9 MAR 09: Heil Haywood?

Some people say Columbus is notorious for keeping dirty little secrets. One of them was pointed out to us over the weekend - a secret that's apparently been in plain sight for three years, yet I hadn't heard anyone mention publicly. Since it wasn't in the Ledger-Enquirer, this should prove once and for all the newspaper isn't a "rag" tabloid.

A blog reader directed us to an article from the Southern Poverty Law Center. It says former Muscogee County Municipal Court Judge Haywood Turner had (and still may have) a 30-year association with the National Alliance, which the center considers a "neo-Nazi" group. Hopefully no one confuses that organization with the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.

Who accuses former Judge Haywood Turner of neo-Nazi leanings? None other than his ex-wife, Alis. The article cites a divorce filing from February 2006. I never even knew the Turners even went through a divorce in 2006 -- and this was when the judge was a Democrat, subject to Josh McKoon investigations.

The 2006 divorce filing reportedly claims Haywood Turner forced his wife to listen to National Alliance material, and would "attempt to force her to read.... articles...." Wives who grow tired of their husbands reading the newspaper aloud over breakfast should feel better now.

Alis Turner's divorce papers reportedly go on to say Haywood Turner had a collection of Nazi war memorabilia, and even claimed to have "the bowl used by Adolph Hitler" for eating. So did Turner use that bowl - maybe to go cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs?

The 2006 divorce filing reportedly gets even more personal and serious from there - with accusations of Haywood Turner beating his wife, and "cutting off their electricity for months." And you thought judges were exaggerating when they claim to be underpaid. At least one may not have been to afford his Georgia Power bill.

If then-Judge Haywood Turner ever filed a response to these claims, the Southern Poverty Law Center doesn't mention it. But we should note the organization has some biases. It considers the Nation of Islam a "hate group" - while group members contend they only hate white bread, white sugar and white rice.

The Southern Poverty Law Center admits its attempts to contact Haywood and Alis Turner brought no response. We have no phone numbers for contacting them. And we admittedly didn't try to call the phone numbers listed at the former judge's campaign web site, which says he practiced "equality in the eyes of the law." It's when the law isn't looking that problems can happen....

But here's the most amazing thing - the article about former Judge Haywood Turner appeared in the Southern Poverty Law Center "Intelligence Report" in the fall of 2007. A lot of people in Columbus never knew about it for 18 months, even though the center is based in Montgomery. Once in a while, the news should exit Interstate 85 at Opelika and turn right.

Not even the man who beat Haywood Turner in last year's election knew about this article. Municipal Court Judge Stephen Hyles told your blog Sunday night he never heard anything about his opponent being connected to a neo-Nazi group. It's something Hyles says he would have remembered - and probably been very tempted to mention in a campaign ad.

This article is likely to take us to the Government Center today, for a closer look at the legal documents in this divorce case. But I'm left wondering why no one reviewed them before now. Well, check that - maybe they did, and decided to save them for a tell-all book about 20 years from now.

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BLOG UPDATE: In our own version of a "big switch," we now return to our Sunday topic about difficulties with local restaurants. Have you eaten at Krystal lately? Their menu board has become downright confusing for me, because one-time basic items aren't there anymore -- as if the "Krystal Lovers" devoured them all.

The Krystal frustration was renewed for me, when I stopped at a restaurant for dinner the other night. For years I've enjoyed Cheese Krystals - but they aren't on the menu board, unless you order five in a "Cheese-o-Nator Combo" including chili cheese fries and a drink. If I want high-priced sodas, I'll buy big-name two-liter bottles at convenience stores.

I asked the staff at Krystal if they still sold basic Cheese Krystals. They said yes - but they couldn't explain why they weren't on the menu. Maybe the top managers in Chattanooga came from Sam's Club, and are promoting bulk purchases.

Rather than have the Krystal staff make up a price for an item which wasn't there, I settled for a B.A. Burger from the menu. Even this proved to be an adventure, because the crew needed a moment to figure out how much added cheese would cost. It's a wonder these restaurants aren't offering in-person tax return assistance.

Now let's wrap up the warmest weekend of the year so far....

+ Our Burkard Bulk Mail Index dropped below 1,000 spam items. The count has plunged 35 percent in the last two weeks - which makes me wonder how many spammers work for major car companies.

+ The "Big Read" began across Columbus, with people encouraged to read Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer." Or if you prefer, you can try the Cliffs Notes version -- and see the musical "Big River" at the Springer Opera House.

+ A group of more than 250 college students arrived in Columbus, for the first Habitat of Humanity spring break week of the season. Before rumors start: the construction work is for low-income people in Benning Park - not the people in foreclosure in Green Island Hills.

+ Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama told ABC's "This Week" the government should let some troubled big banks go out of business. Shelby claimed they're "dead," and should be "buried." Growing numbers of people are burying their savings in the backyard, anyway.

+ Auburn's Lady Tigers lost to Vanderbilt in the Southeastern Conference basketball finals 61-54. Perhaps it's only fitting - as the school known for rolling Toomer's Corner lost to some Commode-Doors.

(The attendance for the final game in North Little Rock, Arkansas was dreadful, at fewer than 3,500. Maybe it's time the Columbus Sports Council bid for the women's tournament again. For one thing, it would give rained-out softball players something to watch.)

+ Kurt Busch won the NASCAR race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The Aflac car of Carl Edwards led with two laps to go, but wound up third. With two old tires, all Edwards could do was "duck" and cover.

+ Instant Message to the Columbus Museum: I hope your antique show and sale went well over the weekend. Next year, you should hold a "blogger's challenge." Have Richard Hyatt and I submit our old Royal manual typewriters, to see who gets the better offer.

Today's main topic was the result of a blog reader's tip. To offer a story tip, advertise to our readers, make a PayPal donation 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: 932 (- 108, 9.0%)

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