The Blog of Columbus, Georgia

Sunday, July 17, 2011

17 JUL 11: You Forgot Somebody

If you didn't stay up for the big moment, Casey Anthony was released from jail shortly after 12:00 midnight ET. I think the authorities in Orlando could have handled this better -- by waiting to release her until 4:30 a.m., and requiring her to wear funny glasses and a fake red beard to avoid being noticed.

SUNDAY SOAPBOX: Columbus City Manager Isaiah Hugley was under his own heat lamp this past week, for his comments on the Parks and Recreation scandal. But a couple of readers seem to think other people aren't broiling enough. Here's the first e-mail which reached us....

Thanks to the Council members who told Hugley,"it is not over."..He makes the whole city government look bad and untrustworthy. I don't think he is guilty of anything criminal, but perhaps of ignoring something he didn't want to hear.I just don't think he was doing his job..After all he is right at the top of the chain of command for watching out after Muscogee tax payers money. He represents us just as much as the Mayor and the Council ...We are trying to encourage companies to locate here and bad city government has to make them look else where..Another issue in this scandal is MCSD ..How dare a representative of the administration reprimand a coach who is blowing the whistle on something illegal that is going on in the city government. This was most unprofessional and should violate the whistleblower law of protection.

Hmmmm -- do you think a "no confidence" is coming on the city manager? Or will this be handled like college football coaches? You know -- an order to make changes in his assistants.

I read the city auditor's final report on "Rec-Gate" from April for the first time Saturday night. John Redmond admits in the ten-page report "the average fraud goes undetected for over two years and certain types for much longer periods." Some Republicans will take that phrase and conclude President Obama is on borrowed time....

But this e-mail points out what happened to a coach who tried to alert authorities to what former Parks Director Tony Adams was doing. The Ledger-Enquirer revealed the Muscogee County School District reprimanded then-Carver High School basketball coach Richard Mahone. This obviously was in the era before Carver's athletics program became respected and untouchable.

Talk about a tangled web -- the school district official who reprimanded Richard Mahone was assistant superintendent Brenda Dozier. Her husband happens to be former Police Chief Willie Dozier. So for all we know, the police could have been reviewing Tony Adams's activities years ago - assuming Brenda Dozier ever took her work home with her.

But maybe "bad city government" isn't driving companies away from Columbus after all. Mayor Teresa Pike Tomlinson has called a Wednesday news conference, which will include Georgia Governor Nathan Deal. Either that mysterious business in Germany has decided to locate here - or the governor has found a place in Columbus which holds test "erasure parties."

Our next e-mail points out someone else overlooked in the "15-year conspiracy" involving Georgia Blazers basketball....

Must have overlooked the previous Director. 15 years ago Richard Bishop was in charge of all the shenanigans in Parks and Rec.

Ah yes -- and Richard Bishop was Parks and Recreation Director in 1998, when the son of City Auditor John Redmond was fired from a Parks and Recreation job. The final report from the auditor doesn't name Bishop at all. But then again, we never heard about the Georgia Blazers playing basketball games at the downtown YMCA.

Let's move on to another city controversy - and it probably has the attention of a lot more people....

Hey Richard,

Although I agree that Columbus needs to stop sounding sirens for anything other than a tornado, the "tornado siren" didn't go off. The sound I heard Wednesday afternoon was for a severe thunderstorm warning, as described on the Columbus EMA website: http://www.columbusga.org/fire/sirens.htm.

Keep up the good work!

The reader is right, as best I recall. But the two noises start the same way, and sound awfully similar. Maybe the severe thunderstorm warning siren could be adjusted, to begin with a calming message from Kurt Schmitz.

The link to city sirens mentions a couple I didn't know existed. If there's a release of hazardous materials, a "whoop tone" will go off. Now there's a tone which ought to stand out from the others....

Let's take one more e-mail - which is a follow-up to last Sunday's language lesson:

I knew that I could count on you to get to the bottom of The Word of the Day. It is amazing when you receive emails from people that you consider "educated" and somewhat informed and the info in the email turns out to be false. I'm sure that people in general are frustrated over issues in the news and look for answers or solutions to the problem without investigating whether they are in fact true. Thanks again!

Larry

Some of those "chain e-mails" and online postings can be not only false, but dangerous to your computer. To bring this full-circle, I read a warning this past week against clicking on reported "Casey Anthony confession" videos. They only add malware to your computer - and for all we know, the creator might use your credit card number to build Anthony's defense fund.

Our count of unique visitors in the first half of 2011 was up 25.5 percent from 2010! To advertise to them, make a PayPal donation, offer a story tip or comment about this blog, write me - but be warned: I may post your e-mail and offer a reply.

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The views expressed in this blog are solely those of the author -- not necessarily those of anyone else in Columbus living or dead, and perhaps not even you.

Friday, July 15, 2011

15 JUL 11: Fast Forward Friday

Thursday's schedule was crowded for me. But apparently it wasn't busy in the local news world - since the premiere of a Harry Potter movie was the top story at 10:00 p.m.

So we'll depart from our usual format today, and offer quick thoughts about several items making headlines....

1. FIRE SCANDAL #9. Wait, hold on -- this actually comes from Fire Station #9 in Columbus. There was NO new federal indictment from Montgomery, accusing an entire family of wrongdoing.

Lieutenant Jimmy Smith was arrested on charges of possessing "controlled substances" at Fire Station #9. This seems curious to me, since firefighters deal with controlled substances all the time. If someone didn't control the hydrants, our streets would be a mess.

In this case, police say Jimmy Smith had prescription drugs at the firehouse. One of the charges is "possession of a drug with no container." I didn't realize it was a crime to leave blood pressure pills sitting on top of your bathroom sink.

For a change, several TV news websites noted Fire Station #9 is located on Jay Street. For years I've heard news reports identifying stations simply by their numbers. Could you place a station's location simply by its number? It's not like they're television stations, you know....

(The Columbus Fire/EMS website doesn't help, as it has no list of fire stations anywhere. A link for "phone listings" is password-protected -- but I suppose firefighters deserve a good uninterrupted sleep between calls.)

2. UPPER 10^TH. There was happier news from Fire Station #10 near Fort Benning. It will gain a new ladder truck next week, along with four new firefighters. Some of them may be thrilled to know there's a new CVS pharmacy less than a mile down the road.

Fire Station #10 helps Fort Benning during emergencies. But the new ladder truck also is important in Columbus South. After all, Victory Drive now has a few multistory motels -- and SOA Watch protesters are bound to climb up the new statues at Interstate 185 sooner of later.

3. FORT-IFIED. The Russell County Sheriff opened a new precinct along Alabama 165 in Fort Mitchell Thursday. This should be quite different from the precinct which opened in Hurtsboro last January. Fort Mitchell is a growing area. And since plenty of well-trained soldiers live there, smart criminals won't take any chances on encountering Iraq flashback moments.

WLTZ noted the new Fort Mitchell Sheriff's precinct also will house the new LifeLine ambulance service. Care Ambulance has five days to leave that padlocked building in Seale. If it doesn't, Fort Benning gunners could cross the bridge and use it for target practice.

4. HERE COME THE MARINES. WRBL revealed because of base realignment, about 2,000 Marines will undergo tank training each year at Fort Benning. The Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany apparently isn't good enough. But then, maybe Marines use the Flint River-quarium for underwater drills.

Up to now, Fort Benning had 16 Marines stationed full-time on post. BRAC will increase that number to around 75 - but it still will leave me puzzled by the presence in Columbus of a Navy Federal Credit Union.

5. TECHED OFF. Georgia Tech sports were placed on four years' probation by the NCAA. It's all because a football player received a gift of $312 in clothing. This is why the Yellowjackets should let players keep home and away uniforms throughout the year.

The NCAA vacated Georgia Tech's win in the 2009 Atlantic Coast Conference championship game. On top of that, the school was fined $100,000. So if an engineering firm will please send the check directly to Indianapolis....

Based on this news, it appears we can declare a pre-season champion in regional college football. Troy gets the prize for being the most ethical - or at least having no violations come out into the open yet.

SCHEDULED THIS WEEKEND: Readers respond to the Columbus City Manager's explanation....

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The views expressed in this blog are solely those of the author -- not necessarily those of anyone else in Columbus living or dead, and perhaps not even you.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

14 JUL 11: C'mon, Feel the Noise

Give the summer storms in our area credit for one thing -- they usually warn you they're coming. The sky darkens. Thunder usually rumbles. If you can't get to your car and roll up the window before the rain starts, you're without excuse.

But this year, the Columbus Emergency Management office apparently has decided the weather needs some help. It happened again Wednesday afternoon, as emergency sirens across the city sounded during a thunderstorm. It's almost as if people in the office placed a bet on whether the siren could drown out the thunder.

As you might guess, the warning sirens made some residents concerned. But it turned out no tornado warning ever was issued for the Columbus area. There was a severe thunderstorm warning in Muscogee County - which usually doesn't qualify for sirens in the U.S. But I guess sirens are more likely when you're in a city with 100 extra police officers.

One man told me when the severe weather siren sounds, "That only means one thing." I replied by noting in Columbus, they can mean many things. Sometimes I think the wide range of sounds is a sneaky effort by the city government to promote diversity.

So why did the siren sound during a severe thunderstorm warning this time? I read one comment online claiming circulation similar to a tornado began developing inside the storm. I'm not sure how you'd conclusively confirm that. Sometimes vultures fly in circles because they've spotted dinner.

But Facebook chief meteorologist Kurt Schmitz suggested there was no reason for Columbus Emergency Management to make noise at all. He wrote it's "bad policy to blow sirens in a common situation...." For one thing, someone might dare to follow a police car all the way to a doughnut shop....

In fact, this makes at least two occasions this year when the "tornado siren" erupted without a tornado warning. In the first case, someone called 911 and reported seeing a funnel cloud near Victory Drive. The National Infantry Museum had better not show the movie "Twister" at its IMAX theatre for a while.

Make no mistake: Wednesday's severe thunderstorm certainly was dangerous. Columbus Airport had a wind gust of 51 miles per hour. And in the words of WTVM's Andrew Wittenberg, a "tree line fell on a power limb." Don't they clear space around transformers to prevent things like that?

But sound the sirens for something less than a tornado threat too often, and Columbus Emergency Management is running the risk of doing the exact opposite of its goal. People won't be alert - they'll become complacent. You can only "cry wolf" so often - something Harold Camping should have learned two months ago.

There was a good side to Wednesday's thunderstorm. It cooled off an afternoon hot and humid enough to prompt "heat advisories" from the National Weather Service. So far, Columbus Emergency Management hasn't developed a special sound for that condition. But if you hear an extra-large egg frying someday....

-> Our other blog is asking a question based on the World Series of Poker Main Event. Read and comment at "On the Flop!" <-

E-MAIL UPDATE: Former Deputy Fire Chief Angelia Curran sought sympathy in federal court Wednesday. But readers keep shooting flaming arrows toward the Friendship Volunteer Fire Department in Smiths Station....

You are so close on those comments about selling fire extinguishers for money. With her Dad and Husband still there, the same stuff will happen, they still will have keys to the Buildings and probably jus do things a little quiter. They still have the radios to listen - There still is a Blue Pickup that might belong to the Fire Department jus about always in their Driveway - I guess it is for a getaway when they hear anything about them on the radio..

Those County Commissioners and Chairman that approved those Board positions all these years are jus as guilty as with other Board members for allowing it in the first place

Now hold on here - the pickup truck is blue, right? Shouldn't a fire department's trucks be red? Even if they're within a short drive of Auburn University?

Angelia Curran pleaded NOT guilty to federal embezzlement charges. Outside court, she told WTVM she's "trying to stay out of jail for her baby." Take that, you scoffers! She's a concerned mother of a three-year-old - so the proper vehicle for her would be a minivan, not a pickup.

It must be noted the federal indictment of Angelia Curran did NOT accuse any other members of her family. And if she really embezzled a lot of money, why did a federal judge give her a court-appointed attorney Wednesday? You'll notice Phenix City firefighters haven't started a special "fill the boot" drive to pay for her lawyer.

Father and Friendship Fire Chief Roy Trobaugh says the whole thing is a misunderstanding, and his daughter didn't break the law intentionally. It may come down to that issue, if this case ever goes to trial. Was Angelia Curran giggling uncontrollably as she entered the bank?

Let's race to the scene of other Wednesday news....

+ Columbus Police told the Ledger-Enquirer a woman was arrested for walking out of Ruth Ann's Restaurant downtown without paying for breakfast. The woman allegedly ordered a "ham and eggs platter," then was stopped on Veterans Parkway with grits on her shirt. Talk about a clue! Well, unless a Greyhound bus hit some potholes on the way to the Columbus bus station....

+ The Russell County Commission ordered Care Ambulance to vacate its building in Seale, now that the commission has voted to change to a different service. Care Ambulance reportedly has padlocked the building, instead of moving out -- so please plan your heart attacks to occur outside the office door.

+ Auburn University announced all football season tickets are sold out. Last year some were still available in early September. People who jumped on the Cam Newton bandwagon after one game still could be 90-percent all-in.

(Some football fans may not have learned the lesson of Gene Chizik's book -- because now the season tickets are all-out.)

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The views expressed in this blog are solely those of the author -- not necessarily those of anyone else in Columbus living or dead, and perhaps not even you.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

13 JUL 11: Mr. Don't Know It All

The people who insist Columbus has deep-down hidden secrets finally may have been proven right Tuesday. The mayor declared one city department had a well-concealed "conspiracy" for 15 years. And it has nothing to do with how Country's Barbecue prepares its meat.

Columbus Council received the final audit report on the Parks and Recreation Department. It shows $200,000 was diverted into a separate bank account over 15 years. How sneaky to start such a basketball project while Columbus was distracted by 1996 Olympic softball.

Mayor Teresa Pike Tomlinson noted the "Rec-Gate" scandal occurred during the span of "two city managers, nearly four mayors...." Now hold on - nearly four?! Does this mean the current mayor escaped it? Or is this a subtle slap at Bobby Peters's height?

It was the current City Manager who was under the microscope, as the final audit was released. Isaiah Hugley addressed Columbus Council on how he "oversaw" the Parks and Recreation Department. Of course, his career could be over if he saw illegal actions unfold.

Isaiah Hugley apparently made no apologies for his work -- saying Parks and Recreation employees found clever ways to work around the city financial system. Let's face it: some people carry gym bags which seem far larger than necessary....

The City Manager told Columbus Council he takes full responsibility for not noticing the diversion of Parks Department money. But he added: "I don't believe that management oversight extends to criminal behavior." In other words, Isaiah Hugley would have fit perfectly on the Casey Anthony jury.

Isaiah Hugley admitted some people considered him too buddy-buddy with former Parks Director Tony Adams. But the City Manager claimed his early backing of Adams was NOT due to friendship - it was due to the continuing police investigation. Hugley clearly does NOT listen to AM talk radio.

The City Manager denied any knowledge of the exclusive Georgia Blazers shoe contract with Nike. He also denied any knowledge that Blazers basketball players were recruited from outside Columbus. But that's understandable - as I think I've seen a better public relations campaign by the Columbus Lady Wings.

Columbus Council listened quietly to Isaiah Hugley's explanation, not asking any questions. They didn't have to ask any, of course - since there will be plenty of time to do that in a loud voice at a future executive session.

But Councilor Judy Thomas told the City Manager as far as she's concerned, the Parks Department audit discussion is not "over and done with." It's nice to see at least one Councilor still speaks in classic Southern, so most residents can understand.

Mayor Tomlinson said Tuesday of the top appointed city officials: "At this point.... I have faith in our entire team." The key words in that sentence seem to be the first three. If police find prime tickets to Columbus Civic Center events happened to land at Carolyn Hugley's insurance office door, things could change.

The take-home lesson of Tuesday's Council meeting may be that we shouldn't expect public officials to know every little thing every city worker does. In fact, they may not know some of the big things. After all, how many local Dads made perfect predictions of their Father's Day gifts last month?

-> Our other blog is asking a question based on the World Series of Poker Main Event. Read and comment at "On the Flop!" <-

BLOG UPDATE: Now for the latest potentially big scandal. The Opelika-Auburn News confirmed Tuesday night Angelia Curran has resigned from the Friendship Volunteer Fire Department board. That's in addition to her resignation as Deputy Fire Chief, which we noted Tuesday. But Curran still could raise money for her defense lawyers by selling fire extinguishers door-to-door.

Friendship Fire Board Chair Felton Adkinson also confirmed Angelia Curran's father/Fire Chief is a board member. Is that really outlandish -since corporations such as TSYS have Chief Executive Officers on their Boards of Directors? Of course, the corporate board meetings probably don't ask every member to bring snacks.

We received one e-mail Tuesday, which will require a great deal of research before we can answer it. That could take a while - but here are other things we can mention quickly:

+ The Ledger-Enquirer reported the city Charter Review Commission is considering a proposal to add two at-large members to Columbus Council. What led to this idea? Is it a plot to divide Council into two divisions, like Southeastern Conference football? Or is the idea to make Columbus more "Bible belt" -- with 12 Councilors to match the number of apostles?

+ Fort Benning invited reporters to watch soldiers train in Gunnery Division tanks. Trouble is, WLTZ misspelled it on the air as the "Gubbery Division." If Benning winds up expanding into Stewart County, the Goobery Division might be more appropriate.

+ Columbus Police reported someone stole a dump truck from Flat Rock Sand and Gravel. It was found at a Griffin junkyard, because the business owner tracked the truck's every move through GPS data recordings. That's impressive - but you'd think he would have paid a little extra for hidden webcams on the dashboard.

+ An Atlanta Police report claimed when Pittsburgh Steeler receiver Hines Ward was arrested last weekend on drunk driving charges, he was unable to recite the alphabet. If only Ward had put an Atlanta schoolteacher in the passenger's seat, to help change his answers....

(To be fair, this could be a case of police entrapment. Did the arresting officer say "D-U-I" several times, before asking Ward to recite A-B-C's?)

+ Instant Message to WTVM's Cheryl Renee: I don't blame you for being unable to speak for several minutes during Tuesday's 5:30 p.m. news. If I wanted to hear talk about women cutting off (ahem) secret parts of guys, I would have changed the channel to "Two-and-a-Half Men."

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The views expressed in this blog are solely those of the author -- not necessarily those of anyone else in Columbus living or dead, and perhaps not even you.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

12 JUL 11: Year-Round Letdown?

Before our main topic, we have a BLOG EXCLUSIVE which arrived late Monday night. A source close to the situation tells your blog Angelia Curran resigned Monday from the Friendship Volunteer Fire Department. She's scheduled to appear in Montgomery federal court Wednesday on embezzlement charges. Curran might want to track down Milton McGregor's attorney in a hallway, and give him a card.

Angelia Curran's resignation means she'll no longer serve as Deputy Chief, answering fire calls in the Smiths Station area. But her status on the Friendship Volunteer Fire Department Board remains unclear. The next time this board meets, Lee County deputies might want to block access to the fire hoses.

The federal embezzlement charges could scar Angelia Curran's recognition by L'Oreal Paris as a 2007 "Woman of Worth." We were able to call up the event's rules Monday night, after the program's website was down over the weekend. Could that possibly have been due to firewall problems?

The Women of Worth honorees are not supposed to be paid for their service to the community, beyond a "nominal stipend." I suppose Angelia Curran's "Friendship friends" would say 5,000 dollars from a federal grant is nominal -- especially when the federal budget is above one trillion.

AND NOW.... what's that title about? Oh yes -- the new school year began Monday in parts of Muscogee County. Well, sort of. It began in two grade schools. Everyone else has to put up with the pressure of "back to school" advertising for the next four weeks.

Georgetown and Rigdon Road Elementary Schools have been on the "year-round" schedule for years. Students are back in class for the first semester, after a "summer break" of about one month. I'll assume it's only a coincidence that the new year is timed to follow the school district's fiscal year.

The idea behind year-round schools is that a spread-out schedule will help youngsters retain what they learn. After all, experts say children in China are in class more than ten months a year -- and you'll notice the Chinese now control a scary amount of the U.S. national debt.

But have you stopped to ask whether students in year-round schools are smarter in Columbus? I did Monday. And considering I have no children to enroll in any local school, that might put me under suspicion....

The latest detailed CRCT scores for Georgia came out only a few days ago. So we dared to compare Monday night - putting the test results for the two year-round schools against two traditional grade schools in the same section of Columbus. In this case, the question was: Are you smarter than a nine-monther?

We matched the fifth-grade CRCT results for Georgetown Elementary with Lonnie Jackson Academy a couple of miles away. The percentage of passing students at Georgetown was only slightly higher in most areas - and the academy led on the English exam. The stories of Jackson's legacy simply are too interesting to ignore.

The difference was much more obvious when we compared fifth-grade CRCT numbers for Rigdon Road School with Brewer Elementary. The year-round school is more than 20 percentage points better in passing reading and English. And Rigdon Road's passing percentage is five times higher in social studies. Maybe if Brewer teachers started calling it "So-Stud"....

But neither year-round school comes close to the CRCT scores posted by Britt David Elementary. It came close to having perfect passing results in grades three, four and five. Of course, these days that can seem suspicious. We'll see if Columbus Police raid the school, with search warrants for pencils with large erasers.

The CRCT scandal in Atlanta Public Schools led to the resignation of a school board member Monday night. But that's nothing compared to the discovery of the former school superintendent - at a resort in Hawaii, claiming she's recovering there from laryngitis. What science class taught her about the healing power of trade winds for your throat?

This concludes our school lessons for today. Now before we dismiss, some closing announcements from the news....

+ The high temperature in Columbus was 98 degrees F., although parts of the area received rain. I received a letter from Georgia Power saying the number of "weather events" across Georgia this year is 68 percent above average. That phrase refers to damaging wind and hail - not the dismissal of TV meteorologists.

+ WRBL reported Dr. Jay Brodwyn now is offering chiropractic treatment for soldiers at Ranger Joe's. A sign along Victory Drive promotes a "$19 adjustment." And it's probably much safer than the "attitude adjustment" some soldiers get at nearby nightclubs.

+ Instant Message to Circle K: I don't know how you do it. Gas prices have jumped several times this year - but somehow despite the summer heat, you've been able to keep the price of a 32-ounce Thirstbuster at 79 cents.

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The views expressed in this blog are solely those of the author -- not necessarily those of anyone else in Columbus living or dead, and perhaps not even you.

Monday, July 11, 2011

11 JUL 11: Testing, 3-1-1

It's one thing to see a pothole in the middle of the street. It's another thing to find a hole in the street - one which isn't supposed to be there. If the old saying is true about stepping on a crack to "break your mother's back," driving into a hole could take an awful toll.

I came upon such a hole this past week, as I stepped outside for an evening jog. I took this picture from the safety of a sidewalk, peering over a curb in the Historic District. Had I chosen to step down and run in the street, my weight could have made the hole dreadfully worse.

This hole was roughly the size of a basketball, and practically all I could see below it was darkness. I realized this had the potential to become another one of those sinkholes which have developed in the downtown area. They've been blamed largely on old sewer lines -- as if gophers never think about tearing up something other than lawns.

But I knew what to do about this discovery. I did NOT take matters into my own hands. I could have done what they do with Atlanta street repairs. But covering the hole would have meant sacrificing the only 13-by-nine-inch metal cookie sheet I own.

Instead, I picked up the phone and dialed the Citizens Service Center. That's 311, as opposed to 911 for emergencies. Had a smart-aleck ventriloquist been hiding across the street from this hole, things might have been different.

The hotline is only staffed during city business hours, so I left a voice-mail message explaining what I saw and where I saw it. After hanging up the phone, I realized this would be a good opportunity to see if 311 really works. Would a crew respond quickly? Or would I come back to find the rear of a pickup truck sticking straight up and down?

I passed the same spot 24 hours later, on the way to poker night - and found things really had been done. Either the hole was filled with rocks, or it was covered by an orange warning barrel. I don't recall seeing one of these in Auburn, but I assume they're orange and blue there.

And finally, this is how the spot looked Sunday morning -- filled with what appears to be a mix of rocks, sand and dirt. All that remains is for a paving truck to cover the spot with fresh black asphalt. But wouldn't that make the original problem even more obvious?

It looks to me like the 311 hotline passed this test. A crew was on the scene within 24 hours, and had the problem practically solved within 72 hours. For the moment, I don't have to worry about jogging on hole-y ground.

Columbus city officials ask you to call the Citizens Service Center about all kinds of non-emergency matters. For instance, the AT&T white pages indicate you should call 311 with "questions about Columbus government." The shorter "public agenda" time lasts at Columbus Council meetings, the better.

E-MAIL UPDATE: Speaking of city employees doing good work....

Richard..This e-mail is to thank the detective division of the Columbus Police Dept..They caught the burglar who has been terrorizing our University Ave neighborhood..Also,thanks to the alert neighbor who gave a description of the car that left the scene..BRAVO...

On top of that, Columbus Police have arrested a man on charges of impersonating a sheriff's deputy and attempting to enter several homes. The suspect reportedly had a badge number, and claimed other officers were knocking on doors nearby. Remember: law officers normally do NOT work this way - because they hire telemarketers in Florida to appeal for Fraternal Order of Police donations.

BLOG UPDATE: The pastor who preached that sermon about "America's forgotten motto" [4 Jul] asked for our forgiveness over the weekend, and we granted it. The minister explained he was trying to cite several issues which concern many people. It's sad to think some congregation members can't even afford a radio to listen to Glenn Beck.

Now we need to catch up on our own issues from the last several days....

+ WRBL showed a mug shot of an alleged Columbus "peeping tom." Trouble was, the word "peeping" was misspelled - with (ahem) the second "p" missing. Only Sean "P Diddy" Combs could get away with something like this....

+ WTVM reported six people were arrested during last week's Thunder on the Hooch. This is startling for several reasons - including the fact that the TV station admitted criminal misconduct occurred at its own premier promotional event. Of course, the suspects may have been "inciting a riot" by wearing Kurt Schmitz T-shirts.

+ Gas prices in parts of Columbus jumped 30 cents a gallon, to the $3.59 range. I thought the release of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve was supposed to lower prices. But then again, maybe most convenience store owners are Republicans instead of Democrats.

+ WRBL reported some veterans are upset with the quality of chairs in the Russell County Veterans Affairs office lobby. There's apparently not enough state money to replace them right now - and surplus chairs from the American Legion hall probably have too much built-up cigarette smoke.

+ The Courier and Eco Latino presented several "Community Awards." I'm told Mike Gaymon from the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce did NOT attend this event. I have not been told whether the tabloid named Gaymon its Whipping Boy of the Year.

+ The Columbus Lady Wings concluded their first home season by misfiring against Montgomery 86-79. The basketball team is 2-6, yet the Ledger-Enquirer reports they could make the playoffs with a win next weekend. Has Tony Adams found something new to influence?

+ Caleb King was kicked to the curb by the Georgia football team, as the running back was declared "academically ineligible." I read one online comment that it shouldn't be hard to remain academically eligible at Georgia. Hmmmm - so it's U-G-easy-A?!

(Caleb King's canning clears the way for Isaiah Crowell to become the top Georgia running back this fall. Overenthusiastic boosters had better stay out of the way - and NOT try to turn him into Isaiah the Profit.)

+ Instant Message to the Georgia NAACP: As I recall, you declared a police review of the Parks Department audit "frivolous" last year [8 Jun 10]. So where is your complaint about the current police review of the Civic Center audit? At least you could admit Chief Ricky Boren is consistent -- and maybe even right.

BURKARD'S BEST BETS: Gas for $3.43 a gallon (as of Sunday afternoon) at RaceWay on Victory Drive.... milk for $3.29 a gallon at Target.... and countless Columbus transplants wishing in vain for a free slurpee on "7-11 Day"....

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The views expressed in this blog are solely those of the author -- not necessarily those of anyone else in Columbus living or dead, and perhaps not even you.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

10 JUL 11: Fanning the Flames

So we're six months into the term of Columbus Mayor Teresa Pike Tomlinson -- and outside the Parks Department scandal and a couple of retirements, there have been no wholesale changes at the Government Center. For instance, Fire Chief Jeff Meyer still has his job. Contrary to some speculation, he has NOT quit to become Jim Wetherington's personal chauffeur.

SUNDAY SOAPBOX: Another fire department is in the spotlight today, because of a federal indictment we mentioned here Friday. This slightly edited e-mail about Angelia Curran comes from an anonymous "Concerned Firefighter"....

Thanks for mentioning the story. Angie has gotten away with so much for so long and intimidated so many, the only way we will ever start to fix the problems is with the communities support, and your story along with those on WTVM, WLTZ, Ledger-Enquirer, and Opelika-Auburn news are letting the community know that issues exist.

There is a copy of the indictment on WTVM's website, and if you get a chance to review it you will see that contrary to the headline in Opelika-Auburn News, she is actually accused of stealing $15K +.....each of the 3 counts state "$5,000 or more" per count.

There is currently a battle brewing within the department as the "firefighters" want her suspended pending the outcome of the case. The board, of which her and her father are members, are resisting. I can not imagine any work place or organization where you could be accused by the UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT of stealing from that organization and you would not be put on suspension pending the outcome. She was even suspended from her job as second in command at EAMC's ETS ambulance service, but not from the organization she stole from. The board has seen the bank statements, they know the charges were made using the debit card and about the atm withdrawals Yet they refuse to suspend her.

She still has full access to the fire department and its millions of dollars in equipment for which no inventory exists. This lack of an accurate inventory of what amounts state tax payer property is of course in contravention to state law. However, any time she has been "audited" she's presented an inventory, the "auditor" has never actually checked the inventory sheets are total BS, just a complete fabrication, but if no one checks how do you get caught?

I would also point you to the last audits for the State Examiner of Public Accounts, several deficiencies like lack of documentation for expenses and $20,000+ spent on meals in 1 years time were documented but not acted upon.

Here is a video she made in 2007, after she nominated herself to the "women of worth" award....

The indictment surprises me right away, by noting the Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded grant money to the Friendship Volunteer Fire Department for coloring books. Is this a proper use of "emergency" money? Especially if a tornado leaves children without crayons?

But anyway: the indictment accuses Angelia Curran of embezzling at least $5,000 of federal grant money on three separate occasions between 2006 and 2010. It does NOT say how the money was spent. But if you're a careful spender, you don't have to spend that much money at conventions in New York.

East Alabama Medical Center released a statement to the Opelika-Auburn News about Angelia Curran. It calls her "instrumental in our EMS disaster training," but says nothing about suspending her. Does our writer mean "suspended" as in mid-air - like she's stuck in a tree?

Someone must have double-checked an audit at some point - because how else could Angelia Curran be indicted for embezzling grant money? How else could this case have reached a federal grand jury in Montgomery? How else.... oh, wait a minute. Maybe Curran spent some of that money at Victoryland.

Unlike this writer, I can think of a place where a federal indictment does not automatically mean a job suspension. Several members of Congress stayed in office all the way to their conviction....

The 2007 video of Angelia Curran was for an honor presented by L'Oreal Paris. But the link took me to a website which looks like it's based in Lithuania. If that's how far a Smiths Station resident has to go to be considered a "woman of worth," the U.S. clearly has a long way to go.

The two-minute video shows Angelia Curran admitting Friendship firefighters have confided in her -- and "sometimes they cry on your shoulder." There may be a big lesson here, and not only for her. If someone confesses a sin to you, be very careful about confessing anything back.

(I could find no proof that Curran "nominated herself" for the Women of Worth Award. It's supposed to be a case where other people nominate you. But I've heard stories that the late Lonnie Jackson offered himself to WTVM as a "Nine Special Friend" - and even tried to win it twice.)

Now it's time for a language lesson....

Here you go Richard, the Word of the Day. Check out it's validity. Thanks, Larry

The chain e-mail attached to this refers to the word "dhimmitude." It does NOT refer to people upset with dimmer switches.

The word is less than 30 years old - apparently coined by a former president of Lebanon, to refer to Islamic suppression of other faiths. But you'll notice Louis Farrakhan has yet to call on President Obama to order five mandatory daily prayers toward Mecca.

So why would a writer bring this word toward The Blog of Columbus? Perhaps because the chain e-mail claims the word is in the federal health care reform act - a claim which is false. Whoever wrote that original message may deserve the title "dhim-witted."

Let's take one more message today - on a topic which may seem familiar:

Hi, Richard,

I recently discovered your blog and have enjoyed reading it immensely. I would love to read some more, but I can't find a way to your earlier posts.

Am I missing something? (Wouldn't be the first time!)

Mike Nichols

We addressed this issue 20 Jun, when someone else brought it up. So that ought to.... oh wait. That post is in the archives now, isn't it?

The archive feature for this blog stopped working a long time ago, and I haven't figured out how to fix it. I finally checked online to see what a "w3c validator" mentioned in my HTML code is. The answer involves something about "markup validity" - and I personally don't think the 30-cent markup in Columbus gas prices in recent days is valid at all.

Your best way to read old blog posts is to use the search box at the top left corner of the page. Search for a month or day the way we title each post - such as "Mar 11." But admittedly, the appearance of current posts at the top may mar 11 more from appearing below.

(BLOGGER'S NOTE: Because of today's Soapbox submissions, our city work crew test is being postponed until another day.)

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Saturday, July 09, 2011

9 JUL 11: Casey and the Son-Shone Band

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

"What did y'all think about the verdict on the little baby?" That question wasn't surprising this past week, but the person asking the question was. My next-door neighbor stopped me at my car. A male retired auto mechanic. Holding a tall can of Miller Lite beer in his hand. At 7:20 in the morning. Probably not your typical Nancy Grace viewer.

The neighbor was asking, of course, about the trial of Casey Anthony. It happens that a road trip took me through metropolitan Orlando two weeks ago -- and I felt really good on Tuesday afternoon when I realized the trial never came to my mind until the east end of the Florida/Ronald Reagan Turnpike. So I wasn't even tempted to stop and check the scene.

My answer to the neighbor's question about the Casey Anthony trial left him practically speechless. "I don't know. I didn't really follow the case." This is how you can tell who doesn't have cable or satellite TV in their homes....

That answer was accurate -- as I've been too busy focusing on matters at home to pay attention to court cases enlarged by cable news channels. It was different in 1995, when I worked at Headline News (now HLN). There were days when I was assigned to follow the O.J. Simpson trial -- and even put an orange on top of my computer screen to indicate it.

But that was several jobs ago, in a very different work environment. To borrow a popular media word, these days I'm a "hyperlocal" blogger. Maybe I'm a little too local at times. It took me a long time to confirm Lady Gaga really is a lady, and not a man.

In one way, my lack of knowledge about the Casey Anthony trial actually might be a good thing. My Bible instructs believers in the book of Revelation to "come out" of the world's sins. I've reached the point where I tend to ignore some issues which keep others preoccupied. But of course, college football starts again in eight weeks....

The point of coming out is to avoid God's punishment of "plagues" for this world's sins. For instance, a life of abstinence and purity can prevent STD's. It doesn't guarantee you a position in ministry outside Catholicism, but that's not a big issue for me.

Coming out of worldly interests also can keep your mind pure. One test I've given myself in recent years is whether I can hum any of the top 20 songs on the Billboard music charts. I tried it again this week and.... well, is "Tonight Tonight" by Hot Chelle Rae the same version they sang in "West Side Story"?

But I digress: my next-door neighbor went on to say of Caylie Anthony, "We'll never know who killed her."

"Someday we will," I responded. "Jesus will come back and reveal everything." I say that as a believer not only in a second coming, but a "resurrection to judgment" also described in Revelation. The Judge there will be very different from the Casey Anthony trial's judge. For one thing, I don't think He'll allow defense attorneys.

When the real judgment day comes (as opposed to what Harold Camping predicted), people will be judged "according to their works." A God who sees everything will know exactly what happened to Caylie Anthony, along with all sorts of other unsolved mysteries. If you think tabloid TV shows are loaded with shockers now....

But another thought occurs: Jesus Christ probably will be able to find every human ever on Earth guilty of some secret sin. That's because everyone has sinned, whether they admit it or not. Yes, even me. I'd tell you more, but I am NOT planning to run for office.

Since almost everyone will be in the same future judgment before Jesus, how much will we really care about murder cases from years gone by? Or ethnic genocides? Much less whether or not that poker player who pushed me off a winning hand was bluffing....

The good news is that there's a way to circumvent that guilty verdict -- and even Casey Anthony can do it. It's through repenting of sins, and accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior. Perhaps Anthony will turn to Jesus, in the wake of what happened this week. It beats the potential alternative -- joining Dale Hester on an island in exile.

E-MAIL UPDATE: Speaking of judgment day, let's go back to a challenge we were given in a message Thursday....

Well, since you were only a year early in your prediction, would you please make an end times prediction?

Considering the temporal meaning of "day" in the Bible, I figure 365 such days would be a very long time, indeed.

The book of II Peter says "one day is with the Lord as a thousand years...." If only it worked that way when it came to paying summer electric bills.

But really now - I know better than to do what Harold Camping did. I will NOT make a prediction about when "the end times" will end with Jesus's return. After all, the Jehovah's Witnesses claimed Jesus would come back in 1914 -- then claimed the generation born in 1914 would be the last generation. Ask around the Civic Center this weekend for any appearances by 97-year-olds.

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Friday, July 08, 2011

8 JUL 11: A Sonny-er View

"Beware Richard," warned the title of an e-mail I received Thursday. Huh?! Why? I don't run in Phenix City long enough to qualify for a grand jury investigation....

It turned out the message was in response to our Thursday interview with a Phenix City Councilor:

Please do not believe anything that comes from the mouth of J. Wetzel. That beard does not act as a filter for the blather that comes from within.

Maybe so, maybe not -- but I wouldn't be surprised if some popular T-shirts from San Francisco pop up around Phenix City one year from now.

Phenix City's mayor probably would agree with our writer. I called Sonny Coulter Thursday evening for a reply to Councilor Jimmy Wetzel's latest accusations. If you're expecting the city's biggest fireworks show since the 2009 high school football season, you're going to be disappointed....

"I've never done any of that," Mayor Coulter replied when I asked about Jimmy Wetzel's accusation about trying to provoke the Russell County District Attorney into investigations of several Phenix City Councilors. As far as we can tell, the mayor hasn't even called in Andrew Breitbart.

No, Sonny Coulter said -- he was NOT told by District Attorney Kenneth Davis to stop visiting Davis's office. But the mayor admitted, "Kenny is a good friend of mine...." If you're calling a county prosecutor "Kenny," I suppose that's true.

"I can pick up the phone and call him," Mayor Coulter said about the District Attorney. So there, Mr. Wetzel! If the mayor can do that, he might just call the City Manager while he's at it.

(And then Phenix City employees can borrow from "South Park" - shouting in horror: "Oh no! He called Kenny!")

But Mayor Sonny Coulter seemed to be surprised at this week's Phenix City Council meeting when City Manager Wallace Hunter mentioned plans for the former Cobb Hospital property. "I know nothing about it," the mayor admitted - adding he doesn't know why Hunter hasn't disclosed details to him. Maybe they plan to name the new municipal building the Coulter Complex.

The Phenix City mayor voted in June against giving the city an option to buy the old Cobb Hospital. But Sonny Coulter told me he voted Wednesday FOR spending $10,000 on a check of possible asbestos in the building. He explained since the council has made a commitment, the check seems worthwhile. And it's one check the city actually can afford to sign.

As for Jimmy Wetzel's latest rant about visiting Phenix City Hall, Mayor Sonny Coulter said: "I won't dignify anything that he said.... That is Mr. Wetzel's way of doing business." In other words, if Wetzel ran "American Idol," all the judges would be like Simon Cowell.

There certainly are two different approaches on display in Phenix City Council meetings these days. Jimmy Wetzel is the "agent provocateur," trying to bring changes by stirring things up. Sonny Coulter is more low-key, folksy and gentle - almost like he wants to launch a new version of "Mr. Rogers's Neighborhood."

(And deep-down, how many Columbus residents want to see this sort of public argument these days about THEIR City Manager?)

By the way, Sonny Coulter admitted he had NOT read Jimmy Wetzel's comment which we posted Thursday. He blamed it on an AT&T modem in his home which conked out during last weekend's storms, and still isn't working properly. If the mayor has that much clout with the District Attorney, why does he have to wait in line with the phone company?

Meanwhile, we promised a little more from our Wednesday interview with Jimmy Wetzel. As he understands it, a copy of Councilor Arthur Sumbry Senior's missing 1984 state pardon "has been found." It may have been tossed out by Alabama state officials in recent years, due to a purge of documents in Montgomery. But until we see it, Sumbry's political career may be in purge-atory.

Another potential East Alabama scandal begins our check of other Thursday news....

+ A former Smiths Station City Council member was indicted on federal embezzlement charges. WLTZ reports Angelia Curran may have taken federal grant money assigned to the Friendship Volunteer Fire Department, and spent it on personal items. Aw, c'mon - how can you bring firefighters out for a training session without a chili supper afterward?

(Curran's father happens to be the volunteer department's Fire Chief. This sounds a lot more like love than Friendship to me.)

+ Columbus Police warned someone dressed as a correctional officer staged two home invasions. One of them took place in Green Island Hills - which almost makes me wish this criminal had knocked on the door of former mayor Jim Wetherington.

+ WRBL showed specially-trained dogs from Auburn University checking for signs of Southern pine disease. Uh-oh - did "Al from Dadeville" call any other talk shows recently?

+ The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Alabama has the second highest obesity rate in the U.S. So? Do you realize how many beefy linemen it takes to win college football titles?

+ Instant Message to former President Jimmy Carter and wife Rosalynn: I hope you enjoyed a happy 65th wedding anniversary Thursday. Do you ever wish you'd sailed through the Panama Canal once, before giving it away?

SCHEDULED THIS WEEKEND: I stun a neighbor with a comment about Casey Anthony.... and a city work crew is put to the test....

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Thursday, July 07, 2011

7 JUL 11: Phenix War II

"As of now, it is my intention to run for mayor." The man who said that Wednesday night probably isn't surprising many people. In fact, some might say he's already running Phenix City - and perhaps running over anyone in his way.

BLOG EXCLUSIVE: Phenix City Councilor Jimmy Wetzel gave his strongest indication yet that he'll run for mayor next year. And he went much farther - accusing incumbent Sonny Coulter of trying to run him out of office through investigations by the District Attorney. The old question returns: is he a prosecutor or a persecutor?

Jimmy Wetzel told your blog Mayor Sonny Coulter "has been to the District Attorney numerous times," trying to break up a three-vote majority of Phenix City Councilors. He said Coulter is "trying to have the City Manager investigated, trying to have me investigated...." I've never felt more blessed to live on the Columbus side of the river.

Jimmy Wetzel went on to connect Phenix City politics to the double trouble Councilor Arthur Sumbry Sr. could face in court in August. "Mayor Sonny Coulter is right in the middle of it," Wetzel claimed about the foreclosure of Sumbry Mortuary. Then at least he could have helped remove the pews from the chapel.

Jimmy Wetzel even claimed Russell County District Attorney Kenneth Davis grew so tired of visits from Sonny Coulter, he told the Phenix City mayor to stop visiting his office. Yet Wetzel says the mayor doesn't visit Phenix City Hall enough -- so maybe Coulter needs a better GPS device in his car.

You could have seen some of this finger-pointing in person, had you attended Wednesday's Phenix City Council meeting. Jimmy Wetzel says he again publicly scolded Mayor Sonny Coulter for not visiting City Hall enough -- sometimes for as long as two weeks. Someone under 35 needs to explain to Wetzel what telecommuting is.

People who subscribe to Cable TV of East Alabama can see Wetzel's ~~constructive~~ criticism, when Phenix City Council meetings are replayed. I'm unable to see them where I live - but Wetzel made it sound like his verbal fireworks show rivaled Thunder on the Hooch.

Jimmy Wetzel admitted he was giving me "a mouthful." But I have the feeling he was looking for a place to unload, after all the TV interviews Mayor Sonny Coulter gave about plans for the old Cobb Hospital. WLTZ was the only station which showed Wetzel - while Arthur Sumbry and Michelle Walker snuck away, as if lightning aimed toward Wetzel might strike them.

Phenix City Council approved a resolution spending $10,000 to search for asbestos inside Cobb Hospital. If an environmental company hears ghosts coughing uncontrollably, that should settle the question.

Mayor Sonny Coulter told TV reporters there's "no plan" for bulldozing and rebuilding on the Cobb Hospital site. But Jimmy Wetzel told me City Manager Wallace Hunter has had a plan in the works for months - it simply isn't final and official yet. In fact, it sounds a bit like Wetzel's plan to run for mayor....

And that's where Jimmy Wetzel went after Sonny Coulter - saying the Phenix City Mayor would know about plans for building a new city government complex on the Cobb Hospital land, if he stopped by City Hall more often. Is Sonny Coulter really so old that he lacks an e-mail account?

But Jimmy Wetzel didn't stop there. He said many Phenix City residents consider Sonny Coulter the man who "gave.... away" Phenix Regional Hospital years ago, by selling it to Columbus Regional while serving as mayor and hospital administrator. I guess that means voters were in a giving mood, when they put Coulter back in the mayor's office in 2008.

The old Phenix City hospital has sat empty for eight years, since Columbus Regional closed it. Well, maybe not completely empty - because Jimmy Wetzel blamed Mayor Sonny Coulter for the building becoming a place for copper theft, "devil worshiping and ghosts." Wow! That puts it two steps ahead of Port Columbus.

I actually called Jimmy Wetzel about another piece of property. A former Phenix City official has spread tips suggesting the Cobb Hospital purchase includes the old Phenix-Girard Bank building downtown. Wetzel explained that was a separate city purchase for $175,000 -- after the Gilley Group took it into foreclosure. That building could have wound up in the hands of Montgomery attorneys.

In short, Jimmy Wetzel didn't sound like a man "intending" to run for Phenix City Mayor. He's already doing it -- and you don't have to wait for formal debates between Wetzel and incumbent Sonny Coulter. They may hold them twice a month in Council Chambers for the next year.

(BLOGGER'S NOTE: Wetzel had other interesting things to tell us, but we're holding those for another day.)

E-MAIL UPDATE: "Prophet!" declared the title of a message in our InBox Wednesday. We referred to Miss Georgia, but....

Well, since you were only a year early in your prediction, would you please make an end times prediction?

Considering the temporal meaning of "day" in the Bible, I figure 365 such days would be a very long time, indeed.

While you are at it, how about a prediction as to the remaining time of service by our esteemed City Manager and his able assistant?

Roccccck Chaaaaaaalk Garbaaaaaaaage, P.U! (Not a reflection of fine Kansans everywhere!)

Ed Joyce

I'll address the first question in a post this weekend. But City Manger Isaiah Hugley and assistant Lisa Goodwin may last longer than you think. No Columbus Councilor has dared to call for their resignations yet. Neither has the mayor. And perhaps most important, neither did several city audits.

Let's move on to.... hey, wait a minute! What's with this mocking of the chant at my old alma mater?! Kansas is coming to our area in September, for a football game against Georgia Tech. As long as the Jayhawks resist the temptation to eat a pre-game meal at The Varsity, they'll have a chance to win.

And as Little League district baseball tournaments wrap up, we receive this....

Did you see where CHS and Bobby Howard are holding a baseball clinic for elementary kids?..Starting recruiting early to get those best little players interested in CHS...

Not so fast here. If these children have time to attend a Columbus High School clinic, that tells me they didn't make Little League all-star teams -- so aren't they more likely to play high school baseball at Spencer?

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Wednesday, July 06, 2011

6 JUL 11: North By Newest

If you came here expecting jokes about Tuesday's big national story -- sorry, wrong blog. Even though that story led plenty of local newscasts, I really don't consider Columbus a suburb of Orlando.

(Well, OK -- I'll only say this. The last time a "Casey" received this much attention in July, George Brett still was playing baseball for the Royals.)

Instead, we have some pleasant news from Armour Road. The North Columbus Branch Library reopened Tuesday, after two months of renovation. It's still in the same building - even though a "Taj Mahal" library probably would make more sense closer to Green Island Hills.

The arrangement of the North Columbus Library has been awkward for years. Magazines and newspapers have been in a rather cramped area on the top level, while public access computers and most books were downstairs on a ground floor. In short, it seemed like a library was stuffed into a church building after the congregation went bankrupt.

Chris Warren says the North Columbus Library was renovated so materials are easier to find. Warren's title with the Chattahoochee Valley Libraries is "Director of Library Design," a title I never knew existed. Is he also the man who designed the schedule for closing branches one extra day a week?

But Chris Warren says the main purpose of the North Columbus renovation was to improve the data wiring system. This will allow the branch to have twice as many computers as before - so even more young people can play Farmville after school.

Let's face it: in 2011, people probably visit public libraries for computer time as much as books. For families which can't afford home computers, this is a valuable service. But for shoppers who want to start "extreme couponing," the ten-cent-per-page printing charge can be an addiction on the order of electronic bingo.

The Chattahoochee Valley Library system even has a "digital bookmobile" now, with wireless Internet connections for rural counties. Today's schedule includes a stop outside an IGA store in Buena Vista. You may remember IGA - the grocery store in towns so small Piggly Wiggly turns up its nose at them.

The digital bookmobile is funded by a foundation's grant - but I couldn't find any details Tuesday night on how the library system could afford to renovate the North Columbus Branch. After all, the system plans to close branches one extra day a week starting in August. They're changing the lights, simply to keep them turned off.

WLTZ noted one other change at the North Columbus Branch Library - the bookshelves are shorter now. That's apparently a matter of aesthetics. But don't we want children to get more exercise, by stepping on and off those stools?

-> There was an inspiring moment last week at poker's biggest event. Read what happened at our other blog, "On the Flop!" <-

E-MAIL UPDATE: While another website posts lovely pictures from Thunder on the Hooch, other people are offering a different perspective....

Dear Richard,

I just wanted to inform you that our message was well received at this year's event. National Alliance members and supporters distributed 1,000 of our Love Your Race and Stop Affirmative Action: White People need jobs too fliers. We received a lot of thumbs up from White Americans going to and from the event. Also,Columbus Police officers were very professional this year as well.While many Americans wave their cheap Chinese made American flags thinking about Freedom, we in the National Alliance live it.It's past time for a second American revolution and it shall come!

For the victory, Michael Weaver

Hmmmm -- what do you think he means by "very professional" officers? Did they all agree with his group's message?

I suspect this literature was distributed NEAR Thunder on the Hooch, not inside the event. WTVM has been picky over the years about limiting promotional materials to advertisers who purchase space. I've seen political candidates be told to stop campaigning on the grounds - which probably made things easier for the clean-up crew.

As for the evening's big event, I heard grumbling Tuesday that the fireworks show lasted only 15 minutes - and wasn't really "ON the Hooch." Some people apparently wanted fireworks to be shot from a boat in the middle of the Chattahoochee River, not the top of a downtown parking garage. We certainly could open the whitewater rafting course faster that way.

If your group handed out literature or had other thoughts about the day, we're open to them. In the meantime, let's check other Tuesday tidbits....

+ The Georgia Historic Preservation Division awarded a grant to the Springer Opera House. More than $1,700 is being provided to produce a promotional brochure. Apparently no one from the division office has driven to Columbus lately to see the Springer's "3-D" billboards.

+ Georgia Governor Nathan Deal announced 44 of 56 Atlanta public schools had faculty members who cheated with student competency tests. It's a good thing no reporter asked the Governor to express that as a percentage - or he might have cheated by pulling out a calculator.

+ Auburn University football coach Gene Chizik began a tour promoting his book "All-In." One of Chizik's first stops was "Fox and Friends" on Fox News Channel - which makes me wonder if he wanted assistant coach Trooper Taylor to give President Obama a bit more than a chest bump.

+ Pioneer pounded Peach 9-6 at the Little League District 8 baseball tournament. Peach eliminated Northern over the weekend, so the team which went to Williamsport last year couldn't even win its district this year. It also means Columbus High School coach Randy Howard may not have to drive as far to recruit new talent.

+ Instant Message to all Columbus bicycle riders: I'll accept the new state law and give you three feet of space, if you agree to ride responsibly. Please don't meander around in streets and parking lots, as if you're practicing a figure skating routine for the next Olympics.

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Tuesday, July 05, 2011

5 JUL 11: This Way or No Way

The stairways on the north and south sides of the Government Center look nice. Sometimes they remind me of what Sylvester Stallone would run up and down in a "Rocky" movie. And if the power ever fails at the Springer Opera House, the north stairs can turn into amphitheatre seating for spontaneous performance art.

But don't bother climbing those stairs to get inside the Government Center. As of today, there's only one public way into the building -- under the stairs on the Ninth Street side. The East Wing entrance is permanently closed to the public. The attorneys with offices on Second Avenue probably could use the extra exercise from walking around.

People have used the East Wing entrance for decades because the tag office is located on that side of the building. Now people who want to renew license tags will have to enter on the south side, then walk through part of the parking garage -- being reminded of the nice free spaces they could have if they ran for Columbus Council and won.

Muscogee County Sheriff's officers say the East Wing entrance was closed primarily as a security precaution. Major Randy Robertson explained there have been a couple of emotional moments recently in Government Center courtrooms. I've seen them at the Tag Office, too - from two-year-olds throwing tantrums in line.

As you might guess, some people are upset by the closing of the East Wing entrance. Several disabled people told WRBL it's an extra inconvenience -- and one woman declared, "There's not that much crime here. We're not Atlanta." This may be the nicest thing Police Chief Ricky Boren has read all year.

When the new and improved Government Center security entrance was under construction two years ago, then-Mayor Jim Wetherington made sure there were special parking places and entryways for the disabled. Perhaps the Sheriff's Office should consider reopening those, before someone rams a power wheelchair through a door.

(Government Center employees still can enter through special side doors. That's one perk the city auditor apparently has yet to uncover.)

But there's another reason why the East Wing entrance is closing - and I can't help wondering if that's the real reason. Officers admit with only one security entrance, five bailiffs can be reassigned. And that means the Sheriff's Office can save $150,000 -- money the mayor could send right into the garbage ~~bin~~ budget.

By comparison, City Hall in Phenix City seems to get by without a formal security entrance at all. The only precautions I've seen are the use of locked doors leading to offices on the second and third floors. The better to prevent fights between City Councilors and the School Board, I suppose....

There should be one other benefit from closing the East Wing entrance. I've mentioned here how desperate drivers become, when they want to park on Second Avenue across from the Government Center [21 Apr]. The surprise mid-block turns may end now -- especially if those five bailiffs are reassigned to traffic enforcement.

Some people have one less reason to visit the Columbus Government Center this week. This evening's "Proclamations Day" meeting of Columbus Council has been canceled. I'm not sure why the mayor would have second thoughts about proclaiming this Friday Cow Appreciation Day.

BLOG SPECIAL EVENT: You may have noticed a "Blog Cash Counter" at the bottom of our posts for a few days. It's because of a project I've been asked to do throughout July -- keeping track of every time I spend cash, as opposed to using checks or credit cards. For those of you who are big spenders, cash is the stuff which usually has pictures of Presidents on them.

A survey company sent me a diary a few days ago, for recording all my cash purchases. It's easy to do, since I make only one or two purchases a day. But I'm already wondering if I'll have enough space, because my cash spending tends to be small. Two trips a day to a vending machine is turning into one line -- which makes me feel a bit less guilty about what I'm buying.

(I've been offered the opportunity to fill out diaries before. But the offers came from TV rating companies -- and when I worked with TV stations, I was disqualified from filling them out. That's not true right now, though. So one of these days, I could be Teresa Whitaker's worst nightmare.)

You'll see our running Blog Cash Counter throughout the month, as I keep track of my spending. But the diary asks me to play by "Price is Right" rules. By that, I mean rounding off prices to the nearest dollar -- as opposed to getting a pet spayed or neutered first.

-> There was an inspiring moment the other day at poker's biggest event. Read what happened at our other blog, "On the Flop!" <-

BLOG UPDATE: How quickly I forget! As I went through the archives preparing today's topic, I discovered I predicted Michaela Lackey would win last year's Miss Georgia pageant [16 Jun 10]. I was wrong then - but Lackey won THIS year's pageant. I should stop by some churches, and claim to have "the prophetic gift."

Let's wrap up other items from Independence Day 2011....

+ Columbus Police estimated 30,000 people attended the grand finale fireworks of "Thunder on the Hooch." Take that, Kurt Schmitz! A big crowd showed up at WTVM's big event, anyway - and I don't think the station offered fancier prizes for winning the watermelon-eating contest.

+ Students at the Springer Opera House summer drama camp held their annual holiday parade on Broadway. A few children walked down the sidewalk on stilts - perhaps dreaming of the day when they can play Sarah Jessica Parker's role on "Sex and the City."

+ Instant Message to the Country Corner convenience store in Thomaston: I saw that poster near the door the other day. Really now - why would anyone make beer out of fat tires? Wouldn't the bits of rubber floating on top of the glass taste weird?

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 737 (+ 13, 1.8%)

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The views expressed in this blog are solely those of the author -- not necessarily those of anyone else in Columbus living or dead, and perhaps not even you.

Monday, July 04, 2011

4 JUL 11: Legends of Doom

The pastor's sermon topic was "America's Forgotten Motto." Before you click on the link, I should stop and ask if you know what the national motto is. Here's a hint: "Have it your way" was created by Burger King, without any sanction from Congress.

The pastor of a small Columbus congregation left no doubt where he stood on our country's condition. Exactly 235 years after declaring independence, there's so much wrong that "the sun is now setting on.... the American empire." If Puerto Rico ever becomes independent, it will join the Panama Canal on the "lost and found" list -- well, at least switching sides.

This pastor cited all sorts of evidence to show how the U.S. has forgotten its motto. One obvious item ripped from the headlines was the New York state legislature's vote to legalize homosexual marriage. I could see this issue becoming a "North-South" divide in our country - unless Georgia's governor decides homosexual couples should earn the privilege by serving as farm workers.

But then the pastor made some claims which seemed hard to believe. For instance: saying the pledge of allegiance at the start of school -- "Not anymore. Not anymore. That's a no-no." You even have to be extra-careful how you say the pledge during the U.S. Open golf tournament.

"You can't take a Bible into school anymore," the preacher went on to declare. Now this was a surprise - especially I remember receiving a pocket New Testament from the Gideons when I was in grade school long ago. These days, you have to steal one of those from a motel room.

And no fundamentalist sermon of this type would be complete without a jab at the American Civil Liberties Union. It was lumped together with "atheistic groups." To be honest, I can't remember the last time I heard a sermon in favor of the ACLU. But Unitarians don't tend to have the tithing power of Baptists, to afford big media ministries.

When the worship service ended, I knew I needed to get a second opinion on some of these points. So I went to a church deacon who has children in Muscogee County public schools - or more accurately, I went to his oldest daughter. She's about to be a high school junior, so she's not afraid to speak her mind.

The daughter confirmed to me her high school has a "Bible as Literature" class. In fact, those classes were approved by the Muscogee County School Board almost five years ago [19 Sep 06]. Yes, that means the Bible is used as a textbook. The official version is the New King James [24 Apr 07] - which some people hope a certain basketball player in Miami will become.

(Yet do a search for "Bible" at the Muscogee County Schools website, and you'll find nothing. That would disturb this pastor, who says the Bible once was the primary textbook in U.S. public schools. Shame on mean old Mr. McGuffey for changing that...)

Then the church deacon/Dad added more to the story. He said Muscogee County students not only recite the pledge of allegiance every day -- they also recite a pledge to the Georgia state flag. Why Republicans didn't add a reference to God or Jesus in that pledge, I have no idea.

The deacon also mentioned a comment made by a church-going attorney in another part of the country. That man said the American Civil Liberties Union's lawsuits have made it easier for church members to take time away for special conventions and festivals. So there - the Jehovah's Witnesses can come back to town in mid-October, if they'd like.

I tried to tell the deacon to explain these things to the pastor standing nearby. I don't know if he did it. If he did, the congregation may hear an apology from the pastor next weekend. The deacon's daughter may have some cover either way, by heading off to a summer youth camp.

This sermon was timed to mark Independence Day - and of course, the pastor has freedom of speech to say what he pleases. I have freedom of the press to respond to what he says. But the pastor then could exercise freedom of religion, and bar me from attending his congregation anymore.

I bring up the message on this holiday because it reveals several things. The pastor warned during the sermon about people who want to "rewrite history before our very eyes." Yet with words of ministerial hyperbole, this speaker did the very thing he warned against. It's not quite on the level of bogus battles at Port Columbus, but....

To be fair, this pastor is a grandfather -- with no children in public school these days. Perhaps he was speaking from memories of years gone by. But U.S. traditions and rules can change - and he might be surprised to find in Columbus and Georgia, they've actually moved closer to godly values. They simply haven't started tearing down mosques yet.

The pastor listed other concerns about the U.S. and its future, and many of them seem legitimate. But you don't have to exaggerate about U.S. traditions to make that point. In fact, that approach can hurt your point - such as when the pastor mentioned plans for a new arena on Long Island "for some kind of activity there that nobody goes to anymore." Well, they certainly won't go to hockey games in Atlanta as much now....

It's easy to find all sorts of faults with the U.S., and use them to warn our country is doomed. But I've heard messages along this line for decades -- including the founder of this congregation's movement, who once claimed the Nazis would conquer Britain. In other words, he was Harold Camping but with a lot less media attention.

I've been thinking far back in U.S. history this year. Did some ministers predict the end of America when the Civil War began? I suspect so. Did some even expect the end when the White House was burning during the War of 1812? Probably so. Yet the U.S. survives somehow -- even though I heard another man openly wish this weekend for the economy to collapse, so Jesus comes quicker.

Our country has found ways to keep going for 235 years. Perhaps this democracy is living "on borrowed time," as this pastor also mentioned in his sermon. But if enough people keep living by that national motto, the timeline may extend farther than doomsayers imagine. After all, we're now more than 11 years beyond Y-2-K.

So have a happy Independence Day (while you can) -- and let's wrap things up with a quick check of weekend news:

+ Columbus Police arrested a Parks and Recreation employee on drug charges. Travis Murphy is accused of selling marijuana outside the Frank Chester Recreation Center - a place where several police cars are parked around the clock. At least he saved the city a little bit on gasoline.

+ WRBL announced on its website Bob Jeswald has signed a new multi-year contract as Chief Meteorologist. Hmmmm - why would the station take the trouble of posting that sort of news, like a sports franchise would? Did the writer spit on a picture of Lee Brantley, while writing it?

+ Four Atlanta baseball players were named to the National League All-Star team. So whatever happened to the talk of boycotting next week's game, because it's being played in the "anti-immigrant" state of Arizona? Does this explain why the only Atlanta selection with a "different" name is Jair Jurrjens?

+ Instant Message to Wal-Mart at Columbus Park Crossing: I'm shocked - SHOCKED! You ask me to leave the car two hours for an oil change. Then when I come back, you've canceled the oil change - with no reason why?! I've had dates push me aside with more respect than this.

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The views expressed in this blog are solely those of the author -- not necessarily those of anyone else in Columbus living or dead, and perhaps not even you.