Newspaper Page Text
March 21, 2018
Page 5A
ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN by Don Daniel
City council candidate Ronald Bearden was ready to
debate at the Reporters May 1 forum, but his opponent
former mayor John Howard was a no-show.
City cant afford
‘No Show’ Howard
I n a week, May 22, the polls are going to open for us vot
ers to make some choices. On the local level, we will be
voting for school board members in a couple of districts,
our state representatives, governor and others, expressing
a yea or nay on a tax increase and a council member in the
city of Forsyth. We all are getting inundated with robo-calls,
junk mail, etc.
I know I am going to “catch some grief” by expressing what
I am fixing to. For the council seat held by the late Dexter
King, Ronald Bearden and the former disgraced mayor John
Howard are on the ballot for the throne. Howards entangle
ment in the fringe of breaking the law and using the office for
his personal gain while he was mayor disgraced the office and
him personally. Obviously he is seeking redemption for his
mayoral transgressions. Wonder if he realizes he will not have
“free” use of a city vehicle and will have to pay his TV cable
bill? Maybe he skipped the city council debate because he
didn’t want to answer questions
about that?
OVER at the county commis
sion, the checkbook was brought
out to reimburse commissioner
Eddie Rowland $228.36 for travel
around his district and chair
man Greg Tapley got a check for
$763.51for his March and April
traveling. We also paid $1,988.52
for something called “health
coaching”.
Last night, commissioners held
their meeting down in Boling-
broke instead of at the county
offices in downtown Forsyth. This
was the second “Mobile Commissioners Meeting” held this
year. The first MCM was held down in Culloden. Guess the
next one will be Juliette? Wonder if the commissioners will
request mileage reimbursement for “traveling” to Culloden
and Bolingbroke. I am sure if they think they can, they will.
TWO out of three persons running for school board dis
trict were identified by Kathy Branch as Greg Head and Matt
Morris. Kathy gets a certificate for a dozen Dunkin Donuts,
Dairy Queen Blizzard, Whistle Stop fried green tomato appe
tizer, Jonahs cookie, slice of Shoney’s strawberry pie, Forsyth
Main Street t-shirt, drink, chips and sandwich at The Pickled
Okra.
This weeks question is going to require some research but it
was printed in last weeks paper. Here’s The Question for this
week: Select two items out of five that are listed as projects
for Monroe County if the 1 -percent tax we will vote on is
appoved. First correct answer after 12 noon of Thursday gets
the certificate.
DON’T forget to listen to The Reporter On The Radio on
Majic 100 on Sunday mornings at 7 or any time by clicking
on the radio tab at mymcr.net and watch the show on Forsyth
Cablevision.
Don Daniel founded the Reporter in 1972. Email him at
mediadr@bellsouth. net.
Austin (not long in) City Limits
Monroe Countys congressman Austin Scott (R-Ashburn)
held his last Town Hall with his constituents in Forsyth
(at right) on Aug. 20, 2014. Scott defeated incumbent
Congressman Jim Marshall in 2010 after Marshall went
several years without hosting a Town Hall meeting with
his constituents in Forsyth. Scott did attend a chamber of
commerce event on May 1 but did not take questions from
constituents and therefore cannot be considered a town
hall meeting. 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.
^Reporter
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Mobley responds to columnist Oliver
(Editors note: Because we cannot
print them all, the Reporter normally
does not publish letters to the editor
concerning candidates for office. But
because one of our columnists criti
cized this candidate last week, we are
giving him space for a rebuttal.)
To the Editor,
r. Oliver, I am very
disappointed in your
column (“Sloan unveils
election endorse
ments,” page 4A, May 9 Reporter),
one which very few people appreci
ated. A true writer is one who uses
facts not emotion so the reader can
trust what is written. After your
article I think most will agree you
have not been truthful, which is sad
because you had an opportunity to
do some really credible writing.
I am a very “Fiscally Conservative
Republican”, so you comparing me
to a Democrat and accusing me of
half-truths and innuendos makes
you truly the thing you are accusing
me of. Every single piece of literature
or post I have produced has been
sourced. Most of the sourcing has
been from the Monroe County
Reporter itself. I have never lied or
been dishonest, it’s been quite the
opposite and maybe that’s what you
really have issues with. Any and
everything I have said is absolutely
the truth and is sourced.
I am actually financing more than
99 percent of my campaign. My
website has a donation button for
compliance and it made it easier for
a few people who have donated to
me, one being my Mom. I have not
formally asked anyone for a cam
paign donation. Of the $150,0001
reported in campaign funds, I have
received less than $1,000 in dona
tions. Referring me to as “Shady
Shane” is not great writing and it’s
just childish name calling, some
thing I feel you should be above. As
far as referring to Todd Tolbert being
the reason we are now in debt $10.4
million for the hospital I remind
you I got this information from the
Monroe County Reporter, which I
source in every article.
The bottom line.. .you can’t bor
row your way out of debt! Using the
good credit of the citizens of Monroe
County to finance way more than
the hospital needed doesn’t take
great management skills it just takes
good credit, which in this case is
the credit of the Monroe County
taxpayer. The hospital is facing con
siderable headwinds in the future. I
have been involved in saving rural
hospitals for 20 years and I will stand
in support to make sure the Monroe
County Hospital is as successful as it
can be while minimizing the impact
on Monroe County taxpayers. This is
what a true leader should do, what a
representative of District 141 should
aim to do: Make sure taxes are low
and defending the district from
unnecessary spending and protect
District 141 from any and all special
interests. I would certainly entertain
having a cup of coffee or a meal to
discuss these issues with you. Would
you be open? Kindest regards,
Shane Mobley
Macon
Vote no on big hike in sales tax
To the Editor,
he T-SPLOST referendum
on your May 22 ballot is a
15 percent increase in your
sales tax. Please vote no.
Jones and Monroe counties voted
this down in 2012. Georgia has
changed the vote counting to make
it easier to pass. All 11 counties are
voting as one. Majority rules. Large
counties can force this tax on smaller
counties. We do not need to open
this revenue source for the state.
Roads should be paid for ONLY
with fuel taxes.
Please vote NO.
Tom Payne
Jones County
TAKING A LIKENS TO YOU by Dale Likens
Gender benders show U.S. in trouble
Uif&nS
S omeone once said, ‘A ship in an
ocean is great! But an ocean in
a ship is not so great!” What a
powerful message! If that ship
rides upon that ocean it will not sink.
If it doesn’t let that ocean in, it will
ride along safely with
no harm. However, if
that ship allows that
ocean to seep in and
the ship gets filled with
the ocean that ship will
obviously sink!
Think about it. If
America rides along
with God in it, it will
ride safely and not
sink. If America chases
God out and lets sin
abound, it will sink.
Recently, I read of a
college professor who
assigned a project
where students were to go out into the
world and act the part of a homo
sexual just to see how difficult it must
be when people reject you. Each male
student was told to find another male
student and walk the streets together,
hold hands and occasionally kiss each
other. Female students must do the
same with another female. Then they
were to come back to class and share
their experiences with the class. This
way the students would understand
the turmoil a homosexual must feel in
a world that just doesn’t understand
their lifestyle. Perhaps the professor
could have challenged the students
with a far greater turmoil. Why not
have the students go out alone with a
Bible in his/her hand and preach the
gospel?
A week ago, my wife was reading
an article on her phone and said,
“Honey, you just have to hear this one.”
I paused with what I was doing and lis
tened as she began to read the article.
‘A principal of an elementary school,”
she began, “sent a letter home to each
child’s parents explaining that he was
soon to have an operation that would
change him to a female. ‘Please explain
this to your children,’ he was quoted as
saying ‘so they will understand and not
be confused when they re
turn to a female principal.”
His superintendent sup
ported his thoughts and
his letter/’ my wife ended
the article as she looked to
me in disbelief.
Many years ago, I guess
it must have been dur
ing my college years, I
was assigned to read a
novel by Aldous Huxley
titled “Brave New World.”
I remember very little
about this fictional novel
apart from the fact that
it was published in the
early 1900’s and the theme was about
a world that could be in 600 years.
Our world would be controlled by a
few people at the top of a world state,
Aldous Huxley suggested. A few Cliff
Notes on this novel explain the events
that will happen as: A new question
of traditional morality, especially
regarding sex, dress and language. A
great openness for both women and
men in their sexual lives. A totalitarian
world state. Questioning of religious
beliefs and the growth of materialism.”
At this point I knew why a flashback
of the novel “Brave New World” had
come to my mind. Who hasn’t heard
of Bruce Jenner? Who hasn’t heard of
Christians being murdered around
our world for believing in Jesus Christ?
How far from reality was Aldous
Huxley in the early 1900’s? Only a few
hundred years too far!
A few years ago, a couple my wife
and I know very well had a daughter
who decided to marry her closest
friend, who happened to be another
woman. Each woman wanted children
but refused to adopt. Instead the
daughter of our friend asked each of
her three brothers to offer their sperm
to unite with her wife’s egg through
in vitro fertilization. Thus the child
would possess the DNA from both
her and her wife. One brother refused
on his biblical beliefs while the other
two happily accepted the idea to offer
their sperm. The condition agreed
upon was that neither brother would
know if the child would be his child or
his brother’s child. Today our friend’s
daughter in the father- aunt of two
beautiful young girls. Our friend’s
daughter calls herself the father! True
story!
My wife and I do not judge our
friends or their daughter. Today
they are still our friends. We simply
disagree and wonder where our world
is headed.
Huxley wrote an interesting novel
to say the least! However, if I were to
write this same novel I believe I would
have changed the title to “Strange New
World” instead. Perhaps a better title
would be “Lost New World!”
The stories I have shared with you
are true stories that are happening in
front of our eyes, here in America.
While 51 percent of Americans may
believe such behavior is acceptable, my
wife and I proudly stand with the 49
percent. Perhaps some who read this
article will laugh and say, “Wake up
Dale! Get with it! This is 2018, not the
1800’s!”
My question is not will I wake up,
but will America wake up in time? As
I began this article I will end it. ‘A ship
in an ocean is great! But an ocean in a
ship is not so great!” God bless!
Dale Likens is an author who lives in
Monroe County.
Kemp dawdles on county line
When Brian Kemp became secretary of state on Jan. 8, 2010, Terry Scarboroughs
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
its 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 hes sought three times before he gets a
promotion to governor, call his office at (404) 656-2817 and let them know.