Button Gwinnett died on May 19, 1777 of a gunshot wound received in a duel with Lachlan McIntosh.
Georgia ratified the Twelfth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which governs voting for President and Vice President on May 19, 1804.
The Battle of Spotsylvania ended on May 19, 1864. In Georgia, the Affair at Cassville occurred on May 19, 1864.
The Rubik’s Cube is 41 years old today.
When, in the spring of 1974, Ernő Rubik, a Hungarian professor of design, invented his eponymous cube, he had no idea that it would become one of the world’s best-selling toys. Nor did he envision that it would impact fields as diverse as science, art, and design – the subject of “Beyond Rubik’s Cube”, an exhibit at the Liberty Science Center, in Jersey City, New Jersey, that opened 26 April to celebrate the puzzle’s 40th anniversary. And he certainly couldn’t have imagined that, one day, his puzzle would be at the center of a competitive sport in which the top performers can re-solve it in less time than it takes to read this sentence aloud.
The first Rubik’s Cube competitions began in the early 1980s and were largely a promotional affair that vanished with the collapse of the initial fad for the puzzle. But in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Internet allowed hobbyists around the world to find each other and run competitions of their own. More than 1,700 competitions have taken place in 66 countries since the 2004 founding of the World Cube Association, a governing body modeled after FIFA, the arbiter of international soccer. (Unlike, soccer, however, there is no qualification for any of these tourneys, including the World Championship: anyone can sign up.)
On May 19, 1977, “Smokey and the Bandit” was released.
President Barack Obama delivered the commencement address at Morehouse College on May 19, 2013.
A recent article in the Covington News about two brothers who served in the Nacy during WWII led to the children of two veterans who served on the same ship getting in touch.
Georgia Politics
Last week, Governor Deal appointed members to the Georgia Commission on Medical Cannabis, created under House Bill 1. Members include State Senators Renee Unterman, and Butch Miller, State Reps. Allen Peake, and Katie Dempsey. Also named to the Commission were Paulding County Sheriff Gary Gulledge and Covington Police Chief Stacey Cotton.
The Georgia Commission on Medical Cannabis was created by a law passed this session allowing people with certain medical conditions to legally possess cannabis oil in-state with their doctors’ approval.
“I am honored that Governor Deal appointed me to the Medical Cannabis Commission,” Cotton said. I know that the task before this commission is a very important one for the State of Georgia and I gladly accept this challenge. I will work hard to represent the City of Covington, the Covington Police Department and my colleagues in Law Enforcement who are looking for clear direction in the administration of this newly enacted legislation.”
The commission must submit a report by the end of the year.
Rep. Allen Peake, chief sponsor of the bill, will Chair the Commission.
Peake said the panel he’s leading is different than a traditional study committee, since it has a specific mandate: What’s the best infrastructure or delivery system model for medical cannabis in Georgia?
The law that authorized the legal possession of cannabis oil in Georgia “was a very good first step, but we still have an access problem,” Peake said Friday afternoon.
Given the “wide field of talent” on the commission, he said, “I’m looking forward to lots of valuable input.”
For now, 34 states have some kind of provision for medical cannabis, and “there’s a wide variety of infrastructure” out there, the lawmaker said.
The Georgia commission will look at “what’s been done and what’s been successful” in other states.
It’s crucial, he said, that Georgia have a “safe product … that’s very well regulated.”
He added, “I think we can learn from other states’ successes and failures.”
At least two Muscogee County Board of Education members are advocating that the school system roll back the millage rate, and the people said “Amen!.”
Mark Cantrell [] urged his fellow board members at last week’s work session to set the millage rate at the rollback level instead of keeping it at 23.37, where it has been for 18 straight years.
Cantrell said only two of the more than 300 folks who contacted him are against his proposal. And another school board member expressed support, noting county voters in March passed the referendum to renew the 1 percent Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, which will return July 1 and last for five years or until $192,185,000 is collected.
“I want to go on record that I’m in favor,” said District 2 representative John Thomas. “We just had a $192 million SPLOST tax increase approved by the electorate. It’s time we show the taxpayers we do appreciate their support. … It would show the taxpayers of Muscogee County that the school board doesn’t stand here with their hand out 365 days a year.”
As he did last week, District 8 representative Frank Myers also said he supports a rollback.
The ports of Savannah and Brunswick continue on track for another record year while setting another monthly record.
The Georgia Ports Authority handled 2.84 million tons of total cargo in April, a month that saw a whopping 335,900 cargo containers move through the Port of Savannah — an increase of nearly 26 percent from April 2014. That’s the most tonnage and container volume Georgia ports have ever seen in a single month, and March was almost as busy.
Curtis Foltz, the port authority’s executive director, said he’s “pretty comfortable” that the fiscal year ending June 30 will exceed milestones reached last year when annual tonnage hit a record 29 million tons and Savannah handled 3.1 million containers of imports and exports.
“A new record year for us, on top of an unbelievable year last year, it’s pretty spectacular,” Foltz said following the authority’s monthly board meeting Monday.
Savannah has the fourth-busiest container port in the U.S. and is second only to the combined Port of New York and New Jersey on the East Coast.
Bulk goods such as iron and steel imports at Savannah were strong in April along with exports through the Port of Brunswick of wood pellets used to fuel overseas power plants. Brunswick also set a new monthly record for automobile shipments, handling 77,574 units in April.
Gwinnett and Hall County saw 75 newly-naturalized citizens take the oath of allegiance this weekend.
Former United State Senator Saxby Chambliss spoke to a joint meeting of Kiwanis and Rotary clubs in Cobb County.
“I don’t think there’s anything we can do that ultimately will keep Iran from going nuclear,” he said. “Their leaders were the ones making the IEDs that were sent into Iraq that were killing our kids and blowing off their arms and legs. And (now) we’re saying we’re going to forget about that even though it just happened, and it’s still happening in Afghanistan? And we’re going to try to strike an agreement and trust them to do what they say they’re going to do? I don’t understand the attitude of the White House on this. There are things we can do to slow their production, but to think we can enter an agreement with them that will be meaningful long-term? We’re kidding ourselves.”
Obama is “desperate” to sign such a deal as part of his legacy, Chambliss said, “but ultimately Iran will break it.”
“This situation bodes well for helping Iran get that weapon — and I can tell you the Israelis are not going to let it happen.”
The Hall County Board of Education approved a school redistricting plan, according to the Gainesville Times, while the Gainesville City Council is set to approve its 2016 budget and set millage rates tonight.
City of Newnan Utilities will spend $2 million on relocating water lines.
The City of Mount Zion has a new charter after Gov. Deal signed House Bill 468 last week.
Improving revenue led Decatur County School Superintendent Dr. Fred Rayfield to praise “the best set of numbers I have seen in 10 years.”
The proposed budget would leave the system with a $5.47 million ending fund balance and includes, the second consecutive year, no furlough days for faculty and staff. For the first time in several years, this budget includes revenues that exceed expenses and will not cause the system to make up any shortfalls from fund balance reserves.
Dalton City Council Members voted to issue $10 million in new bonds for high school repairs and upgrades.
A class action lawsuit filed in federal court alleges that Cherokee County, along with Sheriff Roger Garrison, systematically denied bond to individuals arrested on bench warrants. Epic lawyerese in the motion.
Attorney Carver DeBord, who was representing Davis in the 2013 criminal case, filed a motion in State Court this past February to recall the bench warrant. In the motion, DeBord stated that his client “possessed spirit and determined to test her mettle by living in a tent on Yellow Creek, suffered losses from a calamitous flood that washed away her wash tub and most of her clothing.” It also states that the flood washed away her vehicle.
The motion goes on to say that Davis “would have appeared if the Good Lord had been willing and the creek had not risen.
Even More Special Elections and Indictments
Roswell City Council member Betty Price will run in the July 14, 2015 Special Election for the House District 48 seat vacated by the death of Rep. Harry Geisinger, according to Neighbor Newspapers.
The district includes part of Sandy Springs. Price’s term on the council ends Dec. 31.
“For over 10 years Rep. Geisinger ably served our area,” said Price, a Republican whose husband Tom is the District 6 U.S. representative. “The 48th District consists of individuals and families concerned about the future of our great state. Having served more than five years on the Roswell City Council, I’ve worked energetically to further responsible growth, serving constituents and advocating for their needs. I’m passionate about trying to affect transparent, common-sense decisions in the Legislature.”
In Savannah, Chatham County Probate Court Chief Clerk/Court Administrator Kim Birge was indicted for allegedly stealing more than $700,000 from the court.
Barrow County will hold a Special Election September 15, 2015 to fill a County Commission vacancy created after Commissioner Steve Worley was indicted by the Feds for alleged bribery while Worley headed the Monroe Public Works Department.
The City of Auburn has three candidates in a June 16, 2015 Special Election for City Council.
Four Decatur County Sheriff’s Deputies face trial next week after federal indictments for allegedly beating a citizen.
Welcome Home: from Real War to Nerf War
Nearly 150 Air Force reservists are returning to Georgia after deployment in Afghanistan.
After nearly five months deployed in the Middle East, where they primarily supported troops stationed in Afghanistan, about 65 reservists flew home to Dobbins at about noon Monday.
About 150 reservists stationed at Dobbins flew out on four C-130s on Jan. 8, and half of them returned Monday. The other half will return today, said Lt. Col. James Wilson, spokesman for Dobbins.
Master Sgt. Matthew Prater, of Powder Springs, said he didn’t have any plans for his first night at home in five months with his wife, Lizette, and two sons Luke, 8, and Wes, 6.
However, Wes said he had plans his father didn’t know about yet.
“We’re going to have a Nerf war,” Wes said.
Parade of Potential Presidents Persists
Ohio Governor John Kasich will appear at the Walton County Republican Party Barbecue on Tuesday May 26th from 5 to 8 PM at 54 Nunnally Farm Road, Monroe Ga. 30655, by far the best GOP event of the year. Tickets for this event can be purchased from the county party web site, simply click on the PayPal button and pay (remember to print your receipt and bring it with you). Individual tickets are $15.00 and a table of 9 $180.00, this is for VIP seating, up front and personal.
Earlier that day, you can join Maggie’s List and the Fulton County Republican Party as they host Kasich for lunch from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM in the Heritage Room, Heritage Sandy Springs, 6110 Blue Stone Road, Sandy Springs, GA 30328.
Earlier this week, reports were widespread that Kasich is almost certain to announce a campaign for President.
John Kasich is “virtually certain” to jump into the race for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, sources close to the Ohio governor tell ABC News.
Kasich has said his wife and daughters have given him a green light to run and in recent days Kasich has told his political advisors to begin preparing for a likely campaign. Kasich travels to New Hampshire in early June and recently did a fundraising trip to California. If he makes the final decision to run, he will make the announcement in late June or July.
This would not be Kasich’s first presidential campaign. He ran for the 2000 republican presidential nomination but his campaign quickly fizzled out. At the time he was a republican Congressman from Ohio and chairman of the House Budget Committee.
Maybe he’ll announce while he’s in Georgia, or in South Carolina the next day.
Comments ( 0 )