More Ramblings

Last year, 2007, we attempted to start a tradition here in North Augusta. We wanted so badly to hold an annual North Augusta Department of Public Safety Appreciation Day. The 2007 event went off pretty well; plenty of food, door prizes and camaraderie, therefore the hope was for an even better event in 2008. Unfortunately that never came to be, for many reasons, but the main one was that the location closed. All this is leading to Johnny Shaw. Without his help and advice I do not think I could have pulled off that event. He worked hard helping me find people to donate food, drink and door prizes just as he worked hard making our hometown Kroger a special place to shop. He was very excited at the prospect of a new store, in fact his eyes lit up when he spoke of it to us but then someone came along who the powers that be thought could do a better job than the man who had run the store successfully for them for years. Someone younger or maybe better connected. Time and experience will tell as it always does and who knows, maybe they will see the error of their ways and Mr. Shaw will be back doing what he does so well; making customers happy while running a successful store.
Thank you Charley Britt. It seems your out-spoken opinions have stirred controversy and caused reactions in our community. That is what a good columnist should be doing instead of sticking to safe topics. As always there will be readers who will take what you write out of context, whether on purpose or of lack of knowledge, those same people who want to voice their own biased opinions will chastise you for what you write. A newspaper should, and The Star does, lend itself to points of view from all sectors. Unlike other newspapers The Star is not blatantly biased therefore it allows opinions from its columnist and its readers. Keep it up; it does not hurt to get people stirred up occasionally.
As you may have noticed Calhoun Park is undergoing renovation. Everyday I notice the amount of work that has been done and wonder what the plans for it may be. What appears to be irrigation ditches have been dug which is a good thing given the fact that we get very little rain these days. They must be in a hurry to get it done because they were even working on Saturday. When they first began it appeared as if they were pruning and reshaping the plants that were there but soon it became apparent that was not the case. It was a little disappointing that no attempt was made to salvage those plants and use them some place else; just prune them to the ground and destroy the roots. It will be nice to see color in that space assuming that is what they have planned.
Talk about sticker shock!! This week I was craving roasted chicken and fully intended to purchase one on my weekly trip to the store. Well, needless to say the purchase was not made due to the fact that whole chickens are close to $8.00. Chicken is not the only thing that skyrocketed in price as I am sure every one knows. Sometimes things go up a dollar a week until it is no longer sensible to make the purchase. Those that have get; those that don’t starve. What happens to the people who have a limited amount of income to spend on food?
We all know the law states that pedestrians have the right-of-way but don’t they have some responsibility to look after themselves and their children in a busy parking lot? Do they have the right to meander to their destinations without regard for anyone else? Are they not some what responsible for their own safety or do they have the right to walk into traffic or jam up a parking lot because they have no respect for anyone but themselves and whoever may be on the other end of the phone that may be glued to their ears?