Newspaper Page Text
N l(
Protecting Our Food
AGRICULTURE Commissioner Tom
my Irvin has been trying for 10 years to
get a new inspection and testing lab in
Atlanta so he and his staff can do a better
job of making sure the food you eat is as
safe as if you had grown it yourself.
They've got a big job. In the past 20
years, more than 500 chemical compounds
have been used by American farmers alone
to better produce fruits, vegetables, fish,
feed grains, poultry and red meat. Not all
of those farmers care whether their
poisons end up on the dinner tables of
C}?ttooga Countians, or get stuck in the
natural food chain forever.
AMONG THE Agriculture Depart
ment’s main goals is making sure that
none do; and if they do, there won't be
enough there to hurt you.
This summer, Irvin will be getting his
wish belatedly, with what amounts to two
new labs at the same time. The new inspec
tion and testing lab in Tifton is about to
open, and almost SBOO,OOO in renovations
are nearly complete at the main Ag
Department laboratories near the Capitol.
Those labs date back to 1956.
IRVIN SAYS the expanded laboratory
facilities won't be readily noticed by the
average Georgian, but they will bring his
department’s inspecting and testing pro
grams up to modern standards.
Why has Irvin been so adamant about
upgrading his inspection facilities? Irvin
is a realist who says he understands that
“we live in a chemical environment.”’
“WE ARE USING more chemicals
now in our food production than ever
before,”” says Irvin. ““These lab im
provements will put our analytical ability
far in excess of what it has been in the
past. It used to be that we would test for
parts per million, and then we had to look
for parts per billion. Now, we want the
capability to look for parts per trillion of
pesticide or fungicide residues. We do not
live in a risk-free society, but we can do all
possible to lower those risks.”
More than one-fourth of the depart
ment’s 942 employees are involved in some
form of field inspection as the first step in
assuring safety and quality not only of all
On The Funny Side
By Gary Solomon
Bush On History
INFORMED SOURCES tell me that
fast-food giant Burger King has retained
history expert George Bush to handle all
questions about possible errors in its
“Education Enriches Everyone’’ promo
tional campaign.
The information, which incorrectly
credits Thomas Jefferson with writing the
U. S. Constitution and lists President. Ly
ndon B. Johnson'’s date of birth as 1903 in
stead of 1908, was published on millions
of tray liners as part of a promotion by
Burger King to honor six well-known
Americans who were once teachers.
ACCORDING to the tray liners,
“Before Thomas Jefferson could pen our
Constitution, he was schooled in history.”
Actually, Pennsylvania delegate
Gouverneur Morris wrote the
Constitution. ; i
Contacted on the presidential cam
paign trail on Sept. 22, barely two weeks
after observing Pearl Harbor Day, Bush
dismissed the mistakes as inconsequential.
“IN THE WORDS of a famous Burger
King ad,” he said, ** ‘Where’s the Beef?" ”
“You press types are always trying to
make something out of nothing,” he con
tinued, visibly upset. “‘Why, here we are
just eight days before Halloween, and
you're worried about some trivial mistake
that doesn’t add up to doodly squat.
“I'D THINK you'd be concerned about
more important matters. I mean, it’s not
like we said Jefferson was the third presi
dent of the United States or something
ridiculous like that.
“Knowing reporters like I do, though,
you'll be hounding me with these same
questions until the election. Well, let me
tell you, I won’t put up with it for four
more months, so stick that in your ear and
smoke it! ;
* * *
“AND ANOTHER thing,” he said,
now clearly on the offensive, “‘lf you con
tinue to ambush us on this, we’ll take our
Capitol Beat
By Andy Bowen,
Capitol Correspondent
food products and feed grains, but milk,
tobacco, seeds, termite protection pro
grams and the gasoline you use in your
car.
e
GOLDEN GALLON, INC. conve
nience stores, based in Chattanocga, was
just fined $22,000 for blending unleaded
and leaded gas at 22 outlets, which ag
department inspectors discovered.
Most of the department’s work is spot
field checks that might start as simply as
an ag agent gathering a bushel of beans
from south Georgia or apples from north
Georgia. Inspectors also take samples
from stores and markets, grain elevators,
dairies, feed lots, gas stations and
recently-termite-treated homes.
THOSE SAMPLES may come to the
lab in Atlanta or Tifton, where they are
subjected to thorough testing to determine
nutrients, fat, fiber, protein, and other in
gredients, along with chemical residue con
tent. In the case of gasoline, octane con
tent and level of foreign additives can be
determined on-site by a mobile lab, or
samples can be brought to Atlanta for
testing.
Despite its obvious importance to the
health of all Georgians now and in the
future, the agriculture department doesn’t
have it easy when it comes to getting state
money to continue or upgrade testing
operations, which account for 80 percent
of the department’s work. Irvin had to
push publicly and twist arms behind the
scenes to try to get 15 positions for the
new Tifton Laboratory. The state gave
him 10.
* * *
IN THE FISCAL 1989 budget process,
Irvin sought $42.8 million in state funds
for his department, and the governor
recommended $36.3-million. But after
budget conference committees finished
carving, the department charged with
making sure our food is safe to eat left the
budget table with only $33.5-million on its
own plate.
* * *
Editor’s Note: This is Andy Bowen’s
final column of the year for The News.
However, he will provide special coverage
on the Georgia General Assembly next
year. '
case to the American people. Whether in
Illinois next week for Labor Day or in
lowa next month for Christmas, we'll tell
voters our side of the story and let them
decide for themselves exactly who's right.
“I don’t sée you confronting my oppo
nent on issues like this,”” he pressed the at
tack. “Here he is, a card-carrying member
of the SPCA, a man who refuses to use
Pledge on his furniture, and you're heckl
ing me about tray liners.
“I TELL YOU, Michael Jackson is a
dyed-in-the-wool liberal, and the people of
this country need to know it!
“Yet, here we stand in beautiful — uh,
where are we?”’ he whispered to an aide.
“Oh, right. Here we stand in Pittsburgh,
home of the liberty bell, on the first day
of spring, and not a word do I hear about
Michael Jackson. Instead, I'm barraged
with questions about Jefferson Davis and
Lyndon Laßouche.
“WELL, AS Abraham Lincoln said,
the buck stops here, so hear me and hear
me well,” he said firmly, defying his earlier
image as a wimp. ‘“Tomorrow we’ll be in,
uh, — oh, right — we’ll be in New York Ci
ty to celebrate Yom Kippur with our
Jewish friends, and at that time I'll con
sider the matter closed. Is that clear?”
Apparently stunned by Bush’s new
found assertiveness, reporters were
speechless until CBS news anchor Dan
Rather raised his hand.
“IS THAT your final word on the sub
‘ject?”’ he asked. i G 2
"~ “Read my lips, Tom. Does the Pope
potty in the woods?”’ Bush replied.
“Sir?”’ said a confused Rather.
“Are there fireworks on the Fourth of
June?”’
“I'm not sure what you mean,” Rather
responded.
* * *
“LOOK IT up in the history books,”
Bush answered confidently. “‘Look it up in
the history books.”
memer Y
k. SN
Bt et S
S L
RN S
Chains Harmful To Newspapers
OVER THE last seven years | have
noticed a disturbing national trend. The
locally owned and operated newspaper is
becoming extinct, replaced by chains that
are involved in multi-media activity. Many
large metropolitan areas are down to one
newspaper (In my old hometown, where
the were once six newspapers with differ
ing viewpoints, there are now two, with
both publishers living in the same suburb,
belonging to the same social club and
political party).
Operating a newspaper profitably in
the 1980 s has become a problem based on
people and material costs. With the demise
of ‘“small town’’ America, some com
munities are just losing their local
newspaper.
* * *
I SEE THIS trend in notes from
publishers who let us know that they will
no longer be in the newspaper business or
when the paper, in a changed format, an
nounces that it is a part of a chain.
Sometimes the stoppage occurs so fast
that we discover a newspaper is out of
business when a mailing is returned .as
undeliverable.
My 21-year-old daughter-editor of her
college magazine, Sharon, researched the
subject for an article she recently wrote,
and pointed out that 50 corporations con-
*x RONNIE'S X
e N ush
We believe in America, Apple Pie
ad TEXTILE WEEK
o 7
i ~r
BA T R i
est 2eteaam ol [N MEd QiR elo]V] lo) B tßefefofefafof t
: SHOW This coupon and receive o ’;
e . g
X 0 »*
. >
X 4 ]33 *
: I WL R els | :
X | [PV N e
: S S AAR s D gbt _ :
1 0.6 0.6.0.0.6.6.¢0066.00¢06000006006600¢0000800.0.0.0.0.0.
APPAREL BRANDS
Allison Garland LeTigre’ Sans-a-belt
Arrow Gotcha Levi’s Shadowline
Camp Beverly Hills Haggar Michel Shapely
Canteen Hanes | Nike Stone
Donagain lzod O.P. Susan Hutton
Etienne Aigner Jordache Personal That’s Me
Flying Scotsman Knitwaves Playtex Zena
Gailord Lee Reebok And Many More
il JCironiont
0 oaoatato et o\ N[ QUO R ee]V] o], *********:
: SHOW This coupon and receive o
eY.¥ & ’ q |
N % !
X W o
PA » . »
2l P 4 \ OFF o
[ THE REGULAR PRICE *
D : ALL SHOES, HANDBAGS and ACCESSORIES *
*v : Use this coupon.an unhmited m:mbmf:\( times Qu not turn in <,uup((7): ;
* : Coupon v‘altd Wednesday, October 12 through Saturday. October 22 .
| ' 0 & ¢ 06 606.60060088080888 888808080 806060.6.6 ¢
SHOES, HANDBAG, and ACCESSORY BRANDS
Dexter Isotoner Nike Rockport
Eastland Keds Reebok S.AS.
Etienne Aigner Sebago
French Shriner Liz Claiborne Accessories Tretorn
/
SN RONNIE’S
7 e START YOUR 1o
: ik TRIANGLE SHOPPING CENTER CHRISTMAS @
b PING TRION LAY-AWAY X 7
SW HOURS: MON.-SAT. 10-6 S £
)Gl rEE e “JEL
- us
By Albert Hattis
trol more than half of the mass media. She
detected that this group ownership is
changing the nature of public information
and she was concerned with evidence in
dicating that the interests of these *‘con
trollers” seem to be pervading their
newspapers, magazines, TV and radio
properties.
* * *
WITHOUT competitive ownership and
local control, the editorial vigor and diver
sity of ideas seems to decline. Further
more, many of these chains measure suc
cess based on the bottom line, profits,
which can convert into reduced responsi
ble reporting.
There is even an effort to cut back cir
culation to certain groups attractive to
advertisers.
Editorial comment and content is
sometimes designed not to make waves for
major advertisers. Sometimes costs are
cut through the increased use of ‘canned”
editorials, news and columns, instead of in
dependently produced material.
AS MY DAUGHTER discovered,
advertisers are having an increased in
fluence. A lobbyist for a specific food in
dustry met with a group of publishers to
discuss how their news reporting opera-
The Summerville News, Thursday, October 20, 1988 .
tions might affect their bread and butter
advertisers. The clear implication, don’t
rock the boat with stories or editorials that
disturb your advertisers.
At one time, our media were indepen
dent. Today, we find our newspapers,
magazines, radio and TV operations in
creasingly a part of something bigger. For
example, the National Broadcasting Com
pany, TV's highest rated network, is now
owned by General Electric, an almost
S4O-billion enterprise. ABC and CBS are
no longer independent, either.
TO THOSE who say that group owner
ship improves the media with the
availability of more money, I say, hokum.
A review of these successors to the in
dependents doesn’t seem to prove out the
claim. This is particularly true when you
find “‘canned” editorials running from
coast to coast, representing primarily the
viewpoint, whatever it may be, of the
media owners rather than the media
readers and viewers.
I believe a strong local free press,
representing all viewpoints, is critical to
the survival of our democracy. As I see it,
media monopolies don’'t necessarily con
tribute to free thought, particularly when
the biases of the media ‘‘emperor’’ show
through.
5-A