MIRABEAU: What about the name of the road? (9.26.08)

A year ago, if you had told Mirabeau that today there would be no Lehman Brothers, no Merrill Lynch, no Bear Stearnes, no Freddie Mac and no Fannie Mae, Mirabeau would have asked what you had been smoking. And if such things can happen on Wall Street, Mirabeau should not be shocked about what is happening on Bill Heard Parkway. Which reminds Mirabeau. Will the name of the road now change?

Mirabeau notices that the Atlanta PR man hired by Bill Heard Enterprises, like Bill Heard Jr., is an Auburn grad. Alan Ulman’s firm, appropriately, specializes in crisis management.

On the subject of cars, Mirabeau is told another local dealer could be in trouble.

Columbus Body Works ought to share its wealth with Mirabeau. That company just completed a contract with the state to paint more than 230 Dodge Chargers for the Georgia State Patrol.

Mirabeau thought it was just in Muscogee County. But Ralph Johnson is not alone. Mirabeau is told there are contested sheriff’s races in 123 of Georgia’s 159 counties. Who knows? Mirabeau himself might run in four years.

Nothing funny happened on Coach Doug Branson’s way to the gym. Columbus State originally reported the recruitment of eight new players but some of them are missing. When Mirabeau checked the pre-season roster the men’s team is down to just nine players. And Mirabeau is sad to report he has no more eligibility.

Clay Aiken, gay? Don’t tell Mirabeau that. Next thing you know, someone will want Mirabeau to believe Elton John isn’t straight. And whatever became of the Village People?

Mirabeau reminds you that you can vote right now in the Nov. 4 election. One vote per customer, thank you.

By the way, Mirabeau is dressed in black as he writes this. If it can give the Georgia football more energy to go black, maybe it'll perk up Mirabeau.

Mirabeau hears Gov. Sonny Perdue might be involved with Warner Robins becoming a finalist in the contest to become Little League baseball’s southeastern headquarters. If he did, Mirabeau thinks that is taking Houston County pride a bit far.

Frank Brown became President Emeritus of Columbus State University at Thursday’s convocation and in Mirabeau’s opinion that is a fitting symbol to the end of CSU’s 50th year celebration. Now Mirabeau hopes Dr. Brown will find time to sit down and talk so he can explain to Mirabeau what a President Emeritus does every day.

Mirabeau is already tired of the clutter of political yard signs. Mirabeau sees it every election cycle. Election Day is Nov. 4 and on Dec. 4 scores of faded, tattered signs will still be stuck in the ground all over town. Mirabeau agrees with a friend who suggests candidates be fined for every sign still standing on Dec. 1. Ten dollars a sign sounds good to Mirabeau.