WMCC News

FLASH!! WMCC News has moved!

2006-07-30T16:15:00.000-04:00

Approaching its one year anniversary, WMCC News has decided to sell its little house on Blogspot Avenue and move to larger accommodations on Wordpress Boulevard. In other words, we’re changing our web site and web address to www.wmccnews.com. No more “blogspot” (whatever that is). Just WMCC News and a .com at the end.

As a result, this site will not be maintained further.

Please visit the new site, add it to your favorites and let’s continue to scour the news for the ridiculous and upsetting in Macon, Georgia. See you at the new digs!

Macon-Bibb planning and zoning drop-by bitching session ongoing until 6 p.m.

2006-07-27T15:22:00.000-04:00

The Macon-Bibb County Planning & Zoning Commission is inviting the public to drop by its offices on the 10th floor of the Southern Trust Building today and give them hell about all the decisions made by P&Z which may have ticked anyone off.

The zoning staff will serve tea and cookies and invite disgruntled citizens to use abusive language to members of the zoning office's staff without fear of retribution.

"We feel that we are accountable to the public," Executive Director Vernon Ryles said. "If someone doesn't like a decision we've made, we want them to know that they can take it out on us big time."

The public is invited to participate in a public flogging of the zoning staff between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. today. That will be followed by two hours of appointed members of the zoning commission walking naked on a bed of hot coals on Cherry Street between Second and Third Streets.

During this annual "Day of Contrition," any member of the public is invited to submit any rezoning petition of their choosing, however numbsculled, and the zoning board will be required to approve it and no one can do a thing about it.

Hm-m-m. What would someone want to put on your street today?

Honey, what's on GPTV this Monday night?

2006-07-25T20:17:00.000-04:00

"Well, Arthur let's see what's Channel 8 on for Monday, July 31st."

6:00 PM The News Hour with Jim Lehrer
7:00 PM Live Democratic Lieutenant Governor debate between Greg Hecht and Jim Martin
7:30 PM 4TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT LIVE DEBATE BETWEEN CYNTHIA MCKINNEY AND HANK JOHNSON!!
8:00 PM Antiques Roadshow
9:00 PM History detectices
10:00 PM Great Museums
11:00 PM Tavis Smiley
11:30 PM Nightly Business Report

Prescient questions of the day

2006-07-25T11:07:00.000-04:00

1. Should Jack Ellis run against City Councilwoman Phillipino Mullis, Congressman Jim Marshall or President John Kufuor?

2. Who should be responsible for managing $6.2 million in federal funds meant to extend the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail: (a) the City of Macon (b) Bibb County (c) Newtown Macon (d) the Nuwaubian Nation of Moors?

3. Did the fact that only 27.8% of the registered voters went to the polls have anything to do with the fact that the voter ID bus broke down in Alpharetta?

4. Mayor Ellis reassured city retirees concerned about losing their city insurance. If Mayor Ellis reassured you, would you feel reassured?

5. Just how many times can HBO show "Alien vs Predator" anyhow?

Housing Authority issues virus warning

2006-07-22T09:13:00.000-04:00

The Macon Housing Authority has announced that a potentially deadly virus has been discovered. If untreated, the "C. Jack" virus could infect and destroy the Authority.

"Look what it did to the City of Macon," said Jay Montcrief, a political viral specialist. "C. Jack came in as an ordinary looking attachment to an election six years ago and the city hasn't been able to get rid of it since. It's infected relations with the county, eaten up the city's reserves, and destroyed its travel budget.

"The virus even threatened Elaine Lucas, which no one had dared to do before. But she slapped the dog mess out of it and the virus wormed its way back to its office."

Montcrief explained further, "This C. Jack virus reinforces a basic anti-viral approach : Do not open any unfamiliar election attachment."

The Macon Housing Authority is counting on its last line of defense to the deadly C. Jack virus - the new Strong City Council anti-virus software program. But Montcrief is not convinced.

"We think City Council has its own viruses."

"Ellis calls on housing board to quit posts" [The Telegraph 7/22/06]

Headlines from the Georgia governor's race

2006-07-20T20:35:00.000-04:00

"Perdue announces state budget surplus." (The Telegraph, July 20, 2006)

"Taylor eats a whole smoked Boston pork butt." (Georgia Barbeque News, July 20, 2006)

(Click on image to enlarge)

Peace, brother

2006-07-19T20:54:00.000-04:00

The "do your own thang" malady has spread from City Hall to the courthouse. First it was City Councilperson Phillipino Mullis who decided that she'd just take off for the South Pacific for six months.

Now it's Bibb County Commissioner Bert Bivins who has decided that he'll attend county commission meetings only when he wants to.

There's one thing that appears to get Bert's interest, however:

...Bivins has taken an active interest in just one piece of county business: a plan to establish a butterfly sanctuary at a county park at Lake Tobesofkee. ("Commissioner's absence upsets balance of Bibb government," The Telegraph 7/18/06.)

Elected life is tough, what with having to make all those pesky decisions. Butterflies are free. Why shouldn't Bert be free, too?

Procrastination question of the week

2006-07-18T22:32:00.000-04:00

Dear Dr. Procratination:

I am a tax assessor in a middle sized Southern town that lies beside a river with an Indian name that has a mayor who is a part time resident. I waited too late to get my county wide reassessment started. I hired a national reassessment firm to help me but they based reassessment amounts on Los Angeles property values.

Now the city, county and board of education are threatening to file suit to throw all my hard work work out just so they can start to collect taxes.

I really want to overcome my procrastination, if I only knew how. Do you have any suggestions for me?

A Reassessment Mess

Dear "Mess":

Few people realize this, but the key to combating procrastinating is not waiting to the last minute to get things done.

The key to that is not letting other things get in your way. For example, did you waste any time in filling any assessor positions because you were angry over an old friend being fired? Learn to control your anger. Take a yoga class, or let someone hypnotize you, or repeat to yourself 1,000 times, "Assessments are OK just as they are, assessments are OK just as they are...."

You'll feel better and so will everybody else.

Fry-Day

2006-07-18T13:29:00.000-04:00

Let Ed Grisamore show you how to fry an egg.

What, me vote?

2006-07-17T21:27:00.000-04:00

Vote early. (And often.)

Top ten reasons candidate Cynthia Knight didn't pay her property taxes

2006-07-16T15:03:00.000-04:00

Macon City Council candidate Cynthia Knight owes $10,338.59 back taxes on property at 636 Pio Nono Avenue for the years 2003, 2004 and 2005. Why didn't Cynthia pay her property taxes?

10. It's so far to the tax office.

9. Those people in the tax commissioner's office never make the right change.

8. If they didn't make me pay taxes in 2003 and 2004, why should I have to in 2005?

7. I am renting the property to the City of Macon and am protected by the doctrine of sovereign immunity.

6. When Charles Dudley talked me into running for this job he didn't say anything about me having to pay taxes.

5. I lost those little envelopes I was supposed to use to mail in my tax payments.

4. If I can just get by until I am elected on Tuesday then I can tell the tax commissioner to kiss my grits!

3. City council members make the rules so they don't have to follow the rules.

2. As a loyal Republican, this is my way of protesting the fact that we are overtaxed.

And the number 1 reason Cynthia Knight didn't pay her taxes (drum roll) ...

1. The City of Macon ain't paying me enough rent to pay taxes. If they'll raise the rent, then I'll think about paying my taxes.

Here's how to get consolidation

2006-07-15T22:34:00.001-04:00

We're back ...

2006-07-15T22:34:00.000-04:00

... and it's hot as hell down here!!

Maconga from afar

2006-07-13T12:17:00.000-04:00

As I write this from a borrowed computer in the basement of the public library in Saluda, N.C. (I'm trying to get away from the damn things for awhile), it's hard to keep up with things in dear old Macon, Jawja. A couple of things do stand out, however:

1. I love the story about City Council candidate Cynthia Knight renting a building to the City of Macon, taking the City of Macon's rent money and then not paying taxes which are owed as far back as 2003. And then Knight has the (fill in the appropriate part of the male anatomy) to run for election to Charles Dudley's vacated seat.

But here's the best quote from Travis Fain's article in this morning's Soon-To-Be-McClatchy-Telegraph:

Knight said she doesn't think the tax issue will affect the election.

"Why should it?" she said.

That's right. It's certainly somebody else's fault that the taxes didn't get paid. But City Council may be the wrong place for her. She ought to be the Mayor's executive assistant.

2. There sure is a whole lot of shootin' and killin' going on down there.

3. We spent yestarday in Charlotte, N.C., the hometown of Bank of America and Wachovia Bank. It's a town with a lot of money, as is evidenced by the fact that it's able to spend $1 million to install automatic checkout equipment in its public libraries!

But notwithstanding all the cash up there, Charlotte and Mecklenburg County were able to figure out something a long time ago that Macon and Bibb County haven't been able to yet - they learned how to have just one government.

Why can't we?

Bibb Sheriff announces ceremony to commemorate new jail being already filled up with criminals

2006-07-11T12:35:00.000-04:00

Bibb County Sheriff Jerry Modena invites the media to a “filled up” ceremony at the new Bibb County Jail addition at the corner of Second and Hawthorne Streets this Wednesday, July 12 at 11:00AM.

A “filled up” ceremony means that the new jail under construction is already filled with hardened criminals before it has even been finished.

Sheriff Jerry Modena said, “We celebrate the completion of this new jail addition. I congratulate the criminal element in Macon and Bibb County who have worked hard to fill this new jail up. We look forward to the next expansion of our wonderful prison facility.”

Found: A solution for consolidation

2006-07-10T13:21:00.000-04:00

Michael Cass, ex-Maconite and current city hall reporter for the Nashville Tennessean, reports that the intestinal blockage to consolidation for Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee, was the fear by local politicians that they would lose their jobs. So, they found a way around that by creating a "Metro Council" composed of - I am not making this up - 40 members!

Macon and Bibb County have been going about this the wrong way. A combined Macon City Council and Bibb County Board of Commissioners shouldn't have fewer members than at present - it should have more. A lot more.

Let's see. Fifteen present city council members less two vacancies plus five county commissioners times two - that would make 36 members. Nobody would lose their job and everyone's brother or sister could get a position on the new 36-member Macon-Bibb County Cosmopolitan Confederation of Consolidated Command and Control.

Our musical heritage would be reflected in the shortened version of the new bodys name - MB and the Six C's.

Books I am reading on vacation

2006-07-10T12:59:00.000-04:00

"Last Minute Packing: How To Survive Two Weeks On Two Pairs of Underwear"
"Close Quarters: On The Road With Your Wife"
"Are We There Yet?"
"Where In The Hell Are We?"
"I Miss Jack And I Can't Wait Until We Both Get Back Home"
"Cutting Loose: Life Without A Computer"
"Falling Off The Wagon: Finding A Computer To Write This Post"

The best bumper sticker so far: "I Like Cats. They Taste Just Like Chicken."

Today's City Council budget vote from Ward 5

2006-06-30T07:57:00.000-04:00

IT’S CAMPAIGN PROMISES TIME!!!

2006-06-26T21:25:00.000-04:00

It’s time for us to receive all those flashy campaign brochures in the mail that offer to solve all our problems at a single stroke if we’ll just elect So N. So. Real life samples of political promises:

• “Freeze property tax values”
• “End the ad valorem tax!”
• “Eliminate pork barrel spending”
• “Cut taxes and limit spending”
• “Stop illegal immigration”
• “Fight to end illegal immigration”

Right.

Oh, we yearn for a politician who can speak the truth and not just grab what’s in the headlines. Our perfect candidate would have a slightly different slogans:

• “Kill all the cats”
• “Bring thongs to the Ocmulgee Trail”
• “Hire Halliburton to collect the garbage bills”
• “I will stay awake at City Council meetings”
• “Flatulence is the real cause of global warming”
• “If elected, I will put Nu-Way hot dogs in the public lunchrooms”
• "Let's leave the Mayor alone!"

Latest idea from the Liar's Table at Jeneanne's

2006-06-22T13:15:00.000-04:00

Hire the Jones County Board of Commissioners and Gray City Council to come down and fire everybody here, too.

Only 500 days left

2006-06-21T22:30:00.000-04:00

You know what I'm talking about. (Check the Hit the Road Jack-o-Meter.)

Help Wanted

2006-06-21T22:10:00.000-04:00

(This help wanted ad appeared in today’s Telegraph.)

The City of Macon, leading provider of services in the City of Macon, is in search of a Garbage Fee Collector.

Job Summary:

The Garbage Fee Collector will be responsible for, well, collecting garbage fees.

Primary Responsibilities/Objectives:

You will work diligently to identify over 3,000 people who have not paid their garbage fees over the past 10 years, collect over $2 million in unpaid garbage fees from people who may have moved to surrounding counties years ago, and even if they didn’t couldn’t pay that much back garbage fees if they had to, work closely with a mayor and City Council who hate each other’s guts, and establish a system of billing and collection of garbage fees that no one really wants to implement in the first place and which has no leverage with defaulting garbage fee payers except to refuse to pick up their garbage and let it pile up in the street causing a public health problem that you’re going to have to clear up by removing the trash anyway at the public’s expense.

Core competencies:

• Experience with threatening bodily harm to people who don’t pay their bills
• Ability to recognize a computer when you see one
• A thorough understanding of how a telephone book works
• Strong skills in talking trash
• Relatives in the South Macon Mafia

Contact Mayor C. Jack Ellis (478) 751-7170.

Today's asshole quantity forecast for Macon: moderate

2006-06-20T08:26:00.000-04:00

Each day, the state Environmental Protection Division issues an Asshole Quantity Index (AQI) for Metropolitan Macon.

The AQI measures on a scale of 0 to 100 the number of persons you will come in contact with during the day who are likely to be complete assholes.

Today's forecast for Macon ranks as moderate, with an Asshole Quantity Index score of 54.

Macon dumpster fire foils garbage fee collection

2006-06-19T23:34:00.000-04:00

A dumpster set on fire Monday morning was found to contain a list of the 3,000 people who had not paid garbage fees during the past 10 years.

"We were able to save the left hand side of the list," fire fighter Willard Monroe said, "but the right hand side was burned up."

The dumpster was located just behind City hall.

Tell us what happened to your tax appeal

2006-06-19T07:55:00.000-04:00

MaconMeWonder has suggested that appealing taxpayers report to us what's happened to them so far during their appeals process. Good idea.

Let us know how you prepared for your meeting with the tax assessors' office, what happened, whether you were satisfied, and whether you are carrying your appeal to the Board of Equalization.

Spread the joy.

The world's greatest lies

2006-06-16T13:32:00.000-04:00

"Malpractice insurance premiums won't go up any more if you'll will just pass these tort reform laws." (Health insurance companies to state legislators)

"If you'll just pass SPLOST, we won't increase your taxes." (Macon City Council to the voters)

"I'll still love you in the morning." (Angelina Jolie to Brad Pitt)

"I've got to go out of town this weekend." (Jack Ellis to Margarethia Ellis)

A great idea

2006-06-16T13:21:00.000-04:00

Beebee, a long time reader of WMCC News and the hardnosed owner of her own thoughtful blog on local matters, Bibb County Conservative, has an excellent suggestion in a comment she posted today:

I would like to see a published list in the UTBMT of all the names and addresses of those that have not paid for gargage service. In addition, an informative investigation should take place to see if any of these free loaders gave to local campaigns. Report the facts is my motto!

Moreover, let's see if any of those freeloaders ran local campaigns!

Movin' on up

2006-06-16T13:11:00.000-04:00

I'm preparing to move this blog from Blogger to a dedicated domain and to start using Wordpress software to run the site. I've purchased the "www.wmccnews.com" domain name (so we can do away with the "blogspot" that always gets in the way of remembering how to find WMCC News). I've got to wait a little while longer before I can transfer the domain name to my new host, and I'm still working on putting together the new site using Wordpress. It's a learning process that real life keeps getting in the way of.

If perchance there is a Wordpress expert out there somewhere, I'd like to talk to you. Send me an email.

Do they have the balls?

2006-06-15T08:24:00.000-04:00

That's the question Flower Child asks.

City Council IQ Test

2006-06-14T22:42:00.000-04:00

If 3 sanitation workers work 8 hours a day to pick up garbage from 137 houses, 19 of which haven’t been billed for garbage services for 10 years, how many City Council members should be put on garbage trucks to return the garbage and dump it back in the front yards of the 19 houses?

(a) 15 (b) 15 (c) 15 (d) 15

Who would do the best job collecting Macon’s $15 a month garbage fee?

(a) Harley Davidson Biker Club of Lizella
(b) Arvin’s Pawn Shop
(c) Maude McCollough at Jeaneanne’s Restaurant
(d) Anybody but the City of Macon

What phrase best describes City Council’s opinion of Mayor Ellis?

(a) Strong leader
(b) Experienced world traveler
(c) Excellent car saleman
(d) Dirty stinking rat

It's official! Tax assessors urge homeowners to file appeals!

2006-06-14T12:48:00.000-04:00

In a news conference yesterday, Bibb tax assessors chair Alex Habersham said that Bibb County property owners should appeal their assessments if the're not happy with them. Property owners have until June 26 at 5 PM to file appeals of their property assessments.

Watch the entire news conferece conducted by Mr. Habersham provided on the 13WMAZ Eyewitness News website. (Click on "Extended Press Conference. Thank you 13WMAZ.)

(The WMCC News take on the three step appeal process (tax assessors -> Board of Equalzation -> Superior Court): If there's an error in the tax assessors' database (square footage, etc.), there's a good chance that an adjustment will be be made at the tax assessors level. If the appeal is instead based on "valuation" or "uniformity", the tax assessors will deny the appeal and pass the buck up to the Board of Equalzation.)

Don't miss these events

2006-06-13T23:09:00.000-04:00

(Click on image to expand)

Come on, Alberto, make my (lawn's) day

2006-06-13T14:01:00.000-04:00

Don't let Frank Amerson put me on water restriction.

Quote of the day

2006-06-13T05:50:00.000-04:00

"It shows me that they have a certain amount of confidence in our ability to do what is right."

(City Councilman Henry Ficklin, explaining why so few taxpayers showed up at last night's public hearing on the city budget.)

Budget elicits few protests [The Telegraph 6/13/06]

If this keeps up, pretty soon we're going to be talking about some real money

2006-06-12T14:07:00.000-04:00

3,000 people unbilled for garbage services X 12 months per year X $15 per month garbage fee = $540,000 unbilled garbage fees during the past year alone.

Hizzoner has delegated straightening this matter out to City Council. They better straighten this debacle out pronto. Why, that's enough to fund McEllis' travel allowance for an entire year!

IMPORTANT: THE PUBLIC IS INVITED FOR INPUT AT CITY COUNCIL'S BUDGET HEARING TONIGHT AT 6:00 PM. WHO WILL GIVE THE "I'M MAD AS HELL AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE" SPEECH FOR ALL US LITTLE PEOPLE?

Where in the world is C. Jack Ellis going now? The Bahamas!

2006-06-12T12:18:00.000-04:00

Mark Thornton, who was placed on this planet to be a thorn in Jack Ellis' butt, has discovered that Hizzoner will be making yet another trip abroad to share his wisdom with those who haven't gotten to know him yet.

This time, Dr. Ellis will be traveling to the Bahamas to address the 9th Annual CEO Conference. The conference's website notes that "Delegates are expected to benefit from the vision and experience of some of the most respected political, business and professional leaders from the United States, China and the Caribbean". (I guess all that takes place before the mayor arrives.)

According to the its website, Mayor Ellis is a beloved member of the conference:

Last year, Mayor Ellis addressed and attended the conference for the first time, and he noted recently: “I have participated and attended conferences in most parts of the world ... the United States, the Caribbean and Africa. There is a lot of talk about economic empowerment, the CEO Network is the only organization that I have seen to date that is talking it and doing it!”

He's certainly right about the "attended conferences in most parts of the world" part. Of course, after the CEO conference Dr. Jack flies off to Ghana to open that nation's first McEllis restaurant.

A good CEO delegates. Based on that, Mayor Ellis is the best CEO our city's ever had.

Hold the pickles, hold the lettuce, when you're in Ghana you forget us

2006-06-12T08:02:00.000-04:00

Shown here are Ronald McDonald and Mayor Ellis (Ronald's on the left) at a joint announcement of the opening of a McDonald's franchise in Ghana.

The franchise, owned by Ellis World Industries, LLC, will feature local food items, such as goat tail soup, fufu burgers, and french Guyana fries smothered in shito.

(Rumor has it that Mayor Ellis will be traveling to the Bahamas shortly, followed by a trip to Ghana on July 1 for 10 days to open the new restaurant. But we'll be in good hands while he's gone. City Council will be in charge.)

From the WMCC News Consumer Hotline

2006-06-10T07:23:00.000-04:00

How much do you pay for a 411 directory assistance call on your cell phone? As much as $1.49 or more, probably.

Get free cell phone 411 service at 1-800-FREE411 (1-800-373-3411), or 1-800-411-METRO (1-800-411-6387).

1-800-FREE411 features a computerized voice while you talk to a human at 1-800-411-METRO. The only catch with both is that you sometimes have to listen to a 15 second advertisement which pays for the free service. You can connect to the number you're searching for free, too.

P.S.: You can get your cell phone intalled as shown by visiting the Nuwaubian Nation of Moors cellular kiosk at the Macon Mall.

al-Zarqawi and the Booty Papas

2006-06-09T11:31:00.000-04:00

[Thanks to Kiplin Oren]

Garbage trucks to Ghana?!?

2006-06-06T19:33:00.000-04:00

A high ranking City of Macon official disclosed today that the city had donated and shipped two garbage trucks to Ghana.

The official, who prefers to be known as "Anonymous," was sitting at the "Liars' Table" at Jeneanne's downtown. The Liars' Table is a popular locale within the restaurant for local elected officials. insurance agents and real estate brokers.

When asked why the city had shipped two garbage trucks to Ghana, the official responded that our landfill was nearing its capacity and we had to begin shipping our garbage elsewhere.

Oh.

The free garbage pickup "debacle"

2006-06-04T14:26:00.000-04:00

From Travis Fain's article in this morning's Telegraph, here's what we know following the discovery by Mayor and City Council that 3,000 households have been getting free garbage pickups because they have not been on a list for billing purposes:

Mayor and City Council don't know who has not been billed.
They don't know how long they haven't been billed.
They don't know how to figure out who hasn't been billed and for how long.
They don't know how to fix the problem.
They want to raise the millage rate on city property taxes 2.5 mills.

Telling quotes from City Council leaders:

"What? How long has this been going on?" - City Council President ProTem James Timley
"The whole garbage situation in and of itself is a, what's the word ... it's a big debacle...It's not a matter of who caused the debacle, it's just that the debacle needs to be fixed." - City Council President Anita Ponder

There's a silver lining to this debacle, however. Anita learned a new word. Even if no one is to blame.

"3,000 not billed for trash pickup" [The Telegraph 6/4/06]

Have a blessed assessment

2006-06-04T12:50:00.000-04:00

[City Hall image courtesy of Newtown Macon]

The dog that ate itself

2006-06-02T22:28:00.000-04:00

A methaphor: The dog's head is Macon's city council, the foot that acts in an unpredictable manner as if not connected to the rest of the body is Cedrick Jack Ellis, and the bone which dwindles in size as it is chewed up by the dog is - us!

Best obituary nickname of the day

2006-06-02T21:36:00.000-04:00

[The Telegraph 6/2/06]

Let's see ... what happens if enough of you crazy bastards appeal your property tax assessments?

2006-06-02T16:19:00.000-04:00

From Section 48-5-304(a) of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated:

In any year when a complete revaluation or reappraisal program is implemented, the (Georgia Commissioner of Revenue) shall not approve a digest when 5 percent or more of the property by assessed value in dispute is in arbitration or on appeal and 5 percent or more of the number of properties is in arbitration or on appeal.

Questions:

1. What is the total assessed value of real property in Bibb County?

2. What is the total number of properties on the proposed tax digest?

Both of these 5% thresholds would have to be met before the revenue commisisoner would have to throw the digest out.

Of course, no one is suggesting that you appeal your tax assessments ....

A smart guy

2006-06-02T14:46:00.000-04:00

From KAT's Blog:

"Mayor Cialis and his friends want to save Macon

"In this Lorra Lypstick story Mayor Ellis outlined a few items to be dealt with at the Community Leadership Summit at the Douglass Theater. These included public safety, education and teen pregnancy. The mayor said our infrastructure and worker skills were up to snuff. He said there is much work to do to get Macon into the 21st Century.

"I don't like to get personal with politicians but last year didn't someone get sued for child support that fit the name and description of the mayor? What message is this to send to our kids? How about showing up with liquor on your breath at a City Council meeting?

"Education can't get far when the parents of Rutland High School students use filthy language at school officials who discipline their kids. I live in RHS's area and cannot believe these parents are of the same stock that have anchored this community. The point is that parents are the bulk of the problems we face with our schools in Bibb. There has been crass ineptitude exhibited by the Bibb County Board of Education for years and having crud for parents only added fuel to the fire.

"And whom has sent good garbage trucks to Ghana and traveled there on our dime? Small wonder we can't buy decent fire engines and police cars. Not that all of this is the mayor's fault; it is natural that people in Macon have moved further and further outwards with their tax dollars. Macon's City Council let the mayor get away with overspending. They also managed to have a hotel built in the Coliseum parking lot. Yet everyone knows what has happened in the Finance Department.

"Someone needs to press for consolidation- and only if the chief law enforcer is elected. We must also take over our schools and deal with unruly kids. Sharon Patterson has done what she can with whomever and whatever she has to deal with. Our local government needs to not sacrifice public safety to charities, festivals, and a wealthy hospital. We need to fix our infrastructure. Let's try not to destroy our neighborhoods but don't sacrifice safety (eg. Interstate 16 and 75 Project) to the environmentalists. If we have to move Interstate 16 to the foot of Eisenhower Parkway let's do it."

What does a GOP member of the board of tax assessors say about revaluation?

2006-06-02T10:42:00.000-04:00

Maurice Atkinson is (or was as of March this year) vice chairman of the Bibb County Republican Party. He also sits on the Macon-Bibb County Board of Tax Assessors.

He posted a response on the Republican blog Peach Pundit to Erick Erickson's plea that "Maurice, do something!"

Mr. Vacant still on City Council?

2006-06-01T22:20:00.000-04:00

From Mr. Vacant's political campaign website:

"He currently serves as the chairman of the public works and engineering committee, as a member of the public safety committee, as the council’s representative on the Macon Water Authority and he was recently appointed as a board member on the metro area transit study."

http://www.stebinhorne.com/about.cfm

So all this business about him resigning from City Council months ago and not being there to represent Ward V when City Council votes to raise taxes is just a dirty campaign rumor being spread by Mr. Vacant's opposition to discredit him, right? That's not nice.

Be somebody

2006-06-01T07:43:00.000-04:00

The easiest way to file a comment is as "Anonymous", and that's OK. You shouldn't have to go through registration on Blogger to be able to sign your comments. But you might try this: add a name as part of the text of your comment at the end. Your name if you want to, but otherwise something like these:

"Busted in Macon"
"Overtaxed But Undersexed"
"Fat, Dumb and Happy"
"Steve in South Bibb"

Of course, "Anonymous" is always welcome.

Ellis in Wonderland

2006-06-01T07:40:00.000-04:00

(Thanks to "Anonymous" for the idea.)

Watch Mayor Ellis' "summit" on Channel 14

2006-05-31T23:02:00.000-04:00

Mayor Ellis held a "summit" of about 50 concerned citizens Tuesday evening. You can see it broadcast on Channel 14 daily at noon, 4 p.m., 8 p.m., midnight, 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. Tell us about it.

"Ellis 'summit' aims at poverty, education issues" [The Telegraph 5/31/06]

Third graders accused of talking about oral sex reinstated

2006-05-31T18:55:00.000-04:00

The three elementary school students suspended for a day last week have been reinstated. School officials now believe that a teacher misinterpreted what she overheard the children saying.

"I thought I heard them talking about oral sex," third grade teacher Diane Ruttermeier said. "However, I now realize they were saying, 'These new tax assessments really suck.'"

Read this comment, too

2006-05-31T18:50:00.000-04:00

From another (or the same?) "Anonymous" comment:

If you have rental property, and notice that another home on your street that may look like a slum has sold for perhaps way more than you know it is worth then it could be an example of the mortgage fraud that was taking place. Remember the 2005 arrests made in Bibb County where perhaps a property would appraise for $65,000, but the property may have been purchased for $40,000 (actual example from the Parker case in 2005 just one of many). Anytime a purchasor walks away with cash at a home closing you can bet that something is fishy. The ones that were actually caught and prosecuted were just the tip of the iceberg. Just stop and think how many times you have seen signs that say "we will buy your ugly house". Remember that these sales were clever schemes, and many people have not been caught. Another reason for appeal for those readers at no cost! ARMS, illegal mortgage scams, balloon notes, aggressive lending practices, land/home sales where the loans were approved out of state, predatory loans and the lowest mortgage interest rates in forty years have created inflated home prices that are much similar to the Savings and Loans fiasco in the early 90s. Encourage your neighbors and friends to appeal.

Read this reply

2006-05-31T18:47:00.000-04:00

From a reply by "Anonymous" earlier today:

Don't forget that most people do not have a computer in Bibb County! All one needs to do is type or hand write a letter, identify your account number for each parcel of property, put RE: property address such and such, and write your reasons for appeal. By all means do not let the government scare you into not filing because you think it is too complicated! Save a copy of the appeal letter for your own records. If you do not get the results you want then that is when you write for a further appeal for arbitration with the Board of Equalization. At that point, you will be agreeing to pay 1/2 of the court costs. By all means, if your property has outstripped the inflation rate, which ahs average perhaps 2 to 3 % per year, then appeal. Or if your home is old and needs roof repairs, window repairs, then it simply cannot be compared to new home sales! You cannot compare apples to oranges! Do not sit back and be forced out or your largest asset that you have worked hard to pay for! In Virginia, older property owners in the Virginia Beach area were faced with refinancing their homes or selling their homes because taxes have increased by 70% since 2001! Do not allow this government to do the same thing. We are the government, remember it is the People's government, not these yey hoos that get elected to office! Where are the conservatives that we have put into office? Why are they not voicing their opinions about these reassessments? Oh, I know they only know the taxpayer when they need the votes! Remember, APPEAL!!!!!!!!!!

Tax revaluations - building code legends

2006-05-31T14:30:00.000-04:00

When you check your tax revaluation online, look at the "Property Record Card". You need to know what all those symbols and abbreviations (RES02, OFP05, etc.) mean if you're even going to think about appealing your revaluation.

Just go to the Building Code Legends page of the Macon-Bibb County Board of Tax Assessors website.

(Thank you, Alveno Ross.)

Clueless at City Council

2006-05-30T22:13:00.000-04:00

DISTURBING FACT NO. 1: Some members of Macon City Council have lost their clue groove, according to Telegraph editor Charles E. Richardson. After reciting the embarrasing history to date of decisions regarding the placement of the planned hotel to serve the Centreplex, Richardson notes that City Council overrode the mayor's selection of the group that wanted to place the facility across the street from the convention center. Instead, they voted to place the hotel next to the Centreplex. But can they do that?

"Trouble is, some members of council don't have a clue.

"The hotel can't go on the Centreplex property. The city doesn't own it, the Coliseum Authority does, and will continue to own it until the SPLOST pays off the bonds sometime in the next five years. The Coliseum Authority does not want a hotel on its property."

"Make me want to holler" [The Telegraph 5/30/06]

DISTURBING FACT NO.2: This same City Council is in charge of figuring out the city budget.

DISTURBING FACT NO.3: There are 15 of them.

DISTURBING FACT NO.4: They get elected over and over and over.

How big is your tax assessment increase?

2006-05-29T20:47:00.000-04:00

Share your pain. Mine went up 21%. How about yours?

Here's a sampling of others we've heard about:

Mayor Ellis: +57%
Joe Allen: +50%
Charlie Bishop: +11%
Robert H. Gerhardt: +36%
Anita Ponder: +41%
Henry Ficklin: +49%

To be honest, you can't measure any of these increases against the other. There are just too many factors involved. (For example, mine's gone up each year for the past five years.) But it looks as though everyone is going to feel the pain - if the millage rates aren't rolled back.

Advice on appealing your reassessment

2006-05-27T15:03:00.000-04:00

In a probably futile attempt to preserve the WMCC News 501(c)(3) tax status (after all, Joe Allen filed for our exemption), we offer as a public service the following suggestions on appealing your recent average 29% tax valuation increase:

1. "(Buckhead Business Association) receives advice on reducing property taxes", TheStoryGroup.com. WARNING: A TAXPAYER HAS ONLY 30 DAYS WITHIN WHICH TO FILE AN APPEAL, NOT 45 DAYS AS STATED IN THE ARTICLE.

2. "How To Appeal Your Property Taxes", Fulton County Taxpayers Association - Excellent, although written with Fulton County in mind. Note: Read Step Two carefully.

3. "Helping You Decide Whether To Appeal Your Latest Reassessment!", Fulton County Taxpayers Association online newsletter, April, 2006 - Again written about Fulton County, but valuable.

Can you people say, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore"?

2006-05-27T14:44:00.000-04:00

Pssst! Wanna see your neighbor's tax assessment notice?

2006-05-27T09:03:00.000-04:00

1. Go to the Bibb County Government main website (http://www.co.bibb.ga.us/).
2. Under "Most Popular" click on "Tax Assessment Notices".
3. Enter your neighbor's last name next to "Name", try leaving "Property House #" blank, and enter the street name next to "Property Street". It may be best to use "St" for "Street", etc. Fill in information as necessary.

After reviewing your neighbor's increase in assessment, either (a) thank God your increase wasn't as much as theirs, or (b) call Bobby Gerhardt to ask him why in the hell your neighbor's increase wasn't as much as yours.

You may tell your neighbor about (a) but not (b). Be aware, however, that if you tell your neighbor about (a) he may pull a (b) on you.

You don't have to check on Mayor Ellis. We've done that for you. (Ooh. Somebody at the Tax Assessor's office doesn't like C. Jack. Click on image to expand.)

From our house to yours

2006-05-26T07:49:00.000-04:00

With Memorial Day upon us, we thought you'd enjoy a treat appreciated by all at our son's recent wedding rehearsal dinner - Lynchburg Lemonade. It was accompanied by Appalachian music, Fincher's barbeque, collard greens, Bertha's cornbread and similar condiments. Enjoy.

1 part Jack Daniels
1 part sweet 'n sour mix
1 part Triple Sec
4 parts Sprite
Pour over ice and garnish with lemons

To windfall or not to windfall?

2006-05-26T07:18:00.000-04:00

Websters Dictionary defines "windfall" as "an unexpected, unearned, or sudden gain or advantage".

The Telegraph reports ("Mill rate reprieve may be in works", 5/26/06) that reevaluation will increase the total assessed valuation of real property in Bibb County by $800 million, or 29%. If the property tax millage rate (the factor by which the value of real property is multiplied to reach the amount of taxes charged) stays the same, then theoretically the total amount of taxes charged would go up by 29%. That would be a "windfall". The amount of taxes would stay the same if the city and county roll back their millage rates.

What do local officials say about the "windfall" possibility?

From the Macon-Bibb County Tax Assessors website (http://www.qpublic.net/bibb):

Reassessments are not intended to generate a windfall of revenue. Unless the county or municipality specifically intends to raise taxes, in which case special hearings are required to inform the public, millage rates are required to be lowered to offset any increases in value.

From four of the five members of the Bibb County Board of Commissioners (from The Telegraph article cited above):

In the county, commissioners have pledged not to raise taxes and to roll back the millage rate to avoid collecting the windfall. To do that and balance the budget, they must cut about $9.7 million from the proposed 2007 budget. Only Commissioner Joe Allen has objected to that plan, which most commissioners initially agreed to this month during a pair of budget retreats.

From Mayor C. Jack Ellis (same article):

Ellis also said he wants to hold onto any windfall from the revaluation even if the city's millage rate stays exactly where it is now: 10.16 mills.

From Sheriff Jerry Modena ("Sheriff, commissioners at odds", The Telegraph 5/24/06):

"I look for a windfall to come in on this tax assessment...."

To windfall or not to windfall?

Modena threatens county commissioners with taser gun!

2006-05-25T08:29:00.000-04:00

Yesterday's strained budget negotiations between Bibb County commissioners and Sheriff Jerry Modena brought the parties no closer to an agreement. At one point Modena, who has already threatened to sue the commissioners, got so upset that he pointed a taser gun at commissioner Joe Allen.

Holding the weapon inches from Allen's face, Modena said, "Y'all have pushed me just about as far as you can. If I don't get that $2.7 million, somebody's face is going to look like a blown fuse!"

As Modena pointed the taser at Allen, the other four commissioners stood to the side shouting, "Go ahead, pull the trigger! Pull the trigger! We'll give you the $2.7 million, just pull the damn trigger!"

An interview with the City Council member from Ward V, Post 2

2006-05-24T21:38:00.000-04:00

As City Council negotiations over the mayor’s proposed 25% property tax increase begin to heat up, WMCC News interviewed the present council member from Ward V, Post 2. This section of the city produces a healthy percentage of the city’s property tax revenue and the effects of such a large tax increase will be felt throughout the area.

Ward V is lucky to have a strong voice on City Council at this crucial juncture to protect its interests and make the taxpayers’ feelings heard.

WMCC News: Good evening. Thank you for giving us this interview.

Mr. Vacant: You’re welcome. I just wish I could be there.

WMCC News: Tell us, how do you plan to take part in these critical discussions in City Council?

Mr. Vacant: Well, I probably won’t have that much to say, actually.

WMCC News: Do you feel you will be able to have an impact on what’s going on?

Mr. Vacant: I expect to have the same amount of impact I've always had.

WMCC News: Do you plan to take steps to rally the taxpayers behind you?

Mr. Vacant: Oh, yes. I’m busy putting up signs all around Macon now.

WMCC News: Are you happy with your work on City Council?

Mr. Vacant: I couldn’t be happier than I am right now, to be honest with you.

WMCC News: An important question: Do you plan to vote for Mayor Ellis’ tax increase?

Mr. Vacant: Well, that’s one thing you can be sure of. I most certainly will not vote in favor of the tax increase.

WMCC News: One last thing. What do you feel has been your most important achievement while on the Macon City Council.

Mr. Vacant: Making it smaller.

Sheriff: property tax reassessment could be a good thing

2006-05-24T06:31:00.000-04:00

"(Sheriff Jerry Modena) also said he expected the county would profit from this year's revaluation, making any arguments about cuts moot.

"I look for a windfall to come in on this tax assessment...."

"Sheriff, commissioners at odds" [The Telegraph 5/24/06]

Lack of powerpoint presentation

2006-05-23T21:09:00.000-04:00

Mayor Ellis shows City Council how many days he has left before he can get them off his freaking back and quit having to answer to anybody and go where he wants to go and spend what he wants to spend and be free at last, great God almighty, free at last to be the Great Communicator and carry his message of consolidation and unification and overcoming temptation to the oppressed people of the world.

Ward V's City Council representation during critical time of budget debate and possible 25% property tax hike

2006-05-23T07:31:00.000-04:00

On a collision course?

2006-05-22T21:01:00.000-04:00

The Bibb County Commission bowed to pressure from the judges who occupy the floors above and below them and agreed to search for an architect who would help design a new multi-million dollar courthouse facility.

Chairman Charlie Bishop informed the commission Tuesday that several Bibb County Superior Court judges have made it clear that they are tired of "Band-Aid" fixes at the courthouse and are ready to move to a new facility.

"Bibb takes step toward new courthouse" [The Telegraph, 5/17/06]

Property tax reform

2006-05-22T18:50:00.000-04:00

2006-05-19T08:28:00.000-04:00

Chairman Mao Tse-Adams

2006-05-17T08:50:00.000-04:00

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) - University of Georgia President Michael Adams objects to the phrase "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" to describe the annual Georgia-Florida football game.

And he has asked CBS Television and the city of Jacksonville, Fla., to not use the phrase when promoting the game the network televises each year.

The request is part of Adams' push to curb on-campus alcohol abuse and change UGA's image as a party school.

[Associated Press, from Fox Sports online, 5/16/06]

The only way to settle questions of an ideological nature or controversial issues among the people is by the democratic method, the method of discussion, of criticism, of persuasion and education, and not by the method of coercion or repression.

[Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung, "On the Correct Handling of Contradictions Among the People", (February 27, 1957), 1st pocket ed., pp. 5-6.]

(I couldn't resist it.)

Pardon me while I get (my son) married

2006-05-15T23:39:00.000-04:00

WMCC News will be off the air until next week while I get my son married this Saturday. Keep an eye out, will you?

WMCC News Anchor

"Have you seen my pictures of my beautiful pot plants?"

2006-05-12T23:19:00.000-04:00

STATESBORO - An east Georgia man landed in jail after photographing his healthy plants and going to local drug store to have the pictures developed.

His bumper crop was marijuana, according to police, who arrested him as he went to pick the photos up...

(Police) said a photo lab technician called police after seeing the subject of the photos.

"Pot plant photos lead to arrest" [The Telegraph 5/12/06]

A slight problem with Sugar Ray's autograph

2006-05-12T16:03:00.000-04:00

From a Newtown Macon email blast this afternoon:

MACON, GA – The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame will hold its annual Fan Fest on Saturday, May 20 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

From 1 p.m. – 3 p.m., an autograph session will ensue around the GSHF Rotunda ... In total, over 20 past and current inductees are scheduled for the autograph session. The Class of 2006 includes: Taz Anderson (football), Bobby Cox (coach/manager), Ray Donaldson (football), Bobby Gaston (contributor), Lea Henry (basketball), Dr. Jack Hughston (contributor), Bettye McClendon (contributor), Al Mead (track and field), Marian Morgan (coach/manager), and “Sugar” Ray Robinson (boxing).

It was noted that Bobby Cox couldn't attend the autograph session because of an Atlanta Braves away game and “Sugar” Ray Robinson couldn't be there because, well, he was dead.

FLASH!! Joe Allen and Ed DeFore mano e mano tonight at 10:30 PM

2006-05-11T13:42:00.000-04:00

WMCC News has learned from reliable sources that County Commissioner Joe Allen will have on his television show tonight none other than - City Councilman Ed DeFore.

Tune in Fox 24 (cable channel 2) tonight at 10:30 PM to see these local government powerhouses tackle the momentous issues of the day:

Should homeowners be allowed to water their lawns on odd or even days?
Should the gaping holes in the John Drew Smith Tennis Center be filled with concrete or Quikrete?
Should Jack Ellis be urged to run for the county commission when his term is over as mayor of Macon?

You may never see these two statesmen in the same room again! Call in your questions to these two venerable figures of local policy to the number posted on your television screen.

P.S. When calling in, use language such as "I understand from WMCC News, a reputable news source...", or "Can you confirm what WMCC News, Macon's premier local news source, says about ...."

Dear Emcy

2006-05-10T21:57:00.000-04:00

Dear Emcy:

I moved in with this man – we’ll call him “Jack” – about six years ago. It was great at first. He was articulate, had big ideas about our relationship, and wanted to broaden my horizons. He was a big talker.

But then he quit listening to me. He insists on doing things his way. For example, he got some landscape architect from California (!) to redesign our front yard. It looks like something from a Star Trek movie set.

But the worst was yet to come. He told me I had six "sisters" in other countries. Now he goes and visits them all the time, especially the one in Ghana. It's bad enough that he's unfaithful to me, but he's not paying attention to our finances and is spending money we haven't got on all his trips. I've tried to get him to seek credit card counseling but he refuses to admit he's got a problem.

Last night while we were making love I found a new tatoo on his left buttock which reads "I♥Jack".

What should I do, Emcy?

Morose in Macon

Dear Morose,

Jack obviously has only one thing on his mind - Jack. Jack doesn't need just one counselor - he may need as many as 15. See if you can find 15 people who could make make Jack toe the line. Good luck, though. Fifteen strong people are hard to find. He'll probably play them like a violin. (Tell them to look out if he tries to borrow money from them. Just tell them to say "no".)

You need to understand that you are being abused. In fact, you are probably suffering from "battered woman syndrome". Because of Jack's continued abuse, you have become depressed and may no longer be capable of takiing action that would permit you to escape his abuse. Think about it: when you found out about his latest shenagigans, what was your reaction? It was probably to turn the other cheek and say, 'What can I do about it?"

Honey, you need to get right up and give Jack a kick right where he loves himself the best. I don't know how much longer you have together, but you need to make him miserable every minute of it!

Play Macon's newest game!

2006-05-08T22:51:00.000-04:00

Expand your knowledge of world geography as you track C. Jack's trail from Atlantic to Pacific and then to foreign continents!

Key Features:

Try to follow Hizzoner's trail of credit card charges as he jets from place to place on "city business".
See if you can discern C. Jack's whereabouts based only on airline tickets registered in name of "Mr. X".
See how our No. 1 elected official bullies City Council into giving him even more money for his travels to exotic lands.

A word of thanks

2006-05-08T20:35:00.000-04:00

What would we know without it?

"I leave all the bad stuff to Dick"

2006-05-08T07:46:00.000-04:00

Asked in an Oval Office interview with the German newspaper Bild to name the "most wonderful moment" of his presidency, President Bush (replied) ... "I would say the best moment was when I caught a 7-1/2-pound largemouth bass on my lake."

"W's top Prez memory sounds a little fishy" [New York Daily News 5/8/06]

Apply For a 1st Bank of Bermuda Preferred Mayor coverup credit card today! You’ll be glad you did!

2006-05-07T22:05:00.000-04:00

This message is for all the mayors of financially strapped cities in America.

Does your City Council put too many restrictions on your spending? As the mayor of an important city, do you find your self running out of money just before embarking on that important industry seeking junket to East Swaziland? Do you find yourself wondering how to explain that $1,300 international cell phone bill to city council members who just don’t understand?

Well, your troubles are over. Apply for the 1st Bank of Bermuda Preferred Mayor coverup credit card today! You’ll have peace of mind knowing that what you spend won’t see the light of day until months later when some newspaper reporter files an open records act request. You certainly won’t have to worry about your city council – they’ll be so busy doing the work you’re supposed to be doing that they won’t find out about it until they read it in the newspaper!

Our operators are standing by. Just dial 1-877-COVERUP. If you place your order within the next 24 hours, we will place the coverup card in the name of one of your low level staff members so the chances of your being found out will be less than ever!

Order your Preferred Mayor coverup credit card today. After all, you're the No. 1 representative of your city and you deserve all you can lay your hands on!

Noxious fumes at the courthouse (again)

2006-05-06T13:53:00.000-04:00

From this morning's Used-To-Be-Macon-Soon-To Be McClatchy Telegraph:

A former Bibb County employee who said he suffered a collapsed lung because of poor air quality at the courthouse has won the latest round in a four-year legal battle with the county for compensation.

David Price, who served as the county's public relations director from 1986 to 2000, filed suit against the county in 2002. He contended that he developed health problems during his employment at the courthouse because of ventilation problems in the building that pumped noxious gases into his office.

We talked to Bibb County Commission Chairman Charlie Bishop about this story:

WMCC News: Mr. Bishop, what can you tell us about Mr. Price's claim that the courthouse suffers from noxious fumes?

Bishop: (Illedgible)

WMCC News: Mr. Bishop, would you please take off your gas mask?

Bishop: Sorry. I forget I have it on. I couldn't work in the courthouse without it.

WMCC News: I thought the county spent $1.5 million to fix the problem. The problem isn't fixed?

Bishop: Oh, sure, that problem's fixed, but we've got another problem with noxious fumes.

WMCC News: What's that.

Bishop: Joe Allen. He'll will go to the Cotton Avenue Nu-Way and get a double scrambled dog right before the commissioners' meeting. By the time we get to the Properties Committee report Joe is letting 'em go left and right.

WMCC News: You mean ....

Bishop: That's exectly what I mean. Joe's breaking wind every three minutes. And they ain't polite farts, either. They are wind bangers. And they smell to high heaven. It's an environmentally dangerous situation.

WMCC News: How is the county going to fix this noxious fumes problem?

Bishop: The same way we let Larry Justice keep on smoking after it was banned in the courthouse. We'll have to build a special room. Anybody who wants to pass gas will have to go to that room to do it.

WMCC News: What are you going to call that room?

Bishop: We'll call it the "Joe Allen Flatulation Room". Anyone using the room will become an automatic member of "Poots Yule Love".

White House Correspondents Dinner on Google Video

2006-05-06T08:29:00.000-04:00

You've heard about Stephen Colbert's roast of President Bush at the White House Correspondents Dinner. But did you see President Bush and his double, which was hilarious itself. Now you see both on Google Video. Click on "Colbert Roasts President Bush" and "President Bush Impersonation" boxes on right.

Full throttle with the Blue Angels

2006-05-05T22:10:00.000-04:00

Go to an ajc.com video of an Atlanta Journal-Constitution staffer taking aride in a $24 million F-8/A Blue Angel. Be sure to watch Scene 2 as the staffer passes out three times. Funny.

Sexiest weblog?

2006-05-05T21:16:00.000-04:00

Jami Gaudet's "G-Spot".

Having trouble finding it? (Most men do.) Try right ... here.

I knew it, I knew it. It's been too quiet around here.

2006-05-05T20:21:00.000-04:00

No wonder. Jack's gone again.

Mayor Jack Ellis is traveling to west Africa for a nine-day official trade and cultural mission, according to a news release from the Mayor's Office.

Ellis will leave this weekend with a delegation led by Washington, D.C., Mayor Anthony A. Williams, said Ron Wildman, media specialist for the city.

Most of the trip will be at no cost to taxpayers, although tax money is expected to pay for the mayor's round-trip airfare to Washington, D.C., the release stated.

Elaine, Rick, Henry - here's your chance. Get the City Hall super to slip you the key to Jack's office and move all his stuff out to the street. One of you move in - it doesn't matter who just so long as it's not Jack. Change the locks to the building. Fire all the people he hired and change his telephone number.

Put up a sign on the City Hall front door reading, "Closed. Merged with Bibb County."

Don't blow it, people. You've only got nine days. You can do this thing. You can do it!

P.S. What is this "most of the trip" business?

"Ellis traveling to Africa" [The Telegraph 5/4/06]

Cherokee Brick selected to build Mexican wall

2006-05-05T08:07:00.000-04:00

The Department of Homeland Security announced yesterday that Cherokee Brick & Tile Company of Macon, Georgia, has been selected to build the new 50-foot high brick wall separating the United States and Mexico. The wall will extend from San Diego, California, to Brownsville, Texas, and will be about 1,500 miles in length.

Wesley Chapman, who works at Cherokee Brick’s Macon showroom, said “We’re proud to have been selected to build the Mexican wall.” Scribbling on a shirt pocket pad, Chapman continued, “I figure it’s going to take about 2 trillion brick and about 75 million bags of morter. We can handle that.

“We’re gonna use our Natchez modular sized brick on a running bond with a concave joint. There’ll be guard towers every 1,000 feet finished off as brick turrets with battlements on top featuring our hand tumbled Old Savannah brick with a complementary mortar color. The plans call for us to extend the wall down another 50 feet into the ground using prestressed concrete to make sure our southern neighbors don’t visit us through the subterranean route.

“You know what they say, ‘Good fences make good neighbors.’ Well, this is gonna make Mexico a helluva neighbor.

"We just gotta find somebody to build it."

It's coming ....

2006-05-02T07:57:00.000-04:00

"The new drop-dead date when taxpayers will get the (property revaluation) notices and learn the assessed value of their home or business - a figure that will affect how much they pay in property taxes - is June 1...

"The possibility of tax increases is what complicates this timeline," said (Bibb County Tax Commissioner Tommy)Tedders, referring to tax hikes that the city of Macon and the Bibb County school board are considering."

"Assessors must meet their next deadline" [The Telegraph 5/2/06]

Linda Schrenko, Part 2

2006-05-01T21:40:00.000-04:00

While we're talking about Linda Schrenko, I found an article published in the November 12, 2004 Atlanta Journal & Constitution dealing with the allegation that Ms. Shrenko spent $9,300 of allegedly embezzled funds on cosmetic surgery. The writer puts the allegation in perspectice by asking: What DO you get for $9,300? Plastic surgeons provided the writer with a "buyer's guide to surgical makeover".

UPPER

$9,300: Could spend the whole kitty tightening the eyebrows and lifting the eyelids, upper and lower. If you wanted to spread your $9,300 out, consider skipping the browlift and fork over about $5,000 for a lid lift, saving the rest for the lower part of the face. Could also spend $300 per Botox treatment.

MIDDLE

$5,000: Adjusting the honker blows a lot of dough. Unlikely that a 54-year-old woman would get a nose job. Advice: Save your cash.

LOWER

$8,000: Resculpting or removing fat pads in the cheeks and reducing rooster neck constitutes the basic face-lift. Quotes across the country could range from $5,000 (new surgeon trying to get business) to $40,000 (name brand doc). Surgery with a hospital visit costs more.

What's your experience (with cosmetic surgery, not embezzling)?

"What DO you get for $9,300?" [Atlanta Journal & Constitution, 11/12/04, via http://long-island-plastic-surgery.blogspot.com]

Linda Schrenko, Part 1

2006-05-01T21:27:00.000-04:00

Linda Schrenko went on trial today for embezzling over $600,000 of federal funds while she was Georgia superintendent of schools. If true - and she is innocent until proven guilty - that would be dumb. Real dumb. You can't steal money from the federal government and get away with it, unless you're the Halliburton Company or a friendly government in the Middle East.

The really strange feature of the case is that Ms. Schrenko is charged with using $9,300 of the embezzled funds for - I am not making this up - cosmetic surgery.

Did she or didn't she? The Augusta Chronicle published a before-and-after photo that may be entered into evidence as state's Exhibit A.

You be the judge.

All this - for a bus station?

2006-05-01T13:18:00.000-04:00

From today's Soon-To-Be-McClatchy Telegraph:

The Terminal project has been hit with delays in the past as one development plan after another, done by an Atlanta consultant without transportation experience, was rejected by federal authorities. Cast-aside plans cost the city about $200,000. After spending another $160,000 to bring in new consultants and architects, the city got a plan approved last year....

Question: Who chose the "Atlanta consultant without transportation experience" in the first place? The same person who chose the designer of the UFO spaceport on Poplar Street?

Inquiring minds want to know.

"Terminal project rolling ahead despite questions" [The Telegraph 5/1/06]

Rush Limbaugh turns himself in

2006-04-29T10:09:00.000-04:00

"A three-year investigation into drug use by Rush Limbaugh ended abruptly when the conservative commentator was booked on a single charge of prescription fraud in a deal his attorney says spares him a trial."

"Limbaugh Reaches Deal in Drug Fraud Case" (ajc.com 4/29/06]

Second Amendment flourishing in West Macon

2006-04-29T09:32:00.000-04:00

"Fourth shooting in Macon neighborhood in three days" [The Telegraph 4/29/06]

Wanna find lowest gas prices?

2006-04-28T06:45:00.000-04:00

GasBuddy.com (Note: Prices stated to be no more than 36 hours old. Some prices report stated to be as late as this morning. See article. Volunteer to be a gas price reporter.)

GasPriceWatch.com (Note: No reports within last 3 days. Go with GasBuddy.)

Will these prices be right? maybe so, maybe not.

Future local option sales taxes

2006-04-26T22:14:00.000-04:00

We've had "SPLOST" - Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax - and "ELOST" - Education Local Option Sales Tax. What's in the future? Some possibilities:

FLOST - A sales tax to foster dental hygiene.
LLOST - A sales tax for stutterers.
SLOST - A sales tax for drunkards.
ULOST? - A sales tax for good samaritans.
WELOST - A sales tax to commemorate the War Between the States.

Coldwell Banker SSK: Don't try this

2006-04-26T21:55:00.000-04:00

"Calif. Woman Spanked at Work Sues for $1.2M" [ajc.com, 4/27/2006]

This is truly the end of the University of Georgia as we knew it. The dawg don't live here no 'mo.

2006-04-26T21:34:00.000-04:00

"University of Georgia administrators on Wednesday dealt their toughest blow yet to the party atmosphere on campus, approving a policy that would suspend from UGA any underage student caught drinking or doing drugs a second time.

Officials said the action, taken two weeks before the end of the spring semester, is intended to send a message to students and parents that underage and excessive drinking on campus and in the college community will not be tolerated."

"UGA tightens rules on student alcohol" [ajc.com, 4/26/2006]

Brilliant wasn't very brilliant, was he?

2006-04-26T21:24:00.000-04:00

"UPDATE: Cox campaign manager resigns" [The Telegraph, 4/26/2006]

Gas prices got you down? Just wait for ...

2006-04-26T21:18:00.000-04:00

Please contribute to the Joseph Whitehead Trust

2006-04-25T17:56:00.000-04:00

The press release below was made today by Sheriff Jerry Modena. This is truly a cause worth supporting.

Deputy Whitehead gave up his life in a raid on a crack house in the early morning hours while we slept in order to protect us from the elements that would destroy our society. If any cause is worthy of your support, this one certainly is.

Please be generous.

MEDIA RELEASE
Bibb County Sheriff's Office
Jerry Modena, Sheriff
Captain David Davis
Special Operations Section
704 Hawthorne Street
Macon, GA 31201

April 25, 2006

Today Bibb County Sheriff Jerry Modena announced that a fund has
been established to help the children of slain Deputy Joseph Whitehead.

The "Joseph Whitehead Trust" has been set up at the MidSouth Federal Credit Union. Those wishing to contribute may stop by any MidSouth FCU branch during business hours and donate directly to the account.

Those wishing to mail donations may do so to the following address:
Joseph Whitehead Trust
c/o MidSouth Federal Credit Union
4810 Mercer University Drive
Macon, Ga
Checks or money orders should be made payable to the "Joseph Whitehead Trust."

Bibb County Sheriff's Deputy Joseph Whitehead gave his life in the line of duty on March 23, 2006 while serving a drug search warrant.

Bibb Sheriff Jerry Modena said, "On behalf of the family, friends, and co-workers of Deputy Whitehead, we offer our sincere thanks to everyone in our community who offered expressions of sympathy following Joe's tragic death. Each and every gesture of support brought honor to Joe's memory and gave comfort and strength to us all."

This trust fund was established because of the many requests of a location to donate funds to assist with the future needs of Joe's three young children, who are 14, 9, and 6 years of age.

A note of appreciation

2006-04-24T22:52:00.000-04:00

(Click on image to expand)