bout them Dawgs!"



Basil

Wow - people in Columbus "don't care enough about baseball"?!? I don't think Basil should wear a name tag around the upcoming Little League All-Star tournaments.

By the way, the Columbus Catfish couldn't play Sunday against Charleston. Saturday's suspended game and the scheduled evening game both were rained out. At least you can't blame it on masses of upset fans crying on the field.

One other e-mail must be held, until we do some research. So let's do a quick check of other Sunday news:

+ Who sprayed blue graffiti on one of the doors of the old Baker Middle School? It wasn't done quite right - because buildings scheduled for demolition are supposed to have a "D" on them.

+ Several Marion County residents told the evening news they oppose a planned military training center along the Fort Benning boundary. The residents fear the center will be too noisy. If only more tanks came equipped with silencers....

+ WRBL noted Phenix City's public swimming pools still haven't opened for the summer, because of a lack of lifeguards. Don't you pity the children there? The only place where they can have "horseplay" is around horses.

+ Instant Message to Morgan Tsvangirai: Let me get this straight. You praise your political supporters in Zimbabwe for being courageous, in the midst of violence - then you pull out of the presidential runoff, five days before the vote? Whose seized farm have you been guaranteed to take over?

To offer a story tip, make a PayPal donation, advertise to our readers or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 786 (- 43, 5.2%)

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.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.

22 JUN 08: NO GOLDEN POND

Saturday night's Columbus Catfish game was suspended by rain, and will be completed this afternoon. Several fans brought their dogs to "Bark in the Park" night - and at least the dogs wound up with free water.

After months of speculation, it's now official - the Catfish will leave Columbus at the end of this season. The owner is moving the team to Bowling Green, Kentucky. Shouldn't a city with this name be required to get a Pro Bowlers Tour event first?

A nice new $25 million stadium is being built in Bowling Green, Kentucky for the Catfish. In fact, an online "name the team" contest already is underway. Aren't the "Kentucky Catfish" good enough for this area? Or are they looking for something along the lines of chicken?

Some of us suspected months ago that the Columbus Catfish were about to leave town. For instance, a camper-trailer has been parked outside Golden Park on the third-base side since April. [true] I have no idea who parked it there. But now I'm watching to see when the U-Haul truck will be parked next to it.

But some fans were stunned to hear the news about the Catfish moving away. One of them said on TV the other night, "Columbus is baseball!" Well, of course it is -- only Little League, high school and college games attract much bigger crowds.

City Manager Isaiah Hugley assured WRBL a number of minor league teams already have expressed interest in moving to Columbus, and replacing the Catfish. He apparently did NOT say which ones. If any of them are currently in the Pacific Coast League, I'd be very skeptical.

Columbus's biggest baseball blogger "Basil" notes a new minor league plans to start play next year - the Atlantic Coast League. But I'm not sure we want to be involved with that. I've heard of too many athletes developing A.C.L. problems....

. Attendance has been the biggest problem for Columbus minor league baseball in recent years. Friday night's game with fireworks attracted 1,630 fans. But "Thirsty Thursday" with one-dollar beer only brought out 1,097 -- and since I was at poker night across the street, I can tell you the tables were NOT that crowded.

We noted last September that the turnout at Golden Park was lousy, even as the Columbus Catfish raced to a South Atlantic League championship. The ballpark has an 82-year history. But when it doesn't have the fan support of Fenway Park or Wrigley Field, it may stop being "historic" - and simply become old.

I'll dare to ask it: should Columbus do what Bowling Green is doing? Is it time to build a new baseball stadium -- on the north side of town, in the J.R. Allen Parkway area? That may be where the fans are, around Northern Little League and Shaw High School. For many of them, South Commons has become downright uncommon.

A good place for a new baseball stadium could be around one of the big retail developments. My home town of Kansas City, Kansas has developed a popular minor league team in recent years, in an area with all kinds of shopping and restaurants. But then again, it has something else Columbus lacks - a big NASCAR track.

Of course, Columbus city officials might not want to bring up this idea right now. They're having enough trouble persuading voters to back the one-percent sales tax question. If the people are reluctant to approve safe streets, a place for baseball players to be safe at home could be impossible....

Speaking of baseball, how about those Bulldogs! Georgia advanced to the College World Series finals Saturday, by stopping Stanford 10-8. It could be an all-Bulldog final series, should Fresno State beat North Carolina today -- although part of me suspects Fresno's dogs only nibble on California lettuce and raisins.

>> Our poker adventures now have a blog of their own. Visit the all-new "On the Flop!" <<

BLOG UPDATE: So whatever happened to Hurtsboro? A public hearing on revoking the city's charter was supposed to take place Monday - but now it's been delayed until 21 July. In Hollywood, they call this sort of thing a "slow dissolve."

The supporters of eliminating Hurtsboro announced the delay at a Friday news conference. That group has hired Tommy Worthy as its attorney - so apparently members consider him more Worthy than the city's current mayor.

The Friday event may have marked Robert Schweiger's first public appearance since losing the primary election for Russell County Commissioner. The lame-duck constable actually told WRBL things in Hurtsboro "are getting better." Why do I suspect the election made his e-mails to us stop in recent months - not the good news?

Skeptics might say Robert Schweiger dreamed of a back-door coup -- trying to get the city government of Hurtsboro dissolved, so he could then oversee it as county commissioner. But it now appears he'll be without an office come January. And he still hasn't endorsed anyone in the Democratic runoff, in hopes of getting a paving contract or two.

Some people in Hurtsboro say dissolving the town is NOT the answer to its problems. Gregory Smith told the evening news the local citizens must resolve Hurtsboro's issues, not Russell County. Trouble is, the citizens elected to resolve those problems have been busy working out of town....

Let's see what else has come to mind this weekend....

+ Saturday's high temperature in Columbus was 90 degrees F. So in the evening, I turned on my air conditioner for the first time in four days. If you want Cape Cod weather in June all the time, you'll simply have to move there.

+ Thunderstorms knocked down limbs in parts of Russell County. But on Friday afternoon with a sunny sky, a sudden swirl of wind ripped part of the roof off a Fort Mitchell house. OK, which smart aleck drove by with the Oreck vacuum cleaner?

+ Columbus Police reported a drunk driver crashed his car through a door of the Warm Springs Road fire station. At least EMS technicians were on duty, to make sure the cause wasn't diabetes.

+ NorthStar Community Church went to a Phenix City Chevron station, and pumped gas for two hours at 25 cents off the usual price. Church members can expect a series of messages on stewardship in a few weeks....

(Cascade Hills Pastor Bill Purvis tells stories of how he used to drive down Interstate 185 late at night with filled gas cans. He's stop at a car along the roadside, offer free fuel -- then try to convert the driver. And this was the era before that sort of "conversion" meant buying a hybrid car.)

+ The Space Science Center on Front Avenue marked its 12^th anniversary, with a visit by former astronaut Story Musgrave. He was the first astronaut to drink Coca-Cola in space - which finally explains why the center doesn't have Tang anywhere in its name.

+ Davis Broadcasting held its annual "Family Day in the Park" at Cooper Creek Park. Police say there were hardly any incidents this year - which could mean several more Peachtree Mall shops are about to close.

+ A tree company showed up at Toomer's Corner at Auburn to do work on the oak trees. A horticulture expert explained the trees have been "under stress" in recent years - which means they have something in common with Auburn's new baseball coach.

(So what are Auburn University students supposed to do, to protect the trees at Toomer's Corner? Will they be limited to single-ply toilet paper this fall?)

+ Instant Message to Wane Hailes: What's this rant about in your latest issue of The Courier - expressing frustration with people not showing up to work on time for the "Brother Man?" Does this have anything to do with the fact that Kirsten Barnes has disappeared from the Editor's title?

BURKARD'S BEST BETS: Gas for $3.90 a gallon at Dolly Madison on Victory Drive.... the blueberry pancakes at Ryan's weekend breakfast buffet.... and loitering enforcement increasing around the RiverCenter, as Miss Georgia week begins....

To offer a story tip, make a PayPal donation, advertise to our readers or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 829 (- 79, 8.7%)

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.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.

20 JUN 08: THE BIG 4-0

No, we're not talking about my age today. But part of me wishes I was. At the place where I'm attending church these days, the options for dating would be much more interesting....

The 40 which gained my interest Thursday came from a health screening team downtown. The workers told me I now officially have a 40-inch waist. Oh dear - that means several pairs of shorts and slacks have NOT shrunk in the wash after all.

The big discovery came when I stopped by the "Take Care" health bus parked next to the Columbus Urban League office. Before you get wrong ideas about this event - no, Reginald Pugh did NOT stand outside the bus holding State Senate campaign flyers.

The Take Care mobile clinic is a partnership between Walgreens and the National Urban League. That's evident by the big Urban League logo at the back entrance to the bus, where you sit to wait for testing. Come to think of it, people at the back of that bus are NOT made to feel guilty by watching old films of Rosa Parks.

Even though I arrived around 12:00 noon, I didn't have to wait long for the free health screenings. This surprised me a bit - because I figured the lunch-hour crowd at Minnie's Uptown Restaurant across the street would want to get checked before eating, for better results.

The first check involved a simple needle-prick of my finger, for a blood test. But the staff member admitted she had trouble getting the blood, because it was on the thick side. Some scientists don't believe the phrase, "Blood runs thicker than water" unless they see it personally.

The blood was taken to figure my glucose level -- and the good news was that it was on the low side. That means no risk of diabetes. It also means there was no sign of the chocolate chip cookies I nibbled before leaving home.

The next booth inside the Take Care bus measured my blood pressure. But it was done in a way I don't recall seeing before. The staff member stepped away, and the wrap around my arm inflated and deflated on its own. The inventors of air bag technology apparently needed some extra money.

My blood pressure is in the acceptable range, which means I don't have hypertension. But here again, timing was everything. If a beggar had stopped me outside the bus, demanding two dollars for lunch....

Then I was given a device to hold at an arm's length in front of my body. I think it was used to figure my "body mass index" - because no sets of letters ever came up for an eye exam, and I didn't notice any car thieves.

The last screening required me to roll down my left sock halfway, and stick my foot in a measuring device. I'm not sure what was the point of this - especially since no water squirted out for a foot-washing.

At the front of the bus came the printout of my results. My body mass index wound up in the "overweight" range. But much to my delight, my cholesterol level was 171 - below the danger line of 200. So please don't tell the staff, but I walked home and ate more chocolate chip cookies.

And believe it or not, my 40-inch waist was considered good in the eyes of the clinic staff. That's the top end of the "goal" circumference for men. Maybe so - but buying larger slacks and shorts will make my chest of drawers only more overstuffed.

I picked up a Walgreens gift bag at the end of the screening. Inside were coupons and samples for everything from vitamins to nicotine gum - and a bottle of "Boost Glucose Control" nutritional drink. It reminds me of the church elder who once handed out those drinks at a disaster site and asked himself, "What is Boost?!" But it makes more sense to me than calling a laundry detergent Cheer.

E-MAIL UPDATE: I stumbled upon the health screening bus, as I was walking to the Government Center to follow up a Blog Exclusive from February....

I am interested in the disposition of the case against Ron Harris. I can not find any information past March of this year. What has happened ?

Brian

We checked court records Thursday, and found nothing beyond 12 March. That's when the former Little League board member waived an arraignment, on charges of sexual exploitation of a child. If only he had merely waved at children in the first place....

In the last two days, we've phoned both the District Attorney's office and the lawyer for Ron Harris. Neither side has called us back. That could mean a legal settlement is in the works. Or it could mean both sides have slam-dunk cases, and they're afraid they might blurt out the name of a surprise witness.

THURSDAY NIGHT IS POKER NIGHT: Through everything from four 2's to a well-timed bluff, I hit a personal record high of 115,000 chips at Lil Kim's Cove. But my big lead evaporated and I finished out of the money in third place. Now I know how Rocco Mediate felt the other day....

(One bizarre hand at the final table found three different players making a full house -- and two of the three wound up being knocked out. The only other place to see that many full houses in the same place is to check out DVD's of the old TV comedy at the library.)

Now for other items of note, from a comfortable final full day of spring....

+ WRBL reported Columbus Council will NOT meet the next two weeks. Well, that's one way to shut up the chronic talkers - from the mayor on down.

+ Columbus Police reported a city garbage truck driver was arrested on marijuana charges. Thaddeus Scott allegedly was caught with two bags of pot in his pocket. Certainly the city can afford a better truck deodorizer than this.

(Police suspect Scott may have sold marijuana to prison inmates, who work on trash pickup crews. This may explain why other inmates do lawn mowing and landscaping work -- they have to learn "weed" is bad.)

+ WRBL reported 52 people were arrested in Columbus, as part of a nationwide criminal crackdown dubbed "Operation Falcon." With a name like this, Michael Vick's prison term cannot end soon enough.

+ The Ledger-Enquirer warned bogus e-mails are being spread around Columbus, claiming someone ran over a cougar at Fort Benning. If it had happened closer to Columbus State University, I might have believed it....

+ Columbus State University announced a donation of 60 new pianos to the Schwob School of Music. If my math is right, the foundation making this gift is in line to receive 5,280 keys to the city.

+ Troy Public Radio's "Community Focus" interviewed Auburn marathon runner Heather Walker. She competed at the Olympic trials in Boston in April, and was a bit fearful of running alongside Joan Benoit Samuelson. Walker says she didn't want to trip a marathon legend - even though that sort of thing made Zola Budd famous years ago.

+ Instant Message to Pastor Eddie Wren of Butler First Baptist Church: Did I hear you right - that every time "strong drink" is mentioned in the Bible, it's in negative terms? Then don't stop with the package liquor vote in July. Try to get caffeinated coffee banned, too.

To offer a story tip, make a PayPal donation, advertise to our readers or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 908 (+ 29, 3.3%)

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.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.

19 JUN 08: THE COLUMBUS GRAND PRIYA

"Are you trying to feed my habit?" the guest of honor asked someone across the table.

"Which one?" I asked in interruption.

"My margarita habit," the woman joked. And to think that she said this on a Wednesday night, when she was far from El Vaquero.

That exchange occurred during a farewell dinner for Priya Aujla. Wednesday marked her final evening on TV news in Columbus, as she's moving to North Carolina. This is called working your way up - at least up the east coast.

But the problem is that Priya Aujla will NOT be working right away. She hopes to be hired by a couple of TV stations in Charlotte - but for the moment, she's unemployed. And she doesn't exactly have the muscles to get a part-time job with a NASCAR pit crew.

Priya Aujla chose to move to Charlotte primarily for love. Her boyfriend lives there. And if a woman is going to become married, the "Queen City" is probably a fitting place....

It's not that unusual for TV reporters to move from Columbus to Charlotte. Tracy Flanagan did it in the late nineties, and Patty Pan did it a few years ago. They simply waved as they drove by the Atlanta TV stations - because they both wound up working at WAGA. [True!]

(In fact, one Charlotte station on Priya Aujla's wish list is the current home of longtime Columbus sportscaster Bruce Snyder. It would have been only fitting if his last words on leaving town were, "Seeeee yaaaaa!")

Priya Aujla hopes to ultimately be a TV reporter in Florida, since her family lives in the Orlando area. "I have to be near a beach," she said. Hopefully she's practiced one key position for any reporter there - leaning on one foot, as a tropical storm blows through.

Please correct me if I'm wrong - but is Priya Aujla the first "Indian-American" TV reporter in Columbus? Her name reflects a family background from India. Before you ask -- no, I've never asked if her parents run a motel.

One other note about Columbus television emerged from the Priya Aujla dinner. WRBL apparently is going back to part-time sports coverage, as Jack Rodgers is being dropped. Considering Rodgers also works at a local hospital, he's used to seeing surgical cuts like this....

I'm being told WRBL will only have sportscasts five days a week, on the days when Shawn Skillman is working. As for those other two days - well, isn't WLTZ's Jeremy Moss available on weekends?

This reduction will mean Columbus will have one TV station with a full sports staff, one with a one-person staff, and one with its reporter located in Iowa. If anyone asks you to explain the difference between NCAA Division I, II and III, point out this example.

BLOG UPDATE: Richard Hyatt's web site is filling in more details on the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, and its stand on the one-percent sales tax question. He says the alliance isn't exactly urging a yes vote on the question - but agreeing "not to oppose it." That's a noticeable difference. It's like a father "not opposing" his daughter's marriage to the dropout flipping burgers for a living.

Mayor Jim Wetherington reportedly promised the I.M.A. he'll create a citizen's committee, to offer advice on crime prevention. So don't be surprised if the number of street dances in Columbus suddenly jumps this fall.

Let's see what else made news on Wednesday....

+ The high temperature in Columbus was a downright comfortable 88 degrees F. With low humidity, it was a refreshingly nice day -- and when you can make it all day in June on one bottle of water, that's refreshing.

+ The evening news took a close look at Rivertown Ford's promise of "88 cents per gallon gas" if you buy a car. The deal only lasts until the end of the year, and the dealership pays you in cash for the gas. What a wonderful way to encourage one-tank local vacations....

+ WRBL reported the new U.S. 80 interchange for Phenix City's Hughston Hospital could be ready by late July. Those workers had better hurry - because we don't want that exit to open, and lead to a shut-down building.

+ WLTZ reported the Phenix City Streetscape project is being delayed by materials found in the ground under Broad Street. Construction crews say the "dirt is bad," and needs to be replaced by "good dirt." Those "Sin City" vices of the 1950's extended even deeper than I thought.

(You may recall work was stopped on a Phenix City industrial park last year, because its dirt was bad as well. Apparently there are some things that Miracle-Gro cannot improve.)

+ The annual Rod Hood Football Camp opened at Kinnett Stadium. It happens to have been moved because McClung Memorial Stadium's field has been torn up for resodding. Hmmmm - do you think someone will borrow from the new Yankee Stadium, and bury a Carver High School jersey at the 50-yard line?

+ The evening news reported the Columbus Sports Council is making a bid for the Southeast headquarters of Little League baseball. One requirement is that a host stadium have two acres of land available, for ESPN vehicles. How many Cadillacs do these major league players-turned-analysts drive?

+ Instant Message to Columbus Technical College: Wow - your first class of respiratory care students had a perfect graduation rate?! That's enough to make every member of the faculty breathe easier.

To offer a story tip, make a PayPal donation, advertise to our readers or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 879 (+ 16, 1.9%)

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.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.

18 JUN 08: BLUE PERSUASION

Wow - Mayor Jim Wetherington must be quite a salesman. He persuaded a Columbus civil rights group to change its mind Tuesday on a big issue. If Bill Madison of the NAACP had changed his mind, it would have been the most shocking development in Columbus since last year's tornado.

The Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance went to Columbus Council, and announced it was against the one-percent "streets and safety" sales tax. I'm not sure why the group opposed it. I haven't heard of any sheriff's deputies raiding church services with subpoenas in years.

But something changed by the end of the day. Mayor Jim Wetherington met with leaders of the I.M.A., and then it announced it now is FOR the sales tax. This is astounding, since ministers ought to know those Bible verses about wavering and being double-minded....

This is the same alliance which compared local law enforcement to the Taliban, after the shooting of Kenneth Walker five years ago. But now it's siding with a "law and order" mayor, in favor of a sales tax for public safety. In fact, this conversion happened so suddenly that you wonder if some people in the room started speaking in tongues.

Mayor Jim Wetherington reportedly convinced the I.M.A. to change its opinion, by promising some of the sales tax money will be used for crime prevention. But c'mon - was it really THAT easy? Or did the mayor show the ministers some old business cards, from his time as headmaster at Calvary Christian School?

Mayor Jim Wetherington may have faced an even tougher "sell job" Tuesday night, when he spoke to a meeting of Muscogee County Republicans. An early deadline prevents us from mentioning what happened there. But let's face it - Republicans support tax issues about as often as Auburn football fans find something nice to say about Nick Saban.

People on both sides of the sales tax question (and our current BIG BLOG QUESTION) announced plans to get organized Tuesday. Mayor Jim Wetherington will appear in TV commercials paid by the group "Yes for Public Safety." Hmmmm -- does this mean they're against that 30 percent for street improvements?

A "sneak preview" commercial shown on the evening news included a web site address. But when we checked it Tuesday night, a "coming soon" message was posted -- along with silhouettes of four scattered people and an empty chair. The steering committee needs to spend some of its funds on a better digital camera....

On the other side, two regular critics of city government announced their own committee. It's called "Be Smart, Vote No LOST." So if they're anti-LOST, does that mean they're the found?

One leader of the "Vote No" group is Paul Olson, who also opposed a one-percent sales tax question in 2004. Voters agreed with Olson then [3 Nov 04] - yet the city somehow has found money to provide public safety workers with raises. Columbus is yet another city saved by Wal-Mart....

Paul Olson is joined on the anti-tax side this time by Bert "Cowboy" Coker, the former write-in candidate for mayor. If everyone who voted for Coker in 2006 votes no in July.... well, they might feel like they stood in the path of a cattle drive.

Bert Coker argues the sales tax is "regressive." He also claims a no vote will allow a current city sales tax to expire, so Columbus residents will have more money in their pockets. Trouble is, the 30 extra cents I'd have on grocery day won't even buy a pack of chewing gum anymore.

E-MAIL UPDATE: Tuesday's message comparing a proposal before Columbus Council to the "Nazis" brought a quick response....

Limit someone to once a month to confront Council.

It is something like that on the west side of the River when Councilors/Commissioners have a 2 minute limit for a Citizen to Complain or Compliment on what is going on.

This message was titled, "Once Is Enough" - but I had to laugh when I found it was sent to our InBox twice.

If you think about it, even a two-minute complaint to officials is a long time. In pro basketball, coaches can get a technical foul after about 15 seconds.

Muscogee County Republican Chair Josh McKoon came out Tuesday against the proposed "once-a-month" rule for speaking to Columbus Council. He told WRBL it goes against the concept of a "redress of grievances." But McKoon already seems to know there are other ways to accomplish that - like all those lawsuits to get a library park.

So did anything happen outside the Government Center Tuesday? Why yes, as a matter of fact....

+ WLTZ reported coyote sightings have increased in the Maple Ridge neighborhood. In a way, I'm not surprised by this. They're simply after all those roadrunners on the J.R. Allen Parkway.

+ National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" went to Eufaula, to interview Barbour County Chief Deputy Eddie Ingram. He's been dubbed the "11-million dollar man," for seizures of money and drugs along Alabama highways. And you thought only Tommy Tuberville was deserving of that title....

(Eddie Ingram revealed part of his strategy for finding criminals along U.S. 431. He says where the speed limit is 65 miles per hour, most drivers travel 75. People driving at the speed limit or slower are considered suspicious. If obedient drivers are getting pulled over, Barbour County has moved beyond Judge Roy Moore.)

+ WRBL reported "Miss Georgia" Leah Massee was stopped by law officers in Tennessee, on suspicion of driving a stolen car. It was a mix-up, involving a vehicle identification number. But I think Massee would have had a much prettier mug shot than Mindy McCready.

+ Georgia School Superintendent Kathy Cox urged local districts to open their 2009-10 terms later in August. It's not to save energy, but to allow difficulties from student re-testing to be resolved. Never mind the long hot summer -- some children must be facing a long HARD one.

+ University of Georgia shortstop Gordon Beckham was named a finalist for college baseball's player of the year. He seems to be doing much better than that other Beckham - and he doesn't have to worry about a wife named "Posh" being surrounded by the paparazzi.

To offer a story tip, make a PayPal donation, advertise to our readers or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 863 (+ 27, 3.2%)

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.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.

17 JUN 08: BAKER'S TOAST

A mountain of rubbish currently sits across the street from the Frank Chester Recreation Center. At last there's finally some terrain to symbolize the "Benning Hills."

The mountain of rubbish is there because demolition crews have plowed under the old Baker Village Apartments. The buildings which looked a bit like military barracks are gone - and all that's left now is open dirt, along with several trees. The work crews did need a shady place to eat lunch, after all.

The Monday evening news revealed the replacement residences on Benning Drive will NOT carry the name "Baker Village." This approach is similar to what happened with the old Peabody Apartments. They were replaced by "Ashley Station" - yet you can't find an Ashley Furniture store anywhere close to it.

Can you really blame the Housing Authority of Columbus for changing the name of this area? The name "Baker Village" developed a negative connotation over the years, due to crime and drug problems. In fact, this change might give Zephaniah Baker a bit of hope in his state House race against Calvin Smyre.

Amy Moore with the Housing Authority of Columbus says the name for the former Baker Village complex is down to five final contenders. From the current state of the terrain, a good name might be Chester's Field....

Amy Moore hopes 148 rental units will be ready on the site in two years. People who were forced to move from the Baker Village Apartments will have the first chance to sign up. Some of us hope those people will be required to pass a criminal background check first.

But perhaps you're looking for something a little nicer than the former Baker Village. As it happened, Monday's snail mail brought a copy of "Office and Commercial" - a monthly magazine listing business properties for sale across the Columbus area. The idea of a blogger having a big marquee outside his massive computer room sounds a little tempting....

Some familiar locations are listed in the June issue of Office and Commercial -- and some of the prices being offered might surprise you:

+ The old Krystal near 14^th and Veterans Parkway, for $650,000. C'mon, White Castle - you could sell that many burgers in three months.

+ The former Cobb Memorial Hospital in Phenix City, for slightly under four million dollars. And you can keep any hidden stashes of prescription drugs, at no extra charge.

+ The Aaron's building at 12^th and Broadway, for two million dollars. With a name like Aaron's on it, you'd think customers could sign a "rent-to-own" plan.

+ The building next to Applebee's on Gentian Boulevard, for $1.5 million. Rio Bravo, Chevy's and Wild Fish restaurants all failed there. So don't take on the neighbor's directly -- open a Cheesecake Factory, and get diners to waddle next door for dessert.

And other well-known business properties could soon join the listings. The Ledger-Enquirer noted the other day that A.C. Moore plans to close its art and hobby supply store at Columbus Park Crossing. Who needs paint brushes and colored pencils when you have Photoshop software?

E-MAIL UPDATE: A reader is not pleased with something on today's Columbus Council agenda....

CITY ATTORNEY'S AGENDA

FOR THE MEETING OF JUNE 17, 2008

(11) 1st Reading - An ordinance amending Chapter 2 of the Columbus Code so as to limit appearances on the Public Agenda to once per month by any individual; and for other purposes. (Councilor McDaniel)

Dear Council;

This is an outrageous attempt to eliminate our democratic rights, if you do this you will surely incur the wrath of most of the population. I think this may be challengeable. It restricts our First Amendment rights as well redress of grievances before the government.

You should not be able to say we cannot talk to you because you will not allow it.

If you do this you will see a public uprising. This attempt is an outrageous attempt to operate like nazis.

Deborah Owens

Now hold on - if you can still speak before Columbus Council once a month, that's not exactly an "elimination." The Nazis could have told you what a real elimination is. And based on the people rescued from World War II camps, they didn't even accomplish that.

Keep in mind "public agenda" time for citizen comments does not exist in Georgia state legislative sessions. You need a special invitation to address the state House or Senate -- and we hope Northside High School will let the baseball coach they took from Pacelli take advance of that next year.

And they certainly don't allow ordinary citizens to speak up, during U.S. Congressional sessions. You may have noticed Michael J. Fox and other TV stars have to settle for House committee hearings, and hope C-SPAN shows them live....

If I've heard any comments about the "open mike" time at Columbus Council meetings, it's that the usual few suspects orators show up every week and hog the microphone. Bill Madison of the NAACP comments so much that someone should give him a weekly radio show to.... oh wait. Doesn't he still have that on WRCG?

This would make a wonderful Big Blog Question, except another one is already in progress. So we'll move on to the Monday news headlines....

+ Employees staged an early-morning protest outside the Mead WestVaco plant in Cottonton. They apparently plan to picket for several weeks, demanding higher pay. Maybe if the management offered to print checks on the plant's highest-quality paper....

+ State Rep. Carolyn Hugley held a town hall meeting, to explain the upcoming new Georgia "concealed carry" gun law. I'm not sure why some people are making a big fuss about this. Aren't people with pocket knives concealing them already?

+ Instant Message to Paula Deen: I'm glad your Savannah restaurant "The Lady and Sons" was able to reopen, after that Sunday night fire. What was Monday's special - smoked salmon?

To offer a story tip, make a PayPal donation, advertise to our readers or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 836 (+ 19, 2.3%)

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.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.

16 JUN 08: THEY DON'T HAVE A CLUE

As of Sunday afternoon, it still sat there. It was minding its own business, but it might as well have been screaming at my brain and conscience. And here's the most amazing thing - this was AFTER I finished the package of chocolate chip cookies....

Last weekend we asked an open-ended question here: Who left a black ski mask with a couple of small eye-holes on the ground, at a Columbus street corner? After all, it's the sort of all-purpose costume you can wear to multiple parties.

We joked at the time about why the hat might have been left there - but the real reason seemed obvious to me. It's Columbus. It's June. People don't carry ski masks with cut-out eye holes unless they're wearing it to commit a crime. Well, unless they're dreaming of becoming masked pro wrestlers.

I considered the ski mask and its location suspicious - but I didn't dare pick it up. That would have put my DNA all over the item. And the next thing I knew.... well, come to think of it, staring face-to-face at the beautiful Emily Proctor as she questioned me on "CSI: Miami" might be fun.

So I did what a good citizen is supposed to do. Even before I mentioned the ski mask here, I called Columbus Police and reported my discovery. I gave an officer the exact location of the mask -- something we're still not doing here. I don't want to give a criminal any help. Especially someone who's too poor to go buy a ski mask of his own, to disguise his identity.

Admittedly, the ski mask on the street corner is evidence in search of a crime. But you'd think Columbus Police would want to pick it up and test it. It might match a suspect already behind bars - or lead to the arrest of a girlfriend who feels forced to do some spring cleaning.

But instead, the ski mask has stayed on that street corner for at least nine days. Who knows if any trace evidence was lost, when rain fell on it over the weekend? The DNA may have made as clean a getaway as the criminal wearing it.

Does a case like this show the need for more Columbus police officers? Are all the detectives so busy these days that no one can stop by a street corner, and pick up a suspicious ski mask? Or are the prison inmates who mow lawns somehow considered trustworthy enough to handle it?

THE BIG BLOG QUESTION returns in the wake of this -- as we're now within one month of the Columbus city sales tax vote on "streets and safety." Do you plan to vote for it or against it? Or are you officially "not eligible" -- but ready to file another set of absentee ballots from Russell County?

BLOG UPDATE: Last December, a business owner on North Lumpkin Road told us of plans for a Waffle House on Victory Drive. It was supposed to be on the old site of a Burger King [26 Dec 07]. Six months later, that statement appears to be wrong -- unless the Hibachi Express on that site sells some kind of Japanese waffles.

There are other spots along Victory Drive which would make nice locations for a Waffle House. But let's face it - the cheap drive-in motels are going fast.

Now a quick check of the Father's Day news....

+ A dinner-hour storm dropped heavy rain across much of Columbus. A National Weather Service statement said the worst rain would be over "rural areas of Muscogee County." I think that's what the rest of us call that state park along the Harris County line.

+ Millie's Market on South Lumpkin Road staged a "military appreciation day" party for soldiers. So when do the Saturday protesters on Veterans Parkway downtown plan to do something like this? All you need are a few cases of vegetarian soy patties....

+ "The 13^th Alley" which premiered in Columbus failed to place among the top 12 movies, in weekend box office sales. But then again, opening in 13h on Friday the 13^th may have been exactly what the producers had in mind.

+ Mitch Krywulycz won the Southeastern Amateur golf tournament at the Country Club of Columbus. This surprised a lot of people - who didn't think someone with that complicated a last name would be allowed inside the Country Club of Columbus.

+ The final day of the "President's Cup" youth soccer tournament was held at the Woodruff Farm complex. Players and parents from many states filled Columbus motel rooms over the weekend. You can spot those rooms by the round divots in the middle of the beds.

To offer a story tip, make a PayPal donation, advertise to our readers or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 817 (- 43, 5.0%)

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.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.

15 JUN 08: LINGERING AT THE TABLE

Saturday was Flag Day. It was U.S. Army Day. And it also marked an anniversary for me -- although I didn't celebrate it in the proper way. I did NOT go to a poker table Saturday night. Instead, I settled for a little poker slang - and I was a "runner-runner" on the Riverwalk.

It's exactly one year since I started walking down the street to a neighborhood lounge, for its Thursday night poker tournaments. You may be surprised to learn I've made more money than I've spent -- but not yet enough to head for the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. In fact, I've barely made enough money to drive to a top casino in Mississippi.

Compared to poker nights at places such as The Sports Page and Memory Lane, the Thursday night tournaments at Lil Kim's Cove on Fourth Street are rather small - with usually fewer than 25 players. But don't let the size of the event fool you. The cigarette smoke from those players sticks to my shirt every bit as much.

The rules of the poker tournaments have changed in the last couple of weeks, as someone else besides the manager has taken charge of them. The chip amounts used to range from one to 50 dollars. Now the chip range is 25 to 1,000 dollars. I don't know whether to blame this hyperinflation on OPEC or corn farmers.

One nice change in the rules at Lil Kim's Cove is that players are rewarded for buying drinks. My usual drink is a two-dollar can of diet cola, which earns me 1,000 bonus chips. Other players buy several beers, and gain even more chips -- but then their brains start corroding, and they lose the chips faster.

Ever the stat-keeper, I kept track to see if the weekly poker tournaments are worth the walk and time. I've missed some Thursday nights due to work commitments and other obligations -- but in the 35 weeks I've attended, I've reached the final table 16 times. That's a 46-percent success rate. Poker is a lot more fun than asking women out on dates.

At some casino poker rooms, regular trips to the final table would earn me nice paychecks and a decent living. But at Lil Kim's Cove, only the top two players win prizes. Third place gets the glamourless feeling of finishing third on "American Idol."

But I've finished in the top two on five occasions at Lil Kim's Cove (14 percent). Three of those were outright first-place wins - while one was a negotiated settlement. That way, the other person in the final two could claim the "bucket of beers" awarded to second place. I don't think Columbus Police would let me walk those beers home in a bucket.

I've made a few friends over the last 12 months on poker nights. A former chef named Harry provided the nicest compliment of all several weeks ago, when he looked at me at the final table and said, "This is the man I'm afraid of." Wow -- about the only guy who isn't drinking, smoking, cursing or trash-talking....

The Thursday night tournaments even are providing opportunities for what I'm calling "poker ministry." Occasionally the discussion around the table turns to religious topics. But don't worry - I don't take a Bible, and open it on top of the chips in the middle of a pot.

If I've learned anything about poker in the last year, it's that the game can keep you humble. This past Thursday night provided an example. We were down to the final four players, and I was dealt a pair of aces. But when I pushed all my chips in, a man holding a 2-3 wound up beating me with two pair. And you thought that only happened when Louisiana-Monroe played Alabama....

The relative success I've had on Thursday nights now has me tempted to play in one of those online poker tournaments for big prizes. But a man told me Saturday I should NOT play for money. "It'll only leave you bitter," he said - but I'm not so sure. My youngest niece just married a man who's played in Las Vegas casinos, and they seemed very happy on their wedding night.

On this Father's Day, I ponder what my late father would think about "number-two son" becoming a part-time poker player. I honestly think he'd approve - since he used to spend some late Wednesday nights playing pinochle at the Odd Fellows Lodge. At least, that's what I was told. He never invited me in, to stay up until after midnight and watch -- as he wasn't THAT odd a fellow.

E-MAIL UPDATE: Now to one of the most sobering news items of the weekend....

Richard,

As you know I don't particulary care for E-mail...But here it is.

I was really shocked to hear this afternoon about the sudden passing of Tim Russert. During the grand opening of the CNN news center in Atlanta I was very fortunate to have a beer with him and enjoy a wonderful conversation. Although not very interested in politics at that time...he became a favorite news journalist and someone I really got to trust on his show...Meet The Press.

HE WILL BE MISSED!

STEPHEN KING

Stephen called me Saturday, to fill in more details on that meeting around 1980. Russert was 31 at the time, and "not sure what he wanted to do." It appears he made a good choice - and probably spurred the sales of many small dry-erase boards in the last few years.

I never met Tim Russert, but my most recent memory of him was something that annoyed me. In early May he declared on "NBC Nightly News" that the Democratic Presidential race was over, and Barack Obama had won. If we needed a kingmaker in that contest, the mayor of Chicago should have had more experience at it.

NBC undoubtedly will have a special edition of "Meet the Press" today in Tim Russert's honor. And undoubtedly, WLTZ will do what it usually does - showing Bill Purvis and Ann Hardman in the 9:00 a.m. hour, and making us wait until at least 12:00 noon to see it.

LAUGHLINE FLASHBACK/8 Nov 00: Inside the NBC studio [on election night], Tim Russert broke with the high-tech graphics trend - and wrote electoral count projections on a slate board! Who knows? Maybe four years from now Nickelodeon will cover the election - with magnets and Etch-a-Sketch.

With sympathies toward Russert's family and friends, let's check other weekend headlines....

+ A morning jog allowed me to discover the Riverwalk has reopened between the Civic Center and Port Columbus. It was closed about eight months, for work on flood abatement and sewer lines. They repaved the walkway nicely -- but they need to use a better deodorizer, to get rid of that smell.

+ Columbus police reported someone held up the Circle K store on Miller Road, stealing $2,500 worth of cigarettes. Cigarettes?! You mean there's something more expensive and valuable at a Circle K than gasoline?

+ The U.S.O. opened its first Columbus office in years opened at a motel on Victory Drive. Now this is what our soldiers are fighting for -- as the U.S.O. and God Bless Fort Benning compete to serve the best doughnuts and coffee.

+ The U.S. Postal Service marked Flag Day by issuing a postage stamp with the Alabama state flag. Shame on all you Georgians who plan to put it on envelopes upside-down, as a distress signal.

(I still have a Bear Bryant postage stamp from the 1990s stashed away somewhere. Somehow, I doubt a full set ever will be issued showing Mike Dubose and Dennis Franchionne.)

+ The Columbus Catfish postponed its Saturday night baseball game due to rain. It was Fort Benning night at Golden Park - but those soldiers simply didn't yell loudly enough to scare away the raindrops.

(Rain delayed the Catfish game for a time on Friday night, so the post-game fireworks went off at 11:45 p.m. - after I had gone to bed at 11:30. I could see and hear the fireworks outside my window. The only thing lacking was a hot date, to spark some ideas.)

+ Mayor Jim Wetherington told WRBL he's satisfied with recent changes in the Columbus Fire Department, since the reprimand of Chief Jeff Meyer. We'd be more likely to believe it if Meyer appeared on the billboards, promoting the one-percent sales tax question.

+ Instant Message to Bert Coker: OK, I think you're against the sales tax question. But it was hard for me to follow your explanation on the TV news, because of that white cowboy hat you wore. Are you selling cars for a living now -- maybe in Houston?

COMING MONDAY: Potential evidence that's just waiting to be collected....

To offer a story tip, make a PayPal donation, advertise to our readers or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 860 (+ 19, 2.3%)

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.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.

13 JUN 08: NOT UP MY ALLEY

Columbus was the scene of a "world movie premiere" Thursday night. Let's see, what could the hot title be - Fountains and the City?

The Carmike 15 at Columbus Park Crossing hosted the premiere of a film called "The 13^th Alley." Considering the Carmike Cinemas headquarters is on 13^th Street, the location of this event on the other side of town is one more slap at Uptown Columbus....

I heard someone say Thursday that The 13^th Alley had a "star-studded cast." Then I looked at the promotional invitation cards to the premiere, and I hardly recognized any of the names. It's about as star-studded as Porter Wagoner's old outfits.

The only acting name which seemed to ring a bell was Robert Carradine. He must be related to David Carradine, from the old "Kung Fu" TV series. But then again, I thought one of Bruce Lee's distant cousins was presenting the morning weather on TV....

The other top-line star in The 13^th Alley is Shayne Dahl Lamas, who gained fame in May when she was selected by a British man on "The Bachelor." There are rumors in Hollywood that the couple will wed in Las Vegas shortly. But I suspect the smart photographers at Callaway Gardens should ignore the flowers for a few days, and hang around the chapel.

Shayne Dahl Lamas said she was impressed by how green Columbus is. I'm not sure if she meant the trees throughout the city -- or the fact that fans who didn't know better showed up for the premiere of such an unknown movie.

Shayne Dahl Lamas signed autographs outside the Carmike 15 - and even signed a guy's chest. Now there's one celebrity autograph I hope never shows up for sale on eBay....

So what is The 13^th Alley about? An online summary says it's a horror movie set at a bowling center. It's a wonder there wasn't a special appearance at the premiere by Columbus's most famous bowling movie fan - as the folks at WLTZ call Jeremy Moss.

The 13^th Alley opens nationwide today - but the authoritative movie web site IMDB didn't even show an opening date for it anytime this summer. Perhaps the web site expected this film to follow the example of "2001 Maniacs." That horror film was shot at Westville - then went directly to video, as if all the
movie chains were scared to death of it.

Carmike Cinemas clearly wanted this movie - and that's about the only way to explain why Thursday's world premiere was in Columbus. The Myspace section for The 13^th Alley lists all the theatres showing it, and nearly half of them have "Carmike" in their names. Our local cinema company is committed to providing R-rated nightmares for small cities across the country.

No theatres in New York or Los Angeles are listed as showing The 13^th Alley this weekend. So that may explain why the premiere wound up in Carmike's home city. Well, that and the fact that the Cannes Film Festival didn't give it any major awards....

Your blog could have gone to Thursday night's premiere. We could have stood on the red carpet, provided the paparazzi pictures that TMZ desperately desires -- and made enough money selling them to finally replace our 14-year-old car.

But I honestly didn't realize who Shayne Dahl Lamas was, until it was too late to drive to Columbus Park Crossing. Yes, it's my financial loss. But then again, how many fashion magazines really would care about what Sandra Okamoto of the Ledger-Enquirer wears on the red carpet?

(BLOGGER'S NOTE: So where we Thursday night, instead of this premiere? Come here Sunday, and we'll tell you.)

E-MAIL UPDATE: I'm overdue to get new glasses, and this correction of a Wednesday item is proof....

Richard,

Hope you are doing well. I couldn't tell if you were joking or not but its Reba Rae not Ruby Rae.

On another note, I have attached for your information the letter from the State Ethics Commission to Senator Harbison's attorney letting him know his case has been sent to the Attorney General for prosecution.

Regards,

Josh

My apologies to Muscogee County Republican Chair Josh McKoon, for not being able to read a name that's right in front of me on the screen. If Ms. Rae (there, that's safe) doesn't win the Superior Court Clerk's seat, I might hire her to proofread this blog.

As for that letter - it sparked an interesting story on the TV news Thursday night. State Senator Ed Harbison is refusing to pay a fine, for filing incorrect campaign records. But should we really expect the Georgia Attorney General to prosecute Harbison for this? Thurbert Baker didn't even bother to take up the Kenneth Walker case, which was a bit more serious.

The attorney for Ed Harbison calls the whole matter a "clerical error." Stephen Hyles wondered if the point of this pressure is really transparency in government - or whether it's to say "gotcha" for making a paperwork mistake. Countless other local attorneys jotted down that comment, in case Hyles unseats Judge Haywood Turner in the upcoming election.

Stephen Hyles says the matter over incorrect campaign reports is going to an administrative law judge. So Georgia's Attorney General may not have to be as "tough as nails" against Ed Harbison. As irritating as nails across an old-fashioned chalkboard could suffice.

Now for other news items, from a Thursday when a passing shower was very welcome....

+ Embattled Columbus Fire Chief Jeff Meyer assured WRBL he's made several changes since his reprimand a month ago. For one thing, Meyer says all firefighters are required to read from the policy handbook every shift. This makes sure they stay professional - and might allow them to fill in this summer at a library story hour.

(Jeff Meyer added fire department supervisors have been told not to get too "chummy" with the staff. I think that means they're appointing someone to bring the main dish on chili night, instead of having a potluck dinner.)

+ A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the expanded Mildred Terry Branch Library - well, sort of. Several people dug into pails filled with confetti. I guess this is what happens when the environmental impact study isn't finished yet.

(A schematic drawing for the inside of the new Mildred Terry Library is on display in a computer room. I didn't check to see if the library director will have her own private bathroom, as the next Muscogee County school superintendent may well have. But then, the library director can check out a home improvement book and build one herself.)

+ The Columbus Lions prepared for Sunday's home football finale against Huntington, West Virginia. But the Civic Center was occupied, so the team practiced on the lawn between the Civic Center and Fourth Street. It's actually a clever way to promote the team and sell tickets - but I hope the Catfish don't copy it, and launch fly balls into the middle of the street.

+ Instant Message to Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce: It truly is the year of the Jayhawk. Kansas won the Orange Bowl in January, then the college basketball title in April. Now you - a former Kansas star, on the brink of a National Basketball Association title. My question to you is this: Where DID the Jayhawk baseball team go wrong this spring?

To offer a story tip, make a PayPal donation, advertise to our readers or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 841 (- 33, 3.8%)

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.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.

12 JUN 08: FIRST TIMOTHY

The big decision was made Wednesday, on the next president of Columbus State University. A college dean was selected -- only his name isn't Dean. Someday I'll figure out why colleges don't have titles such as Fred and George, to go with deans.

The Georgia Board of Regents selected Dr. Timothy Mescon to succeed Frank Brown as Columbus State University President. Mescon is currently dean of the business school at Kennesaw State University. Since Kennesaw has an ordinance requiring residents to own guns, he'll be happy to find Shooters right down the street from campus.

Timothy Mescon told WXTX "News at Ten" he's looking forward to an "exceptional journey," moving from Kennesaw to Columbus. Welllll - we'll see about that. The only good doughnut shop on the way is a Dunkin Donuts, along Interstate 85 in Newnan.

WLTZ aired part of an interview with Timothy Mescon, which apparently was recorded during the recent interview process. Mescon indicated Columbus State University needs more housing. How many foreclosed homes can you buy, with the pledges from C.S.U. Day?

Dr. Frank Brown seems pleased with the choice of his successor. He told WRBL Timothy Mescon will offer "a great mix of personality and experience" - almost as if Mescon's second job option should be to work as a TV news anchor.

(In fact, an online check found Timothy Mescon has presented one-minute business commentaries on public TV in Atlanta. Who knows how many Kennesaw State business students wished his lectures were that long....)

Frank Brown predicts Timothy Mescon will be active in the Columbus community. But he may keep some ties to metro Atlanta, because he's a director of that area's United Way campaign. The Chattahoochee Valley United Way chapter will be pleased to learn Mescon doesn't seem to be a big fan of mergers.

Timothy Mescon will make a base salary of $267,000, as Columbus State University's new president. You may be wondering how the university can afford to do this. There's a simple three-word answer - no football coach.

If Timothy Mescon needs some extra money, he gives speeches for $5,000 and moderates business programs across the country. One of his areas of emphasis seems to be "cuddling your customer." Do that too much with Columbus State students, and Mescon may face an ethics investigation.

Timothy Mescon also has written or co-written three business books. One has the interesting title, "Showing Up for Work and Other Keys to Business Success." What does it say about today's workforce, when he has to put that first basic point in the title?

But an online check Wednesday night revealed Timothy Mescon's career has had a stumble or two. He admitted feeling "horrendous" in the 1990's, after then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich began teaching a business course at Kennesaw State. The course followed Gingrich obtaining government contracts for Mescon's private business. Yet look who's becoming a President, and who isn't....

(If you ask me, this Newt Gingrich situation with Mescon seems more like a mess than a con.)

Then there's the complaint from a women's group that Timothy Mescon failed to take action against a Kennesaw State business school teacher, for alleged crude behavior toward an administrative assistant. The group actually suggested Mescon enter a diversity program - as if the fact that Kennesaw State has a female president wouldn't remind him of that.

Yet Timothy Mescon has survived these things, and will become Columbus State President this summer. He'll be only the fourth president in C.S.U. history. And based on the pictures I've seen, he'll look more imposing in a business suit than Frank Brown has in recent years.

Not much else thrilled us in the news Wednesday, but here's what did....

+ The Columbus Fraternal Order of Police endorsed the one-percent "streets and safety" sales tax question. If you think about it, that's no real surprise. The group behind "Shop with a Cop" for children is now in favor of everyone shopping FOR them.

+ "Pioneer Xtreme" won the Jack Cook tournament major softball title. There, you see - we mentioned the good news about Pioneer Little League, too. Of course, most of the e-mails we've received from there have been about the OTHER extremes. Like the name-calling and arrests....

+ Atlanta's baseball team put pitcher Tom Glavine on the disabled list - then fellow starting pitcher Jair Jurgens sprained his ankle in Chicago, by tripping on stairs. Never mind getting Roger Clemens to supply John Smoltz with medicine. Can he start a game this weekend?

+ Instant Message to Seohan: That was impressive! You opened your new Auburn auto supply plant only days after your new movie premiered. How did you get Adam Sandler to star in "Don't Mess with the...." oh wait....

To offer a story tip, make a PayPal donation, advertise to our readers or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 874 (+ 27, 3.2%)

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.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.

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.

To offer a story tip, make a PayPal donation, advertise to our readers or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 847 (+ 26, 3.2%)

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.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.

10 JUN 08: OFF OR RUNNING?

As of today, we're only five weeks away from the Georgia primary. You'd think races would be heating up like the Columbus temperature. But so far, many of them seem as meager as a low-funded candidate at a four-dollar gas pump.

To look at business signs around Columbus, you'd think there's only one candidate for Muscogee County Coroner. Ricky Weeks endorsements have been up for.... well.... for a lot of days, but not quite months....

There actually are two Democratic candidates for Coroner, and they don't have to file campaign financial statements for three more weeks. But preliminary documents posted online show something interesting. Ricky Weeks owns two properties, while incumbent Bill Thrower claims none. In fact, Thrower lists no financial holdings of more than $10,000 - so maybe he needs the job a little more.

The financial disclosure statement requires candidates to list a variety of things. Neither candidate for Coroner received "monetary fees or honorarium" last year. Wow - they weren't even asked to speak at a murder mystery dinner theater.

When it comes to the Muscogee County Sheriff's race, incumbent Ralph Johnson is ready to run. His latest campaign report shows as of March 31, he had a war chest of almost $40,000. Johnson could save the city budget some money, and run the commercials for wanted criminals out of his funds.

Speaking of the Sheriff's race - who is Mike Lajoye, and why is he running as a write-in candidate? I found a professional-looking sign promoting his campaign the other day on South Lumpkin Road. But Lajoye isn't listed in the phone book, and an online search Monday night turned up nothing. Even Bert Coker promoted himself a bit better than that.

Mike Lajoye doesn't have to run as a write-in candidate for Sheriff. The qualifying week for independents is two weeks away. That's when Ralph Johnson will file his papers. And with five days to file, I think Lajoye can sneak into the Election Board office without exposing his true identity to Johnson.

There's one financial disclosure report on the Election Board's web site which admittedly had me puzzled. It's the "State Fund for Effective Leadership" set up by Synovus -- and a summary statement says it "supports candidate who will protect and preserve the Constitution...." Anyone trying to get the al-Qaeda Party on the Georgia ballot might as well not even apply.

That "Campaign Money" web site turned up some very surprising information. Did you know Dr. Georgina Asante donated to a "Podiatry Political Action Committee?" I've heard of voting with your feet, but this is ridiculous....

That web site also reveals Aflac Chair Dan Amos donated recently to the campaigns of Republican lawmakers Saxby Chambliss and Lynn Westmoreland - but also Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton. Amos may secretly be a big fan of political debates on C-SPAN.

(But ouch - the results of the Democratic Presidential primary season must have hit Amos like a ton of Baracks....)

If there's an organized campaign to promote the one-percent "streets and safety" city sales tax, it isn't listed with the Muscogee County Election Board. Apparently Mayor Jim Wetherington is taking on the task himself -- speaking Monday with the Ledger-Enquirer's editorial board. The way some staff members took notes on pads of paper, they could use an extra one-percent for laptops.

(New F.B.I. crime numbers released Monday might help the mayor's cause. Sad to say, the number of rapes in Columbus tripled last year. Maybe some of the 100 new police officers can go after spammers selling Viagra without a prescription.)

Columbus Council candidates will file for office in two weeks. The Election Board's reports show Skip Henderson's campaign is using "Michael Baker" as a Treasurer. So one Councilor is handling the funds for another Councilor's campaign?! Get donations from a third member, and you could have the makings of a political machine.

But poor Glenn Davis - the Columbus Councilor's latest financial report still shows him with a campaign debt of close to $22,000. And imagine how much in potential donations he may have lost, when Jeremiah Wright canceled his hotel reservation in May.

In one other campaign note, Richard Hyatt's web site reported Monday Alonza Whitaker plans to run for Kenneth Followill's seat in Superior Court. Whitaker already has served on Environmental Court and Recorder's Court - and if he joined a league at Cooper Creek Park, he could umpire a tennis court.

BLOG UPDATE: We now understand Brent Rollins is appealing his firing from the Columbus Police Department to the city's Personnel Review Board. So he isn't filing suit against the city yet. Perhaps Rollins is deferring to the pedestrian he reportedly hit.

E-MAIL UPDATE: Last Tuesday we mentioned what happened with our humble Honda on Interstate 70 in Missouri. That brought back memories for one reader....

My first car was a 78 Nova. Once when my father and I changed the oil, there was about 2 quarts extra and it was really thin. (Do you change your own or get it done in a Jiffy?)

Turns out there was gas in the oil and had the have the carberator repair/rebuilt. I was surprised it didn't cost too much. Consider this your very own advice from Click and Clack the Tappet Brothers.

Best to you

In this crankcase, my oil was changed by a business on Veterans Parkway with no "Jiffy" in its name. But why would anyone mix gasoline in motor oil these days? Isn't that a little like adding cognac to a wine cooler for flavor?

Speaking of gasoline, let's check other Monday discoveries....

+ Many Columbus gas stations raised their prices ten cents a gallon, pushing the price of regular unleaded to Pizza Hut range. You know, like those old commercials said -- "four bucks, four bucks, four bucks."

(I don't want to say inflation is getting out of hand - but before long, the "Three Dollar Cafés" in Atlanta may be forced to change their name.)

+ Former Phenix City Utilities Director Greg Glass came out of retirement, and declared he may sue the city for openly accusing him of mismanagement. Trouble is, I'm hearing Glass may have signed an agreement NOT to sue the city - which made officials free to borrow from the Eurythmics, and start "Walking on Broken Glass."

(Greg Glass openly suspects Phenix City officials are trying to make him a scapegoat for tight city funds. But if Glass files suit, I think that effort will increase - thanks to all those fees to the city attorney.)

+ Muscogee County Superintendent John Phillips proposed allowing high school students to graduate one semester early, if they have enough credits. Phillips apparently granted personal approval for DeRon Furr to leave Carver High School for Auburn University - but if Furr isn't the top quarterback on the depth chart, was it really the right decision?

To offer a story tip, make a PayPal donation, advertise to our readers or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 821 (+ 23, 2.9%)

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.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.

9 JUN 08: GOING GA-GA

An e-mail debate here recently focused on the old Columbus Welcome Center on Victory Drive. I stopped there one morning last week, and didn't notice anything unusual. The shrubs were trimmed. No paint was peeling. And there was no sign Port Columbus had turned its cannons in the wrong direction.

But when was the last time you stopped by the current Columbus Visitors Center? I went there Friday, after learning it was "Georgia on My Mind Day." Free hot dogs for lunch usually are worth a short drive - especially if no high-pressure salespeople are there offering cars.

The Columbus Visitors Center is located near Interstate 185 and Williams Road. It's an easy exit for southbound travelers, but a bit complicated for northbound drivers like me. Apparently visitors from Albany and Tallahassee have a choice -- be impressed by what you happen to see, or move on to LaGrange.

It had been 11 years since my last visit to the Columbus Visitors Center. I picked up a small city map that day, on the way to a job interview. That map is still in my car - and one of these days I should get Shelby Guest to autograph it.

Several tents were set up outside the Visitors Center, to mark Georgia on My Mind Day. People in the tents promoted various attractions around the state. The Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau had its own table, with a sign promising "10,000 great seats" at the Civic Center. And unless a country music star is in town, half of them are always available.

The other Columbus representative at the Visitors Center was Country's Barbecue -- offering free cups of iced tea, but no barbecue. Apparently too many people are "eating fine for $3.99."

The free hot dogs were offered by the DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau. That area also gave away free boxes of popcorn -- and I was amazed how warm it still was, after several hours in my steamy trunk.

And the giveaways just kept on coming - ranging from pens and note pads to an Olympic lapel pin from the Atlanta History Center. It was an Atlanta 1996 pin, promoting the "Cultural Olympiad." I guess some of those pins haven't turned into valuable collectibles after all.

A tent promoting Georgia forests provided me a hand-held "Trees Columbus" fan. As hot as it's been, I would have been happier taking home a shade tree.

The big moment for me came at the Atlanta baseball table. I spun a big wheel for a prize, and wound up with an Atlanta ball cap. I never had one of those when I lived in metro Atlanta. And it certainly beat one of those other prizes on the wheel - because I'd have to defend that foam tomahawk for a long time to come.

But amidst all the giveaways and free food, I learned some interesting information about Georgia tourist attractions....

+ Albany has giant turtles set up, to lead you to important places. That downtown statue of Ray Charles might point you in the wrong direction - since he was blind, after all.

+ The Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth is "Georgia's Official Transportation History Museum." I forgot to ask if Governor Perdue vetoed money for that project, like he did some others.

+ A book of Georgia "History Rhymes" has a poem about female golfers trying to win a green jacket. Now hold on here - they still don't have female members at Augusta National, much less any invitations for Michelle Wie.

I wound up with four handfuls of goodies, not to mention the Atlanta baseball cap on my head. "Georgia on My Mind Day" reminded me of an old-fashioned county fair, the sort of thing Columbus hasn't had in years. Well, except no one considered my old car trashy and started pounding it in a fund-raising project.

Yet for all I enjoyed, there's one thing I didn't do. I never walked inside the Georgia Visitors Center at all. So I can't tell you what's changed there in the last 11 years - or whether they've updated the city maps to show Columbus Park Crossing.

BLOG UPDATE: Brent Rollins informs your blog he is appealing his firing from the Columbus Police Department. The Friday evening news confirmed he was dismissed for misconduct, after hitting a pedestrian with a patrol car last fall. There's a lesson here for all of us. Just because the sign says "PEDS XING" does not mean you should them X them out.

Brent Rollins is NOT commenting on his dismissal, on advice of his attorney. But he tells us it will "all come out in the wash." Rollins needs to help me get the antiperspirant stains out of my dress shirts....

Brent Rollins gained fame here by writing the "Is Our City Safe" e-mails against Columbus city government before the 2006 election. Now he's off the police force, less than two years after a "pro-public safety" mayor was elected. The question may become whether the city is safe from lawsuits.

Now let's get caught up on events from the weekend....

+ Who left a black ski mask with a couple of small eye-holes on the ground, at one corner in the Historic District? Did that person finally decide global warming is real?

+ The June heat wave produced a record Sunday high in Columbus of 98 degrees F. I saw signs around town showing 100 and 101 - and at least was thankful those triple digits didn't match the price of gasoline.

+ A Sunday evening stroll found young skateboarders using the new skate park in South Commons - even though there's still a construction fence and piles of dirt around it. But no, they were NOT chanting something like: "We can't wait, we have to skate."

+ The Ledger-Enquirer reported Judge Kenneth Followill will leave the bench at the end of the year, and wants to become some sort of "senior judge." He'll be needed, to handle all those appeals by high school students who fail the CRCT exams.

(So who will run for Judge Followill's seat? Will Roxann Daniel try again, after losing to Bobby Peters four years ago? And how much pressure will the successor face to.... well, you know.... Follow-well?)

+ Auburn University announced it wants to increase tuition 12 percent, because state funding has been cut. I have a better idea -- keep tuition as it is, by moving 12 percent of the funding for that new basketball arena. The only time those extra 1,000 seats will matter is at commencement time, or when Alabama comes to town.

+ A WLTZ viewer poll found 56 percent of online voters can watch their newscast in high-definition. The other 44 percent like Calvin Floyd's face on "Rise N Shine" just the way it is.

+ Singer Michael Martin Murphey performed at the Phenix City Amphitheater. I'm told he did a good job with the classic Marty Robbins tune "El Paso." And the song apparently was NOT cleaned up, to have the main character Tasered instead of shot.

+ Columbus State baseball player Rodney Rutherford was drafted by the Oakland A's. Rutherford learned the news while he was waiting for a ride at Six Flags Over Georgia. Someone should remind him NOT to spend all of his signing bonus too early.

+ Georgia advanced to the College World Series by annihilating North Carolina State 17-8. The Bulldogs scored nine runs in the first inning - which leads me to think they watched tape of last January's Sugar Bowl before the game.

+ Instant Message to Hillary Rodham Clinton: I admittedly didn't hear much news over the weekend - so what did you finally do? Did you throw the support of all those voters behind Big Brown?

SCHEDULED TUESDAY: An e-mailed "Car Talk" moment....

To offer a story tip, make a PayPal donation, advertise to our readers or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 798 (- 3, 0.4%)

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.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.

7 JUN 08: THE CHOICE IS YOURS

(BLOGGER'S NOTE: You may find this item humorous, serious, or a little of both - but we offer these thoughts from time to time, as we keep a seventh-day Sabbath. And by the way, we'll have NO blog entry Sunday.)

"Don't get me started on abortion," the man told me as we watched an evening newscast together. "It's about a woman's choice, not about the government." Which makes you wonder about the women serving in government, who choose to think differently....

Our lives are filled with choices. That's even true for people who live in Communist countries. People in Cuba can listen to at least seven different national radio stations - which makes the four Columbus stations owned by Archway Broadcasting look sort of puny.

The question becomes which things in life should be a matter of choice. Of course, governments have put limits on those choices for a long time. You might choose to do what a man near Birmingham did early Friday -- but walking around naked claiming to be both Jesus Christ AND President Bush probably will get you arrested.

But when it comes to a touchy issue such as abortion, should it be a matter of choice? Believe it or not, I agree to some extent with that man -- but I believe the choices need to begin much earlier in the process. For instance, it's still OK to settle for a goodnight kiss to end a date.

Here's something else which might surprise you - I've concluded God is pro-choice. Really. If He wasn't, lightning bolts would have struck down a lot of seven-year-olds for lying to their parents about their homework.

Remember when the British pop band Wham! hit it big in 1984? Their first hit song with George Michael was "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" - which an Atlanta radio station turned into a song about its morning host: "Wake Me Up, McKee, You Bozo."

But what struck me about the video of that Wham! song was the T-shirts group members wore. They said in giant letters, "Choose Life." Yet I don't recall anyone making an issue about it, or any abortion rights group calling for a boycott of the band. Nowadays, those T-shirts would be the subject of extensive debates on Fox News Channel.

I don't know if George Michael realized it or not, but his 1984 T-shirt endorsed the view of the Bible. The book of Deuteronomy quotes Moses as saying: "I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live...." Yet admittedly, conservatives who take this verse to oppose abortion don't seem to apply it to capital punishment.

Why are we supposed to choose life? Moses went on to explain: "....that you may love the Lord your God.... For the Lord is your life...." God wants people to have eternal life, and the book of Ezekiel says He takes no pleasure in people dying. Come to think of it, that seems to put God at odds with Dr. Jack Kevorkian....

In fact, God may have chosen YOU. His children are called "a chosen generation" in the book of I Peter. The big question may be whether you will choose Him, and choose to walk in a new.... uh, well.... a new "way of life." Let's face it: the way of death can be a real killer.

P.S. We decided on this topic well before we watched the Friday evening news - and heard about the killing of a seven-month pregnant woman on 23^rd Street. Emergency crews were able to deliver her baby, which was alive last time we heard. If the crew went to that much trouble in behalf of life, and God went even further to provide you eternal life, what do you think the right choice really is?

SCHEDULED MONDAY: Where I found free hot dogs, cookies, Cracker Jack and more....

To offer a story tip, make a PayPal donation, advertise to our readers or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 801 (- 17, 2.1%)

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.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.

6 JUN 08: STUMP THE STARS (AND STRIPES)

The people of Columbus were invited to Front Avenue Thursday - and the main reason was a bit unusual. The Army tested new technology in a city environment. But it was a bit disappointing - because it wasn't Sync technology with a soldier saying, "Fire cannon."

Fort Benning personnel sent a Bradley Fighting Vehicle downtown, equipped with cameras that soldiers could watch. The Army wanted to see if cameras can replace people in the turret. And of course, we don't want any more soldiers wounded by turret's syndrome....

Fort Benning wanted as many people along Front Avenue as possible, to test the cameras' effectiveness. So a bit before noon, I walked toward the river to see what would happen. Only now as I'm writing do I realize how strange this was. Normally the people who want soldiers to stare intently at them are single women.

Officers explained downtown Columbus had the traffic and tall buildings for this test, while Fort Benning does not. And there's another reason why this made sense -- Bradley Fighting Vehicles rolled past the W.C. Bradley headquarters.

The test zone for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle was supposed to be from Ninth to 13^th Street, on Front Avenue. But there was no sign of soldiers when I arrived at Ninth Street. In fact, there were no throngs of people at all -- not even a group from God Bless Fort Benning waving flags.

"Bradley Fighting Vehicle zone?!?" I asked two Columbus police officers I encountered on the sidewalk.

"Somewhere down there," one said. Either the officers were part of the Army experiment, or they were guarding the RiverCenter parking garage from all those "Go Diego Go" fans -- and I thought Diego Maradona retired from soccer years ago.

A suspicious vehicle was parked in the middle of Front Avenue at Tenth Street. But no, this was NOT a Bradley Fighting Vehicle. It was a delivery truck from Courier Express. I don't know if police checked the truck, before allowing it to park there. Maybe the Army quietly had experimental shells inside the vehicle as well.

I kept walking north on Front Avenue, looking for this promised Army vehicle. Instead I found....

+ A pile of sand on the sidewalk, outside a parking garage. How nice to provide a small reminder of Iraq.

+ A yellow construction vehicle. Nope, that wasn't it - but maybe it was sniffing out IED's.

+ A television live truck, with its microwave dish extending several stories high. Now THIS is what the Army needs - for firing laser beams from miles away.

I was well past 11^th Street before I found the right item. The Bradley Fighting Vehicle was preceded up Front Avenue by a pickup with soldiers aboard and a "Wide Load" banner across the drill. The soldiers could have been arrested for sitting in the bed of that truck without a seatbelt - unless Columbus Police decided it qualified as a parade.

The Army vehicle apparently cruised up and down Front Avenue several times. But it was surrounded by regular weekday traffic, and honored all traffic lights. My top concern apparently did NOT happen - as on a hot June day, the vehicle didn't leave imprinted tracks on the asphalt.

But what surprised me most about this experiment was what was missing. The number of people standing along Front Avenue may have totaled 20 - even during the lunch hour. So much for any "welcome-home parade" for the Third Brigade....

Was it the lack of advance notice? Was it the heat wave? Whatever the reason, very few people helped the Army by standing along Front Avenue for this experiment. For Columbus, this seemed appalling. It was almost as if the veterans organizations were on a big gambling junket to Biloxi.

Only a couple of days before, WWCG-TV 11 showed old 1950-era newsreels. When the President of France visited Washington, 250,000 people lined the streets to greet him. When General Douglas MacArthur returned home from the Far East, big crowds welcomed him like a hero. But in Columbus in 2008, there might have been a longer line at Minnie's Restaurant for lunch.

E-MAIL UPDATE: Since today is the anniversary of Dee-Day (did I spell that right?)....

I talked to Dee last night and she said she had 30 more days at the station.

She did not give a hint as to her replacement.

Terrillyn in Columbus

So Dee Armstrong will be on the air a few more weeks - giving WRBL's Teresa Whitaker more time to prepare that audition tape.

Now let's see what else people talked about Thursday, besides the heat....

+ Muscogee County School Board member Joseph Roberson told WRBL he will NOT run for re-election. He's the second opponent of the Educational Services Center to decide to leave the board. To some people, they seem so progressive - but to the Columbus establishment, they come across as sore losers.

+ Lee County's school superintendent announced he'll join the move to a four-day work week for staff members. It will save energy through mid-July. But once the new school year starts, that approach won't work - because having Thursday afternoon pep rallies for Friday night football games wouldn't seem quite right.

+ WLTZ showed Muscogee County inmates working on another governmental renovation project. They're improving parts of Recorder's Court. Mayor Jim Wetherington needs to pay attention to this - and if the one-percent sales tax passes, he'll save a lot of money on those new fire stations.

+ The Phenix City Council decided to increase monthly garbage collection fees. They'll go up from 13 dollars this fall - suddenly making 13 seem like a nice lucky number.

+ Mary Nell Rollings died in Florence, Alabama at age 81. She was one of the first female police officers in the state, and rode a Harley-Davidson motorcycle on patrol duty in the 1950s. Talk about ground-breaking! I don't think Erik Estrada ever rode with a female on "ChiPs" two decades later.

+ Reports from Atlanta indicated the suburban mansion of boxing champion Evander Holyfield is in foreclosure. I frankly don't understand this. Why doesn't Holyfield open it to the public, as a resort and day spa?

+ Atlanta flattened Florida 7-5 in major league baseball, as Chipper Jones hit his 400^th career home run. The people at Keep Columbus Beautiful were unimpressed - because they get more than 400 trees "for the Chipper" every January.

To offer a story tip, make a PayPal donation, advertise to our readers or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 818 (- 31, 3.7%)

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.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.

5 JUN 08: REED AS IN MISDEED?

Uh-oh - the Russell County District Attorney wants to review Tuesday's primary results. Wouldn't it be ironic if the numbers for U.S. Senate candidate Vivian Figures didn't add up?

But another Democratic primary race seems to be on the prosecutor's mind. WRBL reported Wednesday the District Attorney plans to subpoena the District 4 Commission results - the four-way race where Ronnie Reed won a majority. When Pastor Johnnie Robinson doesn't even make the runoff in a "Bible Belt" county, that's suspicious.

It turns out 80 percent of Ronnie Reed's votes in Tuesday's primary came from absentee ballots. C'mon, folks - he's been pardoned for that burglary conviction. You didn't have to dash for the Mississippi line after voting for him.

Russell County Democratic Chair J.W. Brannen said the casting of 200 absentee votes in a primary is NOT unusual. But he admitted one candidate receiving 200 votes is unusual. And if we learn all those votes were cast by members of Reed's "New South Coalition" chapter, that might also qualify.

Ronnie Reed tried to stay above the buzz of rumors Wednesday, saying his expunged burglary conviction should NOT have played a factor in Tuesday's Russell County Commission race. Plenty of voters apparently agreed - as Larry Screws may join Reed on the commission, so they can compare defense attorneys.

To quote Ronnie Reed about his pardoned felony burglary conviction from the 1970s: "We've all done something, whether we pleaded guilty or not." There's a lot of truth in that statement. But some of us thankfully didn't go beyond a speeding ticket.

There's something else to keep in mind, with this review by the Russell County District Attorney. Results from the primary election were not released until very late in the evening, well after the 11:00 p.m. news began -- and some races had only four precincts. If things went that slowly for the primary, the November vote count might last until Thanksgiving.

And besides, less than 15 percent of the eligible voters went to the polls in the Alabama primary. If the Russell County Courthouse staff can't handle that in a timely fashion, maybe they should bring in another group that can - the ticket-takers at Garrett-Harrison Stadium.

Meanwhile, Georgia Rep. Sanford Bishop told Wednesday's Ledger-Enquirer it's time for Democrats to unite behind Presidential candidate Barack Obama. Hmmmm -- is this a subtle message to Bishop's wife? The Hillary Rodham Clinton supporter?

E-MAIL UPDATE: When the title says "PC Utilities," I tend to think it's an offer for a computer security package. But then I looked more closely....

Did I miss the PC waterworks manager giving up the fight? He was going to get folks from all over to evaluate the way he ran the office after being asked by the city manager to resign.

Here's a job posting

Glad you had a safe trip.

We missed the end of the fight as well, because it happened while we were on the road. The Phenix City Utilities Department confirmed to your blog Wednesday that Greg Glass left the director's office 27 May. So now we can officially say it - the Glass broke.

The Ledger-Enquirer reports Greg Glass "retired" from Phenix City government, at age 60. Of course, the decision followed a demand to resign from City Manager Bubba Roberts. There's probably a big difference in that wording - a difference in pension money, that his banker can count.

But Greg Glass may have left a Utilities Department filled with problems. The Phenix City Finance Director claims an outside audit is needed, because Glass violated all sorts of city and state rules. And since it's no longer Glass's house, he feels free to throw stones.

We have one other e-mail, which we insist is NOT a paid commercial message:

Richard,If you like true Italian food you have to try the Villa Nova on Veteran's Parkway by Marvin's Market..The Nocera family opened the original here in the 50s. This re-opening is the same great recipes..

You need to name your car,or does it already have a name..suggestions.. Chug-a-Lug,Road Warrior,and even Richard's Rocket...

I've tried the Villa Nova once or twice - only at that other location. It's the one at Fourth Street and Second Avenue, where the drive-through lane is always busy on Saturday evenings. And the only "Italian food" people seem to buy there are bottles of wine.

But c'mon now -- "Richard's Rocket?!" If you were behind my humble Honda going up a hill, you wouldn't be calling it that. So many drivers have passed me over the years that a better name would be "The Little Engine That Could."

Transportation tops our look at other Wednesday news....

+ METRA Director Saundra Hunter revealed the bus service is pursuing a grant, which could allow for extended hours. Buses would run past 8:30 p.m., and all the way to midnight -- which could change the aroma on downtown trolleys dramatically.

+ WLTZ reported a new study shows arts programs provide about 600 full-time jobs in Columbus. This total apparently includes the Springer Opera House - which makes me wonder if the researchers counted all the alleged ghosts.

+ Golden Park turned into "Camp Catfish," with an 11:00 a.m. baseball game for busloads of children. The Columbus Catfish responded by sinking Savannah 2-0, to break a 12-game losing streak. This was especially good news for the youngsters who have trouble counting past ten.

+ Atlanta pitcher John Smoltz announced he'll undergo season-ending surgery. Smoltz hopes to come back next season, as he turns 42 - if someone would kindly give him Roger Clemens's home phone number.

+ Instant Message to Georgia Power: You should not charge any summer electric rates until today. The last several days should NOT count, because it's not officially summer until the National Hockey League finals end.

To offer a story tip, make a PayPal donation, advertise to our readers or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 849 (+ 28, 3.4%)

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.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.

4 JUN 08: THE BIG DIG

Tuesday brought a major step toward political reconciliation and healing. It was potentially risky in terms of an upcoming election, yet probably had to happen anyway. And here's the amazing thing -- hours after Mayor Jim Wetherington did it, Hillary Rodham Clinton did somewhat the same thing.

Mayor Jim Wetherington joined the dignitaries, at the groundbreaking for the new Muscogee County Schools administration building. The official name of the building is the "Educational Services Center" - and it now seems there's no ESC-ape from building it.

Mayor Wetherington told WLTZ if Columbus is going to become a high-caliber city, it needs to improve its public education system. He apparently believes a new administration building will help accomplish that. And who knows - maybe some students will watch the construction, and be inspired to become architects.

But Mayor Jim Wetherington took a bit of a chance, by showing up at this groundbreaking. Some people in Columbus are arguing for the city sales tax proposal, and against a similar proposal for Muscogee County schools. If the mayor backs the latter, could it cost him the former? But I was hoping to save the "LOST" jokes for July....

Plenty of other officials attended Tuesday's groundbreaking ceremony on Rigdon Road. Former School Board President Mary Sue Polleys noted the Educational Services Center "always was going to be controversial." That's true, of course - since any suspension of a student can lead to a school board tribunal.

State Senator Ed Harbison and Rep. Calvin Smyre attended the groundbreaking. In fact, it looked a bit like a Democratic party convention - because Muscogee County Republican Party chair Josh McKoon had to e-mail a news release against the building, to get any attention.

The news release from Josh McKoon called the Educational Services Center a "monument to excesses." Of course, Republicans said the same thing about the Georgia state Capitol for decades - and now they run the place.

Josh McKoon says the new Educational Services Center will cost $240 per square foot to build. This is the man who's opposed "greenspace" around the central library - and now he's against spending a lot of green, for a little space.

But Superintendent John Phillips says the new Educational Services Center has been "needed for decades." Then why didn't predecessor Guy Sims talk about it very much? He seemed to be satisfied with communications by telephone....

Muscogee County School District officials note administrative buildings are scattered over several locations now. This new building presumably will save on fuel expenses, as staff members won't have to drive back and forth. But the district could go one extra step - and park all the school buses in that big parking lot, instead of miles away on Whitesville Road.

Skeptics may have found it ironic that the groundbreaking came only hours after the Muscogee County School Board approved a tentative budget - a record- breaking budget of almost $289 million. The bulk of that money is for salaries. So when August comes, find the teachers you think have the biggest paychecks - and ask if they'll buy your children breakfast.

The pay must be good in Muscogee County schools, based on Tuesday night's sportscasts. Pacelli baseball coach Chris Leak is moving to Northside High School, and essentially admitting it's for the money. The Pacelli board apparently needs to schedule more spaghetti dinners next school year.

(Pacelli High School decided in late April it would NOT rehire Chris Leak. Then all he did was coach the Vikings to a state baseball title -- as if he was trying to work his way out of purgatory.)

But anyway: it turns out the Muscogee County schools are hiring 156 teachers for the summer, to help students pass make-up CRCT exams. If this will help some students on the English section - remember, you can't spell "correct" without CRCT.

BLOG UPDATE: The numbers left me shocked - SHOCKED! Hurtsboro Constable Robert Schweiger did NOT come in first Tuesday night, for Russell County Commission. In fact, he was third - even behind school principal Larry Screws. And Screws's arrest received much more news media attention.

Numbers posted online by WRBL at our deadline showed R.J. Schweiger with 23 percent of the vote for Commission District 4. Surprisingly, Larry Screws came in first - and apparently is heading for a runoff with incumbent J.D. Upshaw. Maybe Screws is promising to dissolve Pittsview, as well as Hurtsboro.

So Robert Schweiger potentially is in a position to play "kingmaker" in a Russell County Commission race. Which man will he support in a Democratic runoff? The minister who was the subject of rumors by Schweiger's friends? The school principal who was acquitted in court of misconduct? Or the choice which seems more up Schweiger's alley - none of the above?

The online numbers also indicate Ronnie Reed will return to the Russell County Commission seat he had to vacate two years ago. He led a four-way race, with incumbent Johnnie Robinson finishing third. I don't dare say Robinson was as weak as his recent health problems....

The statewide voting in Alabama found Senator Jeff Sessions winning the Republican nomination by a wide margin. His only challenger was Smiths Station native Earl Mack Gavin, who's a retired postal worker. If Gavin promised to freeze his salary like a "forever" stamp, he might have done better.

Incumbent Jeff Sessions will face State Senator Vivian Figures in the fall. Figures is a female African-American candidate - which means she doesn't have to worry about bringing Alabama Democrats together. Barack Obama can only wish it was that easy....

Let's see what else made news on a steamy June evening:

+ The Washington Post had a front-page story about Fort Benning, where several soldiers complained the Warrior Transition Barracks are too close to live-fire ranges. The soldiers said the gunnery practice aggravates their post-traumatic stress disorder. Come to think of it, how many overweight Columbus residents live downwind from barbecue restaurants?

(A Fort Benning commander defended the Warrior Transition Barracks, telling WRBL they're new and top-quality. That's nice -- but he didn't mention anything about them being soundproof.)

+ WLTZ reported Muscogee County Marshal Greg Countryman recently renovated his department's offices with inmate labor. I'd better not hear any opponents of the one-percent public safety sales tax suggest that as an alternative....

(Greg Countryman explained when Columbus Council approved renovations for the Marshal's Department offices, it included NO money for labor. Maybe the Council thought that's what the Junior Marshal's program is for.)

+ Instant Message to Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones: Did I read it correctly - you want to get rid of the Constable's position? You could do what Russell County's Tommy Boswell has done with that man in Hurtsboro. Ignore him, and he might go away.

To offer a story tip, make a PayPal donation, advertise to our readers or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 821 (+ 23, 2.9%)

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.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.

3 JUN 08: HARD-DRIVING MAN

Any long road trip can be an adventure. When you're driving a 14-year-old car, it can become more anxious than usual. But you don't dare state that classic line from "Sanford and Son" years ago - "This is the big one, Elizabeth. This is the big one!"

BLOG SPECIAL EVENT WRAP-UP: I'm thankful to report my humble Honda made it all the way to Kansas and back, with hardly any problems. In fact, my first two tanks of gas on the interstates computed to 42.7 and 42.9 miles per gallon. That's what happens when you only pack one suit.

But on the second day of the trip, two hours from my destination.... well, I said "hardly any problems" for a reason. In the middle of Missouri, my speedometer went from 60 to zero in less than a second. It happened in Columbia, the home of the University of Missouri -- so the car might have known it was in Kansas enemy territory.

I wondered for a second if my Honda was dying -- yet it kept running, as the speedometer gyrated back and forth a bit. So the second thought was that it suddenly became demon-possessed....

Eventually the speedometer dropped to zero and stayed there. Yet my car didn't slow down at all -- which actually was a bit dangerous. The car does NOT have cruise control, and I had to control my right foot more than ever to keep from speeding.

After a few more miles on Interstate 70, I noticed something else had changed. The odometer stopped working when the speedometer did. So I had an Alamo Rent-a-Car situation -- you know, all the miles are free.

While the car kept running normally, I was obviously concerned. When it was time to stop for gas, I exited the highway in Boonville, Missouri -- and the "check engine" light came on as I did. Had my Honda finally had enough? Without any need for a GPS voice to tell me so?

I decided to fill the gas tank first, and check under the hood. All the fluid levels were fine, except the oil stick was a bit runny and smoked a bit when I touched it. It wasn't even close to looking like a legendary NASCAR loser, such as Dave Marcis.

Thankfully, the gas station was across the street from a Dodge dealer. But not so thankfully, I arrived at 12:00 noon - and the service department in Boonville, Missouri shuts down for a one-hour lunch break. I didn't realize auto service workers had unions.

So I had a seat in the tiny "lounge area" of the dealership and waited for an hour. Then the service crew came back, and admitted it was too busy to help me that afternoon -- especially since I didn't have a Dodge. Honda needs to develop NASCAR team in a hurry....

The service team recommended a small family-run repair shop on the other side of Interstate 70 -- and despite my apprehension and almost turning my back on it, GAPS Tire served me well. In fact, the workers found something surprising: two extra quarts of extra oil in my crankcase. They were surprised I didn't blow a gasket. I should have demanded a rebate, for the pricy oil they drained.

In about an hour, GAPS Tire gave me my answer: the problem was nothing more than the speedometer. So I can brag for years to come that I drove so hard on vacation that the speedometer gave out - even though I hardly ever went faster than 70.

The speedometer came and went for the rest of the road trip. I noticed it tended to give out when my car battled to shift between top gears, even when I kept a steady foot on the gas. Maybe a tune-up would solve this problem. Maybe local repair shops can help me solve it, by sending tune-up coupons in the mail.

I was all set to take my Honda to a Columbus shop to fix the speedometer this week. But now that I'm home and hardly ever driving on a freeway, my speedometer is working fine. It's as if nothing ever happened - and as if I somehow traveled to Kansas and back by taking a shortcut of several hundred miles.

We mentioned on the road that we traveled to Kansas City for a niece's wedding. Because I was The Wedding Singer, I had one of the best seats in the church for taking pictures of the ceremony. But of course, I had to be discreet - no cameras as big as the pipe organ I sat behind.

The trip also included stops on Memorial Day, at the graves of my parents. My dad is buried in the Leavenworth National Cemetery, and I arrived too late for the special service. But the organizers made sure everyone knew it took place - with a noisy 21-gun salute at the end.

We spent a special day in northern Kansas -- visiting my younger brother in Topeka, and stopping at the Dwight Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene. There's one big difference between the Eisenhower complex and Jimmy Carter's special area in Sumter County. Mr. Eisenhower's teeth aren't painted on a giant peanut.

If you don't mind, we'll get back to local news coverage Wednesday. (Blame a distracting three-overtime playoff hockey game for that.) But let's bring closure to this big road trip with some little notes we jotted down along the way:

+ College Park, GA -- down the street from where I lived for years, a sign says: "Caution: Blind Drive." You'd think the state legislature would pass a law to stop that.

+ Nashville, TN - Why is the football stadium for the Tennessee Titans named LP Field? Don't people in the "Music City" know MP-3's are in vogue now?

+ Paducah, KY - the city with a "Stone Mountain Carpet Mill Store." I didn't stop to tell them Stone Mountain doesn't have any carpet mills.

+ Southern Illinois - Interstate 57 passes the Rend State Prison, which has a few outside baseball fields. But I assume when a home run is gone, it's really gone.

+ Olathe, KS - the city with a "Black Bob Road." I quietly wondered how that street gained its name. In Columbus, there would have to be a "White Fred Avenue" intersecting it at some point.

+ Bonner Springs, KS - where I exited the Kansas Turnpike to hear Kansas City Royals radio announcer Bob Davis declare a Minnesota pitcher is used "in situational situations." Somehow, I think that describes us all....

To offer a story tip, make a PayPal donation, advertise to our readers or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 798 (+ 20, 2.6%)

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.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.

2 JUN 08: SLEEPY TIME DOWN SOUTH

Maybe it's because we left town on a road trip. Maybe it was due to Memorial Day last Monday, followed by Jefferson Davis's birthday today. But things have seemed much too quiet in this year's Alabama Primary season. No finger-pointing? No tough accusations? Surely the Presidential candidates haven't taken all the good insults.

Tuesday is primary day in Alabama. Yet over the last several weeks, our InBox has been quiet about the local races - almost too quiet. When more people are commenting about high school yearbooks than local politics, something strange is going on....

We received a hint several weeks ago that one particular Russell County race might turn raucous. We received postal mail with allegations about Commissioner J.D. Upshaw, which he quickly denied [30 Mar]. But no more accusations have reached us since - and no wild videos of Upshaw's preaching have been posted on YouTube.

Commissioner J.D. Upshaw is being challenged in the Democratic primary by Hurtsboro Constable R.J. Schweiger. Schweiger may be known better for his e-mails to this blog than his work as Constable - yet he hasn't written us for a couple of months. Either he's been very busy campaigning, or that former Hurtsboro police officer finally had him arrested.

(We actually went to the Alabama Court web site Sunday night, to see if the promised arrest of R.J. Schweiger ever happened. But we were unable to log on, as the site apparently made some adjustments in May. Perhaps the court system borrowed from prime-time TV, and now requires a million-dollar password.)

There actually are three Democratic candidates for Russell County Commission District 7. R.J. Schweiger and J.D. Upshaw are joined on the ballot by Larry Screws. We're not sure what's most unusual about Screws - his work in local schools, his arrest in 2006, or the fact that his name lacks two initials.

There's another Russell County Commission race which you'd think would gain even more publicity. Ronnie Reed is trying to reclaim the seat he lost two years ago, because of an old felony conviction in Columbus. That conviction is now expunged from Reed's record - so this race may come down to how long voters hold grudges.

Ronnie Reed has been busy in recent months forming a Russell County chapter of the "Alabama New South Coalition." Amazingly, the political group endorsed Reed for county commission! This is almost as shocking as Muscogee County Republican Chair Josh McKoon serving on the board of Common Cause, as it investigates Ed Harbison.

Ronnie Reed is challenging Pastor Johnnie Robinson, who was appointed to the Russell County Commission seat by Alabama's Governor. But the four-way race also includes Isaiah Sumbry - and in east Alabama, that's almost like having a Kennedy on the ballot. Almost, because it's easier to imitate the Kennedy accent....

Democrats across Alabama have three choices, to challenge U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions. One of them is listed on the ballot as Mark "No NCAA" Townsend. When a candidate's big issue is how college football champions are crowned, you have to wonder about.... well wait, this IS Alabama.

So what about Alabama's Republican primary? There's even less buzz about those races - either because there are few real races, or the candidate running against Senator Jeff Sessions isn't even good comedy relief.

There are no competitive Lee County or Russell County races involving Republicans. But Barbour County Republicans have six choices for replacing retiring Rep. Terry Everett. So which ones have promised a Congressional investigation of the county's new school superintendent?

E-MAIL UPDATE: Around here, football truly is never out of season....

Richard,

Did you hear Steve Bartkowski is coming to town? And he's still way HOT after all these years. Check out the Billboards, Bartkowski's billboard ranks right up there with the "Trust God", way to go Second Harvest! Maybe he'll help me clean up the old Welcome Center for a small fee....

But seriously..... Where is Dee? Was Friday really her last day? RW

I noticed those billboards, too - as Bartkowski will be the guest speaker at Thursday's "Feed Columbus" luncheon downtown. But how old is that photo of the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback? A color picture could tell us if he's really still hot, or ember gray on top.

(Be careful now, RW - ranking Steve Bartkowski too close to God could be trouble. After all, the only Atlanta Falcon quarterback to start in the Super Bowl was Chris Chandler.)

Assuming you're asking about Dee Armstrong: I think she's supposed to be on the TV job one more month. But before rumors start, I'll make a prediction right now - I do NOT think Dick McMichael is coming back to replace her.

Now for other things you may have overlooked over the weekend....

+ Columbus Police reported the Captain D's restaurant on Victory Drive was robbed at gunpoint. The fish which smacks people in the face with its tail must have been patrolling another location.

+ Country singer Dierks Bentley headlined the annual "Denim and Diamonds" fund-raising concert at the Columbus Civic Center. The price of your ticket probably determined which fashion item you wore.

+ The Columbus Catfish were grounded by Greenville 7-6. The Catfish now have lost ten games in a row - and I feel guilty about listening to Kansas City Royals games on radio during vacation, because I probably brought home a jinx.

+ Alabama was eliminated from the NCAA baseball tournament. It's one thing to lose a game to East Carolina -- but to lose 16-1?! Does Nick Saban need to give pep talks to ALL the sports teams in Tuscaloosa?

+ Instant Message to WBOJ-FM "103.7 The Truth": Have you listened to your new Sunday morning Christian music show "Sonrise?" It had a commercial this weekend for a hangover medicine -- and the ad didn't mention anything about prayer or repentance.

To offer a story tip, make a PayPal donation, advertise to our readers or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 778 (- 36, 4.4%)

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.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.

1 JUN 08: WINNING TOO MUCH

Columbus gained yet another baseball champion Saturday evening - and it has a lot in common with the last one. The Columbus Catfish surprised a lot of people last September. And be honest: when you picked the picks of the parks this spring, did you pick PAC? Or put PAC in the back of the park pack?

Pacelli picked up the GHSA Class A baseball title, by beating Landmark Christian in Fairburn 10-5. It was the sort of conflict we're not used to seeing in the South - especially with the Catholics prevailing over the evangelical Protestants.

Pacelli was powered at the plate by Matthew Rossi, who hit three homers and drove in five runs. But of course, 60 percent of the runs he drove in were Rossi himself. Political candidates would dismiss this as an example of extreme selfishness.

(And here's the amazing thing: Matthew Rossi is a freshman. Imagine all the recruiters who will be knocking on his door this summer - you know, from Russell County, Columbus High and Shaw....)

I'm not sure if he was the official winning pitcher, but Stuart Wilkerson had more than four strong innings for Pacelli. Yet someone should have told him about the bad "eye black" job under his right eye. He'll never succeed on America's Next Top Model with a runny look like that.

Chris Leak managed Pacelli to a state championship in his first year on the job. Don't you wonder if his contract has some "incentive bonuses" included? For instance, for every player he persuades to enter a seminary....

Pacelli succeeded in winning a state baseball title this year -- while Brookstone, Columbus High and Shaw fell short. Supporters of Ronald Reagan should be thrilled by this. It shows the concept of "trickle-down economics" sometimes really works.

So Pacelli may well have its state baseball title mentioned on highways leading to Columbus, to honor.... well, hold on a minute. I checked carefully on I-185 as I drove home from vacation, and there's still no sign honoring Carver High School's state football title. It was promised in late December [24 Dec 07]. Do we need to add that to the one-cent sales tax list, too?

When the Northern All-Stars won the Little League World Series in 2006, signs marking the historic moment were posted within a couple of weeks. Carver fans are entering their sixth month of waiting. Have the Muscogee County Prison inmates been THAT busy cutting lawns?

I'm hearing the city of Columbus is developing a set of large signs, to honor ALL local sports champions. That would mean not only Carver football, but Jordan boys and Kendrick girls basketball from the last couple of seasons. Add all the high school baseball titles, and drivers could become so distracted reading the sign that they'll get into crashes.

E-MAIL UPDATE: While we were away on vacation, a reader informed us about another high school surprise. The message was titled: "Sports Illustrated ain't got nothin'"....

check out Northside's 2008 yearbook....page 233(if that isn' t the correct number just flip thru the senior collage pages and you won't miss the pic I am referring too..... .....A HIGH SCHOOL YEARBOOK??????????????...........I would hope that the school administration also finds that inappropriate...........Call me a prude but enough already....A HIGH SCHOOL YEARBOOK???????????????????????????????????????????????

I don't think local libraries keep high school yearbooks, so I'm not sure how to track one down. But this reader makes it sound like some Northside seniors belong to the Classless of 2008.

One Northside parent told me about other problems with this year's yearbook. It reportedly has bad misspellings, including wrong versions of "faculty" and "principal." This may explain why Georgia contestants never seem to make the final night of the National Spelling Bee.

(And you'd think the Northside yearbook staff would be extra-careful with spelling. Their book is called the "Amor Patriae." Foul up one or two letters, and people will think it's about Aflac and the Amos family.)

Did you realize the 2007 Northside High School yearbook was a national award-winner? It joined Hardaway High in receiving second-place honors from the American Scholastic Press Association. Maybe this year's staff decided to "go all the way" - only they went the wrong way to do it.

We've also heard in recent days from a community activist, and occasional candidate:

Mr. Burkard,

I just recently heard about your blog and its references to me. I must say, I am somewhat honored to have you write anything about me or my concerns.

As I am sure by now you know that I have HIV. I have been dealing with it for a few years now. In life, when you are told your health is failing and the current medications your taking are not working, you tend to have a lot of regrets which in turn make people run out and try to live it up. Dealing with HIV and AIDS has been a true trial and test to my character as a person and a human being. I see so many things that need to be changed and fixed as I am sure you and each one of your readers see things you wish you could change as well. I'll do whatever I can to help others and make life better here for residents and businesses. We learn to live with our flaws and work around them as I intend to do for the rest of my life. I cannot let an illness hold me back from doing what my heart and soul are leading me to do. Regardless if I choose to run and then not to, my voice is still heard. I urge everyone to add their voices and make them heard. We have so many people who restrain their will and bite their tongues when they should stand up and speak out for what they believe. That's the beauty of being an American. Each one of us can do what I do everyday and make our thoughts, our feelings, and our emotions known.

The town of Columbus has leadership that treats our city as a small one and never looking ahead to tomorrow. We are a large city and we must start thinking ahead instead of always working from behind. The city and the school board have made some real blunders in their decision making, but so has every other government in every other city and state and country. People continue to vote down the tools needed for this city to effectively operate and protect its citizens. That is what I meant by Columbus holding grudges [15 Jan]. Citizens continuously want to complain about the decisions their leaders have made, but then turn around and re-elect those same leaders again and again. This city council needs terms limits as well to help keep fresh minds at work in our cities government. We have to correct the problems our city faces and we must do it soon. We need a public transit system that will connect us to Lagrange, Newnan, West Point and even across the bridge to Phenix City, Opelika and Auburn. We must overcome our dependence on oil. We can have people get up in Columbus and hop on the train to West Point and go to work at the Kia Plant everyday instead of driving back and forth or students who live in Columbus and attend Auburn. This will save on dorm costs alone. We must start now working with our neighbors while the lands that sit in between remain rural and undeveloped. Now is the time to begin construction, not seven years from now when gas prices are expected to be around $7 to $8 a gallon. We need proactive thinking at work in our cities government.

As far as the Protect our Kids program went, undoubtedly you didn't get my report on how Columbus is exceeding the expectations on the safety of our kids. They already have surveillance equipment installed in all High Schools and most Middle Schools which I believe are now fully done. The only thing at that point that wasn't were the Elementary Schools. Fife Whiteside explained the cost and time changes that would have to take place for metal detectors to be put into place which was astronomical not to mention how early kids would have to get to school to be checked in. The MCSD has drills now for things like school shootings or disasters. I was most impressed with the procedures that have already been put into place.

As far as Shley's seat is concerned, he doesn't run till next year. So, that is time for me to adjust to this new medication. Let me explain something to you about AIDS medications and ask any doctor if you wish, the cocktail that we take is just like taking chemotherapy in many ways. The main reason I chose to run again this year when I said I would not was simply due to problems that this city faces that never seem to change. We need to clean this city up and be working with our neighbors and other states on bringing new jobs to Columbus, something our current administration isn't doing. The only thing our Mayor has on his agenda is beefing up our public safety. "I was elected to make our city safe and that's what I am going to focus on doing now." Wetherington has said that to me time and time again. That's not enough. We need our leaders to be working to attract businesses to Columbus. Aflac and TSYS (and all sister companies) is it. How many more positions can they fill before they are "Not Hiring"?

I at least thank you for taking interest in what I have to say and my actions here in the city. I care a great deal about this city that I was born and raised in. I want to see Columbus succeed and surpass all others. But most importantly, I do not want to see our great city fail. My time right now should be spent on doing what I feel in my heart to be important. When I was told I shouldn't run, it broke my heart because I want to leave behind a legacy. I want to work to help others live a better, fulfilling life. I want people to be happy. These are very trying times for everyone. God has a way of guiding us and directing our lives. And I believe right now His purpose within me is to help those who are already suffering with HIV and AIDS. So many walk with their heads hung down in shame and hide their illness from others because of the ignorance people still portray. We have nothing in Columbus geared at helping those with HIV and AIDS live better healthier lives with the exception to District Clinical Services. I will send you the Mission Statement to my new Non Profit awaiting 501(c) 3 approval. I will also send you the speech that I gave the other night at the AIDS Candlelight Memorial. Right now, I am concerned with helping out my brothers and sisters who are living with HIV and AIDS. AIDS currently infects 3000 each year in Georgia alone. There are currently 30,000 living with HIV in Georgia now. Yet, AIDS is ignored in the US and that is why there are 40,000 new infections here in our country each year. Anyhow, this is all in the speech I will send to you.

Regardless of what I choose to do with my life, know that it will be spent helping others. I just wish people could see each other as I do. We are all the same in one way because we are all one race, and that is human. Live Well and God Bless!

Sincerely,

Jeremy Hobbs

Jeremy may be like many people we've mentioned in this blog over the years. They're "somewhat honored" to be included - with the "somewhat" added after they read the punch lines.

Jeremy Hobbs lists some interesting ideas in this e-mail. The idea of a regional public transit system sounds great. But maybe we should start small -- like having METRA add a bus stop at the Columbus Airport.

Isn't it a sad commentary on our society when people are talking about installing metal detectors at grade schools? I realize children enjoy drinking 12-ounce cans of soda, but really....

Philip Schley's term on the Muscogee County School Board actually expires in 2010. So Jeremy Hobbs has extra time to check how his HIV medication is working. Maybe Hobbs will turn out to be a local version of Magic Johnson - and not only live well with HIV for more than a decade, but open his own chain of movie theaters.

We thank all of you who discover us, read us and write us. Now let's check other highlights of the weekend....

+ Columbus had its hottest day of the year so far, with a Saturday high of 92 degrees F. I finally succumbed, and turned on my air conditioner in the evening -- which means I should thank all the copper thieves for not stealing it during the off-season.

+ Zachary Allen made the evening news again, as he was arrested for drunk driving on Veterans Parkway. At least this time, he wasn't stopped by the Fire Department....

+ WLTZ reported the Food Network will do a program about the Lance Foods plant near downtown Columbus. The plant makes "Late July Organic Classic Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers." Which means they're made here, and probably not sold at any store closer than Auburn.

(Let's face it - ask many people in Columbus if they want something "organic," and they'll think of a church sanctuary.)

+ Instant Message to the staff at Golden Park: What happened with the national anthem, before Friday night's Catfish game? Did the singer choke up, and forget the words? Did the singer's microphone give out? Or does some baseball player from Venezuela need to be sent home, to do political work for Hugo Chavez?

To offer a story tip, make a PayPal donation, advertise to our readers or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 814 (- 9, 1.1%)

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.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.