Newspaper Page Text
January 7, 2009
On the outside looking in
Things you
can expect
in 2009...
W ell, here we are almost a week into
2009 and we have to wonder: will this
new year be as exciting as last year?
From the political standpoint, I don’t
expect the Monroe County commission
to initially be as personality dysfunctional as 2008.
With a new Democrat chairman and the two
Democratic district commission
ers being re-elected, will we
have a “love-fest”? I don’t think
so. The two Republicans are
now in the minority and with
the animosity that arose when
the Republicans were in the
majority, you can expect some
very definitive divisiveness to
raise its ugly head. Remember:
“pay back is hell!”
The real problem with the
commissioners in 2008 were
highly obvious personality
conflicts not necessarily based
on party affiliation. There’s a
lot of dependency on the new chair
man to make the commission functional.
OVER at the Forsyth City Hall, this could be anoth
er pivotal year for some big changes. First the city is
still mired in whom to hire for a city administrator
and this is going to be a campaign year for three
council members. Lamar Russell, Mike Dodd and
Rosemary Walker are going to have to make a deci
sion as to whether to run again.
And then, there is Forsyth’s Streescape plan. The
original plans got nixed after citizen input and now
there’s a new Streetscape plan that is already the
bane of several council members attempting to pla
cate those who are going to come out against the plan
and use the “anti” in their campaigns for re-election.
There will probably be another “citizen” input meeting
and as one council member stated, “the new plans will
probably get criticized to the point that in my life
time, downtown Forsyth won’t change.”
SURELY the Department of Corrections should have
learned something about Forsyth’s Streetscape plans
when they have thrown open the door for everyone to
anonymously vote for Option A, Option B or Option C
for the fence work around the campus. You’ve got
until next week to cast your vote for your choice. So,
shut-up, be happy if your plan is not chosen and be
satisfied that at least you had the chance to vote and
work on the Tift Campus proceeds regardless of the
economic conditions and your vote. At least DOC has
n’t stopped working and is planning on building a
fence.
WHO ARE Monroe County’s largest landowners?
According to records in the Tax Assessor’s office there
are 15,718 parcels of land in Monroe County. That fig
ure is not representative of individual property own
ers since some property owners have more than one
parcel. Therefore, there are fewer owners than
parcels.
Here are the biggest parcel/landowners in Monroe
County. Coming in at number one is Ingram-Legrand,
Ingram Timber, Mrs. O. W. Ingram, Naomi Ingram
Estate at 9,328.41 acres.
At number two, B. Griffin and Timberlands at
5,695.64. The number three is WOD at 5,242.40 acres.
Number four ranking goes to Newton Timber with
4,508.63 acres. Last but not least at number five is
Vaughn, Vaughn Lumber and Vaughn Farms with
4,400.4 acres, which are represented by our newly
elected commission chairman.
HAVING served on the Monroe County Board of
Equalization for the past five years, this past session
of the BOE was the toughest. There were over 3,000
property tax appeals with over 700 reaching the BOE.
Our tax assessors resolved many the appeals before
reaching the BOE “dumping the angry” before us.
We—Monroe County— languished in undervalued
property values for many years and the Tax Assessors
were basically forced to bring Monroe County proper
ty values in line with what the Georgia Department
of Revenue said they should be. What you paid in
taxes on your property this year was based on 2007
values not the 2008 values of our depressed economy.
So, here’s your chance. If you were/are unhappy with
your 2007 property valuations your property valua
tions for 2008 can be contested. If you believe the
economy and real estate slump has affected your
property’s value/worth below which the Monroe
County Tax Assessors have appraised for tax purpos
es, get off your duff.
According to Georgia Law you, a residential proper
ty owner, can contest Monroe County’s valuation. You
can contest the valuation to the Tax Assessors by fil
ing what you “think” is your property’s taxable value.
Go to the Monroe County Tax Commissioner’s office
and I am sure the newly elected tax commissioner
will guide you in the right direction. You’ve got
between now and April 1 to think, get off your duff
and file.
BETCH’A DIDN’T know: It is impossible to lick
your elbow. Are you going to be one of the 75 percent
of people who, after reading the above, will try to lick
your elbow? If you succeed, call me and I will make
you world famous.
Donald Jackson Daniel is the founder and former
publisher of The Reporter. He can be contacted at tul-
laybear@bellsouth. net.
c; Reporter
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Thanks for helping Zapareo
To the editor:
hank you to all the local
supporters and businesses
who gave so graciously
and freely from your
hearts to help sponsor
and aid in the Zapareo Glover
Gospel Benefit Program on Sunday,
Nov. 30. Your support and donations
of food for refreshments and gifts for
the drawings helped to make this
program a success. Again I say
thank you! And I ask for the public
to continue supporting our local
businesses. May God also continu
ously bless your businesses. Thanks
to Ann's Deli, American Pizza,
Ingles, Freshway, Captain D's,
Wendy's, Subway, Waffle House,
Pizza Hut, Brad Johnson (a special
thanks), Wal-Mart and Dollar
General (Forsyth).
Zapareo Glover and
Family
Forsyth
Zapareo Glover, middle, thanks the
community for helping him recover af
ter being shot at the Dairy Queen.
Willingham
continued from the front
"He was one of those men
that exemplified the
Greatest Generation," said
Forsyth police Maj. Matt
Perry. A family friend,
Perry said he got to know
Willigham best when Perry
worked at Dodd's Builders
Supply. Willingham made
his rounds every weekday
morning to his church,
Forsyth United Methodist,
and then to Dodd's.
"We used to have some
wonderful conversations at
Dodd's," said Perry. "The
most important thing he
taught me was the impor
tance of living your
life..that when you pass on
you only take your last
name. Of living an honor
able life."
Perry called Willingham
a piece of living history in
Forsyth who can teach a
lot to younger generations.
Willingham was born in
1914 and graduated from
Mary Persons and the
University of Georgia. In
1941 he volunteered for
the newly formed Georgia
Air National Guard. He
was activated and served
in the European Theater,
mostly handling supply
duties but also flying com
bat missions in a B-17.
He was sent overseas
again in 1951 during the
Korean War, helping
arrange housing for U.S.
soldiers and their families
in Germany.
He retired from the Air
Force as a colonel in 1952
and joined the Air
National Guard, where he
rose to the rank of
brigadier general and
retired in 1971.
Willingham earned a
number of honors during
his military career, but he
said he was proudest of a
recognition from the enlist
ed men of the 438rd bom
bardment group H for
improving their overseas
living conditions. The men
said Willingham made
their temporary homes
"much more comfortable in
this forsaken part of Italy.
We face the winter rain
and mud with nary a
tremor...construction of our
winter homes would have
been extremely doubtful if
you hadn't been so gener
ous and thoughtful."
After retiring in 1971 he
settled back in Forsyth
with his wife Nita and
children and went into
business with his father
and brother in the
Willingham Motor Co. His
nephew, Lee Willingham,
said his uncle ran the serv
ice shop while his father
and brother sold cars.
Jackson Daniel, the assis
tant superintendent of
Monroe County schools,
wrote that Willingham's
death leaves a big void in
Forsyth.
"(He lived) the fullest of
lives," said Daniel, noting
Willingham was still mow
ing his own grass this
summer at age 94. "He was
funny, opinionated, strong-
willed, but had the most
gentle nature."
He was a leader in
Forsyth United Methodist
Church and with the
Forsyth Kiwanis Club. His
current pastor, the Rev.
Ken Stephens, said
Willingham loved people
and loved to pray. He also
believed there was a right
way to do things, said
Stephens. He was relent
lessly punctual, recalled
Stephens, noting that if his
sermon went on too long,
Willingham would tap his
watch thinking something
was wrong with it.
Stephens said Willingham
told him not to say at his
funeral that he “passed
away.” “Tell them I died,”
Willingham told him.
Friends also remembered
his sense of humor.
Stephens said Willingham
was so proud of his new
Chevrolet Impala and
would sit in it and press
the Onstar button. "Where
am I?" he'd ask the locator.
"Forsyth, Georgia," it'd
say, a marvel to
Willingham.
Wheeles recalled the time
they were returning from
Israel where customs
agents had ordered them
not to pack any contra
band, like fruit.
Willingham ate his fruit
and apparently thought he
had gotten rid of it. But
later, a fruit-sniffing dog
nosed in on Willingham's
bag and found more of the
contraband. Wheeles joked
that he promised to wave
to Willingham when he
was on the chaingang.
Bob Harris said
Willingham was very gen
erous when his older son
asked for donations for an
overseas people-to-people
trip in high school. When
Harris's youngest son got
ready to go, Willingham
handed him another signif
icant check but joked, "You
ain't got any other children
I don't know about do
you?"
See his obituary page 6A.
Fill out the form below to nominate someone for Citizen of inate others for honors to be awarded at the Jan. 22 annual
the Year. Nominations are due Friday, Jan. 9. Fax to 994- chamber of commerce banquet. For more information call
9240. Also go to www.forsyth-monroechamber.com to nom- Regina Chalkley at 994-9239.
Nomination Application
Name of Nominee
Address:
City/State/Zip:
Phone:
E-mail:
Occupation:
Employer:
Title:
Spouse:
Children:
If additional space is needed, please attach another piece of paper.
1. CIVIC ACTIVITIES: must be unpaid activities that enhance the livability and profitability of the area.
2.
BUSINESS INVOLVEMENT: for the good of the community, the creation of new jobs, and working towards
better economies.
3. Contribution to the Community:
4. Examples of Leadership, Vision, Creativity, Innovation:
Signature of Nominator:.
Printed Name of Nominator:.
I Address: Daytime Phone Number: I
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