BROADCASTING & BARBECUE
CORRECTION AND (IT IS HOPED) CLARIFICATION: In last
week's Pub Notes I confused the former WNEG-TV with WGTV.
WGTV is the Georgia Public Broadcasting station that started
out years ago as the University of Georgia television station
and was eventually taken over by GPB. WGTV is now GPB's flag
ship station in Atlanta. Meanwhile, the University of Georgia
bought Toccoa station WNEG-TV a couple of years ago with the
intention of using it as a commercial television station that
also provided training for students. The commercial part didn't
work out, so the university finally had to ask GPB to take
the station over and operate it as part of the state's public
television network, even though it continues to be owned by
the university. That station, formerly WNEG-TV, is now called
WUGA-TV and is the sister station to WUGA-FM radio, which
had been owned all along by GPB but controlled by UGA. In
order to entice GPB to take over WNEG-TV (now WUGA-TV), UGA
ceded control of the radio station to GPB, which had long cov
eted WUGA-FM. I hope this is perfectly clear.
You will recall, too, that when GPB took over WNEG-TV/
WUGA-TV they slashed the staff by 12 full-time positions and
five part-time. No wonder the remaining staff at WUGA-FM are
so jumpy. The new agreement between UGA and GPB requires
only that GPB maintain a staff of two at the radio station,
including the station manager, down from a guaranteed five in
the old agreement.
Moreover, the advertisement for a replacement for WUGA-
FM's retiring News and Public Affairs Director Mary Kay Mitchell
is for a radio/TV reporter-anchor and requires "Graduation from
an accredited college or university and two years experience as
a television reporter; or any equivalent combination of educa
tion and experience."
So, look: maybe it is inevitable under the new regime—with
the television station and the radio station managed for GPB
by the same director—that we're going to get more crossover
between the two media. When you're listening to Robb Holmes'
radio music show "It's Friday," does it matter to you that it
is being shot by TV cameras at the same time? Would "Athens
News Matters" be any less hilarious if you knew it was also on
TV?'
What it still all comes down to is neither the medium nor
the message but whether Atlanta has the same commitment to
Athens programming that the University of Georgia had. The
shared-fund of experience and local knowledge wrapped up in
Mary Kay Mitchell and Robb Holmes can in no way be replaced
by any reporter/anchor with two years TV experience or the
equivalent. Local radio in Athens has been dealt a body blow
by the departure (for whatever reasons) of these two stalwarts.
Replacing them demands not just a call for a kid with a cam
era, but a thoroughgoing search for people who can approxi
mate Mary Kay's and Robb's grasp of Athens news and music.
WHERE THERE’S SMOKE THERE’S PORK: Paul's Bar-B-Q
in downtown Lexington, 15 miles east of here, has tradition
ally been open "Saturdays and the 4th of July," but in truth
they have always remained closed on the Saturday closest to
the 4th of July. Well, here's the flash: this year Paul's is open
both on Saturday, July 2 and on Monday, July 4.1 didn't ask
them what has occasioned this break with tradition, but there
you have it. Make the most of it. Paul's is the real deal meal:
flavorful barbecued pork and juicy ribs cooked all night and
served with the best stew I personally have ever eaten. Gole
slaw and/or baked beans round out the sides, and of course
you get tea, pickles and loaf bread—and usually some fabulous
pecan pie, homemade, of course. This is a family business in
a little former store with a pig pennant hanging out front and
mostly local people inside getting their Saturday (and 4th of
July) fix. Paul's opens up mid-morning, and by 2 p.m. or so
they're beginning to run out of things.
It takes around 20 minutes for the pleasant drive east out
Highway 78 to Lexington, and once you've had your fill, there
are some fine houses to see on Church Street over behind
Paul's. And Church Street dead-ends into Elberton Road, where,
if you hang a left, you'll find the always enthralling Goodness
Grows plant nursery. Paul's, Lexington and Goodness Grows
all can make for a fine outing that doesn't take up the whole
afternoon, even if you stop back by the famous Shaking Rock
Park.
Pete McCommons editor@flagpole.com
THIS WEEK’S ISSUE:
City Dope 4
Athens News and Views
ACC commissioners have waded into deep water while trying to change the
direction of the EOF.
City Pages 5
Denson, Commission Square Off Over EDF
The mayor is resisting a push to put commissioners on the EDF’s board.
EVEIMT
Art Notes 9
Creative Groove
Forty-six artists will be presenting their work at the AthFest Artists Market this year.
The Reader * 9
Black Flag Dads Unite!
The Indie Cred Test mm hipsters from crossing the line between detached irony
and pretentious douchebaggery.
MM
• W I onfhpr
Downtown
masadaleather.com
Leather
Outdoor
546-5014
Fit for Adventure
Washed Out 15
Coming Into Focus
This chillwave star has come a long way since his live debut in Athens.
Guadalcanal Diary 18
Still Rocking After 30 Years
Celebrating their anniversary with a headlining slot on AthFest’s outdoor stage.
tv < . • . =» ’ -Li . n .' , ^ ■*';*
CITY DOPE.? 4
CITY PAGES 5
CAPITOL IMPACT 6
ATHENS RISING 7
GEORGIA THEATRE 8
ART NOTES 9
THE READER 9
MOVIE DOPE.' 10
FILM NOTEBOOK 11
THREATS & PROMISES...'... 12
LAUGHFEST 12
ATHFEST OVERVIEW .• 13
ATHFEST PICKS 14
WASHED OUT 15
CHICKASAW MUDD PUPPIES.. 17
GUADALCANAL DIARY 18
THE CALENDAR! 19
BULLETIN BOARD 24
ART AROUND TOWN 25
COMICS 26
REALITY CHECK 27
CLASSIFIEDS 28
EVERYDAY PEOPLE 31
EDITOR & PUBLISHER Pete McCommons
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AD DESIGNERS Kelly Ruberto. Cindy Jerrell
CARTOONISTS Cameron Bogue. Jeremy Kiran Fernandes. Missy Kulik. Jeremy Long. David Mack
ADOPT ME Special Agent Cindy Jerrell
CONTRIBUTORS Charles-Ryan Barber. Caroline Barratt, Kevin Craig, Tom Crawford.
David Fitzgerald. John Huie. Gordon Lamb, T. Ballard Lesemann. John G. Nettles. Emily Patrick,
Matthew Pulver. Jeff Tobias, Gabe Vodicka, Drew Wheeler. Kevan Williams
CIRCULATION Charles Greenleaf. Nash Hogan, Jesse Mangum, Matt Shirley
WEB DESIGNER Kelly Ruberto
ADVERTISING & EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Jessica Smith
ADVERTISING INTERNS Anne-Catherme Harris, Ashley Laramore
MUSIC INTERNS Chris Miller, Brian Walter
COVER DESIGN by Kelly Ruberto featuring the 2011 Flagpole
Music Award designed and constructed by Pattiy Tomo
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VOLUME 25
ISSUE NUMBER 24
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