Small Town News

Hey cattlemen: Thicken up those steaks

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On the Outside Looking In

A lot of people showed up at the Forsythia Festival despite the rain on Saturday and blustery weather on Sunday. Just

L maybe and hopefully the festival is the kick-off of spring and again just maybe, the rain will stay away until we need it.

I think the chamber needs to consider renaming the festival to the Forsythia Food Festival. There was just about any kind of food you wanted including the perennial Monroe County Cattlemen's Association steak sandwiches. This year the steaks were a lot thinner than in years past. Wonder if the economy had anything to do with the thinness? May the Cattlemen could not afford to feed the cows from whence came the steaks. Skinnier cows, thinner steak sandwiches.

One commenter said the economy must be getting better since he saw a lot of people not only eating but also buying the artsy stuff from the vendors. There were pro and con comments on the arts, crafts and food vendors lining both sides of East Johnston Street instead of around the square as in years past. Gotta admit, sure did compact the crowds on both days instead of being spread around the square. Made it feel homier.

THE OWNER of Forsyth Feed and Seed, David White, already has tomato, pepper and other assorted plants ready for the green thumb'ers. But, he is skeptical that the freezing and frosty morns are in the past. He was doing a brisk and steady business the other afternoon when I went by to pick-up grass seed and contemplating getting an early start on tomato plants. "I really don't think Mother Nature is through with us yet," he commented. I'm gonna wait until he tells me to go play in the dirt.

ALTHOUGH the minutes of the most recent county commission meeting are not posted on the county website (Feb. 10 minutes are the last posted) the county commission 2010 approved budget is on the site. Instead of paying 25 cents a page to get a copy, just go to the county commission website, download it and print the 42 page document. Makes some interesting reading since the budget is broken down by county departments.

The most extravagant figures are salaries for each department. But, don't expect to see the salaries of individuals. If you want to know how much our elected officials and county employees make, just ask the county administrator for that list. It is not a guarded secret but a public record. More than likely, you'll have to file an open records request and will be charged for the time it takes for the county administrator to look them up and give them to you in addition to paying a copying fee. That's a Georgia law. Your taxes will not pay for that search.

NO APRIL FOOLING. Just in case you don't read the legal ads, the City of Forsyth is asking for sealed bids to begin the Streetscape project. According to the ad in this paper's legal section, the contract work will include demolition of asphalt and concrete clearing/grubbing and fine grading; construction of concrele curb and gutter, concrete sidewalk, hexagonal pavers sidewalks, metal railing, brick stairs and banding, brick raised planter beds; installation of plant material, irrigations and side amenities; installations and maintenance of erosion control measures.

There is no mention of a deadline as to when the project will be completed but bids must be received by April Fool's Day at 2 p.m. Maybe when the project bid is accepted, we'll find out how long the project will take to be completed. Don't forget, it's state work and the bid will have been opened on April Pool's Day!

BY THE time you are reading this, our Super Wal-Mart will be open. Actually it opened last night at a by invitation only shindig for those whom Wal-Mart considers "special people".

Wonder if anyone camped out over-night to be the first shopper through the doors?

Just in case you haven't noticed, Ingles has been undergoing a sprucing up, obviously getting ready for the competition: painting, washing windows, a new meat counter and a salad bar that is extravagant with all the selections. Even the parking lot got a new coat of tar.

HERE'S something I don't understand. Why would our national museum--The Smithsonian-- want to display the suit O.J. Simpson wore on the day is was acquitted for the murder of his wife? What is historical about that and why would anyone want to see? Just another something I don't fathom.

If our national museum has the audacity to display such a piece of garbage, I will cancel my subscription to The Smithsonian Magazine because they will have lost historical credibility wonder if their other stuff is historical.

Donald Jackson Daniel is the founder and former publisher of The Reporter. Contact him at tullay-bear@bellsouth. net.



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© 2010 The Monroe County Reporter Forsyth, Georgia. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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