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Paid for by the Monroe County COP
October 26, 2022
Page 5A
^Reporter
ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN by Don Daniel
Georgia has big decisions in two weeks
W ell, here we are just
over two weeks
until Election Day
with a major focus
on us Georgians particu
larly on the national scene
with the responsibility
of us deciding whether
or not our Congress
will be Republican- and
Democratic-ruled under
the dome in Washington.
About the same applies
to our gubernatorial race
with implied opponent
slandering going on
until after Election Day.
On our local political
scene, it is just plain “ho
hum.”
According Monroe County Voter
Registrar Kaye Warren, as of last
Saturday, over 10 percent, 2,615 of
21,287 registered voters, had casts
ballots. Early voting will end on
Saturday, Nov. 4 with only go to the
polls to vote on Nov 8.
I had a conversation with some
one I respect when it comes to pre
dicting the outcome of elections.
This is his prediction on the out
come of the gubernatorial results:
Stacey Abrams will be our next
governor if the white electorate
does not turn out to vote in mass
as the black mass
votes. It is proven
by political “scien
tists” that blacks
vote for blacks
other than for an
opposing white
candidate. So my
prediction is Stacey
Abrams will be our
next governor.
Now on to the
senatorial race:
right now it is
a toss-up with
Herschel Walker
holding a slight lead over incum
bent Raphael Warnock. Herschel
is attempting to capitalize on his
“famousness” being a Heisman
Trophy holder and a Georgia Bull
dog. Of course his past “craziness”
and ex-wife will surely have some
voter negative impact. Senator
Warnock has his cans of worms
but they don’t compare to Walkers
negative political advertising.
According to The Wall Street
Journal, Democrat and Republican
campaign advertising/spending is
just about tied. Again, TWSJ listed
the ten items Democrats have been
theming in their advertising are
abortion, healthcare, crime, Medi
care, character, taxation, special
interest, jobs, law enforcement and
Social Security.
On the other hand, the top ten
themes the Republicans have been
touting are taxation, President
Biden, inflation, crime, House
Speaker Nancy Pelosi, immigra
tion, character, energy, defimd the
police, and criminal justice reform.
Yep, I am Republican and that’s the
way I will vote.
It is predicted political advertising
expenditures for the current elec
tion cycle will more than double
from the 2018 midterms. Get ready
this figure: “according to Adim-
pact, an ad-tracking firm, to date
$7.5 billion has been spent so far
by candidates and outside groups
trying to influence local, state and
federal elections.”
MARTHA HARDMAN had the
first correct answer to last week’s
The Question, which is that the
Reporter is giving away a Lifetime
Subscription for its 50th birthday.
Here’s this week’s The Question:
what Monroe County landmark is
losing its value costing the county
and school board millions of dol
lars? First correct answer after 12
noon Thursday gets the Goodie
Certificate for a Big Peach carwash,
Dairy Queen Blizzard, Whistle
Stop fried green tomato appetizer,
slice of Shoney’s strawberry pie,
single scoop at Scoops and a dozen
Dunkin Donuts.
WELCOME HOME goes to
Keven Bunn as Forsyth’s new fire
chief heading the department after
David Herndon’s retirement.
Junior Watts, former county road
superintendent, was honored with
a barbecue and other platitudes
on his retirement. I don’t like to
say or write that someone was
“replaced” in a job because that
has a certain connotation that the
person was replaced due to a lack
of job performance or some other
nefarious reason. Junior will never
be replaced. He retired under the
most respect and is now “hunting”
arrowheads.
When looking for a new road
superintendent, Chris Walker
showed up and was named “public
utilities director” assuming not
only roads but also other title
responsibilities. He is from Griffin,
still living there and commuting.
He told me he is looking for a place
here in Monroe County.
ON THE lighter side, from the
book “Now You Know”: Months
that begin on a Sunday will always
have a Friday the 13th. Here’s one
more: male bees, or drones, have
only one job—to mate with the
queen. Those lucky enough to do
so die in the act.
One more and it is scary: a report
introduced in the U.S. Senate states
a child will have witnessed 8,000
murders and 100,000 acts of vio
lence on television before complet
ing elementary school.
Don Daniel founded the Reporter
in 1972. Email him at mediadr@
bellsouth.net.
DROWNING
Continued from 1A
Aysh said he and Mercer had
fished together hundreds of
times and that his uncle could
swim like a fish. Aysh said he
saw his uncle about 10 times
a year, as much as his 3 other
children who lived out of town.
The DNR, which led the inves
tigation, said Mercer was found
in overalls, a heavy sweater
and work boots that probably
weighed him down, said Aysh.
But Aysh said Mercer had two
floatable seat cushions and wore
a life jacket when he fished.
None of the floatation devices
were found, said Aysh.
“We are missing three flota
tion devices,” said Aysh, noting
first responders did find his
cooler and tackle box.
Gannon apparently told DNR
that Mercer pulled the plug on
his boat to get the water out.
Aysh said he doesn’t buy it
“That’s a lie,” said Mercer. “He
would not have done that.”
Mercer said his uncle had a
heart of gold and was always
willing to help others. He said
Mercer was a carpenter and a
concrete patcher at big jobs like
Plant Vogtle. Aysh said his uncle
just cashed out of his union and
got a big $20,000 check, which
Garmon knew about. Garmon
also has several chug arrests in
her past. Mercer said he only
met Garmon twice. He said his
uncle had been seeing her about
8 months even though they
were 21 years apart, and she is
still married to another man.
Mercer said Garmon stayed
in a hotel with him coming
back from a family reunion
and ran up a big bill on mini
liquor bottles and souvenirs.
When Mercer confronted her,
she made a fuss and wound up
being arrested there too, said
Aysh.
Aysh said he would like to
find out if Mercer’s debit card
has been used since the drown
ing. Aysh said his uncle took
very good care of his special
needs daughter and it’s just a
tragedy all the way around. And
he wants more answers as to
how it went down.
Mercer’s body was sent to the
GBI crime lab for an autopsy.
Coroner Joey Proctor said he
saw no signs of foul play.
Bo Shrigley of Cullloden submitted this photo of mailboxes in front of the cem
etery of a church on Rumble Road and wondered if this is where the Democratic
Party sends absentee ballots for their deceased voters as the country gets ready
for the 2022 elections.
ote Republican
To Save America
Vote for these Republican candidates in Early Voting or on Election Day November 8.
The two year disaster under the Democrats is evident. It’s up to you Monroe County to do something about it.
The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
Keep Georgia strong by voting for these candidates and urging your family and friends to GO VOTE!
n Herschel Junior Walker
U.S. Senate
3 Brian Kemp
Governor
m
Burt Jones
Lieutenant Governor
3
Brad Raffensperger
Secretary of State
3 Tyler Harper
Commissioner of Agriculture
3 David Knight
State House of Representatives
District 1 34
3 Dale Washburn
State House of Representatives
District 144
3 Robert Dickey
State House of Representatives
District 145
3 John H. Ambrose, Sr.
County Commission
District 3
3 John King
Commissioner of Insurance
3 Richard Woods
State School Superintendent
3 Bruce Thompson
Commissioner of Labor
3 Austin Scott
U.S. House of Representatives
District 8
3 John F. Kennedy
State Senate
District 1 8
3 George Emami
County Commission
District 4
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YOUR
★ ★★
VOTE
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MATTERS