Augusta focus. ([Augusta, Ga.) 198?-current, May 30, 1996, Image 3

Augusta focus., May 30, 1996, Page 3, Image 3

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Newspaper Page TextLocal/Region Coliseum Authority manager From page one worked as an assistant under two general managers. Cur | rently, she is single-handedly, * and without the benefit of cleri " cal support, doing the work of three people. If she is promoted to general manager, she will get anassistant and clerical support. The public does not know what Linda Roberts is capable of until she gets the opportunity and the tools to work with. : Back to the Chronicle distor tions. The newspaper attributes a direct quote to Mr. Jones that says, “They can’t get their con tracts signed until the last minute. They can’t get their phone calls returned...” “That’s not a direct quote from me,” Mr. Jones said. Not only does he deny making that state ment, he also can’t vouch for its veracity or accuracy. Mr. Jones could not cite a single instance where convention clients com plained of that kind of treatment from the civic center staff. That, however, did not stop the daily newpaper from amplifying the sentiment as ifit were the gospel truth. One person who would know if the civic center were having that kind of problem is Barry White, executive director of the Augusta- Richmond County Convention Roberts gets industry support From page one facility manager,” Mr. Lassiter wrote. Ms. Roberts’ detractors, many of whom are thought tobe driven by political considerations, have attempted to paint an unflatter ing picture of her professional abilities. They are confounded when presented with evidence of her many talents. An example is another ringing endorsement from country music promoter Police keep guns out of circulation From page one he said. Atone time, Richimond County guns had a chance to find their way back to the hands of crimi nals. “Years ago, seized weapons were auctioned off at pawn shops and gun dealers,” said Chief Deputy Strength. About eight years ago, he said, Sheriff Charles Webster issued a direc tive that prohibited resales to gun-related businesses. Across the state line, North Augusta Police Department en sures the guns aren’t stolen then, typically, they’re destroyed, ac cording to police spokesman Sgt. Tim Pearson. The ones that are destroyed AusustalFQCUS We’ve got news for you. Please enter my subscription to Augusta Focus Circle term: 1 year $24.95 2 years $34.95 3 years $44.95 Name ¥ Phonc# Address City State Zip Check Enclosed Bill me Augusta FOCUS, P.0.80x 1282, Augusta, GA 30903 and Visitors Bureau. Mr. White was asked if the three conven tions mentioned in theChronicle piece were lost due to unprofes sional activity on the part of Ms. Roberts or her staff. His answer was an unequivo cal no. According to Mr. White, The Georgia Manufactured Housing convention, the Peace Officers Association, and the Touch The Future trade show went to other venues because the prices were more attractive, not because bid packages or con tracts were not handled in a timely fashion. Mr. White went on to say that he has enjoyed the working relationship between his agency and the civic center. Nor could he offer documented proof that the civic center policies or management have been respon sible for chasing away millions of dollars of convention business. So far, no one has been able to deny the Chronicle article was more than a pile of horse manure amplified for political purposes. Still, we read in the Chronicle that unprofessional practices under Ms. Roberts’ leadership are responsible for the loss of the conventions. Not true. Augusta has lost convention business because other cities have upgraded theirfacilities and are using more aggressive pric ing strategies. Those decisions are up to the board, not Linda Rich Floyd, president of B-F Pro motions. Mr. Floyd writes, “At all times I have found Ms. Rob erts to be very professional, con siderate, and informed in the manner in which she has ad dressed areas of concern in my business. I find Ms. Roberts tobe ofthe same caliber as many other managers I deal with on a regu lar basis.” " Perhaps the most important recommendation comes from the office of “The Hardest Working Man in Show Business.” Mr. Larry Fridie, special assistant are stored in an “arms room” with limited access to personnel, Sgt. Pearson said. “We have a strict gun policy. We feel if we take them away, that’soneless gunonthestreets,” he said. According to Lt. Michael Frank of the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office, weapons used in crimes are madeinoperable or melted to scrap metal. If ownership can be established, and the gun wasn’t used in a crime, the weapon may be returned to the owner. If weapons can be of use later, the Aiken County agency may sell to a law enforcement sup plier in exchange for credit. The credit is used for purchasing law enforcement equipment for the Sheriff's Office. Otherwise, the Roberts. Even Mr. Jones had to attest to the competitive nature of the convention business. “It’s hard to compete with the facility in Columbia,” he said. Columbia, S.C. won the Georgia Manufac tured Home convention. One aspect of the convention industry that has not been made clear is that it is the Convention and Visitors Bureau that works along with the hotels and civic center to bring business into the area. The hotels have their own staffs and marketing depart ments. They are in a position to help themselves. The civic cen ter has no such resource, so it must rely heavily on the Con vention and Visitors Bureau. Accordingto Ms. Roberts, there is competition between the ho tels and the civic center for the same convention dollar, but of ten the Convention and Visitors Bureauison the frontlines of the negotiations. Mr. White agrees. “For conventions of less than one thousand persons, there is direct competition between the hotels and the civic center,” Mr. White said. Very often, accord ing to Ms. Roberts, the hotels get first crack at landing the conven tions. “If it turns out that it is too large for the hotels, then they pass theinformation down tous,” Ms. Roberts said. to James Brown had this to say, “Let’s make no mistake, but for her mastery of the business and knowledge of the Augusta mar ket, we never would have suc cessfully presented the James Brown Birthday 8a5h...1 would not trust the 4th Annual Birth day Bash to anyone else.” The positive things that indus try professionals have to say far outweigh the negative press with which the Augusta Chronicle news and editorial writers have attempted tosmear Ms. Roberts. guns become part of the Sheriff’s Office’s inventory. In cases where a suspect has a permitvalidating ownership sta tus, but is still considered a threat, Chief Deputy Strength said decisions to let the subject maintain his or her weapon lies in the courtroom. “In that case, we present evi dence to the courts. If they feel the gun shouldn’t be returned, they can make that decision,” said Chief Deputy Strength. Mr. Pearson said, while an in creasing number of street guns are foreign-made semi-automat ics, the .45-caliber Smith & Wesson used by his officers are sufficient crime stoppers. “Fortunately, we're not seeing a lot of machine guns out there. Our .45s do the job,” he said. ?AETRI? : i ?M/) I ‘lp jj’ (The following information is based on Richmond County & a a 4 Sheriff's Department reports edited by Timothy Cox.) Armed robber kicks in door, terrorizes tenant Harold Wallace, 48, of the 1600 block of Broad Street, happened to be asleep at home when some one kicked in his back door. Before he could regroup, Mr. Wallace was being accosted by a man with a knife at his throat. When Mr. Wallace gave the robber all of his S4OO in cash, the robber immediately left. The incident happened early Sunday, May 26. Car stolen, keys in ignition, door open Judy Kirsch Barber, 51, woke up to find her 1986 Cutlass Ciera missing from her car port. Ms. Bar ber, who lives in the 3600 block of Bermuda Circle in Augusta, said she left the keys in the ignition overnight. Meanwhile, the car was unlocked. Thieves made off with her designer purse also inside the car. The purse contained a variety of credit cards, her driv ers license and checkbook. The incident happened overnight between 9 p.m. May 25 and 9 a.m. Sunday, May 26. Hair salon ransacked, items stolen Green’s Hair Salon, located at 230 Sandbar Ferry . ! L] s VB B B BB iﬂ_ e ik Me Ml N B SRR eM, N o IR 5 ” ’ : s I R Ri)%G i 5 ¢ L e b o ; 3 ] e N e = e s . o ! 5 SRR S v ’ s ’ R S . SR % ¥ 3 SN ? # B A LR pe A % . e ENS 4 o § 3 S B GAR ERT . SN 1 : “%9’ o] BermaiE . 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Only the best for you and yours. . . at Kmart. ey oy N K K _F N N_N N K K ¥ : 50¢ MANUFACTURER’'S COUPON . i Efi Care Free Curl Gold i | Activator/Moisturizer I —— 8 oz. size l == WITH THIS INSTANT CASH COUPON l KMART: k £ 22/6 D E eilootekß i, pr ot edempton l ﬂuT policy, available upon request. Mail to: PO, Box 8004, Walled Lake, K M| 48391-8004. Consumer must pay any sales tax. Cash value 1/20¢ l Soft Sheen #124 - Must Postmark by 7/19/96 r-——-———————--——- i 50¢ MANUFACTURER’S COUPON g Let’s Jam i Shining & Conditioning Gel 8 4 oz. size l WITH THIS INSTANT CASH COUPON KMART: LIMIT ONE COUPON PER PURCHASE-EXPIRES 6/22/96 I Attitudes Unlimited will pay you face value plus 8¢ handling, per our redemption policy, available upon request. Mail to; PO, Box 8004, Walled Lake, ' “uT MI 48391-8004. Consumer must pay any sales tax. Cash value 1/20¢. M Attitudes Unlimited #l2O - Must Postmark by 7/19/96 L------_--------- 2 Iﬁipxr ‘ Everythng we do is built around you. AUGUSTA FOCUS May 30, 1996 Road, was the target of robbers sometime between May 25 and May 27. According to Prince Green Jr., owner of the salon, someone pulled off protective bars from a window and entered his business. Among the stolen items were an air conditioning unit, a TV, $l5O in pay phone coins, hair clippers and miscel laneous hair supplies. Antique grand piano damaged by gunfire Although she was not home at the time, a woman who lives in the Spring House apartments in Augusta has agood idea who damaged her antique grand piano by firing gunshots into it. Michelle Marie Lemmons, 18, said she will pros ecute the person she feels responsible for breaking the piano strings with gunfire. It'll cost about SI,OOO to repair, she said. Theincident happened on May 26 around 4 p.m., she said. Man survives loaded Pepsi can assaulit Randy Eugene London, 38, of 2802 Waterside Drive, Augusta, told authorities he saw someone throw a full can of Pepsi at his 1984 Buick Regal. He reported damages at $l5O. The incident hap pened sometime over the Memorial Day weekend. - N T T T ‘ s 1 i | X, I v I ' -‘-i‘:‘/{;. URE SR |umm3_“_6 VE" o o ] . 'ﬂ o - Opt 1 o Ih ft RT: o X im ® I’I”«S"%,“MI No u 0 - | ! o 1 ﬁ::'i‘i*’ou‘”'m?””la oFF : I 50 - vMansu:‘uequu PER 1S ro ax e l I m ¢ -WR;;,&‘,:M:DH‘:UR(’NSIA rS er I AN 17':: ho gpr upe I UF 7/1‘,9';26980"23‘&{% SH €r I ; e SYT o our : gCr L e "%""e""dﬁ’z W ' MPOO 1] e Vadlaemn2/9 I em 3euel2 sy l Re eE 5 Ve l s gu 0 5. - ¢'K i larE:N 0T l k B ' "aaé“re“ OF = ] y vLM f -“Lﬁ39?"pb:ye’;)u~‘ c m’ﬂg ozry OrSha F ! # W"w'a(eou IN; ’s' M m i 7 —ZIMCo"v"aIPON STA 74 oi p | i-W s sturtzn i e L "‘"'M“»‘““"u oasH uri s ' i~ T rf}“sf"‘o‘,"an"(u o izi i l Em YT, _7/193, 1’0d1.,l ASE UPO ing - ; _9_,”, ~ . I AC I”s(mou PR i | S .:’ca?'éﬁ‘.’*‘ml% ; s Fre Y | [Jirsio 'Be E ] g I L o mo Iu 5 T ' J. Stri R to e ¢ . ' W[KLk]dllM rCOM ﬂ -."E?E‘d;;ﬁ";m?"‘ »12 nd.agi F _m 120 . E o :1'(0 ,!q1.,“0N 1S L ne m. '~s°si rH ! -W e | wsia Tbo 4 s ird _by*nyso"dx‘[ HC ress| ﬂ9”l¢:8&% AP OUPON im‘ ,p,;’o:[S l -;Mdllc‘; (:dilz? / ._va'“'l'fr?m"’?‘& ' o ! -Jl North Augusta 310 E. Martintown Road Augusta 1647 Gordon Hwy Martinez 3830 Washington Road 3