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1 SEP 04: POOLE PLAY

Columbus NAACP President Edward DuBose went before Columbus Council Tuesday, to report a man was treated unfairly by a police officer last week. Come to think of it, when WAS the last time a civil rights group presented an award to the law officer of the year?

Ed DuBose illustrated his short presentation to Columbus Council by raising his hands in the air, then folding them like he was pointing a weapon. At moments like this, we're grateful the Government Center has security checkpoints - because
some overzealous officer might have shot DuBose on the spot.

Ed DuBose spoke in behalf of Paul Poole. Poole says he was in his car in a parking lot minding his own business, when a police officer pointed a gun at him and ordered him to get out. I've heard of getting stopped for "driving while black," but never "parking while black."

Paul Poole happened to fit a description of a suspect Columbus police were seeking, but he was NOT the right man. So did the officer overreact by pointing a gun in the car window? Or should we wait until Columbus Council gets a bill for a
new bullet-proof vest?

Paul Poole says he filed a complaint with Columbus Police about his treatment last week - but he has yet to receive a response. Tell us about it! David Glisson was fired more than six months ago, and he still doesn't know if he'll be indicted.

Paul Poole was peeved as well because when he filed his complaint with Columbus Police, it was taken down on a note pad. There was NO formal paperwork filled out, he says. This man truly is a rare breed - someone who likes government documents.

Columbus Police Chief Willie Dozier explained sometimes police complaints actually ARE filled out on note pads, but they're still recorded. After all, imagine if Republicans had tried to fit every piece of the Whitewater investigation onto a single flow chart....

But back to the main point: Edward DuBose told Columbus Council Paul Poole easily could have become the next Kenneth Walker. Thankfully, that did not happen - but how far does DuBose want to go? Should police trade in all their guns for long inflatable balloons?

Councilor Mimi Woodson responded to Edward DuBose's story by saying she had her own complaint last weekend, involving the Sheriff's Department. Hmmmm - who was pulling up the Robert Taylor campaign signs?

Mayor Bob Poydasheff promised to look into these reports of law officers pushing their authority too far. After all, the officers might get the feeling they're running Columbus - and Fort Benning military officers already are trying to do that.

E-MAIL UPDATE: We mentioned last week a certain local charity had NOT announced the results of its annual radiothon. A reader in Birmingham whom we're keeping anonymous figured out it was the Children's Miracle Network, and sent us this:

Richard,

I called Clear Channel and they raised 19,000. I believe that they raised around 80,000 last year. That will hurt the tote board next telethon. I hate it.

Ouch! This could be the biggest cloud "Sunny 100" has faced in years....

I've now heard through several sources that Alexis Cantwell resigned as Children's Miracle Network director after last week's radiothon. I don't know if it was due to that fundraiser or not -- so I'll resist the urge to say CMN went to the Cantwell once too often.

Several big fundraisers in Columbus have fallen well short of their goals in the last year. The trend includes the Valley Rescue Mission telethon in March - but I think that was because too many people knew I'd be singing....

Still, the numbers from charity events are stunningly poor in the last 12 months. Valley Rescue Mission's telethon came in well under its goal. So did the Children's Miracle Network radiothon. And if the United Way sees another big decline this fall, it might have to start next year's campaign the day after this year's ends.

Now other tiny tidbits from Tuesday:

+ Police in Valley said a masked man with a gun held up a Waffle House at 3:30 a.m. Or as Elmer Fudd might report the story: "A wascal wobbed the waffle westauwant with a wifle."

(The suspect was last seen running toward the Valley Holiday Inn - so I guess we could say he wanted his Waffle House order scattered.)

+ Some parents at Talbotton-Central High School complained their children were suspended from class 50 days for getting in a fight. I can see why the parents would consider that harsh. In the National Hockey League, those teens would have
spent only five minutes in a penalty box.

+ Speaking of hockey: the Columbus Cottonmouths announced they'll open the season at home October 29 against Knoxville, then host the "Macon Trax" the next night. If you ask me, this nickname Trax sounds a bit C-D....

+ Washington Redskins team owner Daniel Snyder bought a portion of the Six Flags company, and talked like he may try to take it over. Imagine driving to Atlanta and seeing his influence - at the new, improved "Six Helmets Over Georgia."

COMING THURSDAY: Who says Columbus is a Democratic town?....

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© 2003-04 Richard Burkard, All Rights Reserved.