The Blog of Columbus, Georgia

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

12 SEP 06: WHO'S GOT GAME?

The operators of an Internet Café in Phenix City agreed to shut down Monday. For some reason, the District Attorney's office was suspicious about it. Any café that dares to name itself "Sweepstakes" takes that chance - especially when the nearest dog-racing track is more than an hour away.

Prosecutors said the Sweepstakes Internet Café on the 280 Bypass wasn't really about the Internet at all. They claimed it was really about video gambling - and we don't mean watching "YouTube" clips of World Series of Poker bloopers.

Russell County prosecutors suspected for weeks the Sweepstakes Internet Café actually was a front for video slot machines. Don't you wonder how they were tipped off to this? Did some weirdo go there to look at X-rated web sites - only to see nothing but cherries and lemons?

The evening newscasts reported the Sweepstakes Internet Café "agreed" to shut down, but that may be misleading. Manager Georgia Russell told WRBL the whole thing was "unfair." And if anyone should know the meaning of unfair, it's the operator of video gambling machines....

Georgia Russell of G&R Enterprises claims similar Internet cafes are opening across Alabama - apparently doing the same sort of thing her café on the 280 Bypass was doing. She wouldn't comment on camera beyond that. But apparently "free wi-fi" is a scarce commodity outside Auburn.

But if it's so unfair, why is the Sweepstakes Internet Café agreeing to close? Did Georgia Russell expect better treatment, because she has the same name as the county?

The "agreement" to shut down the Internet café was announced by Russell County assistant prosecutor Buster Landrieu. The managers also promise never to open a similar café in the county again - so Buster Landrieu's nickname should be "Move."

(If the Internet café is leaving Russell County for good, I think there's a message here - the business rental cost in Smiths Station is lower.)

It's a tough time for game operators of all kinds. Someone tried a short time back to open an old- fashioned game room in the Oakland Park Shopping Center on South Lumpkin Road in Columbus. It had barely opened when the "for sale" sign went up. The storefront churches in that center must have noticed the Ms. Pac-Man game, and decided that was one sin too many.

"The Game Room" (as it was called) seemed like a great old-school idea - giving young people a place to have fun after classes and on weekends. I can only assume it didn't catch on. Maybe the young people along South Lumpkin Road have found the one boy with an X-Box....

To be honest, it's hard for me to imagine ANY game room succeeding in 2006 - even the borderline legal ones. Adults can go to gambling web sites in the privacy of their homes nowadays. Or they can do some even wilder wheeling and dealing online -- and swap fantasy football players.

On top of that, many children have video games in their homes these days. Why walk or pedal down a few blocks to be a "pinball wizard," when you can zap space aliens from several galaxies without ever getting off the couch?

Meanwhile, the latest entry in Columbus's biggest game room officially introduced itself Monday. The new team in the World Indoor Football League will be called the Columbus Lions. Isn't this inspiring - named after a National Football League team which hasn't won a championship since 1957.

Lions co-owner Zach McDonald declared Columbus is a "football town," as long as a team plays "quality football." There's one good way to find out if the new indoor football team does that - schedule a pre-season game against Troy University.

E-MAIL UPDATE: We have several messages to consider today, starting with one from a relative newcomer:

Dear Sir,

I moved to this area at the beginning of this year and discovered your blog a few months ago. I check your page most days. It helps keep me up to date on some of the goings on around town. I have one question though: Do you have something against the CBS station here in town? Over the past few weeks, I've noticed quite a few jabs thrown their way. Some of them, downright mean. I don't know what the history is with the TV stations in this area, but I happen to enjoy watching Channel 3. It seems unfair that you pick on them so much. I think the people who work there do a fine job of reporting the news. Much better than the ABC station in Columbus. (And the NBC channel doesn't even have a news program -- I found that shocking!). I guess I would let your comments slide, but they seem almost hypocritical. You talk a great deal about being a Christian and what not, yet some of the mean things you say seem very un-christian like. Of course, I am not a church-goer, so I might be a bit off on that, but for a man who is as seemingly religious as you are, some of your jabs come as a surprise. Why aren't you an equal opportunity offender? I'm sure there are things you can talk about when it comes to the ABC channel. If you can't come up with any, I can help. The few times I've watched their news, I felt as if I were in Mayberry. Snooze! I guess this isn't a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but I've just noticed a pattern of this in your writing and was curious to know why. This is in no way "hate mail" or anything like that, just merely an observation.

Yours truly,

T. Jackson

Columbus, GA

First of all, thank you for not writing hate mail. I'm still trying to clean the scarlet L off my chest - from being a business loser.

If Mr. or Ms. T. doesn't mind, I'd like to save the section about "Christian comments" for our Saturday religious discussion. But as for all the notes about WRBL - well, let's put it this way. Mr. "Hey Lee" at that other station is really powerful. One mention of this blog in an editorial, and I could be out of business in no time.

Someone actually tried writing a blog taking aim at WTVM several months ago. But after a few entries, it stopped. Maybe the writer decided that station really wasn't all that bad. Or maybe he's now turning to WLTZ NBC-38 to watch "Girlfriends" at 6:00 p.m. - although he'd better not take Persia White, because I saw her first.

On the other hand, some of the best story tips your blog has received over the last few years actually have come from WRBL. We've heard from staff members, both past and present. And we were in federal court for the station's discrimination trial last year -- although thankfully, no one called me to the witness stand to disclose my sources.

(By the way: we now understand several WRBL staff members actually try to be perfectionists. That's nice to know -- but I'd point out when Tammy Terry said she was, she quickly added she was "recovering" from it.)

T. may not realize NBC-38 has a "news program" of sorts. Two years ago, "Rise and Shine" at 6:00 a.m. had the most talked-about debate of the local campaign season. So far this year, all I've noticed are competing Bob Poydasheff and Jim Wetherington campaign signs in front of a refrigerator.

Our next e-mailer may have noticed something missing here in recent weeks:

Can you give us the latest Arbirton Ratings for the Columbus radio stations.

I wish I could give them to you - and I've been waiting to report on the spring ratings for about a month. But the Arbitron rating service has put an "embargo" on the numbers, in Columbus as well as other cities. That means they're not available to the public - at least until some White House official leaks them to Robert Novak.

It's not clear why Arbitron is holding the release of the Columbus radio numbers - but I'm going to take a guess. I've been told the spring ratings showed WRCG ahead of WDAK in the morning, even though WRCG still has a weak signal. Is WDAK challenging the numbers? Or are "TalkLine" hosts Antonio Carter and Robbie Watson simply that loud?

Today's last e-mail is short and to the point:

Just don't give up writing the blog.I look foward to reading it ever day.

Well, thank you. I'm finding blogs tend to get much more distance than frisbees do.

Now for some quick closing thoughts from a sober and quiet Patriot Day, which felt a bit to me like a Christmas Day:

+ I was waving a little U.S. flag in front of the TV set at the end of the national evening news - when the flagstick broke off in my hand. Given what happened to me with Power Frisbee, we all may have only a few weeks to flee to Canada.

+ WGSY "Sunny 100 FM" played a strange September 11 tribute, with President Bush talking about "defending freedom" while John Lennon sang "Imagine." Really now -- can you imagine those two people sharing the same side of the table, when it comes to the fighting in Iraq?

+ Alabama Governor Bob Riley announced the introduction of "God Bless America" license plates, to go on sale in October. This is what makes our country so great - because you never see a car in other countries with "Allah Loves Iraq" bumper stickers.

+ Instant Message to Britt David School counselor Dr. Bunny Chapman: Oh dear, how do I ask this - are the students allowed to call you Doctor Bunny? Or is that reserved for your husband, late at night?

People across metro Columbus and around the world read this blog every day. To advertise to them, offer a story tip or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail comment and offer a reply.

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Sunday, September 10, 2006

for 11 SEP 06: WHEN THE WORLD STOPPED TURNING

The lead story was Michael Jordan. At least it was for me. Hot rumors about Jordan coming out of retirement were the top item in my LaughLine edition of Tuesday, September 11, 2001 - and I mean to play basketball, not to play baseball in Birmingham.

I used to spend some very late nights writing LaughLine, and e-mailing it to subscribers across the U.S. So I went to bed after sending the September 11, 2001 edition around 3:00 a.m. It was after 10:00 that morning when I woke up and offered my usual morning prayer, as if it was another ordinary day. Perhaps this will teach me to pray, before hearing any news to pray about.

After the morning prayer, I turned on what used to be "ESPN Radio 1270" - and heard the voice of Peter Jennings instead of talk show host Tony Kornheiser. This seemed unusual, especially since Jennings wasn't talking at all about ice hockey.

Wondering what was up, I turned on TV - and then I learned it wasn't what was up, but what was down. ABC News showed a replay of one of the World Trade Center towers, collapsing before my very eyes. You don't really see that tape on newscasts today, even five years later. So you see - some journalists do have a little heart and compassion for viewers.

In that moment, as I watched one of the towers topple, I sized up what must have happened. An organized group must have come together after I went to bed, just as I'd heard ministers predict for years would someday happen. It was the great attack by the European Union - "so fast it will make your head spin," as one Pastor would say. Only here I was staring, more than spinning....

The church denominations I attend have warned for decades that someday Europe will attack the U.S. and win, taking the people of our country slaves. So this HAD to explain what happened at the World Trade Center. The church group which claimed to have a "more sure word of prophecy" called it, right? Well, uhhhh - nowadays I read more about the U.S. government plotting September 11, than I do the European plots.

No, my church denomination never prophesied that the September 11 attacks would occur the way they did. In fact, it occurred to me only recently that the ministers have never apologized for getting it wrong. They've plowed right on, explaining how current events somehow will make their prophetic views turn out accurate. Yet still, no angry French leaders have taken President Bush hostage.

But there was little time to analyze such things on September 11, 2001. A local TV station needed me to work that day. I had inside information that a news producer was about to be fired, and I'd be filling in for him -- only I was called in early for other duties. That producer still may not realize his job was extended one day by a bunch of radical terrorists.

We noted here from court documents last year how the September 11 attacks wound up saving Phil Scoggins's job at WRBL [7 Feb 05]. It also created some new jobs in Columbus as well - as security personnel were added to places such as the Government Center. And in true Columbus fashion, those people actually are friendly and smile at you once in a while.

This fifth anniversary of "Terror Tuesday" is a time to think about how much has changed since the attacks. You can see the evidence of it across the Columbus area....

+ Concrete barriers are in place in front of the main entrance to the Civic Center, along with a giant U.S. flag. Yet Sunday night cruisers still party in other parts of the parking lot.

+ One of the gates entering the Columbus Water Works plant on River Road is permanently closed. I'm not sure what happens if you try to enter through it. I'd guess giant water cannons are sprayed on you.

+ A small marker at the south end of the Phenix City Riverwalk remembers those who died in the September 11 attacks. If only they had been military veterans - things would be much more elaborate.

+ Fort Benning soldiers don't receive scoffing from some people, the way they did early in 2001. Now the thought of young men signing up for basic training actually has some logical sense behind it.

+ The presence of white powder can evacuate post offices, or even floors of the Government Center. Sales of talcum powder may never recover from that.

+ Gas prices are well above two dollars a gallon, even with the drop of recent weeks - but oh yeah, that has nothing to do with terrorism, does it?

If there's a memorial service planned in Columbus to mark September 11, I haven't heard it announced anywhere. I went to a couple in 2001, then to anniversary services in 2002 and 2003 - but was disappointed in 2004, when our weekly church service fell on that date and the Pastor decided to give a sermon on food. [True!]

The evening news Sunday noted how the fervor to attend church services jumped after September 11, 2001, but has come down since then. I guess that's why I was disappointed with the turnout at that Lakebottom Park prayer event over the weekend. More people seemed to be talking to the dogs they were walking.

Here's hoping you take some time today to think about the events of five years ago, what's happened since -- and how things might someday end. U.S. generals are calling this "The Long War." And if it's the religious war some say it is, Someone bigger than we are will have to intervene -- and tell us once and for all which group was right. If any.

COMING TUESDAY: An e-mailer wants equal time, to pick on WTVM....

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10 SEP 06: THIS OLD HOUSE?

Did we forget to celebrate something in Columbus this year? The Civic Center just marked its tenth anniversary. You might be able to fill it halfway, simply with the sports teams which have come and gone since it opened....

I was reminded of the Civic Center's anniversary the other day, as I considered a surprising comment by the owner of the Atlanta Falcons. Arthur Blank told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution it's time to plan for a new home football stadium, to replace the Georgia Dome. What does he propose doing with the dome - filling it with aquarium water, too?

The Atlanta Falcons open a new season today, and will play home games in the Georgia Dome for the 15^th year. Yet Arthur Blank says it's already time to plan for a replacement?! Does he realize how many of those seats went unused for several years, when the team had losing records?

Arthur Blank explains domed stadiums get more of a workout than other football stadiums, so the Georgia Dome is rather old at 14 years. Maybe it's needed more Billy Graham campaigns, and fewer appearances by T.D. Jakes.

I went to the Falcons' final game at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in December 1991. The Falcons beat Seattle, getting a safety on quarterback Kelly Stouffer. And I had field-level seats in a corner of the end zone - which allowed me to see part of the game, once the people in the rows in front of me finally decided to sit down.

The Georgia Dome was built in part to remove bad sight lines from the old baseball/football stadium - and in part to keep former Falcons owner Rankin Smith from moving the team to Jacksonville. I suppose nowadays, Arthur Blank could threaten to move the Falcons to Los Angeles. Uh-oh -- come to think of it, there's already a stadium there with the "Home Depot" name on it.

The Atlanta Falcons are under contract to play in the Georgia Dome until 2020, or until the bonds for the stadium are paid off. After that, Arthur Blank wants a new downtown stadium with a retractable roof. I remember the August night when a thunderstorm put a hole in the dome's roof - but no one was forward-thinking then.

(In fact, I noticed the hole in the roof as I went to work at CNN Center on a Sunday morning, and told the newsroom staff about it. But it wasn't considered a network news story until an Atlanta TV station showed up to shoot videotape of it. They handled anti-war protests outside CNN Center the same way -- too busy watching the world to notice their own neighborhood.)

Philips Arena opened near the Georgia Dome only seven years ago, replacing the Omni for basketball and hockey. Now Atlanta needs a new football stadium?! Why not simply hire a firm full-time, to keep building sports complexes? Football first, then baseball to replace Turner Field, then basketball again....

I mention all this to wonder if Columbus city officials are thinking way ahead, as Arthur Blank is. Has any thought been given about the next generation of sports arenas and stadiums? Do we have to wait for the Cottonmouths to threaten a move to.... well, the AF2 league moved to Albany, and is doing all right....

Some people say while "historic Golden Park" is historic, it's in a bad location at South Commons. Should a new baseball stadium be built on the north side of Columbus? Should it be built on the grounds of the Northern Little League - so that organization doesn't threaten to move to Marion County?

At ten years old, the Civic Center doesn't seem that ancient. After all, it was used this weekend for something quite young - the Junior League Attic Sale....

But recall a few months ago, when the Columbus Civic Center tried to sell sponsorship rights - and no one was willing to make the minimum bid. Does that make the arena a liability? Or is everyone waiting for Councilor Jack Rodgers to leave office, so it can be named after him?

Arthur Blank says it takes years to plan and build the next generation of a sports stadium. So do we need to start planning now, for the Civic Center's successor? It could have a new "Jumbotron" scoreboard - or even a scratched or dented big-screen TV from Best Buy.

The Civic Center's successor could be along the lines of what they're talking about building at Auburn University - a successor to Beard-Eaves Coliseum. We noted here earlier this year how far-fetched that idea seemed. But with enough reserved skyboxes, I suppose anything is possible....

E-MAIL UPDATE: Speaking of allegedly old things....

Mr. Burkard,

To answer your question on how old the picture of my grandfather is, assuming it was the same time we took the family picture that is on the website, I believe it was about 6 years ago during the summer. I might be mistaken, but I also want to add that the family picture of the Wetherington family on Mr. Wehteringtons website doesn’t seem to be recent either. I just graduated with two of his grandsons and obviously, the children in the picture don’t seem to be very old.

Always,

Poydasheff's Grandson

Take that, you scoffers! Mayor Bob Poydasheff really hasn't aged since 2000. But maybe all the candidates need to arrange Annie Liebowitz photo shoots, at Tom Cruise's secure undisclosed location....

What does it say when eight weeks before the Columbus mayoral election, the big debating point is the campaign pictures of the candidates? Instead of looking over the paragraphs of their platforms, we're analyzing the lines around their eyes and on their foreheads.

Here's one more e-mail, which came from someone at WRBL about something we wrote Friday:

Dearest Richard-

In response to "it's clear which station the boys are watching" comment: They are 12. Do you really think they're watching news? No insult taken.

Well, why wouldn't the world champion Northern Little League team be watching the evening news? Their parents probably have shelves filled with videotaped highlights already.

I was watching the evening news before I turned 12, but admittedly that was a different era. At the risk of showing my age, I only had about four TV stations to choose from at 6:00 p.m. - and that was in Kansas City, where there should have been more money and viewers interested in something else.

Watching the local evening news in my youth actually made me interested in a journalism career. So I don't think the age of the Little Leaguers has anything to do with this. The fact that they're baseball players might, though -- because I have yet to see one of them try to imitate Skip Carey, or even Dave Platta.

That reminds me: the Northern All-Stars traveled to Turner Field in Atlanta Saturday. They met major-league players, and even took the field with them. And here's what made things even more amazing - this year, Northern has a much better winning percentage.

Did you hear about the Northern All-Stars hiring a public relations firm? WRBL reports the team has hired Marquette McKnight's "Media, Marketing and More," because it's getting so many requests for appearances. At this rate, the team won't need to raise money for its next trip to the Little League World Series - the appearance fees already will be in the bank.

(I would make one suggestion to the team, though. If you're asked to appear with Terrell Owens or his agent, run as fast as you can.)

Now let's put our bats and gloves back in the closet, and send some Instant Messages....

+ To the organizers of that "community prayer" event at Lakebottom Park: Fewer than 15 people showed up. The people in charge apparently were late. And the main musician lost track of time, rehearsing two students in singing "The Greatest Love of All." If this was a really campaign event for Charles Weaver, the standard DOES need raising.

+ To Brookstone School: About that "Magazine Drive" sign on the fence - are you going to have a Newspaper Avenue as well?

+ To the Bavarian House restaurant on Weems Road: It's nice to see Wally and Mike are together again, performing music this weekend. Was some extra money exchanged to ensure this - such as a Mike Check?

+ To WRBL morning anchor Tammy Terry: I appreciate the fact that you call yourself a perfectionist. It's a relief to know at least one person there is.

+ To the grounds crew at Auburn's Jordan-Hare Stadium: Your field markings are confusing me. The other night, I thought running back Kenny Irons had crossed the 150-yard line....

+ To South Carolina football coach Steve Spurrier: Ouch -- shut out 18-0 by Georgia, at home!?! I'm reminded of that song from the musical "Chicago": you had it comin' , you had it comin'.

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Friday, September 08, 2006

for 9 SEP 06: TO DREAM THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM

(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.)

Our thanks to those of you who have written us about the end of Power Frisbee of Georgia. Here's one of the e-mails, the sort you hold close to your heart and treasure for years to come....

Your dream is dead. Get over it and get a life you loser. Nobody cares about your stupid game or your loser personal life. Stick to the news or shut it down.

If you think we make up these e-mails -- no way. This is real, and unsigned. So I don't know which friend of Dr. Eric Buffong sent it....

To be honest, I could have written much of this e-mail myself over the last couple of weeks. After more than 25 years of dreaming about starting a new sport, I thought this would be like the John Feinstein bestseller: "A Season on the Brink." Now my working book title is, "A Season Over the Cliff."

Yes, I was a loser. Yup, I failed. In fact, I told a teller at the bank with the Power Frisbee account I felt like putting a big scarlet letter F on my chest. At least some people might misunderstand, and think I'm a graduate of Florida.

When I went to church last weekend and people asked how my week was, I responded to all of them: "Failing." Most of those people went right on, not seeming to notice what I said. But a visiting radio news reporter from Jacksonville did - so there's still some hope for journalism in this country.

An old quote says it's "better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all." Whoever said that obviously didn't have to pay the bills associated with a failed business.

While I know you should "never say never," the chances are very high that I'll never dream about running my own business again. All my great ideas built over decades have run out. And wouldn't you know it - just as they do, all these mills start closing....

In fact, Sunday will feel very strange for me. Not only will we NOT go to Macon for Round 4 of Power Frisbee, I don't plan to go to a field and throw frisbees at all. The dream is THAT dead - and that disc I threw into the storm drain in late August [24 Aug] was as symbolic as I feared it might be.

I can't resist comparing what I've been through with what WRCG's Antonio Carter is doing. He announced the start of the New Joshua Generation only three days before Power Frisbee's opening night [22 Aug]. Last time I checked, his project was still going - but unlike me, Carter has a board of directors. Maybe he's borrowing money from them to keep things going.

There's been a lot of free time over the last two-plus weeks for me to think about this. My big dream melted down before my eyes, literally within hours of it coming to reality. If a planet had feelings, I would have been Pluto.

But then I remembered I've passed this way before. A few years ago, I did a Bible study on failure when another business idea died. In fact, I posted it online to share with others. But I don't recall anyone ever e-mailing me about it, so maybe it was a flop as well.

One point of that article is that even if God blows up your dream (and He has the power to do that), you're not supposed to "blow up" toward Him. Instead, you're supposed to rejoice in God even when you fail -- but of course, that isn't easy. Wal-Mart's smiley faces are only so big, for disguising your emotions.

While the Power Frisbee dream is dead, not all my dreams are. And if Katie Couric is reading this blog, I invite her to contact me this weekend -- dinner's on me.

But seriously: the biggest dream of all involves being with God in a coming glorious kingdom, described in the Bible. If the ministers I've heard are wrong about that one -- well, then maybe the Muslims and Christians should quit fighting each other, and achieve a REAL dream of peace.

If our title today sounds familiar, it's the first line of a key song from the school musical in my senior year of high school -- "Man of La Mancha." I happened to have the starring role in that production, eating out the good-looking tenor in the school choir. At last report, he was selling cars for a living in southwest Missouri.

The lead in "Man of La Mancha" sings "The Impossible Dream" during act two. It's a showstopping number, which the audiences at our high school musical seemed to like. In fact, it even earned me a surprise tearful hug from a senior cheerleader after the Friday night performance - something that never seemed to happen again.

I don't sing that song much anymore, perhaps because I sang it so much preparing for the musical. But the words still offer something about the hope I have in Someone planning things much bigger than a frisbee game:

And the world will be better for this -

That one man, torn and covered with scars,

Still strove with his last ounce of courage

To reach the unreachable star.

COMING SUNDAY: Questions about aging, involving a building and the candidates for mayor....

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8 SEP 06: THE BADGES ARE BACK

So whatever happened to former Muscogee County Marshal Ken Suddeth? Thursday's Ledger-Enquirer provided the answer. He's found a new job, as the first Chattahoochee County Police Chief. So once again, he'll face officials who want to see his job abolished....

You may remember Ken Suddeth survived a citywide referendum on abolishing his office, when he was Muscogee County Marshal. Now he's becoming a Police Chief, and a potential rival for the Chattahoochee County Sheriff. So which leader do you think will investigate the other one first?

Ken Suddeth is taking over what essentially is a brand-new police force. The Chattahoochee County Commission created it, while slashing the budget for the Sheriff's Department. Perhaps someone forgot to tell the commissioners that Suddeth turned in all those souvenir marshal's badges last year....

We actually joked in this blog two weeks ago about Ken Suddeth possibly moving to Cusseta [22 Aug]. Now here he is, becoming Chattahoochee County Police Chief - but come to think of it, maybe he'll have his own squad to commute to and from Columbus.

Someone told me Thursday the Chattahoochee County Manager lives in Columbus. Now Columbus resident Ken Suddeth is becoming Police Chief. Well, at least they can promote car pooling....

Someone else wondered what it says about Chattahoochee County to have the county manager, and now possibly the county police chief, living outside the county. But things could be worse. Former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge just took a job advising the government of Albania. [True/Marketplace!]

Another issue involving Ken Suddeth is where he's going to find officers for his new police force. Columbus is trying to fill dozens of police openings. So what can Chattahoochee County offer than Columbus can't - except maybe that Bojangles chicken stand on Highway 520?

(Before you get big ideas: no, I can't see Ken Suddeth offering a job to David Glisson. Glisson shares the same attorney as the Chattahoochee County Sheriff - and if that sheriff hasn't hired him, maybe Glisson should try working as a private investigator.)

Meanwhile, Thursday's paper also reported there's still no budget agreement between the Chattahoochee County Commission and the Sheriff The Sheriff says the future of his department is at stake - and you might have to add an extra ten percent gratuity, for attorney Richard Hagler taking the county to court.

BLOG UPDATE: The coaches of the Northern All-Stars gave the team a surprise Thursday - driving the players to metro Atlanta to meet President Bush. The coaches say they kept it a secret from the players. Considering WRBL mentioned the trip during Wednesday night's news, it's clear what stations the players are watching.

President Bush went to Cobb County for a speech, but the Little League champions did NOT attend it. WRBL showed them in a waiting room at Dobbins Air Force Base. When you win a world title in baseball, you don't want to be bored with something as mundane as stopping terrorism.

The Little Leaguers lined up to meet President Bush, as he arrived at the air force base to fly to Savannah. Instead of baseball uniforms, they wore Columbus championship T-shirts - with a Russell Athletic logo VERY noticeable on the back. Apparently the candidates for Mayor didn't want to pay a little extra....

The President posed for a group photo with the world champions, and signed autographs for some of them. Mr. Bush told Josh Lester he could NOT hit the Little Leaguer's pitching. This may explain why they play T-ball games on the White House lawn during the summer.

Both children and adults seemed wowed by their moment with the President. Northern Little League's President called it a "once-in-a-lifetime experience" to meet a President. Well, unless you donate $10,000 like the Republicans near Savannah did....

The Little League champions head back to Atlanta this weekend, for V.I.P. treatment at Turner Field. Perhaps in their honor, the "Francoeur Franks" will dress up for a day as Northern light bulbs.

(But hold on here - two trips to Atlanta in three days?! Why not save on gas, by taking a few substitute teachers along on the trip and having class today in a motel?)

E-MAIL UPDATE: Speaking of education....

Are kids counted absent when their bus never arrives to pick them up for school? Thanks to the parent who rode the neighborhood picking up HHS students when the bus never came..Also, thanks to the policeman who broke up the fight of middle school students at the bus transfer behind the library.These kids sit on busses up to 30min awaiting the arrival of busses that are hemmed in by parents at Blackmon Rd. Hey,Principal at Blackmon...do your job and move those parents this is getting old...

OK, I give up - which school board candidate is this e-mailer trying to endorse?

The long wait for Muscogee County school buses apparently is due to more students riding them, but fewer adults driving them. Ridership seems to have increased this term, perhaps because of high gas prices. It's nice to see so many parents thinking of their children first, in planning budgets.

But as we noted here Thursday, the Muscogee County School District has about 30 openings for bus drivers. Who knows how many convicted sex offenders heard that news and said, "I wouldn't go within 1,000 feet of a job like that."

I haven't confirmed whether there actually was a rumble behind the Columbus Public Library, involving middle school students. But maybe this will inspire the library to show "West Side Story" in its theater one of these weekends.

Maybe this e-mailer wants to see more of what a Columbus police officer did Thursday. WRBL showed a fifth-grade student being handcuffed, outside River Road Elementary School. If this seems unusual, remember - most grade schools don't have lockers, for locking up children inside.

Muscogee County Superintendent John Phillips said the fifth-grader's parents actually asked for police intervention, because the child was acting dangerously in traffic. But he suggested River Road School did NOT ask police specifically to use handcuffs. So what's the second choice in a case like this - a billy club or pepper spray?

Let's all line up single-file now, and look at other Thursday news items:

+ A three-day conference ended in Phenix City, on improving law enforcement relations with the news media. I personally think local law officers do a good job now - because I hardly ever hear one on TV or radio describe a criminal with the word "perpetrator."

+ The Ledger-Enquirer reported the former managers of The Fire House club are trying to take over Club Roc in Phenix City. There's one small advantage to this move across the river. Club Roc is located across the street from a 24-hour pharmacy, for treating the injured.

+ The Columbus United Way had a kick-off luncheon, for this year's fund-raising campaign. The 2006 goal is $6.4 million - so if you stumble upon executive Guy Sims buying a Mega Millions ticket today, that's the excuse to expect.

+ Instant Message to All-Pro Muffler and Tire on Crawford Road in Phenix City: That's a new one on me. When did your car repair shop start selling pottery? Do you plan to go all the way in challenging Wal-Mart, by selling groceries?

COMING THIS WEEKEND: An e-mail about Power Frisbee you have to see to believe....

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Thursday, September 07, 2006

7 SEP 06: AM I TOUGH ENOUGH?

You can tell an election is near when the candidates talk a lot about how they plan to fight crime. The one exception this year could be the Columbus Mayor's race - where the candidates seem to disagree about whether crime is a problem or not.

Three high-ranking state candidates focused on various aspects of crime Wednesday. Alabama Attorney General Troy King did so in person, visiting with Lee County law officers in Opelika. In a mild surprise, he did NOT show up to crack down on Opelika's public smoking ban....

Troy King said he's touring Alabama to make sure the state's new sex offender laws are working -- especially the one about "community notification," when a convicted sex offender moves into a neighborhood. Don't you wish they expanded that, to cover the burglars out on parole?

Lee County officials assured Attorney General King that the new sex offender laws are working. That's exactly what King wanted to hear, since he's up for election two months from today. If they said otherwise, he'd have to go door-to-door doing more than campaigning.

Troy King told reporters he's on a "listening tour" about the sex offender law. Yet he certainly was ready to talk about his ideas for making the law even tougher....

The Alabama Attorney General said he wants the death penalty for serial sex offenders. Troy King also wants convicted sex offenders barred from YMCA's -- which would make that song by the Village People outdated. Those places would NOT be for people "down and out with the blues."

Troy King's "law check" serves two purposes: he at least appears to do his job, while getting free attention for the upcoming election. King's opponent for Alabama Attorney General is a District Attorney in Mobile -- and if he's campaigned in this area, he seems to be doing it undercover.

Across the line, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue announced his own steps against crime Wednesday -- only he focused on fraud at driver's license offices. Uh-oh, I might actually have to weigh myself the next time I'm up for renewal....

But seriously: Governor Sonny Perdue wants to crack down on the number of illegal immigrants obtaining driver's licenses. First Republicans tried to change the identification rules for voting. Now it's the rules for getting the identification. What's next - surprise raids of Mexican restaurants, to require a certain number of white servers?

Governor Sonny Perdue wants to put state investigators in the ten busiest drivers' license offices in Georgia, to monitor whether illegal immigrants are receiving licenses. If Columbus doesn't have one of the ten busiest offices, that might be grounds for an investigation of its own.

For all the attention Governor Perdue's announcement received, there's one small detail you may have overlooked. The Georgia General Assembly has to approve the proposals -- next year, after the election. Apparently the Governor doesn't consider illegal immigration as dangerous as homosexual marriage, and worthy of a special session.

Sonny Perdue's opponent in the Georgia Governor's race is also talking tough about crime these days. Mark Taylor's first TV commercial since winning the Democratic primary warns about violent criminals going free on parole. In other words, he wants Cottonmouths hockey rules - and you serve all five minutes of a major penalty for fighting.

Mark Taylor says if you vote for him two months from today, he'll offer a constitutional amendment abolishing parole for violent crimes. But don't judges and juries have the option of imposing "life without parole" sentences now? Has the "two strikes" policy suddenly changed, so foul balls don't count?

Mark Taylor warns in his commercial that some violent criminals in Georgia are receiving parole long before their sentences are over. It sounds like he's saying the policy of "time off for good behavior" suddenly is bad behavior....

(By the way, Mark Taylor speaks for himself in his latest campaign commercial. It's not clear when Andrew Young's probation period will end.)

If you're looking for a break from all these candidates holding political "tough guy" contests, I found one Wednesday in the mail. For some reason, I received another gambling offer - and discovered former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura is endorsing an online sports book. I thought Internet gambling was illegal. But then, I never thought a one-time professional wrestler would become a governor.

BLOG UPDATE: Wednesday's mail also brought a letter from recent e-mailer and blog-vertiser Dave Eversman. He sent hard copy proof that the Congress.org web site recently ranked Rep. Sanford Bishop 437^th among all House members, in the "legislation" category. Indeed, Bishop placed lower than the non-voting delegate from Guam. So do guava farmers have more clout than peanut farmers?

Yet another check of the very same rankings at Congress.org Wednesday night showed a different number for Sanford Bishop. Instead of 437^h in legislation, he's now in a tie for number 50 with 115 other House members. So if Bishop claims he's in the "top 50" among all House members, that's true - but so is everybody else.

Congress.org apparently changed its ranking numbers over the last two weeks, because the hard-copy list I was mailed showed Bishop and 115 other House members with the same score in legislation. That score was a zero - but look on the bright side. If they're not introducing bills, they're saving paper.

The Congress.org web site gave no real reason for ranking Sanford Bishop higher or lower than the 115 other House members. That's apparently why the tanking numbers were changed, to reflect a massive tie -- a tie in the standings almost as big as all college football teams had one week ago.

We should note the refigured rankings for legislation put Sanford Bishop in a last-place tie with several other Columbus-area lawmakers, including Alabama's Terry Everett and Georgia's Jim Marshall. Bishop is even tied with Atlanta lawmaker John Lewis -- only we have yet to hear Bishop brag about all the civil rights marches he's joined.

E-MAIL UPDATE: As for the top race in Columbus, our messages keep focusing on one particular big thing....

I would like to think that we could Bob Poydasheff could be fronted out for false advertising! I mean, come on, what was the real reasoning behind using a 20 year old picture of himself for his website and for his billboards. Does he think that if he looks younger he will get more votes than Jim.

Now hold on a second! If Katie Couric can have her promotional photos airbrushed, why not the Mayor?

Since so many people are bringing this up - how old IS that picture of Mayor Bob Poydasheff on the billboards? Are we going to have to bring in a team of archeologists, to use carbon dating?

Meanwhile, the write-in candidate for Mayor has at least one business backing him. A Burt Coker sign has gone up outside the downtown Meineke Muffler shop. To borrow from the TV commercials, Coker's not going to pay a lot for that endorsement.

Now let's rest our politically weary bones, and check other items from Wednesday:

+ The high temperature in Columbus was 82 degrees F., making it the city's coolest day since May 17. It was SO COOL that arguments about office thermostat settings dropped by 50 percent.

+ Muscogee County school officials said the district has about 30 openings for bus drivers. You know, this is a golden opportunity to heal relations between local leaders -- by having newly-hired police officers drive school buses for extra money.

+ The world champion Northern All-Stars Little League team was honored with lunch at the Columbus Rotary Club. Player Patrick Stallings showed up in a suit and tie, not a baseball uniform - which may mean his future in sports is as an agent.

+ Instant Message to the boy I saw punching a girl along South Lumpkin Road: After thinking it over, I should explain something I said to you. That phrase, "Can we all get along?" - someone came up with that line before you were born, so it's no wonder you answered the question no.

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Tuesday, September 05, 2006

for 6 SEP 06: LOV YA BLUES

As the summer sunshine slowly fades, the blues suddenly are settling upon the Columbus area. Before some of you get the wrong idea - this part of the blog is NOT focusing on political parties.

Not one, but two new blues clubs are developing near the Chattahoochee River. The first one I noticed is "Backyard Blues," which is being prepared inside an old laundromat at Sixth Street and First Avenue. Yes, the building DOES have a backyard - but I'd guess it'll need at least a fence for legal concerts.

I stopped by Backyard Blues Tuesday night, and it wasn't open yet. But a guitar was visible through a window, as was a large antique "floor model." It was so old that the radio bands were not AM-FM, but AM-Shortwave -- so it's perfect for playing WOKS between concerts.

The location of Backyard Blues is a bit unusual. It's in the middle of the historic district, a good five-block walk from the clubs on Broadway. Unless it's Riverfest Weekend, the only active nearby business after dark is Little Joe's package store - and I'd think they'd be somewhat in competition.

Yet Backyard Blues might find a loyal following on First Avenue. For one thing, I understand there/s at least halfway house down the street - so it'll be perfect for people having a relapse.

While Backyard Blues is walking distance of my home, I doubt I'll be visiting this club much - unless they work out a marketing partnership. After all, there's only one Backyard Burgers stand in Columbus, on the other side of town....

The other new club on the way is not that long a walk from Backyard Blues. The old City Grill at Dillingham and Broad in Phenix City is turning into "Broad Street Blues." This could turn into a perfect post-game hangout for the Columbus Cottonmouths - since the major league Philadelphia Flyers used to be called the "Broad Street Bullies" years ago.

Broad Street Blues truly is starting from scratch, as a sign outside the building openly asks for amplifiers. In 2006, it does no good to have the blues unless other people can hear you and share them with you.

(But really now - advertising outside your business for used amplifiers?! At least I had enough money in my business to buy new frisbees.)

Broad Street Blues could be in on the ground floor of a renovated downtown Phenix City. Dillingham and Broad isn't far from the area where major renovations and developments are planned - but then again, it's far enough away that the police headquarters is in the path.

Phenix City doesn't really have a big-time nightclub right now. Cadillac Jack's on the 280 Bypass turned out to be a flop, and now it's "Club Roc" - offering a mix of soul, hip-hop and Spanish music. It's such a strange place, I'm not sure it even offers rock music.

These two clubs are preparing to open in the wake of last week's opening of the Ma Rainey Blues Museum on Fifth Avenue in Columbus. I drove by it on the afternoon of its ribbon-cutting, and there were NO long lines waiting to get in. In fact, Rainey's old home had no cars around it at all. The staff down Seventh Street at the unemployment office must be working harder.

You wouldn't even it was the Ma Rainey Blues Museum without the state historic marker outside the front door. I mean, what sort of blues joint doesn't have at least one neon light?

For all the stories I'd heard about Ma Rainey, I never realized until I checked her name on Wikipedia that she was bisexual. It's a wonder that during her lifetime, she didn't sing the "Columbus Stockade Blues" - because she was locked up.

Maybe this blues club trend should extend outside Columbus and Phenix City. There were plenty of reasons for other people to have the blues Tuesday. West Point Home workers in Opelika and Lanett learned their mills will close -- and then Auburn moved up a smoking ban to November.

BLOG UPDATE: The e-mailer who told us about the Congress.org web site offered more help Tuesday, in tracking down the record of Rep. Sanford Bishop. The web site "power rankings" indeed show Bishop ranks a ZERO in terms of effectiveness and influence. If it wasn't for his years of experience, this Bishop might be little more than a pawn.

E-MAIL UPDATE: The doctor is out, but he's certainly not forgotten....

Richard Burkard,

I was doing a search on obituaries for Dr. Eric Buffong who, along with his daughter Alisha, passed in a terrible car accident last week. My family was good friends with the Buffong family and I, along with my family, am deeply saddened by their deaths. For you to make the juvenile comments such as the ones about his dreadlocks even more so trivializing his death, is disgusting. I hope your views aren't representative of the views of the people of Columbus, Georgia because I'd hate to think that a whole city of people could be so incorrigible and despicable. Yes, I do know about the charges that were brought against him, but I for one, don't believe them. I don't think that my father would welcome anyone in his house if they would have the potential to do something of that nature. There are some people of a different mindset and I would not be surprised if they were just going after money. People will sue over anything these days and I do not know all the facts but the things he was accused of are not things that I could envision Dr. Buffong doing at all. He was a man that was kind hearted and quick to make you laugh and laugh himself. I'd be more than glad to hear back from you and I'd like to see you repost this email in its entirety to let the world see a different opinion of the man other than your own. My email address is hilliar1@gmail.com and I'd love to discuss Dr. Buffong and any other matters that are on your mind.

Jonathan Hilliard

Thank you for writing - and our e-mails over the last few days (hopefully Jonathan went through all the messages and posts) truly have shown a wide range of opinions. In fact, I guess I should wait now for the protest letter from Locks of Love.

( I guess it's a good thing for Jonathan that Steve Irwin didn't die in Columbus. Part of me would be wondering if an Australian tabloid would print the front-page headline, "Crikey Croaks.")

Keep in mind the charges against Dr. Eric Buffong which led to a plea-bargain were criminal charges. Lawsuits by alleged victims were separate cases. And consider how many women probably dated John Mark Karr, before he was arrested in Thailand....

We're open to all opinions as long as you keep them clean - and now let's see if some quick shots can spark some more:

+ Which Columbus police officer was cut off by another driver on Macon Road, had to swerve his squad car to avoid a collision - then merely honked his horn at the driver and went on his way? Maybe this officer was concerned HE might be the "road rage," and someone might have a camcorder nearby.

+ Columbus Council heard complaints from Cherokee Avenue residents that new rumble strips are NOT slowing down cars -- and the rumbling only makes things noisier. Some of us who have slept for years with windows near the Oglethorpe Bridge have some tips for them. Listen to louder radio stations -- or get some ear buds, without plugging them into your iPods.

+ Marshall Middle School Principal Melvin Blackwell told WRBL absenteeism is high there partly because of bullies. If the students aren't going to form a "fight club," maybe the faculty should....

+ Instant Message to WRBL: No, I won't do it. I will NOT focus on all the foul-ups you had Tuesday, on your first full day with a new studio and set. I'll only say this - Auburn University's football team looked much more impressive in its opener.

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5 SEP 06: BOTTOM OF THE HILL

Labor Day is the unofficial start of election-year campaign season. At least for Democrats it is. I'm surprised Republicans haven't passed a bill creating a holiday for National Entrepreneurs' Day.

With nine weeks left before Election Day, we might as well get the campaign chase underway -- so we have this e-mail, which reached us several days ago:

....Please let your readers know that Sanford Bishop has just been ranked DEAD LAST out of 437 congressmen for legislative effectiveness. This is according to www.congress.org . Please encourage your readers to check out this website. Unfortuanately it also lists the Georgia Congressional delegation dead last at 50th in the nation.

Keep up the good work....

Thanks,

Dave

This comes from Dave Eversman, whose book was advertised here in recent weeks - and who challenged Rep. Sanford Bishop for Congress a few years ago. It's nice to know some losing candidates don't hold any bitterness....

I admittedly was a bit reluctant to call up the Congress.org web site. After all, there's a web site with "White House" in its name which actually is filled with pornography. The last thing I wanted to find was fake nude pictures of Cynthia McKinney or Richard Shelby.

But don't worry, Congress.org is a safe web site - and filled with political news and information. It's operated by a company called "Capitol Advantage" - which sounds like it ought to be lobbying lawmakers for road projects or something.

Congress.org keeps "power rankings" of state delegations, as well as individual lawmakers. When we checked the web site Monday, Georgia's delegation indeed ranked 50^th among the states -- which apparently means it's the least powerful of all. Yeah, but just wait until the Northern All-Stars tour Washington....

The power rankings of Congress.org are based on 15 different factors. They include a lawmaker's position in Congress, success in passing bills, and "actions taken to influence the legislative agenda." So apparently you have to make a certain number of phone calls a day....

(Has any political science ever done a study, on whether "power ties" make a difference in these rankings?)

But from what I found at Congress.org, the web page listing Georgia lawmakers and their individual rankings do NOT show Rep. Sanford Bishop "dead last out of 437 Congressmen." For one thing, the House only has 435 members -- so would he even rank below the non-voting delegate from Puerto Rico?

The power ranking page I saw had Rep. Sanford Bishop at number 247 overall. That happens to put him above two other Columbus-area members of Congress -- and Lynn Westmoreland and Phil Gingrey are both Republicans. Perhaps that's because Bishop has been in Congress longer. Or perhaps he knows how to get on his knees and beg to the right committee chairs.

Georgia's first-term U.S. Senators also placed low on the power rankings. Saxby Chambliss is 64^th out of 100 Senators, while Johnny Isakson is 84^th. The man who once ran as "Rock the Boat Johnny" apparently is learning it's better to row the boat first.

By comparison, Alabama lawmakers do much better in the power rankings. Congress.org puts them 20^th among the states, with both Senators in the top half of the table. Critics at local web sites would argue it's because of the "pork-barrel spending" they bring back home -- but then, that spending could be called repaying my tax dollars with interest.

It turns out one of our area lawmakers is almost in the top ten percent of the House "power rankings." Rep. Terry Everett, whose district includes Barbour County, places 46^th. I guess that explains why the four-laning of U.S. 431 suddenly stopped for years at the Russell County line.

E-MAIL UPDATE: We have one more message, only this is less political and a bit more bizarre:

Hello Richard,

Sometime last week there was an article in the Ledger about the father of Richard Davis coming to town. If you remember this was the Ft. Benning soldier who was stabbed to death a few years ago. The article reported that Lanny Davis was here to see Judge Peters to ask for his sons remains to be returned. We were talking about this at work and someone said that Judge Peters wasn't the judge on the trial so we were wondering why he was the one being asked?? It is a sad thing that these people still don't have their sons remains.

Daves

You raise a good question, and I don't have a good immediate answer. Perhaps the family believes Bobby Peters has extra clout, as a former Columbus Mayor. Perhaps he's simply the best-known name among local judges - although Haywood Turner could be on the verge of changing that.

Now for other items from a light Labor Day lineup:

+ Jordan High School had holiday classes, because it's still making up days lost in August to construction work. Did anyone bother trying to bring in a member of the construction team, to give a lecture on how important Labor Day is?

+ The annual Muscular Dystrophy Telethon on WRBL brought more than $244,000 in Columbus pledges. Considering the studio took two days to prepare for that telethon, perhaps Katie Couric can be asked to present the local news from New York today and tomorrow.

(Isn't life strange like that? WRBL begged for hours, to raise $244,000 in donations - while over on another channel, Tiger Woods earned three times that much by simply playing four rounds of golf.)

+ Instant Message to the checkout woman at the downtown Phenix City Piggly Wiggly: You saw the people behind me buying beans and potato salad, and concluded they had a Labor Day barbecue planned. Did you ever figure out what I was planning - with a half-gallon of milk and a bag of corn chips?

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Sunday, September 03, 2006

for 4 SEP 06: THREE AND OUT

The dream officially died Sunday morning, at about 9:45. The dream died on Interstate 85, just south of the Union City Shannon Mall interchange. And as the dream died, the car in front of me in the exit ramp had a Bob Poydasheff reelection bumper sticker on it. Make of that what you will....

We were driving toward Athens for Round 3 of Power Frisbee of Georgia - when one of our tires blew out on the highway. For the second Sunday in a row, on the way to a match. I wound up making my third trip to a Wal-Mart for tire repair in as many Sundays. Now I can relate to the women who feel like it's their second home.

The first blowout occurred last Sunday on Highway 520, just south of Richland. I limped the car back there, and a passing family kindly offered me a working jack to put on a spare. Neither of my jacks works - one because I lifted it too high a few years ago, and the other because the hydraulic knob you're supposed to turn apparently needs a hydraulic wrench to move it.

My first tire problem was with the left rear tire, on a Sunday where I could afford to have trouble [21 Aug]. The Richland blowout was with the right front tire. Sunday on Interstate 85, the left front tire blew up. So I had TWO tires changed at Wal-Mart - because as I told the attendant, I didn't want to hit the quadrella.

I thought the Richland blowout might have occurred because I was in the right lane of Highway 520, and drove too close to the "loose stuff" along the side. So this time, I drove down the center lane of Interstate 85 near Union City - but a tire blew up again. And the Power Frisbee budget simply did NOT allow for renting limousines to matches every week.

But thankfully, the left front tire blew up a half-mile from the Union City interchange - and with the right lane open, I steered the car to the shoulder and limped it up the exit ramp and down the hill to Wal-Mart at about 15 miles per hour. Bits of chopped rubber bounced up as I did, with a few bouncing off my windshield. It was sort of like a chunky version of a "fountain city."

I faced a decision as I steered toward Wal-Mart. Do I stop completely to have the tire fixed -- or have the spare tire put on, hurrying on to Athens from there? Given the Sunday trend of recent weeks, I chose to stop completely. If I had plowed on, Someone bigger than me might have decided to teach me a lesson and blow up the right rear tire as well.

Wal-Marts on Sunday mornings have lines of people needing various kinds of car repair - so it was almost two hours before my humble Honda was hobbled into the bay for service. I'd timed the trip to reach Athens around 12:00 noon, for open Power Frisbee tryouts at 12:30. At this point, part of me wished another stadium custodian might be delayed.

A two-hour wait provided plenty of time for strolling around the Wal-Mart SuperCenter. The Union City store had something I'd never seen before - women wearing Muslim scarves over their heads, swinging children's baseball bats in the aisle.

That Wal-Mart also had something Columbus area stores did not - the end of my long search for a pair of burgundy socks. It's a thin dressy pair, found in a row with colors of pink and purple. In other words, they're perfect for wearing to a C.M.E. church service.

My two passes through the Wal-Mart store also seemed to have messages aimed directly at me, through the public address system. The first trip had Fats Domino singing, "I'm Walkin'" -- which for a while I was. The second time, I heard The Silhouettes' big hit from 1958: "Yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip, boom boom boom boom boom boom, Get a Job."

(I actually made a prediction about a third song I was going to hear during the day - but it turns out I never heard Boyz 2 Men sing, "The End of the Road.")

I realized as soon as the blowout occurred that my Power Frisbee dream was dead - but the two-hour wait allowed me plenty of time to consider what might have gone wrong. Was I too consigned to defeat, after how the first two rounds went? Did I sin in some way Saturday, to disqualify me from a blessing Sunday? And was this how Jeff Gordon started in stock car racing?

In an unusual move for me, I actually brought up my situation with a woman next to me on car repair waiting area. "It's no fun when your dream dies," I told her.

"I know," she replied -- perhaps wondering if I was leading up to an early Sunday brunch date.

At a few minutes after 12:00 noon, the "two-tire stop" was complete and I could hit the road again. I wound up with four new tires in 15 days -- but it's no fun getting four the hard way.

Some people might have surrendered at this point, turned around and headed home. But I had to keep going to Athens -- because the stadium custodian was opening the gate at 12:00 noon, and he was being paid by the hour along with a security person. First came the tire trial, now a time trial....

After hurrying through Atlanta on Interstate 85, I seemed to hit almost every red light on Highway 316 between Lawrenceville and Athens. When you stop for a splash of gas on the way, and the pump tells you the credit card receipt is waiting inside, it's simply not your day.

Add one wrong turn for not understanding my Google Maps directions, and I finally arrived at the Athens stadium at 2:05 p.m. The gate was open, all right - but there really was no gate at all leading to the football field. The only things in the way were a car and a truck parked on the sidewalk. And the pickup would have only stopped teenagers used to borrowing their parents' Buicks.

The stadium custodian and security person were NOT on hand, but I decided to wait for their return. After all, they probably had waited on me for two hours. If I had to wait two hours on them, it was only fair - and besides, I was "paying my fine" on the spot in the form of checks.

By the way, no one else was visible at the Athens stadium. No throwers who wanted to try out. No fans who wanted to watch Power Frisbee. Even the umpires hired to officiate the match had left - so at least they didn't assess me a penalty for delay of the game.

After about 30 minutes, two men walked out of a clubhouse. They turned out to be Clarke Central High School's head football coach and defensive coordinator. Apparently they were plotting strategy for next Friday night's game - because I can't imagine they were watching Andre Agassi's final tennis match on TV.

One of the coaches called the custodian on a cell phone, explained who I was, then agreed to accept the three checks I had to write: stadium rental, custodian and security. The umpires are being paid through an association in metro Atlanta - as I pay the officials, so the players don't feel they have to do it.

"Hang in there," the defensive coordinator said to encourage me. "Don't let a blown tire stop your dream." But he didn't realize it was a combination of things -- two blown tires, four winning throwers who apparently didn't want to play more than one week, and hundreds of dollars for radio commercials without even a station announcer showing up.

I appreciated the words of encouragement, but knew the end of Power Frisbee had occurred. In fact, the previous Sunday I remembered the longtime nickname of Clarke Central High School's football stadium - Death Valley.

Here's hoping YOUR Labor Day weekend is going much better than mine. To borrow from two intersections on Highway 316 in Gwinnett County, may it be Hi-Hope Road.... and not Hurricane Shoals.

(BLOGGER'S NOTE: Because of our mourning over the end of Power Frisbee, the item we promised would be next instead will be addressed on Tuesday.)

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3 SEP 06: SWIFT SADLY

Who was the genius who came up with this idea? You tell mill workers they're losing their jobs - at the start of Labor Day weekend?! Do these business managers really want a surge of union votes?!

The "lousy timing of the year" award may go to Swift Galey, which told Columbus employees Friday both local plants will close by October 30. At least the employees received nearly two months' notice - but announcing this right before Labor Day tells me the management wasn't taught about Labor Day in their M.B.A. programs.

(When I think about Labor Day, I recall a commentary by the late Chuck McClure on WRCG. It somewhat mocked lines of Northern union workers years ago who reportedly were "marching in phalanx." In this part of the country, they don't even march in Phenix....)

As many as 800 workers will lose their jobs, when Swift Galey closes. Who knows how many of them will mark the Labor Day holiday with a protest cookout - and burn denim clothing in their Char-Broil grills?

Swift Galey actually plans to combine operations with "Denim North America" near Woodruff Farm Road. The new name will be "Swift Galey D.N.A." But you wonder if even the workers there will pass the D.N.A. test....

Swift Galey managers say demand for their products simply has declined. You know, maybe the name is part of the problem. In a Bible Belt city, anything called "Galey" immediately is held in suspicion.

Mayor Bob Poydasheff says the cutbacks by Swift Galey shows what can happen when Columbus competes in a global economy. Come to think of it, the mayor's reelection speech only mentioned the jobs which entered Columbus in the last three-and-a-half years - he didn't mention how many had left.

But not all the labor news is negative this Labor Day weekend. The Columbus Chamber of Commerce announced Pitts Enterprises will employ 50 workers, and build trailers on Victory Drive. I assume the Chamber now will begin negotiations, to ensure The Waggoners attach the trailers to their trucks.

E-MAIL UPDATE: More messages keep arriving about the world champion Northern Little League team - one going back to the regional tournament:

The booster club at CHS rented a Tahoe for Bobby to drive to the Little League play off in FLa...who said there is no recruiting in Columbus,oh that was Charlie Flowers..

I've been too busy to confirm this claim about Columbus High baseball coach Bobby Howard. But apparently the booster club had money left over, more than two months after the high school season ended. I'm not sure why Coach Howard didn't - since his baseball camps couldn't possibly have been rained out.

Here's one more message about the world champs:

I hope a contractor names some streets for the boys..How cool,Kyle Court,Justin Dr,.....

We suggested here the other day at least one Columbus road was named after a Little Leaguer years ago - but Cody Road disappeared, for those highfalutin' university folks.

A quick check of the Columbus city map finds one Little League player's first name already is taken. There's a Mason (Meyers) Street south of Martin Luther King Boulevard, near Elizabeth Canty Homes. How many times do you think his family has even driven close to that neighborhood?

By the way, the Northern All-Stars were honored at halftime of Saturday night's Notre Dame-Georgia Tech football game. It may have marked the first time in years that Tech fans applauded a team wearing North Carolina's colors.

POWER FRISBEE TODAY: If any place in the state should be filled with frisbee fans, you'd think it's the University of Georgia. Power Frisbee heads to Athens today - but no, we resisted the temptation to play on the lawn, in the middle of the campus.

Our radio ads in Athens note the tickets to Power Frisbee cost only five dollars. "Try getting into that Bulldog game for five dollars, and see what they tell you," we note. Come to think of it, you may have trouble finding a place to park on game days for five dollars.

There's already an ominous sign about today's Power Frisbee matches. The high school who's letting us rent their stadium told us at midweek the public address system would NOT be available today. We may need two sets of tryouts - one for frisbee throwers, the other like the National Hollering Contest.

Now for other notes from the holiday weekend:

+ Russell County Sheriff Tommy Boswell told WRBL he plans to ask the county commission for a 20-percent department-wide raise. Yeow, not even Jim Wetherington is daring to promise something like that....

+ WRBL presented its Saturday night late newscast from the "Opelika-Auburn News." Anchor Heather Jensen promised they'll be back in Columbus Monday night -- and I'm hearing they'll have a new news set. Unless, of course, the Muscular Dystrophy telethon gets so wild that it gets torn up....

(Yet for some odd reason, the weather and sports on WRBL were presented from Columbus. I've heard of TV newsrooms having tension and turmoil on weekends, but this may top them all.)

+ Auburn University's Trustees voted to change Ed Richardson's title from "Interim President" to "President." It took them more than two years to reach this decision -- which makes you wonder how long "temporary employees" are allowed to work on campus.

+ Alabama held off Hawaii 25-17 in its season opener. Some of the Hawaii players had special uniforms, which they could attach to machinery on the sidelines to blow 40-degree cold air inside their jerseys. [True/WEAM-AM] Why a team from Hawaii would be so worried about Alabama heat and humidity, I have no idea....

+ The Atlanta Falcons made their final roster cuts, and released linebacker Chad Lavalais. Lavalais was declared "Mo Money, Mo Money, Mo Money" by a Louisiana State sideline reporter when he played there - and now that reporter may find Lavalais asking him for a loan.

+ Instant Message to the Bavarian House restaurant on Weems Road: What gives here? Your sign outside promised music from "Wally and Mike" next weekend - and now it only says Wally. Did Wally decide he could perform without a Mike?

COMING NEXT: (Likely on Tuesday) Georgia ranks number 50, in something powerful....

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Friday, September 01, 2006

for 2 SEP 06: PRAY OF THE DAY

(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.)

This e-mail reached us about an upcoming event, which might be of interest to you:

The P.A.U. Community Prayer will be held on Saturday, September 9th at 8:30 AM at the Bandstand at Lakebottom Park. It will be a wonderful opportunity for our comunity to come together and promote passion for God, awareness of issues facing our city, state and country, and unity in the community. There will be food and fellowship, and also musical selections from local musician. Hope to see you there!

For more information, please contact Ms. Darren Archibald at 706-566-4740

Michele Zack

Citizens for Weaver

I admittedly don't know what the "P.A.U. Community" is. I thought Lakebottom Park was in the St. Elmo neighborhood - but maybe the name is sponsored by some corporation now.

Praying for the community sounds like a good thing to do - but do you notice how the announcement is signed? Will she be praying for unity in District 1, through Nathan Suber dropping out of the election?

Hopefully this group will be careful in how it prays at 8:30 on a Saturday morning. Last weekend an evangelist in Fort Payne, Alabama was arrested at a "big tent revival" - because police said he prayed too loudly. This is what happens when the man running audio becomes convicted by the sermon, and leaves his post to walk down the aisle.

The traveling evangelist from Oklahoma who was arrested in Fort Payne says he's now praying for God to send a curse on the officers who arrested him. How strange does this sound - fulfilling the Bible verse which says "evil men.... shall was worse and worse," by asking God to take charge and do it Himself?

I know some people who pan public prayers, such as what the evangelist did under the revival tent or the Lakebottom Park event. They note Jesus advised to pray secretly in a closet. But for some people, this could be difficult - for instance, if your closet is full of expensive Stiletto shoes.

Yet these critics seem to forget that while Jesus did talk about prayer closets, He prayed several times in public. He had to do it, to bless the loaves and fish which fed 5,000 people. I don't read anywhere about the disciples walking around with poles and curtains.

And some of Jesus's most memorable prayers to the Father came as He was crucified. A sizeable crowd was on hand to watch that moment - and while it was cloudy, there's nothing in the Bible about a driving rainstorm working like a waterfall.

My point is that prayer can happen at all kinds of times, in all sorts of ways. But sadly, it can happen with all sorts of attitudes. You can be quiet and humble before God, or you can be angry and furious. And He was hearing complaints about bad customer service long before restaurants came along.

I would suggest you're more likely to win God's favor by coming before Him in prayer with a quiet spirit. After all, God is a law enforcer every it as much as those Fort Payne police officers are....

SCHEDULED SUNDAY: A terrible case of Labor Day timing....

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1 SEP 06: ACQUIRED IMMUNITY

Talk about an amazing case of timing! The new "Ma Rainey Blues Museum" was opened to the public Thursday morning - and only hours later, civil rights groups had reason to sing the blues all over again.

Federal Judge Clay "Law of the" Land ruled Thursday the city of Columbus CANNOT be sued for damages, by the three men who rode with Kenneth Walker on the night he was killed. The Muscogee County Sheriff's Department cannot be sued, either. So suddenly, we don't need a one-cent sales tax increase as badly as we thought.

The 62-page decision from Judge Clay Land said Kenneth Walker's family and his three buddies still can sue former Sheriff's Deputy David Glisson and current officers Jim Price and Rick Stinson. We haven't heard about those other officers much in this case - so we still don't know if the Price was right.

Judge Clay Land drew a complex line in his opinion - saying the current and former Sheriff's officers cannot be sued in their "official capacity," but can be sued individually. Does this mean the defendants can't wear badges into the courtroom, during their trial?

Once the ruling was issued, the spinning by attorneys began. Walker family attorney Bill Mitchell told WRBL he was pleased with the decision, because "all Mrs. Walker wanted was her day in court." Of course, this could have been said about the motion hearing at the federal courthouse in mid-July.

Plaintiff's attorney Joseph Wiley admitted he was disappointed that not all the claims he requested will go to trial. But at least, he said, the lawsuit remains alive. Privately, Wiley must be stunned by this - that a white Republican judge appointed by President Bush is giving Kenneth Walker's family more of a chance than a mixed-ethnically grand jury did.

On the other side, the attorney for David Glisson didn't seem stunned by the ruling. Richard Hagler noted further appeals of the decision could delay a civil trial for another year. That means Columbus voters will have a chance to vote out everyone associated with the Kenneth Walker case. Well, except for Councilor Mimi Woodson - there's no write-in candidate against her.

Richard Hagler said any lawsuit against former Deputy David Glisson won't wind up with much in damages. He explained that's partly because Glisson is practically broke. I guess Summit Hospital decided not to hire any security guards....

Richard Hagler insists the shooting of Kenneth Walker was "not about race," and he says he resents civil rights groups continually trying to paint it that way. Well OK, let's look at it in the more appropriate way - a way I hadn't really thought about until the other day. Why wasn't David Glisson at home with HIS family on the night of the shooting?

The Columbus City Attorney said he was pleased with Judge Clay Land's decision - but otherwise, city officials didn't say much. Maybe they already spent the potential damages, on that big welcome-home party for the Little Leaguers.

One big leftover question from Thursday's ruling is whether Columbus Council now will approve a "settlement" payment to Kenneth Walker's family. If Judge Clay Land says the city is immune from lawsuits in this case, there may not be anything to settle -- well, other than the emotions of Walker's mother.

The first thing which crossed my mind when I heard about Judge Clay Land's ruling was the timing of it. If the Northern Little League team hadn't won the World Series, would we have seen this decision last week?

BLOG UPDATE: Perhaps there's a fringe benefit to the Northern Little League winning the World Series. It's helped me heal a bit from a rough start to my new sport, Power Frisbee of Georgia. After last Thursday's opening night in Augusta, I can understand why many Broadway shows open in New Haven....

3:50 p.m.: I arrive at the high school football stadium we've booked for Premiere Night. A touch of rain is falling, but it's worse in other parts of the Augusta area. And I'm treating this like a football game, playing it rain or shine -- unless you can't see from one goal post to the other.

A side gate is open near the football team clubhouse, so I walk through it and begin setting up the field. With a starting time of 6:00, a custodian from the school district is supposed to be there at the planned opening time of 4:00. Two police cars were at the main school entrance minutes before - so maybe I'm getting an extra security guard instead.

4:05 p.m.: I happen to spot two people in the clubhouse equipment room, and tell them about what's planned that evening. One of the two reveals he doesn't have a key to the press box. How are we supposed to play James Brown songs on my newly-purchased boombox without a public address system?

The couple in the clubhouse load up some items, and leave. It turns out they don't come back, and they didn't open the football stadium's main gates for me. They ARE on the school staff, aren't they?!

4:15 p.m.: With no custodian on hand yet, I take a question mark-shaped long walk around the high school to the front entrance. An assistant principal is still inside, and I ask about a press box key - but he doesn't seem to know Power Frisbee is scheduled there. I left posters to put on the bulletin boards weeks before, but maybe warnings about handguns covered them up.

The assistant principal calls the school district athletic director's office for me - but winds up leaving voice mail. I can understand this. It took me about two months' worth of calls and e-mails simply to get the reservation approved -- not to mention a three-week Independence Day break.

4:30 p.m.: I make the long walk back to the football stadium, and do so warily. I left three bags of items under a table on the field. Anywhere else, I feared they could be stolen -- but so many high school students can be unobservant, they might not be.

Then comes a moment of concern, as a team full of high school football players heads for the clubhouse. I stand outside nearby, to ask a coach if they're planning a practice session or something -- except no one who looks like a coach ever appears. And those linemen are even beefier than I am, should an argument break out.

5:00 p.m.: With no football coach and still no custodian to open the gates, the first support personnel arrive to help with Premiere Night. They're volunteers recruited from a Seventh-Day Adventist Church. We stand, chat and wait for a LONG time - but stop short of starting a prayer meeting.

5:30 p.m.: The man who's throwing for Augusta in the season opener arrives right on time. He's supposed to play against someone a female thrower is bringing with her from Savannah. But there's still no custodian, and a football team putting on pads and uniforms -- and I was not about to ask each player for a five-dollar admission fee.

A few fans have started arriving for Premiere Night as well. The dad in one family is told we're starting at 6:00, so he decides to go get a sandwich. He even offers to buy me one. Some people find creative ways to get discounts to big events.

6:00 p.m.: It's the scheduled starting time for Premiere Night, and still no custodian has arrived to open the main gates. On top of that, the woman recommended to sing the national anthem has just arrived -- 30 minutes late. The rain has stopped at our stadium, but maybe God put a bubble around it while dumping a monsoon everywhere else.

Oh yes, someone else has not shown up - the woman from Savannah who's providing our challengers for the night. I even offered to play the woman in an
exhibition, to start the evening. But the later it gets, the less I feel like Bobby Riggs.

6:10 p.m.: With a wait now underway for several people, a school district bus rolls up to the football clubhouse. It's not our custodian, but the driver taking the football team to a pre-season scrimmage in another part of Augusta. If all the bulky players breathe in and out at the same time, they just might fit.

6:25 p.m.: The national anthem singer has to get to work, so she and her husband leave. Did the Chattahoochee Valley Vipers ever have this sort of problem?

6:30 p.m.: The crowded football bus rolls away - and the woman from Savannah calls my answering machine to admit she got lost, and couldn't find any Power Frisbee match now that she's in Augusta. There are only two problems with this. My answering machine is in Columbus, and I don't have a cell phone.

6:40 p.m.: The woman from Savannah finally finds our group in the parking lot. "I got lost," she explained. I'm happy merely to have competitors for a real match -- although frisbees probably would skip really well in a wet parking lot.

Trouble is, the Savannah woman couldn't find a man to join her on the trip to throw. Since no woman tried out from Augusta for Power Frisbee (that's why I was substituting, to play the woman), we had a strange case of mixed singles. Well, check that - the man from Augusta brought his wife.

At last we have throwers to go on the field to play. And if the custodian's not going to show up, at least we have the side gate to.... well, check that as well. While I was chatting with the guests, the football game locked up the side gate when they left for the scrimmage.

"This is getting ridiculous!" I exclaim as I begin walking around the stadium in search of ANY other open gate. Three bags and four corner posts now were locked inside. And if I had to wait in the parking lot until the football team returned from its scrimmage, a police officer might arrest me for loitering.

Amazingly, I find an opening to get into the football stadium - on the opposite side from the parking lot, thanks to a hole in a fence you can crawl through. I walk across the field and tell the group what I found. The throwers have mercy on me, and decide to walk around. Some of the fans actually are thin enough to fit inside a gap in a locked gate to reach the field - but they pay me admission, anyway.

7:00 p.m.: I serve as umpire for the first real (?) game of Power Frisbee. The woman from Savannah and the man from Augusta decide to play in the wet grass barefoot. Well, I promised not to damage the field with cleats....

The man from Augusta wins the one-game exhibition 5-2. As I present thank-you Premiere Night gifts and we gather ourselves to leave for the evening, suddenly I notice the stadium lights are coming on. The school district's custodian has arrived - three-and-a-half hours late.

At least a main gate is now open, to make it easier to reload my car. As I do, the custodian gets a cell phone call from the district athletic director. Yes, the school custodian has a cell phone - but I had to spend money on radio and TV time, or else the stands would have been even emptier than they were.

"I apologize to you," the athletic director tells me on the cell phone. "I didn't know if you were still on, because of the rain." Well, I never called him to cancel the match - and only the assistant principal back at the school entrance seemed to have his phone number.

"I got stuck in a meeting, and I forgot to tell a custodian to head out there," the athletic director adds. Perhaps now you understand the blog entry we posted last weekend on commitment....

The athletic director promises to refund my money, and I accepted that. I'm still waiting for the check in the mail, as I write this. In fact, I'm still waiting for a copy of the stadium contract I signed in his office on the last day of July.

I leave apologizing to practically everyone who showed up for the occasion. Power Frisbee's Premiere Night turned out to be a lot like that old children's game Mystery Date -- only I didn't get a dream, but a dud.

E-MAIL UPDATE: One of Wednesday's e-mails about the late Columbus doctor Eric Buffong brought a quick response from North Carolina:

I would like to make a comment about the "eye for an eye"...Did anyone who made that insensitive comment even know Dr. B? No this was a man of great intergrity who was accused of something that really changed our lives. Regardless of the outcome Alisha was a great person and so was Mr. B!!! This is a family that would bend over backwards to help any and everyone. The whole Buffong family from his wife to his daughters and Mr.B were very special to our community of Jacksonville. They took in kids of all ages and encouraged, pushed and even financially backed, and we are not saying one or two but maybe fifty kids. Never did they settle for less and it was unfortunate that Mr. Buffong pleaded to lesser charges and did not stand his ground like he had wanted to. A greatly missed man, who left this earth way to soon but not alone because he went with his "Angel" Alisha!!!

Alisha is Dr. Buffong's daughter, who died with him in a car crash in Clayton County last Saturday morning. I'm left wondering if the doctor was giving in his death -- like a "living will," donating those dreadlocks to Locks of Love.

Now a quick wrap-up of other Thursday news:

+ It was the first anniversary of the great Columbus "gas panic" - and prices ended the day about 50 cents lower than they were a year ago [1 Sep 05]. It looks like school is still on in Muscogee County for next Tuesday.

+ The Little League world champions finally went back to middle school. Some of them had a "V.I.P. Table" in the lunchroom, with their favorite foods - not from the cafeteria, but places such as Ruby Tuesday and B. Merrill's. Does this put the players' amateur status at risk?

+ The Columbus Catfish honored the Northern All-Stars on the final night of the home schedule. But WRBL didn't show any of the players in the stands or skyboxes - so maybe the Little Leaguers have moved on already, and they watched the Atlanta Falcons game on TV.

+ Instant Message to Edgar Champagne: What's this I'm reading about WAGH-FM "Magic 98.3" adding Steve Harvey in the morning? What's going to happen to your morning show? Are you moving to afternoons, and serving beer instead?

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