The Blog of Columbus, Georgia

Monday, April 26, 2010

26 APR 10: Old Inglorious?

If you have Georgia or Alabama state business to do, don't bother doing it today. This is a state holiday - Confederate Memorial Day. Is it mere coincidence that a new movie premiered over the weekend called "The Losers?"

As a native Northerner, I admittedly have little passion for this Southern-style holiday. But please do NOT call me a "Yankee." I grew up in Kansas City, where baseball fans never could stand that New York team with the big payroll.

Drive down Highway 520 from Columbus toward Albany, and you'll see a six-story-tall reminder that you're in the old Confederate territory. This old Georgia state flag is next to a house in rural Webster County. I actually pulled over and took a picture of it the other day - and thankfully, no one with a shotgun hurried out to confront me.

The flag on this pole between Richland and Weston used to be the Georgia state flag. But the presence of the Confederate battle emblem caused controversy, as some people considered it racist. Had Auburn City Councilman Arthur Dowdell known about this flag a year ago, he might have driven to Webster County and pulled it down personally.

A sign posted next to the flag explains it's on donated land, as a tribute to Civil War fighters from Stewart and Webster Counties. So it's apparently a private display - except it's in a very public place. Thousands of drivers pass that flag every week. But there's no parking lot next to it, and critics driving 65 miles per hour can't spit at it very easily.

For those who might be new to the area: in the last decade, that Georgia flag was changed twice. The first change was made by then-Governor Roy Barnes, working with State Representative Calvin Smyre. Does anyone still have that flag, which included small-scale versions of five previous ones -- prompting some of us to name it "Six Flags Over Georgia?"

The decision to change the 1956 Georgia flag earned Roy Barnes a "Profile in Courage" award from the John F. Kennedy Library. But he wound up losing the 2002 election to Sonny Perdue - so you'll understand if Barnes avoids that subject, as he campaigns this year.

Some hardline Southerners still haven't forgiven Sonny Perdue, for ignoring a 2002 campaign promise to put the 1956 flag on the Georgia state ballot for a referendum. Instead, the Governor offered his own compromise flag design. Voters approved it, then reelected Perdue -- so 140 years later, the Confederates were still outgunned.

But the Sons of Confederate Veterans aren't surrendering yet. They hope the approaching 150^th anniversary of the Civil War will allow them to present "the true history of the war" - complete with what they call "real Georgia flags" along major state highways. So should the other side demand statues of Abraham Lincoln be placed alongside them?

(I think the "true history" they want to teach involves the Civil War being about Southern independence, instead of slavery. Such a campaign actually might be more successful today - especially if the Confederates could convince all the Southeastern Conference football players to fight on their side.)

Governor Sonny Perdue signed a proclamation declaring this month "Confederate History Month" in Georgia. But some historians say it was as flawed as a controversial declaration in Virginia, because it never mentioned slavery. Maybe that's why I couldn't find it Sunday night at the governor's web site - someone pulled a General Sherman.

But what does it say when Port Columbus has nothing scheduled to mark Confederate Memorial Day? It's the Civil War naval museum, after all. You'd think the curators would have some kind of celebration - if only to test that phrase about even bad publicity beating no publicity at all.

The Muscogee County School Board could have voted to give students Confederate Memorial Day off. But one of the three state-ordered furlough days was scheduled instead for this Friday. That way, staff members going without paychecks won't feel as inspired to call for secession from the rest of Georgia.

Fort Benning planned to hold a "Salute the South" celebration over the weekend at Uchee Creek. But it was rained out - so countless Confederacy lovers had to settle for listening to South 106.1 FM.

-> We could have won $1,000 in a local poker tournament over the weekend - but we didn't even show up. Read why at our other blog, "On the Flop!" <-

BLOG UPDATE: Albany State won the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference softball title at South Commons Sunday. The Rams felled Fort Valley State 6-4, on a "walk-off home run" in the seventh inning. In a championship game, I think it's more like a jump-up-and-down home run.

But I'm wondering if the final game really was played in Columbus. The SIAC web site claims there was a two-hour rain delay in the second inning. I live practically at the other end of South Commons, and the sun was out all day. There was either one incredibly isolated shower, or the sprinkler system broke.

We tried to spread the word about the SIAC softball finals - yet the official box score showed the championship game had an attendance of 331. I'm not sure that crowd matched the combined number of musicians in the Albany State and Fort Valley State marching bands.

The Ledger-Enquirer again failed to mention the SIAC softball finals, while an update on "The Amazing Race" was considered breaking news. And WTVM's "Sunday Sports Overtime" didn't even rate it worthy of the "Hot or Not" segment. If the tournament isn't hot and isn't "not," what is it -- lukewarm or nonexistent?

Now for a quick pepper game through other Sunday news....

+ St. Elmo School held an open house to mark its 80^th anniversary. Its proper name these days is "Center for the Gifted" - which explains why no one announced a big financial gift, to improve the quality of instruction.

(Isn't it nice to see after eight decades, teachers are still stoking their own version of a St. Elmo's fire?)

+ Ben Holden wrote his final column as Executive Editor of the Ledger-Enquirer. While Holden is moving a new job at the University of Nevada, his wife will remain at a Columbus law firm - providing him constant updates on every questionable move District Attorney Julia Slater makes.

+ Kevin Harvick won by a nose, in the 499-mile stock car race at Talladega. The finish made history as NASCAR's first race with not one "green-white-checker" finishes, but three. If these guys can't drive one lap without crashing into each other, maybe it's time to crack down on speed limits.

This blog had more than 55,000 unique visitors in 2009! To advertise to them, make a PayPal donation, 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.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 548 (- 33, 5.7%)

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, April 25, 2010

25 APR 10: SIAC Sounds of Silence

The Columbus Lions played indoor football Saturday night and won. The Columbus State baseball team wrapped up its home season during the afternoon with a win. But have you heard about the other big local sports event of the weekend? The organizers are trying desperately to spread the word - by using the loudest loudspeaker they can find.

The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference softball tournament is scheduled to conclude today at South Commons. That's the league which includes Tuskegee and Morehouse, Fort Valley State and Albany State - match-ups which bring big crowds to Columbus during the fall, but seem to get lost once the pro basketball playoffs start.

Organizers of the SIAC softball tournament apparently are trying to make it a celebration. The lights were on at Golden Park Friday night, while someone talked loudly on the public address system. Since no games were scheduled there, I suppose that's where the female athletes could meet their boyfriends -- and "stretch a single into a double" in a different way.

The loud-voiced announcer could be heard from South Commons Saturday morning as well. He echoed across the Historic District, after the early-morning rain stopped. I don't know if anyone crossed the street from the Booker T. Washington Apartments to watch the softball games -- at least to claim a free softball from a home run.

But here's the problem: the SIAC softball tournament has been underway since Thursday morning. Yet I didn't even know it was happening in Columbus until WRBL mentioned it during the 6:00 p.m. sports Friday night. Could the public address system possibly have been broken for a day-and-a-half?

If that's not enough, search for "softball" at the Ledger-Enquirer web site. As of Saturday night, there was NOTHING mentioning the SIAC tournament. That NFL draft coverage on ESPN must be more compelling than I realized....

But wait, there's more! The SIAC web site notes the conference softball tournament is in Columbus "for the second consecutive year." Do you recall any local media coverage of this event LAST year? These "fast pitch" teams couldn't have been that fast, getting in and out of town.

It's not clear who should get the blame for this lack of publicity. The Columbus Sports Council probably played a role in bringing the SIAC softball tournament to town. Yet you won't find any banners promoting it at South Commons - nothing even on the Civic Center's electronic sign. It's as if the "S" in SIAC stands for Secret.

Maybe local booster clubs are partly to blame as well. The Southeastern Conference held its softball tournament at South Commons in the late nineties -- and it had a lot more media coverage than the SIAC tournament is receiving. Tuskegee's marching band needs to come to Columbus, and go through "spring drills."

Perhaps if Columbus State had a team in this softball tournament, more Columbus people and reporters would care. But that doesn't prevent the Leadoff Classic from gaining plenty of media coverage in February at the same location. And have you noticed this year's SIAC tournament has won the contest for bringing the most rain?

Longtime residents recall when local leaders tried to make Columbus a "softball capital." A Division II conference tournament could help restore that dream -- yet practically all local reporters don't seem to care. It's no wonder Columbus often ranks near the bottom, in rankings of top sports cities. Columbus High School baseball is more of an image-saver than you might think.

As for the SIAC tournament: a semifinal game between Fort Valley State and Kentucky State is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. ET. The starting time was moved back one hour, because of concerns about stormy weather. Come to think of it, maybe that's why the tournament is getting little publicity - because churches might protest Sunday games before 12:00 noon.

-> Does this blog scare you? One man said he was scared of us, at our latest poker night. Read why at our other blog, "On the Flop!" <-

E-MAIL UPDATE: Speaking of sports, WRBL's Stuart Webber took note of our Friday correction about directions from Huntsville to Auburn....

Haha well clearly geography is not one of my strengths, for some reason I thought it was in South Alabama. Probably because the day before I was looking at a map in the Biloxi area trying to find where Spanish Fort was. Noted for future reference!

Biloxi?! You mean you didn't look for Spanish Fort, Alabama on a map of Spain?!

Another reader offers thoughts on our current BIG BLOG QUESTION:

As we closely watch one of our favs, R. H. [Rear Highness] Mirabeau with baited breath, we wonder what is all the fussin bout?

The Ivory Tower Guys get to go to school for 6-8 years after high school, and then they take a job teaching half nekkid kids who want an "A". There is more sex tween them tower tenured and them half nekkid kids than in most large farm yards. And, if knock-your-sox-off crazy ain't enough, some of them teachers are social-ists, or was that supposed to be social-iffs?

"Professors" are 15 min. late to class, and when they arrive they discuss pizza for the rest of the hour. They have favorites and work their agenda on the naive, creating a new surety in the unsure. Often times their political leanings are off mark with Ward Churchill-esque diatribes, Cloward & Piven advocacy, or just straight out defenses of atheism without tolerance for alternate views - none of which are related to the subject matter they are supposed to be teaching. Their advocacy for the fringe is a way for them to foist their ideology upon the unsuspecting for a semester at a time. If they are successful, they will weave their ideology into the consciousness of their young charges.

We are unsure about what Mescon wants, but what we want is:

1. No tenure- tenure is the enemy of accountability

2. Teaching accountability through 4 equally weighted factors:

a) publication

b) peer review

c) student performance and survey

d) classroom evaluation by unannounced faculty visits from other departments/admin

3. No dating between faculty/staff and students

4. Pay docked for missed classes, beyond allotted sick days

5. Student complaints filed through ethics committee at Board of Regents level

There's an old joke about some of this, you know -- that college classrooms are the only places where students don't mind if they don't get their money's worth.

As I recall, most of my college instructors were conscientious about making it to class. I don't remember any of them discussing pizza at length. But then again, I took classes in journalism and religion - not home economics.

.I thought I'd spotted a major error in this e-mail - but an online check found "Ward Churchill" is accurate. This is referring to a controversial former professor in Colorado, and NOT the legendary British Prime Minister. The fact that both men met ignominious ends to their careers is only a coincidence....

And yes, I agree with the proposal to ban faculty-student dating. When I attended college, the competition from other male students was tough enough.

Thanks to all of you who write - and now let's review (without any peers) other weekend items:

+ Helpful rain fell on Columbus, with more than 1.5 inches recorded at the airport. But which upset hockey fan posted a threat on Twitter to blow up a Montgomery TV station, for interrupting the game for storm updates? I understand that fan faces arrest - and it probably will be more than a ten-minute misconduct penalty.

+ Baker High School graduates had their final class reunion, before the old school along Victory Drive is torn down. They probably could have sped up the demolition process, by chipping away souvenir bricks.

+ The Kiwanis Club of North Columbus held its annual "Cannonball Run" for charity. But if contestants aren't allowed to speed, what's the point? People can drive slowly to spot landmarks simply by looking for a storefront at The Landings.

+ An Albany TV station stopped using paper scripts for newscasts. The news anchors now use iPads on the set - and I assume the reporters are barred from doing stories about the decline in Georgia timber prices.

+ The Atlanta Falcons drafted Kansas wide receiver Kerry Meier. After choosing that Missouri player in the first round, it's nice to see this team is fair and balanced.

(Perhaps we should have seen this coming: the Falcons' web site is selling official "draft hats." It won't be long before sports bars do the same thing -- except they'll pour draft beer into hats.)

+ Instant Message to Little Joe's Tax Service on Sixth Street: Please note what day of the year this is. I think it's safe to bring the snowman down from your roof now.

SCHEDULED MONDAY: A controversial flag along the side of the road....

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 581 (+ 6, 1.0%)

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.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

24 APR 10: Walled World

(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.)

The evening was cool, but comfortable and clear. It was a great night for members of one Columbus church congregation to gather for a special dinner, at one of the nicest restaurants in town. Take that, you skeptics -- you can do that once in a while, even if you tithe.

One couple in the congregation waited for other members to arrive - but then the wife noticed someone who looked familiar. It was a man who attended church with her years before. They recognized each other after a moment -- but they didn't do that "holy kiss" thing mentioned in the Bible. The woman's husband might have taken exception to that....

The familiar-looking man also was at the restaurant for a special dinner -- and in fact, he was sharing it with members of his current church group. It turned out both dinner parties were celebrating the same event on the religious calendar. For one night, the wait staff really had to be on its best behavior.

The familiar-looking man went on to join his group. And the husband and wife eventually found their dinner-mates, waiting in a different part of the restaurant. Some of these places need to learn from the Trade Center. If specials can be posted on chalkboards in a restaurant lobby, so can dinner groups and where they're hiding.

I was in the dinner party with the husband and wife, and knew more about the familiar-looking man than anyone in the group. Several blogs have documented he's one of the top leaders of a small denomination, which expects Jesus to return in May 2012. But the group is NOT so strange that it expects Jesus to visit the Mayans first.

Because I follow some church groups' activities on the Internet, I was able to tell the group about the man's denomination. I mentioned some of the predictions its top leader has made -- such as nuclear explosions along the Gulf Coast. Nearly two years after they were supposed to occur, the biggest explosion is still an offshore oil rig catching fire.

But at the end of the evening, I was saddened as I considered what had happened. The two dinner groups attend spinoffs of the same religious organization. They kept the same religious event in the same restaurant at the same time - but they were divided. And not even moving the kitchen out of the way would have helped.

No one ever suggested the two religious groups combine for dinner. And I probably didn't help matters, by spilling the beans about the other group's curiosities. We believe it's all about truth, you see - and shouldn't the association which makes the fewest mistakes in public win?

I can't believe God was pleased with what happened in that restaurant. After all, the Biblical book of Ephesians talks about "the unity of the spirit.... one Lord, one faith, one baptism...." Of course, that last one disappeared when somebody started sprinkling water on babies....

All sorts of things can cause division in a church group. Sadly, the association I'm attending has had a rough couple of weeks -- because a Council of Elders with oversight powers demanded the association's President resign. Some people are on the Council's side. Others are on the former President's side. And the next foot-washing service is more than a year away.

Long-time blog readers know I left that association for a year. Not because of who was in charge, but because of some things the association was teaching. People and leaders change all the time -- but if you change what the Bible says, you're asking for trouble. I'd rather people dance the twist than twist the Scriptures.

I long for the return of Jesus Christ, to set all things right on this Earth. It seems to me part of that job will involve setting the world's churches right - because a lot of contradictory teachings and doctrines will have to be resolved. It could be like a "closest to the pin" contest at a golf tournament. But I hope the losers won't be sent.... well, you know.... down the hole.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 575 (- 69, 10.7%)

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, April 23, 2010

23 APR 10: Mess-Con 2010

So did you do anything special Thursday to mark Earth Day? It's obvious Columbus State University faculty members did. Most of them pulled their lofty-thinking President back down to earth.

President Timothy Mescon received a 62-percent "no confidence" vote from the C.S.U. Faculty Senate. If Mescon was a Prime Minister in Canada or Europe, this vote by a parliament would bring immediate national elections. In Columbus, most residents probably will think the rebellious faculty should find jobs at "Cal-Berkeley."

The news was even worse for Columbus State Provost Inessa Levi. The Faculty Senate handed her a 77-percent "no confidence" vote. But no, Levi will NOT have to change her title to Con-vost.

Leaders of the Faculty Senate accused Columbus State's President of making too many impulsive changes. I'm not sure that's completely a bad thing. After all, C.S.U. gained a national champion in air rifle a few weeks ago - so fans didn't have to wait for the baseball playoffs.

Timothy Mescon also was accused of being too confrontational with Columbus State faculty, on issues such as tenure. I thought the old college phrase was "publish or perish" - not "publish or punch-out."

Timothy Mescon insisted Thursday the message of the no-confidence vote came through. He says he'll get more Columbus State faculty involved in decision-making, and slow down the process of change. Maybe Mescon now remembers his official inauguration as President came months after he took office.

As part of the adjustment, the Columbus State President recently agreed to undergo coaching in good management techniques. Step one: stop getting your management ideas from reruns of "The Office."

But what really is Timothy Mescon's future at Columbus State? He asked the Georgia Board of Regents to postpone a vote on his contract until the no-confidence balloting ended -- but he said Thursday he wants to stay at C.S.U. The Roman Catholic Church might resolve this by shuffling Mescon over to Augusta....

Only hours after the vote totals were announced, Columbus State University held an annual awards banquet. The Ledger-Enquirer reported one award went to Burger King franchise owner Marvin Schuster. He could have told President Timothy Mescon that "have it your way" refers to the customers, instead of the man in charge.

I wonder if this is a case where someone went through "culture shock" moving from the big city to Columbus. Timothy Mescon's last position was at Kennesaw State University, in a bustling Atlanta suburb. Columbus tends to be a bit slower in its pace - well, unless you're driving over the Veterans Parkway bridge to get to an appointment downtown.

THE BIG BLOG QUESTION wants to go outside the faculty ballot box on this. Should Columbus State's President and Provost resign, in the wake of this no-confidence vote? Or should Mayor Jim Wetherington go to C.S.U. to determine if they're as "salvageable" as the Fire Chief was a couple of years ago?

Some of us remember when Auburn University's faculty had spats with the President on a regular basis, yet the leaders stayed around for several years. The complaining seems to have stopped since Dr. Jay Gogue took charge. Or does Gogue keep reminding the faculty that their complaints could hurt in recruiting football players?

-> Does this blog scare you? One man said he was scared of us, at our latest poker night. Read why at our other blog, "On the Flop!" <-

BLOG UPDATE: The Columbus corporate tour moved to the Trade Center Thursday, with the annual meeting of Synovus shareholders. Unlike the TSYS meeting Wednesday, WLTZ reported every seat in the hall was filled. I think this is a rare case where a full house does NOT mean your team is winning.

Synovus Chief Executive Officer Richard Anthony told one concerned shareholder his salary currently is frozen. That shareholder actually suggested a pay cut to $250,000 - but that person apparently was wise enough NOT to suggest that money turn into a bigger dividend check.

Yet after the meeting was over, Richard Anthony spoke optimistically. He told WRBL Synovus might be able to purchase some banks next year. The banking company has had plenty of practice lately -- buying back foreclosed homes in Atlanta.

E-MAIL UPDATE: First I misstated the date of one Columbus Councilor's next election. Then I said he had opposition. And now comes this....

Richard,

Once more we might want to retract. I will not face Red McDaniel in 2012. If McDaniel does not run and retires after this term...the Yes, I will run. Red has too many friends throughout his district that know he will always do what's right for them. As far as the garbage collection fee's, I would think it's probably due to the Summer months ahead and Red knows we need more pickup during the hotter days, plus fuel costs will be higher for citizens as well as you can see the gas prices continuing to rise daily. Now is not the time to be putting more rate hikes on the citizens. The citizen has given a great deal over the past two years by voting in the LOST and the SPLOST. Best not to push the issue right now.

Well I'm off the Houston. Have a great week and keep up the wonderful and most entertaining fun in the morning Blog of Columbus.

Jeremy S Hobbs

Chairman and Founder

The Chattahoochee Valley Better Way Foundation, Inc.

This is curious, since Hobbs sounded like he was declaring himself a candidate in February [21 Feb]. After reviewing his video clip again Thursday night, Hobbs did include an "if" about McDaniel possibly not retiring. But Hobbs also said he'd be "generating support for City Council in 2012" - so watch for his face in the background of many more Teresa Tomlinson campaign videos.

But wow -- is this blog really "the most entertaining fun in the morning"?! Has Bear O'Brien stopped telling jokes on the radio completely?

Let's see what other fun and games happened Thursday....

+ Jay Stetzenmuller added to his automotive empire, by announcing he'll buy Columbus Motor Company. The folks at Uptown Columbus must be thrilled by this - because Stetzenmuller soon may leave the area with a second empty storefront, to match Jay Suzuki.

+ The March unemployment rate in Columbus fell below ten percent -- all the way to 9.9 percent. The Chamber of Commerce kindly asks you NOT to apply "Price is Right" rules in this case. You know, rounding off to the nearest dollar....

+ Supporters of whitewater rafting on the Chattahoochee River held an evening rally in Heritage Park. Matt Swift of the W.C. Bradley Company told WTVM if all goes well, the river will be ready for rafting in 2012. If not, it still will be simply water under the bridge....

+ The Alabama Legislature ended its 2010 session, with no House vote on an electronic bingo amendment. This means all the candidates will have to take a stand on the issue this spring -- and I can't wait to hear candidates for Agriculture Commissioner reveal if they're for or against gaming machines with lemons and cherries.

+ The Georgia Bulldog spring tour brought football coach Mark Richt and men's basketball coach Mark Fox to Columbus. Dozens of fans lined up to get Richt's autograph, while asking Fox whether he coached the offensive or defensive line.

(Mark Richt told WTVM the Georgia Bulldogs will have 29 practice sessions before their first football game in September. He's already counting them down in late April?! Oh well - I suppose some women already are counting shopping days until Christmas.)

+ The Atlanta Falcons selected Missouri linebacker Sean Witherspoon as their top draft pick. Well, uh, OK - this Kansas graduate might be able to adjust to that. As long as radio play-by-play man Wes Durham doesn't keep bringing it up....

+ Instant Message to WRBL sportscaster Stuart Webber: I'm sorry to do this to you again - but if a high school basketball player in Huntsville commits to playing college ball at Auburn, he will NOT be "heading north" to play. If he does, the other Tigers had better meet him outside Vanderbilt's Memorial Gym.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 644 (+ 24, 3.9%)

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, April 22, 2010

22 APR 10: Makers, Takers, No Earth-Shakers

Dawson, Georgia will have its annual "tour of homes" a week from Saturday. In Columbus, the annual "tour of corporations" began Wednesday. Three big local companies have their shareholders' meetings in a two-week span. Is it simply coincidence that all three follow the income tax filing deadline?

BLOG EXCLUSIVE: As we were first to report Wednesday morning, TSYS Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Philip Tomlinson had breaking news at his company's shareholders meeting -- a new bank signing. Bridgewater Bank based in Calgary, Canada is now a TSYS client. Perhaps this will lead to a visit by Calgary's most famous resident -- or will Jerome Iginla be too busy with hockey next fall to help the Cottonmouths?

We went to the TSYS shareholders meeting to resolve questions from another country. Regular readers will recall a New Delhi man sent us several e-mails recently. They first noted "golden parachutes" for corporate executives [25 Jan], then accused TSYS of "cooking the books" in its Indian operations. The only cooking I saw Wednesday involved sausage biscuits in warming trays in the lobby.

Veeresh Malik admits he's pursuing a race discrimination complaint against a branch of TSYS, over his departure from the company last year. But he expected "some good questions" would come up at the shareholders meeting about the financial records in India. Malik may be stunned to learn India never came up at all. The C.E.O. was more focused on Omaha, Nebraska....

The only question from the floor at the TSYS shareholders meeting was a perennial classic: will our dividends increase? Philip Tomlinson said there's no plan for that in the near future. But he noted the price of TSYS stock is showing "a little progress," trading above 16 dollars. Take the profits and run at your own risk.

It was left to your blog to ask the tough questions - and we wanted to ask them to the TSYS Chairman. But after checking, Director of Communications Cyle Mims said Philip Tomlinson had a busy schedule for the day. Maybe next week, we could ask him. The new openness by Carmike Cinemas executives has yet to spread two blocks up First Avenue.

But Cyle Mims was willing to answer our questions - even though he couldn't answer most of them. Mims isn't sure why an Atlanta law firm is looking for TSYS shareholders, who might know about violations of federal securities laws. Mims doesn't know if it relates to events in India or not. If it does, a case this vague really belongs in The Hague....

I asked Cyle Mims about the sudden departure recently of Robert Philbin, the President of TSYS Acquiring Solutions in Arizona [26 Feb]. He "resigned to pursue other interests," Mims answered. Of course, "other interests" can range from retirement on a golf course to fleeing the F.B.I.

Your blog apparently was the only news outlet to attend Wednesday's TSYS shareholders meeting. Cyle Mims told me the Ledger-Enquirer's business reporter "had another story to cover." I didn't realize the fallout from Kate Gosselin leaving "Dancing With the Stars" would be that great....

(Before TSYS calls to complain about that photo - I took it before the shareholders meeting began. That should be exempt from the company prohibition on cameras. And I absolutely took no pictures of the catered food in the lobby, to tip off the Aflac meeting planners.)

TSYS Chairman Philip Tomlinson announced KPMG had been approved by more than 98 percent of shareholders as the company auditor. But when Tomlinson referred to KPMG as "our friends," a shareholder next to me whispered a good point. That description "doesn't sound like independent auditors, does it?"

(I should note here that while Philip Tomlinson led the shareholders meeting, Columbus mayoral candidate Teresa Tomlinson was nowhere to be found. I don't think the two are related -- and the meeting rules didn't even allow anyone to display a sign.)

Philip Tomlinson summed up 2009 for TSYS with two words: "Good riddance." He said the credit card industry essentially has been "dead for 18 months, minimum." Of course, paying for mandatory health insurance in coming years could change all that....

Yet Philip Tomlinson noted TSYS had first quarter profit which was ten percent above 2009. "One quarter doesn't make a trend, but it's encouraging," the Chairman/CEO said. Atlanta baseball fans need to remember that, every time Jason Heyward hits a home run.

Philip Tomlinson says TSYS is trying to diversify beyond credit card processing, to offer services closer to customers and merchants. He called them the "makers and takers." Exactly which group is which can be left for a debate around Labor Day.

Philip Tomlinson noted Fortune magazine listed TSYS among the most admired U.S. companies for the second year in a row. He said that's impressive considering "we don't advertise." Apparently the two TSYS "partners in education" schools in Muscogee County don't count as free ads.

The only real surprise for me at the TSYS shareholders meeting was that a man led an invocation, praying "in the name of Jesus." Considering TSYS has branches in Muslim and South Asian countries, that prayer is potential trouble -- but then, the only people dressed in "special garb" were teenagers leading the Pledge of Allegiance.

There was also this surprise outside the TSYS building -- an ambulance, which was parked on the grounds throughout the shareholders meeting. Talk about being overly cautious! No one applauded the announcement about a new customer in Canada, much less fainted.

One other question came up, as Cyle Mims escorted me to the TSYS lobby. What does the company do with the Mott House - a historic home which was preserved, as the company built modern office buildings all around it? Mims says it's empty, and speculated the structure might not be stable. So it's a lot like the credit card industry has been....

So TSYS put its best face forward, and ignored the complaints of a complainer half-a-world away. But the man in New Delhi won't go quietly, hinting on his blog TSYS and "Somali pirates" may have something in common. Maybe they both have prominent places at casinos - only TSYS handles automated tellers there.

The Columbus corporate tour continues today, with the annual shareholders meeting of Synovus Financial. That conference will take place at the Trade Center. I'm skipping that meeting, since no one in India has raised complaints about Synovus. Plenty of foreclosed home owners may have, but that's different....

Because of our special coverage, an e-mail we received Wednesday is being held for another day. Let's quickly wrap up other Wednesday news:

+ Benny Parker announced he'll run for Julius Hunter's seat on Columbus Council. The Ledger-Enquirer reported Parker ran for Council and lost in 1983. Some inferiority complexes can take a long time to heal....

+ Georgia Labor Commissioner Mike Thurmond declared himself a candidate for U.S. Senate. Something about this doesn't seem right. Shouldn't the Labor Commissioner allow an unemployed person to run for that seat first?

+ Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions told National Public Radio he wants a Supreme Court nominee with a record of objectivity and fairness - and someone who is NOT a politician. Given the current political climate in Washington, Sessions knocked down the number of eligible candidates nationwide to about five.

+ A proposed constitutional amendment on electronic bingo in Alabama was withdrawn from the House schedule, and could be dead for the year. State Senate candidate Johnny Ford arranged another "justice and jobs" rally in Montgomery. In Alabama, those words refer to gambling - while in other states they're reserved for keeping schools open.

+ WXTX news anchor Semone Doughton showed a video clip of the moment she became engaged. It happened last week during a vacation in France, halfway up the Eiffel Tower. I'm not sure that could happen this week - not with that volcanic ash cloud keeping so many people grounded.

+ Auburn University head football coach Gene Chizik appeared at a Columbus boosters meeting. Chizik said he'll decide on a starting quarterback based on his own timetable. If the announcement comes in the middle of June, we'll know which player's relatives organized the best fan page on Facebook.

+ Instant Message to everyone who can't believe Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was suspended for six games: Check the commissioner's background. Roger Goodell's father was a Republican U.S. Senator. His wife is a Fox News Channel anchor. If Goddell had his way, the NFL Network probably would show "Law and Order" reruns.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 620 (+ 20, 3.3%)

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, April 21, 2010

21 APR 10: Starting With a Bang

It was about 8:55 a.m. ET when Tuesday's morning run began. I really should have run later in the day - around 1:00 p.m. That's when a rainstorm soaked me, while I was outside. But trying to jog home from the convenience store while holding a 32-ounce cup of diet soda simply is too awkward for me.

The morning running course took me down the Riverwalk, between Golden Park and the Civic Center. And that's when I heard them - two noises echoing off the trees on the Phenix City side of the Chattahoochee. Compared with fireworks nights, the reverberations weren't very loud at all. For all I knew, they could have marked the shotgun start of an Oxbow Creek golf tournament.

It wasn't until two hours later that I learned what those noises were. Two sonic booms echoed across Columbus, because the space shuttle Discovery was returning to Earth and landing in Florida. The booms were heard across a wide area of the Southeast - anything to gain popular support for full funding of NASA.

One online comment I read indicated the sonic booms "shook the walls" at Columbus Technical College. Hmmmm - come to think of it, do they offer courses in soundproofing rooms?

Discovery's landing was postponed a day due to weather problems. The Mass Media provided some warning that the space shuttle might fly over Columbus Monday. But I guess I missed the warnings about Tuesday's flyover. And if the Space Science Center didn't hold a special breakfast watch party, with free ear plugs....

People who didn't know better probably never would have guessed a space shuttle flew over Columbus. It would be more logical to blame those two sonic booms on other things:

+ A typical live-fire exercise at Fort Benning -- only with the government of Micronesia quickly surrendering.

+ The "Boom Boom Lady" at Fireworks Outlet winning a bet over the "Bang Bang Lady."

+ A Sonic Drive-In serving its one-millionth Columbus customer.

+ Middle school students trying out the Port Columbus museum cannons, then claiming the ghosts did it.

+ WRCG finally holding the grand opening party for "Boomer 106.9" FM.

+ Columbus Cottonmouths Coach Jerome "Boom Boom" Bechard having a farewell party.

+ Columbus Police finally using its ultimate top-secret "crime prevention" tool -- a tank.

-> Our other blog starts with poker, then goes in directions you may not expect. Visitors from around the world read "On the Flop!" <-

BLOG CORRECTION: Oh dear - we may have too much election-year fever. This e-mail came early Tuesday....

According to your blog today, you have written, As it is, McDaniel is up for re-election this year. That is not accurate. McDaniel's term end in 2012. Believe me, I am on top of that date. You might want to change your blog.

Jeremy S Hobbs

Chairman and Founder

The Chattahoochee Valley Better Way Foundation, Inc.

Yes, Hobbs ought to know -- because he plans to challenge Red McDaniel for his Columbus Council seat. And he can't raise money for a 2010 campaign right now, since he's too busy raising money to save his foundation.

Yet this correction raises a question. Why would Red McDaniel care about delaying a Columbus Council vote on higher garbage fees until after the November election? Is McDaniel offering this to protect other Councilors, who actually will be on the ballot? After all, Mike Baker has to start speaking up for himself sooner or later....

Meanwhile, Auburn Mayor Bill Ham announced Tuesday he'll run for a fourth term. I assume he's the favorite - since it's awfully hard to persuade Southerners to give up their Ham.

Now that I've learned my lesson in consulting the city election web sites first, let's check a Tuesday with plenty of other topics:

+ Kris Kennedy was named Phenix City's first female fire chief. She'll keep the Fire Marshal title as well for now - and we hope the combined positions will provide Kennedy enough income to celebrate at a more upscale hair salon.

(City Manager Wallace Hunter is giving up the Fire Chief position, but he told firefighters he'll remain "just a phone call away." You'll recall the Phenix City School Superintendent learned that lesson the hard way one night last year....)

+ Three inmates escaped from the Harris County Jail, stole a county commissioner's car - and according to WRBL, someone left blood stains on clothing at a Columbus dry cleaners. If that's not enough, the three didn't leave any instructions on how much starch to use on their jail uniforms.

+ Phenix City Police told WRBL a burglar stole jewelry and electronics from the Kmart on U.S. 280. If he was trying to avoid the store's "blue light specials," he might face a very different one....

+ The Columbus State University Faculty Senate began a two-day "no confidence" vote on the President and Provost. The Ledger-Enquirer's web site reported President Timothy Mescon voted on this question - but no journalist was there to ask whether or not he's confident about the outcome.

+ Aflac's web site was nominated for a Webby Award. It could be named the top site for insurance services - as long as Flo from Progressive doesn't scare the duck away with that price gun.

+ The Georgia Public Service Commission approved a request from AT&T to end annual home delivery of Columbus phone books. Schools which earned money recycling those books are going to be upset. But at least no one can blame AT&T anymore, for shredding books to cause all that yellow dust in the spring.

+ WTVM/WXTX news anchor Jason Dennis revealed online his News at Ten co-anchor Semone Doughton is engaged. It's a sign of changing times in Columbus that he had to post a clarification later -- explaining Doughton is NOT engaged to Cheryl Renee. [True!]

+ Chattahoochee Valley Community College won its 20^th baseball game in a row, edging Andrew 6-4. For those of you knew to the area, Andrew College is located in Cuthbert - and its team nickname is NOT the Wittenbergs.

+ The Atlanta Hawks took a two-game lead in their first-round playoff series, mashing Milwaukee 96-86. For some reason, WIOL/WEAM-AM did NOT carry the Hawks radio broadcast. C'mon, guys - Steve Holman probably won't start whining about the officiating until the second round.

+ Instant Message to WRBL's Phil Scoggins: I saw your old videotape of a Columbus Astros game Tuesday night - but what was that mascot on the third-base line? It looked like a duck. And if it was, the Amos family at Aflac should have paid team owner Dayton Preston a nice royalty check.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 600 (+ 19, 3.3%)

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, April 20, 2010

20 APR 10: Tight Squeezes

Drive on highways in other cities, and you'll discover Columbus is rather roomy when it comes to entrances and exit ramps. But someday I'll figure out why drivers line up in the right turn lane, to make a left turn from Macon Road to Interstate 185. Get in the left lane from the start, and you'll at least feel superior.

Tightness was on display in two different Columbus locations Monday night. We'll start with traffic, and a public hearing on the future of Whittlesey Road. The meeting was held at Northside Chapel - which ought to hold services during morning and afternoon rush hours, so people can stop and repent of anger while waiting in long lines.

While the Whittlesey Road area has grown a lot, the street itself remains a narrow two-lane road between Veterans Parkway and Whitesville Road. Clearly this section of this pavement has not been feasting on Bruster's Ice Cream or T.G.I.Friday's dinners....

After years of study and property negotiation, the city of Columbus finally appears ready to widen that section of Whittlesey Road. But planners say that will mean road closures and detours in the months ahead. In other words, this is the big break Peachtree Mall has been waiting to see.

From what I heard on the evening news, Bradley Park Drive will be a major detour route during the construction. That street actually intersects Whittlesey Road twice, but "The Brad" is a narrow winding road of its own east of Whitesville Road. Any openings on the office complexes may be gobbled up by liability lawyers.

A manager of the Bruster's stand on Whittlesey Road told WRBL construction will be going on within a few feet of his door. He's concerned the Whittlesey widening work will cost him business. But he should look for the marketing opportunity here - and note how authentic his "rocky road" ice cream really is.

(Oh yes - there's a tongue twister to use in impressing your friends. Tell them the "Whittlesey widening work is wonderful" several times.)

A potentially more troubling tight spot was examined Monday night by the Muscogee County School Board. Superintendent Susan Andrews offered ideas for cutting the district budget another four million dollars this fiscal year. If this budget has to be chopped any further, the professionals at Burt's Butcher Shoppe may have to do it.

Even more challenging is a call from the state to reduce the Muscogee County school budget 18 million dollars next fiscal year. Money apparently cannot be moved over from last year's sales tax vote for new construction -- which could mean once a new Carver High School is built, it won't be used nearly as much as the old one.

The list of possible budget cuts proposed Monday night includes an end to year-round school in Muscogee County. Only two schools have that schedule now -- and this is why GPB added that 24-hour digital children's channel, anyway.

Superintendent Susan Andrews also suggests combining Benning Hills and Muscogee Elementary Schools.. She suspects enough staff members would retire to avoid layoffs. So far, no one is daring to call the new school Muscogee Pension Magnet Academy.

The Superintendent also proposes shuffling school start times, to eliminate the need for five bus drivers. Middle school students would be in class until 4:20 p.m. - which could cost "General Hospital" a large number of potential new viewers.

Superintendent Susan Andrews admits she's asked Mayor Jim Wetherington to have the city pick up the salaries of school crossing guards, to save the school district more than $400,000. This actually could make the city money. Simply put a small microphone on the guards' lapels, and hide police cars around the corner from every crosswalk.

The list of proposed budget cuts say nothing about Muscogee County school arts programs. But there was a rally at the Georgia state capitol Monday by people who oppose the planned elimination of the Georgia Council of the Arts. How can you use Photoshop on your computer, when no one knows how to take photos anymore?

Some people are very concerned about yet another round of Muscogee County school budget cuts. Dick McMichael wrote on his blog Monday it "places our country at risk." Yet his own headline on the item misspelled it "Muscogee County School DICTRICT" - and when he was in school, I think that would have simply cost him a perfect score.

-> Our other blog starts with poker, then goes in directions you may not expect. Visitors from around the world read "On the Flop!" <-

BLOG CORRECTION: Now this is a first - a reader correcting us about a wild hog....

I THINK SHE NAMED THE PIG"PANSIE"....I could be wrong!

After reviewing the video, we indeed pinned the wrong name on that hog Sunday. Our apologies to caretaker Cheryl Doyle. Things might have been different 50 years ago -- as animal lovers would have been inspired by Miss Patsy's Playhouse.

Now to other important concerns (at least for some people) which made news Monday:

+ The Columbus Election Board web site posted a "declaration of intent" by Paul Olson. That means he plans to accept contributions in a campaign for mayor -- and he'll be so busy with his own financial records that he won't be able to challenge violations by everyone else.

+ Funeral home operator Bruce Huff officially launched his campaign for Council District 3, challenging Julius Hunter [19 Jan]. If Huff gets elected, Muscogee County Coroner Bill Thrower might want to clear out his Tuesdays -- you know, the Council meeting days.

+ WTVM reported Columbus Councilor Red McDaniel wants the proposed increase in city garbage fees tabled until after the November election. As it happens, McDaniel is up for reelection in November. If he makes voters pay more to take out the trash, they might send him to the curb in the process.

+ Columbus and Phenix City marked one year since a devastating tornado. WTVM reported the tornado-damaged Valley Lanes in Phenix City will NOT be rebuilt. So the local library's Wii game days may have to be adjusted, to allow beer sales in the parking lot.

+ Atlanta pitcher Tim Hudson donated $200,000 to the Chattahoochee Valley Community College baseball program. In exchange, CVCC retired Hudson's old number 18 and put it on the Howard Lake Field wall. If five more CVCC players would follow Hudson's example, Phenix City residents would have a new lottery combination to try.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 581 (+ 26, 4.7%)

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, April 19, 2010

19 APR 10: Concern at the Corner

It's becoming a bit like Festivus in my part of town -- with an "airing of grievances" happening outside my window every weekend. It didn't last long Saturday night, compared to the week before. So maybe the guys in my complex are learning to control their beer consumption a little better.

But down the street from where I live, the situation is more concerning. A carjacking occurred the other morning within one block from my home. Police say it happened at 4:30 a.m., while I was sleeping. And whoever did it must be a pro - because a honking horn at that hour should have awakened me.

For some reason, the corner where that carjacking occurred has been a crime scene several times before....

+ A Fort Benning soldier was mugged near that corner last November, at around midnight. I'm not sure why a soldier would be there at that late hour - unless he seriously lost his way heading to his car, after an evening at Lil Kim's Cove.

+ In May 2008, someone set fire to a car on Fifth Street. Two cars were torched on Front Avenue in the Historic District as well. I don't recall anyone ever being arrested - or whether the makes of cars had just finished first in a NASCAR race.

+ A man was shot near that corner on a late night in 2006 [23 Nov 06]. This is why I don't like to hear people refer to some of the homes in the downtown area as "shotgun houses."

After the 2006 shooting, I deliberately avoided running through that intersection for awhile -- even during the day. I could go down Broadway instead of First Avenue without any difficulty. Criminals seem to have avoided Broadway in recent years -- as if they all joined in attacking the former school superintendent.

We've written here for years about some of the curious people who show up in my neighborhood. Perhaps it started years ago with rumored drug houses across the avenue. I don't hear those rumors anymore -- even though a probation office has opened down the street from those houses.

But a carjacking in my neighborhood is something new. I suppose I'll need to move my car a little faster through stop signs now -- even though I hardly ever drive at 4:30 a.m. The Atlanta rush hour may start that early, but the race to work at Fort Benning usually waits until after 5:00.

What concerns me is that all these crimes occurred within four blocks of the Government Center. I haven't heard about the Historic District becoming one of those new police beats, but maybe it should be. Since the neighborhood also happens to be sprinkled with law offices, witnesses to the "Miranda rights" readings would be in abundance.

Another occasional crime zone on the other side of downtown made the Sunday crime report. Columbus Police say a homeless man was attacked and robbed by other homeless people near the 14^th Street Bridge. There's simply no good place to make change late at night, when someone finds a ten-dollar bill on the sidewalk.

May we all drive and walk with care this week - as we carefully consider this Sunday news:

+ WTVM's web site reported Russell County Sheriff candidate Heath Taylor hosted a barbecue in Seale. For some reason, I didn't hear the event mentioned on the evening newscasts - so either Taylor needs to promote free food giveaways better, or people feared he was offering meals from the county jail.

+ Fort Benning Commanding General Michael Ferriter went to Columbus Airport, to read a book about snakes to children. I can understand why the airport wouldn't show the movie "Snakes on a Plane," but I'm not sure this is much better.

+ First Presbyterian Church and Trinity Episcopal Church held a combined worship service. During the live WRBL telecast, Presbyterian Pastor Charles Hasty called it a "reunion" - well, at least until the leaders have a meeting to determine what the order of hymns should be.

+ The annual "River Blast" weekend concluded at Port Columbus. The event included the firing of the museum's historic cannons, as well as a classic car show - with potential backfire explosions almost as loud and scary.

+ Leesburg, Georgia native Luke Bryan was named Best New Artist at the Academy of Country Music Awards. So much for Leesburg becoming the wealthy upper-class suburb of Albany....

+ Georgia quarterback Zach Mettenberger was kicked off the team by Coach Mark Richt. The redshirt freshman was arrested in south Georgia last month on charges of underage alcohol possession - and this decision shows there's a big difference between a Mettenberger and a Roethlisberger.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 555 (- 36, 6.1%)

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, April 18, 2010

18 APR 10: Give Me Land, Lots of Land

Don't look at me for an expert opinion about the Army. But I assume most of the time, the missions primarily involve gaining territory. In fact, I assume the emphasis on the "ground game" makes it easier for Navy to prepare for their college football showdown....

Fort Benning officials have decided they want a lot more territory. They've announced plans to expand the post by nearly one-third, or 82,000 acres. Yet amazingly, not one square inch is set aside for a new retractable-roof football stadium which can be used by the Atlanta Falcons and the Auburn-Georgia game.

Fort Benning already has about 182,000 acres. But Commanding General Michael Ferriter says much more land is needed, because of a "change in doctrine and equipment." Heavier equipment, I can understand - but a change in doctrine?! Is Fort Benning going to start growing kosher vegetables, blessed by rabbis?

Fort Benning commanders explain extra space is needed to train soldiers - especially members of the Third Brigade, who use tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles. So much for the "virtual reality" simulator Raytheon showed off the other day. Apparently you need thousands of acres to practice U-turns these days....

Garrison Commander Tom McDonald told reporters Fort Benning would prefer adding land with "no steep slopes." So relax, nature lovers - I don't think the state of Georgia will sell Providence Canyon to the Army, to balance the budget.

(McDonald adds an ideal piece of land for Fort Benning would be a large tract of timberland. If you think those controlled burns are annoying now....)

But the big question in this expansion plan is whether Fort Benning can find 82,000 acres of land to buy. Commanders seem to be ruling out any additional land in Muscogee County - even though police might be willing to recommend some drug houses along Cusseta Road for live-fire tests.

A map shown to reporters indicated how huge 82,000 acres can be. That much land is about one-fourth of Russell County, seemingly one-third of Stewart County -- and an expansion into Marion County could be that county's biggest moment of economic growth since the poultry plant showed up.

Fort Benning is ready to consider an expansion into Russell County, and becoming a truly bi-state post. This could cause a conflict with the housing boom in Fort Mitchell, resulting from base realignment. But think of the economic gain -- from construction crews coming back to make those dozens of new homes soundproof.

The garrison commander said Fort Benning wants to conduct a "friendly purchase" of land, adjacent to the reservation. The Army would rather not invoke eminent domain - although if it did, some militia group might be ready to give the Third Brigade all the home-soil combat training it can handle.

(Commander Tom McDonald said at one point: "We want to play with our cards facing up." He should tell all the Fort Benning soldiers and spouses that - because when I play poker with them in Columbus, they never seem to do that.)

This would be Fort Benning's first major expansion since the 1940's. But long-time residents recall a much-discussed land swap with the city of Columbus in the nineties, with concerns about the red cockaded woodpecker. The deal finally happened - but the woodpecker never has received its own special day at Oxbow Meadows.

A 2008 Fort Benning land use study notes Russell County is a "significant corridor" for the red cockaded woodpecker, as well as a "potential habitat for the Gopher Tortoise." Given what happened before, you'd figure that would be a factor in expansion plans now. So Fort Benning will spend 18 months on an environmental impact study - which probably is about as slow as a gopher tortoise.

Another curious nature story tops the other weekend news....

+ WTVM reported on a Columbus woman who's trying to find a good home for "Patsy" - a 400-pound wild hog who showed up in her neighborhood. You'd think Wild Animal Safari would be willing to take it in. Beyond that, I'm not sure where that woman could find the nearest livestock show for winning a blue ribbon.

+ Muscogee County Democrats hosted a barbecue for political candidates. You wondered why the Sonny's Barbecue restaurant closed several years ago, didn't you?

+ A Warner Robins woman won the drawing for this year's "St. Jude Dream Home." Now this will look strange -- a brand-new $375,000 house being hauled halfway across the state on Georgia Highway 96.

+ WXTX "News at Ten" never reached the air Saturday night, because a Fox baseball game between the New York Mets and St. Louis went 20 innings and lasted nearly seven hours. The game even canceled "Cops" -- allowing the players to steal bases at their leisure.

+ Chattahoochee Valley Community College swept a doubleheader over Enterprise State, to stretch their winning streak to 19 games. No wonder the college president wants the speed limit reduced at the entrance - people need to see how good this team is.

+ The Columbus Lions set a team scoring record, by annihilating North Georgia 93-12. That "black out" night at the Civic Center apparently worked -- so next time Georgia's Mark Richt tries that stunt, he should play football indoors.

(The Lions radio broadcast noted a player was penalized 15 yards for body-slamming a North Georgia quarterback. Aw, c'mon! The WWE card in Columbus next month might need a replacement for a sick wrestler.)

+ More than 91,000 fans watched the Alabama football "A-Day" spring game. But I must have heard the late-night news wrong, because the White team won 23-17. The game did NOT end with the "Crimson tied."

BURKARD'S BEST BETS: Gas for $2.63 a gallon at Big Cat, U.S. 80 in Ladonia.... milk half-gallons for $1.67 at Piggly Wiggly.... and cannon fire during the Port Columbus "River Blast" failing to scare museum ghosts away....

SCHEDULED THIS WEEK: A meeting we hope to attend, but we're not sure we'll be allowed inside....

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 591 (- 36, 5.7%)

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, April 16, 2010

16 Apr 10: Have Home, Will Travel

Some political candidates put their personal lives on hold, when they seek public office. But Thursday brought another reminder that not every candidate in Columbus does that. Sometimes they even move out of town for the sake of their families - although former Constable Robert Schweiger was unable to persuade everyone in Hurtsboro to do that.

BLOG EXCLUSIVE: Seven months after using this blog to announce a campaign for Muscogee County School Board [18 Sep 09], Charles Lawhon surprisingly withdrew from the race Thursday. In true 2010 campaign style, he announced the change of plans in a Facebook posting. So far, potential opponent John Wells has yet to click the "like" option.

"God has blessed us with our First Brand New Home," Charles Lawhon explained in his Facebook message, "and it is in Alabama." I didn't realize all the incoming Fort Benning soldiers had gobbled up every home under construction in Columbus....

Since his new home is outside Georgia (much less Columbus), Charles Lawhon writes "I can't run for the Muscogee County School Board at this time." Hmmmm - at this time?! Does that mean Lawhon might move back someday and try another campaign? Is he waiting for two-thirds of the students to fail the CRCT's?

But in a separate e-mail exchange with your blog, Charles Lawhon admits a little frustration with his campaign for school board. "I was really disappointed in the number of people that wanted John Wells out of office," Lawhon writes, "but none of them wanted to serve on my campaign team." It's as if Wells has the power to transfer all opposing children to low-scoring schools across town.

In fact, Charles Lawhon felt some campaign backlash here last fall. When we posted a Big Blog Question about the 2010 election, some comments accused Lawhon of not doing enough to stop the presentation of a Georgia P.T.A. award to disgraced Columbus High School Principal Susan Bryant [4 Nov 09]. State P.T.A. events clearly need a place to put people in "time out" - even adults.

Charles Lawhon told us last September he had financial commitments from "Older Money People" in his bid for school board. But it's noteworthy that no financial disclosure report for Lawhon has been posted at the Columbus Election Board web site. Maybe older people need to hold on to their money more than ever these days....

Yet even though he's moving to Phenix City, Charles Lawhon tells me he'll still have an "open door" to Muscogee County Superintendent Susan Andrews "because of my position with P.T.A." He's on the national P.T.A. board's membership committee - but in Phenix City, he'll really need to watch out for fireworks-toting sports boosters.

In fact, Charles Lawhon says a seat was "extended" to him several weeks ago to serve on the Alabama State P.T.A. Board. We'll see if that's different from the Georgia state board - for instance, by offering to give a free lifetime membership to Nick Saban.

Charles Lawhon writes his P.T.A. work and his effort to promote "All-Pro Dads" through speeches and seminars provide "a greater opportunity to have a kingdom impact." As we noted last September, Lawhon is an unashamed Christian - so the "kingdom" he's describing has nothing to do with raising the title of President Obama.

The withdrawal of Charles Lawhon still leaves John Wells with opposition for another term on the Muscogee County School Board. Last time I checked, Bert Coker had NOT taken back his announcement here in November 2008 of a campaign against Wells. But now, Wells may not have to count big campaign donations to get to sleep at night.

E-MAIL UPDATE: We picked a radio name somewhat at random for Thursday's Blog Exclusive on Ed Bostic's new station - and look at what happened....

I should thank you for digging up the name Jack Diamond. I'm pretty sure that guy is THE Jack Diamond, the one who used to moonlight from his radio job to do weekend weather for my station in San Antonio back in the late '80s. Had not heard anything about him for years. Now I can e-mail him and find out if he remembers ME or not.

Kurt Schmitz

Chief Meteorologist

WTVM

THE Jack Diamond?! I chose that name because I worked with a different one about 30 years ago, at a radio station in Kansas City. He went on to an oldies station in town, calling himself "Jumping Jack Diamond." But if he had jumped when I attended his wedding, his weight might have cracked the floor.

Since I didn't win big money at poker Thursday night with the Jack of diamonds, I'll keep blogging here -- and move on to other news items:

+ Which woman walked into a local tanning salon this week - and broke the tanning bed, because she weighs more than 285 pounds? If someone weighs this much, is a bronze body really going to be what people talk about at the beach?

+ Phenix City and Russell County officials held a combined meeting, on a proposal to expand the county jail. Mayor Sonny Coulter says much has changed since an agreement was signed 20 years ago, requiring Phenix City to help pay for expansion. For instance, a sheriff in Arizona has shown prisoners can be housed outdoors under tents.

+ Former Columbus Bank and Trust executive Gail Baker-Page was sentenced to eight months in prison for fraud. WTVM reported Federal Judge Clay Land reduced the sentence because Baker-Page was a "trailblazer" in local banking for African-American women. But she'll probably have to finish her sentence before receiving a proclamation about that from Mayor Pro Tem Evelyn Turner Pugh.

+ Aflac moved up 22 places on the "Fortune 500" list of the largest U.S. companies, and is now number 130. Fortune magazine places Aflac third among life and health insurance companies, with MetLife first - so even with that fast stock car, the duck still can't catch Snoopy with his blimp.

(Fortune estimates Aflac had $18.3 billion in revenues last year -- an amount which now tops the Southern Company. Restaurants with free Wi-fi may be the worst thing to happen to Georgia Power and Alabama Power in years.)

+ The Food Network showed an "Ace of Cakes" creating a giant cake shaped like the Aflac duck. It marked the duck's tenth anniversary -- and thanks to health care reform, I don't think the duck can lose his job anymore due to pre-existing web feet.

+ An insurance web site's survey ranked Georgia eighth among the states, for the highest auto insurance rates. The average Georgian pays more than $1,700 per year. I know a way for you to pay one-fifth of that price -- but you have to buy my 16-year-old Honda to do it.

+ The annual "C.S.U. Day" honored donors to Columbus State University. Who needs that Faculty Senate "no confidence" vote on the President, when you can count all those yard signs?

+ Chattahoochee Valley Community College expunged Enterprise-Ozark in college baseball 13-3. The Pirates have won 17 games in a row - while the major league Pittsburgh Pirates may do well to win 17 games by the end of May.

+ Atlanta fanned San Diego 6-2, in an unusual major league baseball game. The teams honored the late Jackie Robinson by having every player wear jersey number 42 -- so Atlanta might have cheated, and sent Jason Heyward up to bat 11 times.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 627 (+ 23, 3.8%)

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, April 15, 2010

15 APR 10: These Little Piggies

Here's hoping you're not confused by all the deadlines being broadcast right now. Today is the income tax filing deadline. Friday is the deadline to mail your Census questionnaire. And Saturday is the deadline to enter the St. Jude Dream Home giveaway - which will radically change the first two for awhile, if you win it.

With the tax deadline close, a new book accuses local members of Congress of wasting our federal tax dollars. The watchdog group Citizens Against Government Waste released its annual "Pig Book" Wednesday. So if you see a copy of this book lying around, it is NOT a guide to Columbus barbecue restaurants.

The Pig Book gets its name from the pork-barrel spending some members of Congress work out, usually for projects in their districts. This year's edition counts 9,129 of them nationwide. That many pigs in one place used to get a short mention on the radio farm reports....

The Pig Book is not afraid to name names and projects. In fact, Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama was connected to 30 separate earmarks last fiscal year worth $61.6 million. They include six separate projects at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville - to symbolize which way our federal deficit is going.

Both Alabama Senators are cited for pork-barrel spending, when it comes to developing a "climate model evaluation program" costing $1.8 million. I had a long-time favorite climate model - but now Alexandra Steele of the Weather Channel is married and a mom.

But Rep. Sanford Bishop comes close to matching Richard Shelby's pork-barrel spending total. The Pig Book connects him to 66 earmarks, worth $60.6 million. At least Bishop knows how to get more marks for his millions - a bit like buying low-fat pork sausage.

Yet this is where things get tricky - because Citizens Against Government Waste seems to define "pork" as almost any earmark attached to a bill in Congress. Most lawmakers probably would argue the money goes to necessary programs back home. Sanford Bishop obtained $75,000 for the Butler Police Department to obtain new equipment - and I doubt that means a Wii rifle range.

In fact, 16 of Rep. Sanford Bishop's earmarks were supported by Sen. Johnny Isakson. Bishop is a Democrat. Isakson is a Republican. But then, Isakson is up for re-election this year - and that can make many tight-fisted Republicans big spenders to "preserve jobs." Including their own....

What sort of local pork did Citizens Against Government Waste find? We went through the Pig Book and found several other examples:

+ The Family Center received $200,000 for a "Family Disintegration Prevention and Assistance Project." The church group I attend has another name for this - a weekend camp-out.

+ The "Building Toward Wellness Community Coalition" received $75,000 for an after-school program. This is a branch of Fourth Street Baptist Church - which leads me to think the program doesn't even dare teach the "Bible as literature."

+ The Soldier Center at Patriot Park received four million dollars. That could be in exchange for all the money lost when the National Infantry Museum hosted Sanford Bishop's town hall meeting on health care reform.

+ Shorter, Alabama received $500,000 for a new "Emergency Operations Center." The next time the anti-gambling task force moves in on Victoryland, it could be war.

+ Auburn University received $819,000 for what CBS News called "mapping the catfish genome." Aw, c'mon - most people in the South simply want a map of where they're biting.

A Republican candidate for Georgia Governor also receives special mention in The Pig Book. Former Rep. Nathan Deal gained a $392,000 federal earmark for streetscape work in Dahlonega - including "period lighting and signage." What IS the going rate for a gallon of kerosene, anyway?

BLOG EXCLUSIVE: Ed Bostic wasn't at the unemployment office very long. The former morning host at WGSY-FM "Sunny 100" told your blog Wednesday night he's becoming the new morning host at WRLD-FM "95.3 The Ride." How fitting - he's the latest Clear Channel employee to be thrown alongside the radio roadside, only to climb inside the PMB pickup.

Ed Bostic says his attorney worked out "some legal issues" Wednesday, which allowed him to move from Sunny 100 to 95.3 The Ride. I guess that means he won't have to call himself something like Jack Diamond on the air for six months....

Ed Bostic notes the move to The Ride will bring him back together with WTVM news anchor Chuck Leonard. They were together for years at Sunny 100, before last year's "big switch" of radio-TV partnerships. So expect to hear the Peaches and Herb classic "Reunited" a lot Monday morning.

Ed Bostic's arrival means former morning host Al Haynes will move to afternoon duties at The Ride. Oops, excuse me - "The Legendary" Al Haynes. He's becoming legendary for bouncing around to the most time periods on the most radio stations.

-> Our other blog starts with poker, then goes in directions you may not expect. Visitors from around the world read "On the Flop!" <-

THE BIG BLOG QUESTION on Georgia's tobacco tax ended Wednesday afternoon. Six out of ten voters support raising the tax one dollar, to help balance the state budget. Four out of ten were opposed - which makes me wonder if I should offer blog advertising space to cigar bars.

One comment left during our tragically-unscientific poll took issue with arguments by Georgia Christian Coalition President Jerry Luquire: "The smoking tax cannot be used to justify taxing the obese, as food is.... not a choice but a necessity." Maybe so, but some people want to tax what they consider bad food choices. If they demand pizza be taxed by the slice, they'll lose me.

Money matters seem to dominate the other Wednesday news....

+ The Russell County Commission approved a contract for a new Judicial Center, behind the downtown Phenix City courthouse. First the commission moved down Broad Street. Now judicial offices may get moved. Is Russell County big enough for TWO courthouse museum pieces?

+ United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley announced it's receiving a national award, for the largest increase in donations. Maybe now the agency will find 20 spare dollars for the Urban League.

+ GPB News reported the Georgia Department of Transportation is considering adding advertising kiosks at state welcome centers. I can see it now - a giant picture of Wayne Anthony with the words: "Move here soon and vote for me."

+ Alabama House leaders decided to postpone a proposed constitutional amendment allowing a statewide vote on electronic bingo. They explained lawmakers will have a full week to study the proposal's wording - while they oversee a bidding war for their votes from lobbying groups.

+ Auburn's Police Chief told WTVM he's so fed up with litter, officers will issue $350 tickets to people caught in the act of littering. Now there's an alternative to raising garbage collection fees....

+ Limestone County, Alabama authorities arrested a man on cocaine possession charges. The suspect is accused of hiding five ounces of cocaine in foil, and making it look like a baked potato alongside chicken. Dangerous drugs are one thing. Dangerous drugs covered with high-cholesterol butter could ruin your health.

+ Georgia Tech trampled Georgia 25-6 in college baseball. You know the game is out of hand when the fans in Athens hurry home to watch the end of "American Idol."

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 604 (+ 19, 3.2%)

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, April 14, 2010

14 APR 10: Trash Talk and Flowery Language

Columbus Council doesn't have a Crime Prevention Director position to debate anymore. So it's found another issue for spinning its wheels and kicking up sand: city garbage collection. Oops, excuse me - that's "integrated waste." Which may need to be segregated into a Council work session of its own....

City Manager Isaiah Hugley's proposal to increase integrated waste fees ran into a brick wall again Tuesday. At least one Columbus Councilor suggested the proposal is being presented in a misleading way -- as a "two-dollar" increase that's really ten. Please don't tell me airlines are going to start collecting our trash.

Councilor Skip Henderson said the City Manager is touting a proposed two-dollar increase in monthly trash fees, but not mentioning it's two dollars a year for the next five years. Henderson must be one of the few people who reads the fine print in those "lease a Lexus" commercials.

Councilor Red McDaniel also was shown on WLTZ, complaining the proposed trash fee increase doesn't make sense. "This is the biggest waste of money I've ever seen," he declared - and if it tops the development of the "what progress has preserved" motto, that's truly shocking.

(Red McDaniel did something I'm noticing more and more among Columbus movers and shakers - calling City Manager Isaiah Hugley by his first name. Where's the respect and formality, for someone in that office? Is his wife Carolyn Hugley showing up at meetings, and ruining all that?)

Councilor Glenn Davis actually called for more public meetings and discussion of garbage rates. Really?! The City Manager held public hearings two years ago [8 Aug 08] - and since then has backed off his call for once-a-week trash collection. Hold another round of hearings, and Isaiah Hugley might demand everyone drive their own trash bags to the landfill.

(Davis added the garbage fee proposal is "not a dinner-table topic" right now. Maybe he wants me to move the usual blog post time from 3:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.)

But Isaiah Hugley warns without an increase in garbage fees, the integrated waste program will have a 39-million dollar deficit in five years. Mayor Jim Wetherington put it politely during the council meeting: "we're clearly in trouble." Others might say the trash bag will have a big hole in it, with everything falling through in the driveway.

Tuesday's agenda included several alternatives for garbage collection, which Councilors proposed during a meeting two weeks ago. Skip Henderson actually suggested imposing a larger fee increase sooner - so upset residents won't be as angry by 2012, when he's up for re-election.

A possible election surprise was present at Tuesday's Council meeting. Flower shop owner and government wonk Paul Olson shows up often, giving five-minute speeches about all sorts of things. But now Olson reportedly is thinking about running for mayor. Harris County leaders can't wait for him to win, and the exodus of Columbus residents to begin.

Paul Olson has been finding faults with Columbus city government for years. While I'm sure he has supporters, they probably match the number who voted for his buddy Bert Coker four years ago. In other words, an "Olson for Mayor" campaign rally would fill Golden Park about as much as a typical Columbus Woodbats game did.

By the way, an invocation was given by a minister at Tuesday's Columbus Council meeting. But that tradition may be in danger, because an anti-religion group is suing to stop invocations at Birmingham City Council meetings. Those plaintiffs should keep something in mind - those prayers didn't prevent Mayor Larry Langford from going to prison for corruption.

BLOG UPDATE: Richard Hyatt's web site posted a response Tuesday from Columbus State University President Tim Mescon, to a planned no-confidence vote by faculty members. Mescon wrote a letter to C.S.U. friends, explaining he's listened to faculty members by "slowing the pace of change." You'll notice it took a solid month to select a new men's basketball coach.

Tim Mescon's letter notes several recent improvements at Columbus State. The university is saving money by moving its e-mail system to Gmail - and in the process, it's giving thousands of students links to spiffy recipes for Spam.

I didn't realize until reading Tim Mescon's letter that C.S.U. now has a round-the-clock "open computer lab." Yippee! All I need is a counterfeit student I.D. card, and I'll have insurance against a computer breakdown when I'm blogging late at night.

-> Our other blog starts with poker, then goes in directions you may not expect. Visitors from around the world read "On the Flop!" <-

E-MAIL UPDATE: A blog reader is keeping close watch for us, on the final days of the Georgia legislative session....

Our Topsy Turvy GA General ASSEMBLY

Deposed committee chair: president pro tem a socialist, lt. gov. a dictator....

The link takes you to details of State Senator Preston Smith reportedly being forced out of his place as Judiciary Committee Chair. Smith says it's because he opposes the proposed "bed tax" on hospital stays to fund Medicaid. Smith calls the concept "socialism" - which at least shows how deeply programed a Republican he is.

But there's another angle to this shake-up, which the Ledger-Enquirer revealed Tuesday. Preston Smith's ouster leaves the Senate Judiciary Committee gavel in the hands of Seth Harp. So instead of a tax on hospital stays, Medicaid may get funded through the sales of 12-packs of beer on Sundays.

By the way, a look around the Atlanta Unfiltered web site also reveals Columbus Rep. Richard Smith is paying $2,373 a month during the legislative session. Not for his staff - but an apartment in suburban Marietta. Living among fellow Republicans costs more money than I realized....

Now for a quick drive around the perimeter, to check other Tuesday topics....

+ Georgia state transportation officials told Columbus Council the Brown Avenue Bridge will have to be replaced. If only this decision had been announced one week earlier - then the Fort Benning training exercise in the Chattahoochee River could have been moved, to build a bridge which helps many more people.

(Columbus Council also decides to postpone the widening of Talbotton Road for six more months. That new pavement has to settle for a while, before you rip it up for a four-lane road.)

+ Muscogee County School officials held a forum for teenagers on preventing underage drinking. Two ideas came to my mind right away - digital locks on all beer bottle caps, and a ban on the playing of country music at all high schools.

+ The Ledger-Enquirer revealed former Hardaway High School soccer coach Michael Lydiate has surrendered his teaching certificate. A state investigation concluded he had a sexual affair with a student. We do NOT know if the teenager was asked to do a Brandi Chastain imitation....

+ WRBL went to Callaway Gardens, where flower experts say the azaleas are blooming three weeks later than usual. Isn't that strange? The flowers are matching some local counties' response to the 2010 Census.

+ Jordan was jolted in high school baseball, losing to Heard County 22-2. It was the most successful day for a "Heard" in Columbus since the car dealer went out of business.

BURKARD BULK MAIL INDEX: 585 (+ 35, 6.4%)

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.