18 SEP 08: SMELLING AND SMOULDERING

We already knew something smelled funny, involving Carver High School. Have you noticed the signs marking the 2007 state football champions STILL aren't posted at the Columbus city limits -- after nine months? Did the loss to Warner Robins Northside last week disqualify them or something?

But Wednesday night's news revealed something else smells strange at Carver High School - a serious leak in the sewer line under the cafeteria. No, that dark brown picture they showed on TV was NOT a giant pan of chocolate pudding....

Crews finally are repairing the sewer line under Carver High School - but Muscogee County officials say it might take two weeks to fix the problem completely. Two weeks?! Are that many plumbers assigned to the Phenix City Streetscape work?

Cafeteria workers at Carver High School say the odor problem has been building for nearly a year. At first it was easy to disguise. You simply add a few more greens to the pot, or throw more seasoning on the chicken....

But the smell has become so bad, Carver High School students aren't eating in the cafeteria anymore. Until the sewer line is fixed, they're dining in the auditorium. There's no word on whether the principal is showing extra mercy toward the students, by playing BET music videos on stage.

If that's not enough, the Carver High School cafeteria crew isn't even cooking lunch in the smelly cafeteria. Meals are being transported from Rigdon Road Elementary - which means students now have to think about leaving the staff a tip.

Once the sewer line under the cafeteria is fixed, there could be other work to do. Carver High School officials say the JROTC room has flooding problems from time to time. So? Isn't that good practice for fighting someday in the jungle of Venezuela, to oust Hugo Chavez?

Carver High School Principal Chris Lindsay says this "big stink" raises an old issue -- that the entire high school needs replacing. But that would require a renewed one-percent sales tax for schools. And as many of us know, the problem with that is a short drive farther down from Rigdon Road Elementary....

Perhaps Carver High School alumni should start thinking along the lines of what some Spencer High graduates are doing. They went before the school board with plans to build a new field house - through private contributions. As long as Carver keeps beating Spencer on the football field, the money should be readily available.

E-MAIL UPDATE: Tuesday's workshop on "union avoidance" may be over, but the person who brought Judy Thomas's appearance to our attention wants to talk some more about it....

Dear Blogger;

Regarding the Executive Assistant to the Mayor doing the workshop to stop unions in Columbus- she seems to talk out of both sides of her mouth. There was a $85 charge advertised in the paper and the title of the workshop is: "A Practical Guide to Union Avoidance"

"The Tuesday workshop, "A Practical Guide to Union Avoidance," will teach participants how to spot union activity, how to talk to employees about unions, conditions that make firms ripe for union campaigns and more."

It is insulting to the Columbus people for the woman to say she is speaking at a seminar, for which there is a charge, that opposes unions, and that she does not have any part in that very subject matter. Someone got paid for the seminar- she told me in an email response to my letter to the mayor, that the company is getting paid for it. So, why is she partaking in stopping unions? She is not doing the seminar to help workers protect themselves with unions. The level of delusion she exhibits defies logic. She must be planning to run for office.

If Synovus had been unionized, and had the union been able to act upon the robber baron salaries, there might have been less greed by the top and more jobs at the bottom. Apparently the company feeds on its own.

If you think you can get all of the city boards on line- you cannot. The Mayor will not put board members on the city website, which would allow all citizens to see who serves on which boards. We have asked this and other administrations to put them on line. Yancey has served on many boards and so has Blanchard. Additionally, his son is now semi-presiding (when he shows up) on the Development Board (you will remember they recommend that millions of dollars be granted in tax exemptions--exempting their own organizations of many hundreds of millions- and it is all approved, in total, by the tax assessors).

You can ask Anthony and Blanchard to tell you on how many boards they have served during their careers-THEY WILL PROBABLY NOT ANSWER YOU -here is a small sample of a board which Yancey is just now leaving---this was found in the recent Sept. 2008 Columbus Council agenda. It is the very important Downtown Development Authority Board, yet another Development Board. The Development Authority tax exemption recommendations must go through the DA's office as well as the Superior Court. Why are they so will nilly signing off on the Development Authority exemptions-giving so much away to the robber barons. You will remember that some of the tax exemptions are actually for 100% --- they are supposed to be for 50%, however they LIE about the actual value of the property-inflating it - and getting a tax exemption that is actually the entire amount of tax rather than 50%. (You may want to interview Paul Olson on this).

CLERK OF COUNCIL'S AGENDA…....…SEPTEMBER 2, 2008

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY:

(James D. Yancey) SD-29

Cannot succeed himself

(Council's Appmt)

As you know, NY State decided to stop CB& T and their COMPUCREDIT cohort from doing predatory credit cards to minorities there. They were charging $400+ for individuals who had never even used the cards. They were doing aggressive collection practices with calls before 7 and after 10 at night. Compucredit execs do Republican think tank-seminars on education of Hispanics in Tex., (and elsewhere)and they predate on Hispanics. NY state put the papers to stop CB&T from working in their state up on their website. Steve Melton is named in those papers. They have treated minorities like expendable commodities.

The same company's executives are unduly influencing the city government. CB&T also laid off employees in Phenix City. Since Yancey and Blanchard made about 7M per year while putting their employees on the unemployment rolls, is it time to take a deep breath and stop their company executives from serving on city boards? The tax exemptions recipients with such excessive greed rob their companies and our city of taxes all while some of the rookie police department employees had to go on food stamps.

The Columbus Citizenry has been victimized by robber baron corporate executives who run the city through pay for hire politicians, get themselves and their execs put on city boards, deem themselves worthy of virtual tax exempt status, hold tens of millions of city reserve accounts and who fire employees because it is too difficult to pay them. The entire CB&T-SYNOVUS political-economic entanglement with our city government needs to be brought to a screeching halt.

Deborah Owens

Starting from the top - have you ever visited a bank that had a union? I mean, other than the old "First Union Bank" with the word in its name....

It turns out the city web site DOES list the members of the Downtown Development Authority, as well as the city Development Authority. James Yancey has been on both boards - and he's also currently on the board of the Hospital Authority. Perhaps that's for handling the headaches which come from figuring the exemption rates at those other boards.

This series of anti-Synovus e-mails may have some side effects, you know. Talk down the company enough, and it might become the next Washington Mutual. And besides, I think Wachovia is too busy right now trying to work out mergers to take over city accounts.

Let's take one more e-mail on a happier note - or at least it starts that way:

You should go to Lake Bottom football field about 6PM on a week night..All age levels of the Clubview Bulldogs are practicing on different sections of the field..It is fun to look from group to group and see how the kids have advanced as they age..There are parents enjoying each other,the concession stand has great frys and it is just one big family affair..Except,the rules say no tobacco and one coach has a big wad of chewing tabacco and spits all over the ground where the kids fall..You don't see anyone smoking,except for the Pres.of the League..And the chewing coach is his son. Come on guys be that example we expect as youth role models.

I see this writer's point. But maybe the son is chewing on tobacco, to avoid chewing out his players with the wrong language.

We thank all of you who write and visit - and now let's check some other Wednesday news:

+ The high temperature in Columbus was a splendid 76 degrees F. If things stay this comfortable for the next few months, the next round of layoffs may come from air conditioning repair shops.

+ A midday walk around South Commons to enjoy the weather revealed a giant dumpster at the Golden Park entrance has been moved in recent days. Our 11 Sep picture show the dumpster was filled with items from the now-departed Columbus Catfish - including a giant lounge chair sitting on top. It's perfect for the pitcher who's just thrown a complete-game shutout.

+ Gas prices showed signs of dropping in Columbus. The Circle K in my neighborhood showed a price of $4.24 for regular unleaded. Hopefully people in Houston won't mind an extra two weeks of gas lines, so our prices can return to normal....

(Because of high gas prices, the Americus Times Recorder announced it's ending home delivery on weekday mornings. Instead, each edition will be sent by mail. Who would have guessed a newspaper would be hoarding "forever" stamps?)

+ Constitution Day was marked at federal court in Columbus, as several people took the oath to become new U.S. citizens. But I have to confess - I did NOT fly the flag. I did not review the U.S. Constitution. I didn't even visit the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's web site.

+ WRBL gave its "Golden Apple Award" to a language teacher at Glenwood School. She helps students learn Spanish by giving them lessons in salsa dancing. As long as the teenagers don't dye their hair blue, like Celia Cruz did....

+ Roslyn Giles returned to WRBL as a reporter, for the first time in several years. If you're wondering why she came back, this short answer should suffice - she left the station to sell real estate.

+ Tuskegee University announced its football game this weekend will have a female referee. How many male alumni heard that and thought of an old Motown tune - "Backfield in Motion"?

+ Instant Message to the New York tabloids: Which one of you will have the morning headline, "WALL STREET LAYS AN AIG" ?!

Our number of unique visitors is now up 28 percent from last year. To advertise to our readers, 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: 1155 (+ 43, 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.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.

17 SEP 08: BACK FROM THE BRINK

The weather was nice in Columbus Tuesday. Maybe that was the problem - it was TOO nice, because our InBox received all sorts of complaints about other things. It was almost like our readers were warming up for that Fort Benning "warfighting conference" at the Trade Center....

A few of the complaints concerned the fuel crunch Columbus is facing - or at least what governmental organizations are facing. Take this e-mail for starters:

Hey Richard,

I would like to know something. The city is said to have shut down the gas pumps to everyone except public safety vehicles, trash trucks, and county school buses. Does that mean that the mayor, city manager and all the other city vehicle drivers had to pay for their own gas to get to work and home on their own?

I am doubting that this restriction is as strict as they make it out on the news. I can't believe that this would be enforced by anyone either.

Thanks!!

The restrictions took place at the city fuel station on Schatulga Road. But really now - do you think Mayor Jim Wetherington and City Manager Isaiah Hugley would drive all the way to the east edge of town to fill up their cars? These are busy men, you know. And the city landfill doesn't need inspecting that often, to justify the trip.

Perhaps this e-mailer wanted us to head out on yet another blog investigation. We'd park our car outside the Schatulga Road fuel pumps - and when a vehicle showed up, we'd ambush the driver with critical questions: "What department do you work for? How much are you paying for fuel? Have you ever banked with Synovus? What's the interest rate on your checking account?"

But thankfully, this issue became a moot point Tuesday. City Manager Isaiah Hugley announced an agreement had been worked out to assure diesel fuel deliveries would continue for city vehicles. That means trash pickup WILL occur Thursday and Friday after all - and as a result, the only plumes of smoke in Columbus should come from barbecue restaurants.

Along with that e-mail came a reply to the news that Muscogee County Schools were low on fuel for buses:

I want an all out community war against the board on this one. DON'T SHORTEN THE SCHOOL WEEK. STOP BUILDING THE ADMIN BUILDING AND PAY FOR THE GAS TO GET THE KIDS TO SCHOOL!!!!!!! JUST HOW STUPID IS OUR BOARD GOING TO PROVE THEMSELVES TO BE!!!!!!!!!!!!! FOR ONCE PUT THE STUDENTS FIRST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hmmmm -- do you think this response is a little bit emotional?

The suggestion that construction money be moved to pay for school bus fuel sounds simple, but I don't think it works that way. Isn't the administration building being built with specially-assigned SPLOST sales tax money -- which can be used ONLY for that purpose? Or do you mean school bus drivers should siphon fuel out of the construction equipment on Macon Road?

Thankfully, this issue was resolved Tuesday as well. WRBL reported the Muscogee County Schools will receive a diesel fuel shipment today, so buses can keep running for the rest of the week. Of course, this assumes a tanker truck isn't hijacked by desperate drivers in the middle of Mississippi....

But these two cases raise a question in my mind. How have surrounding cities such as Phenix City and Opelika avoided cuts in service so far - or even warnings that cuts might happen? Did some city official decide where Hurricane Ike would land by throwing a dart at a map?

The rest of us must keep waiting for gas prices to come down. Well, we SHOULD keep waiting. The Tuesday night news reported a couple of convenience stores in Columbus were robbed. Simply because YOU feel robbed at the pump does not allow you to get even.

Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue released a statement Tuesday, with gas-saving trips for residents. One of them calls for "keeping tires properly inflated...."
This may prove once and for all Perdue is still deep-down a Barack Obama Democrat.

Thanks to an executive order from Governor Perdue, gas prices have been frozen across Georgia since Friday night. But some were frozen at extremely high levels. A Bronwood, Georgia convenience store is at $5.69 per gallon - and the owner says she's only making 22 cents a gallon profit. Well, from the people unfortunate enough to have their tanks run out in Bronwood....

People in several states and at least three countries are reading our new blog about poker and life. Visit "On the Flop!"

E-MAIL UPDATE: Another reader offers a different item from Monday's Muscogee County School Board meeting....

Hey Richard,



Look into the "retirement" of the principal for Rigdon Road Elementary. You might find out some very interesting facts.



Thanks

The agenda of the school board listed several "resignations/retirements," including Phyllis Jones. It listed names, but nothing more. And I seriously doubt the school district would let me check her personnel file -- especially if they don't let us know how high school football players score on graduation exams.

I'm sorry, but this message is the last straw. Have you read the box at the top of the blog recently? It says we offer "often-humorous views on life." Yet in recent weeks this HUMOR blog has been asked to examine a reported beating at the County Jail, a convicted thief, the interest rates of city government funds, possible racial pandering in an election - and now this. I know the Ledger-Enquirer has cut staff, but really....

Perhaps I put myself in this position, by attempting to be "fair and balanced." If someone makes an accusation here, I feel an obligation to get a response from the accused. Most of the time, the accused can't turn the tables because the accuser is anonymous. Isn't it nice to see what Guantanamo Bay's holding cells have inspired?

These investigations are NOT what this blog set out to do, when we began 5.7 years ago. Yet increasingly, it seems to be what readers expect us to do. And these requests weren't even made of the hosts of Talkline, when that program was on WRCG -- although on that show, you figured out after awhile who the accusers were by their voices.

THE BIG BLOG QUESTION wants to settle this matter. Which way do you want this blog to go? Do you want the humor emphasis to continue - or do you want the jokes to stop, so we do nothing but investigate your questions and accusations? Admittedly some might see this as a choice between "The Simpsons" and "The X-Files" - but there it is....

While we wait for your direction, let's check some other Tuesday news:

+ Did we mention the weather was nice? The high in Columbus was only 82 degrees F. I may have turned on the air conditioner for the last time this year - but of course, that means the off-season for copper theft is over.

+ A public hearing was held in Cusseta on improving transportation in southwest Georgia. One proposal would expand Interstate 185 beyond Fort Benning - but which direction should it go? Plains has the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site. But Westville might be ready to include an interstate, and upgrade its farm to around 1950.

+ The annual "Doughboy Awards" for the infantry were presented by Fort Benning. One of these years, the chief executive of Pillsbury HAS to receive this....

+ Former Brookstone High School and Seattle Seahawks running back Mack Strong was named to the Chattahoochee Valley Sports Hall of Fame. And to think for all these years, I thought that name only applied to a shipping truck.

(Bill Jordan of Realtree Outdoors was named to the Hall of Fame as well. There may have to be an exception made for his section - with flashing lights pointing it out, because it will blend into the scenery so well.)

+ WLTZ meteorologist Julie Martin interrupted her "First Weather" report to admit a wasp was flying around her. This is why forecasters still should use pointers at the weather maps -- because they can double as fencing swords, to fight off attacks.

+ Instant message to WRBL's Steve Garrett: I should congratulate you, too. I notice you're now a "meteorologist," after all those months of simply being a "forecaster." May you cherish that signed certificate by Bob Jeswald for years to come....

Our number of unique visitors is now up 28 percent from last year. To advertise to our readers, 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: 1112 (+ 40, 3.7%)

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.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.

16 SEP 08: CONSERVATIVE CONVERSION?

It was a small notice in the Ledger-Enquirer - so small that most people might have missed it. The Business Resource Center is holding a workshop today on "A Practical Guide to Union Avoidance." Some people outside Columbus must have laughed at that title, since they never travel north of the Mason-Dixon Line.

But when one Columbus activist spotted a familiar name among the workshop presenters, she simply could not believe it. She fired an e-mail to the mayor, City Manager and Columbus Council - and kindly (I assume) cc-ed it to your blog as well:

Mr. Mayor;

We know you are not a man without a heart and there are problems you need to address in this city.

Why would your Exec. Assistant advocate and make money from opposing labor unions? Are you not Democrats? Have not the Unions improved the working conditions and pay of many American workers?

It is a point toward her support, and your administration's financial involvement with the large companies in this area.

This is an outrageous affront to your own background. Police Unions, NAPO (for one), advocacy show the need for unions with the good work they have done.

Your admin has repeatedly favored big business over the worker--whether it was the tax exemptions given to vacuous conglomerates who fire employees while robbing the till to the tune of millions or by taking money to raise taxes from organizations that run the city through pay-for- hire politicians. May I remind you that in 2006 Richard Anthony took 4.2 Million and Jim Blanchard took 3.4 Million from the company they so willingly raped and plundered before firing and putting 9%, thousands, of employees on the unemployment roles and perhaps into the soup kitchens! You will note in the article below [14 Sep] that the Carpenters Union opposed the Director's position with the company...wonder why--that was in 2006!

The white collar corruption is rampant in Columbus and you are not cleaning it up. It is white collar crime with CB& T, (who was thrown out of NY STATE with Steve Melton named on the Atty Gen website in papers filed to stop them), et al, running the political campaigns. Remember Don Siegelman? You were elected to be a strong man to fight for the little man and fairness--was not your wife raised in Peabody?

Who owns whom?

CB&T --- POWER BROKERS IN COLUMBUS:

1. Paid for political campaigns

2. Holds city accounts

3. Holds the reserves at unknown and refused to be discussed interest rates. In a disgraceful move the city manager refused to answer activist questions at council on interest paid by CB&T to the city for reserve holdings. He would not even state that he did not know the interest rate---just ignored the questions. How outrageous --and you let it happen, Mr. Mayor.

4. Paid for campaigns for tax hikes, which will benefit them since they hold the city accounts and reserves

5. Has put their people on council

6. Has their people controlling the most powerful boards in the city

7. Has given themselves tax exemptions through board certified "Servant Leadership" recommending themselves as tax exemptions.

The city is under the control of a few at CB&T, and Synovus. Mr. Mayor- you need to stop this violation of our democratic process. Anthony & Blanchard should not be on any boards since they have shown extreme fiscal irresponsibility.

You need to clean house if you want your legacy to be something other than corruption. When Council members get money in tax exemptions for either their own companies or their employers' companies there is a problem with ethics in the council and the mayor's office. when the common man --not a lawyer from JAG or an outsider, one of our own gets elected mayor and he lets it happen --- we know the mayor's office needs prayer for direction.

Step up to the plate, Mr. Mayor clean up your administration.

Thank You,

Deborah Owens

Let's start with the executive assistant who apparently triggered this message. The newspaper noted Judy Thomas spent almost 30 years working with the California Teachers Association. Then she moved to Columbus two years ago - and may have been surprised by the extra money in her pocket, from not paying dues.

Judy Thomas told me Monday she will NOT be an advocate against labor unions, when she appears at today's seminar. Thomas assured me she still supports them. She may have a hard time finding them south of metro Atlanta, but she still supports them....

Judy Thomas says her appearance at the Business Resource Center will be to explain how managers should deal with employees. She believes if there's good communication and discipline, workers are less likely to consider forming unions. And these days, that means the workers are far less likely to be laid off.

Judy Thomas noted other seminars at the Business Resource Center have considered unions "from the management.... point of view." So her appearance today is a bit like Barack Obama appearing on "The O'Reilly Factor" the other night.

A couple of bills are pending in Congress that could change the rules for organizing unions in businesses. Judy Thomas says she'll address those bills at the seminar as well. Then the audience will be given a choice of House members to call about them - Lynn Westmoreland one way, Sanford Bishop the other.

In the classic words of Dee Armstrong during a newscast years ago, "This is NOT a union town!" Judy Thomas admits she's seen no signs of a union resurgence in Columbus, especially inside city government. And a garbage collection union is rather hard to form, when the collectors are inmates who hope to quit in a couple of years.

But back to the original question - is Judy Thomas "making money" from opposing labor unions? She told me her appearance at the Business Resource Center will be unpaid, and she's taking a vacation day from work on top of that. The only way Thomas might personally benefit is if a friend shows up with a camera, and turns her session into a DVD.

While Mayor Jim Wetherington is a Democrat, I've never heard anyone indicate he supports organizing a police union. Besides, he spent a year as headmaster of a private school - instead of lobbying in Atlanta for uniformed officers inside the public ones.

But maybe the critics are forgetting something here. Jim Wetherington wasn't elected mayor as a Democrat, since the job is nonpartisan in Columbus. Perhaps the critics want him to be as "blue" as those police uniforms he loves so much....

Deborah Owens should be relieved to learn Richard Anthony is NOT on any boards listed on the city web site. We noted recently James Blanchard does not seem to be there, either [31 Aug]. Maybe she wants a "black list" started of forbidden citizens - which I hope doesn't get mixed up with the Sheriff's list of registered sex offenders.

So do Synovus and a few bankers run the city of Columbus? If so, that would shock some people - especially the man who predicted to us last summer that by now, the city would be run completely by Mexicans [17 Aug 07]. Somehow, I don't think Richard Anthony and Steve Melton fit that description....

E-MAIL UPDATE: We had another call to make Monday. With seven weeks left until Election Day, another reader smells something funny....

Hi Richard, Love your blog. I couldn't help but notice the nice Billboards sprouting up all over town and I ask you -unbiased Columbus blogger for your input on this touchy subject. I've seen five billboards for Superior Court Candidate Alonza Whitaker located at Flat Rock, Columbus Park Crossing, Wynnton Road, 13th Street and Victory Drive. Only one of those five billboards actually sports his photograph, the one strategically placed in South Columbus. (Victory Drive to be exact) Is this a case of campaign economics (maybe it costs more to have your picture on a billboard) OR could it be a case of blatant pandering to the black vote? You be the judge.

Sincerely,

Ann Patrick

There's actually a second billboard showing Alonza Whitaker's face. It's on Buena Vista Road, which could would play into Ann's theory. But indeed, the signs at other locations do NOT have his picture. And no, I did NOT check for Whitaker's picture at the post office....

Instead of appointing myself judge, I talked with the candidate running for the job Monday. Alonza Whitaker told me he has 12 billboards scattered throughout six counties, since the Superior Court Judge covers a regional circuit. If you can drive around to check all those billboards right now, don't come griping to me about gas prices.

Alonza Whitaker said as far as he knows, it costs more money to prepare billboards with his picture on it. But he added he's willing to put his picture everywhere, if Ann Patrick wants to donate to his campaign. No, I didn't name her during the phone call - so her e-mail account should be safe for the next seven weeks.

Alonza Whitaker denied he's practicing any kind of racial pandering. He noted his picture is on campaign flyers throughout the circuit - and he needs "white voters as well as black voters" to be elected. You do in that race, at least. We'll see if either side in the Zephaniah Baker-Calvin Smyre state House race agrees with that idea....

Alonza Whitaker wondered aloud briefly about a couple of points, related to the pandering theory. He asked if his opponent for judge has HIS pictures on billboards. I noted Gil McBride does appear on one, along Veterans Parkway north of Manchester Expressway. Maybe he'll dodge the issue in Columbus South, and stick to yard signs.

Then Alonza Whitaker suggested people driving down Buena Vista Road and Victory Drive are NOT all African-American. He stopped short of finishing that point, but his conclusion was clear -- and I don't think the crowd at the upcoming Taylor Swift concert will be quite as diverse as the Columbus International Festival.

When I visited Thunder on the Hooch on Independence Day, I was impressed to find Alonza Whitaker even has his own campaign water bottles. I jokingly asked Whitaker if he had his own spring, and he said he "wouldn't dignify that" with a comment. Hmmmm - does this mean he'll be disqualified from any rulings on Chattahoochee River water sharing?

People in several states and at least three countries are reading our new blog about poker and life. Visit "On the Flop!"

BLOG UPDATE: Suspicions were confirmed Monday night about the sale of the old Baker High School. Muscogee County Superintendent (for now) John Phillips told WXTX "News at Ten" the buyer of the building is having financing problems. If all else fails, there's the Bill Heard "price slicer...."

The school board approved the sale of the Baker High School building in March. Monday night, members approved a four-month extension of an "inspection period" to next January. Judging from what a blog reader told us the other day, the building might not pass an inspection for low-rent apartments right now.

Let's see what else caught our attention Monday:

+ Muscogee County school officials reported the district is down to a two-day supply of diesel fuel for the buses. There's no better time to remind your children about how you had to walk uphill morning after morning, year after year....

+ The kidnapping case of former Hurtsboro Police Chief Marvin Christian was referred to the October Bullock County grand jury. Imagine what could have happened here. If Christian is cleared, he might have found an entire city has disbanded and deserted him.

+ Atlanta Falcons defensive back Lawyer Malloy was arrested on drunk driving and speeding charges. You'd think someone with "Lawyer" in his name would know better than this - but that hasn't stopped some elected officials, has it?

+ Instant Message to Tammy Terry: I hope there aren't any problems with your baby boy. You've been away from WRBL on maternity leave nearly three months now -- and it can't really take that long to get your hair perfect again, after giving birth.

Our number of unique visitors is now up 28 percent from last year. To advertise to our readers, 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: 1072 (+ 37, 3.6%)

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

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.

15 SEP 08: HOW QUICKLY WE FORGET

The big day has passed, so I can be a bit less emotional about it. We're two days away from Constitution Day, so I don't have a longing to wave a U.S. flag about it. But someone needs to bring it up. And it seems military activist Jim Rhodes no longer is in shape to do it -although you wonder if his large hat collection is mentioned in his will.

Somebody's gotta ask it: why did the city of Columbus do NOTHING to mark 11 September this year? There was no memorial service, no ceremony of any sort - and you can't blame this one on Hurricane Ike, because the storm hadn't made landfall yet.

Events for "Patriot Day" (as President Bush has dubbed it) were a bit hard to find in this area. Fort Benning held a commemorative "Freedom Run," but it began before sunrise. Perhaps the goal was to reenact the surprise strike against Afghanistan a few weeks later....

A couple of local schools had flagpole ceremonies on 11 September, but apparently not very many. Harris County High School went farther, staging a patriotic concert in the evening. But let's see if that happens again next year - when 11 September falls on a football Friday.

We mentioned last week that Carmen Cavezza and the Columbus State University Cunningham Center quietly dropped the 11 September program it staged last year. Instead, a few dozen students gathered in the evening at the clock tower - then were moved indoors by rain. Having the students hold up cigarette lighters instead of candles could have sent a wrong health message.

(One 11 September commemoration admittedly gave me mixed emotions. Fred's stores donated all profits last Thursday to first responders, such as public safety agencies. Is this a small step toward making Patriot Day like President's Day? Or is this to make up for the chain barring firefighters from taking donations outside?)

It wasn't always this way on 11 September. In 2002, there was an anniversary ceremony outside the Civic Center with the dedication of a large flagpole. Nowadays, there aren't even concrete barriers protecting the pole - and you'd think the tall brick flower boxes behind the flag could be used as hiding places.

Have city officials forgotten some Fort Benning personnel are in Iraq right now - even though the Third Brigade currently is resting comfortably at home? Well, perhaps I shouldn't say "resting." The soldiers probably are keeping busy - and come December, they'll have to work up their own sweat outside for a change.

Have we forgotten the U.S. military still is fighting battles, seven years after the 11 September attacks? There's not only the mission in Iraq, but a slowly growing threat in Afghanistan - not to mention the fights in court over what to do with the inmates at Guantanamo Bay....

But perhaps this move away from 11 September ceremonies is simply inevitable in Columbus. There used to be Pearl Harbor Day ceremonies outside the Government Center - but last year, that event was moved to a veterans' post. There's one advantage to this -- the free lunch afterward doesn't require any driving.

Perhaps we've decided to leave the "big events" on September 11 to the scenes of the attacks. But for anyone of "baby boomer" age or younger, the day is probably the biggest milestone of their lives. Simply saluting a lowered flag doesn't seem like enough - but then, first responders may feel like they received their top honor when the one-cent sales tax was approved.

People in several states and at least three countries are reading our new blog about poker and life. Visit "On the Flop!"

THE BIG BLOG QUESTION on the presidential election ended Sunday night - and a massive 90 percent of our voters say they support the Republican ticket (19-2). The person who claimed to have voted for the Democrats "accidentally" is advised to take it up with a county election board in Florida.

E-MAIL UPDATE: One of Sunday's Instant Messages brought a reply - but not quite from the place we expected....

Richard!

I hope all is well back in Columbus. What a surprise to find my name in your blog this morning... as I prepare my forecast for the morning news (yep, still doing weather, and still checking the blog daily). Congrats to Susan-Elizabeth for making the trifecta. But, I did, in fact, reach that same milestone while at WRBL. Back when I anchored weekends with Mara Kelly, I did sports for about a month. I believe that was right after Thomas Forester left (remember him?). In my later days there, I also co-hosted the Sports Xtra Show with Jack Rodgers and Dan Edward. I only did sports a few times, perhaps that gives you a clue on how well (or poorly) I did!

Keep up the good work. You're my connection to Columbus!

Best,

Blaine

Blaine Stewart currently is listed as a "Reporter/Weather Forecaster" with a TV station in Norfolk, Virginia. I forgot about his fill-in sports duty in Columbus several years ago. Maybe it was because he didn't seem to root for his hometown New Orleans Saints enough.

Now for other quick items that we came across Sunday:

+ A convenience store employee on Macon Road told me gasoline sales remain slow, after the big rush of Friday. It's nice to see people are being patient, in the wake of Hurricane Ike - perhaps expecting Houston and Galveston will return to normal by Monday afternoon.

+ ESPN announced its "GameDay" college football show will originate from Auburn this Saturday. This sounded good for a few minutes - but then I realized it probably meant Erin Andrews would be working at another game.

+ The latest college football poll knocked Georgia down from second to third, behind Southern California and Oklahoma. In a way, I don't mind this - because Kansas meets Oklahoma in mid-October, and a Jayhawk win will catapult my team that much higher.

+ Instant Message to the man who told me Sunday I was ripped off by that auto repair shop: OK, you may be right. I found a master cylinder on sale online for as low as 34 dollars. The repair shop's bill lists the price at 314 dollars. But I took a discount coupon to the repair shop - and never imagined I needed to take a laptop, too.

Our number of unique visitors is now up 28 percent from last year. To advertise to our readers, 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: 1035 (- 58, 5.3%)

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.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.

14 SEP 08: PAIN AWAY FROM THE PUMP

The Harris County area was well ahead of Columbus this weekend. Contestants rode horses and steers at a rodeo in Hamilton. They rode bicycles at Callaway Gardens. People in Columbus had to drive cars to see those things - and they were the ones which wound up burning expensive gasoline.

For starters, let's review the rumor which was spread around the area Thursday night. From what I've seen, prices have NOT jumped $1.25 a gallon. And the increases did NOT take place at midnight - they took place in broad daylight, so no one can compare convenience store owners with small-time burglars.

But gas prices across Columbus admittedly are now at record highs. Most places I passed Saturday seemed to have settled on $4.29 a gallon. Before you call that price-fixing, I found S-mart on Airport Thruway at $4.28 - and USA on the Phenix City bypass really challenging the crowd, at $4.79.

But if stations ran out of gas, I couldn't tell it Saturday afternoon. I noticed no bags on pumps. In fact, I noticed very few people filling up at all. So is that because everyone filled their tanks Friday while the "getting was good" - or everyone stayed at home, to watch Georgia and Georgia Tech play football on TV?

The high price of gas reportedly reduced crowds at some Saturday college football games. But the Alabama broadcast team noted the stands were full in Tuscaloosa for the wipeout of Western Kentucky. One announcer said it was because fans filled up before the price went up. My theory is different - that fans made up for higher gas prices by eating two hot dogs instead of three.

Drivers with diesel-fueled cars might actually be smiling at the weekend's developments. At several stations, the diesel and regular unleaded prices are now almost even -- and the USA station in Phenix City actually has diesel for 70 cents less. So maybe Hurricane Ike was a European plot, to help sales of BMW's.

I heard one older man scoff at the explanation for this "storm surge" - that refineries are closed around Houston due to Hurricane Ike. "They use any old excuse to jack up gas prices," he said.

"I guess," I answered, "it comes down to the question: Should people keep working at refineries during a hurricane, risking their lives so you can drive?" This question shut the man up - and I hope he's not as greedy for gas as he suggested the oil companies are for profits.

The refinery shutdown will have an effect on most Columbus residents this coming week. The city plans to reduce garbage collection to once-a-week, on Monday and Tuesday. This is even tighter than the schedule proposed at recent public forums - and again makes me glad I beat the rush, and carried my bag out last Tuesday.

But Columbus city officials say for the time being, the METRA schedule will NOT change. In a way, that's too bad - because you can't take a bus to the mall for Sunday shopping, or to the Civic Center to watch the Shrine Circus. And I seriously doubt church buses will drop you off at those places after a worship service.

(And in a comforting sign, something else has not changed this weekend. WTMQ-FM is still "Tropical 88.5" - not adding a "storm" to its name.)

Alabama Governor Bob Riley declared a "state of emergency" in the wake of Hurricane Ike - not because of minor flooding at Orange Beach, but as a precaution against gasoline price gouging. Some people must be wondering why there wasn't an emergency in May and June.

But so far, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue has NOT done what he did three years ago. He hasn't suspended state gas taxes, or called for school closings. Perdue can't do one because of a tight state budget. And he can't do the other, because Superintendent Kathy Cox could afford flying to Hollywood to win one million dollars on a game show.

Have you noticed this sudden price increase is occurring as Congress prepares to resume debate on offshore oil drilling? Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss may have his own name for Hurricane Ike - the perfect storm.

"The gas price in Albany is up to $4.29," a man announced to a waiting room full of people on Buena Vista Road Friday afternoon. Trouble was, all those people were waiting to get their cars repaired -- so other prices may have been a bit more important to them at that moment.

While I can feel the pain of anyone having to fill their gas tank today, Friday was even more painful for me. I was socked with a surprise bill of more than 800 dollars, to fix rundown brakes. That's about 20 tankfuls of gas at once - and the shop didn't throw in a free stick of air freshener.

My humble Honda felt like it was in need of brake work for a few weeks. When the parking brake light comes on in the middle of a drive to work, that's a clue - and that light didn't even fix the car radio which wants to fade in and out.

The mechanics told me I needed all sorts of brake repairs, and all at once. Two rotors needed changing. And my "master cylinder" was leaking so badly, it had become a servant.

I bit the bullet and had all the brake work done - but now I'm seriously hoping for a couple of things. One: no big bills for awhile. Two: for advertisers to become so disgruntled with Richard Hyatt's web site that they rush to mine.

People in several states and at least three countries are reading our new blog about poker and life. Visit "On the Flop!"

E-MAIL UPDATE: Since we're talking about big money....

Here are some highlights from the following article:

Synovus CEO received $4.2M in 2006

--Richard E. Anthony, chairman and chief executive of financial services company Synovus received compensation in 2006 valued by the company at $4.2 million, according to a definitive proxy statement filed March 2007.

Anthony received:

1. salary of $819,000

2. incentive compensation of $1.4 million

3. restricted stock awards and stock options the company valued at $1.5 million on the date they were granted.

Anthony also received $447,929 in other compensation, including $304,119 allocated to a nonqualified deferred compensation plan, along with items such as director fees, company matching contributions under stock purchase plans, reimbursement for financial planning services, an automobile allowance, costs for personal use of corporate aircraft.

Synovus, based in Columbus, Ga., has no defined benefit pension plans and does not pay above-market interest on deferred compensation.

James H. Blanchard received $3.4 million in 2006. Blanchard, who was with the company for about 35 years, stepped down as CEO in 2005 and retired as chairman in October 2006.

Blanchard received:

1. salary of $497,992

2. incentive compensation of $871,486

3. granted restricted stock awards and options valued at $1.3 million on the date they were granted

4. Blanchard also received $659,712 in other compensation, including $309,284 allocated to a nonqualified deferred compensation plan, along with items such as director fees, company matching contributions under stock purchase plans, reimbursement for financial planning services, an automobile allowance, costs for personal use of corporate aircraft.

5. And, it may have provided Blanchard with the cost of security alarm monitoring and entertainment for his spouse during board retreats. Those costs were not itemized because they totaled less than $25,000.

6. As a retirement gift, Blanchard received a painting valued at $61,166. He was also given $28,883 to reimburse taxes owed on the gift.

Synovus also said when shareholders meet on April 25, they will vote to elect 18 directors, approve the 2007 omnibus plan and ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as the company's independent auditor for 2007.

The United Brotherhood of Carpenters Pension Fund, the owner of about 5,000 shares, proposed directors to be elected by a majority of votes rather than a plurality.

Synovus' board recommended voting against the proposal, arguing that it is unnecessary and would unduly complicate the voting process.

The first thing that comes to mind from this is - why is this linked story from Boston? I found a similar summary at the Ledger-Enquirer's web site, which you can read by signing in to the newspaper's archives. Do employees fear the newspaper will track down their names, and pass them on to Synovus for the layoff list?

Then again, the Reuters report which first announced the Synovus job cuts was written by a reporter not based in Columbus, or even Atlanta -- but in Bangalore. How did someone in India find out about this first? Did some laid-off worker apply for housecleaning work at a motel?

But anyway: much of this information can be confirmed through federal securities reports. Yet the point of this e-mail seems to be that Synovus executives are making big money while they announce hundreds of job cuts. Plenty of corporations fit this description - yet Congress has yet to follow the National Football League's example, and impose salary caps.

That must be a very nice painting James Blanchard received when he left Synovus -- yet details about it are lacking, other than the price. If some gallery owner on Broadway suddenly moves into a loft at the Eagle and Phenix Apartments, that may tell us who did the work.

The forum James Blanchard organized leads to this next e-mail:

Richard, I noticed that former Congressman and House Speaker Newt Gingrich was in town to speak at the Leadership Symposium. I wonder if while he was here anyone bothered to take him by Baker High School, his alma mater, to see "What Progress Has Preserved"!

I pass by Baker High School several times a week and have noticed the "Under Contract" sign on the property for months. I thought the property was sold so I wonder why the sign has never been changed to "Sold". Usually Real Estate companies change the sign when the money has changed hands (the closing has been held). Or, has something happened and this company changed their mind like the previous buyer?

Additionally I've noticed some of the doors open with various stuff falling out the doors and graffiti being painted on the building, etc. The grass never seems to get cut and it just looks bad. So why doesn't the code enforcement for the city cite either the Muscogee County School Board or the new owners?

One new hotel opened on Victory Dr in July and two others are under construction now and a new Taco Bell opened recently. You would think that the city would be interested keeping taxpayer owned property looking presentable if they want investors to consider that area of town for new development.

It turns out the old Baker High School is on Monday night's Muscogee County School Board agenda. One item calls for an "extension of [the] inspection period" for the building. So perhaps there's some sort of delay in selling the property -- or perhaps police need a few more weeks to investigate who painted the graffiti.

We have to hold a couple of other messages for research reasons. So in the meantime, let's send some Instant Messages of our own....

+ To Georgia NAACP President Ed DuBose: You may have a valid point, complaining about police department petitions before the vote on a Public Safety Review Commission. But going to the news media about it Friday was terrible timing. People wanted to fill out petitions against oil companies instead.

+ To the Columbus Symphony Orchestra: How many people were disappointed Saturday night, when the Eroica Trio performed? How many guys misread the ads, and hoped to see an Erotica Trio instead?

+ To WRBL's Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield: Congratulations. As of Saturday night, you've accomplished the trifecta - presenting the news, weather AND sports for your station. Not even Blaine Stewart did that, and I figured sports would be right up his alley.

+ To the Auburn University football team: Three to two?! If you were playing Mississippi State in soccer, I could understand -- but then, the soccer team can only score three points when it's playing Grambling.

SCHEDULED MONDAY: The city didn't do it, and I simply can't believe it....

Our number of unique visitors is now up 28 percent from last year. To advertise to our readers, 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: 1093 (- 89, 7.5%)

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.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.

12 SEP 08: IKE AND SPIKE IN THE MORNING?

Now now, my friends - let's all be calm here. We don't need to panic today. If you see gas prices much higher than they were Thursday, it does NOT mean there was an aftershock from that "big bang collider" in Europe. We are NOT heading into an oil-black hole.

IF (please note that word) the rumor-spreaders of Thursday evening are right, Columbus drivers may find gas prices today not in the $3.75 range - but at $4.75 a gallon or higher. A big price spike REPORTEDLY was planned for midnight. This would confirm a statement I heard the other day, quoting football coach Tony Dungy: "Few good things happen after midnight."

No, I did NOT go driving around town at midnight to see if this rumor was accurate. That's exactly what the big oil companies want me to do - so I need a fill-up that much faster....

But shortly before post time, I walked down to a corner where I can have a good look at a Circle K sign down the street. The price for regular unleaded was still $3.79 a gallon -- and yes, I went out after 1:00 a.m. ET, in case the rumor started with someone on Central Time.

Does this gas rumor-mongering sound a bit familiar? If you've lived in Columbus for a few years, it should. We've just passed three years since the great gas panic, fueled sparked by rumors that gas stations across the city were about to either close or begin rationing [1 Sep 05]. Neither of those things happened, and prices soon dropped to around two dollars a gallon. Wow, that seems like decades ago....

This time, the speculation about gas prices came from a couple of sources. I'm told Federal Express told all Columbus drivers to fill up their trucks Thursday afternoon, because fuel might go up 60 cents a gallon. Like the old slogan says, they were absolutely positively saving money overnight.

Then a gas truck driver refilled the storage tanks at a downtown station, and reported the actual price hike might be as high as $1.25 a gallon. Now there's an inside source who ought to know, right?! Well, unless he's been in his truck all day listening to loose-lipped radio announcers....

Some people apparently heard the rumors early, as long lines for gas were reported Thursday afternoon in downtown Columbus and Auburn. Somehow I suspect the long lines of cars will disappear this weekend - especially in the drive-through lanes at restaurants such as Captain D's.

Unlike three years ago, there's actually some news to support the rumors. Wholesale gas prices have jumped since Wednesday from the three-dollar level to nearly five dollars a gallon. Yet crude oil futures prices dropped Thursday to around $101 a gallon. I hope this isn't some strange plot for those two prices to meet in the middle, around 50 bucks.

Some people I know call the wholesale gas price "speculative" - and it's admittedly jumped due to concern about Hurricane Ike. The storm is on a course to make landfall in the Houston area tonight. And you know it's a serious storm, when a major college football team in Houston moves its weekend game all the way to Dallas.

(But even in that part of the country, some people may be panicking. Oklahoma State moved up its Saturday kickoff time because of Ike - as if people expect half of Texas will be washed into the Gulf of Mexico.)

The concern along the Texas coast is that Hurricane Ike could damage some important oil refineries. A couple already have closed as a precaution -- heeding the old maxim, "Better oily than late."

This concern also has spread rumors of gasoline shortages as far as east Tennessee -- rumors which do NOT seem to be true right now. After all, METRA has yet to take the extreme step of announcing plans for Sunday bus service.

You may recall Hurricane Katrina disrupted some oil pipeline service for the Columbus area. That was one factor in the 2005 gas panic. At least this time, any potential trouble could be at the source - but then again, will repair crews be able to afford driving to the damage?

We'll see over the weekend if the rumors turned out to be dead wrong, or mistimed by a few hours. But suppose they're true - and gas costs close to five dollars a gallon in Columbus for a few days. Will local web sites have to add new features? For instance, new price checks for walking shoes and Segways?

E-MAIL UPDATE: Enough about gasoline -- let's talk about the cars themselves....

Hi Richard

I came across this today.... and i wanted to let you know something.

"The government is urging owners of 5 million recalled Ford vehicles to bring them to dealerships to repair a cruise control switch system that has been tied to engine fires."

The repair is them taking cruise control off your vehicle. Thats not repairing thats removing. I got ripped off I paid for the cruise control. O they they told me I would be notified when I could come back down there to have it replaced. Thats been over a year ago. But Im not holding my breath because I was also told that I would be notified when I could get something done about me having to replace my Intake Manifold. When I replaced mine there was a recall on the intake manifold I had but it was only good for police cars and taxi cabs.I was told that I would be notifed when the general public was. My car was purchased from an estate and the recall notice never came. I contacted Ford/Mercury asking that I be allowed to take advantage of the recall. I received an absolute NO.

So all and all I am out 600 bucks for a nylon/plastic intake manifold and no cruise control.

Sorry to rant to you but im mad at Ford.

feel free to correct all of my grammatical mistakes. Thanks

Sam

That's OK, Sam - in most cases, we strive to post messages exactly the way we receive them. They make the blog more like a fun puzzle for middle school English students.

Have you driven a Ford lately, Sam? Or is it more like Ford has driven YOU - driven you batty, that is?

I come from a family background which preferred Chevrolets over Fords. So when I bought my current humble Honda, there was a bit of explanation to do - such as assuring relatives it really WAS made at a factory in Pennsylvania.

But my current car does NOT have cruise control. I may have mentioned here before how challenging that can be on long road trips. Get out of the car after hours of pressure on the right foot, and some people might think I'd ridden side-saddle on a horse all day.

Our next message is about Columbus radio -- but NOT the kind most people hear:

Richard,

With all the news about law enforcement on your site, can you mention ScanMuscogee.com? The site is an offspring of ScanAmerica.us, but the local feed provider needs more visitors to donate toward the purchase of a new digital scanner in order to continue the feed (Columbus is planning to switch radio systems very soon). Features such as the archive are great. When you see something interesting occur in the local news, go back and listen to the radio traffic around that time to find out what really happened.

Thanks

I didn't realize Columbus was about to switch to "digital radio" for police scanners. Of course, I thought they were somewhat digital all along. You pressed your digit on a button, to change from one frequency to the next.

We actually mentioned "ScanMuscogee" here last fall [26 Nov 07] - but we admittedly didn't hear anything along the lines of police officers possibly beating up people at the Muscogee County Jail. Most officers have enough brains NOT to press the button to talk at times like that. But then, they might be busy wielding a nightstick with both hands.

Our number of unique visitors is now up 28 percent from last year. To advertise to our readers, 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: 1182 (+ 39, 3.4%)

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.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.

11 SEP 08: JOSE, DON'T YOU SEE?

This day means a variety of things to many people. It can even mean things which have nothing to do with terrorist attacks. For one Columbus businessman, it's the anniversary of a public confession. And for a refreshing change, this has nothing to do with local car lots....

This BLOG EXCLUSIVE is the result of a recent e-mail - one which had amazing timing:

Richard. I came across your blog while doing a Goggle search for "Jose Ricci". Oddly (but not surprising) it looks like the guy was indicted for embezzlement or something to that effect. However, I could not find anything on your blog or the ledger enquirer site saying what came of the charges. Do you know what happened?

The reason for my "Search" was to find the guy's phone number as he seems to be hiding from me regarding a business matter. Luckily for me, no services or money exchanged hands so I'm just out some time and aggravation.

As it happens, today marks one year since Jose Ricci pleaded guilty to "theft by taking" in Muscogee County Court. But we've learned Ricci has yet to go to jail for it, and he has yet to repay all the money he stole. So Ricci may not be hiding from our writer - it may simply be a matter of first-in first-out accounting.

For those who came in late: Jose Ricci was a rising star in Columbus's Hispanic business community. He started "Ritmo Latino Radio" long before Viva 1460 came along, and had a nightclub and monthly newspaper to go with it. Ritmo Latino even was singled out for praise by former Mayor Bob Poydasheff in a city annual report. Then Ricci was arrested, and Poydasheff didn't make that mistake again.

Jose Ricci also worked in the catering side of the Columbus Civic Center - and he was indicted in 2004 on charges of taking more than $323,000 from Aramark. Court records show Ricci later remembered only taking about $150,000. If that's true, that's still a pretty large gratuity....

We checked the Muscogee County court records Wednesday, and found more than two years of procedures passed before Jose Ricci entered his guilty plea last 11 September. Several times attorneys assured judges Ricci would enter a plea, but some sort of details had to be worked out first. Finally one key detail was resolved - when Ricci pleaded guilty in English.

"It was a bad decision," Jose Ricci told Judge Bobby Peters in entering his plea last September. He wanted to accept a business proposal, and banks told him he would need to wait 60 to 90 days to gain approval for a loan. So in the old-fashioned cooking tradition, we can say Ricci needed the dough - so he reached out his hands to grab it.

Defense attorney Stephen Hyles said Jose Ricci had repaid about $55,000 of the $150,000 he has stolen. Judge Bobby Peters was unimpressed, commenting: "So he probably has a 100 in a drawer.... still." Well, maybe not - not if Ricci hasn't repaid the balance by now. And especially not if he had investments in sub-prime housing.

The assistant prosecutor handling the case asked for Jose Ricci's sentencing to be deferred, while he tried to repay the remaining $95,000. Judge Bobby Peters was skeptical of this as well. It sounded to him like the District Attorney was willing to trade restitution for jail time. Yet that usually works well in the game of Monopoly....

So the sentencing of Jose Ricci was deferred last 11 September - and it's still deferred today. Assistant District Attorney Shelley Faulk told your blog Wednesday he still hasn't repaid all the money. Faulk was not at liberty to tell me the exact amount Ricci owes. After all, that might change the mysterious amount of city reserve funds.

Shelley Faulk says with several major criminal cases resolved, the District Attorney's office plans to turn its attention back to Jose Ricci. She told me a motion for a new sentencing hearing should be filed within a couple of weeks. The patience of prosecutors has run out - long after most people would have applied for an appearance on TV before Judge Joe Brown.

The District Attorney's office apparently was willing to show mercy toward Jose Ricci. But the idea of paying your way out of a jail sentence may not sit well with some people - such as the construction workers who hope to win the contract for jail expansion.

E-MAIL UPDATE: We stopped by federal court as well Wednesday - because of how one reader responded to a recent investigative series in the Ledger-Enquirer....

Looks like Columbus High administration is in a mess for not reporting to police the relationship between the teacher and his students If the principal didn't report her suspicions to the police and DFCS why didn't the assistant superintendent make the report? The heat needs to be shared..I wonder if there is a civil suit in progress?

If there is a civil suit involving former Columbus High School teacher James Cypert, we couldn't find out Wednesday. The computer for checking records at the federal courthouse had crashed. Maybe if Columbus High School's principal had used an excuse like that....

James Cypert is serving a one-year sentence for sexual assault. But the newspaper's series reveals Columbus High principal Susan Bryant was nearly arrested as well last year, for not reporting rumors about Cypert's conduct to police. A two-year time limit on those cases had expired - a "statute of limitations" matching how long most high school graduates remember algebra equations.

We've also heard again from the reader who inspired our current Big Blog Question -- and read what we wrote Monday about it:

Dear Blogger,

Would you prefer we use the words: "Women's Movement"? We like the term "Women's Liberation" because it is the last surviving remnant of the pure intentions to remove the shackles women have faced. And, btw, women need liberation from the fight as Palin fights it, because she is still caught up in the male vs. female model of progress. "Tough Girl" is not the model we need young girls to emulate. The VP candidate, redneck-beauty queen, looks like a guitar and a beer are just waiting for her at the logger's bar. She could do Hollywood with her perfect timing/pitch and her self described "pit-bull" attitude.

However, Britney and the Hiltonesque aside, she is almost an embarrassment to the gender as an historic prototypic leader. Oh, well, such is the lot of women, always accepting second best- just more of the same.

From "The Female Eunich" to Helen Girlie Brown's Cosmopolitan view of the world, with her slam dunk of virginity, we think there is a more refined method of dealing with leadership within the female gender--a womanly way- not a manly way. But, the "Female Mystique" has encountered gamesmanship in the Republican Party, with its catapult of the "Sacred Blood" through a new cycle. The GOP has taken our chance to shine and thrown it away in a dice throw with a Redneck Smart Alerk ----She at one, and the same time, uses her gender & traditional platform to get elected "with lipstick, hockey mom, and pit bull references" --- All are based on traditional values, while she is exhibiting the opposite. She places her vulnerable pregnant 17 year old on the world stage, at her most vulnerable time, rather than sheltering her. The first prototypic female leader, VP candidate, whose life is a contradiction of traditional values----i.e., the exhibition of the pregnant daughter at the convention, and the refusal to stay with and nurture a special needs infant--preferring instead to meet a selfish ambitious goal, leaves us old world feminists to say, the fight has progressed but she is in a time warp sna-fu.

The potential new VP, who has such an appetite for blood sport, may carry out political escapades with public favor and party pport, but her blood thirty attitude, with all of its vulgar implications, will not inspire gentle refinement for our young girls as they break their glass ceilings.

Perhaps I'm seeing things the wrong way, but I see plenty of liberated women these days. As in two Columbus Councilors, at least two state representatives with Muscogee County in their districts -- not to mention the single women who feel liberated by not dating me.

Some of the points in this e-mail were suggested to us as possible Big Blog Question last week. In fact, if we had posted every proposed question, we would have been asking about nothing but Sarah Palin until Election Day. I'll leave that sort of fixation for magazines like Cosmopolitan....

A lack of time (and perhaps a measure of good sense) keeps me from commenting further on this - and we need to wrap up a busy Wednesday in the news:

+ Synovus announced it will cut more than 600 positions company-wide. Chairman Richard Anthony says at least 100 Columbus employees already are aware their jobs will be cut - but I think Wachovia Bank will have enough good sense to avoid putting out banners welcoming their checking accounts.

(Did I hear it right - the Synovus cuts are part of a program called "Project Optimus?" I heard at least one person suggest that title was a bit too - well, you know - too optimus-tic.)

+ Capital One announced its Greenpoint Mortgage customer center near Bradley Park Drive will close by the end of the year, with a cut of 220 jobs. What's in THEIR wallets? Maybe some small debit cards as parting gifts?

+ Circle K officials explained gas prices jumped sharply this week because the company's costs suddenly went up 30 cents a gallon. I didn't know that many tanker delivery trucks were running on bald tires....

+ Atlanta's Mayor showed off new "homeless meters" to be installed downtown. They're like parking meters, except you put money in them for charities instead of giving handouts to beggars. I can see the next step in this battle now - panhandlers standing around the meters, offering to put coins in the slot for you.

Our number of unique visitors is now up 28 percent from last year. To advertise to our readers, 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: 1143 (+ 46, 4.2%)

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.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.

10 SEP 08: PARTLY CLOUDY DOWNTOWN

If you think that's the Columbus weather report - well, that was right for awhile Tuesday afternoon. In fact, it became so cloudy downtown that it appeared rain might fall. But very little is raining on Mayor Jim Wetherington's parade these days....

Mayor Jim Wetherington broke a 5-5 tie on Columbus Council, and voted down a proposed expansion of duties for the Public Safety Advisory Commission. It will NOT have investigative powers, will NOT look into possible misconduct - and we hope the members enjoy their anonymous breakfast meetings at Ruth Ann's Restaurant.

The mayor explained changing the Public Safety Advisory Commission into a "Review Commission" would cast "a dark cloud" over Columbus public safety. Of course, this explains why dining out has dropped sharply since the Ledger-Enquirer began doing restaurant reviews.

Did you notice all the law officers in the audience at the Columbus Council meeting? Either they were very interested in Tuesday's vote, attempting to put quiet pressure on Councilors - or the enforcement of that five-minute time limit for public speaking is about to increase.

Randy Robertson with the Fraternal Order of Police told WRBL a Pubic Safety Review Commission is a wrong idea, especially since Columbus has one of the "most professional" police forces in the country. Compared with Hurtsboro, almost any police force could make that statement.

It was Councilor Julius Hunter who proposed turning the Public Safety Advisory Commission into a review panel. He said people don't seem to understand his purpose for this idea. I mean, besides a possible campaign for mayor in 2010....

Julius Hunter noted in other cities, a public commission reviews controversial public safety cases before an internal investigation is finished. He wanted the public review to follow an internal examination. - which truly would turn the process inside-out, wouldn't it?

Bill Madison of the Columbus NAACP says he was pleased that the Columbus Council vote on a Public Safety Review Commission wound up in a 5-5 deadlock. Now THIS is a change. After the way the Kenneth Walker case ended, Madison is happy simply to get something close to what he wants.

But this is yet another case where "The Chief" came to the side of Columbus law enforcement. Jim Wetherington has done this so often in the last two years, I won't be surprised if the city's cable TV channel begins showing reruns of "Law and Order."

People in several states and at least three countries are reading our new blog about poker and life. Visit "On the Flop!"

E-MAIL UPDATE: Maybe police officers should have filled last week's Council meeting as well. At least that's what this message suggests....

Missing Minutes in the Tape

Did the Sept. 2, 2008 Columbus Consolidated Government Council meeting have a speaker who threatened activists as she left the podium? Please view the tapes. You can see it on the televised portions as well as the on line.

After the lady delivered words about God and respect- admonishing the three activists who preceded her, as she walked from the podium she said, "And may I say its best to do what I said. It's dangerous if not."

Then the tape blacks out--- what did she say to the activists at the moment the tape blacked out, for a minute?

An Activist said "Is that a threat?"

She said, "Yes."

He said "I cannot believe you are threatening me."

She said, "Well, I am."

Reportedly, She often sits with Judy Thomas, the Mayor's right hand gal, and she IMPULSIVELY JUMPED TOWARD AND HUGGED Smyre (an exec on bank) and C. Hugley when they were getting their much deserved recognitions at council meeting.

Could the mayor be using her, an unusual person, with whom he might have plausible deniability, to issue a threat to the activists who have for so long been a thorn in his side? Simultaneously, Robert became very friendly with the activist, whom he has been seen to shout at outside council. Interesting!

All of this when:

1. The activist brought forward info on the tax exemptions being for 100% rather than 50% by inflating value amounts for businesses by 100%, so that they got 100% taxes in reality, though it looks like 50%.

2. At the same time the activist was pounding CB&T for the Aspire and Compucredit mess in which NY state threw Steve Melton out of the state, to show their greed.

3.******You will note that the activist also noted that CB&T got the city contract for reserves and that the city manager would not provide the interest rate in the council meeting when the activist repeatedly asked for it. CB&T should be paying the city-- interest on the reserves but the City Manager refused to provide the interest rate at council. Could it be that they are paying bare minimum when competitors might have paid much more. There was a contract for millions---where is the interest rate?

Can the blog get the interest rate the city is being paid for the reserves by CB&T? There is a contract-would it be in the contract?

Since Judy Thomas indeed was sitting nearby, we called the Executive to the Mayor Tuesday for her perspective. She told me the mysterious woman is Ollie Tarver - a retired school teacher who is NOT a city employee. I wonder if she's felt the urge to hug any school board members in recent months.

The way Judy Thomas heard it, Ollie Tarver turned to Paul Olson and declared: "God's gonna get you for being ugly to the Council members." So perhaps that was a threat - only from one of Tarver's "Higher-Ups."

(But I can understand why this writer was shocked by Ollie Tarver's spontaneous hugging. After all, Carolyn Hugley's husband was right there in the room watching it all....)

We calked the city Finance Department Tuesday as well, but the "people in authority" were in meetings. They never called us back about the reserve fund -- but depending on how it's set up, the interest rate might be subject to market conditions. For instance, investments in Alaska oil companies look pretty good right now....

And speaking of oil:

I just cannot believe where it is headed. It has been going down hill before "Gustav" and still going down today. if you lokk at http://www.georgiagasprices.com/ and http://www.alabamagasprices.com/ we are in another complete world. What gives.

Downhill?! From the complaints I read and heard Tuesday, Columbus gas prices are going up. It's as if dealers heard Thomas Friedman's warnings about global warming at the Jim Blanchard Leadership Forum, and decided this is their last chance to make a profit before the entire city buys electric cars.

One man told me Tuesday if crude oil prices have dropped from $140 a barrel to $104, gas prices should go down by a similar amount. Before you jump to conclusions - this man actually knew his math. He was NOT calling for a $60 fill-up to cost $24.

This man's point was that crude oil prices have dropped 25 percent, so gas prices should do the same - and fall to about three dollars a gallon, compared with the four-dollar highs of June. Aw, c'mon! After all the ridiculous increases of this year, should you really expect gas prices to become logical now?

I'd like to think there's a lag of several days, when it comes to local gas prices. By the weekend, we might see the impact of a recent slump in oil futures. But some of us filled our tanks LAST weekend, thinking ahead about what Hurricane Ike might do in the Gulf of Mexico. We stayed home and saved money - while the grumblers will have to drive to Huntsville for savings.

With the research question count down to two, we'll stop the e-mails there and move to other Tuesday news:

+ Rep. Calvin Smyre held a campaign kickoff media event at the Columbus Democratic headquarters. Smyre promises to work for a mass transit system across Georgia - and in the meantime, I can't wait to see him head for Atlanta next January on a Greyhound bus.

+ Muscogee County Sheriff Ralph Johnson opened his campaign headquarters on 13 SUP>th Street. His election web site allows you to order a yard sign - as opposed to other law officers, who might offer to go 50-50 on a box of doughnuts.

+ The Opelika-Auburn News reported someone stole a truck from an Auburn business last week, which was loaded with 100 fire hydrants. The truck was found, but the 100 hydrants remain missing - and somewhere, there's one Dalmatian that's very upset right now.

+ The nonprofit playground-building agency "KaBoom" named Columbus one of this year's 67 "Playful Cities" in the U.S. This is a nice-sounding honor - but I have this fear some clubs on Victory Drive will take it in a different direction.

+ Rabbi Max Roth of Shearith Israel Synagogue told WRBL he may follow Dothan's example, and place ads in other cities encouraging Jewish families to move to Columbus. But Roth admits his synagogue can't afford to offer them $50,000 - and besides, the families will be sad to discover most of the barbecue restaurants emphasize pork.

+ Instant Message to the people living on Terminal Court in Columbus: I heard a friend say Tuesday she absolutely would NOT want to live on a street with that name. And I certainly would never think about opening a funeral home there.

Our number of unique visitors is now up 28 percent from last year. To advertise to our readers, 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: 1097 (+ 48, 4.6%)

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.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.

9 SEP 08: CASTLE KEEP?

Columbus Council could vote today on a proposal renaming the "Public Safety Advisory Commission," and giving it the power to conduct investigations. Based on the number of probing questions our blog gets, the commission would have plenty to do - and we never hear from Bill Madison at the NAACP.

BLOG EXCLUSIVE: Your blog confirmed Monday that two Columbus police officers are the subject of an internal investigation, which might involve lying about their actions. The incident in question occurred in January - so I suppose you can start an office guessing game, about whether this will be resolved before the election.

Major Lem Miller with the Columbus Police told me officer Roscoe Castle faces a complaint of "excessive use of force." Of course, that phrase can mean a lot of things. Some people consider it excessive force when a four-year-old is spanked for refusing to be quiet.

The second officer under investigation in this complaint is Jeff Fox. Yes, I'll confess it -- during my interview with Lem Miller, I tried to call him Foxworthy....

We should note Jeff Fox is NOT accused of excessive force. Lem Miller said Fox is accused of being in "the immediate vicinity" of the incident. I think traditional Southerners call this by another term -- shouting distance.

Lem Miller did NOT call Jeff Fox a witness to Roscoe Castle's possible excessive force. Miller indicated Fox was simply close to it. For all we know, he might have turned his head away - which I guess would mean he'd be looking out for more than number-one.

Lem Miller declined to go into the details of what happened on 19 January. But a source with police connections tells me a handcuffed man was beaten at an entrance to the Muscogee County Jail. I think the C.I.A. normally waits until a prisoner is in a cell, before applying this sort of pressure....

This source also claims Roscoe Castle and Jeff Fox lied, during a police department investigation of this complaint. "I can't comment on that," Lem Miller replied when we asked about that detail. He's wise enough to realize you don't lie about whether or not somebody else lied.

So why is this still under investigation, eight months after the alleged incident happened and seven months after a complaint was filed? Lem Miller heads what he calls a "fact-finding unit" inside Columbus Police -- and he admits the detailed review of the Zachary Allen case "got us behind." Then it ended with the fire chief getting it in the.... uh, well, you know....

On top of that, Lem Miller says the fact-finding of this excessive force complaint was interrupted in the spring by the Doctor's Hospital shootings. So please, everyone - if you want justice done for our law officers, don't do anything to them before that happens.

Lem Miller says he's preparing a summary of findings, in this excessive force complaint. He told me it will be submitted to Chief Ricky Boren "shortly," but he didn't want to set a firm date for it. Take that, you critics - the Police Chief is more tolerant than a lot of college professors would be.

But hold on -- does this lengthy wait actually make an argument FOR a renamed "Public Safety Review Commission," checking people's complaints? Lem Miller indicated he sees no need for it. "We thoroughly investigate our cases," he told me. Of course, that's more or less what the John McCain campaign said....

"We try to police our own," Lem Miller added. That's a good idea, of course -- and Don Siegelman probably wishes the Democrats had done that with him.

As we researched this story Monday, we were surprised to find a web site where you can leave opinions about law officers. It's called "Rate My Cop" - and Jeff Fox happens to be among the 14 Columbus police officers listed on it. While Fox is not rated, Sheriff Ralph Johnson is rated "poor." OK, which opposing candidate filled out this survey?

Oh yes - the source who alerted us to this investigation wanted us to find out why the Ledger-Enquirer hasn't mentioned it yet. I don't claim to speak for the newspaper, and I really don't know anyone at the newspaper. But then again, I never intended when I started this blog to get to know majors at the police department....

We only have time for one investigation a day right now, so the three e-mail requests near the top of our InBox will have to wait. In the meantime, let's review some Monday headlines:

+ Alabama Attorney General Troy King told WRBL he's reviewing the Hurtsboro charter case. With the size of his staff, King might be able to finally corner Mayor Sandra Tarver-Yoba and ask more than one question.

+ The Jim Blanchard Leadership Forum began at the Trade Center. The opening day ended with a dinner called "A Taste of Uptown" - and after smelling chocolate chip cookies while I jogged across the Dillingham Street Bridge, there had better not have been any left over.

+ The Muscogee County School Board was told by the end of this term, the district will have more than 50 16-year-olds attending middle school. These football redshirt programs seem to start younger all the time....

+ Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich announced a new fitness program for Muscogee County seventh-graders. The "Be Well Project" will have them track an online "walk" to Microsoft headquarters in Washington state. I'm guessing they'll be discouraged from having "Apples" along the way....

+ The Associated Press reported a synagogue in Dothan is offering Jewish families as much as $50,000 to move to the city for five years. Hmmmm - peanuts ARE kosher, aren't they?

+ Instant Message to the United States Tennis Association: I think one Columbus TV station would like to thank you. By rescheduling your men's singles final for 5:00 p.m. Monday, you gave Barb Gauthier a bigger opening-day audience than anyone expected.

Our number of unique visitors is now up 28 percent from last year. To advertise to our readers, 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: 1049 (+ 41, 4.1%)

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.

© 2003-08 Richard Burkard, all rights reserved.