The Albany Journal

Terrell’s great effort

khogencamp — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 04:01:37 +0000

I was sitting at the Deerfield Windsor School basketball game vs. Terrell Academy on Jan. 21, and thought it was 1986 and I was back in Illinois watching my hometown high school boys varsity teams. Like Terrell Academy, they, too, had no business playing a team like Deerfield and should have been completely outclassed. But they weren’t, just as Terrell Academy wasn’t.

In 1986, my high school of fewer than 70 students in all four high school grades won second in Illinois by beating all the big schools. The tallest player was 6-2 and my cousin was 5-10. Both were all-staters. They pressed the entire game and made almost all of their free throws and out-rebounded much bigger players (some 6-10). It was a testament to the importance of free-throw shooting, being in tremendous athletic shape, and having a great coach — just like Terrell Academy and Deerfield.

Terrell Academy needs to be congratulated on the great game that they played for three quarters and for almost turning the tables on Deerfield. Deerfield had to play four games in five days and that certainly had an effect on them, but that doesn’t take away the great game that Terrell Academy played. Like my hometown team, Terrell was much smaller and did not have the depth that Deerfield had but they were very fast and handled the ball very well. They were all good shooters and they made their free throws. Anyone who knows basketball knows how important it is to have a bunch of players who can be counted on to make their free throws. That alone will win a lot of games for you. And another of the biggest things that allows a small team to compete is knowing how to get position and get those rebounds even against much bigger opponents

So, hats off to Terrell Academy. You played a great game against Deerfield and you have nothing to be ashamed about. Hopefully, the experience of playing Deerfield will help you down the road when you run into some other similar opponents. You have a great team and I really enjoyed watching you play. You had Deerfield a little worried during that game, I think, at least in the beginning.

Finding love and finding God

khogencamp — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 04:01:48 +0000

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. – 1 John 4:11 (NIV)

How has God loved you? When last did you experience God’s love? How have you loved others because of God’s love for you? Have you experienced someone love you with a love that comes from God? What was it like?

Just recently a couple in the church wanted to celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary. Since I am not quite yet 30 I have no idea what it must be like to be married to someone for 65 years. It is always great to go visit them, and hear the stories of how they met, their life together. I have discovered that in 65 years there are a lot of stories.

A couple of days ago, just a couple of days before their 65th anniversary the wife had a stroke. She had been sick for awhile, but this brought her to the brink of death. All of the plans they had for a great party here at the church had to be abandoned, and as I sat with her husband as he held her hand he told me how sad he was that they were not going to be able to celebrate such a monumental occasion, he told me how sad he was to be losing his wife, and I felt sad with him.

As I sat with him, unbeknownst to me, God was working something out. Their daughter, two church deacons, and a chaplain who happens to be my wife figured out how to have the party at their house. Maybe the man’s wife wouldn’t be able to experience what they had hoped, but she was still alive so there was reason to have a party.

They came up to us after everything was set. Food was going to be delivered to the house, people would come play music, all the family was going to be there, it was still going to be a celebration. This was explained to her husband, and then the sweetest thing happened. He smiled and said, “I am so happy.” Then this near 89-year-old man began crying. And maybe there were some tears of sadness, but also there were tears of joy as he knew he was going to be able to celebrate 65 years with his beloved.

In the whole scene I saw the love of God. I saw God’s love in a husband’s love for his wife. I saw it in family and church family working together to ensure a celebration could occur. I saw what could have just been a sad event become a celebration. I saw people who knew of God’s love and thereby loved those around them. And because I saw love, I saw God.

Where have you seen love? Where have you experienced love? Wherever there is love, there is also God! The reason we ought to love one another isn’t just so we have another commandment to obey. The reason we ought to love one another is so that God can show up in situations where people wonder where God is. There was a cross where a man was condemned to die. Tortured and beaten before his execution many may have wondered where God was then… and yet God was there. An awful instrument of torture has become a symbol of hope through the power of God’s love. If God can do that, what else can God do where love is present? Let’s find out!

Written by Rev. Garrett Andrew, minister of First Presbyterian Church of Albany, Georgia. Read his blog.

Schools superintendent flap unites transparency seekers

khogencamp — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:01:54 +0000

So, a funny thing happened on the way to hiring a new Dougherty County School System superintendent. The School Board managed to unite two television stations and the largest local news paper on one single issue and get their butts named defendant in a lawsuit.

Go them.

The first amendment, specifically the part about freedom of the press, serves to keep government accountable to the people. The modern media, which includes the newspapers that our Founding Fathers were well aware but also includes blogs and television among other things, fill that role to this day.

So, government often looks at them as “the enemy” to some extent. Yes, the modern press has its own biases, usually based on the biases of the journalists in question, so it’s not always the enemy it once was. But every now and then, there’s something that government knows the media can’t and won’t ignore, so they try and hide it. Every now and then, government is just ignorant and hides something without thinking about the media. Whatever the case is this time, the School Board screwed up.

Their own attorney has stated there was more than one finalist, but that the Board decided to just release the name of just Joshua Murfree. One name, allegedly in violation of the state’s open records act. Not a good thing. The outrage surrounding Murfree’s naming comes from many places. It comes from many places within the same person sometimes. But almost all could have been avoided if proper procedure had been followed.

So now the School Board is getting sued. I’m sure they’ll claim the media outlets are wasting taxpayer dollars and try to paint them as the bad guys, but it’s a load of crap. The School Board made this decision. They are the ones who allegedly defied state law when making their selection. They now have to live with the consequences of their actions. Those consequences include at least one lawsuit and I’ve heard mention of a recall movement.

This is the wrong era to pull that crap in. This is a time when people are tired of their government rolling over them. This is a time when people are more likely to be activists for their cause than ever before. This is a time when the governmental bodies that pull this crap will get called to the carpet for what they’ve done.

In this case, they have been. And I can’t help but think that it’s only the beginning.

Written by Tom Knighton. Read his blog at SWGA Politics.com.

A lifelong political junkie, Tom started out his adult life as a journalism major at Darton College before leaving school to serve his nation as a U.S. Navy Corpsman.

Through the years, he has watched government from outside and inside. A former Reagan supporter, then later a Democrat, Tom now finds himself quite comfortable as a card carrying Libertarian and all around smart-elec.

Obituaries

khogencamp — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 03:10:49 +0000

Robert Brinson Alston

Robert Brinson Alston, 53, of Sasser died Friday, Feb. 5, 2010 at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital. His body has been cremated; his family received friends Monday at Kimbrell-Stern Funeral Directors.

Mr. Alston lived in south Georgia for many of years. He was a graduate of South Georgia Technical College of Americus. He was employed by IKON Business Solutions for a great number of years and was employed with OCE as a copier technician. He was preceded in death by his father; George Robert Alston.

He is survived by his wife; Gail Griggs Alston of Sasser; his daughter; Shonna Marie Alston of Leesburg; his mother, Sara D. Alston; his sisters: Lisa Montgomery, Joy Cromer and Neva Carter, all of Americus; and many nieces, nephews and close friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Robert’s favorite charity, Disabled American Veterans, VA Regional Office, 1700 Clairmont Road, Decatur, GA 30033. An online guestbook memorializing Mr. Alston is at www.kimbrell-stern.com.

Phillip N. Cohen

Phillip N. Cohen, 59, of Albany, died Friday, Feb. 5, 2010. His funeral service was Sunday at Riverside Cemetery. Rabbi Dr. Dana E. Kaplan officiated. Kimbrell-Stern Funeral Directors handled the arrangements.

Phillip was born in Albany and graduated from Albany High School in the class of 1968. He attended the University of Georgia and he had a great love of the outdoors and nature. Phillip was preceded in death by his parents, Louis Nathan Cohen and Edith Greenlee Saunders Cohen.

He is survived by his daughter, Jill C. Dominguez and her husband Brian, of Atlanta; two sons: Brad Cohen and his wife Ellen, and Jeff Cohen and his wife Amanda, of Albany; two grandchildren: Sam Dominguez, of Atlanta, and Landon Cohen, of Albany; two sisters, Joyce C. Ogletree of Ft. Gaines and Linda C. Mathis and her husband Billy, of Albany; three brothers: David Cohen and his wife June, of Tennessee, Barry Cohen and his wife Barbara, of Albany, and Ronnie Cohen of Albany.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Parks at Chehaw, 105 Chehaw Park Rd., Albany, GA 31701. An online guestbook is at www.kimbrellstern.com.

Ronald Dennis Everson Sr.

The funeral service of Ronald Dennis “Buddy” Everson Sr., 75, of 801 8th Ave., Albany, who died Wednesday, Feb.3, 2010 at his residence, was conducted Saturday at Mathews Funeral Home. Rev. Chip Gresham officiated. Interment was in Floral Memory Gardens Cemetery.

A native of Mitchell County, Mr. Everson resided in Albany since 1952, moving from Mitchell County. He was a self-employed builder, a Korean Navy Veteran and he was of the Baptist faith. He was preceded in death by a son, Gary Alan Everson.

Survivors include his wife, Betty M. Everson of Albany; a daughter and her husband, Lisa and Charles Jenkins of Blakely; a son, Ronnie Everson of Perry, Fla.; seven sisters, Mary Frances Kressler of Orlando, Fla., Martha Garrett and Marie Willingham, both of Albany, Nancy Eberfeld of Sarasota, Fla., Nelda Choquette of Tallahassee, Fla., Linda Kidd of Leesburg, and Annette Patterson of Edmond, Okla.; a brother, Harry Everson of Pensacola, Fla.; and seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

An online guestbook memorializing Mr. Everson is at www.mathewsfuneralhome.com.

B.A. Haire

The funeral service of B.A. Haire, 55, of Leesburg, who died Feb. 3, 2010, was conducted Friday at Mathews Funeral Home. Rev. Allen Bingham and Minister Faron Hamner officiated. Interment was in Crown Hill Cemetery.

A native of Colquitt, Ga., Mr. Haire grew up in Albany and graduated from Albany High School in 1973. He was employed with Dougherty County Public Works for many years and medically retired from Albany Water Gas & Light. Mr. Haire was a member of Liberty Parkway Church of God.

Survivors include his wife, Debbie Haire; a daughter and her husband, Angela and Joshua Savelle of Albany; his mother, Carrie Haire Joiner of Albany; a brother, Darrell Haire of Albany; three sisters, Virginia Gilley and her husband, Robert, of Lee County, Billie Fleming and her husband Jack of Cartersville, Ga., and Gwen Carr and her husband Tommy of Albany; his mother-in-law, Jeannette Tucker and a brother-in-law, William F. Tucker, both of Lee County; and many nieces and nephews and great nieces and great nephews. Mr. Haire was preceded in death by his father, Bill L. Haire.

An online guestbook memorializing Mr. Haire is at www.mathewsfuneralhome.com.

Leonard D. Paulk

Leonard D. Paulk, 81, of Albany died Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010 at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital. His funeral service was held Saturday at Byne Memorial Baptist Church with interment at Crown Hill Cemetery. Dr. J. Mathew Nance, Dr. Michael Gravette, and Rev. W.A. Bingham officiated.

A native of Lennox, Ga., Mr. Paulk was a retired sergeant major from the U.S. Army National Guard and also retired from Keenan Auto Parts. He was employed as a property manager for RBG the Anderson Co. Mr. Paulk was a Mason and Shriner and past Royal Patron of Christina Court #18, past president of the Toastmasters Club and the Coin Club, and a past member of the Civitan Club. He was a member of the Southwest Georgia Exchange Club.

Mr. Paulk was member of Byne Memorial Baptist Church, where he served on the building committee for the New Ledo Road location. He was a deacon and served on all major committees and taught Sunday school for many years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Tyson Paulk and Eddie Paulk; and two brothers, Bobby Paulk and Roger Paulk. He was also preceded in death by a grandson, Johnny Paulk.

Survivors include his wife, Lavonda Paulk of Albany; three sons David Paulk and his wife Sarah of Flemington, N.J.; Ty Paulk of Keystone Heights, Fla.; Cary Paulk and his wife Donna of Norfolk, Va.; brothers and sisters, Donald Paulk and his wife Laverne of Lakeland, Fla., Herbert Paulk and his wife Delma of Salem, Fla., Lorraine Paulk of Keystone Heights, Fla., Gary Eller and his wife Debbie of Leesburg, Glenda Bass and her husband John of Albany; Donna Cook and her husband Dave of Albany, and Sherry Canterbury of Albany; a sister-in-law, Patsy Paulk of Albany; grandchildren, Lindy Williams, Jessica Daniel, Brad Paulk, Holly Holton, Allison Paulk, Tyson Paulk, Maggie Paulk, Cassie Paulk, Allie Paulk, Michael Gouff, Daphne McCall, Tiffany McCall, Demi Cook, Wren Toleman, and Raine Boyd; and 15 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Byne Memorial Baptist Church, 2832 Ledo Road, Albany, GA 31707. An online guestbook is at www.kimbrellstern.com.

Dorothy Jenkins Stewart

Dorothy “Dot-Dot” Jenkins Stewart, 90, of Albany, died Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010.

Her funeral service was Monday at First Baptist Church of Albany. Interment services were at Sumner Cemetery in Worth County. The Rev. Dr. Butch Knight officiated. Kimbrell-Stern Funeral Directors handled the arrangements.

Mrs. Stewart was born in Sumner and had lived in Albany for many years. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Albany and worked for 45 years in the nursery at the church. She was preceded in death by her husband Alexander Cleveland Stewart, Jr.

Mrs. Stewart is survived by her two sons, Ronnie Stewart and his wife Teresa, and Alex Stewart, all of Albany; four grandchildren: Dan Stewart, Ron Bowyer, Chris Bowyer and Angie Elliott; seven great-grandchildren; a brother: Harry Jenkins and his wife Ruby of Indialantic, Fla.; and many nieces and nephews.

Those desiring may send memorials to Camp Hawkins, c/o First Baptist Church of Albany, 145 Oakland Parkway, Leesburg, GA 31763, or Albany Community Hospice, P.O. Box 1828, Albany, GA 31702.

An online guestbook memorializing Mrs. Stewart is at www.kimbrellstern.com.

Lena M.Vail

Lena M. “Lee” Vail, 90, of Sylvester, died Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010 at Sylvester Health Care. Mathews Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

A native of Zubulon, Ga., Mrs. Vail resided in Albany for 48 years before moving to Sylvester three years ago. She was retired from Ayres Corp. and was of the Baptist faith. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Loette Usrey and Nell Kregler.

Survivors include her daughter, Stacie Sinclair and her husband Reggie; five grandchildren, Stephanie Rumburg, Taylor Sinclair, Aaron Sinclair and Jessica Sinclair, all of Sylvester, and Misty Studelska of Atlanta.

An online guestbook memorializing Mrs. Vail is at www.mathewsfuneralhome.com.

Betty McLaurin Wallace

Betty McLaurin Wallace, 85, had her homecoming Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010 at her home. The service celebrating her life was Sunday at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Garrett Andrew officiating. Her interment service was Tuesday at Hebron Cemetery in Clio, S.C. Kimbrell-Stern Funeral Directors handled the arrangements.

Born Oct. 12, 1924 in Clio, Mrs. Wallace lived in Albany for the past 33 years. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church. She attended Winthrope College. Mrs. Wallace was a member of N.A.R.FE., Dougherty County Chapter #187 UDC, Commodore Richard Dale National Society Daughters American Revolution, American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Post 30, Mended Hearts Chapter #165, and Porterfield XYZ Club.

Our beloved wife and mother was a true example of Jesus’ unconditional love to her husband, family and all who knew her. Her presence will be dearly missed.

She was preceded in death by her son Benjamin Wallace and her daughter Barbara Wallace Keenan.

Survivors include her husband of 65 years, Alvin Wallace Sr.; daughter, Linda W. Kent and her husband Johnnie, Sylvester; sons, Alvin Glenn Wallace Jr. and his wife Denese, of Preston, David Ralph Wallace and his wife, Donna, of Moorestown, N.J.; grandchildren, Rebecca Wallace, Sara Chestnut and Joshua Kent; and a special friend and caregiver, Stacy Suarez.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church for Mission Outreach Programs, 220 N. Jackson St., Albany, GA 31701. An online guestbook memorializing Mrs. Wallace is at www.kimbrellstern.com.

Carol Williams

The funeral service of Carol Williams, 71, of 494 North Hampton Drive, Leesburg, who died Friday, Feb. 5, 2010 at Palmyra Medical Center, was conducted Monday at Life Christian Center International Church in Albany. Pastor Stan Glass officiated. Interment was in Leesburg Cemetery. Mathews Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

A native of Dillion, S.C., Mrs. Williams resided in Leesburg since 1979 after moving from New Hampshire. She was a homemaker and a member of Life Christian Center International Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Alfred Williams Sr.

Survivors include four daughters, Debra Lynn Wester of Albany, Donna Elaine Ballinger of Ocala, Fla., Renee Laura Banks and her husband Andy of Leesburg, and Patricia Williams Jones and her husband Eric of Albany; three sons, David Edwards, Charles Wayne Breland and Raymond Alfred Williams Jr. and his wife Phyllis, all of Albany; and 16 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made Life Christian Center International Church, 1211 Stuart Ave., Albany, GA 31701. An online guestbook memorializing Mrs. Williams is at www.mathewsfuneralhome.com.

No related posts.

Church briefs

khogencamp — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:37:21 +0000

Thursday, Feb. 4

HISSONG will be in concert at 7 p.m. at the Family Worship Center, 3024 Kensington Court. Doors open at 6 p.m. Admission is free; a love offering will be received. A nursery will be open. Parking for disabled people is available and the church has wheelchair access. To get there from the Albany Mall, go west on Dawson Road to Pointe North (second light) and turn left in from of Zaxby’s. Then take an immediate right onto Kensington Court and go until the street ends. Info: 432-0342.

Friday, Feb. 5

Gospel music is on tap beginning at 7:30 at the Cross Cultural Musique in downtown Leesburg at the Lee County Jamboree.

Sunday, Feb. 7

The Freemans (www.the-freemans.com) will perform at Lighthouse Ministries, 2320 S. Liberty Expressway, during the 11 a.m. service. Info: Pastor Chris Turner at 344-3953.

Sunday, Feb. 7-

Wednesday, Feb. 10

Liberty Parkway Church of God, 1501 Schley Ave., will hold revival with Rev. Brian Boutwell. Services are at 6 p.m. Sunday and 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday.

Friday, Feb. 12

The Browders from Hiltons, Va., whose national hits include Stand Up for Jesus, Waiting for Change and King’s Kid, will be in concert at 7 p.m. at Liberty Baptist Church. Doors open at 6 p.m. Refreshments will be available. Info: 485-6161.

Sunday, Feb. 14

Kinchafoonee Baptist Church will be hold homecoming with the theme “An Old-Fashioned Day” beginning at 10 a.m. with The Elder Family as special guests, followed by the 11 a.m. service with Pastor Melvin Slappey.

Family Worship Center will host “Dinner and a Movie” to include a spaghetti dinner with salad, bread and a dessert, followed by the showing of Fireproof. Info: 434-0342.

The Primitive Quartet will be at Pine Hill Baptist Church in Sumner beginning at 6 p.m. Admission is free; a love offering will be received.

Saturday, Feb. 20

Pastor Ralph Horne and Liberty Parkway Church of God will host gospel music legend Mark Trammell and The Mark Trammel Trio in concert at 7 p.m. Mandy Harrell also will perform. There is no admission fee; a lover offering will be received. Info: 436-9921.

To have your church announcement listed here, e-mail ajournal@thealbanyjournal.com.

Theatre Albany to pay tribute to Patsy Cline

khogencamp — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:16:37 +0000

Special to the Journal

Country music legend Patsy Cline will be in the spotlight when Theatre Albany opens its production of “A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline” on Friday.

The show was created by Dean Regan with Charlie Dick as Production Advisor. “It is a different show from “Always … Patsy Cline,” said theatre Artistic Director Mark Costello. “The framework is that of a radio station (WINC) in Patsy’s hometown of Winchester, Va., wherein a deejay is paying tribute to Cline by spotlighting her career from local bars to the Grand Ole Opry to Las Vegas and ultimately to Carnegie Hall.”

Included in the show are many of Patsy Cline’s great hits as well as some that were not in the previous show.

Jennifer Varnadoe is featured as Patsy. Varnadoe first undertook the role of in Theatre Albany’s production of “Always … Patsy Cline.” The deejay — Little Big Man — will be played by Lon McNeil with Steve Halstead, Doug Lorber and Steve Strowbridge playing various stand-up comics. Members of the band include Suzanne Unger, Anthony LaPorte, Steve Strowbridge, Charlie Meyer and Matt Hoover.

The production is under the direction ofCostello with musical direction by Charlie Meyer. Steve Felmet designed the sets and Ann Brim Streat is handling make up. The backstage crew includes Mary Lou Beasley, Becky Parker and Tom Parker.

Performances are scheduled for February 5, 6 / 12, 13 / 18, 19, 20 at 8 p.m. with Sunday matinees set for February 7, 14 and 21 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased by calling the box office at 439-7141.

ABOUT PATSY CLINE

One of the all-time legends of country music, Patsy Cline was born Virginia Patterson

Hensley in the Shenandoah Valley in Winchester, Va., on Sept. 8, 1932. Always spunky and devoted to music, she quit school at the age of fifteen to work in a drug store and help support her single mother and younger brother and sister. In return, her mother dedicated her spare time to helping Patsy’s career, and drove her to Nashville when she was only sixteen for her first Grand Ole Opry try-out.

Patsy was never shy about self-promotion and impressed everyone the moment they heard her. Ironically, her music talent was never really rewarded until “Walkin’ After Midnight”, which was recorded 10 years after she began singing professionally. Her incredible rendition of this song on the Arthur Godfrey Talent Scouts in 1957 not only won the contest, but finally set her on the road to the acclaim she deserved. It was followed three years later by the memorable “I Fall to Pieces”. Then came “Crazy” (written by Willie Nelson), “She’s Got You”, “Leavin’ on Your Mind”, “Sweet Dreams” and “Faded Love”. Her last single release was “A Closer Walk with Thee”. She realized her lifetime ambition of joining the Grand Ole Opry in 1960 and won 10 awards at the WSM Country Music Festival.

In the early 1960s Patsy’s life began settling down – just as her career began to pick up. Two children, a dream home, and a stack of hit records were finally hers, but she would not be able to enjoy them long. Patsy Cline died in an airplane crash on March 5, 1963 while hurrying back to her family after a benefit concert in Kansas City.

Patsy’s popularity is witnessed by the fact that she is the No. 1 juke box play in the world. Her Greatest Hits album has been in first place for over 200 weeks on Billboard’s Top Country Catalogue Albums. On March 1, 1995, Patsy was memorialized with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Darton defense keys victory

khogencamp — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:01:49 +0000

Special to the Journal

The Darton College Lady Cavalier Basketball team locked down on defense in the second half to defeat Atlanta Metro at Cavalier Arena on Tuesday night. DC trailed by 10 points at halftime, while shooting 19% from the field. The Lady Cavs closed the game by outscoring the Metro 36-16 in the second half for the final tally of 51-45.

Sophomore Marah Wright led DC with a game-high 17 points and she collected four steals. Dominique Gilbert racked up another double-double on the season with 10 points and a game-high of 15 rebounds.

Freshman Shaylia Jester chipped in with eight points, four assists, two blocks and three steals. Jester also came up big defensively by holding Atlanta Metro’s leading scorer, Jayda Lloyd, to eight points on the contest.

DC snagged 14 offensive rebounds and out rebounded Metro, 46-38. Defensively the Cavs held Metro to 23 percent shooting from the field in the second half.

The victory improves the Lady Cavaliers record to 14-9 on the season and 4-3 in conference to hold on to third place. Their next game is against Middle Georgia on Saturday.

Outlook: It’s not too late for School Board to do right thing

admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:39:46 +0000

By the time this newspaper hits the mailboxes of most of our subscribers this week, we likely will know the answers to the $8,000 question: Is the Dougherty County Board of Education a collective role model for our children or is it an organization of white-collar shysters who are no better than the thugs and thieves that we try so hard to protect our children from?

And we’ll know, perhaps as early as today, how many School Board members sought forgiveness for their wicked ways of the past week and otherwise promised to do the right thing henceforth. We also should know today whether the Board of Education regrets the lying and cheating, the secrecy and arrogance and the underhanded spending of our money that might would still be happening if it weren’t for inquiring news reporters, thoughtful citizens, and the consciences of board members David Maschke and Emily Jean McAfee.

And we’ll know soon which board members will censure colleague Anita Brown-Williams and file a complaint with the Georgia Ethics Commission because Brown tried to hire her business associate without bothering to disclose their relationship.

Sure, four members of the School Board have stumbled, bumbled, lied, ran for cover like cowards, and have even broken the law as they reneged on the board’s plan and its promise to taxpayers that its next superintendent would be selected objectively; after a full vetting and multi-level process; and only after being introduced along with other finalists to the citizenry that will pay her or his salary.

Sure, four board members responded to citizens’ criticism defiantly if they bothered to respond to all. And sure, the board made fools out of us by having us believe it was legitimately spending $8,000 on consulting services and marketing to ensure that we get the best superintendent that can be found in the whole world.

But we are hopeful that the goodness that defines Albany’s citizenry will prevail at today’s special-called School Board meeting at noon today at the school system administration building at 200 Pine Ave. There certainly is hope; indeed, board member Michael Windom has sought and received forgiveness for being one of five members to underhandedly attempt to hire college administrator Joshua Murfree.

Sure, some damage has been done. But it can be repaired. Forgiveness is a powerful thing. Asking for it may be even more impressive.

And sure, what the board did pales in comparison to the city hall lawbreakers who we hire to serve and protect us, to obey the rules and the law, and to spend our money prudently. For more than four years, our municipal government has been consistently lying, cheating, breaking the law and otherwise deliberately committing transgressions much worse than a weeklong lapse in judgment. Perhaps some School Board members thought: If they can get away with it, why can’t we? But that’s certainly no way to be a role model, is it?

We feel it’s important to note that the School Board went sour so fast is because it shamefully tried to have its key discussions and otherwise conduct the public’s business behind closed doors.

Sure, the interviews themselves can legitimately be held in executive session so there is no cheerleading or jeering from the public. But why prevent the media from attending the interviews and why, by all means, prevent the public from attending the discussions about the candidates? To improve the candidate pool by keeping their names secret? Well, we know that’s hogwash, don’t we?

Dougherty County School Board, quit emulating the Albany City Commission.

You’re better than that.

And we forgive you — if you say you’re sorry and if you swear on a stack of schoolbooks that it’ll never happen again.

By Kevin Hogencamp

Disclosures: Oxendine funding other politicos’ campaigns

admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:36:34 +0000

I was tipped off that Georgia gubernatorial candidate John Oxendine had contributed to at least one statewide candidate through his PAC, Better Georgia. (Both the PAC and Ox’s State Ethics Commission reports show the same address.) I started looking into this – and was somewhat shocked by what I found.

Money is the lifeblood of politics, but there are different views on it. Some have said that if you give a person money, you’re going to vote for them the vast majority of the time. Others have said that it is more of an appearances thing, that sometimes you have to give to certain party leaders to keep up appearances within the party. Still others have said that money is sometimes used to build relationships with people you hope will be your friends down the road.

The list of who John Oxendine has contributed to through Better Georgia, for whatever reason, is fairly interesting. Among those Ox has contributed to, we have:

State Reps: Rich Golick, Fran Millar, Bobby Reese, Michael Harden, Steven Allison, Jill Chambers, Billy Horne, David Casas, Charlice Byrd, Barry Loudermilk, Martin Scott, Matt Dollar, Katie Dempsey, Mike Jacobs, Amos Amerson, Mike Hatfield, Roger Lane, Tom Graves, Jerry Keen, Sean Jerguson, Steve Davis, Earl Ehrhart and Ed Setzler
State Sen: Chip Rogers, Jeff Mullis, Bill Cowsert, Dan Weber, John Douglas, Ronnie Chance, Dan Moody, Renee Unterman, and Bill Heath
Former Peach Pundit front page contributor: (and current State House candidate) Jason Shepherd
PSC Commissioner: Lauren “Bubba” McDonald
State Rep: (and current Labor Commissioner candidate) Melvin Everson
State Sen: (and Insurance Commissioner candidate) Seth Harp
State Sen: (and Insurance Commissioner candidate) Ralph Hudgens
State Rep: (and current Governor candidate) Austin Scott

State Sen: (and current Governor candidate) Jeff Chapman
Lt. Gov: (and former Governor candidate) Casey Cagle

Now, the vast majority of these donations have been during the 2008 cycle and have been in the $250-$500 range, described to me as “good” to “real good” for state House races by several people.

Outliers to that general rule include the Cagle donation – $5,000 in 2006; the Shepherd donation — $1,000 in 2009; the Hudgens donation – $500 in 2009 and part of a controversy involving Hudgens shifting money between a Senate account and his Insurance Commissioner account; the Amerson donation –$2,000 in 2008; and the McDonald donation — $1,000 in 2008.

Also interesting are the GAGOV race connections here – direct donations to two candidates that would later announce to challenge him in the GAGOV race and a contribution to one person who would be among the first members of the General Assembly to endorse one of his other GAGOV competitors, and a contribution to the one person on Peach Pundit who used to be among his most vocal supporters on that forum which largely dominated by anti-Ox (and specifically, pro-Handel) sentiment.

And his largest donation to a single candidate went to a man who would engage in a bitter early primary fight over GAGOV with Ox before resigning from the GAGOV race for “health reasons” to concentrate on his own re-election.

Written by Jeff Sexton. Jeff Sexton co-owns the political blog SWGAPolitics.com and is a candidate for the Leesburg City Council.

Lawbreakers

admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:22:16 +0000

Tommy Coleman’s job as the Dougherty County Board of Education attorney already was on the line: the board recently decided to seek proposals from other firms for legal services.

Now, Coleman is calling his clients a bunch of lawbreakers.

Coleman, who has served as the School Board’s counsel for about 14 years, says the board should release records it is concealing about the two leading candidates for schools superintendent who were bypassed when the board named Dr. Joshua Murfree of Albany State University as the only finalist for the job.

“As facts regarding the decision making have become public,” Coleman said Tuesday in a letter to the School Board, “it is clear that the board has made a decision in a manner contrary to that provided by the Official Code of Georgia.

“It is my strong recommendation that the Board take every step to rectify this violation at the earliest possible time.”

Coleman revealed in the letter that although the board had not taken official action naming three finalists, it had directed the consultant assisting it with the process to notify three candidates that they would be selected finalists if they so desired. Coleman did not address the conflict of interest by board member Anita Williams-Brown who pushed for Murfree to be hired while not disclosing that she has had a business relationship with him through a non-profit arm of the church she pastors in Hawkinsville, Ga.

The board meets at noon today in the school administration building at 200 Pine Ave. Board Chairman David Maschke said there are two agenda items: Coleman’s letter and board member Michael Windom’s request that the 5-2 decision to name Murfree a finalist be rescinded.

The board, meanwhile, still must decide whether to follow through on its previously stated assurance to the public that Murfree and any other finalists that might be selected be presented in a forum with citizens before the board hires a superintendent.

The board was prodding through the long process of culling through 37 applicants, interviewing an undisclosed number of them behind closed doors, when it hastily decided last week to select Murfree as its only finalist. The board would then be able to hire Murfree 14 days, according to state law. The vote was five (Williams-Brown, Vice Chairman James Bush, Velvet Riggins, Milton “June Bug” Griffin and Michael Windom) to two (Chairman David Maschke and Emily Jean McAfee).

“I believe that the board has a responsibility to the public and the system employees and the students to properly complete the selection process,” Maschke said Tuesday, “and to allow us the opportunity to introduce the selected finalists or finalist to the public in order to engage the public because it’s such a significant community decision.”

According to an objective ranking of the candidates by the Georgia School Board Association, which the Dougherty County system paid $8,000 to help identify and hire a superintendent, Murfree ranked 34^th of the 37^th candidates. The association based its assessment on criteria established the School Board.

Board members who were contacted by the Journal this week refused to divulge information about the candidates, including the number that were interviewed.. Murfree, Bush, Williams, Riggins and Griffin did not respond to e-mail requests for interviews or answer telephone calls.

Maschke said he doesn’t fully understand Coleman’s conclusion that the board violated the state open records law and that he looks forward to getting “more information and less legalese” from the attorney Wednesday.

“If I understand it right, it is his assessment that he thinks that we violated the law — not necessarily intentionally, but that’s what his opinion is,” Maschke said. “It certainly is important coming from the School Board attorney and we need to fully understand and comprehend what it is that he is saying. I’m waiting for the balance of the explanation, which will be coming at the meeting tomorrow. I’m going to listen very carefully tomorrow.”

Responding to a question, Maschke said that he hopes to have an opportunity to learn more about Murfree because “I don’t really know all that much about him as a candidate because we never got to the second round of interviews.”

“The second round of interviews were going to be longer (than the one-hour initial interviews),” Maschke said. “They were going to be longer interviews with more direct and specific questioning” on topics such as how existing personnel would be affected by a new administration and the candidates’ views on the relationship between board members and the superintendent.

Maschke said that more than three candidates would interviewed, but he refused to say how those candidates were selected. He also wouldn’t reveal the outcome of the calls made to two candidates who had been deemed to be among the top candidates who had been interviewed and that they may be selected as finalists.

“It’s my understanding of the process led by the Georgia School Board Association that that’s something we’re not supposed to discuss,” he said.

Following is the full text of the letter to the School Board from Coleman, Albany’s former mayor and a partner in the firm Perry & Walters:

“Ladies and Gentlemen: As you know, there has been a great deal of discussion in the community and in the press regarding the Board’s decision to name only one finalist for the position of Superintendent of the Dougherty County School System. The Board has received a number of requests for documents utilized by the Board in making this decision. Among the requests you have received are the ‘three finalists’ for the position. After careful consideration of Georgia Law, and a great deal of thought and consultation with other attorneys, it is my opinion that the Board must release information with as many as three positions of those persons the Board feels are most qualified to hold this position. It is my opinion that the Board’s action to designate only one finalist at the meeting of last Wednesday violates Article 4 of Chapter 18 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia.

O.C.G.A. 50-18-72(a)(7) provides in part that before a final vote is taken to fill the position of an executive head of an agency, the agency shall “release all documents which came into its possession with respect to as many as three persons under consideration whom the agency has determined to be the best qualified for the position and from among whom the agency intends to fill the position.” These names must be released at least 14 calendar days prior to a final vote. Prior to the release of any names, the agency may allow such a candidate to decline from further consideration rather than have the documents pertaining to that person released. The code further provides that in that event the agency shall release the documents of the next most qualified person who does not decline the position. If an agency has conducted its hiring and appointment process in public, the delay of 14 days is not required.

You will note that the code section does not provide for the designation of finalists. It provides for the release of documents of as many as three candidates who the Board determines to be the most qualified to hold the position. While I was not present n the executive sessions regarding the selection process, it would appear that from press reports that at least two other Board members have indicated that there were other ‘finalists.’ In addition, it is my understanding that the GSBA representative who conducted this search was asked to, and in fact did, call three individuals that were under consideration, to notify them that they could possibly become a finalist and offering an opportunity to withdraw prior to disclosure to the press and public. These facts would clearly lead one to believe that the individual designated was not the only one among the 37 candidates qualified to hold the position of School Superintendent. Consequently, others should have been released who were determined to be qualified prior to the selection of the Superintendent.

To my knowledge, this section of the Open Records Act has not been litigated. The phrase ‘as many as three’ is at best ambiguous and subject to multiple interpretations. There is no question that this portion of the statue is inartfully drawn. However, should you read the statute in its entirety and review the entire process, it is clear that the General Assembly meant for agencies to release those persons who the Board determines to be the most qualified to hold the position and from whom an agency intended to make its selection. The statute goes on to describe a process for replacement of a qualified person who declines to have their information released by the next most qualified person. Of course, none of this would have applied if the Board had elected to conduct the search in public in which all information about all candidates would be subject to public disclosure.

As discussed previously, there has been no litigation regarding this portion of the Act. However, the Courts have repeatedly held that the Act would be liberally construed in favor of public documents. It has been the Court’s position that the public has the right to inspect those documents that are in the public’s interest. Clearly, the Court would find that the naming of a Superintendent of the Dougherty County School System was in the public interest.

Violation of the Open Records Act can be enforced against persons or agencies having the custody of the records. In addition, the Attorney General has the authority to bring either criminal or civil action. Violation of this act is a misdemeanor and carries a fine of $100.

Not having been privy to the decision making of the Board it has proven difficult to determine what actually occurred and under what circumstances. However, as facts regarding the decision making have become public, it is clear that the Board has made a decision in a manner contrary to that provided by the Official Code of Georgia. It is my strong recommendation that the Board take every step to rectify this violation at the earliest possible time.

As always, I am available to assist the Board in their attempt to correct this matter should they choose to do so.”

By Kevin Hogencamp