October ,2018 Page 5A
iR i orter
ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN by Don Daniel
If you won't show up,
you should resign!
invasion has begun! I m writing about all the
]]Christmas catalogs that are being stuffed in my
]]mail box. The catalog stack is up to just under six
IK. inches from the ones I have received in the last
month. The stack grows by three or four every day. I have
to admit, I do look---not shop---at several that pique my
interest.
There is a general theme in just about all the catalogs: not
Christmas but season's greetings. Obviously the effort is
to not offend anybody who is not a Christian. Just like our
local chamber of commerce will not call our Christmas
Parade a Christmas parade. The chamber leadership wants
to stay religious neutial, calling the parade "Hometown
Holidays Parade" with the caveat "our beloved night-time
Christmas parade".
One catalog I received was about what I thought was
Christmas cards. Nope. Of the 300 cards advertised, only a
few had "Merry Christmas" with the rest announcing "Sea-
sons Greetings". There were a lot of Santa Claus depictions
though.
WONDER WHEN Forsyth is going to start hanging
Christmas decorations on the power poles. Betcha it will be
before Thanksgiving, which is fine, but don't turn the juice
on until Thanksgiving night.
EARLY VOTING started Monday and you can cast your
ballot down at the county commission building from 8 a.m.
to 5p.m.
Hope you attended the sheriff's debate this past Monday
night but if you didn't, read about it in this week's paper.
There is pretty much an assurance there will be a run-off
amongst the six-man sheriffwanna-bes.
IF YOU have children who
want to participate in the sports
offered at the Monroe County
Recreation Department, such
as soccer, basketball, football,
baseball/softball and cheer, the
cost of participating just may be
a factor. The two most expensive
are baseball/softball, $43.75 and
football, $41.75. All costs associ-
ated with each program, indudes
a "trophy" cost.
A C,C zJ HERE'S SOMETHING all
you garage or yard sellers need to
know. As defined in the county's
zoning ordinance: "Sale, garage
or yard: any outdoor display of merchandise for sale, not to
exceed more than three continuous days out of three con-
tinuous months". Wonder how it is going to be enforced.
Campaign sign placement is an issue with those wanting
our vote. Many of the sheriff and governor signs are very
obviously on the right-of-way, which is against the law. The
excuse from the candidates is "the campaign people and
friends working to help me get elected, are just not aware of
the law" Poor excuse!
As written before, Monroe County Road Department
should be tasked to remove campaign sides from the right-
of-ways and charge the violating candidates $100 per sign
removed or, even better, deduct 100 votes per violating sign
from the final vote count.
HERE'S THE Question for this week: What is the name
of the recently-appointed county recreation director? First
correct answer after 12 noon Thursday gets the certificate
for a dozen Dunkin Donuts, Whistle Stop fried green to-
mato appetizer, Jonah's cookie, Dairy Queen Blizzard, slice
of Shoney's strawberry pie, sandwich, chips and drink from
The Pickled Okra and a Forsyth Main Street t-shirt.
No correct answer to last week's The Question, which was
the time of the sheriffs' debate this past Monday night
I HAVE attended a number of what was supposed to be
public meetings but the meetings could not be held because
there was not a quorum of public board members, so no
business could be conducted.
Those appointed to the different and many boards have a
responsibility to those who appointed them as well as to the
public they are serving. I have served on several boards and
I felt a responsibility to be in attendance and make the deci-
sions that were necessary. But, there are some people who
serve on local boards who seem to act as if it is an inconve-
nience and just want it noted in their obituary!
Those who cannot accept the responsibility of serving on
a board should resign or be asked to resign and a reappoint-
ment should be made.
Wow, that fek good.
HOW WOULD you like to have a $10,313.83 one month
credit card bill? Well you and I sorta did because we just
paid that amount to BB&T Financial for 58 items charged
to the card. Also, our tax money paid for trick or treat post-
ers from Star Printing. Don't know exactly what we pur-
chased from Utility Partners LLC but they got a check for
$34,704.17 which induded $29,637.75 for a "professional
services agreement".
HERE ON the lighter side. Why do they put pictures of
criminals up in the Post Office? What are we supposed to
do, write to them? Why don't they just put their pictures
on postage stamps so the mailmen can look for them while
they deliver the mail? q-hink about those two.
Okay, here's one more: Why is a person who plays the
piano called a pianist but a person who drives a race car not
called a racist?
DONT FORGET to listen to The Reporter On The Radio
on Majic 100 on Sunday mornings at seven or anytime
by clicking on the radio tab at mymcr.net. Also, watch the
show on Forsyth Cablevision.
Don Daniel founded the Reporter in 1972. Email him at
mediadr@bellsouth.net to answer The Question or make a
comment. Dorfl forget to listen to The Reporter On The Radio
On Majic 100 on Sunday mornings at 7 and watch Don, Will
and Richard---on Forsyth Cable's community access channel
TAKING A LIKENS TO YOU by Dale Likens
inesh D'Souza Kavanaugh there have
II the author been numerous reasons
II J of "Ronald for delaying the process.
Reagan-How Until this point each was
an Ordinary Man Becan]e a simple extension of time
Extraordinary Leader,or stipulations as to the
Obamas America- process Mrs. Christine
Unmaking
the America
Dream" and
a documen-
tary titled
"Hillary's
America" For
some reason
throughout
some of his
writings and
documenta-
ries one word
he emphasizes
often contin-
ues to arouse
my memory
over and over: "Deny!
Deny! Deny!" It is simply
a word he uses to describe
the Democratic Party as
using to hide the truth that
may incriminate them of
false statements.
Today; although it is not
through Dinesh D'Souza's
novels or documentaries,
I seem to detect another
word that I, and many
other observers, have
perceived must be used in
speaking of the Democratic
ParW. This word is: "Delay!
Delay! Delay!"
By the time this article is
published in the Reporter,
Judge Brett Kavanaugh
will have been confirmed,
by our senate, to become
our very next Justice of the
Supreme Court. During
the course of the entire
process of confirming Mr.
Blasey Ford
and her at-
tomeys would
demand.
When
professor Ford
gave her testi-
mony; it was a
sure knock-
out! Nearly
everyone in
the room, and
I am sure at
home, was
nearly in tears.
With both at-
torneys at her
side, coaching every move
and every word she quietly
alleged what needed to be
said to convince the senate
of that terrible moment
nearly 36 years ago. The
only problem: there was no
proof in her accusations.
No one could support her
accusations. There were
no witnesses. Even profes-
sor Ford was uncertain in
Many details: how she got
to this party and how she
left this party. Nonetheless
many of us are convinced
that she may have been
sexually assaulted, but the
real question remains, by
whom? As I listened to
Mrs. Christine Blasey Ford,
I must admit, I, too, was
saddened by the horrible
truth that must lie within
her faded memory. I think
of the pain she must have
endured throughout the
past 36 years. I truly wish
her a peace that eventually
sets her free.
Throughout this entire
ordeal I have angrily told
my wife that if Mr. Kava-
naugh is telling the truth
he needed to stand up and
boldly say; "I am innocent!
I have never acted this way
to any woman in my life!
With God as my witness
I stand behind my word!"
Be honest! Be bold! What
can you lose by telling the
truth? Don't hide behind
your life today or the fact
that many of your friends
believe you didn't do itl Just
boldly tell the truth!
Brett Kavanaugh did just
that! He stood up boldly,
raised his hand to God and
swore to tell the truth and
nothing but the truth. In
the end his speech was as
convincing as Christine
Blasey Ford's speech. In
the end there is no proof
that either is telling the
truth. But one thing is sure.
Thanks to Senator Flake
(Republican), this dispute
between accuser and the
accused went back once
more to the hands of the
FBI. It was another delay
which was exactly what the
Democrats were work-
ing for as the November
election comes closer and
closer. It was a perfect
example of a character
assassination. People even
demanded that this man
no longer be allowed to
coach a young ladles' bas-
ketball team. What have we
come to in America where
an individual is guilty until
proven innocent?
Perhaps it's time to inves-
tigate each of the Democrat
senators. Let's start with
'Spartacus-Man' Senator
Booker and move on to
Senators Harris and Sena-
tor Richard Durbin. Then
we can move on to Sena-
tor Feinstein and Senator
Flake. Oh, my mistake! He's
a Republican, isn't he?
This was nothing more
than a stall tactic by the
Democratic Par . As Mr.
Sloan Oliver stated in his
article a few weeks ago,
"The Democrats' First Love
is Abortion!" The truth is
they were afraid if Judge
Kavanaugh was approved
as the next Justice of the
Supreme Court, our gov-
ernment may soon end our
financial aid to Planned
Parenthood. Roe vs. Wade
may once again be brought
up to the Supreme Court.
Perhaps if anything
.beautiful came from the
senatorial hearing it may
be this: In near tears, Mr.
Kavanaugh explained that
his 10-year-old daugh-
ter suggested her family
needed to pray for Mrs.
Christine Blasey Ford. Out
of the mouths of babes!
Simply put, we need an
honorable person who
believes in our constitution
to be elected. Don't forget
Nov. 6. Be at the polls! God
bless!
Dale Likens is an au-
thor who lives in Monroe
County.
Continued from Front
who will m@e decisions"
Abrams told the audience
referring to her opponent,
Secretary of State Brian
Kemp, who has yet to make
a decision on the long
boundary dispute. Asked to
expound on the comment
in a later interview with
the Report& Abrams said
that Kemp should not be
seeking a promotion when
he has failed to do his job
as Secretary of State in the
county line dispute, but
more notably in protect-
ing the rights of voters and
voter applicants across the
state.
Abrams began a four-day,
17-stop tour across Georgia
with a visit to Forsyth on
Monday moming. She was
greeted by a packed sanctu-
ary at St. James Baptist
Church.
"Our leader, Ms. Stacey
Abrams, has just arrived"
announced Forsyth city
council member Julius
Stroud, "Let's show her
some of that energy when
she comes in."
St. James Pastor Rev.
Antonio Proctor welcomed
the crowd, and city counc'd
member John Howard
introduced Abrams.
"She has helped employ
countless Georgians. It is
clear she knows how to
build a more prosperous
Georgia" said Howard. "IfI
don't do anything else, this
is one day I won't forget"
Abrams touched on
many of her goals and
plans for the state as
governor as she spoke to
the receptive audience at
St. James Baptist. She told
them that she has visited all
of Georgia's 159 counties
and intends to represent
the whole state as governor.
She assured them that she
had visited Forsyth before.
"Y'all just didn't love me as
much?
Someone in the audi-
ence shouted, "We love you
now!"
Abrams praised Howard
for persistently asking her
campaign office to bring
her to Forsyth and said,
"You don't get what you
don't ask for"
Abrams said she is con-
cemed about the 53,000
Georgians who have tried
to register to vote and are
being told their registra-
tion is pending. She wants
to reach the 1.5 million
"unencumbered" voters in
Georgia whose registration
is not challenged.
Touching another issue,
she said that the nation has
50 education governors,
but she will be the only
public education governor
in the county, and she will
address the issues beyond
the classroom that make
it difficult for children to
learn.
Abrams said her goal is a
thriving economy in every
county so that people don't
have to leave where they
love to make a living. She
said she knows about busi-
ness because she is not only
a lawyer but also a small
business owner.
She said her priority for
the first day she takes office
as governor is to expand
Medicaid, which she noted
that Republican VP Mike
Pence did as govemor of
Indiana. Abrams said Med-
icaid expansion is the only
solution to Georgia's health
care crisis. "I'm the only
one who will get it done"
said Abrams.
She encouraged her sup-
porters to go to the ballot
box immediately, since it
was the first day of early
voting, and to encourage
everyone they know to vote
for her. She quoted scrip-
ture from James 2 that faith
without works is dead and
urged everyone to work for
her election. She said this
election is about making
history because she would
be the first African Ameri-
can woman governor in the
U.S. The statement brought
a standing ovation from the
audience.
"Because I'm a black
woman, I understand the
barriers," said Abrams.
From Forsyth, Abrams
headed directly to another
speaking engagement in
Macon, followed by ap-
pearances at Fort Valley
State University, Dublin,
Milledgeville and Atlanta
on Monday. On Tuesday,
she planned to visit the
Georgia coast with engage-
ments in Brunswick, King-
sland, Hinesville, Georgia
Southern University and
Savannah State University.
After visiting Waynesboro,
Augusta, Grovetown and
Thomson on Wednesday;
the tour wraps up in Grif-
fin and Stockbridge on
Thursday.
In a phone interview
later with the Reporter,
Abrams said she had read
last week's Washington
Post article about Howard's
efforts to get her to Forsyth.
She said that was why she
noted that she had visited
Forsyth before. She said it
was a couple of years ago
while she was the Georgia
House Minority Leader.
Asked if she supports
extending the Georgia
Heart Program, which has
benefited Monroe County
Hospital by allowing
taxpayers to assign part of
their tax payments to the
hospital, Abrams said that
the program is a short term
solution whereas expand-
ing Medicaid in Georgia
is a permanent, long-term
solution. She said that the
Georgia Heart Program
may become unlawful
under Trumps Tax Law,
and it would be much
better to tap into the $3
billion available from the
federal government under
Medicaid.
Asked for her view on
government incentives to
bring business or industry
to a community, Abrams
said she favors incentives
for an industry, like Geor-
gia's film industry credits,
rather than for an indi-
vidual business or corpora-
tion. She said that credits
should be given only to
create jobs, not just to
move them from one place
to another. Another criteria
is that the credits not take
funding away from law
enforcement or education.
There should also be a claw
back provision so that if the
business does not create
jobs after a certain time, it
must repay the incentives it
received.
When Brian Kemp became secretary of state on Jan. 8, 2010, Terry gh's
survey of the Monroe-Bibb County line was on his desk. The law says it's his job
to do something with it. He announced on Aug. 23, 2011 that he was rejecting the
Scarborough survey. Unfortunately, the law gives him no such option. So on March
10, 2014, the Supreme Court ordered him to set the line. That was four years ago.
The Reporter is devoting this space each week to counting the number of days Kemp
has been on the job, and yet not done his job. If you want Kemp to do the job which
he's sought three times before he gets a promotion to governor, call his office at
(404) 656-2817 and let them know.
