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ATHENS NEWS AND VIEWS
Dog Days, in a Bad Way: It's been a bad
couple of weeks for Athens dog lovers.
Just on the heels of the tragic news from
Oglethorpe County, where a pack of neglected
dogs attacked and killed Sherry and Lothar
Schweder, came the upsetting incident Aug.
18 in East Athens in which an ACC police offi
cer on foot patrol shot and killed a pet dog.
Chris Grehan and Margot Dorn were working on
a Hillside Street house they own when Officer
Lou Pasqualetti, checking the neighborhood
for suspected burglars, was approached in the
street by their two dogs, running loose and
reportedly barking and growling as they ran
towards him. Pasqualetti reported that he shot
their dog Pie, said to weigh about 30 pounds,
as she lunged at him with her mouth open.
ACC Police protocol is to begin an investiga
tion any time an officer fires his gun on duty;
at press time this investigation was still ongo
ing. And while second-guessing of the officer's
split-second decision-making could go on
interminably, what is clear is that the incident
has touched a nerve in town, and with good
reason. Even assuming the officer's action is
found to have been
justified, the incident
is understandably
upsetting for those
involved.
Here in Our Healthy
Democracy: Area
Republicans are
planning a rally on
health care reform at
Oconee Veterans Park
in Watkinsville for this
Saturday, Aug. 29, and
City Dope is curious
to see not only which
of the invited area
politicians will show,
but also what they'll
have to say. More to
the point, if Rep. Paul
Broun, Jr. has time for
a partisan rally like
this one, City Dope
hopes he has time
for an informational
event in the Athens area too. Meanwhile, City
Dope hears talk of a calm counter-presence at
the park from local Democrats, and he hopes
sincerely that folks on both sides will be cool
on Saturday. Progress on reform is critically
important, but so is at least trying to get
along if we can manage it.
Let the Barnestorming Begin: In other
political notes, the UGA Young Democrats
say they're hosting former governor and cur
rent gubernatorial candidate Roy Barnes at
their first meeting of the new school year,
Wednesday, Aug. 26 at 6:30 p.m. in the South
Psychology/Journalism Auditorium on the UGA
campus. Question number one for Rdy: Do you
really want to inherit this state budget?
Furlough Town: It might just be this writer's
impression, but folks around town seem to be
taking the news pretty well, all things consid
ered, since details came out about this year's
furloughs at UGA. That's a good community-
minded approach at a time like this, but it
doesn't mean we shouldn't be thinking of
the 2010 elections (see above note) as we
reckon with the state budget's impact on our
town. Yes, revenues are down, but the least
Behind the construction fences at UGA's New College,
renovation has morphed into an archaeological dig,
if you haven't heard. They’re finding rad old stuff.
our legislators could do would be to meet in
special session to deal with the budget like
grown-ups—and show us straight up how
much they do or don't value education and
its benefits to the state. As it is, we're left to
make our own assumptions...
Georgia Theatre Update: News came in last
week that the non-profit Georgia Trust for
Historic Preservation will help out with fund
raising toward restoring the Georgia Theatre
by setting up a dedicated rehabilitation fund
for the effort. "Donations received by The
Georgia Trust are tax-deductible and will be
placed in a restricted account to be used
solely for the purposes of rehabilitating the
historic theater," according to a press release.
"The Trust will disperse funds to the owners of
the Georgia Theatre upon receiving invoices
showing actual costs of the rehabilitation.
These costs will include construction costs and
architectural and engineering fees."
Those costs are still unknown, Theatre
owner Wit Greene reports, but he's working
hard to put the numbers together. And, he
says via email, "So
far the designs are
looking great, but we
have a ton of work y
to do." Donations to
the Georgia Theater
Rehabilitation Fund
can be sent to: The
Georgia Trust for
Historic Preservation,
Georgia Theatre
Rehabilitation Fund,
Attn: Kate Ryan, 1516
Peachtree St., NW,
Atlanta, GA 30309.
About Them Dawgs:
How time flies. It's
been six years since
the fiberglass bull
dog statues of the
"We Let the Dawgs
Out" exhibit first
graced the sidewalks
of Athens, GA. Six
years! This is perti
nent because on Sept. 1, the ACC Mayor and
Commission are set to approve another three-
year extension of the Athens-Oconee Junior
Woman's Club's permission to display many of
the dogs on city property (some are on private
property). Sure, the little kids love 'em, as
do tourists, and according to John Huie the
mayor had glowing things to say about the
dogs at last week's commission agenda-setting
session, calling the exhibit "a tremendous
public art project that so many of our citizens
and our guests have enjoyed."
And so it appears that the collection of
public bulldogs, originally an ostensibly tem
porary thing, will just slide into becoming a
permanent part of the local landscape. That's
fine if most people like them, and—while it's
always been clear that the dogs have their
detractors—most people probably do. But let
it be said on the occasion of this three-year
contract renewal that a derivative display
based on a sports mascot and ripping off a
pop song title doesn't add up to art. That's all.
So rather than decades of dogs, is it not time
yet for more thought-provoking artwork in
Athens' public spaces?
Ben Emanuel ben@flagpole.com
Athens
iYeterinary
K-f
*
Clinic
2575 Atlanta Highway
(across highway from Hobby Lobby)
* Separate Dog & Cat Facilities
• Large Indoor-Outdoor Runs
• Bathing • Boarding
www.athensvet.com
Call for an Appointment (706) 543-5547
Rentols^ffSSIesI
WHO WILL WRITE ABOUT OUR CITY'S VARIOUS MUNICIPAL ISSUES ?
gpole
is looking for a
City Editor
We need a strong manager with writing and editorial experience to work both in print and on
line. Knowledge of local government a plus. The editor must be able to find, train and direct
freelance writers and edit their copy. The editor is also part of the Flagpole management
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getting it online. This is a full-time job with benefits, and it starts at the beginning of October.
Send cover letter, resume, published writing samples and references to news@flagpole.com.
TATTOO PARLOUR
FIVE POINTS
www.fivepointsdeli.com
1650 S. Lumpkin St.
Epps Bridge Pkwy. (Across from Lowe’s)
Athens, GA • 706-546-8915
AUGUST 26,2009 • FLAGPOLE.COM 5