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An African-American hero who faced the challenge
(NAPSM)-Otis Scott, a
decorated World War II
veteran and native of Ohio,
was just 23 years old when
he contracted glaucoma and
nearly lost his sight in
1945.
Scott could have felt
anger and self-pity. Instead,
like a remarkable number of
this nation’s veterans, he
took personal responsibility
for his future.
“As they released me from
the hospital after several
unsuccessful and physically
Recall: Commissoner doesnt feel ousting imminent
Continued from page 1A
survey. Commissioner
Bobby Hankerson is
among those who have
yet to reply.
“I haven’t had time to
fill out the survey. 1
have been preoccupied
with the budget. It’s not
that I haven’t wanted to
fill out a questionnaire
but it has not been a pri
ority,” Hankerson said
Jocks: Raunchy but relevant insists radio exec
Continued from page 1A
green light to her,” said Star.
“She says, ‘Oh, I can twist him
out and then send him home
to his wife and don' have to
worry about him stressing me
for this coochie.”
Four people were asked by
the Focus to listen to the show
and share their reactions. The
reviews were mixed.
“Its raunchy,” said James
Wilkins, a new father in his
early twenties. “Take the aver
age person and get their opin
ion and theyll say the same
thing.”
Dorothy Cummings, a
human resources executive in
her thirties agreed with
Wilkins.
“Its a complete waste of
radio air time, with all the
other stuff thats going on.”
said Cummings.
But on the flip side, the
remaining participants found
the program entertaining.
“Its edgy, but true. When
they really get down to it, it’s
substantially true.” replied
Derrick Boyd who is a person
nel manager in his thirties.
“It will draw my attention,
not that I think it is important,
Budget: Non profits survive ax
Continued from page 1A
organizations escaped being
axed altogether although
they will experience severe
cuts. . Historic Augusta will
receive $7,900, the Arts
Council will get $70,000
while Industrial Develop
ment will get $50,000.
Commissioner Tommy
Boyles, chairman of the
commission’s Finance
Committee, read a written
statement before the budget
was adopted.
“I also believe that we
must continue to grow our
economy and must work
closely together to make
Augusta more business
friendly.” the Commission
exhausting operations, I
was abruptly handed a 30-
inch cane, almost half the
size of today’s standards,
and was told nothing else
could be done for me,” he
said.
Instead of feeling sorry
for himself, Scott resolved
to take control of his life,
remain positive and stay
true to the goals he had set
for himself in his youth. “I
knew I could make it if
someone out there could
just teach and train me,” he
who admitted he was
surprised the group was
talking recall.
“I think anyone has a
right to call for a recall.
I don’t think a recall will
be successful for any
commissioner,” he said.
“We always had watch
dogs. But rather than be
a watchdog with groups
whining they should
bring something positive
to the table.”
but it is entertaining” said
Natalia Truitt, a young twen
ty-something woman.
The show displaces popular
local radio personalities, Min
nesota Faz and Cher Best who
were moved to a sister station,
96.3 KISS FM. Barry Kaye,
Vice President and General
Manager of Clear Channel
CSRA was quick to explain to
fans that the relocation of the
Farz and Cher Show was tanta
mount to a promotion for the
long time duo.
“I would like to say that there
is a misconception in the
CSRA that Fatz and Cher were
demoted. Power 107 became a
very popular station largely due
to Faz and Cher so we pro
moted them to a 50,000 watt
station (96.3 KISS FM), gave
them a big raise. In fact my
hand shakes when I sign their
checks. But a well deserved
raise,” joked Kaye.
As for the buzz being gener
ated by the controversial new
programming Kaye
explains,”We wanted some
thing dramatically different to
offer listeners, a contrast to Fatz
and Cher. We also wanted
something like the music we
play in POWER 107, a litde
er said.
The other Commission
ers agreed. Commissioner
Andy Cheek expressed his
desire for the commission
to help the community.
“I also see it as being a
very proactive move on the
commission. It has been
when we are willing, we are
ready to make a decision to
get something done for the
benefit of our community.”
Cheek said.
The vote was eight to
one with Commissioner
Willie Mays the only dis
senting vote. Interim
Administrator, Fred Rus
sell, cautioned the panel
not to get their hopes up
AUGUSTA FOCUS
said.
He soon discovered the
Blinded Veterans Associa
tion (BVA) and was among
the first 500 members to
join the organization.
BVA traces its roots back
to a group of veterans who
lost their sight in combat
during World War 11. The
group met for the first time
in an Army convalescent
hospital in Avon, Connecti
cut, in 1945. The organiza
tion has been helping blind
ed veterans ever since, rep
The Citizen Action
Committee meetings
have been heavily attend
ed by as many as 200
people. Their frustra
tion with county govern
ment even spilled over
into a forum on race
relations, Tuesday, Nov.
16, held by the Metro
Augusta Chamber of
Commerce. Many
forum participants com
plained about perceived
raunchy and relevant to people
who live a hip hop life style.
The terms I would use is it’s
rough, rugged, raw and real.
This is not your daddy’s radio
station any more. We are
squarely aiming at 18-34 year
old listener engaged in the hip
hop life style.”
While appearing to be confi
dent in the move to bring radio
programming the likes of
which is seldom heard outside
of large urban markets to
Augusta, Kaye is intimately
aware of how “edgy” broadcast
ing has backfired recently.
Kayes company, Clear Chan
nel, was heavily penalized by
the FCC for content on the
syndicated Howard Stern Show.
“With the FCC being as gray
as they are 'm not comfortable
with any of it. They may come
back tomorrow and say we'e
not allowed to use the word
‘hell” We're not sure what the
parameters are. What I'm
using as my gauge is that if it
flies on network television. It
should be allowed to,” Kaye
said. “There are certain words
that Star uses that I wish that he
would not use, but it becomes
a first amendment issue.”
In addition to Star and Buc
Wild, the hip hop radio show
because the job is not done
and there is more work to
be done.
“There are no such guar
antees in life. We have lim
ited dollars to play with,
we have a job to get done.”
he said.
Commissioner ~ Boyles
ended his statement to the
commission with words of
how the budget will affect
everyone who proposed it
and others who will have to
deal with it.
“This will not be an easy
budget to live with. It will
require hard decisions and
even harder work. I believe
that our employees can meet
these expectations.” he read.
resenting their interests
before the legislative and
executive branches of gov
ernment.
BVA also offers a full
time field service program
that provides advice to vet
erans and links them with
VA benefits to which they
are entitled. Field reps often
assist veterans witfi their
medical claims. Perhaps
most importantly, BVA
offers emotional support,
friendship and the kind of
social and recreational
activities that foster rehabil
itation.
bickering among com
missioners along racial
lines and warmed up to
the idea of altering the
present form of govern
ment.
Attorney David Fry, a
member of the citizens
group, is suggesting that
the government structure
be changed as well. In a
letter to Merry, Fry states
that commissioners
should be elected coun
includes a diverse cast of char
acters. There’sa woman, White
Trash Helene, billed as a left
wing liberal and Crossover
Negro Reese, a black Republi
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Through BVA, Scott
learned about the Hines
Blind Rehabilitation Center
just outside of Chicago, a
discovery that would
change his life. He prompt
ly decided to enroll in a
rehab program at Hines,
then attend college in
Cleveland. One of the end
results was a 21-year career
in physical therapy in Mari
on, Ohio and an active
lifestyle spent in the pursuit
of learning.
Scott, now 81, has held
various national leadership
positions during his 55
ty-wide instead of by dis
trict, the mayor should
have the ability to vote
on issues other than to
break a tie, and commis
sioners should be able to
vote by proxy in a writ
ten statement if they are
unable to attend a meet
ing.
“In order to break the
‘deadlock’ plaguing our
current system, there
must be a fundamental,
can Jew for the conservative
point a view. Kay feels that it is
through these characters that
the show is able to pick up on
issues that are socially relevant
November 18, 2004
years of involvement in
BVA.
BVA stands ready to pro
vide direction and individ
ual assistance. The associa
tion’s services are free and
available to any blinded vet
eran. For more informa
tion, visit www.bva.org or
call 1-800-669-7079 toll
free.
“I knew I could make it if
someone out there could
just teach and train me,”
said Scott, who is now 81.
systemic change,” Fry
advites in a 2 lercer
addressed to Merry. “The
commissioners’ actions
are inexplicable. Drive
another nail in Augusta’s
coffin.”
Any change would
require a bill to be
passed by the Richmond
County legislative dele
gation. Previous efforts
to restructure the county
commission have failed.
to the target demographic. He
says once the initial shock wore
off, most of the callers to Clear
Channel are now in favor of
the show.
11A