The Blog of Columbus, Georgia

Thursday, July 13, 2006

13 JUL 06: NOW IN 4-D!

All the Democrats running for Georgia Governor finally had a showdown debate Wednesday night. Doesn't this simply figure? While they debated, all the conservative Christians were in Wednesday night prayer meetings lobbying God for Sonny Perdue.

The four Democrats running for Georgia Governor were together at Albany's Municipal Auditorium. This must have shocked some viewers, who thought only Cathy Cox and Mark Taylor were running. You mean there are two other choices - who have NOT run attack ads, or trashed their opponents as liars?

(For the record, the two other choices are Bill Bolton and Mac McCarley - and they drove to the debate TOGETHER from metro Atlanta! Maybe they should have run as a ticket, and made fuel conservation a big campaign issue.)

The Democrats showed their differences right away in the televised debate. Mac McCarley declared in his opening statement Albany was in "almost South Georgia" - then Cathy Cox said she was "here in Southwest Georgia." Which candidate is more likely to pass a geography test?

I'd never heard of Mac McCarley before -- but it quickly became clear that he was the "comedy relief" in the debate. He's 78 years old, a native of Alabama, and had trouble hearing some of the reporters' questions. If he becomes Governor, McCarley could be the Democratic reincarnation of Ronald Reagan.

Mac McCarley made for memorable moments (say that three times fast), with several debate one-liners....

+ He wants an added sales tax, to help military personnel who come home from Iraq "with their heads not put on straight." Thankfully, he did NOT mean a grotesque scene from a CSI show.

+ He called Lieutenant Governor candidate Ralph Reed a "Christian right-wing Republican who shouldn't even be on the ballot." That's the closest anyone came all night to naming Sonny Perdue.

+ He said teachers should receive a ten-percent raise - then asked: "Where will we get the money? Who knows?" That's just what we need, a Governor with a vision for the future.

+ The World War II veteran declared, "The good Lord saved my life one time...." Then he turned around and threw away Christian voters, by calling school courses involving the Bible a "snake in the grass."

But Mac McCarley may have made the most profound point of the debate in his closing statement, when the self-proclaimed "alternate to the big three" noted Georgia remains near the bottom in education. "What have they done?" he asked viewers and voters. Well, they've made dozens of parents lottery millionaires....

Then there was Cobb County's Bill Bolton, who made a distinction between "the God nation" and "the J.J. Nation." Many viewers probably breathed a sigh of relief when Bolton explained J.J. stands for Jefferson-Jackson - NOT Jesse Jackson.

Bill Bolton boldly broadcast his belief (wow, another one!) that the "God nation" of churchgoers should focus locally on community issues, instead of trying "to take over the world." He doesn't get it, does he? That's the grand plan - win enough local issues to take over the world eventually.

Now that we've given some equal time to the Democratic underdogs, let's get to the main event. Mark Taylor said in his opening statement the debate was a time to "leave personal attacks at the door." Thankfully for bloggers like me, one of the journalists asking questions did not....

At the 26-minute mark of the debate, Mark Taylor was asked about all the attack ads in the Governor's race. He admitted there have been "too many negative ads." But Taylor didn't admit airing the first one [27 Jun] - and for all we know, he may have meant his first attack ad should have been enough.

Mark Taylor declared his ads attacking Cathy Cox are "well documented" - and accused the Cox campaign of issuing news releases attacking his mother. If Mac McCarley hadn't been standing between them, we could have seen that World Cup final head butt all over again.

Cathy Cox explained her own attack ads against Mark Taylor by saying, "I don't pick fights, but I don't run from them, either." These days, I'm thinking the running part is left to Attorney General Thurbert Baker....

Cathy Cox complained Mark Taylor had smeared her record in public service, while her attack ads about the Taylor family trucking business "make up the kind of person he is." Someone who tries to save money every chance he can is bad?!

(And what's the big deal about the Taylor family trucking business using "free prison labor?" Former Governor Roy Barnes promised in a 1998 campaign ad to have prison inmates build prisons -- and they never did.)

Yet Cathy Cox never explained those investment fraud messages, and her taped denial that she ever stated her name in them. So you might understand next Tuesday, if some investors show protection DIS-trust....

Cathy Cox's comments of condemnation continued at the close. (Hey, there's another one!) In her closing statement, she asked: "Do we want an old-style politician who's benefitted himself, his family and his friends?" Does this mean if Cox loses the primary, she'll surrender her state pension?

Amidst all of this, the debate actually had some enlightening explanations of several issues. Take education - where Cathy Cox says technical college courses should be combined with high school instruction. I had something like this when I was in junior high. It was called "General Shop."

Mac McCarley proposes a new one-cent sales tax on everything except prescription drugs, with much of the money going to school districts which have the least money. The Muscogee County School Board is going to have to hurry, and beat him to this one....

Bill Bolton is promoting what he called "hybrid high schools" in grades 11 and 12. This should please many parents, who can't afford to buy their graduates a sports car.

Mark Taylor didn't offer many specifics during the debate on improving Georgia education, except to say he'll stop state spending cuts. Who knows - maybe he can use free prison labor to teach children. Linda Schrenko was sentenced to prison Wednesday, you know....

Related to this was a surprising question about Georgia's new law allowing the Bible to be used as a school textbook. Mark Taylor responded by declaring the Bible "the greatest book ever written." That may not sit well with the national Democratic Party - who might put Bill Clinton's memoirs on top.

Bill Bolton followed that by warning Mark Taylor's Bible-based values in school classrooms would be tantamount to "abusing our children." Well, we certainly don't want young people learning that "thou shalt not steal" stuff now, do we?

Cathy Cox dared to say Georgia students should study ALL world religions, to be prepared for a global economy. Somewhere, Usama bin-Laden may smile when he hears that one....

Away from the debate, Georgia's Supreme Court refused to intervene Wednesday over the primary election rules. That means the old forms of identification are acceptable in the primary - and a spokesperson for Governor Sonny Perdue told GPB Radio this will mean "dead people" vote. So? Have more Georgians died as Democrats or Republicans?

E-MAIL UPDATE: Aren't we all happy about Columbus city workers getting pay raises? Well, maybe not....

Have you heard that the city's pay plan implementation will be staggered?? I cannot believe that this city can't come up with a way of getting this done in a timely manner. In this day and age computers do so much of the work it is nearly ridiculous. If they have to go in to raise your health insurane premium deduction individually based on your coverage, then how much harder can it be to change your pay? Sit down and get it done!!!

By the way, when it comes to the insurance they plan to charge you an additional $28 monthly for your spouse on top of the going rate if they choose to use be on your policy versus their own employer's if available. (But note: there is no "extra" fee if your spouses company doesn't offer insurance. I already questioned Mr. Barron on this and cannot get a decent response as to how this is legal. He seemed to have gotten an email attitude with me, unless of course I just read it wrong.)

Anyway, if the city can't adjust the employee's pay quickly then something is wrong with the system in general. We need people running this government that can stay on top of something this minor because if they can't handle this how will they handle something major.

Thanks for your time. Love your blog.

Thank YOU for the nice words -- but first of all, I suspect some city workers are still staggering over the fact that they're getting raises at all....

WRBL explained the other night the Columbus city pay raises are being staggered to guard against computer glitches. Would you be willing to vote for a new sales tax, if a good chunk of the money goes to IBM for an upgrade?

Besides, imagine if something actually goes wrong with the Columbus city computer system. City employees might have to go without a check for two weeks -- and who knows how many police officers would overwhelm food pantries?

I think I see the writer's point when it comes to health insurance for city employees' spouses. If the spouses have no coverage, the city realizes they're desperate. If the spouses are choosing city health insurance over a nice private plan, they must be REALLY desperate.

Another e-mailer updates the transition we spotted Tuesday at a big convenience store chain:

The Spectrum Website has been removed from its host - http://www.spectrumstores.com/ ....

Also, Each time I buy gas at Spectrum/Circle K with my debit/credit card it has been showing up as "CIRCLE K" on the bank statements for a month or two.

So if you have a Spectrum grocery bag lying around, it soon could be a collector's item. Put it inside your Service Merchandise bag, that's inside your Montgomery Ward bag.

Now let's wrap up the remaining news items of note from Wednesday:

+ The Ledger-Enquirer reported State Senator Ed Harbison filed a complaint with the Muscogee County Election Board, over the Urban League's "free ride to the polls" program [11 Jul]. Aw, c'mon - if the Urban League can offer rides for Reginald Pugh supporters, can't Davis Broadcasting organize something for Harbison?

+ Former Oliver Elementary School teacher Tanya Boring was found guilty of harassing a troublesome student, by stepping on his hand for several minutes. She was found NOT guilty of a stronger assault charge. So which teacher do you think will try that French soccer player's head butt first?

+ Michelin confirmed it will lay off hundreds of employees at its BF Goodrich tire plant in Opelika. The company explains U.S. tire sales are down - which seems strange, since gas consumption is slightly higher. The amount of shredded tread along Interstate 185 may jump dramatically.

(While the Opelika tire plant will lose hundreds of jobs, Michelin plans a major upgrade of a plant in Mexico. If that Michelin man starts wearing a sombrero, it may be time to worry.)

+ Alabama Power announced it will NOT close Acapulco Rock on Lake Martin to the public, despite a recent jumper's death. Instead, the company may go to Fox Sports South and offer to sponsor the Alabama International Cliff-Diving Championship.

+ The Atlanta Hawks signed free agent point guard Speedy Claxton. Not only will he get to start with Atlanta next season -- he can make extra money endorsing Claxton, Georgia fruitcakes.

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006

for 12 JUL 06: SCHOOLS FAR OUT

Year-round school returned to session in Muscogee County Tuesday. If you wanted to read good news about our schools, there it is. Now are you ready for the rest?

There was mixed news concerning schools on both sides of the river Tuesday. It started in Russell County court, where three middle school teachers were convicted of not reporting a student's allegation of sexual abuse soon enough. They were SO SLOW that they made the World Cup referee's red card for that head butt look fast.

The trial of the three middle school teachers revealed a contradiction between Russell County rules and Alabama state rules. Russell County gives teachers 30 days to report a student's allegation Alabama's time limit is much shorter -- not allowing time for any revival tour to show up.

The charges against the three middle school teachers were misdemeanors, so they will NOT face jail time. But Russell County Judge Michael Bellamy sentenced them to fines and "community service." For some parents, the best service they could provide is a move to Dothan.

Judge Michael Bellamy also sentenced the teachers to "hard labor." Someone in my office Tuesday wondered what that could mean....

+ Will they have to beat erasers on the blacktop, instead of assigning it to students?

+ Might they swap jobs for a week with the cafeteria crew -- especially in the first weeks of class?

+ Will they get to use that money from Governor Bob Riley's office for building expansion, and work on the construction themselves?

In a separate court appearance, former Russell County Middle School Principal Larry Screws was acquitted of a similar charge of not reporting a sex abuse allegation. Screws already had been moved for this coming term to an elementary school -- so perhaps the judge decided that was punishment enough.

An attorney for Larry Screws argued he reported the allegation of misconduct about 90 minutes after receiving it. I never realized Middle School Principals had so many forms to fill out, in the course of a school day....

Lt. Heath Taylor of the Russell County Sheriff's Department seemed disappointed to see "Screws loose" (my words) on the judge's acquittal. Taylor told a TV reporter the alleged misconduct should have been reported to authorities immediately, not 90 minutes later. Hopefully the reporter reminded him you sometimes have to wait six hours between TV reports in Columbus.

While Larry Screws is off the hook, the three convicted middle school teachers plan to appeal and seek a jury trial. The guilty verdicts could cost them their Alabama teaching licenses - which is no big deal, considering Muscogee County needs to hire about 200 new teachers by early August.

Later in the day, it was Muscogee County's turn to learn some mixed news. The Georgia Department of Education released the list of which schools failed to make "adequate yearly progress." If your child's school made the failure, I can understand why you'd go AYP.

Five of the eight high schools in Muscogee County failed to make adequate yearly progress. The three which DID make A.Y.P. are Columbus High, Northside and Shaw. Who could have guessed some of the smartest students in our area are baseball players and golfers?

(People in Harris County can't gloat about this - because the high school there also failed to make A.Y.P. Maybe that's why Kia is confident about filling those auto factory jobs....)

While most Muscogee County schools achieved adequate yearly progress, 11 of them did not. One of them was Baker Middle School, which is moving away from year-round classes to the more traditional calendar. Maybe some students DO learn better after a few extra weeks in front of video games.

What struck me about the "failure list" is that several schools are located in so-called "nice areas" of Columbus. Take River Road Elementary. If I'm reading the map correctly, that's the neighborhood school for Green Island Hills. But then again, if you live in Green Island Hills, you probably can afford to send your children to Brookstone....

Double Churches Middle School also failed to make adequate yearly progress -- even though Double Churches Elementary won all sorts of prizes and awards in recent years. If this trend continues, they both may be demoted to "Single Churches."

One principal noted the report on "adequate yearly progress" is based not only on test scores, but student attendance. So simply showing up on test day and passing the exam isn't good enough?! It seems to work when you're getting a driver's license....

Now let's ring the bell to end this session, and recess with some other Tuesday topics:

+ St. Francis Hospital announced an agreement to accept Blue Cross insurance coverage, after a three-year dispute where it was disallowed. Somehow you knew these two sides would settle things -- because the blue cross in the middle of the St. Francis logo never changed colors.

+ The Marion County Commission approved plans for a new 50-home subdivision. Families relocating to Fort Benning are expected to live there - and they will, as long as the low-price gas stations move out there with them.

+ Members of the Columbus Catfish visited two local libraries to promote reading. After all, how else can a hitter know "the book" on a pitcher?

+ The Atlanta Falcons revealed tight end Alge Crumpler had shoulder surgery - in February. The Falcon managers can expect a call from the Bush administration today, asking how they kept that hidden from The New York Times for so long.

+ The Ledger-Enquirer printed a front-page quote from State Senator Ed Harbison, in which he accused the newspaper and opponent Reginald Pugh of "harassing" him. Why do I have this funny feeling my request for a blog-exclusive interview is going to be turned down....

+ Campaign finance reports filed in Atlanta showed Cathy Cox and Mark Taylor have spent more than $8 million on their gubernatorial campaigns in the last three months. Now you know why they haven't made economic growth a big issue - because they've personally been working on it.

+ Instant Message to the man who wrote the Albany Herald, claiming Governor Sonny Perdue has failed to bring automotive manufacturing jobs to Georgia: I thought the Kia site in West Point was on the Georgia side of the line. What state map are you reading?

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11 JUL 06: THE 3-6-10 MAFIA

Special Olympics Georgia brings its annual "Masters Bowling Tournament" to Columbus this weekend. But after several years at Peach Lanes, the event is moving to another city next year. If the Miss Georgia contestants had accepted their challenge to a showdown, the crowds would have been much bigger.

The big bowling center in Phenix City has given some people a jolt recently. Bama Lanes has turned Monday night into a "twilight night," which seems aimed at a younger crowd. When there's a sign at the front table warning against shooting off firecrackers, you know it's different....

Someone actually DID shoot off a firecracker inside Bama Lanes last week. Supervisor T. Jones admitted that to your blog Monday night, confirming reports being spread online. As if the sound of falling pins isn't loud enough for some people?!

A visitor to Bama Lanes on Monday night last week was repulsed by what she saw and heard. She spread e-mail claiming "twilight night" sets a bad example for teenagers -- not only with the firecracker going off, but loud rap music and dance contests. Oh, for the good old days when all these bowling centers had was karaoke.

The e-mailer declared Bama Lanes was so filled with loud music, dark lighting and teenagers that it wasn't a proper place for families. So what's going on here on Monday nights? Is there trouble with a capital T, which rhymes with B and stands for bowling?

T. Jones has a capital T as well, but he says what Bama Lanes is doing actually IS a "family night" with bowling. The Monday night specials began about six months ago - on a night which probably isn't that busy with bowling leagues. People who want collisions on Monday nights don't need bowling pins, when they have football and pro wrestling.

The e-mailer complained the Monday night special had a two-dollar cover charge, which she'd never seen a bowling center do before. She would have been more unhappy this week - because the price has jumped to three.

Yet that's not keeping people away from Bama Lanes. "The lowest number we've had is 320," T. Jones told me. Now that's impressive - considering the highest number I usually have at a bowling center is around 100.

The e-mailer also alleged Bama Lanes sold alcohol to high school students, without checking their identification. Yet I was left with the impression the ID was checked and customers were stamped when they paid their cover charge. Maybe the dark lighting makes those driver's licenses hard to read.

T. Jones denied any alcohol is served to minors. In fact, he notes the Russell County Sheriff's Department is at Bama Lanes to help keep order -- along with "the Y.D.C." As in the Columbus Youth Detention Centers?! Is the staff displaying bright orange bowling shirts?

T. Jones confirmed the e-mailer's claim that Phenix City Police showed up at Bama Lanes on Monday night last week. But he said HE called police for crowd control, after someone shot off the firecracker. In fact, I wondered a bit if this whole atmosphere isn't a set-up for a Metro Narcotics Task Force sting.

T. Jones says the Monday night crowd has been younger during the summer break from school -- but says before that, Bama Lanes attracted mostly families. The groups in the parking lot certainly looked like teenagers to me. But then again, none of them seemed to carry iPods or Blackberrys.

T. Jones told me some of the activities are different on Monday nights, including a dance and step contest. This shocked the e-mailer - who I assume never gets emotional about bowling two strikes in a row.

On top of that, T. Jones says visitors to Bama Lanes on Monday nights can win $100 prizes. When my Dad bowled in leagues two nights a week years ago, he was happy simply to escape paying in the beer frame.

I was unable to stay at Bama Lanes, to hear the alleged loud and dirty rap music that DJ's play late on Monday nights. T. Jones invited me to stay awhile to see what happens, but I explained I had to go home to blog this story on the night of July 10^th. Yes, bowling fans - I had to do a 7-10 split.

BLOG UPDATE: There's a new sign that Spectrum signs are on the way out. Circle K logos are now on the doors of at least one Spectrum store near downtown Columbus. So before long, use a charge card for your gas and it'll be K-owed.

Now some quick stops at the Monday headlines:

+ Which woman has filed a complaint with the Georgia Ethics Commission against State Senator Ed Harbison, based on his credit card records? Should Mr. Harbison be concerned about this woman stealing his identity?

+ Advance voting began for the Georgia Primary election. The Columbus Urban League announced it's offering free rides to the polls, so you.... hey, wait a minute! You mean the Urban League, as in State Senate candidate Reginald Pugh?! What sort of a script are the drivers required to read?

+ The Cathy Cox campaign released one more TV attack ad, claiming Mark Taylor has told "too many lies to be trusted as Governor." After Cox's denial about stating her name in the Investor Protection Trust messages, apparently she's now arguing the candidate with the fewest lies should win.

+ Governor Sonny Perdue appointed Steve Earles of Pine Mountain to the "Georgia Board of Massage Therapy." Wouldn't you love to attend one of these meetings?! Instead of pounding a gavel, the chairperson probably slaps other members on their bare backs.

+ Phenix City Mayor Jeff Hardin began a trade trip to Asia with Alabama Governor Bob Riley. If the Mayor can't find a company in China or South Korea to fulfill his movie theater promise, he might have to surrender.

+ Fort Benning posted signs warning hand-held cell phones no longer can be used while driving. Uh-oh - yet another tempting reason for soldiers to park their cars on Victory Drive....

+ The Columbus Catfish lost to Rome 7-3, in a game interrupted by a bench-clearing stare-down. At one point, a Muscogee County Sheriff's Deputy was on the field - and any Rome player who's heard of the Kenneth Walker case probably returned to the dugout in a hurry.

+ My Monday night dating instruction course "How to Get the Guy" did NOT appear at its usual time on ABC. The last two episodes are missing, pulled from the network web site - and the network showed "Supernanny" instead. But isn't this switch a bit of a jump? Shouldn't there be a celebrity wedding show first?

+ Instant Message to WYBU TV-16: Are you happy to finally have "Elimidate" off the air, so you can show 24-hour Christian programming? What are single guys like I supposed to do - when the female preachers you show such as Paula White are all married?

BURKARD'S BEST BETS: Gas for $2.73 a gallon at Dolly Madison on Victory Drive (c'mon WRBL, drive around a little).... 2-liter sodas for 50 cents at Wal-Mart on Airport Thruway (higher in Phenix City).... and head-butting to make a comeback in pro wrestling, after what Zidane did at the World Cup....

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Sunday, July 09, 2006

for 10 JUL 06: PREACHER'S PET?

So have you made up your mind yet, in the Georgia Primary races? One e-mail to us over the weekend wondered if the persuasion was going too far:

Last Sunday, a very close friend of mine came home from church outraged! She told me how disappointed she was in pastor Carter of the Cannon Baptist church. After introducing Ed Harbison to his congregation, Pastor Carter told his congregation that it doesn't matter who else is on the ballot, because as far as he is concern there isn't anyone else. " You will vote for Ed Harbison". I couldn't believe my ears, so I called another of my friends to verify this story. Sadly, it was confirmed.

Let's keep the politics out the pulpits. Pastor Carter, wasn't you in the newspaper a while back for another inappropriate act?

I'm sorry to inform this writer that Pastor Carter may have committed yet another "inappropriate act" Sunday. He took the weekend off, and had a guest preacher....

This e-mail about the Columbus State Senate race demanded a personal investigation on my part. Is a church pastor endorsing candidates? Could the pastor or the candidate be victims of bogus rumors? And why isn't "Cannon Baptist Church" located near the Cannon Brew Pub?

A quick check of the phone book led to the conclusion (confirmed by the writer in a Sunday correction) he really meant CANAAN Baptist Church, across the street from Fort Middle School. So we drove there Sunday morning, sacrificing a fairly good Wimbledon men's tennis final - and realizing the service might last long enough to make us miss the World Cup soccer final as well.

The parking lot was full at Canaan Baptist Church. So if Pastor J. Harold Carter had endorsed Ed Harbison for State Senate the prior Sunday, it had NOT sparked a noticeable protest. In fact, the only fliers on car windshields as I walked in promoted another slate of candidates - dishes from the China First buffet.

(I should note I saw NO cannons on the grounds of Canaan Baptist Church - so as religious scholars would say, that makes it non-cannonical.)

The sanctuary was full, so I stood in the lobby of Canaan Baptist Church as the guest minister from Alabama began his message. I could have sat on the edge of the empty baptismal pool in the lobby - but some of the ushers were sitting there, and it felt a bit like the 1950's all over again.

Canaan Baptist Church apparently had no printed bulletin for the service, so I had to ask several people who the speaker was. Trouble was, a couple of the ushers didn't know. They're too busy helping people find seats to hear what anyone at the pulpit is saying.

A church hostess in red informed me the speaker was NOT Pastor Carter. It was Sam Cyrus, possibly from Tuskegee. I'll take her word for it - even though he borrowed from an old Three Stooges cartoon a couple of times, and called himself "Get Out of Town by Sundown Brown."

Sam Cyrus's Sunday sermon (say that three times fast) was about the "Highway to Holiness." But before that as I walked in, he mentioned something about how "crop rotation saved the South." Maybe this explained the change of preachers for the day....

Sam Cyrus wondered aloud how two groups of people can read the same Bible, yet "one group prospers" while "one group is oppressed." He seemed to conclude the answer lies in having dignity. Some people would have declared the answer is pure and simple money.

Was it only coincidence that a light went out above the pulpit when Sam Cyrus made a comment against African Methodist Episcopal churches? He said they only want 15-minute sermons -- but it seemed to me Cyrus didn't go much beyond 25.

Sam Cyrus never mentioned any names of politicians during his message - but he did bring up the Kenneth Walker shooting, saying people should demand justice. "If it happens to Walker today, tomorrow it could be you," Cyrus said. Hopefully someone told him more has happened to the Sheriff's son since the Walker shooting than to anyone else.

But the Highway to Holiness made a curious detour, when Sam Cyrus told worshipers they should be unashamed of their skin color. He suggested the Garden of Eden was located in Africa, and God put something in the skin of people living near the equator to protect them from the sun. How he explains people in the Philippines and Venezuela, I'm not sure....

"The DARKER! YOU!! ARE!!!" Sam Cyrus emphasized, jumping with a stomp on the platform as he said each word. It was almost enough to make an audience of white teenagers head for the pool with no suntan lotion.

The Canaan Baptist Church service ended with no mention of any political candidates, and no Pastor to question about the prior week. So I asked a few random worshipers if J. Harold Carter had ordered people to vote for Ed Harbison -- and everyone said he did NOT. But if these are the same people who couldn't name the guest preacher....

State Senator Ed Harbison shows up frequently at Canaan Baptist Church, I was told. But one worshiper said when it comes to ordering people in how to vote, Pastor J. Harold Carter "doesn't make comments like that." There are probably dozens of Baptist ministers who wish they could - but they'd risk losing tax-exempt status.

A couple more brochures were on windshields, as I returned to my car. One was paid for by the Mark Taylor for Governor campaign, "Taylor for One Georgia." It noted Taylor has endorsements from all sorts of African-American lawmakers and leaders - which almost makes you wonder why a man who wants "One Georgia" would bring up their ethnicity.

I'm sensitive to this issue of ministers endorsing candidates from the pulpit. The Pastor in the congregation I attend said during an October 2000 service, "Let's all hope George W. Bush wins the election." I stayed away the next week, because of that comment - which means fellow members would call me just another Protestant.

But based on what Canaan Baptist Church members told me Sunday, this may well be a case where people are spreading election rumors which are WRONG. That would NEVER happen in a Columbus campaign, of course - or as Mayor Bob Poydasheff and Judge Bobby Peters would tell you, at least not successfully.

We noted here two years ago the campaign of Pastor Joseph Roberson for the Muscogee County School Board. He was elected - but the candidate for Sheriff which he semi-supported on the day we attended was not. So perhaps there's too much concern about ministerial endorsements. After all, their preaching hasn't stopped all sinning yet.

(And as for "politics in the pulpit" - do Pastor Prather Powell's opponents for Columbus Council plan to attend his services with hidden tape recorders?)

THE BIG BLOG QUESTION is doing what I haven't seen anyone else do - take a poll on the State Senate race. Are you for incumbent Ed Harbison, challenger Reginald Pugh or "none of the above?" And before you ask: no, I'm too busy blogging to start a write-in campaign for me.

Our most recent B.B.Q. (no, we never planned it that way) closed Sunday night, with 62.5 percent of you in favor of fire trucks parking in fire lanes on non-emergency calls (5-3). So be thankful those lanes in front of the supermarket entrances aren't reserved for organized crime bosses.

One person left a comment during this question asking, "If my cause is good enough can I park in the fire lane too???" I've seen a few drivers who already do this - it's called a rainy day.

The commenter continued: "Their [fire] trucks will be noticed if it is in a parking space. It does not have to be up there blocking the store." But what if a real emergency breaks out, while firefighters are collecting money or buying groceries for chili night at the firehouse? The seconds spent moving around the truck could mean the difference between medium and blackened steaks.

Now other things which blocked our view momentarily on Sunday:

+ Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah revealed he helped gain the release of Columbus-born music producer Dallas Austin in the United Arab Emirates. We never would have imagined it - hip-hop down the Hatch.

+ Oxbow Meadows held its eighth annual live insect show, featuring a cricket-eating contest. These wireless phone companies will do anything for publicity....

+ East Dublin, Georgia hosted the 11^th annual Redneck Games. If you can hurl a hubcap a long way there, you might be a Power Frisbee candidate....

+ Instant Message to Captain D's on Macon Road: What is this new dish you're offering on your sign - a "PERMUIM Catfish?" Is that how they say it in Vietnam?

Today's main topic was the result of a blog reader's tip. (Whether is was the most accurate one is debatable.) To offer a story tip, make a PayPal donation or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail and offer a reply.

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9 JUL 06: HISTORIC HISTRIONICS

Perhaps I should be thankful to post this blog entry. I went jogging on Broadway through the Historic District around 9:30 Saturday night -- and no Columbus Police car stopped me on suspicion of ruining the neighborhood. If I had spat on the lawn, it might have been even worse....

There's concern in the Columbus Historic District right now that criminals might be moving in. A recent e-mail sent around the neighborhood cited several reasons for concern -- including littering. No wonder no Jehovah's Witnesses have knocked on my door during their summer convention. They might have dropped some copies of "The Watchtower," and risked arrest.

WRBL interviewed the President of the Historic District Preservation Society about the crime concern -- and much to my surprise, that leader is Richard Hagler. You know, the attorney for David Glisson. Hagler's home and office are in the same neighborhood as the NAACP and Urban League office -- yet those groups don't seem to be complaining about it.

It was Richard Hagler who made the now-infamous statement that the late Kenneth Walker should have been home with his family after 9:00 on a weeknight. So as President of the Historic District Preservation Society, why isn't Hagler demanding Riverfest weekend concerts stop running until 10:00 or later?

I'm glad to see Richard Hagler is concerned about crime in the Historic District -- but let's be honest here. I've lived in "The District" for nine years, and it's had scofflaws all along. For instance, the neighborhood has at least two halfway houses for people recovering from various things -- matching the number of restaurants open for lunch there.

Maybe Richard Hagler is at home with his family when the late crowd shows up at Little Joe's package store at Sixth Street and Third Avenue. The "preservation" which interests those people usually does NOT include their livers....

I should note I did NOT receive Richard Hagler's e-mail about crime in the Historic District. That's probably because I'm not a member of the Preservation Society - and I'm not sure the people in the historic homes really want to see apartment-dwellers like me preserved, anyway.

This blog has documented some of the curious people who come through the Historic District -- from people selling "fine china" after midnight, to homeless people living in crawl spaces. If Richard Hagler only now is concerned about crime in the neighborhood, I'm wondering which direction he drives when he leaves home to go shopping.

Please don't misunderstand: I'm very happy to live in the Historic District. I live within walking distance of the Government Center, the Trade Center, the RiverCenter, the Civic Center - and maybe someday the Phenix City Amphitheater will be renamed the Jeff Hardin Center.

(And for awhile there, I was even able to drive by Judge Bobby Peters's house on First Avenue every day, hoping to get a glimpse of the current woman he was dating.)

But those of us who have lived in the Historic District for awhile know it's not exactly paradise. I was reminded of that on Independence Day, when I looked out my window toward the Dillingham Street Bridge. There should NOT have been two fireworks shows going, but there were....

So if Richard Hagler considers me a suspect in the recent rise of littering and vandalism in the Historic District, I apologize. I'm NOT the one to blame - but I'm also not going to lock my door at dark and huddle in front of the computer all night. Besides, a Saturday night run might end with me tripping over the real criminal.

E-MAIL UPDATE: "Pro-Poydasheff" is the title of this message to us -- edited slightly for content:

I'm pretty sure few if no one here has met Bob Poydasheff. The budget passed to where police get paid more; everyone was screaming for that weren't they? Yes they were. Beyond his Greek and free living lifestyle, he loves this city more so than anyone I've ever met. he is a great man…he was a colonel of your army, a d**n fine mayor for 4 years (how bad is your life now than it was in 2002? Answer me that with a good response and then we'll talk.) He's trying his best to let everyone do they're part…I don't want another police chief telling my police chief what to do…that's stupid. Shotgun the campaign, also not smart, Wetherington will peak early as he has now. And they're using the same Jed Harris technique of telling people he's a democrat (in a non partisan election) I mean…Jims a great guy, I know his family and love them to death. He's a good ole boy from Columbus and most would rather see a Columbus boy than a Bronx man….but in the end, it's not what you want to see, it's who will do the better job. And that's why I'm going to vote for "paupoo" (Greek for grandfather)

So this race for mayor seems to come down to one basic question -- will voters pooh-pooh paupoo?

What's this business about Mayor Bob Poydasheff having a "free living lifestyle?" I've seen him at the opera, I've seen him at Ashley Nix's house - but I've never thought to look for him at some of those clubs on Victory Drive.

The writer raises an interesting scenario about Jim Wetherington becoming mayor. He would become Public Safety Director, just as Bob Poydasheff is now -- but would a former police chief nit-pick over everything the current chief does? Or would the current chief show up the former one, by showing how DNA research is conducted?

Someone will have to explain to me the phrase, "Shotgun the campaign." I haven't heard the National Rifle Association come up in the mayor's race at all....

Yes, Jim Wetherington is a Democrat in this nonpartisan mayor's race - but keep in mind not every Democrat is for him. Judge Bobby Peters wrote the Ledger-Enquirer endorsing Bob Poydasheff for a second term, one or two years ago. Which reminds me -- who IS Roxann Daniel backing in this race, anyway?

Now for other notes from a practically-comfortable July weekend:

+ Many Columbus gas stations lowered their prices eight cents a gallon, only a couple of days after going up 12 cents. Perhaps owners heard the midweek warning of NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams about three-dollar gas by the weekend - then realized few people in Columbus watched him and panicked.

+ Someone fired a shot through the window of the Fort Mitchell Post Office. C'mon, folks - don't blame the letter carrier for delivering the high electric bill....

+ WRBL reported a driver crashed a car through the front window of Fat Freddie's Bar-B-Q on Hamilton Road. Some people act like they have a constitutional right to a drive-through lane.

(Let's all be thankful the restaurant staff was in the back, when the car crashed through the front window. Someone named "Fat Freddie" probably couldn't have jumped away in time.)

+ The Columbus Catfish held a "Halloween Night" game at Golden Park - on July 7! I must have missed the "Back to School Night" in the middle of May....

SCHEDULED MONDAY: An e-mail sends us to a Baptist Church.... and it's about politics....

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Friday, July 07, 2006

for 8 JUL 06: LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS

(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 big number of the week seems to be 60. President Bush turned 60 on Thursday. Former President Carter marked his 60^th wedding anniversary Friday. And at the church congregation I attend on Saturdays, the "over and under" for the sermon length is 60 minutes.

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter marked their 60^th anniversary with what aides called a "quiet day" in Plains. I think the only time Plains has anything other than a quiet day is during the Peanut Festival in September....

I didn't realize until Friday that when Jimmy Carter wed in 1946, he was 21 and wife Rosalynn was 18. Maybe it wasn't quite robbing the cradle - but his bride was barely old enough to be denied admission to some college departments.

The idea of a marriage lasting 60 years may seem strange to some people in 2006. After all, the U.S. divorce rate is somewhere between 40 and 45 percent. And imagine how much higher it would be if Larry King hadn't found a long-term wife....

Someone told me Friday the "baby boom" generation looks at marriage differently than the generation before it. That's why younger adults divorce more often. It started with throwaway ink pens and paper plates -- then the concept spread like a cancer from there.

I know from personal experience about the struggles of keeping a marriage going in the long term. My parents divorced after 27 years of marriage - and I've read evidence that they stayed together for the last five years solely because I was a teenager. So my father cared about me a little bit, even if relatives say he never cared enough to help me pay for college.

Yet my older brother has a marriage which seems to still be going strong, after more than 35 years - and two of the three daughters are happily hitched to this point. The third daughter is one year out of college, and isn't married yet. Yeow - compared to Rosalynn Carter, she's almost an old maid.

Regular blog readers know of my long search for romance - yet to borrow from an old song: "When I Fall in Love/It will be completely - or I'll never fall in love." I never quite expected the second half of that tune to become reality, but....

I believe true love and marriage are supposed to be long-term things. So I found it strange when some people wondered during the 1990's why Hillary Rodham Clinton didn't divorce the President, or why Marion Barry's wife stayed by him despite his crimes as Washington Mayor. When you almost want a marriage to collapse, it's.... well.... like women lusting after Brad Pitt the last few years.

To borrow from a marriage counselor on religious radio, romance and marriage are supposed to be "for better, for worse and for keeps." I believe God meant for it to be that way - so you see, the Georgia General Assembly's definition of marriage actually wimped out a bit.

So I congratulate Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter of Plains on having a 60-year marriage. I still dream of having a marriage that lasts so long. Of course, after 40 years my wife may have to feed me with intravenous bags - but that needle would still get me racing a little....

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7 JUL 06: JIM-BOREE

The Jim Wetherington public relations drive continued Thursday evening, with the opening of his campaign headquarters on Wynnton Road. By comparison, Mayor Bob Poydasheff might as well be running his campaign from a fallout shelter.

No, your blog did NOT attend the grand opening of Jim Wetherington's campaign headquarters. There's one big reason for that - I wasn't invited, and I usually don't go to places where I'm not invited. Of course, this hasn't stopped me from e-mailing Power Frisbee news releases to total strangers....

Jim Wetherington promised to offer more details on his campaign platform when he opened his headquarters. The evening news mentioned where he stands on several issues. But one very big, important topic somehow was overlooked - is Wetherington for or against flag burning?

We already knew Jim Wetherington is concerned about public safety. After all, he's a former police chief - so he has blue genes....

Jim Wetherington promised when he becomes mayor, all the open police department positions will be filled. He didn't say how he'll do this - but after watching a "CBS Evening News" report on the F.B.I. losing agents to a mandatory retirement age of 55, I may have found his answer.

So what else is on Jim Wetherington's agenda? Here are some of the things which came up:

+ Growth and development. Uh-oh - he seems to be for it! So those of you who oppose condos on Rigdon Road might want to flee farther south, toward Cusseta Road.

+ Better communication between the mayor, Columbus Council and the Muscogee County School Board. For starters, the "IsOurCitySafe" guy could add all of them to his mailing list.

+ Improving pay for city workers overall. We don't want those Columbus Water Works employees running off, to bottle Callaway Blue.

So what is Mayor Bob Poydasheff doing about all these media "Jim-nastics?" Not much so far. Thursday night's late news found him relaxing at home - as if he's waiting for Governor Sonny Perdue to tape his first reelection commercial.

Mayor Bob Poydasheff says his reelection headquarters will be open by August, at The Villages on 13^th Street. So he'll be down the hill from Jim Wetherington in geography, as well as the polls....

(Isn't it interesting that neither candidate put a campaign headquarters on the north side of Columbus? Donations to city races must be down this year, because they can't afford to rent the space.)

Mayor Bob Poydasheff says the open police positions will be filled under the latest city budget, because Police Chief R. Boren (to dodge THAT issue) now has a way to "market" those jobs. Marketing?! Is Columbus finally going to get its own season of "COPS?"

Mayor Bob Poydasheff also says he'll emphasize cooperation with "the Governor and the Chamber of Commerce." So the School Board can mind its own business, thank you - and send students to Columbus Technical College, to work on all those new homes for soldiers.

I didn't realize until qualifying week for city offices that incumbent Mayor Bob Poydasheff is 76 years old. The way he's approached reelection so far, he's acting his age - not getting out there and campaigning until he's good and ready.

E-MAIL UPDATE: Another big Columbus race comes first on the election calendar - the contest for State Senate:

Reginald Pugh was in my neighborhood knocking on doors and meeting the people in the community. Why hasn't Harbinson been knocking on doors? Only the one who knows my concerns can speak for me.

Maybe Ed Harbison is being courteous, and letting Reginald Pugh go first. Then he'll knock on doors last, and presume your memory is very short-term.

(But then again, if Ed Harbison DID knock on doors now, the people writing us would know how to properly spell his name....)

At 11 days to go before the Georgia Primary, no candidate has knocked on MY door yet. They haven't called me to offer Blog Exclusive interviews or advertising. We may be in 2006, but sometimes it still feels like 1996 around here.

Now other items which jumped out to grab our attention on Thursday:

+ Gas prices jumped about 12 cents a gallon in parts of Columbus, to $2.83 at South Commons. Some experts blame this in part on this week's missile tests by North Korea, while.... hey, there's an idea! The U.S. military should conduct some missile tests over Saudi Arabia and Venezuela....

+ People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals staged a stunt on a downtown street corner, to protest the upcoming Ringling Brothers Circus. WRBL showed a man sitting in a metal cage at 13^th and Veterans Parkway. So PETA may be soft on animals, but at least it's tough on crime.

(Of all the places to hold an animal rights stunt, PETA chose 13^th and Veterans Parkway? Is this group trying to show up the beggars who sit in this area already?)

+ The Georgia Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the constitutional amendment defining marriage is legal. This ruling didn't take long at all - so maybe the justices fear a special session of the state legislature as much as everyone else.

+ Three suspects appeared in an Atlanta courtroom, on charges of attempting to sell Coca-Cola trade secrets to Pepsi. What a shame - the secrets weren't revealed. So now we may never know the difference between Diet Coke and Coca-Cola Zero.

(Prosecutors say Pepsi executives actually tipped off Coca-Cola to the alleged effort to sell trade secrets. Now that we know there's a racket going on between these companies, countless Columbus residents can drink RC Cola with new satisfaction.)

+ Instant Message to Hibbert Sports at Peachtree Mall: Wow - you're selling dumbbells for 99 cents a pound? Could you please make them out of ground beef, so I can save money compared with the supermarket?

POEM OF THE DAY: Remembering a controversial executive, who died suddenly this week....

Here lies Ken Lay.

Did Ken Lay lie?

Did he drive Enron's price too high?

What Ken Lay knew

And Ken Lay said

Is left to court,

For now he's dead.

You've just read "free verse," because you didn't pay for it. To make a PayPal donation, offer a story tip or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail message and offer a reply.

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Thursday, July 06, 2006

6 JUL 06: STEAK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU

It's a bit hard to believe the place has any visitors at all. It's a restaurant pinned against Interstate 185, and hidden behind a motel next to Cross Country Plaza. Who knows how many people have taken one wrong turn, given up and settled for Firehouse Subs?

Yet Longhorn Steakhouse has resisted the trend to move to the north side of Columbus - and it still can draw a big crowd in the middle of town on a weekend evening. I found that out a few Saturday nights ago, when I drove there for dinner. This sort of "Longhorn drive" seemed all right to me - although the Texas Longhorns driving on Kansas in football probably wouldn't be.

I arrived at Longhorn Steakhouse a bit after 8:30 on a Saturday night - and found not only a practically-full parking lot, but a couple of families waiting on the restaurant's long front porch. We would have had a lovely view of I-185 traffic, but some Texas-sized vegetation was in the way.

Even at 8:30 p.m. on a Saturday, there was a 30-minute wait for a table at Longhorn Steakhouse. I'm not sure if it speaks to the high quality of the restaurant - or the fact that there aren't many other steakhouses south of Manchester Expressway.

Thankfully I brought a magazine to read while I waited for a table - but a big dog in the front parking lot distracted me. First it was in the bed of a parked pickup truck. A few minutes later, I looked up and saw it wandering around near the front porch. I assume this dog's owner did NOT use the currently popular phrase, "to-go box...."

When it grew too dark to read the magazine, I walked inside Longhorn Steakhouse with my strobe-light pager to continue the wait. It was a bit surprising to see NO peanuts on the floor anywhere. People in Midtown Columbus are much neater than some people realize....

Since it's a steak house, I ordered steak - an eight-ounce "Renegade," which the menu promised would be served with "prairie dust." I couldn't really tell the difference between prairie dust and the ordinary Southern kind in my kitchen.

My side dish with the Renegade steak was Longhorn's "brandied cinnamon apples." The taste didn't seem that unusual to me -- but then, I don't drink brandy. I'm not even watching Brandy on "America's Got Talent."

(The brandy makes Longhorn seem a little like an upscale steak house. At some Columbus barbecue restaurants, the only fancy extra for cinnamon apples might be a dab of bottled water.)

The Renegade was a nice, tasty steak - but the eight-ounce size seemed small to me. Hardee's seems to spread out its half-pound burger a bit wider, somehow....

Since I had a pie waiting at home, I skipped the dessert menu at Longhorn Steakhouse. So I can't tell you about the items with "decadence" in their names -- and the top-dollar decadent prices to match.

With a coupon I'd come across, I had a steak dinner with salad and a soda at Longhorn Steakhouse for less than 13 dollars. And yes, that included a standard tip. Now that's a meal which reminds me of Texas - a small town in Texas, about 20 years ago.

And dinner moved right along, once I was seated at Longhorn Steakhouse. I was finished and out the door in about 50 minutes. But one thing left me disappointed about this midtown survivor. When I went to Longhorn Steakhouse, I didn't see any relatives eating dinner with Alice Cooper or Lou Ferrigno.

BLOG UPDATE: Speaking of food, we've finally prepared the "Famous Pumpkin Pie" we mentioned here a few weeks ago [11 Jun]. The recipe is designed to make you feel like a real chef - except I blew it, and used one mixing bowl instead of two.

This was a "progressive dessert" like none other, as the spices were so expensive that we bought them on TWO grocery trips to stay within budget. Thankfully the little containers of ground ginger and ground cloves were well-sealed, so nothing spilled when we measured them for the pumpkin pie. If they had, I suppose I could have experimented in making a new cologne.

The Famous Pumpkin Pie recipe on the famous-name company's can of pumpkin revealed something missing in my kitchen. It required 3/4 cup of sugar - and I haven't had any plain white sugar in the house for many years. The churches I've attended actually agree with the Nation of Islam on this. If it's white, avoid it - at least when it comes to cooking.

I have well-wrapped boxes of light brown and dark brown sugar in the pantry, as alternatives. Going light for the pumpkin pie seemed to be the right choice -- and the pie wound up with a deep orange tint, without my even burning it.

The recipe called for a nine-inch pie shell to hold the pumpkin mixture. Trouble is, I didn't guess right at the supermarket -- and apparently wound up with an eight-inch graham cracker shell, which was filled with a good bit of mixture to spare. By "good bit," I mean it was more than this single guy can lick from the bowl in one sitting.

Thankfully I bought a glass pie plate at a yard sale several months ago for one dollar. It easily held the rest of the pumpkin mixture, and without a shell came out of the oven a bit like pudding. It was like the test run for the main event - and since I didn't keel over, I think I passed.

The Famous Pumpkin Pie wound up with a slightly blackened pie shell, but tasted right and overall turned out well. If I can make pumpkin pie in June when no one is expecting it, maybe I'll be able to sneak it into the church Thanksgiving dinner in November - and maybe people actually will try some.

E-MAIL UPDATE: Now that we've had dinner and dessert, let's get down to more substantial things - and what one blog reader calls some "random thoughts:"

I was quite surprised to see the Cols Ledger-Enquirer publish a Letter to the Editor signed "Brother Love" [30 Jun]. I thought one of their rules was you have to sign your name. Or is that his legal name?

You stated that Paul Olson "lost" the complaint he brought before the state Ethics Commission [30 Jun]. I think whoever paid those high-priced Atlanta attorneys who represented the city officials were the real losers. Would that happen to be.... the taxpayers? And how many thousand dollars was that?

I read that Paul Olson did not hire an attorney. I guess the city officials either didn't feel comfortable representing themselves or saw no need for that if they could have others pick up the tab for their attorneys.

And finally - ref: David Glisson. I understand his wife has a high paid position with the city of Columbus so maybe he doesn't need to work. The newspaper indicated that he was now disabled so maybe he's drawing a disability check.

I'm assuming there really is a person with the name Brother Love. The Columbus phone book lists two lines for a "B Love" - and don't you wonder about the comments "Poppy Love" has received over the years.

Keep in mind the late-June letter from Brother Love also was "endorsed" by other familiar names - such as Bill Madison and Edward DuBose of the NAACP. Maybe they're recruiting new leaders from the hip-hop circuit....

Were those really Atlanta attorneys at the ethics commission hearing last week, with Mayor Bob Poydasheff and former City Manager Carmen Cavezza? Did the Columbus attorneys have to stay behind, because the shuttle bus was full?

But you know, maybe Paul Olson could have used an attorney at that ethics commission hearing last week. Maybe the complaints would have moved forward. And certainly the attorney would have found a way to prevent Olson from claiming victory, after all his arguments were dismissed.

It's true that as of two years ago, David Glisson's wife was working for the city of Columbus. I don't know if it's a "high-paid position" or not. Haven't the recent budget hearings taught us that no one in city government is overpaid - at least in their own eyes?

We have one more e-mail, which drives us back toward Longhorn Steakhouse. It's titled "Library Condos":

Who is going to want to live at the corner of Macon Rd and Rigdon Rd?..When that land was purchased with my tax dollars I thought some of that was to be left as a park. Guess I was wrong.....Now the city wants to sell it to developers to pay the city manager's new raise..Hey,maybe he will get his teeth fixed..

Ouch -- what IS it with some of our readers? They can't stare at Candice Cook's hair anymore, so now they're fixated on Isaiah Hugley's teeth.

There's plenty of area around the Columbus Public Library for development - so why can't there be room for both condominiums AND a park? If you build the condos ten stories high like they're doing along Panama City Beach, it's possible....

And why wouldn't someone want to live at Macon and Rigdon Roads? You'd be within walking distance of a library, Denny's, a Publix store, a K mart - and the sign outside Action Buildings across the street claims business is great right now.

Now some final thoughts from another hot July day in Columbus:

+ The heat reached 98 degrees F. again. It was SO HOT that the group "98 Degrees" refuses to perform here until it cools off.

+ Columbus Water Works began a one-month project to install 24-inch sewer pipes around Baker Middle School. That'll teach those students! Now they'll have to use giant rolls of toilet paper to stop things up....

+ Governor Sonny Perdue appointed Synovus Chairman Richard Anthony to the Georgia Board of Economic Development. Maybe he'll find a way to persuade the Army to relocate soldiers at places other than Fort Benning.

+ The Phenix City Council held its first budget work session of the year. WRBL reported to balance the city budget, the pay for school crossing guards may have to be cut. We're now waiting for the first e-mail from "AreOurCitiesSafe."

+ Atlanta firefighters staged a march on City Hall, because the mayor vetoed a budget giving them a pay raise. Quick, somebody check the tape - did Columbus Fire Chief Jeff Myer show up in time, with open contracts?

+ Instant Message to Columbus Police detectives: One bottle rocket is at Fifth Street and First Avenue. Another is on the Chattahoochee Promenade, around Sixth Street. Run the DNA samples on them, and you can arrest a couple of those Thunder on the Hooch wanna-bes.

COMING SOON: A poem about a surprising death (the time's not right for it now)....

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Tuesday, July 04, 2006

for 5 JUL 06: ASPIRE UNINSPIRED

Tuesday's Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on a messy situation involving Columbus Bank and Trust. CB&T offered credit cards with hefty activation fees, but never told customers in advance about the fees. Is this what Phil Carter was selling, before Bill Heard Chevrolet hired him?

The problem involved "Aspire" credit cards, which CompuCredit Corporation issued through CB&T. The cards were offered to people who already had troubled credit histories. This may explain why my computer thesaurus shows a synonym for "aspire" is covet....

CB&T and CompuCredit apparently didn't tell applicants that Aspire cards would cost as much as $179 in "activation fees." For many people, credit cards are available with no such fee. Only the card companies stick you in the "back side," if you miss a payment.

The newspaper article says some Aspire customers also accused CB&T and CompuCredit of using "improper tactics to collect debts." For instance, if the collection agents are wearing trench coats in the 99-degree heat....

Another complaint was that CB&T and CompuCredit signed up Aspire customers for outside programs they didn't want, then charged the customers to renew their memberships in those programs. At least the telemarketers from the Ledger-Enquirer stay on the phone long enough to let you say no.

The complaints involving Aspire cards have been settled, with CompuCredit of Atlanta paying $11 million - NOT through Georgia's Attorney General, but New York's. It begs the question of why Thurbert Baker didn't take the lead in this case. Was he too busy counting on CB&T and Synovus Financial for something else -- like a reelection donation?

CB&T apparently will NOT pay anything, in this settlement with New York's Attorney General. Bank President Steve Melton told the Atlanta newspaper it never meant to harm any customers. Besides, how many more hand-crafted board room tables does this bank need to buy?

CB&T President Steve Melton says because of the Aspire card case, the bank has added new phone equipment so customer service agents can be reached more easily. Does that bank ever need this! I took a call from a CB&T staffer last week - in response to a voice mail message I left in late May. [True!]

But Steve Melton says CB&T will continue a nine-year working relationship with CompuCredit, which includes issuing credit cards for the company. This only proves what many people already knew -- card games can be a tough addiction to break.

BLOG UPDATE: "Thunder on the Hooch" was alcohol-free - and at least while I was there Tuesday, it was politics-free. But I was there during the mid-afternoon. Perhaps candidates waited until later to show up - so they could "press the flesh," without sticking to it in the humidity.

Mayoral candidate Jim Wetherington plans to open his campaign headquarters Thursday night - but your blog has learned in the process, he's encouraging the violation of a new Columbus city rule. No, Bob Poydasheff has NOT banned all opponents from holding rallies....

Several weeks ago, Columbus Police began a crackdown on parking vehicles on sidewalks. Finally officers are starting to cleaning up a big issue of mine - because if walkers use the street instead of the sidewalk, it only encourages drivers to do exactly the opposite.

The Columbus Police sent a notice to the news media, warning they also would be subject to ticketing if they parked vehicles on city sidewalks. If they "get the story," they should get it legally - though it probably isn't grounds for defense attorneys to appeal, as it is with law officers.

But I'm told Jim Wetherington's invitations to his campaign headquarters opening says the news media can park on the sidewalk, along Wynnton Road. So this former police chief is inviting reporters to break city regulations?! Maybe this is a sneaky way of adding money to the police department budget....

Back to Thunder on the Hooch for a moment: the public address announcer said during the afternoon the fireworks would start at 9:30 p.m. - but they started exploding at 9:17 p.m. Was the crowd along the Chattahoochee River growing restless? Or did someone pull out one of those legal Georgia sparklers, and throw the professionals off?

E-MAIL UPDATE: Now back to the race for mayor - well, at least we think it's a message about that:

Nah...Nah...Nah...Nah, Nah...Nah...Nah...Nah, Heeaaayyy.....Goodbye Bob!

The writer asked us to guess which song had its lyrics changed for this. I assume this writer only prepares the $100 questions on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire."

Now let's change blog categories from "Name That Tune" to "Odds and Ends":

+ Columbus had a record high temperature for Independence Day, reaching 99 degrees F. As brilliant as we like to think the founding fathers were, couldn't they have founded our country in mid-April or early October?

+ Westville held its annual 1850-style Independence Day celebration, by setting off explosives under anvils. I'm sorry -- but if those anvils aren't landing on the heads of coyotes, it simply doesn't look right to me.

+ WRBL reported Columbus fire station #6 on Brown Avenue is one of the 50 busiest stations in the country. Its crew went on more than 8,000 calls last year. And then scoffers say nothing's happening in midtown Columbus....

+ The Ledger-Enquirer reported Columbus songwriter Willie Denson died over the weekend. He helped write the classic soul tune, "Mama Said/There'd be days like this...." Is anyone going to dare sing that at Denson's funeral?

+ Atlanta baseball manager Bobby Cox was grand marshal of that city's "Salute 2 America Parade." Some people were surprised that Cox did NOT get ejected, for arguing with a police officer about the route.

+ Instant Message to North Korea (assuming you have IM technology): This blog declared war on you more than three years ago. Now you've fired missiles in response - and none of them even reached Japan?! I'm feeling more victorious than ever....

COMING THURSDAY: Second thoughts about that ethics complaint against the mayor....

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4 JUL 06: FREEDOM FROM PUPPETS

On this U.S. holiday, we have some fairly big news to report - a new "acting Commander in Chief" is on duty. In Columbus. And no, this title has not been seized by Jim Wetherington.

"I am now acting Commander in Chief of this 'Operation Independence Day,'" says the flier I received from retired Sgt. Raymond Johnson. We introduced you to him last month [12 Jun] - the Purple Heart soldier turned Pastor, who battles post-traumatic stress disorder. I'm not sure why he'd take on a new title like this. Unless, of course, no one else would claim it....

"The time to attack is right now!" Raymond Johnson's flier declares. With Operation Independence Day, he means - a mission to ensure all veterans receive full medical attention and respectful treatment. He urges people to write state lawmakers, governors and U.S. Senators. Write the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the letter might be stolen from an employee's home.

"It's time to stop the puppets!" says the bottom of Raymond Johnson's flier. He says some V.A. employees "spend more time in red tape than in doing the right thing by you and me." But let's be fair here -- maybe these employees are simply shy, and fell more comfortable filling out forms all day.

(Hmmmm - stop the puppets?! Fort Benning's top officers might join this campaign, if it keeps the S.O.A. Watch protesters away....)

The flier from Raymond Johnson talks of his plan to go to Washington, and speak "directly to the President of the United States." If he could simply raise enough money to make a substantial donation to the Republican Party, this might actually happen.

But before he goes to Washington, Raymond Johnson has to stay out of trouble at home - and that leads me to another document Johnson left me the other day. It was a "formal apology" letter, for blowing his top while visiting his psychiatrist at Martin Army Hospital. Is it really good for a church pastor to have a fuse that's shorter than his sermons?

Raymond Johnson reportedly took two letters to the psychiatrist's office 16 June. One of them was signed by Senators Saxby Chambliss and Johnny Isakson. But he admittedly did NOT have an appointment to see the psychiatrist - so apparently lawmakers have to show up at Fort Benning in person to have any clout.

Raymond Johnson writes the Martin Army Hospital psychiatrist kept asking if he intended to harm anyone. Johnson denied it -- but then things "escalated," and he claims before long, "there were over 30 people demanding me to stay in the hospital...." Don't you wish all walk-in patients received this sort of personal attention?

"Thirty people restrained me," Raymond Johnson writes, "and injected me with substances...." In Europe, I believe some people have called this the Tour de France....

Raymond Johnson somehow thought the Friday night fight at Martin Army Hospital was going to kill him. He says he was left so injured, he had to go to St. Francis Hospital the following Sunday for treatment. Since Johnson has so many injuries from his military years, it's amazing he can point out any new ones.

Raymond Johnson's letter formally apologizes for his 16 June behavior - but he also wants Fort Benning and the F.B.I. to investigate how he was treated that night. After all, should it take 30 people to restrain this retired and already-aching soldier? How badly does the Martin Army Hospital staff need to visit a health club?

With a salute to current military personnel and all our veterans, let's check other things we spotted on the Third of July:

+ The high temperature in Columbus hit 98 degrees F. for the third day in a row. "Magic 98," this is not....

+ WRBL visited the Phenix City shopping center where Don's Fine Foods used to be - and discovered it's practically deserted. City Council member John Storey claimed crime is "a small reason" for this. That sign reminding people of the two shootings at Don's Fine Foods must be the big reason.

+ The jury foreman in the corruption trial of Don Siegelman and Richard Scrushy told the Montgomery Advertiser jurors held hands and prayed every day, during deliberations. Scrushy was convicted on every count - so maybe he found a group that's more "born again" than he is.

(Would Don Siegelman's attorney use the jury room prayers as grounds for an appeal? The 1999 lottery vote showed Siegelman doesn't care much for conservative Christians. Will he dare to claim God exerted undue influence?)

BURKARD'S BEST BETS: FREE children's games and fireworks at "Thunder on the Hooch" along the Chattahoochee.... FREE music and games for the holiday at Duck Samford Park in Auburn (fireworks iffy).... FREE prison labor from - no wait, that's a Cathy Cox attack ad....

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Sunday, July 02, 2006

for 3 JUL 06: PUT OUT OR GET OUT

"Quint 3" was on display in downtown Phenix City Sunday afternoon. Before you get the wrong idea - Quint 3 is NOT the middle child of five, promoting her debut pop album.

"Quint 3" was on the side of a Phenix City Fire/Rescue truck, which filled the fire lane outside a downtown grocery store. I'd mention the name of this store - but then again, there's really only one grocery store in downtown Phenix City now, isn't there?

Four members of the Quint 3 company were standing at the grocery store exit, when I walked inside to buy a couple of items. One seemed to ask another if he wanted a boy or a girl - and no, they were NOT discussing which child to rescue.

The Quint 3 company was at the Phenix City grocery store taking donations, to fight muscular dystrophy. But isn't it two months before the Labor Day weekend telethon? Did we sleep through all of July and August? The way Atlanta's playing baseball, it might be possible....

But more to the point: is it appropriate for fire trucks to be in fire lanes, for assignments which are NOT emergencies? Is it an abuse of the fire lane privilege? Shouldn't they be required to park with the rest of us - even if a big truck takes about four parking spaces in the process?

Someone complained to me a few weeks ago about this fire lane issue. He told me big Columbus fire trucks park at supermarket doors near Columbus Park Crossing merely for grocery shopping. The man considered it an abuse of privilege -- but just imagine if someone brought in Cheetos which were too "flaming hot."

Are Columbus firefighters buying so many groceries at one time that they have to drive big fire trucks to the supermarket and park in fire lanes? Are there smaller vehicles available for errands like that? You know, maybe the size of ambulances....

Admittedly, I don't know the background of this complaint. Perhaps the man wanted to park near the supermarket door himself, in violation of the fire lane rule. We had a name for this years ago in Atlanta: "Deion Sanders parking rules" - because police cited him for that late one night.

People with disabilities already should have spaces set aside for them, near the front doors of supermarkets. In fact, a few stores also have reserved spots for mothers of babies. So when are shopping carts going to conform with state laws, and offer rear-facing or booster seats?

THE BIG BLOG QUESTION parks this debate right in front of you. Should big fire trucks stop blocking fire lanes, when they're being used for non-emergencies? Or do we need them there, to remind people of how underpaid the firefighters are?

BLOG UPDATE: Perhaps we should have seen this coming - an "attack ad" in the Georgia Governor's race challenging Cathy Cox's messages on investment fraud. Using the logic of the commercials in this race, this could mean Mark Taylor is in favor of scam artists ripping off older women.

In a new ad which we saw for the first time Sunday night, candidate Mark Taylor accuses opponent Cathy Cox of spending four million dollars with those announcements last year about the "Investor Protection Trust." The ad claims Cox used trust fund announcements "on her campaign." As if Taylor's campaign didn't benefit from him appearing on "Lawmakers," presiding over the Georgia Senate.

Mark Taylor snaps the trap by including an interview with Cathy Cox, in which she denies ever saying her name in the Investor Protection Trust ads. Then two clips from the ads are shown - and she does! Cox certainly named herself in the radio messages, perhaps to explain why she doesn't sound as professional and polished as Robbie Watson.

The Mark Taylor ad claims the Securities and Exchange Commission looked into the Investor Protection Trust messages, and concluded they crossed a legal line. Yet the messages still were playing on Columbus radio stations early this year - but then again, I think they were on WKZJ-FM during "Love, Lust and Lies."

Regular blog readers will recall we asked here two years ago [20 Oct 04] if the Investors Protection Trust ads were a "test drive" for a Cathy Cox campaign for Governor. Now Mark Taylor is saying yes, they were - and Taylor is smart enough NOT to quote our blog as a source.

Yet when Cathy Cox was asked about the investment fraud messages last year, she indicated they were due to some kind of legal settlement. If she runs a commercial saying it was a settlement with a large trucking company....

By the way -- uhhhh, well -- you know how Cathy Cox says she's "not the Big Guy?" I think I found a woman Sunday who could match Mark Taylor for "Big Guy" status. You can see her on TV today -- as Pat Hurst is in a playoff for the U.S. Women's Open golf title.

Now let's sort out other items from a steamy Sunday:

+ The high temperature in Columbus was 98 degrees F. for the second day in a row. With the main public library closed for the holiday weekend, the crowd of people standing in the aisles at Books-A-Million probably set a record high.

(The atomic clock in my apartment showed the temperature at 96.8 degrees, when I turned on the air conditioner in the late afternoon. Maybe it was a "dry heat," but I still was sticking to one of my lounge chairs.)

+ Georgia state officials announced the state gasoline tax will be reset 2.6 cents higher. How many local stations do you think will round this up to ten?

+ Instant Message to the Street Committee at "The Courier": OK, I'll give you credit - you're probably right with your statement that some people are unhappy with "a Black man as City Manager and making $100,000." This is the deep South, after all. Some people probably would be upset if Isaiah Hugley made only $100.

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2 JUL 06: WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE?

The field now appears set for the Columbus city election in November -- and it has only two candidates for Mayor. This shows how our city is different from Atlanta. In Atlanta, at least one college student would run as a political science project.

Regular blog readers know we've received plenty of e-mails in the last couple of years critical of Columbus Council, and calling for candidates who support public safety. Yet when Friday's qualifying deadline passed, two incumbent Councilors stood unopposed. These e-mailers may have about as much clout as the callers on WRCG's "TalkLine."

Wayne Anthony turned down suggestions that he run for mayor - and now he's unopposed for another term on Columbus Council. Are there any banks which offer four-year certificates of deposits, for his campaign donations?

What makes this lack of opposition interesting is that Wayne Anthony has an "at-large" Columbus Council seat. Anyone in the city could have run against him - but not even "IsOurCitySafe" writer Brent Rollins filed for the job. Perhaps he's too busy finding new internal police records to send us.

The other Columbus Councilor who will be unopposed in November is Mimi Woodson. Make enough shopping trips to Brito's and Millie's Markets, and you keep potential challengers at bay....

It appeared Councilor Julius Hunter also would be unopposed for another term, but he received a challenger Friday from William Wright. I suppose the challenger has a chance to win District 3 - if he runs attack ads calling the race a choice between Wright and Wrong.

Two other Council races shape up to be quite competitive. In fact, Nathan Suber in District 1 has several challengers for the first time in a long while. I can't wait to see how many of them received donations from Doug Kellett, to enter the race.

(Your office pool can start now, about which candidate in District 1 will be first to bring up the arrest of Nathan Suber's daughter....)

It's probably not surprising that several people are running in District 5, the seat of the retiring Jack Rodgers. One last-minute entry was church pastor Prather Powell. He could turn that race negative, simply by saying his opponents are sinners.

The same "Street Committee" at The Courier which we took to task Saturday claims school board Fife Whiteside resisted suggestions to run for Columbus Council. Assuming the committee is right this time, this is quite a missed opportunity. All Whiteside had to do was change his old signs to say "Fife for District Five."

The Mary Sue Polleys era officially will end on the Muscogee County School Board. She did NOT pull a repeat of four years ago, by changing her mind at the last minute and running again. Apparently she'll be too busy tracking down her husband, who's off climbing hiking trials. [True!]

Cathy Williams of "NeighborWorks Columbus" will be challenged for the at-large School Board seat by Rickey Davis. The Ledger-Enquirer endorsed the then-Cathy Vaughan over Mary Sue Polleys four years ago - so she may be rooting for the newspaper to endorse Davis now

Now for some other items from a long holiday weekend - and we hope our Canadian readers (we know of at least one) had a nice Canada Day:

+ The Chattahoochee County Sheriff went to court, demanding the county commission provide him more money. He says commissioners took necessary funds from his office to start a new Cusseta-Chattahoochee County police department. That'll teach his staff not to have ticket quotas....

+ A new law took effect in Georgia, setting a minimum age for marriage of 16. The pool of possible guests for The Maury Povich Show just dropped about five percent.

+ Officials in Alabama, Florida and Georgia announced an interim agreement to share water from regional lakes and rivers. There's no word yet about which two days a week are set aside for Georgia residents to open their taps.

+ Former Auburn running back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams appeared in Columbus, signing autographs at a Nextel store. Huh?! Doesn't Bill Heard Cadillac want anything to do with him? Williams is probably much more respected than Phil Carter with those loud jackets.

+ Auburn High School hosted a celebrity basketball game with several pro football players. WRBL showed Terrell Owens making a slam-dunk -- but then for some odd reason, he didn't pull out a Sharpie pen and sign the ball.

+ Former Georgia Tech men's basketball coach Bobby Cremins told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution he's becoming the head coach at College of Charleston. So will Tech change the name of "Cremins Court?" Will Paul Hewitt be fired, so it can be named after him?

+ Instant Message to Skipper's Seafood on Buena Vista Road: Are you kidding - you're selling frog leg baskets?! Did someone there lose a bet, when France beat Brazil in the World Cup?

COMING THIS WEEK: We finally make that "Famous Pumpkin Pie"....

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