A ringing concern takes backseat in lively debate

A discussion on cell phones and bomb threats was sidetracked at a Thursday school board meeting by a difference in terminology.

Richmond County school trustee Kenneth Echols said a motion to ban cell phones in student vehicles was an overreaction to the bomb threats.

"What we are doing is that we are reacting to the problems of a few punks," he said.

Johnny Hatney, a school trustee and local minister, seemed bewildered.

"What is your definition of the word 'punk'?" Dr. Hatney asked.

"A punk is somebody who, in my mind, doesn't really care about an education, who wants to always cause trouble in the schools," Mr. Echols said. "What is your definition of punk?"

"I can't tell right now," Dr. Hatney said.

Scratching the post: At a recent work session, Columbia County Commissioner Lee Anderson said he's been getting questions about county purchases. The county, he noted, recently purchased about 17 acres of land behind the Kroger in Evans for $3.9 million.

"But," he added, "we get 92 cats, and it almost breaks us."

He was referring to a case in which the county's Animal Care and Control Department took public donations after seizing 92 cats from a Martinez home.

GOOD-NATURED RIBBING: The Richmond County Board of Health was getting a presentation Tuesday about landscaping at its new clinic under construction in south Augusta.

As a staff member stood at the head of the conference table and began pointing out the features on an architectural drawing held up by real estate consultant F.A. Johnson, only Mr. Johnson's eyes and the top of his head were visible.

"F.A., you're looking better," board member John Bell cracked. "Raise it up a little more."

The board had better show Mr. Johnson a little love, however. The construction is on schedule and under budget so far.

Much ado about must-do list: Augusta City Administrator Fred Russell, an ex-police officer and jail administrator, has the unique ability to blend the gruff with the subservient when he addresses his ultimate masters, the Augusta Commission.

But that didn't keep him from bantering with Commissioner Bobby Hankerson during a work session Thursday aimed at setting a "must-do" list of projects for the next special purpose local option sales tax package, slated to appear in a November referendum.

"Is a convention center on your 'must-do' list?" Mr. Hankerson asked.

"It's not on my 'must-do' list; it may be on yours," Mr. Russell said. "I'm trying not to get killed here."

Rough estimate: Bill Kuhlke, the former Augusta super district commissioner who heads the subcommittee overseeing the judicial center project, now says the proposed building, slated for a site at Walton Way and James Brown Boulevard, will now cost about $80 million, roughly $6 million more than previously predicted.

That doesn't sit well with Mayor Bob Young and Commissioner Andy Cheek, who both want to slap a cap on costs.

"They've tried to design this based on what everybody wants instead of what we can afford," Mr. Cheek said.

Don't kill the messenger, Mr. Kuhlke said.

"The only thing I can do is pass on to the commission what the professionals give to us. They can set any price on it they want to," he said.

Legal eagles save the day: Have you heard the one about two attorneys who ... practiced acts of kindness?

Kirk Gilliard was talking to a client in the holding area near a courtroom one afternoon when his law partner volunteered him for a unique pro bono job.

Two deaf people accused of forgery charges appeared before Judge J. Carlisle Overstreet for arraignment. No one in the packed courtroom knew sign language.

"Kirk does," Michael Garrett spoke out.

"I felt like a deer in the headlights," Mr. Gilliard said. But the sign language came back to him, and he was able to help the couple through the process.

Later in the afternoon, District Attorney Danny Craig popped into court. He had accidentally run into a Savannah man outside his office that afternoon who had been in town three days, being shuffled from one office to another.

Mr. Craig offered to help. Even though his office will probably prosecute the man's son on drug charges, Mr. Craig arranged for the father to meet with the public defender and then arranged for a bond hearing that afternoon.

Mr. Craig shrugged when asked about his good deed. He wanted to show that the system could run efficiently in Augusta, he said.

Staff writers Jim Nesbitt, Tom Corwin, Preston Sparks and Greg Rickabaugh contributed to this report.