The following is from the AJC. My comments follow the article.
Senators gut anti-diversion bill
By James Salzer
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
9:05 p.m. Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Georgia has long assessed special fees dedicated to paying for environmental cleanups, high school drivers ed and other purposes, only to take a large portion of the "dedicated" money and spend it on something else.
A Senate subcommittee on Monday took up a House bill that seeks to stop the state from diverting those funds - and added language that virtually shreds the measure, supporters said.
The senators tacked on a provision that the bill would be in force only when the state's reserves contain about $1 billion or more. The reserves have run that high only a few times in recent decades. They now stand at about $328 million, after dipping below $100 million during the real estate and stock market crashes a few years ago.
Lawmakers have a history of getting around the the law and diverting the money, and some senators didn't think the new bill would stop the end runs.
"We have been doing this for 20 years, and I still keep getting re-elected," said Rules Committee Chairman Don Balfour, R-Snellville.
House Bill 811 easily passed the House. And sponsor Rep. Jay Powell, R-Camilla, said it's time to stop gaming the system. "The voters don't trust us to put the money where we say we're going to put it," Powell said. "There is no reason to collect a fee for a service you are not providing."
Large sums are at stake. The diversions last year amounted to about $40 million.
By the end of this year, programs for tire and hazardous waste cleanup will have collected almost $200 million in fees since 2004. But only about $76 million of that has actually gone to dump and waste cleanups. Of $58 million in traffic fine add-ons raised for drivers ed, only $8 million has gone for that purpose. There are also add-on fines that go to pay for police training.
House Bill 811 would force legislators to make sure that money from the fees and fines - for example, the $1 fee on new tires - goes where it's supposed to go, or they would have to lower the fees and fines the following year.
So, for example, if the tire fee generated $1,000, and the Legislature spent only $500 on cleaning up old tires - using the rest to cover gaps elsewhere in the budget - the tire fee could drop by as much as 20 percent the next year.
Legislative leaders say they used the diverted money during the recession to help prop up budgets for schools, public safety and health care. And Senate leaders said they want to give lawmakers flexibility to continue diverting the money unless the state is flush with cash.
The subcommittee changed the bill so the fees and fines could be lowered only if state reserves equaled at least 7 percent of what lawmakers appropriate for the year, minus a few areas of spending. That would be about $1.1 billion this year, Senate officials said.
In addition to drivers ed and hazardous waste and tire cleanups, the money also is supposed to go toward police training. Local governments, police and environmental groups, who support the legislation, have complained for years about money being diverted.
Todd Edwards, a lobbyist for the Association County Commissioners of Georgia, said supporters hope the bill can be improved and passed by the end of the session. If the Senate subcommittee version passes, he said, "We may as well not have the bill. It defeats the whole purpose."
*********************************************************************
It seems that what we thought was happening with the money for environmental clean-up, high school driver's education, and other worthwhile endeavors is not being used, at least not how taxpayers thought it was being used. Legislators seem to see these funds as their own slush fund to use at their whim. Even if I thought it, I would not put into words the feeling of the Rules Committee chair.
I applaud the words of Jay Powell about citizens distrusting our state leaders. While it is not exactly the same, the Georgia 400 toll which was supposed to end about 2 years ago is another questionable decision. The state seems to say what they want to get a vote, then change the rules after the fact. I am personally angered by the Hot Lanes on I85. Taxpayers paid for the interstate in the first place and now the state is charging drivers to use Hot Lanes. I will never use the Hot Lanes, just as a matter of principal. I think I am becoming a Tea Partier, but that is something for another blog.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Rapture Heating and Air Conditioning
Another of my interesting Florida experiences was a billboard I saw. In Leesburg there is a billboard advertising "Rapture Heating and Air Conditioning." Obviously, the owner is a Christian (or maybe his name is Rapture?). The "t" on the billboard is a cross. Assuming he is a Christian, it begs for someone to ask about the rapture part of his business. At the rapture we will not require heating or air! Not being insensitive, but when a Christian dies, heating and AC are no longer important. And when a nonChristian dies, he may need a significant amount of AC, but I am not sure the Rapture company can provide it!
It reminds me of a joke told by a dentist. He said it was his Christian duty to fix and repair teeth. He said that the Bible says that heaven is a land flowing with milk and honey. He said that when people die and go to heaven it will be awful for them to have to gnaw their honey.
And he said hell was described as a place of weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. He said it would be awful for everybody else to be gnashing their teeth and one toothless person not having teeth to gnash. He said it was his duty to fix teeth!
I am sure there is a sermon in there somewhere!
It reminds me of a joke told by a dentist. He said it was his Christian duty to fix and repair teeth. He said that the Bible says that heaven is a land flowing with milk and honey. He said that when people die and go to heaven it will be awful for them to have to gnaw their honey.
And he said hell was described as a place of weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. He said it would be awful for everybody else to be gnashing their teeth and one toothless person not having teeth to gnash. He said it was his duty to fix teeth!
I am sure there is a sermon in there somewhere!
Wuzdead.com
On my trip to Florida last week an interesting thing happened. Driving down I 75 I noticed a van approaching from behind. I could see that the van had one of those light bars on the top, like you see on official vehicles like police, fire department, etc. Since I had already received one speeding ticket that day, I slowed down. The van came by on my left side, and I read "wuzdead.com" on the side. Being such a spiritual person, I assumed that it was an evangelistic van (wuz dead=born again!). When it passed me I read on the back of the van "Call us for all your zombie clean up needs." Evidently that is a serious problem in Florida. They must have an influx of zombies requiring significant cleaning!
There may be a sermon in that somewhere!
There may be a sermon in that somewhere!
George Robert "Bobby" Wilkes, RIP
Last weekend I went to Leesburg, Florida to pay my respects to my uncle, Bobby Wilkes. Others may have called him George or Bob, but I grew up calling him Bobby and my aunt Maureen. Maureen passed away in 2009 after a bout with Alzheimer's Disease. Bobby never got over her passing. I consider that to be a tribute to his great love for her.
Bobby actually died on Thursday April 5, 2012, but his son Brian delayed his funeral until Saturday, April 14. Brian's older brother Robin is in the hospital and Brian was hoping Robin would be able to attend the funeral, but he was not out of the hospital.
Bobby and Maureen had lived in Gainesville, Georgia in the 60's, and I always thought they were the wealthy side of our family. Bobby was well known in the radio business in Gainesville, a radio personality, and in my small world that made him famous! Maureen was the one who bleached my brother's brown hair white, but that is another story for another time!
Bobby and Maureen moved to Leesburg where Bobby took a job as the general manager of Leesburg Cable TV. This was in the early days of cable and of the migration of retirees to Florida. Bobby was an astute businessman, and I am told he marketed the cable system to the booming retiree communities, where he would quote a price if a certain percentage of residents would sign up. He did well in the cable business and he and Maureen settled themselves in Leesburg, and particularly in First Baptist Church.
One of my memories about Bobby was when I was in seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. All seminary students struggle financially and we were no exception. I remember on 3 or 4 occasions I would get an envelope from Bobby with a check enclosed. His words were to use it as we needed. He always enclosed the line, "Don't tell anyone about this!" I don't know if he was afraid Maureen would find out, but I doubt she would have objected.
I also remember my family (that is me, Lynette, Allyson and Andrea) going to Florida to visit Disneyworld. We probably could not have afforded to stay in a motel, so Bobby and Maureen let us stay at their house and treated us royally! I also remember Bobby asking if I wanted to go deep sea fishing. I had never been! He booked a boat and we left early one morning for the day. He tried to prepare me for the trip by feeding me soda crackers, but as soon as we got on board and started out into the gulf, Up it came! I had a great time anyway, and enjoyed the time with him.
I also remember when I was the Administrator of the Palmetto Campus of Georgia Baptist Children's Home. My grandfather Ed Allison, Papah, had passed away and Bobby wanted to do something in his memory. Bobby and a group of his friends came to Palmetto and built a playground in Papah's memory. Bobby paid for the materials out of his own pocket. I will never forget that kindness.
Later in his life Bobby and Maureen set up the Wilkes Foundation to support mission projects, primarily churches, children's homes and schools around the world. They built facilities in at least 8 countries and 40-50 buildings all together. Their legacy will live on. Hundreds of thousands of lives have been touched, and thousands saved.
My last memory occurred in 2003. At that time I was the President/CEO of the Vashti Children's Center in Thomasville, GA. Vashti was a Methodist program that was having some tough times. The building and grounds needed a lot of work. Finances were so bad that a previous President had had to use some funds (about $225,000) given by a foundation for renovations. Unfortunately, he had used the funds to pay outstanding bills. The foundation was unhappy with Vashti, many business people in Thomasville were unhappy with Vashti for not paying bills quickly. Jack Wilkes, Bobby's brother heard of our plight and Bobby and the Wilkes Foundation jumped in to help. Bobby brought over 120 people some for up to 4 weeks to help with the renovations. Many came for 1 or 2 weeks. The Wilkes Foundation paid for most of the materials to do the repairs. Due to the influx of volunteers, the people of Thomasville responded as well. About 3 weeks into the project, the donor foundation mentioned above sent a delegation to see what was being done. When they saw the results and all the volunteers as busy as bees all over the building, the donor foundation forgave the debt of the misused funds. In addition they made another donation of about $25,000 to help out. I estimate that the Wilkes Foundation did about $500,000 of actual work to the facilities.
To this day, Vashti is a vital ministry serving children and their families.
Bobby did ministry like he did business...flat out! At the funeral several spoke of his leadership in the bus ministry of their church. They started with one bus that would pick children up for Saturday, Sunday School. The Yellow Bus was the one Bobby and Maureen led. They would visit the children during the week, pass out candy and make friends with the children and their families. Then on Saturday they would pick up the children for Sunday school and later deliver them home. One bus soon became too small so another was needed. I think Bobby bought it himself for the ministry. Often the bus would have 120 children instead of the 60 it was designed for. Again, many lives were touched by Bobby and Maureen.
Bobby never got over Maureen's death. Brian told me he would never let him close her checking account. He often told people she would be returning home. I was told he spent much time sitting at the cemetery talking to her grave. I am certain they are now both in heaven, enjoying the love that they enjoyed for almost 60 years. Bobby Wilkes, Rest in Peace.
Bobby actually died on Thursday April 5, 2012, but his son Brian delayed his funeral until Saturday, April 14. Brian's older brother Robin is in the hospital and Brian was hoping Robin would be able to attend the funeral, but he was not out of the hospital.
Bobby and Maureen had lived in Gainesville, Georgia in the 60's, and I always thought they were the wealthy side of our family. Bobby was well known in the radio business in Gainesville, a radio personality, and in my small world that made him famous! Maureen was the one who bleached my brother's brown hair white, but that is another story for another time!
Bobby and Maureen moved to Leesburg where Bobby took a job as the general manager of Leesburg Cable TV. This was in the early days of cable and of the migration of retirees to Florida. Bobby was an astute businessman, and I am told he marketed the cable system to the booming retiree communities, where he would quote a price if a certain percentage of residents would sign up. He did well in the cable business and he and Maureen settled themselves in Leesburg, and particularly in First Baptist Church.
One of my memories about Bobby was when I was in seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. All seminary students struggle financially and we were no exception. I remember on 3 or 4 occasions I would get an envelope from Bobby with a check enclosed. His words were to use it as we needed. He always enclosed the line, "Don't tell anyone about this!" I don't know if he was afraid Maureen would find out, but I doubt she would have objected.
I also remember my family (that is me, Lynette, Allyson and Andrea) going to Florida to visit Disneyworld. We probably could not have afforded to stay in a motel, so Bobby and Maureen let us stay at their house and treated us royally! I also remember Bobby asking if I wanted to go deep sea fishing. I had never been! He booked a boat and we left early one morning for the day. He tried to prepare me for the trip by feeding me soda crackers, but as soon as we got on board and started out into the gulf, Up it came! I had a great time anyway, and enjoyed the time with him.
I also remember when I was the Administrator of the Palmetto Campus of Georgia Baptist Children's Home. My grandfather Ed Allison, Papah, had passed away and Bobby wanted to do something in his memory. Bobby and a group of his friends came to Palmetto and built a playground in Papah's memory. Bobby paid for the materials out of his own pocket. I will never forget that kindness.
Later in his life Bobby and Maureen set up the Wilkes Foundation to support mission projects, primarily churches, children's homes and schools around the world. They built facilities in at least 8 countries and 40-50 buildings all together. Their legacy will live on. Hundreds of thousands of lives have been touched, and thousands saved.
My last memory occurred in 2003. At that time I was the President/CEO of the Vashti Children's Center in Thomasville, GA. Vashti was a Methodist program that was having some tough times. The building and grounds needed a lot of work. Finances were so bad that a previous President had had to use some funds (about $225,000) given by a foundation for renovations. Unfortunately, he had used the funds to pay outstanding bills. The foundation was unhappy with Vashti, many business people in Thomasville were unhappy with Vashti for not paying bills quickly. Jack Wilkes, Bobby's brother heard of our plight and Bobby and the Wilkes Foundation jumped in to help. Bobby brought over 120 people some for up to 4 weeks to help with the renovations. Many came for 1 or 2 weeks. The Wilkes Foundation paid for most of the materials to do the repairs. Due to the influx of volunteers, the people of Thomasville responded as well. About 3 weeks into the project, the donor foundation mentioned above sent a delegation to see what was being done. When they saw the results and all the volunteers as busy as bees all over the building, the donor foundation forgave the debt of the misused funds. In addition they made another donation of about $25,000 to help out. I estimate that the Wilkes Foundation did about $500,000 of actual work to the facilities.
To this day, Vashti is a vital ministry serving children and their families.
Bobby did ministry like he did business...flat out! At the funeral several spoke of his leadership in the bus ministry of their church. They started with one bus that would pick children up for Saturday, Sunday School. The Yellow Bus was the one Bobby and Maureen led. They would visit the children during the week, pass out candy and make friends with the children and their families. Then on Saturday they would pick up the children for Sunday school and later deliver them home. One bus soon became too small so another was needed. I think Bobby bought it himself for the ministry. Often the bus would have 120 children instead of the 60 it was designed for. Again, many lives were touched by Bobby and Maureen.
Bobby never got over Maureen's death. Brian told me he would never let him close her checking account. He often told people she would be returning home. I was told he spent much time sitting at the cemetery talking to her grave. I am certain they are now both in heaven, enjoying the love that they enjoyed for almost 60 years. Bobby Wilkes, Rest in Peace.
Hanging in like a hair on a biscuit!
Recently Kenny Thompson, my coworker and friend, and I went to Alabama to look at a program over there. Alabama Baptist Children's Home graciously hosted us to review what they are doing. It was a great trip.
Two experiences were memorable.
They took us to Joe's Italian Restaurant to eat lunch. I think it was in Alabaster, Alabama, but I am not sure. The owner, Joe was sitting at the entrance greeting his customers. A delightful character, probably in his 80s, a true Italian. I highly recommend the restaurant and the meal I had. I had Lasagna Bianca. On the menu it said the recipe came to Sonia (Joe's Wife) in a dream. The dream was lasagna with white cream sauce. But the surprise was that it had turnip greens on the inside. What more could a country boy ask for? I highly recommend Joe's and the Lasagna Bianca!
The other experience was going to Bass Pro Shop. Well, I have been to other Bass Pro Shops before, even larger than the one outside Birmingham. The experience came when we entered. There is always someone to greet you at the turnstiles inside the front door. When we walked in there was a guy there, probably in his 50's or early 60's. When I asked him how he was doing, his response was, "I am hanging in like a hair on a biscuit!" Only in Alabama!
Sometime ask me about the two brothers arguing over a canoe outside the store!
Two experiences were memorable.
They took us to Joe's Italian Restaurant to eat lunch. I think it was in Alabaster, Alabama, but I am not sure. The owner, Joe was sitting at the entrance greeting his customers. A delightful character, probably in his 80s, a true Italian. I highly recommend the restaurant and the meal I had. I had Lasagna Bianca. On the menu it said the recipe came to Sonia (Joe's Wife) in a dream. The dream was lasagna with white cream sauce. But the surprise was that it had turnip greens on the inside. What more could a country boy ask for? I highly recommend Joe's and the Lasagna Bianca!
The other experience was going to Bass Pro Shop. Well, I have been to other Bass Pro Shops before, even larger than the one outside Birmingham. The experience came when we entered. There is always someone to greet you at the turnstiles inside the front door. When we walked in there was a guy there, probably in his 50's or early 60's. When I asked him how he was doing, his response was, "I am hanging in like a hair on a biscuit!" Only in Alabama!
Sometime ask me about the two brothers arguing over a canoe outside the store!
Charles Clyde Harper
Another major event that occurred between the last series of posts in 2008 and the restart in 2012 was the death of my Daddy, Charlie Harper. Daddy, or Pop Charlie as we called him, was quite a character. He was very obsessive compulsive (I guess that is where I get mine!) Pop Charlie had Alzheimer's Disease for several years prior to his death. He never forgot who my Mama was, but he thought my brother and I were his brothers. We were able to keep him at home until his death...I think he was better cared for there than he would have been anywhere else. Below I am attaching something I wrote about him after his death:
Charlie Harper
I was proud to call him my Daddy.
People sometimes said I looked like him…my family says I sometimes act like him, at least in his obsessive compulsive ways.
He was always a hard worker. As a bivocational pastor he always worked a fulltime job and as a pastor at the same time. Most of you know that he did not drive, so someone always had to drive him. When Wayne became a legal driver, and later when I got my license, it was our job to take him visiting or to visit in the hospital. The trade off on our part was that he provided a car for us for our other uses as well. I learned a lot from him. I believe his influence was the greatest human one in my becoming a pastor and minister.
Two memories always burst in my mind. One was that he made the best corn bread I ever ate, at least until I ate Wayne’s! Daddy would put lots of bacon grease in it, and he always mixed it with his hands. As a boy I thought that was unsanitary, but I ate it anyway! I even wrote an article one time with my Daddy’s recipe for cornbread.
The other memory was of his fragrance. I remember as a boy getting in his bed and laying on his pillow. I can still remember my thinking that that was what a man smelled like…Old Spice mixed with a little sweat.
In his later year Pop developed Alzheimer’s disease. His life and all of ours changed. One of my friends said that Alzheimer’s was the only illness where you lost your loved one twice…once from the loss of their memories and once from physical death. I remember Mamew telling me one time that Pop was sometimes afraid of the dark, and that she would lay in bed holding him until he went to sleep. When he became bedfast and he had to be fed and changed, he always seemed a little embarrassed that someone had to do so much for him. When I was with him it was always painful for me that he did not know who I was…his own baby boy.
But all that is over now. Pop is in a better place than we are. His body is not weak any longer. His memory is perfect now. The people who greeted him in Heaven are ones who love him, just as we loved him on earth. I am absolutely positive that one day I will see my Daddy again in Heaven.
MILITARY SERVICE
DOB: 1/8/1923
Left Gainesville for Fort McPherson, Atlanta, 11/18/1942
Sent to Camp Barkeley, Texas to train for medical corp.
Sent to William Beaumont General Hospital, El Paso, Texas
Sent to Camp Harrihan, New Orleans, LA to join the 79th Station Hospital
Sent to Camp Shanks, New York for debarkation to Africa
Left New York April 28, 1943
Served in Oran, Africa
Served in Algiers, Africa
June 1943 sent to Casablanca to join the 56th Station Hospital
Served in Marrakesh
Attained rank of Sergeant in charge of pharmacy
December 6, 1945 left Casablanca to return to US
Arrived Newport News, VA December 18, 1945
Transferred to Camp Gordon, Augusta, GA for release
Released from Service on December 23, 1945
Arrived home in Gainesville, GA December 26, 1945
I was proud to call him my Daddy.
People sometimes said I looked like him…my family says I sometimes act like him, at least in his obsessive compulsive ways.
He was always a hard worker. As a bivocational pastor he always worked a fulltime job and as a pastor at the same time. Most of you know that he did not drive, so someone always had to drive him. When Wayne became a legal driver, and later when I got my license, it was our job to take him visiting or to visit in the hospital. The trade off on our part was that he provided a car for us for our other uses as well. I learned a lot from him. I believe his influence was the greatest human one in my becoming a pastor and minister.
Two memories always burst in my mind. One was that he made the best corn bread I ever ate, at least until I ate Wayne’s! Daddy would put lots of bacon grease in it, and he always mixed it with his hands. As a boy I thought that was unsanitary, but I ate it anyway! I even wrote an article one time with my Daddy’s recipe for cornbread.
The other memory was of his fragrance. I remember as a boy getting in his bed and laying on his pillow. I can still remember my thinking that that was what a man smelled like…Old Spice mixed with a little sweat.
In his later year Pop developed Alzheimer’s disease. His life and all of ours changed. One of my friends said that Alzheimer’s was the only illness where you lost your loved one twice…once from the loss of their memories and once from physical death. I remember Mamew telling me one time that Pop was sometimes afraid of the dark, and that she would lay in bed holding him until he went to sleep. When he became bedfast and he had to be fed and changed, he always seemed a little embarrassed that someone had to do so much for him. When I was with him it was always painful for me that he did not know who I was…his own baby boy.
But all that is over now. Pop is in a better place than we are. His body is not weak any longer. His memory is perfect now. The people who greeted him in Heaven are ones who love him, just as we loved him on earth. I am absolutely positive that one day I will see my Daddy again in Heaven.
MILITARY SERVICE
DOB: 1/8/1923
Left Gainesville for Fort McPherson, Atlanta, 11/18/1942
Sent to Camp Barkeley, Texas to train for medical corp.
Sent to William Beaumont General Hospital, El Paso, Texas
Sent to Camp Harrihan, New Orleans, LA to join the 79th Station Hospital
Sent to Camp Shanks, New York for debarkation to Africa
Left New York April 28, 1943
Served in Oran, Africa
Served in Algiers, Africa
June 1943 sent to Casablanca to join the 56th Station Hospital
Served in Marrakesh
Attained rank of Sergeant in charge of pharmacy
December 6, 1945 left Casablanca to return to US
Arrived Newport News, VA December 18, 1945
Transferred to Camp Gordon, Augusta, GA for release
Released from Service on December 23, 1945
Arrived home in Gainesville, GA December 26, 1945
Significant Event, June 7, 2009
It occurred to me that some significant events occurred between my last posts in 2008 and the restart in 2012. One of the MOST significant was the birth of my granddaughter, the Princess, Claire Elizabeth Brown. Claire is truly a princess with a mind and will of her own...Stubborn as a mule at times. She was born June 7, 2009, one week before the death of my daddy, Charlie Harper on June 14, 2009. Claire and Jake are true blessings to us. I know why people say, "If I had known grandchildren were this much fun I would have had them first!" I also know that grandparents are no match for the energy of grandchildren! It is good to be with them, but sometimes it is good to see them go home!
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