Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2008
THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS
PAGE 5A
Restaurant brings out the ‘true’ toddler
Letter to the Editor
Offers thanks to law enforcement officers
Dear Editor:
We would like to take this time
to say thank you to Banks County
Sheriff Charles Chapman and his
fine officers.
As most of you know, Deputy
Neil Ausburn passed away and
was buried Tuesday, April 15. To
those who didn’t know him by
name, Neil was the statuesque
officer that directed traffic for the
school.
Neil wore his uniform with
W hen I turned on the
news last week, I
couldn’t believe
what I was hearing. Evidently the
United States is rationing food.
The report showed individuals
standing in long lines waiting to
pay for a product for which they
probably have little use.
Evidently a couple of large
wholesale companies have started
rationing the amount of rice
customers can purchase in their
stores.
Like most people, I assumed
that the price of gas was the
reasoning behind the increase
of the cost of the commodity.
Especially since so many have
used it as an excuse in order to
increase prices on just about
everything from gold to goldfish.
The news broadcast informed
viewers that the price of rice had
tremendously increased in March
and then once again last week.
white gloves with as much respect
as the Royal Guard guarding the
queen. In honor and respect for
Neil, his life was represented with
a tremendous outpouring from his
fellow officers. Officers and co
workers from four counties, three
cities, the Georgia State Patrol
and various detectives and many
of his fellow jailers were there to
honor him. Flashing blue lights
from 25 to 30 law enforcement
vehicles led Neil to his final rest-
What they
don’t seem to
understand is
the fact that
the media
hype is what
makes people
panic and
run out and
purchase the
product.
I even began
to question
myself as if maybe I should
make a quick trip to the grocery
store before going to work that
morning.
After all, the store shelves
would probably be raided by the
afternoon. How on earth would
our family survive without rice?
That was when I realized that
we hardly even eat rice. I bet 80
percent of the people hoarding
the product don’t eat it either. I
have one recipe which requires
ing place.
We know that when one has fall
en, all are down for the love they
share as co-workers and fellow
humans. As I listened to the offi
cers talk as they shared their love
and respect of Neil, it was obvious
that no one was left untouched.
Thank you again to our law
enforcement.
Sincerely,
Sandra Matheny
Maysville
rice, and I probably only cook
that dish about once every three
months or so.
After doing a little research
of my own, I found that accord
ing to the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, the production of
rice in the U.S. is strong and the
global crop is even stronger.
By the weekend, I finally got
around to doing my grocery
shopping. As I strolled past the
area in which the rice was dis
played, I couldn’t help but notice
that there was plenty of it. It was
actually even on sale!
I am beginning to think that
maybe some people are just
being a little irrational when it
comes to rationing.
Sherri Stephens is a contrib
uting columnist for The Banks
County News. E-mail comments
about this column to charm-
bug5@hotmail.com.
I t doesn’t become apparent
that your child has officially
become a toddler until you
take them to a restaurant.
That’s where the tantrums
— which are usually not THAT
bad at home — become far worse
before unknowing strangers.
That’s where there are more
mashed potatoes and crackers
on the floor than in your child’s
mouth.
That’s where your child learns
how to make new, really loud
noises.
And that’s where you finally
realize, “Oh my goodness. My
sweet little baby is now a terror
on two wobbly feet.”
Such was the case dur
ing a recent vacation with our
18-month-old daughter, Katie.
She’s usually a nice kid (really,
she is), but the excitement of
going on vacation — and travel
ing to a different location every
few hours — finally brought out
the true toddler in her.
It didn’t become obvious until
my husband and I decided to eat
dinner at a nice seafood restaurant
that we had become THAT family
with a potentially annoying kid
(at least in the eyes of other din
ers).
The restaurant we selected had
some good reviews — nice views
of the beach, good food and
decades of
tradition.
We arrived
early, only
to find a
30-minute
wait already
there for
patrons
cramming
in the tiny
restaurant.
The host
ess said entertainment was avail
able on the deck of the restaurant,
which required a short walk
though the main dining area.
And that’s when we saw the
clientele — senior citizens. Little
old ladies with their gray-haired
husbands having quiet dinners
together. No crayons on the
tables. No highchairs hogging the
aisles. No crackers all over the
floor.
Yep, this was the place that
doesn’t welcome a toddler, no
matter how cute the kid is.
We asked the hostess to remove
our name from the wait list and
headed to another restaurant
deemed “family friendly.” This
second restaurant had a large, car
toon-like crab welcoming diners
at its front entrance. Surely, this
place must deal with kids.
We were taken to the rear of the
restaurant — a no-man’s land of
high chairs, broken crayons and
extra napkins. That’s where our
server for the evening welcomed
yet another toddler, this time our
daughter.
My husband and I both worked
in the restaurant industry in high
school and college. Getting a tod
dler at one of your tables seems
like punishment. The kid always
tosses stuff on the floor, they
usually annoy other patrons and
the parents usually can’t control
them.
And now, that’s our family.
Sure enough, within a few
minutes of arriving at the mas
sive seafood buffet, Katie had
thrown her mashed potatoes to
the floor (twice), tried to get out
of her highchair to stand on the
table (countless times) and had a
screaming match with another kid
at a nearby table.
We ate quickly, attempted to
clean up the mess and apologized
to the server. He seemed used to
it. And like the sweet baby we
had known for 18 months, Katie
returned to her pleasant self as
soon as the check was on the
table.
Kerri Testement is a reporter
and columnist for MainStreet
Newspapers. E-mail comments
about this column to kerri@main-
streetnews.com.
CPR, first aid instructor coure planned May 13, 20
The East Georgia chapter of the American Red Cross
will hold a first aid, CPR and AED instructor course
Tuesday, May 13 and Tuesday, May 20, from 9 a.m. to
5 p.m.
The course will be taught at the blood donor center,
located at 3525 Atlanta Hwy., Athens. The fee is $150.
Meeting OSHA First Aid and Emergency
Cardiovascular Care (ECC) guidelines, participants in
the course will prepare individuals to respond to injuries
and sudden illnesses that may arise in the community
or workplace. For more information, or to register, call
706-353-1645.
Let’s be rational
sherri
Stephens
kerri
testement
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REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
Real Property Revaluation
Consultation Services
Bid No. 208-530
The Banks County Board of Tax Assessors is seeking to contract with
a Real Estate Appraisal firm who specializes in the mass appraisal of
real property to assist through consultation and advisement in the
revaluation of all real property in Banks County for tax year 2009. The
contractor would provide at least one qualified property appraiser to
consult and advise in the mass appraisal of all real property in Banks
County.
Tasks will include consulting and advising the county throughout the
revaluation process and aiding in producing a Sales Ratio Study,
County-wide, with a coefficient of dispersion less than 15% on all
property and an overall ratio of 95% to 100% of market value for 2007
2008 property sales in Banks County.
To qualify for consideration, a firm must demonstrate experience with
similar projects, availability of qualified personnel, and the ability to
complete the work within a stated time period.
To obtain a RFP Packet, contact Kevin Whitman, Chief Appraiser,
at 706-677-6223 ext. 123, or via email at kwhitman@co.banks.ga.us.
For consideration, proposals must be received no later than 2:00 P.M.
on Friday, May 30, 2008 by the office of the Banks County Board of Tax
Assessors, 144 Yonah-Homer Road, Suite 6, Homer, GA 30547. After
the time and in a room and place as noted above, the proposals will be
publicly opened and read. All proposals must be submitted in a sealed
envelope and marked with the following information: Your Company
Name, Address & Phone Number, Bid No. 208-530, Real Property
Revaluation Consultation Services.
Banks County reserves the right to accept or reject any or all
proposals, to waive irregularities, informalities, and award a contract
in the best interest of Banks County. Any proposal received after 2:00
p.m. on Friday, May 30, 2008 will be rejected.
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