Newspaper Page Text
March 16, 2022
Page 5A
ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN by Don Daniel
You learn things
just by listening
Y ou always know there is the possibility of a
surprise in the lurking when the ruling junta
of another government entity attends a county
commission, city council meeting, or appointed
body That was the scenario at the last county commission
when the executive director and the chairman of the De
velopment Authority of Monroe County patiently waited
their turn to “address” the Forsyth City Council.
DAOMC’s Joyce White and
DAOMC Chairman Tom Baugh
waited patiently for their turn to
speak. They asked the council to
set a favorable rate on city water/
sewer for industries looking at
Forsyth that would/could/will
use 1 million gallons of water
per day.
Wow you should have been
there to see the mayor, council-
men and city manager’s ears
perk up, sit straighter in their
thrones when the DAOMC
executive director explained that
Forsyth was one of four Georgia
towns in the running for an industry that would use a lot of
water. Long story short, so that Forsyth could be competi
tive in seeking industries, the council took the advice of the
two and offered a special rate of $3 per million gallons of
water per day.
Of course, several council members were inquisitive,
wanting to know what company would be using a million
gallons of water a day. Chairman Baugh stated they could
not disclose anything about the project and more than
anything, the DAOMC was only preparing just in case, and
for future development.
No surprise that when the vote was taken, there were no
nays all ayes.
Read Diane Glidewells more complete story.
OTHER discussion centered on the possibility of up
grading and repairing Forsyths water system to the costs
of $30-million. There was not much enthusiasm listening
to City Engineer Carl Hofstadter explain what had to be
done for the upgrade. The only thing enthusiastic about the
project was the engineers explaining that the project would
be funded (paid for) with grants and loans.
City Manager Janice Hall gave an update of on the 22
blighted properties in the city and commented the city has
to hire an appraiser to begin the condemnation and tearing
down.
Just a couple of council member comments: “Starts with
a “G” “; “Is just gonna say”; “It’s a doable date’; and “the
terrain is moving”.
HEY, I know it is easy to post something on Facebook. I
get really surprised at the “stuff” that gets posted. I really
think that a lot of posting is because those posting have a
lack of anything to do but “expose” themselves to others
who find their postings amusing.
If you have anything to say to the county
commissioner(s), attend a meeting. They do have a “Public
Comment” on their agenda. The only thing you are doing
when you post something about the commission(ers), is
enhancing their already bloated egos.
Do I think Facebook should be a persosnal communica
tions medium? No and I don’t understand why it should be
considered as such. My policy when I owned this newspa
per and was an editor at other newspapers, I encouraged
“Letters To The Editor”. I would not print a letter to the
editor if it was considered libelous, defaming or slanderous.
The writer could request anonymity but seldom could ano
nymity be justified. Sometimes I “ran” a valid complaint
letter without a signature simply to protect the writer.
KUDOS TO the Forsyth-Monroe County Chamber of
Commerce on the successful Forsythia Festival which in
essence was a one-day downtown street festival due to the
weather.
THE CORRECT answer to The Question came from
Malcolm Calhoun identifying Dr. Clell Morris as Business
Man of The Year. Malcolm receives a certificate for a Big
Peach Car Wash, a dozen Dunkin Donuts, Whistle Stop
fried green tomato appetizer, single dip at Scoops, slice
of Jonah’s pizza, slice of Shoney’s strawberry pie, Forsyth
Main Street and Reporter t-shirt and a Dairy Queen Bliz
zard.
Here’s The Question for this week: What is the name of
Emma Kimball’s crossbred hog that won Grand Champion
at the Middle Georgia Market Hog Show. First correct an
swer after twelve noon Thursday gets the goodie certificate.
HERE are a few more “putdowns” without having to
resort to profane and vulgar language: “His mother should
have thrown him away and kept the stork.” - Mae West.
This from Mark Twain: “ Why do you sit there looking like
an envelope without any address on it?” An accountant
friend told me she was asked this question: “if I don’t owe
any income tax, do I still have to pay an income tax?”
IF YOU didn’t read last week’s sports section, get it out of
the trash can or go by and purchase a Reporter. Here are a
few headlines: MP wins 9th straight; MP tennis teams 2-0
in region; MP boys beat Crisp to improve to 6-3-1; MP
girls now 2-0 in region; and two pages of photos of “Meet
State Champ Game Day Cheerleaders”.
Who’s gonna be the first to see hummingbirds? Ac
cording to “Monroe Outdoors” writer Terry W. Johnson,
hungry hummingbirds are coming this way”. Let me know
when you see one.
THE official Forsythia Festival Guide was jam packed
with just about every business in the county. If there was
one business that didn’t advertise in the special section
then the business must not exist. It has to be a collectors’
edition.
Contact Don Daniel, the founder of this newspaper, at tul-
laybear@bellsouth. net.
sReporter
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Even Gus helps clean Forsyth streets
To the Editor:
e met Gus while
cleaning litter near
Stroud Street on West
Johnston recently. Gus
lives in the subdivision on Stroud
and is recovering from knee surgery.
He was walking VERY slowly with
the aid of a walker. I learned his des
tination was Dollar Tree in town and
estimated his time of arrival a week
from Thursday. But we got him there
and back.
Anyway, we discussed the large
amount of Copenhagen “mint”
smokeless tobacco containers and
Crown Royal glass bottles at the
Stroud junction continuing another
100 yards along the street.
Lest anyone get the wrong idea,
we later rode the subdivision, and
we were impressed with a well-kept,
litter-free area every subdivision
should strive for. Congratulations to
those keeping their area clean.
Now if someone would just adopt
the Stroud Street—W. Johnston
entrance area....
I know Gus wants to help.
Dr. Tom Perry
Forsyth
JUST THE WAY IT IS by Sloan Oliver
Here comes Biden tax hikes
L ooking back, it’s amazing
how often President Trump
was pilloried by the media
for comments that turned
out to be 100% correct. The Leftist
media, instead of acknowledging
that he might have a point or might
be correct, hated on him. Months
(or years) later, he’d often be proven
correct. For example, Janu
ary 2017, Trump said that his
campaigned was spied on. The
Dems and their media had a
meltdown. Last month, the
Durham investigation and
the Wall Street Journal proved
that Candidate Trump,
President-elect Trump,
and President Trump
was, in fact, spied on by
the FBI (probably the NSA as well).
Then, October 2020, Trump said,
“The policies of the Left (mean
ing Biden, Warnock, Ossoff, Stacey
Abrams, etc.) would unleash an
“economic disaster of epic propor
tions.” Again, the Dems and their
Leftist media (CNN, NY Times,
ABC, etc.) had a meltdown. Sadly,
we are experiencing Trump’s pre
dicted economic disaster - historic
inflation, higher taxes, and
record gas prices.
REGARDING INFLA
TION, when Trump left
office, inflation was at an
annual rate of 1.2%. In the
past six months, infla
tion is out of control.
According to the Bu
reau of Labor Statistics,
year-over-year inflation was 6.2%
(October), followed by 6.8%, 7.0%,
7.5%, and 7.9% (in February). If they
used the old method (pre-1980) of
determining inflation, it would be
over 16%. Thank you Joe for your
Bidenflation.
SPEAKING OF taxes, how much
was your Biden tax in February?
Mine was at least $102, and that’s
just on gasoline which is easy to
determine. (Purchased 79 gallons,
average price of $3.29/gallon, a full
$1.29 more than when Biden took
office. 79 x $1.29 = $102.) When you
realize higher energy prices affect
everything we buy, my real Febru
ary Biden tax was much more than
$102. With gas at $4.25/gallon (on
March 13), no telling how much our
Biden taxes will be for the foresee-
See SLOAN • Page 6B
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
A Report from The General Assembly
By Sen. John F. Kennedy
john.kennedy@senate.ga.gov
A few parameters of a meeting of the Georgia
General Assembly are clearly defined. For
example, our states constitution requires that we
begin our legislative session on the second
Monday in January each year, and
the session may continue for no more
than 40 legislative days. Our primary
responsibility during that time is to
pass a budget. Aside from funding
the government, what happens
between dropping the first gavel on a
frigid winter day and adjourning Sine
Die when flowers are in bloom is for
56 senators and 1 80 representatives
to decide.
As Coach Kirby Smart would say, last week, we
kept the main thing the main thing. Our annual
budget work is done in two phases. Keep in mind
that state government's fiscal year starts July 1.
First, we make adjustments for the current budget
year through an amended, or mid-year, appropria
tion for all spending through June 30. After this is
complete, we pass a budget for the next full year.
Last week, we went a long way in doing both.
This year's budgeting is a triumph for conserva
tive governing and fiscal management. By keeping
our economy open with science, common sense,
and compassion as our guide, we have made it
through the worst of the pandemic with a massive
budget surplus. The State Senate gave final
passage to a $30.2 billion amended budget that
not only fully funds essential programs, but it also
delivers $1.6 billion in refunds for Georgia taxpay
ers and a $2000 bonus for teachers.
All revenue-related bills start in House of Repre
sentatives. So, as we were finalizing the mid-year
budget in the Senate, the House completed their
work on the budget for Fiscal Year 2023. It
passed by a 1 55-3 vote and includes raises for
teachers and state employees, while making a
cost-of-living increase for retirees. The House
budget also makes major new investments in
higher education, mental health, and public safety.
The Senate will put our stamp on the final product,
but the good news is that our state's fiscal position
is an enviable one.
Theoretically, the legislature could gavel in, pass
a budget, gavel out, and return home to our
families and full-time jobs. However, you might
have noticed that we seem to be in a battle for
the soul of our state right now. Deeply held
Georgia values are under attack across multiple
fronts. Radical leftists seized on the crisis of a
global pandemic to lay siege to the sacred institu
tions we hold dear. Besides efficiently handling our
fiscal responsibilities, we have been moving an
aggressive legislative agenda to confront these
threats at the same time.
Crossover Day is coming up. It is the 28th day of
the legislative session and it serves as important
self-imposed deadline for a bill to at least pass from
one chamber to the other. If a bill doesn't “cross
over in time from the Senate to the House, or vice
versa, it has a difficult path to becoming a law this
year. As Majority Caucus Chairman, I have to help
keep our priority legislation on track.
If you listen to liberal media, they
say that we are engaging in "culture
wars or playing election year politics.
But as I stated before, I believe we are
battling for the soul of our great state.
Prior to Crossover Day, our majority
caucus has fought for monumental
legislation that defends our constitu
tional rights. We allowed law-abiding
citizens to carry a firearm without requiring a
permit. We banned Big Tech bullies from censoring
free speech on social media. And we stopped big
government overreach by prohibiting mask
mandates and “vaccine passports.’’
The pandemic exposed a lot of things over the
past couple of years. Obviously, it showed how
some politicians are more attracted to power than
real public health and safety. It also spotlighted
the corrosive elements eating away at our public
education system. Maybe for the first time, some
parents saw firsthand what their young, impres
sionable kids are being taught, and they were
shocked. Maybe some parents also came to
understand that, ultimately, only they can be fully
entrusted with their child's physical, emotional and
intellectual well-being. Prior to Crossover Day, our
caucus empowered parents with the tools they
need to do just that.
When you pick up the newspaper, sometimes it
feels like there is a war being waged against
civilization itself. From the undermining of demo
cratic norms like election integrity and impartial
justice, to scathing attacks on enlightened ideals
such as free markets, objective science, and
unbiased history, there really are people who want
fundamentally change our state. I don't understand
their disdain for our way of life, but I do understand
that we can't let them win. That's why fiscal conser
vatism is our obligation, but defending the values of
the state we love so dearly is our highest calling.
Senator John F. Kennedy serves as Majority
Caucus Chairman. He represents the 1 8th Senate
District which includes Upson, Monroe, Peach,
Crawford, and portions of Macon-Bibb and Hous
ton Counties. He may be reached at
404.656.0045 or by email at john.kenne-
dy@senate.ga.gov
Sen. John F. Kennedy
404-656-0045
421 -D State Capitol
Atlanta, GA 30334
john.kennedy@senate.ga.gov
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