Newspaper Page Text
February 7,2018
Page 5A
ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
by Don Daniel
When will Monroe
get some growth?
I n the monthly issues of Georgia Trend maga
zine, there is a column devoted to “Economic
Development Around The State”, listing com
panies coming to or
expanding all around
our state, i.e. a beer com
pany expanding in Forsyth
County, a cookie company
expanding in Johns Creek,
a Belgian floor company
opening a distribution cen
ter in Floyd County, 70 new
jobs going to Soperton down
in Treutlen County, and an
automotive parts company
investing $30 million into a
Harris County facility, cre
ating 110 jobs.
Hardly a week goes
by that we don’t see a
story about industrial
growth happening in counties all around us, Bibb,
Crawford, Peach, Jones, to mention just a few.
What do these counties and cities have that, we
don’t? Well, we do have a Development Authority
of Monroe County with a president and board that
should have clout, when it. comes to identifying
and promoting Monroe County and “selling” a new
industry our assets. We haven’t, had a new indus
try to locate in Monroe County since... well, I can’t,
remember when.
And then, the City of Forsyth has an economic
development, director that, is supposed to be pound
ing the state and nose to grind promoting down
town Forsyth as a “good for business” location.
Downtown Forsyth has a couple of new businesses
which raises the question: Did they discover us or
we them? Luck of the draw, maybe.
I am sure these two individuals and their respec
tive boards can come up with unimaginable excus
es for the industry location stagnation that, seems
to be plaguing Forsyth and Monroe County.
The question that, seems to be the main topic that,
is ignored: What, are these other counties and cities
doing to attract economic growth? And here’s one
for you to ponder: What., as a taxpayer, incentives
would you be willing to offer/give a prospective
industry to locate here? Or better yet., what, incen
tives would you recommend to the president, of the
Development. Authority of Monroe County and to
the City of Forsyth’s economic director?
Economic development, is a slippery slope and
requires a certain amount, of finesse to stay “in the
game” of bidding against, other cities and counties
for an industry that, is out. shopping around for the
“best, deal” economically.
It. would be a local game changer if we all could
work together, unified without, selfishness or con
cerned about, who gets the credit.. We all get. the
credit, when we are unified.
CLEANING off my desk, I found this email
from Jo Anna Banks, formerly with the Georgia
Department, of Community Affairs but. more
recently, Forsyth’s Better Hometown Director. She
now lives in Alabama but. has close family ties here
in Monroe County. She wrote, “I hated to read the
train museum efforts came to a halt, in Forsyth.
While I don’t, know the particulars---space, $$$,
etc. to secure a home, I do understand the impor
tant. significance of the rail history in Forsyt.h-
Monroe County and the tourism draw it. could be
for the City/County”.
Jo Anna further wrote of the logical locations for
a train museum: “While I am no longer a resident.,
I want your community to grow and sustain local
businesses. Here are three options that, may or
may not. work and you may have considered these:
1. the old Ann’s Deli---great. location off 1-75 and
would clean up the derelict, property. 2. Two story
white bldg, on Tift. Campus. At. one time there
was talk of making this bldg, a museum. Maybe
it. could be a combo project---train history and jail/
COC history (top 10 arrests/prisoners---got to be
some colorful stories) plus close to proximity to
depot/rail. 3. Mr. Newton’s property located next, to
stone depot., back second that’s “level” from street
elevation. He already has some retail space---un
tapped potential to make year round farmer’s mar
ket., train museum, a retail “depot.” if you will.
“Thanks for letting me share my thoughts and I
hope that, the train museum project, can be resur
rected.”
Great, ideas but. sadly the Forsyth City Council
did not. and does not. realize the potential of such
a tourist attraction. Rather, they want, to spend
taxpayer money to construct an arch on North Lee
Street, to welcome tourists past, hamburger hill
to Historic Downtown Forsyth-If-You-C-an-Find-A
Parking-Place, take-a-shower-at-our-water-park,
play-golf-on-the-course-we-just-bought, have-a-
meet.ing-at.-t.he-legion-hall-which-now-has-new-
roof, bring-your-skateboard-and-do-tricks-at-this
exciting-new-skateboard-park-that-is-under-repair.
Don’t, wait, on this one! The council, at. its annual
retreat, in Atlanta, seemed to prioritize getting rid
of blighted properties. This newspaper and in this
column identified six blighted properties long ago
and, you guessed, nothing has been done and the
city ordinance in regards to blighted properties has
been ignored and more than likely will continue to
be so with excuse after excuse!
OUR county commissioners are “eyeing” a
master plan for the Monroe County Recreation
Department, and Sarah Bazemore was the first,
with that, answer to The Question. She receives
a certificate for a dozen Dunkin Donuts, Dairy
Queen Blizzard, Jonah’s cookie, two Lucky Cafe
egg rolls, Whistle Stop fried green tomato appetiz
er, Forsyth Main Street, t.-shirt., The Pickled Okra
sandwich, chips and drink. Here’s The Question for
this week: according to last, week’s paper, how long
(how many days) has it. been since Congressman
Austin Scott, held his last, town hall meeting in
Forsyth? First, correct, email answer after 12 noon
on Thursday gets the good certificate.
Exporter
TAKING A LIKENS by Dale Likens
Try on these predictions for size
I n the past, two months my
wife and I have driven to
Arizona and back twice.
Eight, thousand miles in
all! We’re tired! People
asks how our trips went.. Let. me
sum it. up this way: Arizona is
okay, Texas is a long, long, long
way from anywhere and the
other states in between
were wonderfully closer
to home. That’s about, it.
It’s nice to be home in
Forsyth, Georgia.
Because of our long,
sometimes tiring, trips,
I woke up one day last,
week realizing January
was almost, gone. What,
happened? I didn’t, even
have a moment, to think of a New
Year’s resolution. The truth is, I
haven’t, thought, of one for years.
When I did, I usually forgot, them
by February, so what.’s the use?
Now, my thoughts have changed
to predictions; like what, might,
happen between January and
December of this year. Actually,
I’m not. too good at. predict
ing either, especially in sports.
Shamefully, I even predicted
Hillary Clinton would win our
last, presidential election. Not.
because I wanted her to win.
Well! All the polls told me she
would!
However, .since one of our vis
its to Arizona was to attend our
grandson’s wedding, my first, pre
diction is that, sometime later this
year my wife and I will receive
a phone call from our grandson
and his lovely wife informing us
that, we will soon be great-grand
parents! That., of course, would
be wonderful news since my wife
is already checking every
baby store at. Tanger
Outlet, and near-by malls
for baby clothes.
Another prediction I
am brave enough to pub
licly announce is that.
Democrats will still be
taking counseling classes
and playing with clay to
help them over our past,
presidential election.
My third prediction is that, a
few, heartless Republicans will
sneak into those classes and mix
a bag of cement, and a bucket, of
water with the clay just to con
fuse and rattle the Democrats a
little more.
My fourth prediction is that.
President. Trump will offer all our
representatives and senators a
huge pay increase and finally get.
a 100 percent, agreement, from
each party.
Prediction number five is that,
the FBI will no longer be referred
to as the FBI. From this year on
it. will be called the SYCU, which
means “Shucks, You Caught. Us!”
One sure prediction I will make
this year is that. Rep. Maxine
Waters of California will some
how wiggle her way past. Nancy
Pelosi and soon become our new
Minority Leader of the United
States House of Representatives.
Then, I predict, that. Nancy Pelosi
will protest and shout., “Impeach
her! Impeach her! Impeach her!”
I know this is a common pre
diction among many who follow
politics, but. I predict, the “swamp”
will soon shrink to a mere “pud
dle.” I believe more and more
Democrats and Republicans will
crawl out. of the swamp and dis
appear into thin air. Then maybe,
just maybe, we can get. back to
making America Great. Again!
Finally, I predict, that, some
brave soul will e-mail Sean
Hannity and tell Sean he really
likes him. I believe he will tell
Sean that, he has chickens that,
watch the Sean Hannity show
with him and none of his chick
ens have died watching the Sean
Hannity show! (I guess you have
to watch the Sean Hannity TV
show to know where I’m coming
from, but. I predict, it. will happen!)
Then maybe, just maybe, he will
finally get. rid of all that, nonsense
at. the end of each program!
Dale Likens is an author who
lives in Monroe County.
CAROLYN'S CORNER by Carolyn Martel
Do this when you lose confidence
T oday I was thinking
about, the privilege of
teaching at. a women’s
conference. As I
looked out. over the
congregation, I noticed
some of the women were
crying.
WHAT WAS I say
ing that, struck a nerve
in these women? Here
is the main point of my
teaching. I said, ‘Today,
God wants to activate
some hopes and dreams,
talents and abilities
that, have been lying
dormant, inside of
you. Satan has done
all he can to shut,
you up, shut you in and shut you
down. Some of you should have
lost your mind by now. Some of
you shouldn’t, even have a mind,
because of all that, you have been
through. But. look at. you. You’re
here today and that’s a testimony
of God’s unfailing strength and
love! Obviously there’s
something in you that,
refuses to die! You have
refused to roll over and
play dead. Satan would
love for you to do that.,
but. obviously you’re a
fighter and you refuse
to be defeated by the
schemes of the devil.
I CONTINUED,
“Ladies, I want, you
to see yourself living
such a fearless, confi
dent. life through God’s unlimited
power, that, you will cause the
devil to have a nervous break
down! Instead of you being the
one having a meltdown, let. him
be the one that’s calling for Prozac
and walking the floor at. night..
Let. him be one who he is wring
ing his hands; let. him be the one
who self-destructs; let. him be the
one who rolls over and plays dead,
because he sees Christ in you -
“the hope of glory!”
HAVE YOU lost, your confi
dence? Maybe the better ques
tion is, “Do you need to reclaim
your confidence in God?” His
word offers this encouragement,
to men and women alike. Heb.
10:35 says,”So do not. throw away
this confident, trust in the Lord.
Remember the great, reward it.
brings you!”
Carolyn Martel is the advertising
manager for the Reporter. Email
her at ads@mymcr.net,
OUR VIEW
Austin (never in) City Limits
Monroe County's congressman Austin Scott (R-Ashburn) held
his last Town Hall with his constituents in Forsyth (at right)
on Aug. 20,2014, which was 1,267 days ago. Scott defeated
incumbent Congressman Jim Marshall in 2010 after Marshall
went several years without hosting a Town Hall meeting with
his constituents in Forsyth. If you want an opportunity to
let Scott know what you want him to do in Congress, call his
Washington office at (202) 225-6531 and let him know.
Kemp dawdles on county line
When Brian Kemp became secretary of state on Jan. 8,2010, Terry Scarbor
ough's survey of the Monroe-Bibb county line was on his desk. The law says
it's his job to do something with it. But Kemp, an ambitious politician who
announced on March 13,2017 his intention to run for governor, punted. He
announced on Aug. 23,2011 that he was rejecting the Scarborough survey
because he can't be sure it's the original line. Unfortunately, the law gives
him no such option. So on March 10,2014, the Supreme Court ordered
him to set the line and resolve the dispute. That was three years ago. The
Reporter is devoting this space each week to counting the number of days
Kemp has been on the job, and yet not done his job. If you want Kemp to
do the job which he's sought three times before he gets a promotion to
governor, call his office at (404) 656-2817 and let them know.
SERVING YOU...
FORSYTH
CITY
COUNCIL
Eric Wilson
Mayor
478-461-0889
Dexter King
Post 1
478-320-3160
Chris Hewett
Post 2
478-960-1017
Melvin Lawrence Greg Goolsby
Post 3 Post 4
478-993-7841 404-402-1134
T
- *
f: ^
wHm
i
CXi
Julius Stroud Mike Dodd
Post 5 Post 6
706-819-0797 478-994-6203
Don Daniel founded, the Reporter in 1972. Email
him at mediadr@bellsouth.net,