Georgia Politics, Campaigns & Elections for May 24, 2013

Memorial Day Observances Begin

Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield soldiers began Memorial Day observances yesterday.

With her two young boys, Shanette Booker stood near the front of Fort Stewart’s chapel Thursday morning silently holding a lit candle.

Several Gold Star Families — who like the Bookers have lost a family member to conflict — joined dozens of Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield soldiers Thursday morning just ahead of Memorial Day to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

“This, for us, is a very big deal,” said Booker, whose husband Army Staff Sgt. Andre Booker died in August 2011 just after returning from a deployment to Afghanistan.

“It shows that the community still comes together to honor the fallen and that their memory isn’t just a memory, they’re still around, appreciated and their service is still honored.”

Although she attended the ceremony, held by the installation’s Survivor Outreach Services, last year, Booker did not bring her children, 10-year-old Delshawn and 9-year-old Dairrion because she didn’t think they were prepared.

This year, Booker said, she knew her boys fully understood the significance of Memorial Day.

“I asked if they know what Memorial Day is, and they both said this is the day that we honor all of the heroes that have died like Daddy,” she said. “Then my son made the comment that it’s not about parties. And I said, ‘No, it’s not about parties, and it’s not about time off; it’s about appreciating the freedom you have and appreciating those that gave that sacrifice for you to have those freedoms.’ I know they understand Memorial Day now.”

“For us, on Memorial Day it’s just so good to know that we take the time to recognize those that have made the ultimate sacrifice. It warms your heart to know that everybody in the country knows that this day is to recognize your sacrifice, your child’s sacrifice.”

Georgia observes Memorial Day

In 2013, Georgia lost 26 armed services members who gave their lives for us and their names were read in the State Capitol as part of our observance of Memorial Day..

“As Americans, we live in freedom each and every day, sometimes without a passing thought and often we take it for granted,” said Deal. “But when the soldiers we honor today forfeited their lives for us, they took us by the hand, placed it under the bloodstained stream of liberty and said, this is freedom.”

Falcons Fish with Veterans

Forty-four Atlanta Falcons players and coaches took 30 injured veterans fishing as part of their annual “Fishing with the Falcons” event at Lake Lanier.

Sgt. 1st Class Angel Sanchez Torres needed a break Wednesday.

After months of rehabilitation for injuries he suffered while in Iraq, including chronic post-traumatic stress disorder, the native of Puerto Rico and 18-year Army veteran was able to escape from his reality for a few hours during the sixth annual Fishing with the Falcons at the Lanier Harbor Marina on Lake Lanier.

The event involved 44 players from the Atlanta Falcons, seven coaches and cheerleaders, paired with 30 wounded veterans — 15 from Fort Gordon and 15 from the Wounded Warrior Project from across the nation. The event featured four hours of fishing and food after the event.

“It’s a great opportunity to say thank you to our servicemen and women,” Falcons head coach Mike Smith said. “It’s a fun day for everyone and just a small token of our appreciation.”

Georgia Ports on Upswing

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed told the Savannah Economic Development Authority that the Savannah Harbor river deepening will happen and that President Obama broached the topic himself on a recent visit to Atlanta.

“With Atlanta’s world class airport and Savannah’s world class port, Georgia has the potential to become the logistics hub of the Western Hemisphere,” Reed said, noting that, as more obstacles are overcome, that vision comes closer to reality.

“So don’t be discouraged,” he said. “Let’s not get tired and miss the moment, y’all.

“This new spirit of cooperation over conflict will do more to end the notion of two Georgias than anything else.”

Subaru announced that it will begin importing cars for the Southeastern United States through the Port of Brunswick.

“It is significant that Brunswick is Subaru’s first port of entry in the Southeastern U.S.,” said Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Curtis Foltz. “The efficiency of service from the GPA and our partners in auto processing, as well as Brunswick’s speed to important markets, makes Georgia the smart choice for roll-on/roll-off cargo.”

The Japanese-based carmaker announced at a national dealer meeting that it will move 15,000 vehicles through Georgia annually. Models include the Forester, Crosstrek, Impreza, WRX STI and BRZ.

Columbus, Georgia More Awesome

The Whitewater Course through Columbus opens this weekend, with Class III rapids right in downtown.

The crescendo comes at the end, with the roar of a waterfall so loud that rafters on the Chattahoochee River whitewater course can hardly hear the orders their guides are shouting.

The rafts drop and buck, drop and buck, like a bull ride upon the plunging river channel, which cuts just feet away from a rock island below the old Eagle & Phenix Mill’s powerhouse, near the Chattahoochee RiverWalk’s 12th Street access.

That rapid, engineered with a mechanical “wave-shaper,” is the crowning glory of the whitewater course, even more of an adventure than “Cut Bait,” long the name of the companion rapid paralleling it on the river’s Phenix City side.

Rick McLaughlin of The McLaughlin Group that designed the course, thinks nothing beats it at high water — say around 13,000 cubic feet per second — the upper limit for rafting.

“Personally, I think the Georgia channel’s just awesome at 13,000,” he said this week. “It’s the funnest thing I’ve ever been in. It reminds me a lot of the Grand Canyon, except it doesn’t have the consequences. One guy in it when I was out there last said, ‘You just can’t come out of this channel without smiling.’ He’s right.”

Also, Columbus Business Environment Improving

Unemployment in Columbus hit the lowest level in five years, while the city was listed at number 45 of 380 for economics and job growth by the Area Development journal.

Among all Georgia communities, Gainesville was the closet to Columbus at No. 91 in the “Leading Locations for 2013” development rankings, with Savannah No. 144 and Atlanta No. 179. In Alabama, Mobile was No. 80 and the Auburn-Opelika, Ala., metro area No. 132.

“That workforce piece is critical. We really have improved in that area,” said Becca Hardin, executive vice president of economic development with the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce.

The rankings included various data, including in-migration of more educated workers, rising wage and salaries, per capita income and overall job creation. Columbus was No. 59 a year ago and ranked No. 91 overall in 2011.

“It’s evidence of what the leadership team has been doing to focus on economic development efforts,” said Hardin, the city’s lead business recruiter. “It’s really a little bit of everything. It’s what’s going on, I think, with the quality of life things that we’ve seen transform our area — with the RiverCenter, with Columbus State University, with whitewater. We’re seeing more people moving into the area.”

The Georgia metro area with the lowest unemployment rate was Athens at 5.6 percent, while the highest continues to be in Dalton at 10.2 percent.

Last week, the department reported that Georgia’s jobless rate in April was 8.2 percent.

Macon-Bibb County Mayoral Race

The consolidated Macon-Bibb County government will hold its first nonpartisan elections for Mayor and Commission on July 16 with runoff elections likely to be held August 13th.

Four of the six Mayoral candidates answered vote questions last night. A Town Hall forum for District 4 Commission candidates will be held June 6, 2013.

In Warner Robins, Chuck Chalk announced he will run for Mayor this year.

Chalk, 46, is the second to officially announce his intention to enter the Warner Robins mayoral race. Retired long-term city firefighter Randy Toms previously announced his bid. Qualifying for the November election is in August.