Happy Labor Day! Now for today’s news…

More excuses: Now Commissioner Heiskell blames her planned 69% tax increase on Walmart in Trion, Costco in Ringgold, and economic development deals that exempt businesses from taxes – the kinds of deals she pays Larry Brooks to set up without job guarantees.

Linked article also reveals the tax increase will bring in MORE tax revenue than the $3 million she says we’ve lost. It’s essentially a million-dollar raise to prop up Heiskell’s pet projects.

Before Heiskell can raise taxes, she must comply with state laws requiring three public meetings about the milage rate change. She’s scheduled the first two of those meetings for this week: Thursday morning at 10 AM and Thursday evening at 6. The third meeting, where she will make her decision final, will be held the following Thursday (Sep. 11) at 10.

Every tax-paying citizen of Walker County (meaning all of us) should try to attend at least one of these meetings. While Heiskell is unlikely to change her mind or her plans based on constituent demands, she needs to know the voters don’t approve of her actions. A large turnout for the meetings will show her AND the media AND her blind supporters that the time for this kind of leadership is done.

If you can attend any of the meetings, please join this event page as a reminder. You’ll get updates about the meetings and various things being planned during them.     

WQCH Radio, 08/30/14: “A DOMESTIC CALL IN THE MARS THEATER DISTRICT LED TO A DRUG ARREST TUESDAY, ACCORDING TO LAFAYETTE POLICE.

“WHILE RESPONDING TO THE FIGHT CALL INVOLVING A MAN AND A WOMAN TUESDAY MORNING, POLICE HEARD THAT THE PAIR HAD LEFT THE ORIGINAL SCENE IN A CAR. A VEHICLE ANSWERING THE DESCRIPTION WAS PULLED-OVER AND THE DRIVER CONSENTED TO A SEARCH.

“OFFICERS SAID THEY FOUND A METH PIPE ON HIS PERSON, ALONG WITH MARIJUANA AND PRESCRIPTION PILLS IN THE CAR. 22 YEAR OLD JEREMIAH SAMUEL GODFREY OF LAFAYETTE CLAIMED THAT THE DRUGS WERE HIS, SO THE TWO OTHER OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE WERE ALLOWED TO LEAVE.

“GODFREY WAS CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF METH AND MARIJUANA, ALONG WITH A PROBATION VIOLATION.”

Mr. Godfrey was last arrested in December for forgery.

Nice of him to take the drug charge for his friends, but that may not hold up since his baby-mama later admitted (on LU Facebook no less) the drugs were actually hers. She also admitted, in a likely drug-assisted rant against LaFayette PD, to several traffic violations and endangering her child following Sam Godfrey’s arrest.

(Can we please stop referring to West LaFayette as “Mars Theater District” ? There’s no such thing – it’s a concept Mike Lovelady came up with to get government grants for his property.)   

Friday night the Ramblers started their 2014 football season, beating Gordon Central for the first time since 1989. Final score was 8-6.

The Ramblers and Warriors have faced off seven times; last night was LHS’ second win ever against that team and the first time on Gordon Central’s own field. (Gordon Central was 0-10 last season. They haven’t won a game since LaFayette’s current coach, Chad Fisher, was their coach.)

Next Friday the Ramblers face Gordon Lee (1-1) in Chickamauga. First home game will be the following week against Trion (2-0).     

Quirky, Inc. has given up trying to buy GE Appliances.

Quicky is a tiny start-up company worth much less than the GE unit. It was never taken seriously as a bidder, but having it out of the picture further clears the way for Electrolux to take over Roper’s parent company.

LU mentioned Quirky as a non-serious bidder in the Roper buyout blog post from several weeks ago. Definitely check out that article if you haven’t already.   

Hutcheson announces another monthly deficit for the month of July. Hospital leaders say things are getting better because the amount lost has decreased compared to 2012.

HMC CEO Farrell Hayes continues to blame financial troubles on Erlanger and the State of Georgia.   

During August a blogger was arrested while trying to video a public campaign event held on private property in Dawsonville.

The woman was dragged away by police, likely in violation of her rights AND state law, but state leaders there – including Governor Deal, Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black, and School Superintendent candidate Richard Woods – continued as if nothing had happened. Only Attorney General Olens mentioned it, in passing, and then delivered his prepared remarks.

While the event was held on private property, it was put together by the Deal campaign and advertised online and offline to the public as a political rally. There were no announced restrictions on recording and no list of people allowed or not allowed to attend. (The Deal campaign has subsequently denied being responsible for the event.)

In Georgia, individual rights and ethical issues are swept under a proverbial rug for the sake of “party unity” – something we’ve seen over the years no matter what party is in control. Party politics are a cancer on society.   

Back in May, Walker County voters decide to allow hard liquor sales inside the county by handing control over alcohol rules to the commissioner.

Commissioner Heiskell still hasn’t changed rules to allow those sales, but she HAS raised the fee for stores and restaurants that sell beer and wine.

WQCH Radio, 08/29/14: “THERE WAS ONLY ONE ITEM ON THE WALKER COUNTY COMMISSIONER’S AGENDA THURSDAY: RAISING THE ANNUAL LICENSE FEES FOR BEER AND WINE SALES.

“THE OLD FEES, IN PLACE SINCE THE 1970’s, WERE EACH INCREASED BY $100 PER YEAR EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1st. AN ON-PREMISES BEER AND WINE LICENSE WAS RAISED TO $300 PER YEAR, AND A PACKAGE SALES LICENSE WENT TO $250 PER YEAR.

“THE COUNTY’S NEW LIQUOR-BY-THE-DRINK ORDINANCE IS STILL NOT READY FOR ADOPTION, BUT COMMISSIONER BEBE HEISKELL SAID THEY HAVE RECEIVED ONE REQUEST FOR A LIQUOR LICENSE.

“SHE ADDED THAT THE COUNTY WILL EVENTUALLY COMBINE THE ORDINANCES THAT CONCERN THE SALE OF ALL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, AND THE PRESENT ALCOHOL CONTROL BOARD WILL CONSIDER ALL FUTURE APPLICATIONS. LIQUOR BY THE DRINK WILL REQUIRE A RATIO OF AT LEAST 70-PERCENT FOOD SALES TO 30-PERCENT ALCOHOL SALES AT ANY GIVEN RESTAURANT.”

Heiskell’s delays in setting liquor rules for the county are also impacting the city; during its August meeting the LaFayette Council said they would wait to change city alcohol laws until the county’s new policies are set in place – if ever.

Higher fees, higher taxes, no extra freedom. Welcome to Walker County.   

Two Bibb County GA inmates charged with attempting to smuggle drugs and contraband into jail. Authorities believe they got the items during a funeral out of their grandmother’s casket.   

Today and tomorrow there are several events in the county raising funds for a supposed charity run through the Walker County Sheriff’s Office.

Don’t be fooled. The kids’ Christmas organization isn’t an IRS recognized nonprofit, and there’s no accountability for the money coming in. Two years ago LU discovered a lot of missing funds and money spent on things like dinners, flowers, and an expensive “gift” for the Sheriff.

(re)read the article before you give…   

Last week during a meeting, Nathan Deal’s campaign promised State Senators the governor would “return the favor” to any legislator making a donation to his campaign.

Deal’s opponent and critics say it’s a thinly hidden promise to only back legislation pushed by those who help the governor politically. Deal’s people say they just meant campaign support to help legislators in future elections.

Elsewhere in the gubernatorial campaign, candidate Jason Carter says he’ll increase education funding in Georgia without raising taxes by “going after tax cheats” who owe billions to the state.

OK, sure.     

The last known Passenger Pigeon died 100 years ago today, marking the species’ extinction.

Walker County was once home to one of the largest flocks of these birds; Pigeon Mountain was covered in (and named after) them when the first white people settled this area.   

Thursday a GA Senate committee began looking at school discipline policy, with some talk of how race might impact student punishment.

Race doesn’t seem to matter. Everybody knows student punishment is based on the sport they play and how well they play it.   

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