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19 AUG 04: PHENIX PHIRE
Cross the 13th Street Bridge into Phenix City, and you're liable to notice it - a fire truck parked along the roadside, with a sign supporting a candidate for Mayor. I guess I saw this the other day, but I didn't think anything of it. For all I knew, the truck could have been promoting red-hot savings at Piggly Wiggly.
Several people apparently have seen this fire truck on 13th Street, and concluded the Phenix City Fire Department is endorsing a candidate for Mayor next week. After all, I remember how active some members were a few years ago in
campaigning for a new Fire Chief....
But I'm hearing the fire truck parked along 13th Street is NOT an official Phenix City fire truck. It's an old truck a former firefighter bought, which he's using to show support for Mayoral candidate Jeff Hardin. And let's face it -- how else can you use an old fire truck, other than driving it in parades?
Meanwhile, Mayoral candidate J.W. Brannen has a new TV commercial on the air. He talks about how construction is about to start on the 14th Street section of the Phenix City Riverwalk - or as I prefer to call it, the "River Phenix."
J.W. Brannen's commercial shows him at a different construction site, talking about how Fifth Avenue Extension will be one of his top priorities as Mayor. Please note he does NOT say the new hospital there will be a priority - and as stiffly as he stands in the ad, Brannen looks like he could use a back doctor.
It's interesting to compare what the candidates for Phenix City Mayor are saying. J.W. Brannen promises to work for a road to the new hospital. Jeff Hardin talks about bringing a movie theater to town. Which building do voters want more?
And which would they rather visit more often?
(Then again, why don't we combine these two? Put a theater in the new hospital - and it can show classic medical movies such as "MASH," "Patch Adams" and "Doc Hollywood.")
Have I missed it, or are famous Phenix City names not endorsing anyone in the Mayor's race? I haven't heard which man incumbent Sonny Coulter or former Mayor Peggy Martin prefers. And the 1999 Little League baseball champions might have enough clout to influence the outcome.
Now some other quick things from a slow Wednesday:
+ Columbus Metropolitan Airport announced it's receiving a federal grant to improve its security system. Before long, every passenger on an ASA flight will have his own bodyguard.
+ A SunTrust bank on Talbotton Road was robbed for the second time in 16 days. Is the Columbus Housing Authority SURE everyone's moved out of the Peabody Apartments?
(I have no idea who's robbing this bank branch - but if it's the same person, he obviously doesn't understand how the "Christmas Club" program works.)
+ Auburn University began its search for a new Athletic Director - by interviewing the head of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation! [True/A.P.] Shame on all you skeptics, who say big-time college sports are only about money....
(Is interim President Ed Richardson confused here? In places such as Auburn, "S.E.C." does NOT stand for Securities and Exchange Commission.)
COMING SOON: You can become a mayor, too.... and we have some "weighty" matters to discuss....
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