What about Phil Kent? — Kathryn Grant to Gov. Deal @ VSU 16 Sep 2011
Student protesters,
Press Conference, Gov. Nathan Deal (VSU),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 16 September 2011.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
Possibly the last thing Gov. Nathan Deal expected to find at Valdosta
State University greeted him: student protesters!
Their main question was about the impending Sept. 21st execution of
Troy Anthony Davis,
about whom Amnesty International says there is too much doubt.
Student protesters greet Governor Nathan Deal at Valdosta State University, 16 Sep 2011.
Pictures by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
Working on Eagle Scout badges @ LCC 13 September 2011
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 13 September 2011.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
Jane Osborn talked about two health issues:
the downside of coal mining,
and no institutions for mental health.
…also related to
the solar discussion that was begun yesterday,
I think a piece we don’t talk about very often
is the extraordinary negative side of coal mining.
We are taking the tops off of mountains in Appalachia,
leaving pristine streams clogged with the debris and the toxic waste of that.
So coal is not just the price you see that we pay for it.
Coal is seen in the price of people still dying of black lung,
every time a mine collapses, and every time another mountain
is taken down.
I would guess if they were taking mountains down in North Georgia,
we’d be fussing about it.
She said she has been a social worker for 33 years.
She said starting June the DBHDD there would be a new service
she recommended the county advertise on its website.
The extraordinary negative side of coal mining —Jane Osborn @ LCC 13 September 2011
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 13 September 2011.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
Dr. Noll made the case for the cost-effectiveness of solar energy
through, among other things, an analogy to finaninc buying a car.
First Dr. Noll thanked people who had supported
WACE’s anti-biomass work,
and hoped people had had time to read his recent LTE in the VDT,
Waste Not, Want Not.
Then he addressed Commissioner Raines’
comments of the previous day.
Dr. Noll pointed out that solar is
fast becoming less expensive
and with financing costs little more than a car or truck.
Solar is cost-effective —Dr. Noll @ LCC 13 September 2011
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 13 September 2011.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
Dan Bremer of the
Lake Park Chamber of Commerce talked about their
Exit Strategy, which encourages drives to exit I-75 and spend money
in Lowndes County.
He thanked two Lowndes County employees.
And he asked for some use of a prison detail for cleanup before
events in south Lowndes.
The Exit Strategy —Dan Bremer @ LCC 13 September 2011
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 13 September 2011.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
This is what the Lowndes County Commission wasted tax dollars on
yesterday evening: an ordinance not on the agenda, not read to the public,
still not
on the county’s online list of ordinances, and for no stated purpose.
We can guess from Commissioner Raines’ remarks that it has something
to do with videoing and photographing.
Maybe it has something to do with the previous day’s
outburst by Ashley Paulk aimed at a specific individual.
Who knows?
None of the public who came to that meeting know.
That’s what passes for transparent government in Lowndes County, Georgia.
Ordinance for no reason, not on the agenda, and not read to the public @ LCC 13 September 2011
Regular Session, Lowndes County Commission (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 13 September 2011.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
Here is the complete
playlist for yesterday’s (8 September 2011) Lowndes County Lunch and Learn,
in which County Manager Joe Pritchard reviewed the county’s budget process.
County Clerk Paige Dukes said she would also send the slides for posting.
County Manager Joe Pritchard presents the budget process
Lowndes County Lunch and Learn 8 September 2011
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange
Council Carroll made a motion to put the referendum on the ballot
and Council White seconded.
Yost, White, Norton, and Carroll voted for.
Wright and Vickers voted against.
The mayor then pointed out voters will have had to be registered for six months
to vote on this referendum in November, so if someone registered
tomorrow, they couldn’t vote in November.
(It’s not clear that this is actually true, but it is what he said.)
They all had more to say later in Council Comments.
5.a. Vote to put school consolidation referendum on ballot —Tim Carroll @ VCC 25 August 2011
petition, education, referendum,
Regular Session, Valdosta City Council (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 25 August 2011.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
Then they voted on the motion to deny.
Council White agonized over whether they were doing anything illegal.
They
split evenly 3 to 3:
Wright, White, and Vickers for denying, and
Yost, Norton, and Carroll against.
Since it was a tie, the Mayor got to vote.
First he made a statement, which included:
It started out in the least inclusive manner.
…
This seems forced to people who don’t want the city school system
and to a city school system which doesn’t want to cope with these
people right now.
And that’s unfair.
He suggested the legislature should handle it.
After all that, he voted against the motion to deny,
so the motion failed.
5.a. This seems forced —Mayor John Fretti @ VCC 25 August 2011
petition, education, referendum,
Regular Session, Valdosta City Council (LCC),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 25 August 2011.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.