This is will be short because of the late hour, but if you are interested in a good DVD documentary that shows the rise and fall of one the great movie studios, and how it worked during the heyday of Hollywood, this two-disc, six-hour set released in late January is the ticket. Originally shown on TNT about 15 years ago, it has not been seen much since except for a rare airing on Turner Classic Movies.
This three-part series details the rise and fall of MGM, where the son of a junk dealer, Louie B. Meyer, and a well-educated, sickly young boy genius, Irving Thalberg, combined forces to create the greatest movie studio in Hollywood. It reveals how their different personalities at various times propelled the creation of literary classics transferred to the screen (Thalberg) and family classics, such as the Andy Hardy series (Meyer), as well as how Meyer discovered stars like Garbo and Garson.
The series is rich in clips and stories, interviewing just about every available survivor of the studio at the time, from studio executives to unbilled dancers, and using other available footage as well. Highlights include what the Marx Brothers did when Thalberg had left them in his office once too often for story conferences (they stripped naked and roasted potatoes in his office fireplace) to Van Johnson getting tearful about a wartime scene Mickey Rooney once performed reading a telegram from Johnson's character. Many of the participants have since passed away, so it is a real oral history lesson. (Some of the outtakes have appeared on TCM over the years between movie airings.)
There are no extras, unfortunately, but the storytelling and a breathtaking set design for narrator Patrick Stewart to walk around in at times makes up for it. If you like a good overview of what the old studio system was like -- as well as how it floundered with the advent of television -- this one is for you. They'll never make movies like this again, so just sit back and be amazed how a virtual city of 5,000 people in Culver City worked every day to make classics week after week after week.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Guy Hunt's legacy lives on
Apparently the word came down about three hours ago on the Associated Press that former Alabama Gov. Guy Hunt has died. The news came in at the end of the work week, almost under the radar. How appropriate.
Guy Hunt was credited with being the man who helped the Alabama Republican Party to be part of a two-party system in Alabama, with making it a proud thing to say you are a state GOP member. No doubt, he did work to do that but it might be more accurate to say he was an instrument of history who achieved his goal despite expectations. He was in the ultimate situation of the turtle overcoming the rabbit.
For decades, the Democrats once roamed the state and ruled the earth like the dinosaurs, with no one else able to challenge them. Republicans ran token opposition, much like the Walker County Republican Party picked people for this past year's elections and ran them unopposed. That was once the norm statewide. If there was opposition, no one noticed or cared.
Hunt found himself running for governor, an improbable pick in 1986 after winning a three-man primary race. Then the Democratic Party imploded over what is still called the Graddick-Baxley fight. There were allegations that the Democratic runoff winner, Attorney General Charlie Graddick, encouraged Republicans to vote illegally by crossing over in the primary. The state party eventually awarded the race to the No. 2 finisher, Lt. Gov. Bill Baxley (yes, Lucy's ex-husband). The backlash was so severe and the party so split that Hunt won with 56 percent of the vote.
It was almost unthinkable. You could make a comparison with the Sarah Palin debacle, because Baxley charged Hunt did not have the credentials to be governor. Hunt was considered someone from the country who had not risen higher than probate judge of Cullman County, mainly on the coattails of the Barry Goldwater presidential bid in 1964 (really the first taste of victory some Republicans had in the state). He had lost bids for the state Senate in 1962 and for governor in 1978.
But the backlash to Graddick-Baxley mess was so bad that the state suddenly had its first Republican governor since 1872.
Of course, you don't underestimate those rubes who take high office, like Harry Truman. Hunt (who followed an almost incapacitated George Wallace in his last term) actually did fine on his own, enacting tort reform legislation that was later dismantled by the state Supreme Court (then dominated by Democrats, if you can believe that), and I recall he did work hard to recruit industry, perhaps setting the stage for the hands-on approach. US News and World Report named him one of the nation's top governors. He may have even topped himself by winning a second term against Alabama Education Association executive director Paul Hubbert, whose very presence raised fears the AEA would steamroller over everyone it hadn't steamrolled already. Come to think about it, it may have been a second opportunity to be governor by being compared to an unpopular Democrat.
I don't recall Hunt having necessarily having the best oratory, but he came across as a decent guy and his wife, Helen, was popular, too. I remember her campaigning on the courthouse square in Livingston, and I was scrambling as a young man to keep up with her.
I also recall that he was a primitive Baptist minister and would still preach at churches on the weekend. In fact, I heard him preach once in Marion County, using a rather old-fashioned preacher style that, frankly, was more effective than his political speeches. His personality on the stump was not terrific, but he was still effective. I recall he landed at Hamilton's huge runway that state Rep. Rankin Fite arranged, and Hunt told a Kiwanis crowd he had landed at "Hamilton International Airport." He made a good impression.
It was a shame that his achievement, which was a beacon to Republicans for years to come, was overshadowed in disgrace. In 1993, a jury convicted Hunt of violating the state ethics law by making personal use of $200,000 donated to a tax-exempt fund for his 1987 inauguration. He was given five years of probation and fined $211,000, but worst of all was the fact that it was a felony conviction.
I still remember the then-chancellor of the two-year system, Fred Gainous, walking into a meeting in Hamilton at what is now Bevill State's Hamilton campus, with state Board of Education member Victor Poole and some others. We were all chatting informally until Gainous dramatically walked in and said, "Gentlemen, the governor has been convicted." That meant he had been removed from office. We were shocked, and I remember thinking I was with some pretty high officials at an important moment in state history. Later that day, Jim Folsom, the Democratic lieutenant governor, was sworn in at the old Capitol, another governor made by the forces of history.
Hunt got a pardon, but he was ruined politically. He had to care for a daughter and suffered financial misfortunes, and then his health started failing. It was a sad, slow end. You would want a better end for an underdog who ushered in the two-party system in the state, but I think he would be satisfied to know that is what he will be remembered for, probably more than anything else. He was, like Wallace, a man who represented a growing segment of the state, the little man who was dissatisfied with the status quo, and eventually, even Wallace turned Republican in retirement, and Wallace's son won office as a Republican.
Folsom would be defeated in 1994 by Republican Fob James, who had been elected once before as a Democrat despite conservative leanings. Thanks to Hunt and the growing fortunes of Republicans in Alabama and nationwide, James didn't have to worry about running as a Democrat again by 1994.
Hunt recruited industry in the wake of tort reform by declaring that Alabama was "open for business." His life has come to a close, but the business he started as a participant of history lives on in a state system that, for better or worse, now has a more vibrant, diverse political discussion. That is something to be proud of.
(My appreciation to the work of Associated Press and Wikopedia for help in developing this post.)
Guy Hunt was credited with being the man who helped the Alabama Republican Party to be part of a two-party system in Alabama, with making it a proud thing to say you are a state GOP member. No doubt, he did work to do that but it might be more accurate to say he was an instrument of history who achieved his goal despite expectations. He was in the ultimate situation of the turtle overcoming the rabbit.
For decades, the Democrats once roamed the state and ruled the earth like the dinosaurs, with no one else able to challenge them. Republicans ran token opposition, much like the Walker County Republican Party picked people for this past year's elections and ran them unopposed. That was once the norm statewide. If there was opposition, no one noticed or cared.
Hunt found himself running for governor, an improbable pick in 1986 after winning a three-man primary race. Then the Democratic Party imploded over what is still called the Graddick-Baxley fight. There were allegations that the Democratic runoff winner, Attorney General Charlie Graddick, encouraged Republicans to vote illegally by crossing over in the primary. The state party eventually awarded the race to the No. 2 finisher, Lt. Gov. Bill Baxley (yes, Lucy's ex-husband). The backlash was so severe and the party so split that Hunt won with 56 percent of the vote.
It was almost unthinkable. You could make a comparison with the Sarah Palin debacle, because Baxley charged Hunt did not have the credentials to be governor. Hunt was considered someone from the country who had not risen higher than probate judge of Cullman County, mainly on the coattails of the Barry Goldwater presidential bid in 1964 (really the first taste of victory some Republicans had in the state). He had lost bids for the state Senate in 1962 and for governor in 1978.
But the backlash to Graddick-Baxley mess was so bad that the state suddenly had its first Republican governor since 1872.
Of course, you don't underestimate those rubes who take high office, like Harry Truman. Hunt (who followed an almost incapacitated George Wallace in his last term) actually did fine on his own, enacting tort reform legislation that was later dismantled by the state Supreme Court (then dominated by Democrats, if you can believe that), and I recall he did work hard to recruit industry, perhaps setting the stage for the hands-on approach. US News and World Report named him one of the nation's top governors. He may have even topped himself by winning a second term against Alabama Education Association executive director Paul Hubbert, whose very presence raised fears the AEA would steamroller over everyone it hadn't steamrolled already. Come to think about it, it may have been a second opportunity to be governor by being compared to an unpopular Democrat.
I don't recall Hunt having necessarily having the best oratory, but he came across as a decent guy and his wife, Helen, was popular, too. I remember her campaigning on the courthouse square in Livingston, and I was scrambling as a young man to keep up with her.
I also recall that he was a primitive Baptist minister and would still preach at churches on the weekend. In fact, I heard him preach once in Marion County, using a rather old-fashioned preacher style that, frankly, was more effective than his political speeches. His personality on the stump was not terrific, but he was still effective. I recall he landed at Hamilton's huge runway that state Rep. Rankin Fite arranged, and Hunt told a Kiwanis crowd he had landed at "Hamilton International Airport." He made a good impression.
It was a shame that his achievement, which was a beacon to Republicans for years to come, was overshadowed in disgrace. In 1993, a jury convicted Hunt of violating the state ethics law by making personal use of $200,000 donated to a tax-exempt fund for his 1987 inauguration. He was given five years of probation and fined $211,000, but worst of all was the fact that it was a felony conviction.
I still remember the then-chancellor of the two-year system, Fred Gainous, walking into a meeting in Hamilton at what is now Bevill State's Hamilton campus, with state Board of Education member Victor Poole and some others. We were all chatting informally until Gainous dramatically walked in and said, "Gentlemen, the governor has been convicted." That meant he had been removed from office. We were shocked, and I remember thinking I was with some pretty high officials at an important moment in state history. Later that day, Jim Folsom, the Democratic lieutenant governor, was sworn in at the old Capitol, another governor made by the forces of history.
Hunt got a pardon, but he was ruined politically. He had to care for a daughter and suffered financial misfortunes, and then his health started failing. It was a sad, slow end. You would want a better end for an underdog who ushered in the two-party system in the state, but I think he would be satisfied to know that is what he will be remembered for, probably more than anything else. He was, like Wallace, a man who represented a growing segment of the state, the little man who was dissatisfied with the status quo, and eventually, even Wallace turned Republican in retirement, and Wallace's son won office as a Republican.
Folsom would be defeated in 1994 by Republican Fob James, who had been elected once before as a Democrat despite conservative leanings. Thanks to Hunt and the growing fortunes of Republicans in Alabama and nationwide, James didn't have to worry about running as a Democrat again by 1994.
Hunt recruited industry in the wake of tort reform by declaring that Alabama was "open for business." His life has come to a close, but the business he started as a participant of history lives on in a state system that, for better or worse, now has a more vibrant, diverse political discussion. That is something to be proud of.
(My appreciation to the work of Associated Press and Wikopedia for help in developing this post.)
Thursday, January 29, 2009
It's a new (open) world coming...
This was a day to show me the new extremes in the world of communication, or at least the world that is Walker County.
On the one hand, I've been hearing some people in the Walker County community complaining about something on Facebook. Since it is a closed community intended for friends you let in yourselves, I won't reveal the exact discussion, but it has been raging all day. It is the sign of how people can be disgusted when traditional media does not fulfill its role in the community, and the new media can take over.
Meanwhile, I am going again to tonight to the ComeUnity community that Jim Odom of Berean Christian Bookstore began last week in Jasper. (The meetings are at his home at Thursdays at 7 p.m.) Essentially it is a Bible study but also a means for people of Christian faith to come together and support each other, with a more open mind of allowing a new generation of Christians who don't fit into the traditional Walker County mold. (In other words, someone with an iPod and tattoos can sit next to a clean-cut conservative.) Jim did a fantastic job last week of launching this and proving he is maturing as a Christian leader. Part of his genius is for new technology, and he was able to use Facebook -- same site as the angry people used -- to network and bring Christians together in Christ's work.
For that matter, I recently went on Facebook at the suggestion of James Phillips, as I recall. I now have about 100 friends, some of whom I had been out of touch with and hadn't seen in years. Some of them gave me much relief they were OK. Moreover, I've actually used it to quickly contact people on work-related business. It is not surprising that I am told more kids today use a Facebook or MySpace e-mail for most of their e-mailing than traditional e-mail. (Did you ever think we would get this old this quickly to have to explain something as "traditional" e-mail, as if we ever thought there would be any other e-mail but e-mail?)
Meanwhile, I waded into radio today. Yesterday I bought a new Olympus WS-321M digital voice recorder at Radio Shack which is slimmer than my last one but holds more than 30 hours of recordings. More importantly, the battery compartment separates out and the top park has a USB terminal that plugs into a computer. That way, you can download the recording for saving on a CD (or Heaven knows what else). In my case, it can be saved on a computer at WJLX-AM (1240 on the dial) where an interview can later be played back on my new hour-long show that begins Monday at 2 p.m. (Nice way to ease into a shameless plug, huh?)
Since the Alabama Legislature will be in session Tuesday, I today (Thursday, Jan. 29) interviewed state Rep. Tommy Sherer, D-Jasper, in the studio. (By the way, I tried repeatedly to get state Sen. Charles Bishop and state Rep. Ken Guin, but was unsuccessful. The invitation is still open for later.) We couldn't use the station's equipment in the process at that moment, and we wanted to test out the recorder anyway, so Tommy and I went into a production room and did the interview using the recorder. Station manager Brett Elmore then took the recorder and in minutes downloaded the material, saying the recordings were fine.
I had thought at one time I would be using some bulky 1970s-era recording equipment, towing it all around town like a suitcase. As it turns out, I can carry it in my pocket. The only addition to it is a $10 microphone from Wal-Mart, and that will not be used all the time.
What strikes me in comparison to newspaper work, where I used a recorder for taping and transcribing interviews, is that many times not all the material would be used. Some of the best stories, one-liners or points would be cut from a story. Sometimes the nuances could not fully be explained or come through. Sometimes the speaker would not get his point across.
On a show like we are planning, it is not the breakneck speed of a "Today Show" interview. Sherer had time to elaborate and make points, as well as explain positions (such as what happened with the bingo bills during the last session, when he was roundly criticized by others).
Even if we did not have radio, think about it: Digital interviews like this can also be downloaded to blogs and Web sites. I noticed Gov. Bob Riley got on board with that, as he originally posted his news about the new bingo task force with a traditional press release on his Web site. A day or so later, he updated it to included video excerpts from the press conference announcing the creation of the task force.
For that matter, when my friend, Jeff Yastine, gets to fill in for the Miami anchor of "Nightly Business Report" at PBS, I can go to his Web site at a video archive and watch the whole 30-minute program, hours or days later. Needless to say, we are discussing at WJLX on how we can do much of the same thing, as they are already trying live streams and some attempts at presenting shows aired earlier in the day.
It is a process that can be applied to almost anything. My good friend, Gresham Hill of the Reach Your City ministries (http://www.reachyourcity.com/)recently posted an online article where he talked about how churches need to get beyond the idea of only posting up a static Web site. Now, he says youth ministers and other church officials need to think about constantly blogging to reach the members of their church and those who are unsaved in their community. That article made me think, and it may lead me to tinker some more with this blog. (The story can be found at http://www.preaching.com/resources/preaching_ online/11598587/#.)
Is it any wonder that newspapers are in trouble, when a new generation is now actively networking, blogging, web casting and doing things we could not dream of to get around traditional media? In effect, that generation banded together to elect a president. There is no telling what else it will be able to do in the future.
I only hope I can catch up with it in time to understand the next e-mail system.
On the one hand, I've been hearing some people in the Walker County community complaining about something on Facebook. Since it is a closed community intended for friends you let in yourselves, I won't reveal the exact discussion, but it has been raging all day. It is the sign of how people can be disgusted when traditional media does not fulfill its role in the community, and the new media can take over.
Meanwhile, I am going again to tonight to the ComeUnity community that Jim Odom of Berean Christian Bookstore began last week in Jasper. (The meetings are at his home at Thursdays at 7 p.m.) Essentially it is a Bible study but also a means for people of Christian faith to come together and support each other, with a more open mind of allowing a new generation of Christians who don't fit into the traditional Walker County mold. (In other words, someone with an iPod and tattoos can sit next to a clean-cut conservative.) Jim did a fantastic job last week of launching this and proving he is maturing as a Christian leader. Part of his genius is for new technology, and he was able to use Facebook -- same site as the angry people used -- to network and bring Christians together in Christ's work.
For that matter, I recently went on Facebook at the suggestion of James Phillips, as I recall. I now have about 100 friends, some of whom I had been out of touch with and hadn't seen in years. Some of them gave me much relief they were OK. Moreover, I've actually used it to quickly contact people on work-related business. It is not surprising that I am told more kids today use a Facebook or MySpace e-mail for most of their e-mailing than traditional e-mail. (Did you ever think we would get this old this quickly to have to explain something as "traditional" e-mail, as if we ever thought there would be any other e-mail but e-mail?)
Meanwhile, I waded into radio today. Yesterday I bought a new Olympus WS-321M digital voice recorder at Radio Shack which is slimmer than my last one but holds more than 30 hours of recordings. More importantly, the battery compartment separates out and the top park has a USB terminal that plugs into a computer. That way, you can download the recording for saving on a CD (or Heaven knows what else). In my case, it can be saved on a computer at WJLX-AM (1240 on the dial) where an interview can later be played back on my new hour-long show that begins Monday at 2 p.m. (Nice way to ease into a shameless plug, huh?)
Since the Alabama Legislature will be in session Tuesday, I today (Thursday, Jan. 29) interviewed state Rep. Tommy Sherer, D-Jasper, in the studio. (By the way, I tried repeatedly to get state Sen. Charles Bishop and state Rep. Ken Guin, but was unsuccessful. The invitation is still open for later.) We couldn't use the station's equipment in the process at that moment, and we wanted to test out the recorder anyway, so Tommy and I went into a production room and did the interview using the recorder. Station manager Brett Elmore then took the recorder and in minutes downloaded the material, saying the recordings were fine.
I had thought at one time I would be using some bulky 1970s-era recording equipment, towing it all around town like a suitcase. As it turns out, I can carry it in my pocket. The only addition to it is a $10 microphone from Wal-Mart, and that will not be used all the time.
What strikes me in comparison to newspaper work, where I used a recorder for taping and transcribing interviews, is that many times not all the material would be used. Some of the best stories, one-liners or points would be cut from a story. Sometimes the nuances could not fully be explained or come through. Sometimes the speaker would not get his point across.
On a show like we are planning, it is not the breakneck speed of a "Today Show" interview. Sherer had time to elaborate and make points, as well as explain positions (such as what happened with the bingo bills during the last session, when he was roundly criticized by others).
Even if we did not have radio, think about it: Digital interviews like this can also be downloaded to blogs and Web sites. I noticed Gov. Bob Riley got on board with that, as he originally posted his news about the new bingo task force with a traditional press release on his Web site. A day or so later, he updated it to included video excerpts from the press conference announcing the creation of the task force.
For that matter, when my friend, Jeff Yastine, gets to fill in for the Miami anchor of "Nightly Business Report" at PBS, I can go to his Web site at a video archive and watch the whole 30-minute program, hours or days later. Needless to say, we are discussing at WJLX on how we can do much of the same thing, as they are already trying live streams and some attempts at presenting shows aired earlier in the day.
It is a process that can be applied to almost anything. My good friend, Gresham Hill of the Reach Your City ministries (http://www.reachyourcity.com/)recently posted an online article where he talked about how churches need to get beyond the idea of only posting up a static Web site. Now, he says youth ministers and other church officials need to think about constantly blogging to reach the members of their church and those who are unsaved in their community. That article made me think, and it may lead me to tinker some more with this blog. (The story can be found at http://www.preaching.com/resources/preaching_ online/11598587/#.)
Is it any wonder that newspapers are in trouble, when a new generation is now actively networking, blogging, web casting and doing things we could not dream of to get around traditional media? In effect, that generation banded together to elect a president. There is no telling what else it will be able to do in the future.
I only hope I can catch up with it in time to understand the next e-mail system.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
When the economy goes down the drain
The economic meltdown continues to be felt in so many different ways. I was told today at one Jasper-based charity that they are dealing with more calls than ever before, requesting help with utilities and finding jobs. I was told some people have actually been found to be sleeping in cars, and multiple families are being combined in some homes. (Arguments have been made gambling in bingo halls have also led to some of this, but there is no question the economy has also contributed to this problem, as some are asking agencies for help to find jobs.)
It could get worse before it gets better. Marion County is already in double digit unemployment, and a reporter on NBC said a few days ago some experts expect the national rate to possibly rise to 9 or 10 percent in time before this is over. I know one major manufactured housing plant recently closed in Marion County, and we all know that the Tupelo Toyota plant has been delayed and the Guin plant never came. Here in Walker County, a number of stores have closed or are closing, particularly chain stores like Goody's and KB Toys.
Nationally, the reports of companies laying off thousands of people at a time are piling up like so many 1929 margin calls on Wall Street. The piper who played a luring tune to consumers and financial leaders alike for a number of years has put down his flute, stuck out a bag with a sheriff in tow and said, "It's time to pay."
We can easily point to greed on Wall Street. It was there, and prosecutors are now having a field day sorting out how some of them, even after the bailouts came, were living high on the hog while others lost their jobs or debt mounted. But the consumer also deserves his share of the blame by not doing his homework and buying homes or other items on dangerous terms that could fluctuate off the cliff, like the coyote missing the Road Runner and landing at the bottom with a small thud and a cloud of dust (again).
We purchased homes that bordered on mansions, buying into the idea we could afford far more home than what we really could, based on terms clouded in the mist of the Great American Dream that we wanted for our families. The smartest and most courageous word in the English language sometimes turns out to be "no," and we failed to use it once too often.
Now we are faced with a stimulus package that, faced with the prospect of The Great Depression: The Sequel, one feel mandated to accept. The terms are mind-boggling and may saddle us with debt for years, although NBC said experts have said spending is likely to have more of a roll-over effect in creating stimulus than tax cuts, although it may be slower to spread around. We may not have any choice but to swallow the medicine, and no spoonful of sugar will make it any better.
There could be good results for local governments and taxpayers, as the Metropolitan Planning Organization in Birmingham is already drawing up a list of projects that the Obama administration might fund in Alabama as part of the package. The big winner could be, if approved, the $300 million interchange for Future I-22 and I-65, which is ready to go. Counties like Walker, Winston and Marion could be in line for funds that could help pay for infrastructure improvements such as the bridges and roads that have been in disrepair here for so long. (The Birmingham News points out Shelby and Jefferson counties could get up to $7 million each for roadwork, as the Association of County Commissions of Alabama is already drawing up a list.)
A continued national slowdown could truly slow down progress for years to come, although it was noted at the Chamber of Commerce of Walker County's annual meeting last week that this might actually buy the county some more time to get its own house in order to mount future economic development recruitment proposals. Certainly it gives us more time to get rid of the blight of electronic bingo halls before they ruin the advantage we had in I-22 for obtaining more industry.
Overall, though, it is a sad day for the national and local economies, whether or not the House votes Wednesday on the stimulus package. The debt problem for Walker and Jefferson counties are now going to be upstaged by a national problem that threatens to swallow us all up. It is not so much a sewer debt one worries about now, as opposed to whether we will all go down the drain.
It could get worse before it gets better. Marion County is already in double digit unemployment, and a reporter on NBC said a few days ago some experts expect the national rate to possibly rise to 9 or 10 percent in time before this is over. I know one major manufactured housing plant recently closed in Marion County, and we all know that the Tupelo Toyota plant has been delayed and the Guin plant never came. Here in Walker County, a number of stores have closed or are closing, particularly chain stores like Goody's and KB Toys.
Nationally, the reports of companies laying off thousands of people at a time are piling up like so many 1929 margin calls on Wall Street. The piper who played a luring tune to consumers and financial leaders alike for a number of years has put down his flute, stuck out a bag with a sheriff in tow and said, "It's time to pay."
We can easily point to greed on Wall Street. It was there, and prosecutors are now having a field day sorting out how some of them, even after the bailouts came, were living high on the hog while others lost their jobs or debt mounted. But the consumer also deserves his share of the blame by not doing his homework and buying homes or other items on dangerous terms that could fluctuate off the cliff, like the coyote missing the Road Runner and landing at the bottom with a small thud and a cloud of dust (again).
We purchased homes that bordered on mansions, buying into the idea we could afford far more home than what we really could, based on terms clouded in the mist of the Great American Dream that we wanted for our families. The smartest and most courageous word in the English language sometimes turns out to be "no," and we failed to use it once too often.
Now we are faced with a stimulus package that, faced with the prospect of The Great Depression: The Sequel, one feel mandated to accept. The terms are mind-boggling and may saddle us with debt for years, although NBC said experts have said spending is likely to have more of a roll-over effect in creating stimulus than tax cuts, although it may be slower to spread around. We may not have any choice but to swallow the medicine, and no spoonful of sugar will make it any better.
There could be good results for local governments and taxpayers, as the Metropolitan Planning Organization in Birmingham is already drawing up a list of projects that the Obama administration might fund in Alabama as part of the package. The big winner could be, if approved, the $300 million interchange for Future I-22 and I-65, which is ready to go. Counties like Walker, Winston and Marion could be in line for funds that could help pay for infrastructure improvements such as the bridges and roads that have been in disrepair here for so long. (The Birmingham News points out Shelby and Jefferson counties could get up to $7 million each for roadwork, as the Association of County Commissions of Alabama is already drawing up a list.)
A continued national slowdown could truly slow down progress for years to come, although it was noted at the Chamber of Commerce of Walker County's annual meeting last week that this might actually buy the county some more time to get its own house in order to mount future economic development recruitment proposals. Certainly it gives us more time to get rid of the blight of electronic bingo halls before they ruin the advantage we had in I-22 for obtaining more industry.
Overall, though, it is a sad day for the national and local economies, whether or not the House votes Wednesday on the stimulus package. The debt problem for Walker and Jefferson counties are now going to be upstaged by a national problem that threatens to swallow us all up. It is not so much a sewer debt one worries about now, as opposed to whether we will all go down the drain.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Odds and ends
Procrastination seems to be my middle name the past few days. Here are some odds and ends until I get my act together (hopefully quick)...
- I got my second traffic ticket ever Sunday, and for the second time it was on I-22 between Jasper and I-22. The guy in front of me at the Circuit Clerk's Office on Monday also got caught on I-22. Apparently, the officers have an easy time of it there. For the record, I was doing 82 mph in a 65 mph zone. (I'm not a speed demon, but the Buick has got some power that I'm still not used to. I'll have to put it on cruise control more often.)
- I had some people to tell me that six points on the state traffic system and you can have your license suspended. However, I've had legal confirmation that it is actually about 12 points that this happens, and that most speeding incidents only accounts for two points. (Had I gone 86 mph or more, it would have been five points.) Better yet, once the incident is two years old, the points given for that infraction no longer count toward suspension.
- When I was in to see the circuit clerk about being on the radio show, once I had checked about the ticket (which I couldn't pay because it was not in the records yet), I noticed I was still holding the ticket as I was asking. I told one of the clerks what I was really in to see Susie Odom about. I said that I guessed a number of people actually did try to come in to see Susie or someone about tearing up the ticket. "You have no idea," the clerk wearily said, making me feel better I had said something.
- Of course, everyone instantly becomes a comedian. One lawyer saw me in the courthouse with a ticket. "I could get you off on an insanity defense," he said. If I were him, I wouldn't bill me for the advice.
- Good wishes go to attorney Charlie Waits and his expecting wife, dentist Amanda Waits, who is pretty much resting up and relying on extra help at the dentist office while she awaits the birth of their child.
- The economic problems the country is facing continue to hit the region. I was shocked to see how depressing the once mighty McFarland Mall in Tuscaloosa had fallen. Once anchored by Woolco and Gayfers (later Dillards), it had at one time boasted a movie theater, a pet shop, a major cafeteria restaurant, Baskin Robbins and so much else. The Gayfers end is practically unused, Goody's is closing in the middle, Dollar Tree takes up space in the large restaurant area, and only some low-end chains can be found down the end. There is practically no reason to go. Even in Birmingham, I went by Patton Creek development next to the Galleria, where Circuit City is closing, Linens 'n Things has closed and Barnes and Noble announced that it was cutting back its closing hour on weeknights from 11 p.m. to 10 p.m., which is devastating to late owls.
- The annual breakfast meeting of the Chamber of Commerce of Walker County was great, but what everyone talked about was the food. It was plentiful and good. I don't think anyone ate much for the rest of the day. (For that matter, it was good to rejoin the Jasper Kiwanis Club again recently, as the food at the Jasper campus of Bevill State Community College is the best bargain in town.)
- I'm told by Jasper Superintendent of Education Robert Sparkman, who spoke Monday to the Kiwanis, that absentee ballots are now available in Jasper for the special referendum set for Feb. 10. That vote will decide on renewing 5.2 mills of property tax first approved in 1981, and would last another 30 years for upkeep of school buildings. Since state law requires a certain amount of mills, it could be a problem if the tax is not renewed, and it could cause the city to lose state funding.
- An open house will be held at T.R. Simmons Elementary for their new remodeling on Feb. 2 at 6 p.m. The renovations at Memorial Park should be finished by March, Sparkman said Monday.
- Northport Baptist will screen the two-hour movie "Fireproof" at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15. This is the third movie released by a Georgia church, which earlier made "Flywheel" and "Face the Giants." This is, by far, the most professional of the three and is a great tale with a great message about dealing with marriage. It is coming out this month on DVD, but I would catch it with an audience while I could.
- Jim Odom's ComeUnity inaugural meeting in his house last Thursday was attended by about a half dozen people, all of them apparently excited about coming together for Bible study and to promote unity and friendships in Christ in a casual setting. The next meeting is on Thursday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m. at Odom's house, maybe a mile off of Highway 78 and just off of Walston Bridge Road.
- First Baptist Church of Jasper apparently has plans to try out a new early morning contemporary service, although it might only be on a once-a-month trial basis for now.
- Back on my radio show, U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt will also join me on my inaugural broadcast, along with Jasper Mayor Sonny Posey. Sparkman will join me the day before the referendum, and Odom will join me on Feb. 11. The show starts at 2 p.m. Feb. 2 on WJLX, which is 1240 on the AM in Walker County.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Ed's first guests on radio (week of Feb. 2)
I've been rather busy the past couple of days. (Half of it fulfilling my obligation of going through receipts for the IRS, and it's still not over. Did I really buy that many batteries for tape records?) However, I can at least turn in a quick blog this Friday night to say I have the lineup of the first week of my new radio show, "Talk of the Town," on WJLX, 1240 AM, starting at 2 p.m. Feb. 2.
Monday, Feb. 2: Jasper Mayor Sonny Posey, to talk about events at City Hall, including the future of Sherer Auditorium and dealing with the economic crunch in terms of tax revenue.
Tuesday, Feb. 3: It's the first day of the Legislature, starting at noon. (Gov. Bob Riley should address legislators at 6:30 p.m., which should be televised by Alabama Public Television, going by tradition.) I hope to talk to our local legislators (probably on tape) and possibly other experts, depending on scheduling.
Wednesday, Feb. 4: Linda Lewis of the Chamber of Commerce of Walker County will go over the progress of the Focus Walker County plan and other plans for the chamber. I hope to also ask her about what economic impact she is seeing from retailers in the area and how this could affect the chamber's plans.
Thursday, Feb. 5: Managing Editor James Phillips of the Daily Mountain Eagle will be in to talk about recent news in the area and hopefully give us some insight into the newspaper and what is happening with the newspaper industry.
Friday, Feb. 6: Ezekiel Nichols, who does some economic teaching at the University of Alabama and is a native of the county, will discuss the status of the economy and how President Obama will handle this under his watch, as well as some insights into the local economy.
The following week, Feb. 10, I'll also have some hospice ministers to talk about how one ministers to the dying and how this impacts the ministers themselves. I also know Feb. 12 county engineer David Edgil will discuss projects in the county, and I hope we touch on the status of the closed roads and bridges in the county, as well as improvements at the airport. I should be able to wrap up the second week quickly and get ahead on some other bookings.
Keep in mind that I'll leave room for breaking news when it happens, and we'll have quick summaries of what is going on in national, state and local news, weather, sports, stocks, entertainment, etc., sometimes from our reports and sometimes from the resources of CNN Radio. I also hope to do some commentary as well, as well as attend meetings and events, and maybe bring some sound bites back to the station. It's rather all new to me, but I am excited we can give something the county has needed for some time. I'll certainly welcome your feedback on what you like, and we'll do the best we can. Remember, this starts Feb. 2 and will be Monday through Friday at 2 p.m. on 1240 AM.
Monday, Feb. 2: Jasper Mayor Sonny Posey, to talk about events at City Hall, including the future of Sherer Auditorium and dealing with the economic crunch in terms of tax revenue.
Tuesday, Feb. 3: It's the first day of the Legislature, starting at noon. (Gov. Bob Riley should address legislators at 6:30 p.m., which should be televised by Alabama Public Television, going by tradition.) I hope to talk to our local legislators (probably on tape) and possibly other experts, depending on scheduling.
Wednesday, Feb. 4: Linda Lewis of the Chamber of Commerce of Walker County will go over the progress of the Focus Walker County plan and other plans for the chamber. I hope to also ask her about what economic impact she is seeing from retailers in the area and how this could affect the chamber's plans.
Thursday, Feb. 5: Managing Editor James Phillips of the Daily Mountain Eagle will be in to talk about recent news in the area and hopefully give us some insight into the newspaper and what is happening with the newspaper industry.
Friday, Feb. 6: Ezekiel Nichols, who does some economic teaching at the University of Alabama and is a native of the county, will discuss the status of the economy and how President Obama will handle this under his watch, as well as some insights into the local economy.
The following week, Feb. 10, I'll also have some hospice ministers to talk about how one ministers to the dying and how this impacts the ministers themselves. I also know Feb. 12 county engineer David Edgil will discuss projects in the county, and I hope we touch on the status of the closed roads and bridges in the county, as well as improvements at the airport. I should be able to wrap up the second week quickly and get ahead on some other bookings.
Keep in mind that I'll leave room for breaking news when it happens, and we'll have quick summaries of what is going on in national, state and local news, weather, sports, stocks, entertainment, etc., sometimes from our reports and sometimes from the resources of CNN Radio. I also hope to do some commentary as well, as well as attend meetings and events, and maybe bring some sound bites back to the station. It's rather all new to me, but I am excited we can give something the county has needed for some time. I'll certainly welcome your feedback on what you like, and we'll do the best we can. Remember, this starts Feb. 2 and will be Monday through Friday at 2 p.m. on 1240 AM.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Wednesday's bingo hearing
In all honesty, I sat Wednesday morning at the Jefferson County Courthouse at another bingo hearing under Circuit Judge Robert Vance impressed with his abilities but getting very little immediate results out of the hearing.
Essentially, Bill Adair, the lawyer for the Sheriff's Department, wanted an order to put a halt to the practice of allowing bingo charities to be repermitted to keep moving to new bingo halls as it would delay the case further. Allowing charities to move around presents new opportunities to have amendments to the original case as to who are defendants and where, which delays the case. He said there was no way to manage this if the suit had to repeatedly be amended with new bingo halls. He said it would be understandable if a bingo hall burned down or flooded, for example, but that some changes have been made as soon as a week after moving to another hall.
Adair said a bidding war for charities had gone on, and there has been at least one accusation of intimidation involved to get a charity. (As bingo charities lawyer Herbie Brewer pointed out, you need about 14 charities to operate 24/6 based on the hour limitations for one charity.) Adair went on to call it a "pyramid scheme." He also went on to tell about one bingo hall that didn't have any charities, and, once found out, came up with names in a matter of hours, some of which officials had never heard of.
Brewer said there are lots of ways charities can operate their own games, including one bingo house to allow several under one roof.
"They can certainly have other people do it for them," Brewer said.
Eventually an order may come later this week, but we had to sit through a number of other arguments that touched on just about everything else about the case. We even got into the matter of whether the charities can get together and contract with a third party to operate the games...which Adair said, in his opinion, they cannot.
"I think the intent of the law is that the permit holders must operate the games," Adair said.
A number of arguments were offered up that serve as interesting points. One is that Judge Jerry Selman's original temporary restraining order on new permits has never been made permanent, thus making that order suspect as far as current standing. It was pointed out the TRO came as everyone thought a resolution would come quickly. Brewer even gently urged the judge not to consider legislating rules from the bench -- although it was also agreed that the commission had few rules out, and Adair said that the commission might have even rescinded some past rules for the March 2008 rules it passed -- then failed to take them back on when they cancelled the March rules.
Brewer also raised the idea of filing a motion to stay the whole proceeding if Gov. Bob Riley's new gambling task force performs criminal investigations. On that, Vance saw the point of possibly infringing on Fifth Amendment rights if information is sought that could go back to a criminal case.
There was also discussion about a proposed protective order against disclosing information from documents. The judge noted the idea that media might try to intervene to claim state record laws, and attorney Charlie Waits, an attorney for the Walker County Political Accountability Coalition (which, as disclosure, recently has been one of my private clients) spoke up saying the group had indicated it wanted copies of the charity applications.
However, it was interesting everyone seemed to discuss getting to the main questions, which are: Is electronic bingo legal, and are current machines permissible, or are they slot machines? Now that the vending machines are close to being put on the suit, Vance hopes to move on with inspection of the machines so he can answer the main questions. He also seemed to look for ways to speed up the process, although he admitted that might involve more unfair speculation if not all the machines are alike. He warned to get the facts needed will still take some time.
In all, we didn't get much done except to air out positions Wednesday, although we got some hope that the judge wants to move on to the main points. He also seemed fair in dealing with both sides. But I hope he has some patience, because this still could take a while.
Essentially, Bill Adair, the lawyer for the Sheriff's Department, wanted an order to put a halt to the practice of allowing bingo charities to be repermitted to keep moving to new bingo halls as it would delay the case further. Allowing charities to move around presents new opportunities to have amendments to the original case as to who are defendants and where, which delays the case. He said there was no way to manage this if the suit had to repeatedly be amended with new bingo halls. He said it would be understandable if a bingo hall burned down or flooded, for example, but that some changes have been made as soon as a week after moving to another hall.
Adair said a bidding war for charities had gone on, and there has been at least one accusation of intimidation involved to get a charity. (As bingo charities lawyer Herbie Brewer pointed out, you need about 14 charities to operate 24/6 based on the hour limitations for one charity.) Adair went on to call it a "pyramid scheme." He also went on to tell about one bingo hall that didn't have any charities, and, once found out, came up with names in a matter of hours, some of which officials had never heard of.
Brewer said there are lots of ways charities can operate their own games, including one bingo house to allow several under one roof.
"They can certainly have other people do it for them," Brewer said.
Eventually an order may come later this week, but we had to sit through a number of other arguments that touched on just about everything else about the case. We even got into the matter of whether the charities can get together and contract with a third party to operate the games...which Adair said, in his opinion, they cannot.
"I think the intent of the law is that the permit holders must operate the games," Adair said.
A number of arguments were offered up that serve as interesting points. One is that Judge Jerry Selman's original temporary restraining order on new permits has never been made permanent, thus making that order suspect as far as current standing. It was pointed out the TRO came as everyone thought a resolution would come quickly. Brewer even gently urged the judge not to consider legislating rules from the bench -- although it was also agreed that the commission had few rules out, and Adair said that the commission might have even rescinded some past rules for the March 2008 rules it passed -- then failed to take them back on when they cancelled the March rules.
Brewer also raised the idea of filing a motion to stay the whole proceeding if Gov. Bob Riley's new gambling task force performs criminal investigations. On that, Vance saw the point of possibly infringing on Fifth Amendment rights if information is sought that could go back to a criminal case.
There was also discussion about a proposed protective order against disclosing information from documents. The judge noted the idea that media might try to intervene to claim state record laws, and attorney Charlie Waits, an attorney for the Walker County Political Accountability Coalition (which, as disclosure, recently has been one of my private clients) spoke up saying the group had indicated it wanted copies of the charity applications.
However, it was interesting everyone seemed to discuss getting to the main questions, which are: Is electronic bingo legal, and are current machines permissible, or are they slot machines? Now that the vending machines are close to being put on the suit, Vance hopes to move on with inspection of the machines so he can answer the main questions. He also seemed to look for ways to speed up the process, although he admitted that might involve more unfair speculation if not all the machines are alike. He warned to get the facts needed will still take some time.
In all, we didn't get much done except to air out positions Wednesday, although we got some hope that the judge wants to move on to the main points. He also seemed fair in dealing with both sides. But I hope he has some patience, because this still could take a while.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Jan. 20 commission, Jasper council meetings
I'm not sure that any other reporters eventually showed up for Tuesday's called Walker County Commission meeting, unless they came late in the back, and my own show doesn't start until Feb. 2, so I'll go ahead and give a summary here. Plus, I'll give a brief summary of Jasper City Council's meeting that morning since I've started this ball rolling.
Walker County Commission Chairman Bruce Hamrick noted the flag was ordered at half-mast that day for Pvt. Sean McCune, who died in Iraq and whose funeral was that day. Hamrick's prayer mentioned McCune and the new president to be sworn in that day, Barack Obama.
The commission gave approval to the state's paving project on Alabama 195 from Alabama 5 to 1.766 miles north of Fall City Road, also known as County Road 27. (The Jasper City Council later that morning passed the same type of resolution. Councilmen heard that this particular project will not straighten out long-term traffic problems with the infamous intersection of 195 and 5, but that the state has been discussing the matter.)
The commission approved a grant award to the county's airport for clearing of obstructions. The county and state will each pay a 2.5 percent match of $6,685, while the federal government will pay $254,024, for a total of $267,394.
The commission followed the recommendation of County Engineer David Edgil in rejecting all bids for work on the roof of the Walker County Emergency Management Agency building, with the idea of rebidding or looking again at the project later.
The commission observed the swearing in of county Treasurer Sheila Rice by Circuit Clerk Susie Odom, with family also in attendance. The commission later approved a resolution for First National Bank to clear the way for Rice to join Hamrick and county administrator Jill Farris is having signatures on the county's accounts.
The commission approved a $3,200 annual contract with the East Walker Chamber of Commerce to pave the way for the county's annual appropriation.
The commission agreed to change its food service at the county jail, which has had a contract with ABL Management for that service. Hamrick said there have been problems with ABL in the past, while the jail now has a licensed dietitian on staff. Sheriff John Mark Tirey and jail administrator Trent McCluskey wants the dietitian and other local staff to administer the program and buy local food for the meals. The county has to give 30 days to ABL to cancel its contract.
The commission agreed to reappoint EMA director Johnny Burnette as the NIMS point of contact, a position Burnette has held for a couple of years and which was previously held by 911 director Roger Wilson.
The commission announced it would hold its annual auction in April and gave permission to Hamrick, Farris and District 1 Commission Dual Tubbs (who generally directs the auction) for signing documents related to the auction.
The commission announced its annual spring cleanup will be held April 18-25 in conjunction with the statewide People Against a Littered State (PALS) cleanup.
A few blocks over, the Jasper City Council postponed a hearing with Charles Tatum Jr. concerning a hearing on a matter for Donald Booth against the city, as Tatum was apparently out of town that day. It renewed a contract with RPS to transport prisoners in emergency situations, although the fee will rise to $385 per trip in an emergency. It approved purchase (though bids) of a number of items using a $96,156 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), with $4,807 in local matching funds. It approved a resolution for nuisance abatements but postponed a couple of cases until more information could be obtained. It also introduced ordinances to rezone areas for industrial and commercial use in connection with the new industrial park and approved election officers for an upcoming school millage referendum that is to be paid for by the Jasper City Board of Education.
Also from that council meeting, the council discussed $46,500 in curb and gutter work, as well as other improvements, that had been delayed for three years on Audie Boulevard and Gary Drive. However, some on the council were concerned about the rising cost of insurance and wondered if the project should not be postponed a few months until the council can get a handle on the finances. Mayor Sonny Posey suggested a resolution for the next meeting to put a three-month freeze on non-emergency projects because of funding needs. No one on the council spoke out against the project's merits.
The council also discussed entering a lease and sublease with Walker County and Clastran to purchase a new bus that it could then lease to Clastran. That is something Clastran wants to cut down maintenance costs, and the city can get a grant for the bus, which could come several months from now. However, the council and Posey agreed to see if the mayor could use the proposal as leverage to get Clastran to allow bus passes or other exemptions to be used to help make off-route trips that are currently more expensive. City officials said it is possible government regulations or other restrictions might not allow such a change, but they wanted to see what they could get for local riders who otherwise might be physically able to make the off-route trips by themselves.
Walker County Commission Chairman Bruce Hamrick noted the flag was ordered at half-mast that day for Pvt. Sean McCune, who died in Iraq and whose funeral was that day. Hamrick's prayer mentioned McCune and the new president to be sworn in that day, Barack Obama.
The commission gave approval to the state's paving project on Alabama 195 from Alabama 5 to 1.766 miles north of Fall City Road, also known as County Road 27. (The Jasper City Council later that morning passed the same type of resolution. Councilmen heard that this particular project will not straighten out long-term traffic problems with the infamous intersection of 195 and 5, but that the state has been discussing the matter.)
The commission approved a grant award to the county's airport for clearing of obstructions. The county and state will each pay a 2.5 percent match of $6,685, while the federal government will pay $254,024, for a total of $267,394.
The commission followed the recommendation of County Engineer David Edgil in rejecting all bids for work on the roof of the Walker County Emergency Management Agency building, with the idea of rebidding or looking again at the project later.
The commission observed the swearing in of county Treasurer Sheila Rice by Circuit Clerk Susie Odom, with family also in attendance. The commission later approved a resolution for First National Bank to clear the way for Rice to join Hamrick and county administrator Jill Farris is having signatures on the county's accounts.
The commission approved a $3,200 annual contract with the East Walker Chamber of Commerce to pave the way for the county's annual appropriation.
The commission agreed to change its food service at the county jail, which has had a contract with ABL Management for that service. Hamrick said there have been problems with ABL in the past, while the jail now has a licensed dietitian on staff. Sheriff John Mark Tirey and jail administrator Trent McCluskey wants the dietitian and other local staff to administer the program and buy local food for the meals. The county has to give 30 days to ABL to cancel its contract.
The commission agreed to reappoint EMA director Johnny Burnette as the NIMS point of contact, a position Burnette has held for a couple of years and which was previously held by 911 director Roger Wilson.
The commission announced it would hold its annual auction in April and gave permission to Hamrick, Farris and District 1 Commission Dual Tubbs (who generally directs the auction) for signing documents related to the auction.
The commission announced its annual spring cleanup will be held April 18-25 in conjunction with the statewide People Against a Littered State (PALS) cleanup.
A few blocks over, the Jasper City Council postponed a hearing with Charles Tatum Jr. concerning a hearing on a matter for Donald Booth against the city, as Tatum was apparently out of town that day. It renewed a contract with RPS to transport prisoners in emergency situations, although the fee will rise to $385 per trip in an emergency. It approved purchase (though bids) of a number of items using a $96,156 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), with $4,807 in local matching funds. It approved a resolution for nuisance abatements but postponed a couple of cases until more information could be obtained. It also introduced ordinances to rezone areas for industrial and commercial use in connection with the new industrial park and approved election officers for an upcoming school millage referendum that is to be paid for by the Jasper City Board of Education.
Also from that council meeting, the council discussed $46,500 in curb and gutter work, as well as other improvements, that had been delayed for three years on Audie Boulevard and Gary Drive. However, some on the council were concerned about the rising cost of insurance and wondered if the project should not be postponed a few months until the council can get a handle on the finances. Mayor Sonny Posey suggested a resolution for the next meeting to put a three-month freeze on non-emergency projects because of funding needs. No one on the council spoke out against the project's merits.
The council also discussed entering a lease and sublease with Walker County and Clastran to purchase a new bus that it could then lease to Clastran. That is something Clastran wants to cut down maintenance costs, and the city can get a grant for the bus, which could come several months from now. However, the council and Posey agreed to see if the mayor could use the proposal as leverage to get Clastran to allow bus passes or other exemptions to be used to help make off-route trips that are currently more expensive. City officials said it is possible government regulations or other restrictions might not allow such a change, but they wanted to see what they could get for local riders who otherwise might be physically able to make the off-route trips by themselves.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Bruce's blunder at the chamber
I find it amazing we are finding Chairman Bruce Hamrick of the Walker County Commission making crude remarks hailing back from the Vietnam War in front of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce. Of all people to blow this, I didn't think it would be him.
Hamrick did just that Thursday, according to the Birmingham News. (The Birmingham chamber's Web site, loaded with multi-media from 2008, did not have any thing by which to hear the remarks Friday.)
"When talking about economic challenges facing the region, Hamrick told a story comparing the economic situation to his time in Vietnam," News Writer Joseph Bryant wrote Friday on page 3B. "In the story, an officer complained about the small number of enemies killed and soldiers responded by saying they could only kill so many (slur) in a day. Hamrick then said the region must work the same way as the soldiers did in attacking the economic problems" by working together.
Of course, the economic problems seem to spring out of the jungle like the enemy in Vietnam and we seem to be losing no matter what we do, but that's beside the point. The point is that in one of the most diverse cities in the state, a true melting pot that maybe better represents America than Walker County does, Hamrick made a careless remark that is offensive to a number of people who now are business leaders in this nation.
It doesn't stop there. The News said Hamrick talked about the influence of women and used a joke about his granddaughter to say he was getting used to the idea. That's great, since most of America got used to it 20 years ago. I don't even want to know how many women there were in the audience, because it was probably half.
You can imagine the backlash. The News had a five-column headline (out of six): "Remarks called insensitive, sexist." Underneath, the chamber president said that the chamber does not "condone sexist or racist comments, regardless of the context in which the comments were made," although he added the chamber does not screen the comments in advance.
Birmingham businessman David Sher said he didn't know about the Vietnam term, but had a bad enough feeling about it that he thought, "Ouch," at the time. Birmingham City Councilman Steven Hoyt said he didn't appreciate it and thought it was "out of place and out of line."
State Sen. Jabo Waggoner, who resides much of the time at Smith Lake and is a friend to local officials, and county attorney Hank Wiley was the only ones to defend Hamrick in the story, as Hamrick could not be reached.
As a person, I like Hamrick. He did serve bravely in Vietnam, and I know he is proud of his record. I think he has done well to try to represent the county at wine-and-cheese crowds such as this, at least in the past. But something failed this year. Badly.
It is not the first time a speech has gone badly. Comedy writer Hal Kanter said at a 1999 Friars Club event, "the human brain is an astonishing instrument. it starts working the moment you're born and it doesn't stop until you're called on to speak in public. That just happened to me."
Still, Hamrick has had enough experiences with crowds like this that he should have known to be on his best behavior. Walker County has the problem of being the ugly stepchild in a room of Birmingham officials, and you have to project a professional image that can win over their support. In a time where we are in that economic slump that Hamrick talked about, we have to be more careful so we can get that cooperation and image to win jobs and projects.
So what do we project? Well, first there was the redneck image, and, let's face it, an image we can sometimes be racist here, where the Klan was once strong. Then there were the bingo halls. Now this.
I feel bad for Hamrick. I really do. But I hope our public officials will consider the implications in a politically correct before they make an address like this again.
Hamrick did just that Thursday, according to the Birmingham News. (The Birmingham chamber's Web site, loaded with multi-media from 2008, did not have any thing by which to hear the remarks Friday.)
"When talking about economic challenges facing the region, Hamrick told a story comparing the economic situation to his time in Vietnam," News Writer Joseph Bryant wrote Friday on page 3B. "In the story, an officer complained about the small number of enemies killed and soldiers responded by saying they could only kill so many (slur) in a day. Hamrick then said the region must work the same way as the soldiers did in attacking the economic problems" by working together.
Of course, the economic problems seem to spring out of the jungle like the enemy in Vietnam and we seem to be losing no matter what we do, but that's beside the point. The point is that in one of the most diverse cities in the state, a true melting pot that maybe better represents America than Walker County does, Hamrick made a careless remark that is offensive to a number of people who now are business leaders in this nation.
It doesn't stop there. The News said Hamrick talked about the influence of women and used a joke about his granddaughter to say he was getting used to the idea. That's great, since most of America got used to it 20 years ago. I don't even want to know how many women there were in the audience, because it was probably half.
You can imagine the backlash. The News had a five-column headline (out of six): "Remarks called insensitive, sexist." Underneath, the chamber president said that the chamber does not "condone sexist or racist comments, regardless of the context in which the comments were made," although he added the chamber does not screen the comments in advance.
Birmingham businessman David Sher said he didn't know about the Vietnam term, but had a bad enough feeling about it that he thought, "Ouch," at the time. Birmingham City Councilman Steven Hoyt said he didn't appreciate it and thought it was "out of place and out of line."
State Sen. Jabo Waggoner, who resides much of the time at Smith Lake and is a friend to local officials, and county attorney Hank Wiley was the only ones to defend Hamrick in the story, as Hamrick could not be reached.
As a person, I like Hamrick. He did serve bravely in Vietnam, and I know he is proud of his record. I think he has done well to try to represent the county at wine-and-cheese crowds such as this, at least in the past. But something failed this year. Badly.
It is not the first time a speech has gone badly. Comedy writer Hal Kanter said at a 1999 Friars Club event, "the human brain is an astonishing instrument. it starts working the moment you're born and it doesn't stop until you're called on to speak in public. That just happened to me."
Still, Hamrick has had enough experiences with crowds like this that he should have known to be on his best behavior. Walker County has the problem of being the ugly stepchild in a room of Birmingham officials, and you have to project a professional image that can win over their support. In a time where we are in that economic slump that Hamrick talked about, we have to be more careful so we can get that cooperation and image to win jobs and projects.
So what do we project? Well, first there was the redneck image, and, let's face it, an image we can sometimes be racist here, where the Klan was once strong. Then there were the bingo halls. Now this.
I feel bad for Hamrick. I really do. But I hope our public officials will consider the implications in a politically correct before they make an address like this again.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Exclusive: Bingo hearing to be held Wed. in Bham at 9 a.m.
For those of you following the bingo lawsuits, this may be an exclusive, as I understand it: Court documents at the Walker County Courthouse confirm that Jefferson County Circuit Judge Robert S. Vance will hold a hearing at Courtroom 330 in the Jefferson County Courthouse, in downtown Birmingham, on Wednesday, Jan. 21. The hearing is set for 9 a.m. and is a continuation of a hearing that was originally set for Jan. 15.
The hearing appears to go back to a motion filed by Walker County District Attorney Charles Baker and Sheriff John Mark Tirey on Jan. 7 to restrict amending permits that would allow changing the location of playing bingo games for the duration of the bingo suit. On Dec. 31, Helping Hands Charity Bingo also filed a motion to that any bingo operations licensing granted after the November 2007 temporary restraining order be declared null and void. The Baker/Tirey team opposes that motion, saying it has been complied with and that Helping Hands is trying the confuse the issue.
(If that sounds confusing, welcome to the world of all the legal minds of Walker County, who now have constant headaches. The girls in the Circuit Clerk's Office are constantly kept busy just keeping lawyers updated on all the filings, to the point they are sick of it.)
Keep in mind the word went around that during the last hearing in Birmingham, more was discussed than what was on the table. In a case where anything can happen and where the sides have not often gone before the judge (to the point they have a lot to discuss), I am sure any number of things could happen. Stay tuned.
The hearing appears to go back to a motion filed by Walker County District Attorney Charles Baker and Sheriff John Mark Tirey on Jan. 7 to restrict amending permits that would allow changing the location of playing bingo games for the duration of the bingo suit. On Dec. 31, Helping Hands Charity Bingo also filed a motion to that any bingo operations licensing granted after the November 2007 temporary restraining order be declared null and void. The Baker/Tirey team opposes that motion, saying it has been complied with and that Helping Hands is trying the confuse the issue.
(If that sounds confusing, welcome to the world of all the legal minds of Walker County, who now have constant headaches. The girls in the Circuit Clerk's Office are constantly kept busy just keeping lawyers updated on all the filings, to the point they are sick of it.)
Keep in mind the word went around that during the last hearing in Birmingham, more was discussed than what was on the table. In a case where anything can happen and where the sides have not often gone before the judge (to the point they have a lot to discuss), I am sure any number of things could happen. Stay tuned.
George W. Bush: Goodbye 'W' -- and good riddance
Tonight President Bush addressed the nation for a few minutes, with a built-in audience that we now must expect with presidential addresses. It used to be a president sat in the Oval Office and talked one-on-one with us. With this president, we now expect a friendly audience gathered to applaud and support the Speaker-in-Chief.
In this case, Bush spoke from the White House with selected staff, family and aides. They applauded him before and after, although Bush did address the nation in the eye most of the time. He spoke in confident, optimistic tones of the work accomplished in his eight years, starting with his handling of Sept. 11, 2001, and going on from there. He mentioned a cleaner environment, which probably surprised a number of environmentalists. He talked of people paying lower taxes, although many don't have incomes now to pay those taxes on. He went on about other accomplishments.
I was tired. I sat back on the bed and listened, mostly with my eyes closed. Considering Katrina, Iraq, Wall Street excesses and a few other setbacks, I think that is probably how he conducted his presidency, so why should I listen any differently. I do remember when he concluded at 7:15 p.m. CST, I said to myself, "Thank God it is over." I was not just referring to his speech.
Granted, he acknowledged the economy is hurting and he offered best wishes to the incoming president, so I can't be completely negative. But the latest, and last, NBC-Wall St. Journal poll numbers on his presidency show a major negative reflection of the country concerning his approval rating. His father, although beaten, went out with a good approval rating. George W. Bush will go out with the country saying, "Good riddance."
He is probably right that he was willing to make tough decisions and I think he has a moral base in his character. But the downfall of George W. Bush falls under many bullet points: Surrendering foreign policy to his vice president; structuring his office so that he would not hear bad news; allowing politicizing and polarization of day-to-day government operations known for being non-partisan; following the path toward a war that was single minded in purpose in conflict with evidence; favoring fat cats instead of the middle class or lower income Americans; and on and on. His presidency may be the saddest since the days of the LBJ and Nixon years, as those, too, were imperial presidency structures which were doomed to failure.
Now, we have a new president who has the major backing of the country. The WSJ-NBC poll show even among those who don't agree with President-elect Obama, they like him and want him to succeed. We NEED for him to succeed, to recover from the past eight years and to put the country on track. We need him to work out the economy, the war on terrorism, health care and any number of pressing issues.
President Bush wanted to be a compassionate conservative. He talked of being a uniter, not a divider. He failed miserably in the first, and in the end only succeeded in the later in a way he could not imagine. He united the country against Bush and the Republicans. He united us to take a new course in this country. In the end, you can argue for or against Obama. I think the average voter, without realizing it, may not have voted so much for Obama or even against Republican John McCain. He voted against George W. Bush.
In the end, as he packs for Texas, the man known simply as "W." on bumper stickers goes home with an eventful, but failed presidency. The W, I fear, may stand for one thing in the history books: Washout.
In this case, Bush spoke from the White House with selected staff, family and aides. They applauded him before and after, although Bush did address the nation in the eye most of the time. He spoke in confident, optimistic tones of the work accomplished in his eight years, starting with his handling of Sept. 11, 2001, and going on from there. He mentioned a cleaner environment, which probably surprised a number of environmentalists. He talked of people paying lower taxes, although many don't have incomes now to pay those taxes on. He went on about other accomplishments.
I was tired. I sat back on the bed and listened, mostly with my eyes closed. Considering Katrina, Iraq, Wall Street excesses and a few other setbacks, I think that is probably how he conducted his presidency, so why should I listen any differently. I do remember when he concluded at 7:15 p.m. CST, I said to myself, "Thank God it is over." I was not just referring to his speech.
Granted, he acknowledged the economy is hurting and he offered best wishes to the incoming president, so I can't be completely negative. But the latest, and last, NBC-Wall St. Journal poll numbers on his presidency show a major negative reflection of the country concerning his approval rating. His father, although beaten, went out with a good approval rating. George W. Bush will go out with the country saying, "Good riddance."
He is probably right that he was willing to make tough decisions and I think he has a moral base in his character. But the downfall of George W. Bush falls under many bullet points: Surrendering foreign policy to his vice president; structuring his office so that he would not hear bad news; allowing politicizing and polarization of day-to-day government operations known for being non-partisan; following the path toward a war that was single minded in purpose in conflict with evidence; favoring fat cats instead of the middle class or lower income Americans; and on and on. His presidency may be the saddest since the days of the LBJ and Nixon years, as those, too, were imperial presidency structures which were doomed to failure.
Now, we have a new president who has the major backing of the country. The WSJ-NBC poll show even among those who don't agree with President-elect Obama, they like him and want him to succeed. We NEED for him to succeed, to recover from the past eight years and to put the country on track. We need him to work out the economy, the war on terrorism, health care and any number of pressing issues.
President Bush wanted to be a compassionate conservative. He talked of being a uniter, not a divider. He failed miserably in the first, and in the end only succeeded in the later in a way he could not imagine. He united the country against Bush and the Republicans. He united us to take a new course in this country. In the end, you can argue for or against Obama. I think the average voter, without realizing it, may not have voted so much for Obama or even against Republican John McCain. He voted against George W. Bush.
In the end, as he packs for Texas, the man known simply as "W." on bumper stickers goes home with an eventful, but failed presidency. The W, I fear, may stand for one thing in the history books: Washout.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Show debut reset for Monday, Feb. 2
The station has now reset the debut of the radio show for 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2. The groundhog will see his shadow; I suppose I'll be coming out from under the shadows.
I also understand again that the show can be streamed on the Internet and that the recording device I can use to tape comments will not be a bulky device, but a simple handheld one. We are planning on local interviews and news, but we will also have pieces from CNN Radio to balance with some national news. I'm hopeful we can plan for a good professional production for our local listeners.
I also understand again that the show can be streamed on the Internet and that the recording device I can use to tape comments will not be a bulky device, but a simple handheld one. We are planning on local interviews and news, but we will also have pieces from CNN Radio to balance with some national news. I'm hopeful we can plan for a good professional production for our local listeners.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
UPDATE: New radio show delayed
I have told many of you that the new radio show on WJLX would start this coming Monday, Jan. 19. I had a great lists of guests set for the first week.
Well, the station now tells me that schedules have gotten crossed, so they are delaying the debut, although hopefully not long. This may give us a chance to look over some rough spots anyway. I am disappointed, but this will give us more time I hope to get prepared. Sorry for any confusion.
Well, the station now tells me that schedules have gotten crossed, so they are delaying the debut, although hopefully not long. This may give us a chance to look over some rough spots anyway. I am disappointed, but this will give us more time I hope to get prepared. Sorry for any confusion.
Friday, January 9, 2009
How we got bingo in 1992
Doing research for a client at Ed Howell Communication, I finally had time to look at the 1992 issues of the Daily Mountain Eagle concerning how bingo got started--at least the paper kind. It is water under the bridge perhaps, but it makes for some interesting reading in the aftermath.
In the Feb. 26, 1992, issue, the Eagle said that hundreds of people had signed petitions already for bingo as a means of raising money for fire departments and other charities. The Jasper VFW and the Elks Lodge were among those that had come out in favor. Charles Tipton of the United Mine Workers came out in favor of it, as long as the charities had existed for five years and non-profit groups were the ones who benefited, adding that retirees and locals could get funds. (He later had to apologize for giving the impression that the UMW was in favor of it, saying he was only speaking for himself.)
On March 5, it was noted by Eagle writer John Sandlin that state Rep. Johnny Cagle, D-Nauvoo, who had defeated Ed Frazier earlier to gain that seat, was sponsoring the bills. A major supporter of bingo, T. Wayne Bright, brought the legal ad to the Eagle that was necessary to run the bills.
Cagle said he had received no negative response to the bills and that it would "help a lot of schools in trouble." He expected it to pass through after a tax reform package was passed.
"I've got petitions from hundreds of people who want the right to vote. There's been an overwhelming response from organizations, and it's the same thing as tax reform. It's ultimately up to the people," Cagle said. "I'm sure there are some people opposed and I say, 'If you are opposed, vote against it or campaign against it.'"
Cagle said there are safeguards written in the bills "so people can't come into Walker County and take advantage " of legalized bingo, Sandlin wrote. Groups would have to be non-profit and in existence locally for at least five years before they could operate games.
Sandlin noted, "Several volunteer and fraternal groups have operated low-key bingo games to raise funds over the years in Walker county, either as traditional bingo or virtually the same game under a different name."
It is interesting no one in the stories talks about electronic games being proposed from the bills. In fact, on March 10, there was a story about Jasper police cracking down on video poker machines.
It appears at least on the surface the Walker County Commission, which had all different members then, had little to do with the effort. Frazier came one day to a meeting thinking there was to be a hearing, but commissioners said they had no received petitions and had no hearing scheduled. I think that was the only time the commissioners had any record in the paper of discussing it in a meeting.
Meanwhile, then-state Sen. Bob Wilson Jr. had nothing to say about it at the time. State Rep. Tom Hogan, who held Tommy Sherer's seat at the time, only reluctantly supported the bills, saying he could not block them only because of wide support.
"I don't think bingo is the way to go, but I'm not going to stop the veterans from having a chance to vote on it. There's a lot of members who appear to favor bingo," Hogan said.
It was not until the end of the session that the bingo bills were passed -- four of them. It turns out that two bills set up a Jasper Bingo Authority and a Walker County Bingo Authority, according to a May 21 report. I just realized that, and don't know if Gov. Guy Hunt signed them, as Hunt was studying them at the time. Obviously, he signed bills to set up a vote that November. There was later talk about how the act would set up a bingo committee to make sure caps on jackpots, set by the Legislature, would be followed.
The bills first passed the House. Wilson signed the measures out of the Local Legislation Committee in the last hours of the session. He told Sandlin the four bills then went on the Senate general calendar because of a legislative rule that makes any bill regarding lotteries or games of chance a general bill regardless of its local application.
"Wilson asked for the bills to be handled out of order and the Senate passed the measures before the legislative clock died," Sandlin said.
By the Nov. 3 vote, there had been a number of ads, particularly from Rev. Delmus Anthony of New Prospect Baptist Church, that worried about the proposal opening up other gambling in the county. Dr. Michael Adams of First Baptist Church (of Jasper, I presume) also opposed it.
The ballot allowed "legalizing the operation of bingo games for prizes or money by certain non-profit organizations for charitable or educational purposes...when all the requirements of Amendment 425 to the state constitution are fulfilled." Jasper voters got to vote on their proposal and the county's bingo amendment as well.
VFW leaders said 30 percent of the proceeds would go to charity causes, while 50 percent would be paid to player winnings and 20 percent would go for overhead. It was noted by Sandlin that "heat from authorities over bingo conducted by AMVETS at a building just across the Warrior River brought an end in 1984 to games conducted by the Jasper VFW post and police shut down both the VFW and the Elks when they tried to resume games last year (1991), the VFW leaders said."
Post 4850 Commander John Grimes told Sandlin that he disagreed with the stand by church leaders.
""I don't want to get into a fight with the church. The church has it's place," he said. "But bingo is bingo and I don't understand how they can say it's going to lead someone to do something else, unless they think it's going to make him go somewhere else to bet on dogs."
Meanwhile, Sandlin said Cagle was now distancing himself from a growing fray, saying he was not backing one side or another but only trying to give people the right to vote on the issue. He did say that the bills were drawn up based on bills used in Gadsden, where games were being conducted without problems.
Again, none of the articles were describing whether electronic bingo was part of the deal, and it would seem it pointed only to regular bingo when the headline on Nov. 4 referred to VFW leaders "dusting off their bingo balls" after they won the referendums the day before. The vote outside Jasper was 14,016 in favor to 11,417 against. Inside Jasper it passed 13,065 to 11,694.
Adams told Sandlin he was not persuaded on arguments that the gambling aspect of bingo would not eventually lead to big business controlling the games, based on what he had seen in other communities.
Grimes responded that the wording of the legislation would prevent that from happening since only non-profit charitable groups which had been around for 60 months could operate the games.
Well, we all know how that ended, don't we?
In the Feb. 26, 1992, issue, the Eagle said that hundreds of people had signed petitions already for bingo as a means of raising money for fire departments and other charities. The Jasper VFW and the Elks Lodge were among those that had come out in favor. Charles Tipton of the United Mine Workers came out in favor of it, as long as the charities had existed for five years and non-profit groups were the ones who benefited, adding that retirees and locals could get funds. (He later had to apologize for giving the impression that the UMW was in favor of it, saying he was only speaking for himself.)
On March 5, it was noted by Eagle writer John Sandlin that state Rep. Johnny Cagle, D-Nauvoo, who had defeated Ed Frazier earlier to gain that seat, was sponsoring the bills. A major supporter of bingo, T. Wayne Bright, brought the legal ad to the Eagle that was necessary to run the bills.
Cagle said he had received no negative response to the bills and that it would "help a lot of schools in trouble." He expected it to pass through after a tax reform package was passed.
"I've got petitions from hundreds of people who want the right to vote. There's been an overwhelming response from organizations, and it's the same thing as tax reform. It's ultimately up to the people," Cagle said. "I'm sure there are some people opposed and I say, 'If you are opposed, vote against it or campaign against it.'"
Cagle said there are safeguards written in the bills "so people can't come into Walker County and take advantage " of legalized bingo, Sandlin wrote. Groups would have to be non-profit and in existence locally for at least five years before they could operate games.
Sandlin noted, "Several volunteer and fraternal groups have operated low-key bingo games to raise funds over the years in Walker county, either as traditional bingo or virtually the same game under a different name."
It is interesting no one in the stories talks about electronic games being proposed from the bills. In fact, on March 10, there was a story about Jasper police cracking down on video poker machines.
It appears at least on the surface the Walker County Commission, which had all different members then, had little to do with the effort. Frazier came one day to a meeting thinking there was to be a hearing, but commissioners said they had no received petitions and had no hearing scheduled. I think that was the only time the commissioners had any record in the paper of discussing it in a meeting.
Meanwhile, then-state Sen. Bob Wilson Jr. had nothing to say about it at the time. State Rep. Tom Hogan, who held Tommy Sherer's seat at the time, only reluctantly supported the bills, saying he could not block them only because of wide support.
"I don't think bingo is the way to go, but I'm not going to stop the veterans from having a chance to vote on it. There's a lot of members who appear to favor bingo," Hogan said.
It was not until the end of the session that the bingo bills were passed -- four of them. It turns out that two bills set up a Jasper Bingo Authority and a Walker County Bingo Authority, according to a May 21 report. I just realized that, and don't know if Gov. Guy Hunt signed them, as Hunt was studying them at the time. Obviously, he signed bills to set up a vote that November. There was later talk about how the act would set up a bingo committee to make sure caps on jackpots, set by the Legislature, would be followed.
The bills first passed the House. Wilson signed the measures out of the Local Legislation Committee in the last hours of the session. He told Sandlin the four bills then went on the Senate general calendar because of a legislative rule that makes any bill regarding lotteries or games of chance a general bill regardless of its local application.
"Wilson asked for the bills to be handled out of order and the Senate passed the measures before the legislative clock died," Sandlin said.
By the Nov. 3 vote, there had been a number of ads, particularly from Rev. Delmus Anthony of New Prospect Baptist Church, that worried about the proposal opening up other gambling in the county. Dr. Michael Adams of First Baptist Church (of Jasper, I presume) also opposed it.
The ballot allowed "legalizing the operation of bingo games for prizes or money by certain non-profit organizations for charitable or educational purposes...when all the requirements of Amendment 425 to the state constitution are fulfilled." Jasper voters got to vote on their proposal and the county's bingo amendment as well.
VFW leaders said 30 percent of the proceeds would go to charity causes, while 50 percent would be paid to player winnings and 20 percent would go for overhead. It was noted by Sandlin that "heat from authorities over bingo conducted by AMVETS at a building just across the Warrior River brought an end in 1984 to games conducted by the Jasper VFW post and police shut down both the VFW and the Elks when they tried to resume games last year (1991), the VFW leaders said."
Post 4850 Commander John Grimes told Sandlin that he disagreed with the stand by church leaders.
""I don't want to get into a fight with the church. The church has it's place," he said. "But bingo is bingo and I don't understand how they can say it's going to lead someone to do something else, unless they think it's going to make him go somewhere else to bet on dogs."
Meanwhile, Sandlin said Cagle was now distancing himself from a growing fray, saying he was not backing one side or another but only trying to give people the right to vote on the issue. He did say that the bills were drawn up based on bills used in Gadsden, where games were being conducted without problems.
Again, none of the articles were describing whether electronic bingo was part of the deal, and it would seem it pointed only to regular bingo when the headline on Nov. 4 referred to VFW leaders "dusting off their bingo balls" after they won the referendums the day before. The vote outside Jasper was 14,016 in favor to 11,417 against. Inside Jasper it passed 13,065 to 11,694.
Adams told Sandlin he was not persuaded on arguments that the gambling aspect of bingo would not eventually lead to big business controlling the games, based on what he had seen in other communities.
Grimes responded that the wording of the legislation would prevent that from happening since only non-profit charitable groups which had been around for 60 months could operate the games.
Well, we all know how that ended, don't we?
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Cleaning the notebook (quickly)
It's late tonight, so I'll make this short with some odds and ends....
- I am becoming a Facebook fanatic. I joined at the suggestion of James Phillips, and thought, well, we'll see. Half the world is connected to it, I think, and I've already reconnected with at least two people I wondered if I would ever get to communicate with. It is easy to become addicted to it, and I can't really say I am a true fanatic; I think some must stay on it all day. (The ones I worry about are the ones who appear to be nice Christians, but they have 1,927 friends...and I've never heard of them. Aren't 1,927 enough for you?) I just learned today that you can have secure e-mail no one else can see...and that many kids use this instead of regular e-mail now. Boy, life is really passing me by now.
- The holiday movie season has been good for the industry, and for good reason. "Marley and Me" is an excellent film not only about a crazy dog but about adjusting in life. "Bedtime Stories" is one of the better entries I've seen from Adam Sandler, and even "Four Christmases" was better than I expected. "Bolt" was an excellent entry on the animation front. The biggest disappointment was "Yes Man," which only had moments here and there, and otherwise just sat there. For the most part, though, at a time when Hollywood needed to come through, it did. Although I haven't seen them, I've also heard good things about the new Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt movies.
- I have to say that if anyone had to win the national title, I was glad Tim Tebow led the Gators to the trophy. This is an excellent young Christian at a time when the sports world needs leaders like him. He will also be the poster boy for the effort that will likely now pave the way for home schooled students to be accepted into high school and college football.
- Jasper is beginning to really see the effects of the recession, as the toy store and the hamburger stand in the mall are going or gone, and Goody's clothing store will be closing its doors now. Maloy Ford apparently has not come back, and speculation this week Chrysler's national organization may not survive doesn't help the mood. (The Toyota and Chevrolet places only moved to new places in town, but now leave big empty spots that don't look good and ad to the gloomy feel.) The old Importers Warehouse apparently is empty. The old Wachovia building downtown is empty. Dairy Queen melted off its cone. The last full-service station that I know of, the Chevron across from Hardee's, is closed, and so is the old Quincy's that failed with another recent try at a restaurant. The grocery store downtown is closed. Let's just say 2008 was not good to Jasper's retail market and hope for the best in the coming year.
- The Jasper City Council talked again the other day about what to do about Sherer Auditorium. Without much use, it's costing $50,000 a year to maintain, and it could cost $500,000 to $1 million to renovate. Mayor Sonny Posey talked about making it into a court facility. Some in the city government hope the Obama administration come through with community grants to help fund it, but I have to admit I don't know what to think. If it was made into a better facility, more might use it, but you also might make it expensive like the CHS Building, and then even fewer would use it. As it sits now, it is practically an eyesore.
- If you want to check some new good contemporary Christian music, my friend, Durwin Kicker, has a son, Kyle, who is in a band called Time of Favor that is beginning to play to larger crowds. The music can be sampled at http://www.myspace.com/timeoffavor and is impressive.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Floating bingo halls
One time in Mississippi, my parents and I stepped on board one of those so-called floating casinos just to see what it looked like. I will never forget one woman at the slot machine looking at us, like we were going to invade her space and take her quarters. I couldn't wait to get off, and my parents never stopped to play a game, either.
Certainly the idea of a floating bingo hall would have come in handy this week in Walker County, where we got 4 inches in 24 hours. The Warrior River area was flooded bad enough, but there is one bingo hall, Mega Bingo, that was built in a low lying area. I mean very low. To the side of Highway 78, the land just drops off deep and there at the base is flat land that someone decided would be great for a bingo hall. I always thought runoff might be a problem there, and noticed what a nice, large building it was.
Well, runoff was not the word for it. On Monday, the Argo Fire Department evacuated 70 people from the place.
“The water was rising fast and they couldn't get their vehicles out and they couldn't walk out,” said George Lane, the fire department’s assistant chief, in talking with the Daily Mountain Eagle. “It was a pretty large operation with that many people involved.”
Then they had to return early Tuesday morning because the rains kept coming and a dozen workers had stayed behind. By then a boat was needed to get people out. By Tuesday afternoon, all you could see were the tops of cars. One fireman walked the wrong way and went completely under water. And to top it all, the owner of the bingo palace (understandably) suffered chest pains and had to be examined by paramedics.
This would seem whimsical if dozens of people were not put in this position by the crazy position of this hall. I don't know if it is officially a flood area that is designated by government or insurance officials, but it certainly looked strange enough from the beginning that one would have to know some type of problem would result even with less rain.
It is not the first time the electronic bingo hall owners have put people at risk. Four bingo halls were closed last month by the fire marshal because they did not have the proper number of sprinkler systems installed for the occupancy. They were VFW No. 1 and 3, Dreams Come True Charity Bingo and...why, it's Mega Bingo! Imagine that.
That name sounded even more familiar. Then I recalled that eight operating bingo halls in the county missed a Dec. 1 deadline to pay their business licenses without a penalty, based on information from the county’s Office of Gaming Compliance and records from the Probate Judge's Office. They included Caring Neighbors, Highway 13 Charity Bingo, Valley Bingo, VFW No. 1, VFW 2, VFW 3, Walker County Bingo and...say it with me, children...Mega Bingo.
In other words, Mega Bingo has been causing Mega Problems from the beginning. It would seem like it is time to start clamping down on this operation, as it is symptomatic of the problems that some of the bingo hall operators cause by putting up unsafe structures and not following the rules.
Then again, maybe they could get a used riverboat and sail up and down the Warrior with bingo machines singing in the background. And old man river, he just keeps rolling along...
Certainly the idea of a floating bingo hall would have come in handy this week in Walker County, where we got 4 inches in 24 hours. The Warrior River area was flooded bad enough, but there is one bingo hall, Mega Bingo, that was built in a low lying area. I mean very low. To the side of Highway 78, the land just drops off deep and there at the base is flat land that someone decided would be great for a bingo hall. I always thought runoff might be a problem there, and noticed what a nice, large building it was.
Well, runoff was not the word for it. On Monday, the Argo Fire Department evacuated 70 people from the place.
“The water was rising fast and they couldn't get their vehicles out and they couldn't walk out,” said George Lane, the fire department’s assistant chief, in talking with the Daily Mountain Eagle. “It was a pretty large operation with that many people involved.”
Then they had to return early Tuesday morning because the rains kept coming and a dozen workers had stayed behind. By then a boat was needed to get people out. By Tuesday afternoon, all you could see were the tops of cars. One fireman walked the wrong way and went completely under water. And to top it all, the owner of the bingo palace (understandably) suffered chest pains and had to be examined by paramedics.
This would seem whimsical if dozens of people were not put in this position by the crazy position of this hall. I don't know if it is officially a flood area that is designated by government or insurance officials, but it certainly looked strange enough from the beginning that one would have to know some type of problem would result even with less rain.
It is not the first time the electronic bingo hall owners have put people at risk. Four bingo halls were closed last month by the fire marshal because they did not have the proper number of sprinkler systems installed for the occupancy. They were VFW No. 1 and 3, Dreams Come True Charity Bingo and...why, it's Mega Bingo! Imagine that.
That name sounded even more familiar. Then I recalled that eight operating bingo halls in the county missed a Dec. 1 deadline to pay their business licenses without a penalty, based on information from the county’s Office of Gaming Compliance and records from the Probate Judge's Office. They included Caring Neighbors, Highway 13 Charity Bingo, Valley Bingo, VFW No. 1, VFW 2, VFW 3, Walker County Bingo and...say it with me, children...Mega Bingo.
In other words, Mega Bingo has been causing Mega Problems from the beginning. It would seem like it is time to start clamping down on this operation, as it is symptomatic of the problems that some of the bingo hall operators cause by putting up unsafe structures and not following the rules.
Then again, maybe they could get a used riverboat and sail up and down the Warrior with bingo machines singing in the background. And old man river, he just keeps rolling along...
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
A new journey for Ed
This is my entry into the world of blogging. God help me.
Since leaving the Daily Mountain Eagle in October 2008, I've been trying to decide the next step in my life. It has not been easy, as the newspaper industry that I've been committed to for 27 years has been in more of a slump. It's been an outright free fall. Major newspapers that we thought would last forever are facing bankruptcy or huge losses. The New York Times is accepting ads on its front page. Detroit's newspaper won't deliver to subscribers except for the weekend, leaving only street sales and its Web site. The Birmingham News is using more part-time help than ever before. Buyouts are now common for staffs. The Christian Science Monitor is going to a Web-only publication. I applied for a couple of newspapers that had posted positions, only to hear they had changed their minds due to economic circumstances.
That's not to say I would rule out joining a newspaper in the future. I just worry about newspapers being there to want me or anyone else.
This has led to sleepless nights and anxious days, but in the meantime I've created Ed Howell Communications, where I am doing freelance work in writing, photography and public relations. For the last three months of 2008, I have performed publicity and administrative work for the new Walker County Political Accountability Coalition in its fight against electronic bingo halls. (I will still voluntarily help them as I can I believe in their cause.) On Jan. 5, I took on state Sen. Charles Bishop, R-Arley, as a client, doing political consulting work.
Moreover, also on Jan. 5, I agreed to start hosting a one-hour afternoon radio news/interview program on WJLX-AM in Jasper. We expect this to go on the air Jan. 19. It is a new thing for me altogether, but I'm excited to get back into the swing of covering Walker County and also trying my hand at something new. Hopefully for those of you outside the county, I can have the broadcast streamed for listening on the station Web site.
I've also been involved in developing Web sites for Ed Howell Communications and the coalition. It is no piece of cake. If anyone wants you to develop a Web site for them, do yourself a favor and shoot him on the spot, because he is probably satanic and wants you to suffer. I actually enjoyed the designing and learning how to use Publisher, but connecting to the Web is still one of my shortfalls. I get oh-so-EVER-close, and then I get it finally on the Web -- with no photos appearing, only outlines. Twice I've had to ask Jeff Blell to come to the apartment and straighten it out. The last time he started doing repetitive motions himself and said, "Go figure." When the expert is stumped, you're in deep trouble. Thankfully, he figured away around it and did me a great favor. I hope to continue to learn more as I go along, and I've had many nice remarks about the designs.
Jeff also got me to go to Bible Fellowship Study in Birmingham on Monday, and I was blown away by it. It is the best Bible study I've seen in eight years and maybe the most disciplined. I'm planning to carpool with Jeff and Bob Sanders to continue this, and it should lift my spirits a lot.
So many of you have said you missed my columns, and some of you appeared sane at the time. I hope to continue that tradition here on this blog, which can be found at http://edhowell.blogspot.com or through a link on my Web site at http://www.edhowellcommunications.com. I'll try to update it often. Also, I hope to do commentaries on the show, much like David Brinkley used to do. (May I never be like Eric Sevareid at CBS, who never, ever made any sense to an 10-year-old kid with his lumbering, pontificating. I'm not sure I would understand it today.)
This is not the end of the journey, and events may still be fluid. But I'd like to say many thanks to many people who have been helpful and expressed good wishes over the past few months. I am much like the character in "City Slickers" who goes through a personal crisis, and his friends tell him that life is a "do-over." I feel I am opening a new chapter in my life, and it is a do-over. It is exciting, new and scary, but it is a journey. Most of all, I think God is directing the boat now, and I am beginning to trust Him to do the steering. If I seem out of place for a while, I am, but hopefully we'll make the journey together.
Since leaving the Daily Mountain Eagle in October 2008, I've been trying to decide the next step in my life. It has not been easy, as the newspaper industry that I've been committed to for 27 years has been in more of a slump. It's been an outright free fall. Major newspapers that we thought would last forever are facing bankruptcy or huge losses. The New York Times is accepting ads on its front page. Detroit's newspaper won't deliver to subscribers except for the weekend, leaving only street sales and its Web site. The Birmingham News is using more part-time help than ever before. Buyouts are now common for staffs. The Christian Science Monitor is going to a Web-only publication. I applied for a couple of newspapers that had posted positions, only to hear they had changed their minds due to economic circumstances.
That's not to say I would rule out joining a newspaper in the future. I just worry about newspapers being there to want me or anyone else.
This has led to sleepless nights and anxious days, but in the meantime I've created Ed Howell Communications, where I am doing freelance work in writing, photography and public relations. For the last three months of 2008, I have performed publicity and administrative work for the new Walker County Political Accountability Coalition in its fight against electronic bingo halls. (I will still voluntarily help them as I can I believe in their cause.) On Jan. 5, I took on state Sen. Charles Bishop, R-Arley, as a client, doing political consulting work.
Moreover, also on Jan. 5, I agreed to start hosting a one-hour afternoon radio news/interview program on WJLX-AM in Jasper. We expect this to go on the air Jan. 19. It is a new thing for me altogether, but I'm excited to get back into the swing of covering Walker County and also trying my hand at something new. Hopefully for those of you outside the county, I can have the broadcast streamed for listening on the station Web site.
I've also been involved in developing Web sites for Ed Howell Communications and the coalition. It is no piece of cake. If anyone wants you to develop a Web site for them, do yourself a favor and shoot him on the spot, because he is probably satanic and wants you to suffer. I actually enjoyed the designing and learning how to use Publisher, but connecting to the Web is still one of my shortfalls. I get oh-so-EVER-close, and then I get it finally on the Web -- with no photos appearing, only outlines. Twice I've had to ask Jeff Blell to come to the apartment and straighten it out. The last time he started doing repetitive motions himself and said, "Go figure." When the expert is stumped, you're in deep trouble. Thankfully, he figured away around it and did me a great favor. I hope to continue to learn more as I go along, and I've had many nice remarks about the designs.
Jeff also got me to go to Bible Fellowship Study in Birmingham on Monday, and I was blown away by it. It is the best Bible study I've seen in eight years and maybe the most disciplined. I'm planning to carpool with Jeff and Bob Sanders to continue this, and it should lift my spirits a lot.
So many of you have said you missed my columns, and some of you appeared sane at the time. I hope to continue that tradition here on this blog, which can be found at http://edhowell.blogspot.com or through a link on my Web site at http://www.edhowellcommunications.com. I'll try to update it often. Also, I hope to do commentaries on the show, much like David Brinkley used to do. (May I never be like Eric Sevareid at CBS, who never, ever made any sense to an 10-year-old kid with his lumbering, pontificating. I'm not sure I would understand it today.)
This is not the end of the journey, and events may still be fluid. But I'd like to say many thanks to many people who have been helpful and expressed good wishes over the past few months. I am much like the character in "City Slickers" who goes through a personal crisis, and his friends tell him that life is a "do-over." I feel I am opening a new chapter in my life, and it is a do-over. It is exciting, new and scary, but it is a journey. Most of all, I think God is directing the boat now, and I am beginning to trust Him to do the steering. If I seem out of place for a while, I am, but hopefully we'll make the journey together.
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