Thanksgiving will be upon us, dripping in fat and calories, in just a few days, so it's time to hand out the 2009 Turkey of the Year awards to the lucky folks who have earned them with bird-brained carryings-on this year.

You might think it's amazing that some big companies are competing for something you flush down your toilet every day.

The topic of the week is money and how your local government and school system plan to pick your pocket again one way or another.

Well, I guess it's sort of my duty to write about Tuesday's election, although I'm just about sick of it, even though it might be the most important thing that happens in Augusta this year.

The resignations of Don Snell, the president and chief executive officer of MCG Health Inc.; and Don Leebern, the chairman of the MCG Health Inc. board, signal big changes in medical college and hospital governance in Augusta, according to insiders and local elected officials.

On the campaign trail in Augusta, the Joe Biden award goes to Bill Lockett , the big man running for the District 5 seat on the Augusta Commission.

The political pulse of Augusta quickened a little last week, as candidates for city commission and school board seats in the Nov. 3 election expounded on issues such as crime, race relations and, of course, the trade, exhibit and event center.

Augusta Commissioner Betty Beard can't believe the FBI is investigating her for asking a developer to write a check for $20,000 to pay for a gastric bypass that probably saved the life of a city employee.

Since Operation Bypass had its roots in a 5-year-old donation, there are some other donations even older than that the sheriff could look into.

The big whoop in Augusta politics last week was over a $25,000 donation -- some call it a bribe -- that a developer who wanted to renovate the Maxwell House Apartments downtown made to the city five years ago.

Last week takes the cake for bizarre news in the Augusta area. Popular and well-respected businessman Jay Weinberger kills himself during a police chase in Putnam County, hauling a stolen concessions trailer; attorney David Fry is arrested for trying to bribe city Commissioners Alvin Mason and Corey Johnson to vote for the trade, exhibit and event center; and a 90-year-old Saluda, S.C., man is buried in his 1972 Pontiac Catalina, the latter giving us the ...

The warden threw a party in the county jail. The prison band was there and they began to wail. The band was jumpin' and the joint began to swing. You should've heard those knocked out jailbirds sing.

Augusta Commissioner Calvin Holland might seem like a tough guy, but he's really an old softie.