Newspaper Page Text
April 11, 2018
iReporter
17 West Johnston Street • Forsyth, GA 31029 • “On the Square” • 478.994.8325
County remembers
commissioner Carlisle
www.GritsCafe.cofh
By Will Davis
publisher@mymcmet
Monroe County this week
is remembering former
county commission chair
man Harold Carlisle, who
died on Sunday at age 87 after
suffering a serious stroke.
Carlisle served three terms
as a county commissioner,
the last one as chairman. Of
his political career, Carlisle
often said he was proudest
that when he was chairman
from 2004-08, the county
was able to end its practice of
borrowing money to operate
until property taxes started
coming in every December.
He was also proud to have
reached an agreement with
then-Bibb County commis
sion chairman Charlie Bishop
to resolve the county-line
dispute, but regretted that his
fellow commissioners refused
to codify the deal. Monroe
County would go on to spend
at least $3 million since then
on the spat, thus far without
a resolution. Carlisle was the
first Republican county com
mission chairman.
Carlisle, who spent 35 years
with the Georgia National
Guard, operated an auto
repair business in Macon
with his late brother until
retirement.
When he became the latest
in a series of county commis
sion chairs not to be re-elect
ed in 2008, Carlisle talked
with his wife Betty about
moving to St. Simons but
opted to stay in his beloved
Monroe County and stayed
active in politics to the end.
In fact, his Reporter ad
endorsing then-candidate,
now-chairman, Greg Tapley
in 2016 drew a still-active
slander lawsuit from the los
ing candidate, Carlisles long
time rival Mike Bilderback.
In order, former chairmen
Ben Spear, Carlisle, James
Vaughn and Mike Bilderback
were all defeated after just one
term.
While he was serious about
politics, he approached it with
his rapier wit and sense of
humor, such that he even got
along with Democrats.
Long-time Monroe County
Republican Todd Tolbert re
called that then-Democratic
Congressman Jim Marshall
asked Carlisle to moderate a
town hall meeting in Forsyth
in 2010. The public was
outraged at the time about
Obamacare and increasing
health insurance premiums.
Carlisle introduced Marshall
but then let him have the
floor before a packed BOE
auditorium.
The more that Marshall
talked, recalled Tolbert, the
madder the Monroe County
crowd got, blasting Marshalls
Norris leaving Forsyth
By Diane Glidewell
news@mymcmet
Forsyths first economic
development director, Mi
chael Norris, announced that
he has accepted a position
with Augusta-Richmond
County and will be leaving
his employment with the city
of Forsyth on Friday, April
20. He will begin his new
job as project manager with
the Economic Development
Authority of consolidated
Augusta-Richmond County
the following Monday.
Norris began working
for Forsyth in July 2016 in
the newly-created position
of economic development
director. Mayor Eric Wilson
said that hiring Norris ful
filled one of the major goals
he and council members set
at the start of 2016, when
Wilson took office. They
wanted someone with exper
tise working on economic
development for the city full
time. Norris had completed
a Masters in Public Admin
istration at Valdosta State
University in 2015 and an
internship in economic
development in Atlanta. He
is from the Savannah area.
“Michael has done an
awesome job since he came
here. We certainly hate to
lose him, but we wish him
the best,” said Forsyth City
Manager Janice Hall. “We
were fortunate to get him
and to have him for almost
two years.”
Norris had the challenge of
defining his position at the
same time he was learning
the area, learning where
things were, who was who
and how things worked. He
said he felt like he spent the
NORRIS
first six
months
on the
job
getting
a good
under
standing
ofhow
govern
ment
and
busi
ness worked in Forsyth and
Monroe County.
“I learned a lot. I had to
go the extra mile on ev
erything,” he said. “I hope
I’ve left a good base for this
position.”
Norris will definitely have
a lot of memories associ
ated with Forsyth. As well
as holding his first career
position here, he bought his
first house in Forsyth and he
and his wife, Haley, married
during his tenure in Forsyth.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed
my time in Forsyth,” said
Norris. “I will always cherish
my two years as a citizen and
employee of the City ’
He said the decision to
accept the position with
Augusta came very quickly.
He was not seeking other
employment but was offered
a position that he feels is a
good career move for him.
The Augusta-Richmond
County Economic Develop
ment Authority hired a new
president in January, and
he is putting a new team
in place for the city, which
has a population of200,000
and metro area of590,000.
Norris said he likes that his
office will be in a historic,
refurbished building like the
Welcome Center where he
worked in Forsyth.
Democratic party. Finally,
Marshall looked pleadingly at
Carlisle for help and Carlisle
just quietly nodded in return
with his famous Cheshire cat
grin.
“Jim said ‘I thought I had a
moderator!”’ recalled Tolbert.
“Harold was a guy you defi
nitely wanted on your side.”
Current District 3 commis
sioner John Ambrose said it
was Carlisle who convinced
him to run for office. He
said Carlisle did a lot for the
county and their Masonic
lodge.
“He’ll be a helluva man to
replace,” said Ambrose.
See Carlisle’s full obituary
on page 6A.
ITHIS-WEEK1S.FEATURES
Wednesday, April 11th
The Runaway
Mushroom bisque with roasted garlic and Gorgonzola croutons
Cheeseburger steam bun
Blue Plate
Southern fried pork chops
with mushroom gravy
Thursday, April 12th
The Runaway
Creamy tomato basil bisque with asiago croutons
Garlic grilled cheese with asiago crust
Blue Plate
Chicken pot pie
with puff pastry crust
Friday, April 13th
The Runaway
Shrimp and grits bisque
Grown up grilled cheese
Blue Plate
BBQ rubbed beef short rib
with "loaded" baked potato salad
Featured menu items may be subject to change based on availability.
Norris said that one of the
most important things he
did in Forsyth was to be the
single point of contact for
businesses. When some
one came to the city with
questions, he made sure
the person got answers and
not a run-around. He feels
the facade grants through
DDA have been an asset to
Forsyth, and he said there
are a number of develop
ments happening in Forsyth
that he would like to see
come to fruition, like the
Volume Chevrolet dealer
ship coming to town and the
new developments replacing
the blighted Regency and
Tradewinds properties.
‘A lot of things are in
process. We are on the cusp,”
Norris said. He talked of
how the city’s appearance has
improved over the last two
years through Streetscape,
facade grants and new
businesses opening in town,
creating a city that leaves a
good impression even to
people just driving through.
He said that in the state
everyone works together for
economic development; so
he expects to continue con
tact with some of the leaders
he has met as he advocated
for Forsyth.
Hall said the city will begin
its search for a new eco
nomic development director
soon.
“I hope we will find a sec
ond economic development
director as good as our first
one,” she said.
c < Sti //cs
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REGIONAL TEACHER JOB FAIR
Saturday, April 28, 2018
10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Location: Kiwanis Event Center
1025 South Hill Street, Griffin, GA 30224
Who Should Attend?
2 • Those eligible for teaching certification for the
2018-2019 school year
What to Expect:
• Information about South Metro Suburban Region & Schools
• Meet staff and representatives from eight (8) South Metro
Suburban School Systems representing 125+ schools and over
100,000 students
• Human Resources Staff from Regional School Systems
including Henry County, Fayette County, Newton County,
Spalding County, Upson County, Butts County, Pike County &
Lamar County
What to bring with you:
• At least 15 copies of a one-page resume to provide System
Human Resources & School Reps
No Pre-registration Required. For more information contact
Griffin Regional Education Service Agency (RESA) at
770-229-3247 or visit www.griffinresa.net
Come Teach in the Highest Performing &
Fastest Growing Region in Georgia
LIKENS
Continued from Front
in Tennessee—that says,
fool me once, shame on—
shame on you. Fool me—
you can’t get fooled again.
10. And there is dis
trust in Washington. I am
surprised, frankly, at the
amount of distrust that
exists in this town. And I’m
sorry it’s the case, and I’ll
work hard to try to elevate
it.
11. The vast majority of
our imports come from
outside the country.
12. It isn’t pollution that’s
harming the environment.
It’s the impurities in our air
and water that are doing it.
13. If we don’t succeed,
we run the risk of failure.
14. One word sums up
probably the responsibility
of any Governor, and that
one word is ‘to be prepared.’
15.1 have made good
judgments in the past, I
have made good judgments
in the future.
16. A low voter turn-out
is an indication of fewer
people going to the polls.
I hope these humor
ous slip-ups by two of my
favorite politicians have
brought as much laughter
to your life as they have
mine. Enjoy your day! God
Bless.
Dale Likens is an au
thor who lives in Monroe
County.
SH
MOBL
State House
District 141
We Deserve the Same Access
to High-Speed Internet!
Rural Georgia is being denied economic growth, education
and telemedicine because your state government doesn’t
think you’re as important as Atlanta.
As your State Representative, Shane Mobley will fight
for your right to the same connectivity and opportunity
as people who live near big cities.
VOTE SHANE MOBLEY
V
www.MobleyForGA.com