Happy happy birthday Rita Baby
Notasulga and Macon and Surrounding Counties Interest Items
Macon and Lee Counties TEA Parties
Macon County residents no longer have to travel to Auburn, Wetumpka or Montgomery for our collective voice to be heard. The Macon County TEA Party Chapter will meet at 6 pm on July 15th in Elmer's Restaurant on Hwy 14 with State Senator Ted Little as the invited speaker. Senator Little's Republican opponent, Tom Whately, spoke during our June meeting. Come out and meet the Senator, certainly if you live in Senate District 27.
An outstanding reference to TEA Party activities nationwide is the TeaPartyPatriots and East Alabama and West Georgia TEA Parties. Please visit Our Redneck Stock Exchange.
Looking at the contents of this link Alabama State Legislator Scorecard may give you an idea how your Macon and Lee County Representatives have been doing in Montgomery. Learning more of your legislators and the candidates will help you cast a confident vote in the November 2010 elections.
Macon County People Against a Littered State (PALS)
Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting several very dedicated Macon County PALS volunteers. These volunteers will go to 
almost any limit for the cleanliness of our streets and communities, including stepping up when our county government, sheriff, and the judicial system fail to help keep our roadways free of litter and hazards and attractive to interested businesses. These volunteers are frequently seen picking up trash along our streets, vacant lots, and streams not only for appearance sake but health and safety reasons as well. While young and senior citizens are braving the elements picking up trash we have Macon County prisoners permitted to sit on their butts, while we feed and provide shelter and health and dental care for them. Prisoners dressed in orange jump suits can be seen picking up trash in Lee County throughout the year. Lee County officials hold their litterers responsible for their actions and utilize prisoners to clean their streets while Macon County is unable to do so. To describe some of our road right-aways as filthy is an understatement.
UPDATE: April 17th As part of the Macon County clean up my daughter-in-law, two of my grandchildren, and I picked up 9 tires and 11 bags of garbage along Hwy 54 West in less than 1/2 mile stretch. Less than 10 minutes after we finished and before we could properly dispose of this road litter at least 3 soda bottles were along part of the highway we just cleaned. Only TRASH litters.
Macon County
Macon County Commissioners Office: 334-724-2557. Chairman Louis Maxwell, District 1 Commissioner Miles Robinson, District 2 Commissioner Albert Daniels, District 3 Commissioner Andrew "Drew" Thompson, and District 4 Commissioner Robert "Mike" Berry
County government meetings are the second Monday of every month at 6:30 p.m. The County workshop sessions are the Thursday before each County meeting at 10:30 a.m. Both meetings are in the County Chambers across the street from the County Court in Tuskegee.
- City of Franklin - 334-727-2111
- City of Notasulga - 334-257-1454
- City of Shorter - 334-727-9190
- City of Tuskegee - 334-720-0515
City of Notasulga
- Demographics
- Emergencies: 911
- Macon County Sheriff: 334-727-2500
- Police Department: 334-257-3444
- Fire Department: 334-257-3444
- City Hall: 334-257-1454
- School: 334-257-3510
- Post Office: 334-257-3939
- Businesses
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- Auburn Bank, Notasulga branch: 334-257-1613
- Carmacks Grocery - "Drive a little Save a lot": 334-257-3441
- Citizens Hardware: 334-257-3169
- HandiRoy's Handyman Service - "No job too small": 334-257-1717 or cell 334-319-6762. I have known Roy for many years. His work is professional and prompt, including crawling into a cold and damp space beneath my house to repair a frozen water line so we may turn our water back on. Give him a chance to submit an estimate. He is a part of our community and supports Notasulga as a volunteer fireman.
- Hughes Auto Parts: 334-257-3826
- Humphries Electric LLC, Residential and Commercial Electrical, state licensed and insured. 334-750-2546 and email
- MHC Enterprises, small engine repair, 10 Tallapoosa St., Notasulga. 334-740-2614
- Pumphouse Cafe: 334-257-1309
- Ron's Appliance Service and used sales and parts - 334-502-0081. His store is in Auburn yet makes prompt, professional, and very reasonable service calls to Notasulga. I know!
- Steve Martin, licensed Realtor, (334)703-3413 and email
- Talleecon Farmers Co-op: 334-257-3930
- Willie Toney's Tae Kwon Do: 334-257-1714
Macon County Planning Ordinance
This is not to be taken lightly. Why is this commission working so hard and with such intensity?
The Ordinance Preamble reads "An ordinance, in pursuance of the authority granted by Act no. 2001-562 enacted by the Legislature of Alabama, May 2001 to provide for the establishment of districts within Macon County, Alabama: to regulate within such districts the height, number of stories, and size of buildings and other structures, the percentage of lot that may be occupied, the size of yards and other open spaces, the density of population and the use of buildings, structures, and land, and to provide methods of administration of this ordinance and penalties for the violation thereof."
I am sure you know who this legislation is to benefit. The Planning Commission and Macon County through collection of unnecessary fees. There is no benefit for me in being told how I may use my property for legal activities. There are laws on the books not fully enforced now so why have more laws and bureaucratic growth at a time when Macon County is experiencing financial belt tightening.
If you do not want to give up your rights to freely use your property then do not sign a petition being taken door to door here in Macon County and should it get on a ballot vote NO or give up your property rights and continue paying ad valorum taxes.
2010 Election Candidates
Registered to vote in the run-off on July 13th? If not, you are missing out on having your say in our local and state governments. You may register at your County Probate Office up to July 2, last day to make application for an absentee ballot is July 8, and July 12 is the last day for voter to hand-deliver or postmark an absentee ballot.
Allied Women has provided a handy and very informative voter guide as a resource to make an informed decision about the candidates for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General. An attempt was made to send questionnaires to all of the candidates. Responses were received from those listed in this PDF document.
Legislator scorecard.
A polite and current reminder from the Montgomery Advertiser of these legislators who voted themselves that hefty 61% pay raise as their first piece of business during their 2007 session: Representatives George Bandy, Billy Beasley, Betty Graham, L. Vance, and Pebblin Warren and Senators Ted Little and Myron Penn raising their legislative pay to above $50K which is higher than our median household income of $36K. Even worse - ourlegislators serve us only PART TIME three months out of a year. Got one for ya - they are making the equivalent to over $150,000 a year.
Over the past few months I have gotten to speak and learn from and about James Thrash, a conservative running for Circuit Court Judge - Place 2 for Lee County. "Bubba" would receive my vote if I lived within the Place 2. Give it up, and vote, for James Thrash on July 13, 2010. Remember you can register to vote in this run-off up to July 2nd. Absentee voting registration can be done through July 8th.
Macon County School Board
Place 3
- Mary Hooks, long-time Macon County educator - elected, unopposed in November general election
Place 4
- Karey Thompson of Notasulga - elected, unopposed in November general election
Macon County Sheriff
- Incumbent David Warren - re-elected, unopposed in November general election
Macon County Coroner
- Hal E. Bentley, incumbent of 24 years - re-elected, unopposed in November general election
District 82 State Legislature
Alabama's Legislative Process, revised 2009 One provision of our Legislative Process provides for "Members of the Legislature are privileged from arrest and service of civil process while attending or going to or from a legislative session, except in cases of treason, felony, violation of their oath of office, or breach of peace. Any remarks made in a speech or debate on the floor of either house by a member cannot be questioned in any other place." So much for law abiding legislators and governmental transparency.
District 82 covers Macon County and parts of Bullock and Lee Counties
- Representative Pebblin Warren of Tuskegee re-elected, unopposed in November general election
District 28 State Senate
NAACP forum in Tuskegee on 20Apr2010 - my notes
Eufaula Barbour County Chamber of Commerce and Leadership Barbour Alumni Association in Eufaula on 6May2010 - my notes.
Alabama Retired State Employees' Association Forum for the two Democrat candidates in the Senate District 28 contest, Mayor Johnny Ford and Representative Billy Beasley - my notes
Alabama's Legislative Process, revised 2009 One provision of our Legislative Process provides for "Members of the Legislature are privileged from arrest and service of civil process while attending or going to or from a legislative session, except in cases of treason, felony, violation of their oath of office, or breach of peace. Any remarks made in a speech or debate on the floor of either house by a member cannot be questioned in any other place." So much for law abiding legislators and governmental transparency.
District 28, a more detailed map, covers all of Barbour, Bullock, Henry, and Macon Counties and parts of Lee and Russell Counties.
- Dr. Kim West DVM (R), President of Republican Women of East Alabama, small business owner of All Creatures Veterinary Clinic in Auburn, AL. Facebook. Read Kim's responses to the Eagle Fourm questionaire on family, sanctity of life, state government, immigration, education, and property rights issues. Hands down my choice in November. Go out of your way to introduce yourself to Kim or listen to her speak - you can not help but come away impressed. A Tuskegee news reporter and our sheriff informed me how impressed they were after meeting her - both are Democrats! Kim is not a politician but a "problem solver." Instrumental in establishing local TEA Party Chapters, including the newly formed Macon County TEA Party Chapter. "We have to plan for a smaller, more efficient state government that facilitates the growth of family businesses and local economy with a political environment that promotes capitalism. This is what we demand from our government. I have sought this as a business owner, promoted this at tea parties, and now look forward to addressing these demands as a state senator," stated Dr. West. Her campaign is supported solely from a grass roots level - my kind of campaign. We need to support Kim through the Alabama political machines.
- Representative Billy Beasley (D) Clayton, Barbour County. Pharmacist. Pro bingo - spoke at bingo rally on capital steps. The only candidate of 8 invited to the 20Apr10 forum in Tuskegee who did not show. Per The Tuskegee News 29Apr10 since 2010 campaign season began Beasley has received nearly $60K from 20 PAC, including $2K from SIX PAC, $10K from Environmental Campaign Fund PAC, $1K from BIZ PAC. As a member of the House Health Committee he along with Representatives Locy Baker and Warren ignored the desire of the citizens of Alabama and the favorable vote by the Senate to permit us to vote on our healthcare in SB233.
District 5 Positions
- Incumbent Ray D. Martin, District 5 Judge, encompassing Randolph, Chambers, Tallapoosa, and Macon Counties.
- Incumbent E. Paul Jones, District 5 Attorney serving Randolph, Chambers, Tallapoosa, and Macon Counties. Montgomery Advertiser reported 5Mar2010 on-line, Jones traded several contentious letters and e-mails with Riley and John Tyson, who heads the governor's Task Force on Illegal Gambling on Thursday about his decision to seek a declaratory judgment on the legality of bingo machines at VictoryLand. "I'm going to file for a declaratory judgment, and we'll just let a judge decide," he said. "The Alabama Supreme Court has to decide anyway, and when I file it with the Macon County Circuit Court, it will end up with the Alabama Supreme Court, and it will be over."
State Board of Education
Public Service Commission
Place 1
- Twinkle Cavanaugh (R)
- Jan Cook (D)
Place 2
- Terry Dunn (R)
- Susan Parker (D)
Commissioner of Agriculture
- John McMillan (R)
- Glen Zorn (D), incumbent Assistant Commissioner of Agriculture
Attorney General
- James Anderson (D) Run-off July 13, 2010
- Luther Strange (R)
Secretary of State
- Beth Chapman (R), incumbent
- James Gilliland (D)
State Auditor
- Miranda Karrine Joseph (D)
- Samantha Shaw (R)
State Treasurer
- Young Boozer (R) State Finance Department Official - the state has a moral obligation to honor PACT contracts. Most of his career has been in banking in New York, Los Angeles, and Alabama, including 22 years with Colonial Bank
- Charley Grimsley (D), Ex-State Conservation Commission, former Fayette County School Board Member
Criminal Court of Appeals
- Kelli Wise (R) incumbent and seeking re-election
State Supreme Court
The Alabama League of Women Voters Education Fund has released online a nonpartisan voter guide about candidates running the the Alabama appellant courts in the statewide June 1, 2010 primary.
Place one
- Rhonda Chambers (D)
- Kelli Wise (R)
Place two
- Tom Edwards (D)
- Michael Bolin (R), incumbent
Place three
- Tom Parker (R), incumbent
- Mac Parsons (D)
Lieutenant Governor
- Jim Folsom Jr (D), incumbent - was instrumental in passing the infamous 62.5% pay raise the State Legislature approved for themselves in 2007. His selected hearing loss aided its passage and again manifested itself again during the state wide grass roots effort of getting HB322 to the floor for discussion. He should pay up.
- Kay Ivey (R) incumbent State Treasurer. Will open government to the citizens of Alabama. Ivey does not support legalizing any aspect of the gambling industry. "Never fund an essential part of the government with an unstable source of money." Her core issue is jobs. She brings years of state experience including budgeting and reform. Chairman of the board that oversees the Alabama Prepaid College Tuition program. While in Opelika Ivey asked "Why do we want the federal government to manage health care with the efficiency they manage the postal service and the compassion of the Internal Revenue Service?" Ivey wants to recruit diversified business of all sizes to the state and have a well trailed work force to support Alabama businesses. "We learned our lesson with the textile mills." Wants to create a cabinet position for work force development. Ivey was in attendance at the first National TEA Party Convention in Nashville.
Governor
- Physician and State Representative Robert Bentley (R) As Governor - will mandate online reporting of all expenses by lobbyists on every state public official for complete transparency in regard to how much money is spent on each individual public official and of all state spending and revenues. Wants to establish a tuition-assistance program called Alabama Health Service Corps to help alleviate Alabama's shortage of primary care physicians. Voted NO on HB189, Charter Schools, while in House Committee on Education Appropriations, thereby killing it in committee. Directly from his web site "On February 10, 2010 I voted to indefinitely postpone consideration of the charter school bill because it was inadequate and needed improvement." Will not take a salary for Governor until normal unemployment, generally about 5 to 6%, is obtained. Other platform points.
- Ron Sparks (D), Alabama Agriculture Commissioner is in favor of regulating and taxing the gambling industry and shows caution with the current discussion on magnet schools and their sustainability after federal dollars disappear. "If the people of Alabama want to expand gambling in Alabama, then I am the governor that would do that," who also favors a state lottery. Supports the Legislature rewriting our out dated state constitution - not the people - to prevent outside influence and raising of taxes. Per The Montgomery Advertiser he "has been the most outspoken gubernatorial candidate on expanding gambling."
Third Congressional District
- Congressman Mike Rogers (R), incumbent. Supportive of our military and veterans. He has an extremely capable and helpful staff, in particular Ms. Cunningham of the Opelika Office.
- Steve Segrest (D), Realtor. 2002 Sec of State candidate
U. S. Senate
- William G. Barnes (D), Attorney and Vietnam War Veteran
- Richard Shelby (R), incumbent. Has only answered a small percentage of correspondence I sent him. I finally gave up expecting a reply. Voted in favor of 2010 Omnibus bill, a massive federal spending program full of pork! One telephone conversation to his Washington DC office produced a young lady who tried her best to convince me that federal assistance was necessary for the post office, as they were asking. Which leads me to believe Senator Shelby feels this way. I am opposed to federally bailing out the post office.
Items of concern for 2011 Legislative Session
- Any type of Ethics Reform - inasmuch our Legislators in previous sessions have been unable to pass any form of Ethics Reform any work in this direction will be a major improvement and a willingness to walk the talk of bipartisan politics. Take a look at Representative Mike Ball's HB826 and HB201 from the 2010 session. HB826 has already introduced the bill for the 2011 session. Initiative and Referendum, HB201, has been before our Legislature for seven sessions and not once got out of committee. 'Sez sum'in to me like it is too good for the citizens and therefore distasteful and threatening for the Legislators.
- Primary voting - remove restrictions of choosing one party. Enable us to vote for candidates from both parties. It is the state, as compared to the parties, who must cough up the money for primaries - and WE are the state.
Alabama Political Sites
- Alabama Policy Institute's Alabama Right to Know, hands down is my favorite. You must see it for yourself. A brief description would not provide the sites' content and navigation justice.
- Ballotpedia is an interactive almanac of state politics
- Bullock County Press
- Freedom Works
- Votesmart.org has a handy tool where an elected official's voting record is listed within specific categories.
- GovTrack provides a means to research through convenient filters on what our Congress is doing - or has done (to us)
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