Quality Carpet Cushion’s former manufacturing plant on McCarter Road, which relocated after a 2008 fire, caught fire again yesterday afternoon. Conflicting reports say the fire started sometime after 1 PM or right around 3, either way it was extinguished fairly quickly by crews from LaFayette Fire and Walker State Prison.

“It’s the beginning of a conversation .. It’s just like dating a girl. You have to date her more than once or twice before you get what you want.” – Rep. John Deffenbaugh (R-Idiot), comparing the TN-GA border war to fornication.

So does this mean we’re going to use Tennessee to fill our own needs and leave her in the dust when someone else comes along? Take her out on dates, buy her flowers – but after she gives up water rights, we don’t answer the phone when she calls.

Thanks again to all the West Walker County voters who elected this joker. You can’t say LU didn’t warn you – more than once.

WQCH Radio, 02/21/13: “AN INVESTMENT BANKING FIRM FROM ATLANTA BROUGHT THE CITY OF LAFAYETTE A REFINANCING OFFER LATE LAST YEAR, AND TUESDAY NIGHT, THE DEAL WAS FINALIZED. IT WILL SAVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS IN INTEREST PAYMENTS ON DEBT FOR THE CITY’S SEWAGE TREATMENT SYSTEM.

“THE TAX FREE MUNICIPAL BONDS WILL BE SOLD BY MERCHANT CAPITAL LLC, SERVING TWO PURPOSES:
1) REFINANCING THREE EXISTING ‘GEFA’ LOANS – TOTALING OVER 6-MILLION DOLLARS – NOW AT A MUCH LOWER INTEREST RATE
2) RAISING 2.5-MILLION IN FUNDING FOR A NEW PROJECT AT THE CITY’S WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT, WHICH IS A REQUIREMENT OF THE STATE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DIVISION. ..

“THE CITY WILL REPAY THE BOND DEBT AT AN INTEREST RATE OF 2.55 PERCENT. THE EXISTING GEFA DEBT AVERAGED 4.1 PERCENT, SO THE INTEREST SAVINGS WILL AMOUNT TO 771-THOUSAND DOLLARS.

“MONROE TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT IT WILL MORE THAN OFF-SET THE COST OF INTEREST ON THE NEW DEBT OF 2.5-MILLION, WHICH WILL TOTAL 758-THOUSAND DOLLARS. THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE FINALIZED BOND ISSUE WITH A UNANIMOUS VOTE.”

If this works out as promised, it’s a good move for the city. Hopefully the council did their homework on the deal.

New warden at Hays Prison says all the doors now lock and prisoners can’t leave their cells without permission. (Some cell locks are still waiting on final upgrades.) Prisoners transferred to other facilities won’t be coming back in, reducing some of the overcrowding.

Rev. R. V. Wells, Jr. who pastored multiple local churches and at one time served as chaplain for the Ramblers football team passed away Tuesday at age 82.

General Assembly is halfway through the 2013 session, constitutionally limited to 40 days. Bills not approved by at least one chamber (House or Senate) by day 30, in a couple more weeks, won’t be approved this year.

Firefighters face many risks in the line of duty. Parasites shouldn’t be on that list, but apparently they are in one Walker fire station; Insiders say there’s a scabies outbreak at the Fairview fire hall.

Fewer than ten firemen and EMT’s have been found with the parasite; It isn’t clear so far exactly how they were initially exposed. The station has been cleaned up and all known victims sent for medical treatment.

WQCH Radio, 02/20/13: “LAFAYETTE POLICE INVESTIGATED A HEAD-ON WRECK IN WHICH TWO LOCAL WOMEN WERE INJURED, MONDAY. THEY WERE IDENTIFIED AS LAURA WILSON OF CIRCLE DRIVE AND BILLIE ENGLAND OF STANSELL DRIVE, ACCORDING TO POLICE CAPTAIN STACEY MEEKS. HE AND PATROL OFFICER NICK TERRY WERE FIRST ON THE SCENE WHEN THE CALL CAME IN AT 3:50 PM MONDAY.

“THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED IN FRONT OF PROFESSIONAL PARK ASSOCIATES ON EAST VILLANOW STREET, AND MEEKS EXTENDED THANKS TO DR. SUZANNE STOREY AND NURSE JENNIFER PICKARD, FOR HELPING TO STABILIZE THE PATIENTS BEFORE EMT’S ARRIVED. BOTH WOMEN WERE TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE FOR TREATMENT OF SERIOUS INJURIES.

“BOTH CARS WERE TOTALED IN THE ESTIMATED 45-MILE PER HOUR IMPACT, AND DEBRIS FROM THE VEHICLES WAS FOUND UP TO 200 FEET AWAY. MEEKS SAID THE ELDERLY MS. WILSON WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN HER BUICK INTO PROFESSIONAL PARK AND APPARENTLY DIDN’T SEE MS. ENGLAND’S TRAILBLAZER APPROACHING IN THE OPPOSING LANE.”

A relative of Ms. England tells LU she suffered from an “open break” on one of her ankles and has required multiple surgeries, but is doing OK otherwise considering.

Juvenile Justice reform, shifting punishment for non-violent youth offenders into “community based” programs instead of YDC, has passed a State House committee.

This weekend looks to be fairly busy. Here’s a few things happening in the area:

• Department of Labor job fair today 12-4:30 at the Housing Authority.
• Teen DIY cake decorating class 1 PM tomorrow at the library.
• Free live music tomorrow night at Center Post Community Center.
• Celebration of African Americans tomorrow night at the Civic Center.
• Walker Co Historical Association meeting 3 PM Sunday at the Marsh House.
• Roper job fair next Wednesday at the Bank of LaFayette Community Room.

For details on these events and others, check LU Local Calendar.

As the nation goes into a froth over gun control or the possibility thereof, Kennesaw Georgia holds steady with a 30-year-old law requiring every “head of household” in city limits to own a firearm.

A bill requiring “pain clinics” to be licensed and run by a doctor has passed the state House. Senate will have a chance to vote on it next, a similar bill last year was rejected by that body.

John Deffenbaugh voted yes, Jay Neal didn’t vote, he’s marked as “excused” on this one.

Here’s the actual bill.

Robert Dalton of Trion won $1 million with a GA Lotto scratch-off ticket. He says he plans to invest the winnings.

Dalton now has an Ultimate Indoor Football League team. Their first game will be held next Tuesday.

Friday Advertiser Spotlight: Airsoft RC. Get your Airsoft Guns & RC Toys today.

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