The Blog of Columbus, Georgia

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

25 JUL 06: YOUR HYBRID HEADQUARTERS

It all started with a short item in Sunday's Ledger-Enquirer, and led to me visiting the Muscogee County School Board meeting Monday night. In between there was this e-mail:

Sound off said MCSD hired an assistant to new AD Charlie Flowers..and didn't advertise..I guess some coach some where had his feathers ruffled..Who is the new Ass AD? Why hire one at all if the new AD position is only a year old??

First of all, should we be calling athletic directors names like this? Just because the coaches sometimes tell athletes to get theirs in gear....

And second of all, should we trust what people write to the "Sound Off" section of the newspaper? From what I've read there the last few days, the writers can't even agree on whether God supports the separation of religion and state.

There was an overflow crowd at the Muscogee County School Board Monday night, but it had nothing to do with athletics. The group Midtown, Inc. presented the results of several recent forums, on how to develop land around the Columbus Public Library. Some of you will be sad to learn the group did NOT recommend any Albert Paley sculptures go up.

Teresa Tomlinson of Midtown, Inc. said based on four community forums, people want a "hybrid" approach taken to the area around the main library. That means a mix of parkland and residential development. That does NOT mean Jay Toyota should sell hybrid cars there.

Given three options for development the land around the main library, almost 40 percent of the people at the forums preferred the hybrid approach. Commercial development was the second choice, while making the entire area a park came in a weak third. So apparently you skateboarders should stay on the Riverwalk, where you belong....

Teresa Tomlinson told reporters after her school board presentation she was surprised by the response in the forums to making the entire area around the library a park. It had the most negative reaction of any option - which should prove Trees Columbus did NOT pack the meetings with its own members.

If you think it would be cheaper to make the entire library area into a park, consider this: a consultant told Midtown, Inc. developing a park with nothing but green space would cost $200,000 PER ACRE - and it's a 62-acre area. This grass would be more expensive than marijuana after a Metro Narcotics Task Force bust.

Teresa Tomlinson explained to the school board one interesting problem in turning the library area into "all park." She says many people think recreation, when they hear the word "park." Some people want an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Some want an indoor skating rink. Some even want an amphitheater - forgetting there are two on either side of the Chattahoochee River already.

In contrast, the hybrid approach to the library area would have two smaller parks. One would measure about 18 acres behind the library, while another park of about six acres would be in front along Macon Road -- which sounds to me like the green space there now could be named after Mary Sue Polleys.

The hybrid plan would have NO commercial development around the main library - but instead allow for at least 250 residences. That means houses, townhomes and condominiums priced as low as the $100,000 range. And as an added bonus, all the new Fort Benning soldiers living there would keep the library from becoming a terror target.

If you're not aware, the site of the old Columbus Square 8 theatres already is spoken for. A new YMCA is planned there - which makes you wonder why some people want an Olympic-sized swimming pool in a nearby park, since they come standard at most YMCA's.

Teresa Tomlinson also reported on a smaller survey conducted by the Lindsey Creek Neighborhood Association. Most of the residents polled support the idea of a new school administration building being built near the library. But the current one is so well hidden, to guard against upset parents....

When Teresa Tomlinson's presentation was finished, I followed the TV reporters outside the meeting room for follow-up questions. With a note pad and pen in hand, she understandably thought I worked for the Ledger-Enquirer -- and she later explained to someone nearby a blog was "an Internet newspaper." I'll take that as a compliment, although some officials probably would compare it to Mad Magazine.

So what else happened at Monday night's school board meeting? Members approved all sorts of interesting little things, such as:

+ The spending of $280,000 for a new "fire lane and bus loop" outside Johnson Elementary School. The fire department apparently required the fire lane. Short-track bicycle racers may thank the board later for that bus loop.

+ The purchase of several "interactive white boards." I'm not sure what makes them interactive - if they're like Tickle Me Elmo, and they giggle when you write on them.

+ The naming of "Old Guard Road" for a street near a school under construction on the north side of Columbus. Once again, Guy Sims is left ignored....

+ An agenda with items from letters A to Z and AA -- which at times was so dull that I discovered the Muscogee County School Board seal has only 17 of the 26 letters of the alphabet.

The quote of the night from the Muscogee County School Board occurred during a discussion about buying trucks. Member "Fife for Five" Whiteside complained the staff should buy several trucks at one time - because "the school district takes a haircut when we don't." You'd think in a conservative community like Columbus, he'd be in favor of haircuts.

The school board meeting ended with an executive session on discipline cases - but still my original issue had not come up. What about this hiring of an Assistant Athletic Director? Board member Patricia Hugley Green stepped outside during a short break, and told me she knew nothing about it. And no, she assured me she has NOT missed any meetings....

Patricia Hugley Green directed me to a school official who ought to have the answer - and I stopped him in the parking lot before he drove away. Chief Human Resources Officer Don Cooper had NOT seen Sunday's "Sound Off" section, nor had Hugley Green. I should have asked if they even saw the front-page story on "Brother Love" and "Gator Dave."

Don Cooper told me an Assistant Athletic Director has NOT been hired in Muscogee County. But he said someone is on an "extended-days contract," working the equivalent of overtime to appear at some school functions. Who could have guessed Charles Flowers had an early bedtime?

Since there's no official Assistant Athletic Director in Muscogee County schools, there's been no need to advertise for the position. So there you have it - someone spreading misleading information in the "Sound Off" column. These Reginald Pugh supporters don't know when to stop....

In fact, a Google News search we did found the Ledger-Enquirer never even ran a story on the hiring of an Assistant Athletic Director. So this is a bit scary - the newspaper's editorial staff may not be reading "Sound Off," to see if it's accurate.

By the way: Monday night marked my first trip to the old Bradley Library building since the books were removed 20 months ago. It's received a security upgrade, and you can't go inside the building during the day without entering a security code and looking into a camera. As if gangs with knives are going to enter a building with no students, and only office workers?!

But some traces of the old Bradley Library still remain. For instance, a promotional sign outside the school board meeting room mentions "farewell storytimes" for children which took place two years ago. It seems much longer ago than that -- especially when you realize AFLAC didn't sponsor the story hours then.

LOOK OUT BELOW FOR MORE....

Power Frisbee holds an open tryout in Augusta this weekend, to see who will represent that city on opening night! And pre-season stops in Columbus and LaGrange are coming August 13. Find out where and learn all about our new game at the official Power Frisbee web site; then offer your comments about it at the P.F.G. blog.

Now let's dry the misty water-colored memories from our eyes, and check other Monday news:

+ WRBL reported Columbus had 42 reported car thefts in May, and 60 in June. But thankfully, that public safety pay raise is coming to reverse that trend....

+ Columbus Technical College announced it will offer a new program to train chefs in the "culinary arts." This sounds good to me -- but I have this feeling the students are going to develop weird new versions of catfish.

(But then again, this IS Columbus - so some students may hear "culinary arts" and think they'll be cooking barbecue all semester.)

+ Vice President Cheney appeared at a Republican Party fund-raiser in Dothan. Tickets to the private dinner cost $5,000 a couple - which led me to ask how many couples in Dothan possibly have that much money to spend on a dinner.

+ Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin asked for a federal disaster to be declared, because of drought. I wonder if I can apply for aid - because some of my humor has felt awfully dry lately.

+ Instant Message to WYBU TV-16: OK, I apparently wrote a little too soon. You still have a few more weeks of "Elimidate" to show [11 Jul] - and your Christian viewers certainly wouldn't want to have missed "Geek Week" last week.

SCHEDULED WEDNESDAY: A familiar face who's still standing outside the old library after hours....

Today's entry was in part the result of a blog reader's tip. To offer a story tip, advertise here 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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Monday, July 24, 2006

24 JUL 06: THE UP AND UP

"These gas prices are getting too d**n ridiculous," said the man on the other side of the pump from me Sunday. In recent years, of course, this sentence has become about as creative a conversation-starter as, "It sure is hot out here."

Yet we stood on opposite sides of one of the least expensive gas pumps in south Georgia. The Raceway station on Highway 520 in Tifton was selling regular unleaded for $2.78 a gallon, only three cents above the lowest price in Columbus. The price in Albany was several cents higher - which should teach Rep. Sanford Bishop to lobby harder for the extension of Interstate 185.

The price of gas at this Raceway certainly had jumped from my last trip through Tifton, to promote Power Frisbee of Georgia in Valdosta. On a Friday in late February, regular unleaded cost $2.01. So don't complain now -- because we're on a pace to hit four dollars a gallon next April.

So what did I say in response to the other driver's complaint? Something I'd noted here recently [17 Jul]: "At least the stations showed some resolve the last few days, and didn't raise prices much when world oil prices went above 76 dollars a barrel." At this point, the complainer may have wondered if I worked for ExxonMobil.

The other driver said nothing, but actually seemed to begrudgingly agree with what I said. But then I tried to soften things. "Maybe you can talk to the President of Iran, and convince him to stop causing so much trouble. Maybe he'll listen to you, because he's not listening to anybody else."

"He only wants everybody to hear him," the man replied -- and on that we agreed. Have I mentioned here that I tend to pronounce the Iranian President's last name "A-madman-jihad?"

(No, I do NOT plan to declare war on Iran the way I did on North Korea three years ago. That's because I'm concerned the Iranian President might take me seriously, and move Salman Rushdie's bounty over to me.)

Even though prices have jumped since February, the Raceway station near Interstate 75 in Tifton has no shortage of customers. Practically every pump was occupied when I pulled in shortly before noon Sunday. Perhaps when Valdosta adds an international airport for "Wild Adventure" visitors, that will change.

At times like these, I feel very wise about the car I bought 12 years ago. In the tank of gas that ended in Tifton, my humble Honda made it about 36 miles per gallon. While most of that was on the highway, NONE of it was on interstates - so the fewer traffic lights they put up in Cusseta and Richland, the better.

So what else did we find on the first Sunday of our Power Frisbee pre-season tour? For one thing, a good bit of rain. A thunderstorm poured down for several minutes over the place where we were scheduled to appear in Albany - and with plenty of lightning, I didn't bother checking whether the frisbee I brought had any traces of metal on it.

We handed out Power Frisbee business cards outside Billy Grant Field, the Valdosta State University baseball stadium. A woman told me there was a summer "wooden bat" league underway for college players. Wait until T-ball parents hear about this - so they can add a little "incentive" for children who don't want to run the bases.

For some reason, the most curious discoveries of Sunday's road trip seemed to be centered in Terrell County:

+ The county has a Wilbur Gamble Road - but the signs pointing to it along Highway 520 are misspelled "WLBUR" in BOTH directions. C'mon, Governor Perdue - don't we have a state budget surplus?

+ Not far from there, Highway 520 intersects with a "Chain Gang Road." If Brooks and Dunn can sing a hit song called "Red Dirt Road," some rap group can do a song about this....

(Really now - would YOU want to live on Chain Gang Road? Would you want to be in need of hired help there?)

+ A Subway restaurant combined with a gas station was NOT selling the new bourbon chicken sandwich. No, the sign outside offered simply "chicken bourbon." Those little globs of fat floating on top must make it more nutritious - or is that barbecue sauce?

(I've heard of drinks "on the rocks," but never bourbon on the bone....)

Now let's pull into the driveway, for some quick local notes from Sunday:

+ The Columbus Museum held a "family art" day, which emphasized quilting. Who knows how many children today see their first quilt, and think of those cartoon women putting toilet paper together....

+ The Spirit-Filled Ministries broadcast on WRBL featured Pastor Wayne Baker offering a book on how you can "pull yourself up by your bootstraps." My Pastor maintains that approach simply doesn't work. For one thing, what if the viewer always wears sneakers?

+ Columbus golfer Larry Mize finished sixth at the B.C. Open golf tournament in New York state. The fact that Mize wasn't at the British Open may tell you how much he needed some big money from a top-ten finish.

+ Instant Message to WLTZ NBC-38: Now that's some smart programming - following Sunday night's Miss Universe pageant with a beauty contest for twins. Most of the politically-minded men who expected to see "Meet the Press" at 11:00 p.m. probably didn't mind a bit.

SCHEDULED TUESDAY: E-mail about a "Sound Off".... but should that Sound Off be trusted?....

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, July 23, 2006

23 JUL 06: DAY TRIPPER

Today we begin the next big step toward the launch of Power Frisbee of Georgia. It's the first "Free Frisbee Sunday," showing off our new game in cities around the state. Hopefully people won't misunderstand, and think we're serving free sundaes ON a frisbee.

The Free Frisbee Sunday tour will mean a lot of driving - but at least I had a warmup for it last weekend. I went to our church congregation's annual picnic in Chambers County, about five miles northwest of LaFayette. It was a typical Sunday morning in the South, with few cars on the road because many people were in church -- so I knew where to pull over if trouble developed.

Our Columbus congregation has its annual picnic in Chambers County because a Local Elder has a nice home there, complete with a below-ground swimming pool. So we save money on renting a pavilion in a park - choosing instead to spend it instead on gasoline, driving 75 minutes one-way into the countryside.

Someone asked the Local Elder at our picnic this year how much land he owned - and I think he said nine acres. If he said 90, he's hiding the acreage well - with so many trees he probably could hide the sins of two congregations, along with ours.

Work commitments prevented me from attending the church picnic last year -- but longtime blog readers may recall our last trip two years ago [29 Jun 04]. Some members pulled out guns after lunch and engaged in target shooting in the Local Elder's backyard. I'm still wondering if National Rifle Association chapters do this at their picnics and cookouts....

The shooting session at the 2004 picnic led to this famous quote from a co-worker: "You attend a redneck church, don't you?" I tended to agree with him - but last year, church members told me last year the Pastor told gun-lovers to tone things down. In other words, keep the fire for the large rented grill.

Since I don't own a gun, I didn't pack one for this year's picnic. I carried two-liter bottles of soda and a disc for showing off Power Frisbee. But around the LaFayette city limits, I realized I'd forgotten ear plugs for the shooting. Maybe bottle caps from the soda would cover me a little....

But amazingly, I never saw anyone bring out a gun during about five hours I spent at this year's church picnic. Perhaps they were dissuaded by the fact that the Local Elder allowed big weeds to grow on a large open area where people had fired shots in the past -- but then again, that shouldn't stop real hunters, should it?

Instead, this year's big drama at the church picnic came during the cooking of lunch. A lot of smoke and flames developed on the grill at one point - making me thankful that the cooking team consisted of married men, so I wouldn't be blamed for any of it.

And of course, the "chicken flambee" was prepared on one of the hottest days of the summer. I was prepared to quote the Stevie Wonder album title, "Hotter Than July" - except of course, it WAS July....

After the quick grease fire, the grilled chicken seemed to cook normally - and the two pieces I ate didn't turn out all that black. I should note here our congregation is NOT one of those racially-separated groups. We eat both white and dark meat.

A surprise appearance was made at the church picnic by a member from Troup County who's on kidney dialysis. She's on what doctors say is a five-year waiting list for a kidney transplant - which to me takes the Biblical phrase "patience is a virtue" to quite an extreme.

(But this woman's biggest problem at the picnic was her left arm, which was quite swollen from medical needles. Why the doctors somehow think her kidney area is there, I have no idea....)

As I mentioned, the church picnic occurred on one of the hottest days of the summer. Several men chose to stay against a wall in the shade as much as they could - which was surprising, because we never danced once.

(The hosts prepared for the heat, by purchasing a couple of strips for making watery mists. Yet for some reason, they didn't serve Sierra Mist drinks with it.)

All in all, this year's church picnic was worth the drive. We ate well. We had fun. And the frisbee I brought wound up being tossed around (and into) the swimming pool. That's not really how Power Frisbee works - but given today's rainy forecast for South Georgia, maybe I should reconsider that....

E-MAIL UPDATE: I had not noticed this news, but a blog reader did....

Spencer High's new principal jumped in feet first with his shuffle of coaches..Might be some more shuffling coming soon..He means to put Spencer back on the map and make all teachers,administrators and students accountable..

I'm sorry, but I'm not as impressed by this change. The Spencer baseball team hasn't made "adequate yearly progress" for a long time.

Now from the Green Wave to a lack of waves, as we check headlines from the weekend:

+ Chattahoochee River Keeper George Williams warned against swimming in the river for now, because low levels mean higher levels of bacteria. Swim in it?! Before Saturday night's rain, there were spots in the downtown area where I think you could walk across it without getting wet.

+ A drive downtown found the Burger King on Veterans Parkway has not merely been closed in the last week - it's been bulldozed. Did the thunderstorms cause that much damage? Or do they need a bigger downtown restaurant to handle that king mascot with the big head?

(First the downtown Krystal closed. Now Burger King is "closed for rebuild," as its sign says. If I didn't know better, I'd guess the Mafia was thinking Arby's.)

+ Columbus planning officials confessed it may take four years to widen Whittlesey Boulevard, between Veterans Parkway and Whitesville Road. For one thing, it'll take a long time to remove all the lines of traffic so construction can begin....

(Columbus city officials admit they've been surprised by how popular Columbus Park Crossing has been. Isn't it amazing - that people still like eating at The Olive Garden?)

+ Russell County authorities announced the discovery of a large methamphetamine lab in Hatchechubbee. A suspect reportedly was making meth by buying cold medicine by the case - and when you're doing that in the South during a heat wave with temperatures around 100 degrees F., that's a little bit suspicious.

+ A small plane crashed at the Rome, Georgia airport, as the pilot tried to show a woman a marriage proposal banner from her boyfriend. Thankfully, the couple survived - but I'd suggest keeping the candle-lighting at the wedding to a minimum.

+ The final weekend of "Midnight Basketball" was played at Shirley Winston Park, with the championship game starting at 9:00 p.m. I think I've finally figured this out - the organizers teach the players world geography, by playing games at midnight Central European Time.

+ Auburn University Interim President Ed Richardson promised new rules concerning "Directed Reading" courses. Among other things, they'll become more "academically rigorous." Of course, that could mean football players read two books a semester instead of one.

+ Instant Message to the Georgia Department of Revenue: I don't get it. How can the "Auburn Club" have a Georgia specialty license plate, while Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus does not? Is this the result of a lost Auburn-Georgia football bet or something?

COMING SOON: A downtown repair job which I hope the Streetscape crews aren't overlooking....

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Friday, July 21, 2006

21 JUL 06: DAY OF VICTORIES

Mark your calendar: Thursday at 1:45 p.m. If you need to renew your car tag in Columbus, this is the perfect time to do it. I know, because that's when I did it Thursday - with hardly any waiting in line. Maybe the staff quietly wants Mayor Bob Poydasheff to win reelection.

Several errands were on my Thursday afternoon schedule, with the top two occurring at the Government Center. First was my annual car tag renewal - and again this year, I was given a sticker instead of a brand new plate. Do I have to wait until my humble Honda qualifies as an antique?

The security team at the East Wing of the Government Center was quick and polite while checking me. When I told them I was trying to keep cool, one man said, "You can't do it." I can't?! He should be thankful I didn't have a small gun hidden in my case....

After retrieving my case and metal items, I was so stunned by what I saw that I did a double-take. The car tag "waiting area" in the East Wing had NO people waiting. What could have caused this? Did someone spread sugar on the floor, which led to a fearful evacuation?

A woman entered the car tag area with me, and I let her go first. "What did we do to deserve this?" I asked her as we hurried through the barriers to the front of the line - acting a bit like teenagers trying to ride the roller coaster as many times as they can before closing time.

The woman was able to go to a counter almost right away - and I only had to stand for about a minute, watching United Nations Ambassador John Bolton give live comments to reporters on CNN. The wait was so short, the words on the screen never even told me what the developing story was.

By renewing my car tag at the Government Center, I saved the one dollar "mail fee." Years ago in suburban Atlanta, I waited nearly an hour for a car tag sticker - but I kept trying to impress people around me in line by saying, "I'm saving a dollar doing this."

With my new red sticker secured, we walked around the underground parking area to the West Wing of the Government Center. It was time to pay a city occupation tax for Power Frisbee of Georgia - which begins its introductory "Free Frisbee Sundays" this weekend in Albany and Valdosta. But under Columbus city rules, there are NO free home businesses....

The wait to pay the occupation tax wasn't that long, either - only a minute or two, while the cashier took care of a METRA employee. He walked away with what appeared to be a small bag full of money. I didn't think METRA bus drivers were able to make change for riders -- but then again, maybe those are his personal tokens for getting to work next week.

"That was too easy," I told myself as I finished my two tasks at the Government Center. But there was one more thing I wanted to check - so I exited through the tower entrance, looking around the security station from a distance. A man had told me there are pictures on the wall of everyone who's been barred from the building -- but I didn't even see Usama bin-Laden's picture anywhere.

Next stop: Cross Country Plaza - and this also was a doubleheader trip. I needed to make a few copies of a Power Frisbee sign-up sheet at OfficeMax. At the checkout, the woman asked me: "Did you find everything you wanted?"

"Oh yes," I answered. "The copying machines were right where I expected them."

Task two: go to Publix to buy postage stamps. Yes, I know you can buy them at any post office -- but how many post offices offer free samples of nacho chips and donut holes in the lobby?

But the big question at a store such as Publix is what to buy WITH the postage stamps. On this Thursday, the top contender was a bakery box of three dozen chocolate chip cookies on sale for $3.49. These tend to be "special event" cookies for me - but having no waiting line at the tag office didn't seem to qualify.

Yet the other snack candidates at Publix seemed too expensive. Even the packaged store-brand chocolate chip cookies in the aisle with Oreos had gone up to $2.19. These are NOT special event cookies, because -- uhhhh, welllll -- because they weren't on sale like the higher-priced ones were.

Using that inexplicably sound logic, I carried the bakery box of cookies to the fast lane of Publix and asked for stamps at the checkout with them. But then came trouble -- as the fancy new checkout computer screen showed the box costing $4.39. I didn't think my eyesight was failing that badly.

"I thought I saw a sign, showing that for $3.49," I said matter-of-factly. The checkout woman had someone, well, check out the bakery section -- and when that second woman came back singing "Everything's Coming Up Roses," I didn't know if I was right or she was newly engaged.

Both women stared at the electronic cash register keyboard, in what turned out to be my longest wait of the day. I finally half-whispered to one of them: "Does this mean I was right?" She nodded yes -- which was about as far as Publix went admitting a mistake.

The box of cookies was scanned a second time, to cancel the $4.39 price. The final total: $7.80 for stamps. "But I still want the cookies," I said.

"They're no charge. That's our policy." Wow -- catch Publix in a scanner error, and the item is FREE?! It was tempting to go to a second store and try it again.

"I'm shocked," I told the checkout pair. "And I didn't have to wait in line at the car tag office a while ago, either."

"This is your day!" encouraged a woman behind me in line. "Take advantage of it." Well, sorry -- I still don't play the lottery.

If all this was not enough, I got home from a 7:15 p.m. jog in time to beat the second thunderstorm of the evening by about ten minutes. I didn't get wet - well, except for stepping in puddles from the first thunderstorm, and sweating all over my T-shirt.

So all in all, I felt quite blessed Thursday. Events went much faster than planned. I wound up with a free box of expensive cookies. But I'm left wondering - should I have bought some roses for the Publix employee who was singing that song? Would my winning streak have stretched (ahem) into the weekend?

BLOG UPDATE: All the guesses about WRBL's next Chief Meteorologist apparently were wrong. Your blog has learned former Columbus weathercaster Bob Jeswald is returning to town, to replace Jeff Donald. Mitzi Oxford may have to plead with the Weather Channel, to get back on the air presenting forecasts.

Bob Jeswald currently is a weekend TV meteorologist in Phoenix. But he lists Columbus on his resume, from around 15 years ago. We'll see how long it takes Jeswald to learn how to spell it "Phenix" again.

The local weather made news Thursday, among other things....

+ A pair of afternoon thunderstorms left thousands of Columbus residents without power, and scattered debris downtown. I went running between the storms, and found large panels of what looked like insulation along the Riverwalk. Either the first storm was stronger than I thought, or the construction crew on Front Avenue is sliding down the embankment for fun like children do.

+ South Girard School in Phenix City held an annual "teen summit." WRBL reported one big issue was self-esteem. Why, of course - I found a church magazine article online saying young people have too much of it, and they really may be dumber than they think.

(Another topic at the teen summit was "dressing for success." Wear one of those Abercrombie and Fitch T-shirts with a sarcastic message to the job interview, and you probably will NOT be hired.)

+ The evening news showed how Eastway Christian School in Opelika is using "bio-fuel" for its buses, by processing vegetable oil. Take that, you nutritionists! Serving fatty foods at lunch can keep OPEC countries from overpowering us.

+ The Georgia Department of Revenue reported the state wound up the last fiscal year with a surplus of more than $500 million. Be thankful Sonny Perdue and Mark Taylor can't touch that money for campaign commercials -- because it might all be gone by November.

+ Instant Message to Lady Nana's Restaurant in Phenix City: The ad in the mail says you're open from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. The sign outside your front door says you're open from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. I'm glad I drove by when you locked the door at 9:00 p.m., to settle this - but has the sign maker driven by yet?

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Thursday, July 20, 2006

20 JUL 06: RETIRED IN NAME ONLY

"Blog competition" warned the title of an e-mail I received the other day. Uh-oh - who could be taking me on now? Doesn't The Loft still change its Thursday night stand-up comics every week?

The advisory came from WRBL's new full-time webmaster - and directed me to quite a surprise. Longtime Columbus TV news anchor Dick McMichael is blogging now. But don't worry - he hasn't gone all the way over the edge, and put his profile on Myspace.com .

The web site Dick McMichael set up to promote his memoirs now doubles as his blog. Its perspective reflects his decades as "The Newsman" -- only when he offers commentary, you're expected to understand that without a label being posted.

Since he started his blog earlier this month, Dick McMichael has focused often on journalistic issues. For instance, Wednesday's entry compared the news coverage on BBC International with U.S. network morning shows. He noted the BBC had no cake-baking segments. OK, but does it show live outdoor concerts by former "American Idol" contestants?

Dick McMichael's blog isn't really a competitor for this one right now, because he takes more of a national and world view. For instance, for the last three days he's examined how the news media have covered events in Lebanon. I'm more inclined to quote a classic gag where someone called Atlanta radio host Gary McKee: "What about Beirut, Gary? Best baseball player ever was, Bei Rut."

But Dick McMichael has addressed some local topics -- and the other day, he took "the media" to task for not keeping close watch on local members of Congress. Maybe those lawmakers should get part of the blame. They're too scared to have offices in Columbus, where reporters at least could talk to the aides on Secretary's Day.

While other people might consider him over the hill, Dick McMichael keeps impressing me with how sharp his thinking is -- as well as how current he is online. If you think he's behind the blogging curve, consider this: Al Fleming doesn't seem to even have his own web site yet.

Now for another former TV anchor who's turned blogger. I didn't realize until the other day that State Senator (and still champion) Ed Harbison had a "legislative blog." He kept it during this year's legislative session. But apparently Harbison has been too busy campaigning to add that "wrap-up" entry he promised way back in March.

I also didn't realize until reading Wednesday's Ledger-Enquirer that Ed Harbison was a TV news anchor at NBC-38 years ago. That explains his interview show of recent years, "Public Agenda." If WYBU TV-16 still shows it, I don't know when it's on - and I don't know if it has the same warning label that "Extra" and "Elimidate" have.

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Free Frisbee Sundays begin this weekend, introducing Power Frisbee in Valdosta and Albany! A Columbus pre-season stop is planned August 13. Find out where and learn all about our new game at the official Power Frisbee web site; then offer your comments about it at the P.F.G. blog.

E-MAIL UPDATE: Now for some growing pains in Lee County:

Word around has many wondering on where the people are going to go when Phenix City starts the River Clean out of Citizens and some Businesses.

With Phenix City taking over area's in Lee county and some area's that would normally be called Smiths Station,,what service's have been provided to the Citizens,

What has Phenix City Done to help those that have been Annexed Voluntary or Forced into the City by means of Signing up for the Sewage lines other than take their money???

Does the Phenix city fire Department respond to calls that have been annexed into the City???

State Farm Insurance goes by zip codes for Rating your Homeowners Insurance - by far, Phenix City Fire Rating is one of the lowest in the area

-Smiths Fire Department which is called Friendship Fire Ass. has one of the Highest Ratings in the County

- Friendship fire ass. covers the entire southeast area corner of Lee County (other than what Phenix City does not cover)

- Will Phenix City Leaders find ways to Dump the Citizens from the River Front housing in Smiths Station - that's the word going around

-Is there a Housing Project in the works to Dump the Citizens from the Phenix City remodeling effort on to Smiths Station or just outside the current City limits ???

It's so hot that the rest of this post has melted away

Oh, so many questions! First of all, I thought I heard somewhere that some of the people leaving the Riverview Apartments might move to Ladonia. Trouble is, that area needs a Dollar General store to go with its Fred's.

What is Phenix City doing about all these topics concerning southern Lee County? Well, Mayor Jeff Hardin told WRBL Wednesday he's invited two South Korean auto parts suppliers to visit the area. Those companies could pay for improved sewage and fire service - or then again, the "Kia payoff" could be going in the other direction.

So why would the Friendship Fire, ahem, DEPARTMENT rate higher with insurance companies than the Phenix City crew? Could the hidden answer lie in the name - since Phenix City firefighters haven't been all that friendly with each other at times in recent years?

(And oh yes, I thought fire departments had mascot dogs. If Friendship Fire has changed to a different animal, I don't quite understand why - unless perhaps donkeys carry fire ladders more easily.)

Now for other things which flared up Wednesday:

+ Which "Sky Watcher" told WRBL during an afternoon thunderstorm that the wind was "blowing every which way?" Is this person hurting his or her chances of becoming an official meteorologist?

+ That afternoon storm knocked out power for a moment at my home, and apparently shorted out the electric cord for my computer. Thankfully it was the cord from my OLD computer, which died last month. Now not only is my new computer's cord in place, I've discovered another offer from America Online for rejecting.

+ Not one political ad appeared on local television - and wow, did that feel strange! I kept waiting for someone else to run an attack ad. How about the Columbus Convention and Visitors' Bureau declaring: "Montgomery - too boring to waste your gas on."

+ The manager of the Opelika Sonic Drive-In was kidnapped at closing time, and forced to drive to Auburn. The fact that he's safe and well may be nothing more than the "Luck of the Straw."

+ A spokesperson for Summit Hospital told the evening news the new Phenix City medical center will open during the first week of August. Hopefully it will open in time to handle all the shoppers passing out from the savings, during the sales tax holiday.

(The new Summit Hospital will have 70 beds, but also will have room to grow as the need arises. Has Fort Benning already warned those new incoming soldiers to avoid fishing from the Phenix City side of the river?)

+ The Ringling Brothers/Barnum and Bailey Circus finished its two-day run at the Columbus Civic Center. If you're hungry early today, there could be plenty of leftover peanuts sitting around near the back doors.

+ Instant Message to the person who sent e-mail about possible corruption in a Lee County board: I'm told it happened years ago. The accused person is now dead. But if you want to dig up the grave and point a finger at it, that's up to you....

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Wednesday, July 19, 2006

19 JUL 06: ED IN

The Ringling Brothers/Barnum and Bailey Circus began a two-day stand at the Columbus Civic Center Tuesday. Yet somehow, the presence of all those elephants did NOT increase the Muscogee County turnout in the Georgia Republican Primary....

Columbus-area Democrats gave State Senator Ed Harbison an overwhelming win over Reginald Pugh, by a margin of more than two to one. Pugh must have been surprised to turn on WXTX "News at Ten," and see Harbison actually standing in Columbus to thank supporters.

"All negative" was how an aide to Ed Harbison described Reginald Pugh, when I tried to arrange an interview with the incumbent last week. Perhaps if Pugh had declared himself a "really, REALLY good man...."

Ed Harbison actually ran a campaign commercial in Spanish, on WHAL "Viva 1460." Well, someone else spoke in Spanish - then Harbison added a few words in English at the end. Next time, Mimi Woodson should give him some lessons.

Reginald Pugh took the loss to Ed Harbison rather hard. He told one reporter the incumbent will represent only a select group of voters. C'mon now - is that really fair? Big donor AFLAC seems to hire a wide range of people....

Reginald Pugh says he had a busy election day, visiting at least 16 polling places. Pugh's on a 30-day leave of absence from the Columbus Urban League -- so either that, or sit at home and watch soap operas all day.

The evening news climbed inside the Urban League's "ride to the polls" van - and what do you know? There were NO political statements or name-dropping by the driver. In fact, they didn't even put a glossy photo of Reginald Pugh on the dashboard as a hint.

The Ed Harbison win could be seen as another blow against Columbus civil rights groups. William Howell of Rainbow/PUSH may still be sitting outside Senator Arlen Specter's office in Washington, waiting for a meeting. But at least Bill Madison of the NAACP isn't talking about pretend bombings anymore.

At the top of the ticket, Mark Taylor held a firm lead at our deadline in the Democratic primary for Governor. Did anyone dare ask at Taylor's victory party whether the caterers were prison inmates?

Did you see the tape of Mark Taylor waving a campaign sign, along the side of an Albany street? Do that enough times in the summer heat, and he might not be "The Big Guy" much longer.

The apparent loss by Cathy Cox in the Democratic primary will disappoint some local lawmakers. Cox was backed by Rep. Debbie Buckner and Rep. Carolyn Hugley -- so if I was Hugley's husband (ahem), I'd send Mark Taylor a Columbus city government wish list in a hurry.

(How many journalists quitely are thrilled to see Cathy Cox lose -- so they won't confuse her with the Georgia School Superintendent anymore?)

Incumbent Sonny Perdue coasted to an easy win in the Republican primary for Governor, over Ray McBerry. McBerry tried to run on Perdue breaking his promise about the state flag - but when everyone pretends you don't exist, it's very hard.

Back at Burkard Awards time [1 Jan], I declared Sonny Perdue the incumbent LEAST likely to win re-election. Now I'm not so sure about that. He's been given more clues for beating the Democratic nominee than the detectives usually see on "Law and Order."

The Lieutenant Governor's race in Georgia may have received more national attention - and former Christian Coalition leader Ralph Reed lost the Republican primary to Casey Cagle. Maybe evangelical voters really want Reed to go on the revival circuit with Roy Moore.

Casey Cagle warned in one Republican debate that Ralph Reed's connections with lobbyist Jack Abramoff might get Reed indicted or arrested by November. At least Reed doesn't have anything else on his mind now....

(Of course, Cagle could be arrested by November as well. All it takes is one lead foot in the wrong small town.)

And how about the Republican runoff for Lieutenant Governor in Alabama? Luther Strange defeated George Wallace Jr. - but maybe that shouldn't be considered so, well, strange a result. After all, Wallace changed parties faster than his dad changed his mind about school integration.

Back at the local level, results from the Talbot County Commission races seemed to come in very slowly Tuesday night. That's what happens when you put some of the polls inside a locked-up recreation center....

Sher'Londa Walker knocked off Talbot County Commissioner Vernon Allen Jr. But Commissioner Robert Lanier won his primary race easily - so in his district, voters seemed to pooh-pooh the "poo-poo pots."

Other things happened on Georgia Primary Day as well. For instance....

+ The mother of Kenneth Walker went before Columbus Council, claiming she received no help from the Public Safety Advisory Commission. Emily Walker sounds like a desperate woman, who's knocking on any door she can seeking help. We'll know she's desperate if she asks the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition to try a second recall of the Sheriff.

+ WRBL showed plans for renovating the old Eagle & Phenix Mill along the Chattahoochee River. W.C. Bradley plans four floors of loft homes and two restaurants - which means one more restaurant will fail there, than did at Johnson Mill.

+ The Columbus Catfish lost to Augusta 7-4, in a special 11:00 a.m. "Youth Day" game at Golden Park. We're waiting to hear about many youngsters gave their parents away as cheaters, by showing up at the game wearing "I voted" stickers.

+ Instant Message to the owners of Hickory House Bar-B-Q at U.S. 80 and 280 in Phenix City: "Thanks for the memories," indeed. I didn't know you had shut down. Please don't tell me that intersection is going to have pharmacies on THREE corners now.

(BLOGGER'S NOTE: Our post time will change for the next couple of days, to around 8:00 a.m. ET. So you late-night blog readers really should get some rest....)

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Monday, July 17, 2006

for 18 JUL 06: LEE OVER

The Russell County School Board accepted the resignation of Superintendent Rebecca Lee Monday. So based on recent East Alabama superintendents, where do you think Lee is going now - Glenwood School or Columbus State University?

Dr. Rebecca Lee was superintendent in Russell County a bit more than two years. It may say something noteworthy about her tenure that her two biggest accomplishments were keeping the school district off the state intervention list - and the high school baseball team winning a national title.

(But we'll remember Rebecca Lee for something else - the TV announcement in which she said, "Russell County Schools IS...." Maybe this is why John Phillips hasn't done something similar in Muscogee County.)

Dr. Rebecca Lee is leaving Russell County's school district quickly. In fact, Monday was her last day on the job. I don't even think Jim Wetherington supporters want Mayor Bob Poydasheff to leave office that fast.

But even though Rebecca Lee left the superintendent's office Monday, a severance agreement with Russell County Schools means she'll be paid through October. That should make for an interesting discussion, at the high school's next Future Business Leaders of America meeting....

So why did Rebecca Lee suddenly flee? Interim Superintendent Lillian Baker said there was "tension" between the former leader and the Russell County school board. We're left wondering if it was similar to the tension between some parents and the school board - only the superintendent left faster than the board could prepare a news release about it.

One Russell County school board member told WRBL the board refused to extend Superintendent Rebecca Lee's contract two extra years. So she apparently wanted leeway, and the response was more like "Lee-away."

There was a big cloud hanging over Monday's vote which no one really wanted to talk about - the recent convictions in court of four Russell County teachers. Did Superintendent Rebecca Lee hold the school board responsible for that? Did the board hold Lee responsible? And did they notify each other within seven days, like they're supposed to do under Alabama law?

(One Russell County parent dared to tell WXTX "News at Ten" an outsider may need to clean up the schools, similar to the "Sin City" era in Phenix City. It's as if all the notorious families of 50 years ago are hiding in Pittsview and Hurtsboro now.)

Yet school board members say Rebecca Lee picked an unusual time to resign as Russell County Superintendent. After all, the new school year starts in a few weeks. The principal's position at Russell County Middle School is still open. And someone has to help Tony Rasmus recruit more baseball players over from Muscogee County schools.

Rebecca Lee's departure means Russell County has lost four school superintendents in ten years to resignations. And Interim Superintendent Lillian Baker had plans to retire in September. So much for putting a whoopie cushion in the administrators' chairs -- they may already have ejection seats.

BLOG UPDATE: We made a trip to the Columbus Public Library Monday, primarily to check on the air-conditioning system. We never thought we'd have to make such a trip - but then again, a couple of years ago we didn't think we'd make special trips to the library for deluxe brownies.

We wanted to feel for ourselves whether Monday's e-mail about the air conditioning at the main library was accurate. Yes, the CD/DVD area at mid-morning was a bit warmer than the "great circle" walkway on the second floor. But maybe the library board is about to make a deal for Energy Savers to sponsor it.

All in all, the main library is a lot more comfortable than the place where I write this blog. I depend on a floor fan redirecting cool air from a window air conditioner two rooms away. Someday I'll have to reenact a web site from the "good old days" of the mid-nineties Internet - and have a web-cam record how fast my ice cream melts.

E-MAIL UPDATE: While we're talking about libraries, let's head back to the Mildred Terry....

Richard: King o' the 'Blog:

Reason I mentioned the library, not because of modest expansion plans, but because the expansion plans seem to have gotten out of hand--from 10,000 Square feet to 18,000 square feet.

In a Tuesday, November 29, 2005 story, on page C-1, Ledger reporter Pat Gillespie reported that Claudya Mueller, Library System Director, said the Muscogee County School Board is planning a 10,000 square foot library on the same site, more than twice the of the its current 4,200 square foot facility.

How does 10,000 square feet match up with 18,000 square feet which I believe was reported recently in the Ledger. Which is correct?

It would also be interesting to know, how much "estimates for increased population are factored into the planned library".

Anyone?

Oh, now you're making me blush. KING of the Blog? I'm more the Jack of all topics - and the master of none....

Could it be that the new improved Mildred Terry Library will have two floors? That could explain all the extra space. Or then again, maybe something happened that would come as a surprise to many people in Columbus. Maybe the Ledger-Enquirer typed in the wrong number.

Let's check some other numbers, as we look quickly at Monday's other news:

+ Columbus gas prices did some strange switching. Stations which held firm at $2.71 a gallon all weekend went up to around $2.77 - but the Citgo at Fifth and Veterans Parkway actually dropped to $2.70. Which place do you think has more trouble with its fax machine?

+ WRBL reported a feasibility study for Columbus South Inc. recommends the old Baker High School be turned into a fine arts academy. This sounds like a cost-cutting move to me - with students sculpting their own sheet-rock for the walls.

+ Mike Vee returned to Columbus radio, hosting a midday sports talk show on WEAM-AM. He's on the air from 10:00 to 1:00 - but it would sound a lot cooler if the show started earlier, to be a Vee-8.

+ The University of Alabama announced the home football opener against Hawaii is sold out. I honestly never realized so many native Hawaiians live around Birmingham and Tuscaloosa....

+ Instant Message to the Georgia Lottery: What kind of a "Cash 3 Double Drop" was that? There's only about a one-in-seven chance that the "peach ball" will come up, to have a second drawing. I'm more likely to drop a peach in the produce section of the supermarket.

COMING WEDNESDAY: The winners, losers and funny stuff from Georgia Primary day (and maybe the Alabama Primary runoff, too)....

Your PayPal donations can help build a better blog, and keep it independent-minded. To make a donation, offer a story tip or comment on this blog, write me - but be warned, I may post your e-mail and offer a reply.

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17 JUL 06: A TIME OF TESTING

The Democratic candidates for Georgia Governor had their final debate before the primary Sunday night - and I'll confess, I did NOT tune in. I wondered what could be said which was new or different from last Wednesday's debate. Well, other than some new one-liners from Mac McCarley....

It's our custom here to NOT bring up politics on election days - and instead use election eve to quiz you on your knowledge of the races and contenders. Ready?

1. Which candidate calls himself "The Big Guy?" Does he get in trouble with children during December, for claiming this title?

2. Which candidate for Lieutenant Governor used to oversee the Christian Coalition? Why has he seemingly forgotten the Bible verse about turning the other cheek, based on his commercials?

3. Why have the candidates for Columbus Mayor been reluctant to endorse anyone in the State Senate race? Are they afraid the wrong endorsement might prevent future sales taxes from getting on the ballot?

4. Which candidate for Secretary of State came to Columbus and held a "Rally for the Receipts?" How many people misunderstood this, and showed up with receipts from the old Rally's restaurant?

5. Name the candidate challenging Sonny Perdue in the Republican primary for Governor. Is the real reason why he can't get a debate scheduled with Perdue based on the flag he wants to drape around his lectern?

6. Which candidate urged voters to sign his web site petition against high gas prices? Did he pass it on to the President of Iran, so the Middle East tension driving up world oil prices would stop?

7. Where do the candidates in the State Senate race really live? Should they have thrown housewarming parties for voters, to prove it?

8. Name all the candidates running for Georgia Agriculture Commissioner. Explain why some of them have posted campaign signs in the middle of Columbus, where there are no farms.

9. Why hasn't Cathy Cox simply called herself "The Little Gal?"

10. Which candidate for Lieutenant Governor sounds like he should be operating a poultry plant in Pine Mountain - except he apparently doesn't?

11. Which county commission candidate seems deeply worried about people seeing seven-month-old pictures of bathrooms?

12. If you have trouble getting a ride to the polls, should you call the old "Georgia RideShare" number?

13. Name the candidate for Governor who's charging admission to his Primary Night party -- even though he reportedly has millions of campaign dollars left to spend.

14. Which candidate is tugging at people's emotions, with his commercials describing a recovery from polio? Should his doctors be running for office instead?

15. Where has Dylan Glenn gone - and for that matter, where is he living now? Could it be that he rented his house to Ed Harbison?

16 Who is posting signs in Chambers County saying, "Chuck in November?" Don't they realize Chuck Leonard lives in Columbus?

17. Should politicians be punished for talking about "sins of your fathers and grandfathers" - especially if they aren't ministers?

18. How many candidates stood just outside the campaigning boundary line around the Columbus Public Library during advance voting and yelled, "Vote for me?"

19. Which local candidate is described in ads as "a really good man?" Does this mean his opponent is just fair, or excellent?

20. Which morning radio newscaster has said on the air Georgia School Superintendent Kathy Cox is running for Governor -- when she's not?

E-MAIL UPDATE: While you ponder those questions, some of our readers have other things to consider. Our first message is about two places in Columbus:

Q1. Have any muskrats been found, dead or alive, in the vicinity of Cherokee Ave?

Q2. Anyone been to the second floor of the Taj Mahal -I mean the library-in early evening? The temperature, at least in the CD/DVD/Talking Books Section, was many degrees HOTTER. Not Hot as Hell, you understand, but hotter than other parts of the library. $40 million should provide for a proper air conditioning system. Right?

Remember, if the excesses represented by the Taj are 51% the responsibility of the Library Committee and the School Board, they are 49% the responsibility of Mssrs Burdeshaw and company and his Architectural Mafiosi.

Speaking of the library, apparently one of the so called Friends of the Library (definitely not friends of the citizen or taxpayer) was quoted in the Ledger as saying we will need a library building in the next 10 years devoted to (I guess) changes in learning technology. Maybe she should go ahead and lobby to have Burdeshaw working on a retrofit inside the existing Taj Mahal, cause there's no way in H**l I will vote for more library space at this time.

You should know that our fancy schmancy library board is planning for a 18,000 square foot facility to replace the Terry Library on Veterans Parkway. Maybe they can generate some extra funds to pay for good air conditioning by leasing out part of the building to Backyard Burgers or Starbucks.

LMAO

I must admit I'm puzzled by Question 1. If anything, I'd think the construction work on Cherokee Avenue would have found some dead fish in the canal.

I visited the Columbus Public Library last week, but did NOT go up the stairs. Maybe the CD section is set aside for women -- since they're more likely to turn up thermostats, while men turn them down.

And I never realized an "Architectural Mafiosi" built the main library. Every time I drove by the construction site, I don't recall seeing anyone wearing sunglasses and a trench coat.

Yes, I DID know about the plans for a new Mildred Terry Library on Veterans Parkway. All that extra space will beat the cramped conditions there now. The public access computers are so packed together that you can help the person next to you win at online poker.

It might be nice to have a Backyard Burgers at the new Mildred Terry Library. After all, the only one in the area right now is on Airport Thruway -- and it's blocks from anyone's backyard.

Our next letter has to be edited a bit, because we're still trying to verify part of it:

Regarding your Lee County correspondents comments about the Mayor and the Smiths Station Water Authority [14 Jul]: The mayor of Smiths Station is not a member of the Board of the Smiths Water and Sewage Authority. The SWSA does not come under the control of the mayor or the city of Smiths Station. The Board members are appointed by the Lee County Commission. The SWSA serves a very large area outside of the city of Smiths Station. The original incorporation documents of the SWSA state that the subscribers are the owners of the system. That's really odd since the subscribers (customers) do not get to elect their own Board. Lee County commisioners who live in Auburn, Opelika, etc. get to appoint the board members.... Smiths Station Resident

Thanks for clarifying that, Mr./Ms. Resident. Of course, the way Smiths Station is growing, it soon could conquer everything in the authority's territory - and then that missing "Station" in the name will have to be added.

Our review of Sunday news found people needed to use plenty of water because....

+ The high temperature in Columbus hit 100 degrees F. for the second day in a row. If it hits 101.3, I'm going to feel "Da Beat" - well, make that just plain beat.

+ Several Columbus gas stations showed surprising resolve, and kept their prices at around $2.71 a gallon. Maybe the managers think the reports of Iranian weapons hitting Israel are simply disinformation.

+ The Associated Press reported the state of Alabama will start issuing identification numbers to all public school students. To some people, this will sound like a George Orwell novel come to life. To some teachers, this will sound like a great math problem waiting to happen.

+ Instant Message to the Tiger Station convenience store on U.S. 431 between LaFayette and Opelika: You're kidding, right? I mean, that sign offering fried bologna sandwiches. Do you also sell funnel cakes covered with chocolate chips?

BURKARD'S BEST BETS: Half-gallons of ice cream for $1.99 at the Opelika Kroger.... FactCheck.org for unbiased analysis of campaign attack ads.... and any walkway where trees offer shade....

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Sunday, July 16, 2006

16 JUL 06: THE SOLDIER ATTACKS

"He's not gonna call you back." So predicted Reginald Pugh, when I told him I'd asked his State Senate opponent Ed Harbison for an interview. It turns out Harbison did NOT, but one of his aides did. Does that earn him half-credit?

It actually was Reginald Pugh's campaign which contacted us first, saying the State Senate challenger was willing to be interviewed for your blog. This meant one of two things. Either this blog has "arrived" as an established news source and influential voice in the Columbus area - or somebody's campaign is desperate for any attention it can get.

This is Reginald Pugh's first attempt for public office - and he admitted to me he's been struck by how some powerful people want to "hurt you professionally, they want to hurt your family...." Pugh refused to name any names. But if your church pastor has Ed Harbison fliers in the bulletin today, he's probably one of them.

My first big question for Reginald Pugh was based on last week's front-page newspaper quote from his opponent. Had Pugh stopped harassing Ed Harbison - and if so, when did he stop?

"I haven't been harassing him," Pugh told me. But perhaps Harbison feels that way, because Pugh and his campaign staff have brought up all sorts of negative things about the incumbent. To hear the Pugh team talk, Harbison taught Danae Roberts all about pretending to live in the district you represent.

"He's living in Atlanta more than he lives in Columbus," Pugh claimed. Yet a check of the phone book shows not one, but two home listings for an Ed or Edward Harbison. The one who's NOT a State Senator must really feel harassed....

The Reginald Pugh campaign has attempted to challenge the entire life story of Ed Harbison in recent days. One e-mail to the blog, clearly from a Pugh supporter, accused Harbison of claiming five tours of duty in Vietnam despite only serving four years in the Marines. Not even Marshal Greg Countryman brought up the military issue, when he ousted record-padder Ken Suddeth.

In contrast, Reginald Pugh was a "Vietnam-era veteran" - although he never actually served there. He also says he had orders to go to Kuwait in 1991, but the fighting there ended so quickly that he wasn't needed there. What DID the former President Bush do right then, that his son isn't doing now?

But I digress: then there's the ethics complaint which was filed this past week, involving Ed Harbison's campaign contributions. Harbison suggested in a Friday night TV interview someone in the Reginald Pugh campaign filed that complaint. He should be thankful Pugh's campaign doesn't have his college transcript.

"He tells a lot of lies," Reginald Pugh told me about Ed Harbison - going on to say the veteran State Senator "doesn't have any integrity." So it was a bit surprising to read Pugh's campaign finance report, and not see Cathy Cox's name on it.

We interviewed Reginald Pugh before we learned from The Courier that Reginald Pugh was late in filing a "personal finance disclosure statement" with the state. In fact, he's several months late - as if he's waiting for that big lottery check to come, and change everything.

The Courier also reported Reginald Pugh was late in filing a campaign finance report for the second quarter - but Friday's Ledger-Enquirer had the numbers. When you've raised about $10,000, a $75 fine for late filing is no big deal. It's a bit like pro football players hiding cell phones behind the goal post.

Ed Harbison's campaign has received about three times more donations than Reginald Pugh's - and the Harbison donors read like a roll call of corporate Columbus. AFLAC has given. Synovus has given. Yet the scoffers say Pugh's the one who's been hob-nobbing with Republicans....

Reginald Pugh explained that issue by saying his board at the Urban League has both Democrats and Republicans on it. "I deal with people. I don't care if you're a Republican or a Democrat." Maybe Pugh should have cared when he filed for State Senate - because a lot of Republicans might have voted for him.

(Pugh went on to say he has no problems with Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue. It almost leaves you wondering why Zell Miller hasn't come to Columbus, to give Pugh a personal endorsement.)

Yet Reginald Pugh's position at the Urban League became a campaign issue this past week, when Ed Harbison complained to the Election Board about the group's "free rides to the polls." You know, I'm starting to see Harbison's point on this. Civil rights groups are known for demanding contributions at times like that....

Reginald Pugh responded by saying the Columbus Urban League has been providing free rides to the polls for 35 years, as a community service. But he admitted he said "100 years" to the Ledger-Enquirer, admitting that was an "exaggeration." Pugh should learn the Miranda rule of campaigns - anything you say can and will be used against you.

Reginald Pugh went on to say voters are NOT told which candidates to select during the free rides to polls. Pugh added he's offered to let Ed Harbison's campaign cooperate with the service, and even ride along - but "no one's called me back." Oh, so THAT'S where the harassment started....

Beyond the personal pokes, Reginald Pugh says you should compare his record with Ed Harbison's before you vote on Tuesday. So I asked Pugh about education - and his main answer involved spending more on schools, and less on imprisoning the "mentally ill." How more money will keep students from becoming mentally ill, he didn't exactly say.

Reginald Pugh also said Georgia's lottery for education program needs to be reviewed, to see if the money is being used for the best purposes. When 30 percent of the state's students fail to graduate from high school, maybe the HOPE scholarship needs to start a few years earlier.

By comparison, Reginald Pugh says Ed Harbison boasts of sponsoring a lot of legislation - but "anybody can sponsor something." Yes, absolutely. And if someone would like to become an advertising sponsor for this blog, please write me....

Ed Harbison told the Friday night interview he's been a "work horse" for District 15. For instance, he said he "put the call boxes on I-185." Harbison did not explain why that experiment hasn't been adopted anywhere else in the state -- or if it's a subtle hint to the Harris County Sheriff to spend more time patrolling the interstate.

Reginald Pugh's attacks have failed to persuade some people and groups in Columbus. This week's edition of The Courier endorses Ed Harbison for reelection, lists several areas of service and grant-winning - and faults Pugh for not returning ITS phone calls.

"We view Pugh as uninformed," The Courier says in its editorial endorsement. I'm not so sure about that. Reginald Pugh seems to know an awful lot - and it's about Ed Harbison, and it's not very complimentary.

P.S. The aide from "Friends of Ed Harbison" who returned our call apparently wanted to check our blog, before Harbison decided whether or not to submit to an interview. He made sure of the Internet address - but when we mentioned we'd talked with Pugh "about 90 minutes ago," he somehow thought it was a 90-minute interview. Normally I don't have time to write THAT many jokes.

THE BIG BLOG QUESTION on the State Senate race ended Saturday night, with Reginald Pugh receiving 81 percent of the vote over Ed Harbison (13-3). We'd like to thank everyone at the Urban League office who have been reading our blog in the last few days....

(We should take pains to note this is a nonscientific survey. One of these days, we're going to ask voters how many of them actually are scientists.)

Now a quick check of other items from the weekend:

+ The evening news returned to Talbot County, and found a rundown recreation center remains locked seven months after a cleanup was promised. Commissioner Robert Lanier actually said on camera: "I've got an election coming up, and I'm asking you: please, please don't show those ugly poo-poo pots again." How shocking - to hear an elected official not say "commode."

+ The soul group Pretty Ricky performed at the Columbus Civic Center. The members appeared live on WRBL - and they puzzled me, because none of them looked like Ricky Martin at all.

(When you're doing a live interview in a TV studio and your entire group is wearing sunglasses, does this mean you look cool? Or are you hiding your identity from someone in law enforcement?)

+ Prosecutors in the Coca-Cola trade secret case revealed they used wiretaps, and the three suspects used code names. I'll assume the female suspect used the name "Wild Cherry."

+ The Columbus Catfish lost to Augusta 8-5, before Golden Park's biggest crowd in years. The attendance of 4,838 was so big the Catfish actually may put an attendance figure on the official box score - because I've seen several recently where they didn't.

(When you can hear a Golden Park crowd cheering the Catfish from blocks away, you can usually guess the reason for it. My guess was right Saturday night - the stands were filled with Fort Benning soldiers.)

+ Instant Message to the children who rode their bicycles east on Macon Road in the westbound lanes: You're in the wrong lanes of traffic, with one of you sitting on another biker's handlebars, you're heading toward Cross Country Plaza a bit before sundown -- and then you tell ME to shut up? Which SUV driver on the J.R. Allen Parkway taught you that one?

COMING MONDAY: E-mail about air conditioning and water departments....

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Friday, July 14, 2006

for 15 JUL 06: A SONG LEFT UNSUNG

(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.)

July 15 is a milestone day for me, for a couple of reasons. It's my late father's birthday (he would have been 86). And on a July 15 Saturday six years ago, I left the church denomination that I attended for close to 20 years. I didn't really leave my congregation hanging - because the ministers sort of did that themselves.

I happened to be Worship Leader of the church service on that final Saturday morning, and had everything in order -- with some of my favorite Christian songs, including one or two which were personal tear-jerkers for me. If I was going to go, It wouldn't look right to leave with a proud smile on my face.

The pastor of our congregation had been on shaky ground for some time -- suspended once for not supporting doctrinal changes in the denomination. The biggest question involved whether we keep meeting on the Saturday "Sabbath," or switch to Sunday. It was one time when denomination leaders actually said "everybody's doing it" was a good thing.

Our congregation had adopted several of the denomination's changes - including hymns and recordings with more modern music. The Pastor-General said old-style songs and a traditional format screamed to newcomers, "Not welcome!" Yet for some reason, that denomination's membership count has kept dropping ever since....

I disagreed with some of the doctrinal changes, so I e-mailed the local pastor Friday night to inform him of my plans to leave. He replied Saturday morning before the service, revealing he was being fired that day! It turned out that old inspirational song was right - "You'll Never Walk Alone."

A couple of Regional Pastors were on hand, to announce the change of leadership - yet my Pastor was undaunted, not only showing up but sitting in the front row. He could have played on the congregation's emotions, but the wife and seven children were left at home in Montgomery.

But the big announcement wound up interrupting my grand plan for my final service in the old denomination. The Regional Pastors declared the pastor would be replaced - then led the congregation in a prayer, and canceled the final song on their own. They apparently realized I'm a fairly good public speaker, and feared I'd turn into a loose cannon.

One of the Regional Pastors came to me after the service and asked if I could lead songs again next week. That's when he learned the news about my departure - personally from me. If he had let me come back up to the speaking stand, everyone might have been doubly shocked together.

The last song I'd planned to lead that day is still as applicable today as it was on July 15, 2000. I offer it to my old congregation and denomination now - and if you're a Christian, I offer it to you as well:

God be with you till we meet again.

When life's perils thick confound you,

Put His arms unfailing 'round you.

God be with you till we meet again.

Till we meet, till we meet -- till we meet at Jesus's feet.

Till we meet, till we meet -- God be with you till we meet again.

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14 JUL 06: POSTAGE UNPAID

"There will be a little surprise at the end of this," the woman on the phone told me Thursday. Uh-oh - are these phone sex lines so desperate for business that they're calling ME now, instead of the other way around?

The woman was calling from something called Publishers' Business Services, and wanted to speak to the "head of the business." The response to our launch of Power Frisbee truly has been overwhelming - from the telemarketers and junk mail companies, at least.

The woman claimed to be doing a brief survey, and wanted to know if I do a lot of reading in my free time. While I make time for Bible study every day, I really don't read a lot of other things - except for the other local blogs, to see if they beat me to any big stories. You know, about Florida fishing trips....

Then the woman wanted to know what magazine subscriptions I have. At the moment I have only one - and it's a free magazine from the church denomination I attend. When "Entertainment Weekly" put "Queer Eyes for the Straight Guy" on its cover instead of the death of Bob Hope, it lost me.

Those answers seemed to short-circuit the survey - but then the woman offered her little surprise. Through some kind of special deal with publishers, I would get 60 issues of five or six different magazines. And I'd get them all FREE! If only the city of Columbus were offered this - local illiteracy might drop dramatically.

The woman on the phone named a few of the magazines I'd get - and they covered a wide range, from "Christianity Today" to "Hot Rod." This contrast seems a bit strange. How many churches have lost tithe money, because guys bought extra chrome for their cars?

I couldn't believe this little surprise I was hearing. "I'll get the next five years of several different magazines - free?!"

"Yes," the woman answered. "All we ask is that you help pay for the postage." So Time/Life wouldn't get any of my money - but I'd make a helpful contribution to the Postal Service.

"How much is that?" I asked, suspecting the big catch was about to come.

"Two dollars, 76 cents a week," the woman said. A week?! At least Georgia Power lets me pay one month at a time.

That weekly postage price, by the way, was for each magazine. "So that's two dollars, 76 cents," I said calling up the calculator on my computer near the phone, "times six magazines, times 52 weeks, times five years." And what you have is a great practice math question for next year's CRCT exam....

"That comes to 717 dollars, 60 cents," I told the woman on the phone. "But they're free magazines!?!"

"They're free from the publishers," the woman tried to explain, "but they're simply asking for your help with the postage." As if these publishers need my help?! It's like me asking blog readers for their help with the.... oh wait, I already do that, don't I?

"Paying 718 dollars for magazines is NOT free," I said as I turned the telemarketer down. It may be less than the price of freedom they talk about at Fort Benning, but it's still not free....

A check online Thursday night found Publishers Business Services has its own web site, apparently providing customer support and answering questions. But it also has plenty of critics, who claim the company coerced them into binding contracts for magazines they didn't want. Just because your car has a rear spoiler nowadays does NOT automatically mean it's a hot rod.

OVERHEARD OVER HERE: One man is talking to another man downtown about the high price of gasoline -- and offers his own unique solution:

"We've got all that oil in Alaska, and Congress is too nice to drill it. We should nuke the capital of Alaska, nuke Washington, D.C. -- and while we're at it, Iran and North Korea."

E-MAIL UPDATE: We hear again from our occasional Smiths Station correspondent:

Did someone forget to turn off the Fireworks switch, - What a display of fireworks Uniroyal announced Tuesday.

Around half the Opelika work force to be laid off later this year which some are Smiths Station residents, Let me guess, that management told employees not to worry about anything before the 4th Holiday session and go out and spend and have an great vacation,,.

Half the work force people are not going to make Union wages for awhile - until they can find other Unions around here that need that many people...

And some of you are worrying on how to pay for your power bill this summer, is this just bad timing - Also announced by Uniroyal/Michelin/Goodrich that the Mexico plants will be increased for more production of Passenger tires...

Wait a minute here -- Uniroyal says that Passenger tires sales are way down and have to lay off american workers and also a Plant in Ontario -- but -- at the same time announced that the Mexican Plants are increasing for the demand of Passenger tires...sounds like that Burrito and Bowl of chilly has some loaded beans in it..

Also

Mandatory trash pickup is closer to making it's way onto the Streets..

Talk around the area has someone saying false claims on that Radio talk show in the Mornings about Smiths Water and Sewage Authority in Smtihs Station - seems that some one from the Radio station has talked to Smiths Station's Mayor and would like the Mayor to come on to the Show to set comments correct.. --

Is the Mayor on the board of Smiths Water and Sewage ,, - Does the Mayor oversee daily duties of the Smiths Water and Sewage, - Is Smiths Water and Sewage their own Authority????

No one to answer outside the Board memebers...!

Can we have some measurable rain....Please

I'll start with that last item - and I'm afraid I can't offer you any. For one thing, the scattered showers missed downtown Columbus Thursday. For another thing, Blaine Stewart has stopped presenting the weather on WRBL for a few days.

You have to wonder where laid-off employees from BF Goodrich will find "union wages" anywhere. After all, they're in Alabama -- where the union has been held in skepticism for about 145 years.

Mandatory trash pickup doesn't necessarily have to head "onto the streets," you know. All it takes are some alleyways behind those nice Smiths Station homes....

I can't speak for Smiths Water and Sewage, but the Columbus Mayor has a seat on the Water Works board. In fact, Bob Poydasheff has a seat on so many boards around town that it's no wonder he hasn't had time to campaign for reelection.

Now for drips and drabs from the Thursday news:

+ Environmental Protection Agency experts held a meeting in Columbus, and made a surprising announcement. The E.P.A. has concluded Columbus's air pollution comes from the east, not the west. OK, how much did Continental Carbon donate to the Republican Party?

(Do you realize what this finding means? It could allow Continental Carbon to get out of those lawsuits filed by South Columbus residents. And since the E.P.A. blames most of the pollution on wood burning, it could lead to a big lawsuit against Fort Benning.)

+ The Columbus Urban League held its annual "Equal Opportunity Day" banquet. Can anyone who attended tell me if this event lived up to its name - with both Reginald Pugh and Ed Harbison giving speeches?

+ The U.S. House voted to extend sections of the Voting Rights Act. Georgia Congressman Lynn Westmoreland argued Southern states should NOT continue to require Justice Department approval of election changes, 40 years after the act was adopted. Maybe he hasn't noticed how many Southern churches still look segregated.

+ Columbus State University held its orientation day for new students. They learned about all sorts of C.S.U. traditions - hopefully including Scott Miller's top five "lucky spots" for basketball games.

+ The New York Times reported 18 Auburn football players from the 2004 undefeated season may have taken a "soft" sociology course called Directed Reading. Well, at least they WERE reading. They didn't hire tutors to do it for them, as someone in Georgia football did years ago.

+ Meanwhile, the Opelika-Auburn News reported Auburn linebacker Kevin Sears was convicted on three drunk driving counts. The Tigers have had so many D.U.I. cases lately that they could play in next winter's Bud Bowl.

+ Columbus native Frank Thomas sued two Chicago White Sox doctors, claiming they misdiagnosed his foot injury last season. Somehow, I doubt we'll see the same sort of lawsuit from Barry Bonds about THIS season....

+ WRBL presented a report on Internet safety, including a 14-year-old girl whose Myspace page says she lives in "a name you can't pronounce, Alabama." They traveled all the way to Arab to do this story?!

+ The Associated Press reported the federal government's list of potential terrorist targets includes a kangaroo conservation farm in Dawsonville, Georgia. You may think this sounds silly - but remember, kangaroos can hide all sorts of things in their pouches.

+ Instant Message to Casey Cagle and Ralph Reed: Why aren't you running any TV commercials promoting your Lieutenant Governor campaigns in Columbus? Have you two decided this area is too strongly Democratic? Or are you laughing at the "Give 'em Hecht" ads?

BURKARD'S BEST BETS: Gas for $2.69 a gallon (as of Thursday afternoon) at Dolly Madison on Victory Drive.... Watch batteries changed for two to four dollars at Lane Jewelers on Broadway.... Tryouts for "America's Next Top Model" Saturday at the RiverCenter (but arrrgh, I have commitments)....

COMING THIS WEEKEND: Which local candidate says his opponent lacks integrity and tells "a lot of lies?" It's a Blog Exclusive....

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