Newspaper Page Text
October 22, 2008
c; Reporter
PAGE 5A
On the outside looking in
Just Thinking...
Getting to the
short rows
I f last week’s attendance at the political
forum is any indication, Monroe Countians
just may turnout in record numbers to cast
ballots in the Nov. 4 election. According to
several estimates, close to 300 showed up
to hear state and local candidates espouse their
qualities and answer questions as to why they
should be elected. Don’t think the crowd was
anticipated since the hotdogs and hamburgers
were gobbled up before the
speech-a-fying began.
With over 15,500 Monroe
County registered voters, the
number growing daily and
getting to the short rows with
campaigning, it will be inter
esting to see what percentage
will show up at the polls. Over
2,200 Monroe Countians have
already cast their early voting
ballots with the early voting
deadline being Oct. 31.
None of the local can
didates evaded the
questioning but it was
interesting to see how
they attempted to put
their spin on their
answers. The most interesting comment came
during the county commission candidates’ time
on stage with the incumbent commissioner from
District 2 making the comment, “the worst board
I have worked with in my 21 years on the board.”
The Forsyth District incumbent commissioner
didn’t show up and the challenging candidate for
District 2 wasn’t able to attend due to the death
of his mother.
Most audience questioning was directed at the
school board candidates. The forum almost turn
ing into a school board meeting with the un
opposed school board chairman sitting in the
audience and answering a question, or better yet,
explaining an answer.
There seemed to be some concern expressed by
both tax commissioner candidates emphasizing
how they would be “customer friendly.”
The only almost heated discussion came
between district attorney candidates and then
during the magistrate judges’ time on stage.
AFTER READING how much in campaign con
tributions the candidates have raised, what is
going to be interesting is how much each candi
date will have spent per voter. For example, one
of the hope-to-be elected has raised—at this date-
-almost $20,000.
Let’s just suppose, that candidate gets 4,000
votes. That would mean he would have spent
five-dollars per vote. Instead of paying for all
that advertising, why don’t the candidates just
pay us to vote? That just might do something for
the local economy. Oops - can’t do that! It is
against the law.
NOW THAT gas has gotten below the $3 mark,
a friend of mine up in Atlanta who has a com
mute of 38 miles (one way), no longer takes
MARTA and has stopped carpooling. She has
gone back to driving her car the 76-mile round
trip.
If gas keeps going down in price, all that talk
about a rail system for middle Georgia will get on
the back burner in a hurry.
DOWN IN Houston County, according to a
columnist for the Houston Home Journal (the
same one that referred me to the Cicero quote in
last week’s column), there were 101 foreclosure
notices printed in the paper. Those foreclosures,
according to him, represented over $80 million.
Wonder how much money the 25 foreclosures
printed in this paper represent?
Let the wedding planning begin...
M y sister, Tara,
called me and
my family on
Saturday
with some
happy news. She and her
boyfriend of two and a half
years are officially engaged.
We knew it was coming, we
just didn't know it
would be this soon. She
was overjoyed as she
told me the story of how
he got on one knee and
presented her with a
half carat diamond ring.
Tearfully, she asked me
if I would be her maid
of honor. Well, of course!
Once the initial surprise
and happiness quieted
down, a sense of sadness
filled my heart.
Tara and I don't have a
typical sibling bond. While
we've had our fair share of
squabbles over the years,
we've always been more like
best friends than sisters.
Some would consider that
odd since there is a four
year age difference between
us, but I don't think it's odd
at all. I think our differences
are what make us so close.
Tara loves to talk, has
always been an honor stu
dent and doesn't have what
many would call a wild side.
As for me, well,
how should I say
this...I'm the child
that gave my par
ents fits at times.
Granted, I wasn't
horribly wild, but I
went through the
rebellious teenage
stage of talking
back to my parents
and one year, to a
P.E. teacher. I'll never forget
him calling my mother at
work because I refused to
participate in activities. My
mother got on the phone and
I don't quite remember what
she said, but I got my tail in
gear after hanging up the
phone.
As I sit here, I think back
to memories of summers
spent at the beach, camping
trips, traveling out West,
trips to Six Flags and other
family outings. Now, I'm not
old, but as I reflect, I wonder
where the time has gone.
Wasn't it yesterday that
Tara was pushing me on a
swing and teaching me how
to swim? While it would be
nice to stay young forever, it
just doesn't work that way.
People grow and move on,
and you have to roll with the
punches whether you like it
or not.
I'm honored that my sister
chose me to take on that role
in her wedding, and I plan
to be the best maid of honor
possible. Originally, she and
her fiance were thinking
about having the wedding in
March. I kind of freaked at
first, because that's not far
away. I didn't want to burst
her bubble, but I secretly
wondered how we would get
everything done. Ironically,
she called me Monday night
as I was writing this and
told me the wedding would
probably be next October,
because she didn't think she
could pull everything togeth
er by March. Whew. She was
still thrilled, breathlessly
telling me that the next time
I visit we would have to go
dress shopping. She won't
have to wait long, because
I'm going to Thomasville on
Friday to spend the weekend
with her. I can't wait to see
her engagement ring and
start the process of planning
a wedding, as I'm sure we
will do all weekend. I know
she'll look beautiful, as
always, on her wedding day
and I'm sure things will go
smoothly. I just hope I don't
cry.
Laura Thackston is the edi
torial assistant for the
Monroe County Reporter.
Email her at
forsyth@mymcr. net
By Laura
Thackston
KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOR
Name: Vicky Turnbow
Age: 61
Education:
Graduate of Mary
Persons
Family: Husband
Ted Turnbow, mar
ried 43 years, two
sons, four grandchil
dren and one on the
way
Where you wor
ship: Second Baptist
Church
Your job: Social
Worker
What was your first job:
Waitress
Your passion: Care of the
elderly and children
Your favorite posses
sion: My Bible
Favorite movie:
“Gone with the
Wind”
Favorite book:
The Bible
What kind of car
do you drive and
what was your
first car? 1957
Stuabaker, 2007
Chevy Impala
Your hometown:
Forsyth
Something you
are considering doing:
Losing weight
Words you live by: “Do
unto others as you would
have them do unto you.”
Something you can't
live without: My family
The thing you are most
proud of: My husband, Ted,
my sons and their families
What keeps you awake
at night: Nothing
Name something you
will never do again: Ride
a donkey at a donkey bas
ketball game
What's your favorite
web site? none
If your life had a theme
song what would it be? I
hope that you dance
If you could start your
life over, what would you
change? Nothing
What food could you eat
everyday? Ice Cream
Something people don't
know about you: I love to
roll down grassy hills and
run naked in cow pastures
What's the worst idea
you've ever had? To try to
run away from home on my
18th birthday-this was the
last spanking I received
from my Daddy.
What's the best thing
about living in Monroe
County? The wonderful
people
If you could change one
thing about Monroe
County what would it be?
Have all the store buildings
in town filled once again.
VICKY
TURNBOW
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Should candidates meet deadlines?
To the editor:
t was with great interest I read
in last week’s Reporter:
“Democrat tax commissioner can
didate Lori Andrews had not
filed her campaign financial dis
closure form by the Oct. 7 late filing
deadline, but officials said they had
talked to Andrews and that she prom
ised to bring them soon.”
Mrs. Andrews wants the citizens of
this county to entrust her with the
receipt of our tax monies and proper
disposition of these funds, yet she has
not abided by the regulations of rou
tine reporting of campaign funds. I
hope Monroe County notices this, it is
extremely revealing. If she does not
have the respect and ability to report
her own campaign business in a timely
manner, why would anyone want her to
be responsible for such an important
tax position as Tax Commissioner? Her
ads state she has eight and a half
years “formal experience and training
in the position for which I am a candi
date” yet she doesn’t understand or
ignorres deadlines in her own affairs.
And one might also note, this deadline
was “late filing.”
Obviously, I have never been Tax
Commissioner, but I do have respect
for the office and appreciate that the
person who fills this position needs a
mature, responsible work ethic. This is
not a small thing; deadlines are impor-
tant-or perhaps if I am late or do not
pay my taxes, as long as I “promise to
bring them soon” it will be acceptable?
Gail M. Travillian
Forsyth
Local bus driver responds to a critic
YES, our courthouse looks rather lonely without
the pecan trees and shrubbery. It is going to take
some getting used to, but only for a while. Jane
Newton, a member of the courthouse renovation
committee, sent me this e-mail, which she agreed
I could share. Here are a couple of her comments.
“Yes, I will miss the pecan trees for they were a
part of my growing up years. The pecans were
good and I enjoyed picking them up and sharing
with others. But times change as well as people
and places. Trees, as well as people, become in
poor health and a liability to themselves and the
surrounding area. Our 1896 courthouse and its
surrounding area needs to be a representation of
both those of us who are now the older genera
tion as well as those with ideas representing
today’s lifestyle. Hopefully in the renovation and
planning there can be mutual understanding.”
Well put Mrs. Newton.
AND this e-mail from a friend: “Not looking
good for that bailout plan.
“Back in 1990, the Government seized the
Mustang Ranch brothel in Nevada for tax eva
sion and, as required by law, tried to run it.
“They failed and it closed.
“Now we are trusting the economy of our coun
try to a pack of nit-wits who couldn’t make
money running a house of prostitution and sell
ing booze?”
Donald Jackson Daniel is the founder and for
mer publisher of The Reporter and can be contact
ed at tullaybear@bellsouth.net.
To the editor:
am a bus driver but I am writing
this as a taxpayer and concerned
citizen. For the past three or four
weeks, it seems someone has it
out for Monroe County bus driv
ers. Just say the words, “school bus,”
and it seems as if someone shouted a
curse word in the middle of a church
sermon. Last week, a letter writer in
the Reporter expressed concern that
the bus drivers are running a taxi
service for their own benefit. In a way I
guess we are. You see, with the fuel
shortage, the bus drivers share rides
home, in one bus per area, for instance,
the drivers who live in High Falls take
one bus home and back every day.
Let’s address the stopping in town for
doctor visits, grocery store, dollar gen
eral, Wal-Mart and the assorted food
stops on hamburger hill. Explain to me
how stopping at one of these places
wastes any more fuel? We are passing
in front of the places of business. If
pulling into and out of these parking
lots is what you consider wasting fuel,
well then you win. When we come to
town in the afternoon, we can now no
longer even stop and get something to
drink while we are driving these non
air-conditioned buses. Oh I am sure
someone will suggest that we get it
from home before we leave, but to tell
you the truth, there is nothing like an
ice cold lemonade from the Big Chic to
quench one’s thirst on a hot afternoon.
About cell phones: In every occupa
tion, there are employees who do not
follow the rules. We have some of these
employees also. I can only speak for
myself, I do not use a cell phone while
driving a bus.
This next issue is personal. I live on
Rocky Creek Road. I am a driver and a
very good one. As for any buses being
“loaded” with children, you are mistak
en. This road is the beginning and end
ing area for the two regular education
routes in this area. I am trying to fig
ure how I could have gotten up to race
car speed if in fact I have to stop at
every other mailbox to pickup and
unload children. I would be lucky to
reach 15 mph between mailboxes. As
far as one of us almost hitting you,
remember, this is a dirt road, speed
limit 25 mph. Also it is very narrow in
places and all drivers should try to
remain on their side of the road. That
goes for car drivers also. You also men
tioned that there are too many buses
going down the same road. Obviously
you have not been keeping up with this
years changes, let me help you out. The
three buses you see coming down the
road are three different student buses.
One bus carries only middle and high
school students, the next bus, mine,
carries only elementary, the last bus is
a special needs bus that my son rides.
They have to come down here and pick
him up, even if he is the only student
on this road that requires this type of
bus.
Next issue: smoking buses. You will
have to talk to the maintenance per
sonnel to address those comments.
Why in the world would you look into a
school bus that is parked at Wal-Mart?
As for the trash, it is the “precious”
children and grandchildren making
this mess, and how do you know that
the driver swept that bus before the
afternoon route. Did you step into the
bus to see if the back of the bus was
also dirty? If you did, then you would
be trespassing. If the windows are open
and the bus is moving, all items on the
floor at the back of the bus will move
forward.
Finally, if you and your senior friends
need a lift to the store or the doctor, go
to the senior center across from the
Hubbard Elementary. They have a van
and they serve lunch and they will
even take you on field trips.
To Mr. Clark, please get all of the
facts before you start your rant.
Sandra Dyar
Forsyth