Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2011
BARROW JOURNAL
PAGE 5A
The wisdom of Bloom County
Gearing up for ‘Gaslight’
Steve Dallas, burned out Baby Boomer. A red
bowtie wearing penguin named Opus. An orange
tiger striped Bill the Cat (“Aack. Bbfft. Phthptt.”)
Talking cats, dogs, squirrels, ground hogs. A
Basselope named “Rosebud”. An eccentric car
toonist named Berkeley Breathed. And they all
have something in common with you
and me.
Check that. You may never have been
a fan of Bloom County. In fact, the
funny papers may never have been a
favorite of yours as they have been in
my family’s household for as long as I
can remember. My brothers and I grew
up reading the comic strips. My oldest
brother Haase and I were rabid — yes,
I mean “rabid” not “avid” — fans of
the funky little strip that hit the big
time in the early 1980s. We often called
each other to share perspectives on
Breathed's latest zinger as portrayed on
the pages of the Sunday funnies.
When Breathed (pronounced breth'cd) pounced
on the world with Bloom County, he spoke to an
entire generation of folks who came of age in the
Sixties and Seventies. Some had fought a war
they didn't understand. Others had dropped out
of life as they roamed the countryside in VW
buses painted with flowers and symbols. Still
others had gone the corporate route becoming the
executives in some of America’s most powerful
companies.
Steve Dallas represented us all. He'd been
there, done that, gotten the tee shirt, baseball
cap, and free tickets to the world premiere of the
movie. Unlike the characters in Garry Trudeau’s
“Doonesbury”, Dallas was just a regular guy
trying to function in a world that included all
these talking, reasoning, rationalizing critters. He
wasn’t in the midst of political hotbeds, the White
House, or corporate America. He just wanted to
put one foot in front of the other day by day.
It's been my habit for more years than any of us
cares to recount to cut out comic strips that speak
to me and stick them up on a bulletin board in
my office. One of my favorites featured Among
Breathed's minor characters — and there were a
bunch of them — Rosebud was unique, to say the
least. She wanted so desperately to fit in with the
other talking animals.
One of her efforts to become relevant was
her introduction as a government weapons pro
gram toward the end of the Cold War with the
Soviet Union. She could launch a six megaton
atomic bomb between her antlers (remember: she
was half antelope), was equipped with a stealth
guidance system and powered by Twinkies and
PopTarts. Disguised as a Russian housewife
distributing American junk food and magazines,
she could effortlessly infiltrate any enemy instal
lation.
As unorthodox as were some of
Breathed’s commentaries, one that
particularly came home for me was
one that appealed not long after the
advent of the ATM. Steve Dallas and
Opus stood in front of a freestand
ing ATM. Dallas inserted the card,
punched in the codes, and attempted
to make a withdrawal.
“OVERDRAWN” flashed on the
screen. The top of the machine popped
open. This huge, Hell’s Angels type
exploded from within the ATM. Steve
Dallas is dragged screaming into the
box and the top slams shut.
Opus — too short to reach the key
board on the ATM — faces the audience: “The
sad thing is — it was my account.”
You know, there are times I feel like Steve
Dallas. In fact, when I found the original comic
strip that I’d cut from the Sunday funnies some
twenty-odd years ago and taped above my desk,
I had written a reminder on it: “That's what you
get for doing somebody a favor.” Though I don’t
recall the situation that had led to this revelation,
it must have been something that had left me
smarting awhile.
It's frustrating to have folks ask for your help
— and then get mad when you give it. It's a little
like when somebody asks your opinion on a situ
ation. So you take a deep breath and give it your
best shot. After a considered silence, the recipient
of your wisdom decides that what you would
do is, in fact, what they will do. Only it doesn’t
work out for them and guess who they blame.
You guessed it.
Never mind that they had the choice of making
their own decision and accepting responsibility
for the outcome. They only wanted accolades,
not accountability in the event things went sour.
That's where I stepped in. Or, rather, that’s where
I stepped in it. You’d think I’d learn, but at this
stage of the game, that’s unlikely.
Next time. I’ll just dress up like a Russian
housewife with antlers underneath my kerchief.
Helen Person is a Winder resident and colum
nist for the Barrow Journal. You can reach her at
helenperson @ windstream.net.
Letter to the Editor
Please raise my taxes
Dear Editor:
I am one person who, depend
ing on the way I wake up in the
morning, enjoys my way of life
and hopes that no one crimps
its style.
I have been going to
Commission meetings, not
religiously, for just more than
six years and watch the antics
played out every other Tuesday
night. Sometimes it is better
than what is on television.
I saw how the previous admin
istration never raised taxes and
always seemed to enjoy spend
ing. Why not, the economy
was good, building permits were
never higher and all seemed right
in the world. The County sur
plus was just over $15,000,000
at the time and spending 2-3
million each year so not to raise
taxes seemed like a good idea.
The surplus was gone or close
to it by the end of 2008 and the
newly elected Chairman had to
cut costs so taxes would not be
raised. That came to a sudden
stop on Sept. 27 of this year
when I heard the lamest excuse
for raising your taxes and getting
a County Manager into place.
Commissioner Hendrix stated
that for three years we have lived
in the dark shadow of Danny
Yearwood and to bring stability
and trust back into the govern
ment of Barrow County we need
to hire a County Manager.
He further stated that at this
time there is no leadership any
where in Barrow County. Both
he and Commissioner Worley
brought before the Board several
ideas on what a County Manager
should be and the pay he will be
required to run the county.
Parks, Berry and Wilburn
chimed in stating separately that
they envision a person being
paid the high end of the sal
ary range of $138,000 per year.
Then they talked about a con
tract that he would probably
require the County to agree to
with him/her.
This contract would be any
where from six months to one
year, which is the most sought
after term. This would be anoth
er $138,000.00 per year held
over in case the Commissioners
fire the person. Right now we
have to spend $276,000 to hire a
County Manager.
But wait that is not all, what
about benefits for this individu
al. Add 35 precent to this num
ber and you get $372,600, which
includes benefits for the one
year though the contract if they
are fired. Then that person will
require a vehicle to drive which
will run, in all likelihood of,
$22,000 because the prestige of
the title requires a better vehicle
that the Explorer that is driven by
the present Chairman. We can
not stop there, that person will
need an administrative assistant,
which is a secretary, for $50,000
which includes benefits.
The cost has gone to $400,600
per year that we support a county
manager type of government. It
will not end there either; eventu
ally that county Manager will
want to hire an assistant county
manager for $240,300 per year.
This includes salary, benefits
and a one year buy out. That is
not the only people that will be
needed for the county manager,
others will be required such as
director of public works, direc
tor of planning and development
which both salaries would be in
the range of $297,000 per year
bringing the future total bill to
$937,900. This price tag does
not include vehicles or support
staff. That number would be in
the neighborhood of $210,000
bringing the total future salary
budget to $1,147,900.
As taxpayers, we cannot allow
this to happen, the County is
already going to be close to one
million dollars in the red next
year and taxes were raised this
year by over two mil or $160 per
property owner. To hire a County
Manager, the millage rate would
go up and no foundation needs
to be given if the voters approve
this venture. It was stated that
the person hired would bring in
additional revenue to the county
coffers by bringing in new devel
opment and industry. Where
does that leave the Chamber of
Commerce? By stating this you
give the Chamber a black eye
that they do nothing and cannot
be trusted to bring in economic
growth to Barrow County.
If the voters of Barrow County
want to allow this free spending
of tax dollars while we all suf
fer though economic hardship
and have to watch our purses
then vote "YES" for the coun
ty manager. If the voters of
Barrow County want to hold the
Commissioners accountable for
the reckless spending practices
they are showing with this per
sonal vendetta against the office
of the Chairman then like me
vote “NO" when it comes to the
referendum vote on Nov. 8.
I know that I have given a lot
of dollar amounts that make your
head spin but it is real simple if
you want your taxes raised then
vote yes for a County Manager.
If you do not want your taxes
raised then vote “NO." It is that
simple. And then find someway
to pay for them.
Sincerely,
Frank Clark
Winder
The time is finally arriving for
“Terror By Gaslight” to make its debut
at the Winder Community Theatre and
the cast couldn’t be more excited. As
Tech week drags on, we all know that
Friday night is swiftly approaching.
Oh the anticipation!
I am excited to say that I am a mem
ber of this incredible cast and very
proud to be working with all these
wonderful guys and dolls. This will
be my first time in a Main Stage Show
here in Winder and as I tell everyone,
“it’s to die for!”
The story centers on Dr. Cyrus
Norton, a notable and respectable doc
tor and surgeon in 1830s Philadelphia who
wants to continue his work in anatomy and
dissection to create an “anatomical museum”
that he intends to dedicate to the university
when it is completed. However, complications
arise when he is forced to deal with grave-
robbers, Scrubbs and Gin Hester, to get his
cadavers. In the 19 th Century only cadavers
from the public gallows could be used for the
purposes of dissection and with 15 schools
of anatomy in Philadelphia, you can see how
the demand for bodies is very high. Surgeons,
like Norton, are forced to deal in illegal ways
of procuring cadavers for their work. After a
recently widowed woman, Mrs. Culp, spreads
accusations of Dr. Norton working with grave-
robbers, Detective Harrison is on the case.
I join the cast as Marilyn Norton, Dr.
Norton's dedicated daughter who wishes to
become a surgeon just like her father, but such
a notion is unheard of in this time. In a subplot,
Aunt Constance tries to set Marilyn up with a
handsome young Dr. Dover. So, this show isn’t
a complete “terror” but I guarantee you it has
some great plot twists and turns throughout.
Now I must say that — due to the nature
of this show — it is not suitable for young
children. It deals with intense subject matter
(such as murder) and it can frighten small
kids. If you’re looking for a good Halloween
treat with the whole family, this isn't the show.
However if you want a night out with your
spouse, I think you will thoroughly enjoy this
production.
Everyone has been working extremely hard
to make this show the best one yet. This is
one of the first — or is the first — melodrama
performed at the Winder Community Theatre,
which is a remarkable feat. I must give kudos
to Don Wildsmith and Pam Veader for the
immaculate set — it is so authentic and the
design is wonderful. And we finally got our
gaslight on the stage, one of the best touches
of detail. I won't give anything else away but
they did an outstanding job. Don told me on
the day we moved the set to the stage that he
wants this to be “the best set I've ever done.”
He has had some very well crafted sets, but I
think he's correct with “Terror By Gaslight”
being the best set yet.
We also have the lovely and tal
ented Shannon Hayes (who plays
Gin Hester) working on all the cos
tumes with the help of Billie Nye-
Muller. I need to brag on Shannon
for a bit here. From day one she
has been working on the costume
designs for 12 different charac
ters — and most of them have at
least one costume change. She has
been working so hard to get these
costumes completed before dress
rehearsal so that we can practice in
them sooner and get used to mov
ing in them. What she has done for
this show is amazing, and I know I speak for
the entire cast when I say thank you so much
Shannon!
And now for our fearless leaders: directors
Terri Duffield and Stephen Parker. Terri is an
inspiration. For the first few weeks on rehears
al she was 9 months pregnant and she still
came and directed us. The past few days Terri
hasn't been with us because she gave birth to
her newest son Felix (Congratulations Terri!)
but she has left us in good hands with Stephen
who has been guiding us every step of the way
this past week. The show must go on!
There is so much I can say about my cast
members but so little space. All of us women
are troopers for lacing up our corsets each
night so we get as authentic as possible, and
the men are getting used to suspenders, top
hats, and gloves (seems like the women got the
short end of the stick back then).
These characters are so fun and so varied.
The always-phenomenal Elinor Hasty plays
the deranged Mrs. Culp, Elizabeth Day as the
adorable Opal, Karen Lowe as the lovable
Constance, Shannon Hayes as the unsavory
Gin Hester, Heather-Leigh Owens Nies as
down-on-her-luck Kitty, and me as devoted
Marilyn. For the men: Tom Heagy leads the
show as the driven and somewhat eccentric
Dr. Norton, Lee Sugarman as faithful friend
Dr. Withers, Robert Stephens as aspiring sur
geon Dr. Dover, Justin Patterson as the sneaky
Leonard Scrubbs, Juan Berberena as ladies'
man Dr. Edward Daniels, and Troy Hensley as
the curious Detective Harrison.
So come on out and see us if you're looking
for a good thrill! Shows are Oct. 28-29 at 7:30
p.m., Oct. 30 at 3 p.m., Nov. 4-5 at 7:30 p.m.,
and Nov. 6 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $12.50 in
advance for adults, $15 at the door and $10 in
advance for Seniors (55+), students and teach
ers, $13 at the door. Tickets can be purchased
at Winder City Hall or Pam Veader’s State
Farm Insurance Office.
We hope to see you there!
Jessica Brown is a photographer and colum
nist for the Barrow Journal. You can email her
at jessica @ barrow] owned, com
jessica
brown
Poll: County manager government favored
More than 71 percent of vot
ers in an online poll conduct
ed by the Barrow Journal say
they favor changing Barrow's
government to a county man
ager.
The move would mean the
Board of Commission chair
man position would no longer
be full time and the pay for
the job would be cut dras
tically. Approximately 23.5
percent of respondents said
they were against the change
while five percent said they
were undecided.
A new poll is listed is each
at www.barrowjournal.com.
OTE
David Maynard
Mayor Of Winder
As a lifetime resident of Winder and a local small business owner
for 27 years, when elected I will work hard to do the following:
Fora more detailed
platform explanation,
visit my website at
www.VoteDavidMaynard.com
• Involve the Council in all
decisions and plans as they
develop, not after time and
money have been spent
developing them.
• Create spending limits.
• Change the form of the
budget.
• Make the City more
customer friendly and
business friendly.
• Clean up the streets.
• Support downtown.
Paid for by the candidate.