The forum for local political candidates will be at the Walker County Civic Center today from 10 AM to 4 PM. We’re told Jay Neal is one of the candidates who won’t be showing up, due to existing vacation plans that couldn’t be cancelled. Not sure who else isn’t coming, we know Wilson, Roden, Shaw, Heiskell, McMahon, and Painter have all announced intentions to be there.

We’re told audience questions will be submitted to moderators and “screened” so there are no personal attacks made against candidates. How that’s defined will determine how effective this forum is to educate the people of Walker County. Some of the incumbent candidates seem to think any legitimate question or challenge is a “personal attack.” Fortunately at least one moderator isn’t from Walker County and doesn’t have a stake in how the elections come out.

And don’t forget to read over the LU rundown of this year’s candidates.

Speaking of questioning or challenging candidates..

Is Commissioner Heiskell REALLY open to criticism and questions? If you think she is, try asking a hard question or posting a complaint or concern on her campaign Facebook page. If it’s not pro-Heiskell, it doesn’t last long. She can’t handle any criticism because she has no coherent answers, and with a little public scrutiny her reputation and campaign for reelection fade faster than a July snow.

As before, this poster has no connection to the campaign of Heiskell’s opponent, Dr. Paul Shaw, but does serve as a citizen response to her second round of nasty attack mailers. We expect to post a scan of the latest one here next week. In the meanwhile, try to attend the candidate forum and watch Heiskell melt down when she has to answer a question not on a script without David Ashburn feeding her the answer.

More about the fire and police leadership split at LaFayette Public Safety. The search for new leadership continues, but we understand they already know who the job is going to.. Expecting an announcement sometime next week.

WQCH Radio, 06/15/2012:

“AT MIDNIGHT LAST MONDAY, WALKER COUNTY’S 9-1-1 CENTER BEGAN OPERATING WITH A NEW, UPGRADED SOFTWARE SYSTEM THAT IS EXPECTED TO IMPROVE RESPONSE TIME. PREVIOUSLY FIRE, EMS AND THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT WERE ON DIFFERENT SOFTWARE, BUT WITH THE NEW SYSTEM, ALL RESPONDERS ARE CONNECTED FOR SMOOTHER COMMUNICATION.

“THIS FALL, A SECOND PHASE OF THE PROJECT WILL INSTALL NEW LAPTOP COMPUTERS IN EACH VEHICLE OF THE WALKER COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT. IN ADDITION, A GPS SYSTEM WILL BE ABLE TO SHOW DISPATCHERS AT THE 9-1-1 CENTER THE EXACT LOCATION OF EACH EMERGENCY VEHICLE IN REAL-TIME. THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO CALL THE VEHICLE THAT IS LOCATED NEAREST TO THE AREA THEY’RE RESPONDING TO.

“COUNTY COORDINATOR DAVID ASHBURN SAID TO REDUCE THE COST, WALKER COUNTY PARTNERED WITH DADE COUNTY IN PURCHASING THE 1 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLAR SYSTEM. THE FORMER 9-1-1 SOFTWARE HAD CRASHED ON OCCASION AND WAS NO LONGER TO BE SUPPORTED BY THE MANUFACTURER.

“THE NEW SYSTEM OFFERS MANY UPGRADED FEATURES, SUCH AS FILLING OUT REPORTS WITH INFORMATION AS IT IS GATHERED AND EVEN STORING DASH-CAM VIDEO FROM SHERIFF’S VEHICLES. EACH OF THE FOUR CITIES IN THE COUNTY WILL ALSO GET A DESKTOP COMPUTER TO TIE-IN WITH THE NEW SYSTEM.

“WALKER 9-1-1 HAS ALSO BEEN CONFIRMING ADDRESSES ACROSS THE COUNTY OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, TO INCREASE THE ACCURACY OF RESPONSE WHEN THEY ANSWER A CALL.”

So how many days before the Sheriff’s Office disables most of that because it keeps the officers accountable?

The multi-million-dollar drug ring busted in the county a couple months ago is turning into a massive legal case. Investigators are now suggesting some sham local businesses were also involved in the ring.

How many times have we seen some poorly-run half-thought-out business open up somewhere in the county (or city) and then close a month or two later? Lots of people go in and go out but never seem to buy or sell anything. Thrift stores, restaurants, and more that serve as a front for drug activity. This goes on a lot more than the authorities have said, and in the case discussed here it was a supposed BBQ restaurant and a home-based antique store.

For the second time in three months, the state has banned “synthetic pot” because manufacturers keep changing the recipe to skirt the law. This change was made by the state Pharmacy Board, so there are no penalties defined for those who make it or sell it – it’s just banned.

WQCH Radio, 06/14/2012:

“THE NEW TERMINAL PROJECT AT THE BARWICK-LAFAYETTE AIRPORT IS ABOUT TO ‘SHIFT INTO HIGH GEAR’. THE CITY COUNCIL GAVE FINAL APPROVAL TO THE PLANS MONDAY NIGHT, AND THE MONTH-LONG BIDDING PROCESS STARTS NEXT WEEK. PLANS ARE TO OPEN BIDS ON JULY 24th AND START CONSTRUCTION IN MID-AUGUST. THE ESTIMATED TIME UNTIL COMPLETION IS 6 TO 8 MONTHS, PUTTING THE OPENING IN THE FIRST OR SECOND QUARTER OF 2013.

“TWO GRANTS, ONE FOR A HALF-MILLION DOLLARS, HAVE BEEN SECURED TO BUILD THE NEW AIRPORT TERMINAL FACILITY. IT WILL BE CONSTRUCTED ON THE SAME ‘FOOTPRINT’ AS THE OLD TERMINAL LOCATION.”

This has been a bad idea for two years and continues to be one. LaFayette’s economy won’t magically turn around when this is done, no more than the economy was fixed when they spent $2 million on a new clubhouse at the golf course. We first told you about these plans in September 2010 and the arguments against it then are still true today.

Thoughts on ethics reform in Georgia:

“On July’s primary ballot, Georgians will have the opportunity to register their opinion on whether legislators should be limited to receiving gifts of up to $100 from lobbyists. Public awareness of the need for ethics reform is growing, and a cap on gratuities is the preferred vehicle of choice at the moment.” (PeachPundit)

For as much controversy as it stirs up, the Tea Party does make a good point: Money may have too much influence over politics in Georgia. ..It is one of the reasons that gave rise to the Tea Party, which continues to be politically relevant nationally and locally. ..The group has found an unlikely ally in Common Cause, an organization that has long called for increasing transparency in government. Together – along with Georgia Watch and the League of Women Voters – they formed the Georgia Alliance for Ethics Reform.” (ATL Crossroads)

“A lot of state legislators don’t see a $100 [gift] limit as a compromise. They see the very concept of a limit as an undeserved, media-driven attack on their God-given prerogative to be wined, dined and entertained lavishly at lobbyists’ expense. ..In the interest of good government, however, I’d like to try to ease fears under the Gold Dome by taking a few moments to explore what life under a $100 gift limit might look like.” (Jay Bookman / AJC)

Bottom line: while legislators are scrambling to “support” ethics reform and gift caps on paper before the summer elections, they will never do anything substantial because they have to do it to themselves. They like the way things are too much to make changes to their own system, and the citizens of Georgia are kept in the dark too much to vote them out.

Next year (Beginning July 1) GA will be on the hook for a $308 million deficit in the Medicaid system. And in fiscal 2014, an additional 600,000 people will be joining the program under changing federal laws.

We’ve mentioned the KKK several times this week. Cedartown, south of Rome, is expecting some protests and Klan-associated activity in response to a white pizza delivery woman being killed by two black youth.

We’re number one! We’re number One! ..in foreclosures. :/

We’ve been saying for a long time, the Peach State doesn’t grow many peaches anymore and the “Peach State” nickname needs to go. Blueberries are now Georgia’s top agricultural product; we’re also a top producer of peanuts and pecans, plus infamous Vidalia Onions. Ch. 3 suggests maybe we should be the BlueBerry state. What do you think?

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