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& EDITORIALS
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publish, and conceal not. - Jeremiah 50:2
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2019 winner: Best Serious Column - Don Daniel
ON THE PORCH by Will Davis
Before you complain
about county’s growth
W e haven’t said much about the 2020 census
numbers, which showed Monroe Countys
population growing to just under 28,000.
As much as the county has seemed to grow
over the past few years, I was surprised our population
wasn’t higher. In 2010 it was 26,424.
I thought about it after my father asked me to find Mon
roe County’s 1950 census online so he can see his family
listed. I couldn’t find one with families listed, but I did find
the county’s population in every census dating back to
1830.
Interesting that the lowest our population has been was
that 1950 census. Monroe County was still trying to re
cover from the Boll Weevil infestation in the 1920s which
shrunk the county’s population from 20,138 in 1920 to
just 11,606 in 1930, a staggering 43 percent loss in popu
lation. So much for the Roaring 20s. It took it until the
1990s for Monroe County to return to that 20,000 mark.
Ironically the county’s best decade for population growth
was the 1970s, when the county grew by 33 percent de
spite the headwinds of Carter malaise.
After the last two years, I have less faith in government
stats than I have ever had. They haven’t earned our trust.
But for the sake of argument, let’s assume they’re true.
That would mean Monroe County had its slowest popula
tion growth in 50 years in the 2010s. The decade of the
2010s would represent the slowest population’s growth
since 1960-1970, which was the last decade in which the
county lost population (-.3 percent).
One thing I believe for certain. We should want and pray
for a growing population. Yes a growing population brings
headaches, traffic and parking shortages. But a shrinking
population means emptier churches, emptier stores, more
poverty and more depression.
“A growing population,” says Proverbs
14:28, “is a king’s glory; a dwindling
nation is his doom.”
With families flooding here from
Henry County and Macon, I would say
that Monroe County is well on its way
to reaching a population of 30,000, and
h 40,000 by 2030 is not out of the ques-
0k tion.
™ m 11 Yes that will bring more problems.
And those who want Forsyth to
remain a sleepy Mayberry will surely
complain even as they enjoy the new
restaurants and amenities a growing
population brings.
“Where no oxen are,” Proverbs 14:4 observes, “the
trough is clean; but increase comes by the strength of an
ox.
Growth is messy and causes problems. But without it
you die. I say bring it on.
Speaking of growth, Monroe County commissioners
on Tuesday night backed off plans to stop people from
living permanently in RVs and campers. Public informa
tion officer Richard Dumas presented the results of a
public survey on the issue. A whopping 879 people took
the survey, and the majority seem to support a reason
able compromise: allow RV living in certain situations,
but with restrictions. Only 32 percent want to enforce the
current ordinance, which barred anyone from living in an
RV or camper more than 30 days. About 74 percent want
to let a single family member live in an RV on property
zoned agriculture with more than 3 acres. But 63 percent
opposed dropping all restrictions on RV/camper living.
Commissioners discussed extending their 90-day mora
torium on evictions of people living illegally in RVs and
campers but decided to wait and see how quickly they can
develop a more modest ordinance. Commissioners seem
especially determined to stop people from living in RVs
and campers and dropping their waste onto the ground
rather than into a septic tank. This seems like the right
middle course. We have way too many people in blighted
RVs and campers in Monroe County. As property values
surge it is becoming an bigger problem. On the other
hand, if your mother in law is sick and needs to live at
your home, it should be allowed if it’s properly done.
www.MyMCR.net
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REECE’S PIECES by Steve Reece
All the world's a (slap) stage?
I t was the slap heard ‘round the
world. I’m referring to Oscar
Night 2022 when Chris Rock
insulted Will Smith’s wife
by joking about her shaved head
(she is bald due to alopecia) and
Smith sucker slapped him on stage.
Smith then returned to his seat and
shouted out some strong cuss words,
saying, “keep [my] wife’s name out
your filing mouth.” Shocked, Rock
whimpered to the audience, “Will
Smith just smacked the sh*t out of
me.” All this action was live on the
ABC network during prime time
when all the kiddies were still up
hoping one of their favorite stars
would receive the cherished Best Ac
tor Award, which Smith did
later in the show.
The uncut, uncensored
versions of the clips that we’ve
all seen on the internet came
from far away where they are
much more broadminded
than we are about such mat
ters. American censors could
never allow such language to
go out over the air and the
standard 20-second delay is always in
effect for any live show so the bleeps
we have grown so accustomed to
hearing were loud and clear. There
was one small glitch, however; ap
parently, someone forgot to bleep the
closed-captioned dialogue scrolling
across the bottom of the screen and
I’m sure there was more than one
shocked prude in the American
television audience.
Before the story nosedives into
obscurity, I have a couple of thoughts
about the incident: What surprised
me most about that night was
that Rock was slapped rather than
punched. If any man insults my
woman and I think he should be
slapped, then I would send her to do
the job because if I’m stepping up,
I’m doing so with closed fists. And
they would be up and ready as I in
vite him to go outside. Only a coward
would sucker punch someone. And
only a sissy coward would sucker slap
someone. There are just some things
real men don’t do. It’s not something
Clint Eastwood would’ve
done; of that, you can be
sure. Even at his age, I’m sure
he would go into a fighting
stance. I’m no advocate for
violence but there are times
when a man’s gotta do what a
man’s gotta do.
Another great surprise is
that Smith wasn’t arrested
right there on the stage. I
see incident reports on the public
records page in this publication every
week involving much less violence
than was displayed at the Dolby The
ater in front of millions of witnesses.
In Monroe County, the perpetrators
are always handcuffed and placed
in the rear of a patrol car. And you
know where they go after that.
But Will Smith didn’t get arrested
for slapping Chris Rock onstage.
The Los Angeles Police Department
explained that “LAPD investiga
tive entities are aware of an incident
between two individuals during the
Academy Awards program.” The
incident “involved one individual
slapping another.” The individual
involved, Chris Rock, “has declined
to file a police report.” However, if
Rock chooses to file a report later,
the LAPD “will be able to complete
an investigative report.” Most victims
in Monroe County don’t have such
a choice. If someone gets hit around
these parts, someone is going to the
Monroe County Jail. And rightfully
so. If Smith is charged, it will be for a
misdemeanor battery count, which
carries a penalty of up to six months
in jail. Merely a slap on the wrist.
Another point I’d like to make is
that if another man slaps me, were
probably both going to be rolling
around on the floor immediately.
Those who know me know that I’m
just a bit smaller than the average
guy and I’m no threat to anyone. But
a man slapping my face is one thing
I’m not going to allow. Whoever
does something like that to me will
not be turning his back on me and
walking away to take a seat. Even if I
do get my little rear end stomped in
the process. (Which I’m pretty sure
would happen.) I have been slapped
by a few ladies but even though I
never deserved it, I let those inci
dents slide.
All this makes me wonder if maybe
the whole Academy Award array
was staged. Although the show’s
viewership was up somewhat this
year over last year, it has been in
a steady decline since 2014. What
better pathetic attempt to get folks
to tune in next year by creating a
little controversy this year? After all,
Hollywood is the world’s illusion
factory. To most viewers, it was real
anger and violence being played out
on the stage by two of the industry’s
most popular actors. I’m not so sure.
Maybe it was the way Rock arched
his back the way it’s done in a staged
fight, or the exaggerated way Smith
moved during his follow-through
like an actor would do. On the world
stage, their little spat is insignificant
other than to show how gullible we
all might be.
Steve Reece is a writer for the
Reporter and a known crime fighter.
Email him at stevereece@gmail.com.
is published every week by The Monroe County Reporter Inc.
Will Davis, President • Robert M. Williams Jr., Vice President
Cheryl S. Williams, Secretary-T reasurer
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Publisher/Editor
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Business Manager
business@mymcr.net
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Reporter
stevereece@gmail.com
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Community Editor
news@mymcr.net
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Advertising Manager
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BURDETTES
Continued from Front
ready knew West Laurens athletic director Jeff Clayton
from when they were in Mary Persons’ region, and
knows it’s a strong program. MP and West Laurens were
big rivals in the late 2010s, battling for region titles each
year.
Kip said he has already tentatively hired Gabe Gay
from Montgomery County as his offensive coordina
tor, pending Laurens County BOE approval. He said if
he had gotten the job sooner he might’ve been able to
take his brother Dano with him. But Dano had already
landed his apparent dream job as the strength coach at
Newnan. Newnan is building a new weight room which
Dano will get to shape and he will be able to focus on his
passion of strength and conditioning without having to
coach football.
The grandsons of the late MP legendary coach Dan
Pitts, the Burdette brothers are the sons of Penny Pitts
Mitchell of Forsyth. Kip said the good thing is that
Mitchell will be half way between Newnan and Dexter
so she can take turns seeing grandkids. But he conceded
it’s hard to leave his hometown where he grew up as a
ball boy for his legendary granddad.
“It’s sad,” said Kip. “To me, MP is way more than a job.”
He said working with his brother and his dad and for
someone like Nelson, a good friend, has been special.
“There are a lot of emotional and family ties to MR”
said Kip. “It’s tough to leave your hometown again.”
Kip said he’ll also miss seeing his MP players develop
and bear fruit on the field this fall.
Kip was in Key West with his family for spring break
this week. He said he’ll finish out April at MP and begin
at West Laurens in May when they start spring practice.
He said they are working to find a home because given
the current market they know their home in Forsyth
won’t be on the market long. “We may wind up on the
street,” joked Kip.
As for Dano, Nelson said he’s been his right hand over
his nine years at MP and it’ll be tough losing both of
them.
“They’re good coaches and good people,” said Nelson.
“They’re trustworthy and loyal and do what they’re
supposed to do. But it’s not the first coach we’ll lose and
won’t be the last.”
Nelson said Mary Persons is a place that coaches want
to come to, and said it helps that they’ve had a really
good off-season and are building toward a good year
this fall. MP went 7-4 last year and made the playoffs
with a very young team.
“Well get some new folks and rock on,” said Nelson.