All TRICK: no treat!!!

FLASH: This just in: Camden County flubs this week's payroll! Camden County employees - 100 % of them - got a nasty trick this Halloween. When employees or their spouses tried to make debit card purchases this afternoon, many were in for a shock. It turns out that for some as yet unknown reason, NOT ONE SINGLE county employee's check made it to their banks under the direct deposit program this week. It will be interesting to see if local banks will waive the overdraft fees. If not, it is only right that the county should pay them, along with explanatory letters to anyone who received a bad check from a county employee. This will probably be a computer glitch or a human error on the computer. I would not be surprised if it turns out to be somehow related to the CCSO not being paid this week. Update (maybe): 11.01.08 @ 1227 HRS. This just showed up on TOPIX, Kingsland 30 minutes ago. just me Saint Marys, GA Reply » Report Abuse Judge it! #2 29 min ago lets nip this in the bud now.it wasnt the county it was the treasury dept and southeastern bank. the county worked diligently all day yesterday to correct this.also they were open this morning along with the bank to assist employees "Just me," I would be very surprised if you do not follow my blog as well. Perhaps you would be so kind as to come on here in the comments section and expand upon your rather cryptic explanation and dismissal. By "the treasury dept.", may we assume correctly that you are referring to the U.S. Department of the Treasury? If so, could you explain the relationship between the U.S. Treasury and the Camden County, GA payroll? My heretofore 100% reliable source assured me that it was all checks to all banks, not just Southeastern. Where did you get your information? I certainly hope that the problem has indeed been corrected, as you suggest

The True Skinny:

11/01/08, 1525 HRS : I just got off of the phone with Camden County administrator, Steve Howard.

Here are the facts.

1. Only the 300 of the 400 employees who are on direct deposit were affected.

2. No one at the county was at fault.

3. The fault was entirely with Southeastern Bank, which handles the county's payroll account.

4. Someone other than the regular clerk at SEB was handling the wire transfer of all of the direct deposit funds this week. They unwittingly submitted the transfer request one day sooner than the Federal Reserve allows. The Fed rejected the request, but no one at the bank caught it, or if they did, did not act on it.

5. When Mr. Howard and Mr. Fender first learned of it from calls form employees just after 8:00 Am Friday, they sprung into action. They and several Finance Dept employees as well as SEB employees worked until 8:00 PM Friday to resolve the problem. Moreover, they were back at the old courthouse bright and early this morning cutting manual checks for those employees who wanted them. Some employees preferred to simply wait until the checks hit their accounts on Monday by direct deposit. By early this afternoon, all employees had been taken care of .

6. Monday, Mr. Howard will send a letter of explanation / apology to all affected employees.

7. SEB has promised an internal systems analysis to design a fail-safe program to prevent this from ever happening again. Not that when someone from Mr. Fender's office called earlier this week, as they always do, tho confirm that all was well, they were misinformed that it was.

8. SEB has agreed to make good any and all overdraft charges which employees may have incurred as a result of their error.

As always, my sincere thanks to Mr. Steve Howard for his prompt reply to my request and his thorough explanation.

Go Dawgs!

1755 HRS. Just before the end of the 1st qurter of the Ga/FL game, Camden County Finance Director Mike Fender called. In addition to giving me the same information that Steve Howard had, Mike pointed out that they were able to contact all but two of the affected employees by phone on Friday. He thanked employees for being very understanding. Mike also pointed out that because all of the county employees involved in putting in extra hours solving the problem are salaried, administrative employees, no overtime pay is involved. Moreover, total related expenses (i.e., sending out letters to employees) will be quite minimal.

Oh, the irony!

I was just reading the list of prospective Camden County Grand Jurors published in today's T&G. Apparently, justice is not only blind, but totally oblivious. Under the Es, one finds Gina Evanson.

London Telegraph interviews Rush Limbaugh.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/3286392/Rush-Limbaugh-The-man-whos-always-Right.html

Will voting on November 4th be a piece of cake or a zoo?

http://www.news4jax.com/news4georgia/17837488/detail.html

The poll has closed.

No, not that one: the District 4 County Commission poll in the top right corner. It closed earlier today. I note that 42% of the 50 respondents expressed a wish for more choices. Other names mentioned so far have been Sandy Feller, Robbie Morgan, and Jack Barrick. Okay, why don't y'all come up with any other prospective candidates you would like to see run. Put them in the comments section of this post between now and Friday. Saturday, I'll run another poll with all suggested candidates (except the obviously silly ones some of you will no doubt submit.)

"Obama Affinity to Marxists Dates Back to College Days."

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10/28/obama-affinity-marxists-dates-college-days/

Could such a fly-in community be in Camden's future?

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/homestyle/10/27/condo.airport.ap/index.html

The SMOKING GUN!

Hear Obama, the long-time advocate of forced redistribution of wealth, justifying it in his own words! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iivL4c_3pck

Sunday Funnies; Volume 35.

FIVE RULES FOR MEN TO FOLLOW TO HAVE A HAPPY LIFE: 1. It's important to have a woman, who helps at home, who cooks from time to time, cleans up and has a job. 2. It's important to have a woman, who can make you laugh. 3. It's important to have a woman, whom you can trust and who doesn't lie to you. 4. It's important to have a woman, who is good in bed and who likes to be in it with you. 5. It's very, very important that these four women do not know each other.

Why not the original?

http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/obama_birth_certificate/2008/10/24/143882.html?s=al&promo_code=6E2D-1

At the top is a sample of what an actual, type written, live birth certificate from Hawaii looked like in 1963.

Below is the laser printed birth certificate, issued in 2007, for Barak Hussein Obama, II.

So, why can't Hawaii / Obama produce a copy of the original?

Click on images to enlarge.

UPDATE: http://apnews.myway.com/article/20081025/D941NCJG0.html

So, who DOES have standing?

You tell 'em, Charles!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/23/AR2008102302867_pf.html

Perhaps one soon-to-be-former CCSO employee can find work with the Democratic National Committee.

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/10/24/joe.html?sid=101

At least it was a female - and an adult one at that!

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/10/25/india.bishop.adoption.ap/index.html

Post-election dinner for Sheriff-elect Gregory.

Mark your calendars. On Thursday, November 6th, friends of then Sheriff-elect Tommy Gregory will be hosting a meet-n-greet dinner to provide all an opportunity to meet and talk with the newly elected sheriff. This will also be an opportunity to help Tommy retire the debt from his mostly self-funded campaign. Voluntary donations will be appreciated. I understand there will be barbecue, fried chicken, and all of the usual Southern-style side dishes provided. The location will be the Citizens State Bank Community Center, located just behind the Citizens State Bank on Hwy 40, just a stone's throw east of Hwy 17 in Kingsland. That's Thursday, November 6th, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Y'all come!

Who else?

In the District 4 poll (uppper right hand corner), I note that 30% of the handful of repsondents have expressed a desire for another choice not named in the poll. Is there anyone out there that lives in District 4 that someone might like to draft to run? Who and why? How about Sandy Feller again? Even with the power of the Smith machine arrayed against him, he only lost by 21 0r 22 votes last time.

Ooops.

Went to reject a couple of posts from a couple of the usual Anti-Jay Derangement Syndrome haters and accidentally rejected a couple of friendlies. Sorry. Send again.

Not a murder conviction but better than nothing.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/102308/geo_347289265.shtml

McCain / Palin close the gap!

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D93VM4PO0&show_article=1

Parents may now vote for 2009-2010 Camden school calendar.

http://www.tribune-georgian.com/articles/2008/10/22/news/top_stories/1topstory10.22.txt

Gasoline refinery coming to Savannah?

http://savannahnow.com/node/599012 Oh, and speaking of gasoline: it was selling yesterday for $2.33 at the GOASIS at Exit 29.

Commissioner Vaught?

Heard on the street: Doug Vaught is contemplating a run for Charlene Sears' seat on the Camden County Commission. Well, it certainly would not be the first time that after a lackluster performance on city council, a former, one-term, St. Marys City Councilperson warmed that commission seat. It certainly cannot be denied that Mr. Vaught would perform exceedingly well at county ground breakings, ribbon cuttings, and proclamation readings.

Kingsland gets $5.8 million state loan for westward extension of water and sewer lines.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/102208/geo_346990702.shtml

Most, but not all, CCSO employees have now taken 40 hours of unpaid leave.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/102108/geo_346558076.shtml

Sunday Funnies; Volume 34.

Why Some Men Have Dogs And Not Wives: 1. The later you are, the more excited your dogs are to see you. 2. Dogs don't notice if you call them by another dog's name. 3. Dogs like it if you leave a lot of things on the floor. 4. A dog's parents never visit. 5. Dogs agree that you have to raise your voice to get your point across. 6. You never have to wait for a dog; they're ready to go 24 hours a day. 7. Dogs find you amusing when you're drunk. 8. Dogs like to go hunting and fishing. 9. A dog will not wake you up at night to ask, ?If I died, would you get another dog?? 10. If a dog has babies, you can put an ad in the paper and give them away. 11. A dog will let you put a studded collar on it without calling you a pervert. 12. If a dog smells another dog on you, they don't get mad. They just think it's interesting. 13. Dogs like to ride in the back of a pickup truck. And last, but not least: 14. If a dog leaves, it won't take half of your stuff. ____________________________________________

The Red Lion will rise again!

http://savannahnow.com/node/596536

Uncle Sam's interest-free, 15 year, $7,500 loan to home buyers!

This morning, as I was reading my mildly irritatingly pink GTU (breast cancer awareness), I started to toss the real estate section, unread, as I usually do. Then, I thought, no, there might be something useful to me, a new home buyer, in there after all. Talk about felicitous serendipity! There is an article on page five of the real estate section with the cut line "Tax credit aids first-time home buyers." If you have bought a home on or after April 8th of this year or plan on buying one before July 1, 2009, you need to either retrieve this section from your trash or rush out and buy today's GTU! I would have published a link, had I been able to find it online, but no such luck. I'll use my situation as an example. I will close on December 1. When I file my tax return for 2008, even though I had no earned income this year (I still have to file because I have a domestic worker I have to pay social security for), I will receive a $7,500 check from Uncle Sam. It is actually a loan designed to spur the housing market. I will have to repay it, with my future returns, over 15 years, beginning in 2010, at $500.00 per year. There is NO INTEREST on this loan! If I croak before 15 years, the balance of the debt is forgiven! (That is true if you are single. If you are married and die, your surviving spouse is responsible for the balance of the loan). By the way, technically, the amount of the interest free loan is 10% of the purchase price of the home or $7,500, which ever is greater. The fine print: For all intents and purposes, this applies only to first time home buyers. It states that you are not eligible if "You owned another main home at any time during the three years prior to the date of purchase." Moreover, you may be ineligible because of an income restriction. To wit: if "Your income exceeds the phase out range. This means joint filers with MAGI (? Adjusted Gross Income)0f $170,000 and above and others with MAGI of $95,000 and above." Between my lawn sprinkler system, fence, water filter and water softener, garage door opener, new refrigerator, and new washer and dryer, that $7,500 is more than spoken for, but much appreciated, nonetheless. Between this and the prospect of the restoration of the availability of mortgages, I'm sure Realtor's and builders are grinning from ear-to-ear - or soon will be.

An excellent idea!

http://www.tribune-georgian.com/articles/2008/10/17/news/top_stories/1topstory10.17.txt After I became disabled and wheelchair bound, I looked around for an ADA compliant apartment. There are a couple of apartment complexes that were built with low interest, federally subsidized loans just for seniors. Would you believe that none of them have washer/ dryer connections, just an inconvenient, communal wash house? What were they thinking? Glad to see these cottages have both W/D connections and ADA compliant kitchens and baths. I had to have a 3 BR, 2 bath house (more than I need) built and have it extensively modified to meet my needs.

Killer of St. Marys man gets 20 years.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/101708/geo_345152965.shtml

Secret Service finds "kill him" allegation bogus.

http://www.timesleader.com/news/breakingnews/Secret_Service_says_Kill_him_allegation_unfounded_.html Needless to say, Obama and company are still insisting it happened. I read in other coverage that perhaps what was said- if anything - was "Tell him!"

It is such an exceedingly rare event..

when a liberal pundit writes something that intelligent, rational readers can agree with that I had to bring this one to y'alls attention. http://www.creators.com/opinion/susan-estrich.html?columnsName=ses

The shoe that finally fell will likely turn out to be no heavier than a silken slipper.

http://www.tribune-georgian.com/articles/2008/10/15/news/top_stories/1topstory10.15.txt

Oops, I almost missed "Dr. Max Tinsley Day."

Yes, folks, by decree of the mayor and council, today was officially set aside as "Dr. Max Tinsley Day," a day on which the mayor and council show their gratitude to Dr. Tinsley for having the good sense and good grace to abandon ship before the decks were awash and transfer his flag from his fourth government job to a fifth government job, back on the sub base again.

Solution: Become the official supplier of the annual St. Marys Cat Festival.

http://www.news4jax.com/news4georgia/17699629/detail.html

So which is it?

Can I get a little advice here? I'm closing on my new house on December 1st. Shortly thereafter, I'll be having a cypress "shadow box" fence erected. Now, on the one hand, I've got a painting contractor telling me I should stain it as soon as possible after it goes up. On the other hand, I've got a fencing contractor telling me you should wait "a few months" to let the wood dry because cypress is not kiln dried and is therefore very wet when you get it. A thorough search of the Internet does show some mention of letting cypress dry, but does not say exactly how long. Does anyone out there have any expertise on this subject? Oh, and another thing: a painter tells me it (cypress) does not take paint very well - only penetrating stain. However, a US government publication says it takes paint just fine and paint will last 10 to 20 years versus 5 to 10 years for stain. Quien sabe?

Beware "the coming liberal thugacracy!"

http://washingtontimes.com/news/2008/oct/13/the-coming-thugocracy/print/

District 1 candidate bios / goals.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/101308/geo_343426908.shtml

Sunday Funnies; Volume 33.

THE LAWS OF ULTIMATE REALITY Law of Mechanical Repair: After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch and you'll have to pee. Law of Gravity: Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner. Law of Random Numbers: If you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal and someone always answers. Law of the Alibi: If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire, the very next morning you will have a flat tire. Variation Law: If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will always move faster than the one you are in now (works every time). Law of the Bath: When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone rings. Law of Close Encounters: The probability of meeting someone you know increases dramatically when you are with someone you don't want to be seen with. Law of the Result: When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work, it will. Law of Biomechanics: The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach. Law of the Theater: At any event, the people whose seats are furthest from the aisle arrive last. The Starbucks Law: As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold. Murphy's Law of Lockers: If there are only two people in a locker room, they will have adjacent lockers. Law of Physical Surfaces: The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich landing face down on a floor covering are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet/rug. Law of Logical Argument: Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about. Brown's Law of Physical Appearance: If the shoe fits, it's ugly. Oliver's Law of Public Speaking: A closed mouth gathers no feet. Wilson's Law of Commercial Marketing Strategy: As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop making it. Doctors' Law: If you don't feel well, make an appointment to go to the doctor, by the time you get there you'll feel better. Don't make an appointment and you'll stay sick. Law of Probability: The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.

Camden to build tenth elementary school.

http://www.news4jax.com/news4georgia/17690266/detail.html

Former St. Marys nursing home director charged with copping resident's drugs.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/101008/geo_342247537.shtml Where is "The Mews of St. Marys" anyway?

Timid, indecisive council dithers on with budget deliberations.

http://www.tribune-georgian.com/articles/2008/10/10/news/top_stories/2topstory10.10.txt I think we are headed for a replay of the famous post-annexation, mayor and council massacre next time around.

Say - here's a festival St. Marys hasn't tried yet!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,435041,00.html What side dishes would go best with that?

"The Pro-Barack vote-fraud drive."

http://www.nypost.com/seven/10082008/postopinion/opedcolumnists/the_pro_barack_vote_fraud_drive_132618.htm?page=0

My thoughts, exactly!

http://www.tribune-georgian.com/articles/2008/10/08/opinion/letters/2letter10.8.txt Though, to be sure, in this election, the vastly superior experience of McCain surely trumps the more polished eloquence of the relative neophyte and extreme leftist, Obama.

But they don't really have a position on moving the airport. ;-) , ;-)

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/100808/geo_341409749.shtml

Obamaniacs get out the vote.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/10062008/news/nationalnews/homeless_driven_to_vote_obama_132395.htm

Apparently, it's true: Obama will deal with ANY foreign leader!

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=77268

Former pastor of Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish dies.

http://www.legacy.com/Savannah/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=118526406

"Clinton Democrats for McCain / Palin."

Here's an interesting site which I was tipped off to while taking my daily wade (so you won't have to) through the muck of TOPIX, Kingsland. http://clintondems.com/

The Obama Jugen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUEQz5dltmI It is now being reported that this Obama Youth group was organized, on school time, by a left-wing, public middle school teacher who produced the video and placed it on YouTube. She has subsequently been suspended. NEA member in good standing, no-doubt. 2042 HRS: Note - apparently, the Obama camp pressured YouTube to remove it. Moreover, virtually all references to it have disappeared from major main stream media websites. However, I've located a working copy. Here it is -for now: http://www.myfoxkc.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7588857&version=4&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

Last chance...

Today is the very last day you can register to vote in the November 4th general election!

Three proposed amendments to GA Constitution on Nov. ballot.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/100608/geo_340647565.shtml As to No. 3, think north end developers / county commission.

More on moribund Cumberland Harbour

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/100508/geo_340397279.shtml Note: Council went into executive session two weeks ago, then came out and unanimously passed a resolution to authorize the city attorney to call the Cumberland Harbour performance bond. Apparently, they have not yet given her the final go ahead - just passed the enabling legislation. ??

Sunday Funnies; Volume 32.

ROMANCE MATHEMATICS Smart man + smart woman = romance Smart man + dumb woman = affair Dumb man + smart woman = marriage Dumb man + dumb woman = pregnancy ______________________________ OFFICE ARITHMETIC Smart boss + smart employee = profit Smart boss + dumb employee = production Dumb boss + smart employee = promotion Dumb boss + dumb employee = overtime _____________________________ SHOPPING MATH A man will pay $20 for a $10 item he needs. A woman will pay $10 for a $20 item that she doesn't need. _____________________________ GENERAL EQUATIONS & STATISTICS A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband. A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife. A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend. A successful woman is one who can find such a man. _____________________________ HAPPINESS To be happy with a man, you must understand him a lot and love him a little. To be happy with a woman, you must love her a lot and not try to understand her at all. ______________________________ LONGEVITY Married men live longer than single men do, but married men are a lot more willing to die. ______________________________ PROPENSITY TO CHANGE A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't. A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change, and she does. _____________________________ DISCUSSION TECHNIQUE A woman has the last word in any argument. Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument. _____________________________ HOW TO STOP PEOPLE FROM BUGGING YOU ABOUT GETTING MARRIED Old aunts used to come up to me at weddings, poking me in the ribs and cackling, telling me, "You're next." They stopped after I started doing the same thing to them at funerals.

Hmm...re-assessing property values to reflect current, depressed market values? What a concept!

But not in Camden, of course. http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/100408/geo_340081939.shtml

$700 Billion bailout bill passes: president to sign later today.

http://money.cnn.com/2008/10/03/news/economy/house_friday_bailout/index.htm?postversion=2008100309

Portait of the serial killer as a young savage.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,432085,00.html

Certifiable "Grinny" McKinney is at it again!

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10/02/mckinney-accuses-government-slaughtering-prisoners-dumping-bodies-katrina/

Most ridiculous job on Earth?

http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=186253

As I was saying earlier.. ;-)

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/100208/geo_339180855.shtml

Ironic, cynical babblings of a morally bankrupt, lame duck fool.

"Camden County Board of Commissioners Chairman Preston Rhodes' reckless indifference is placing an undue burden upon the taxpayers of Camden County and endangering the lives of the very ones sworn to serve and protect us," Smith said in a written statement. "Rhodes cannot rise above the political fray and do what is right. His actions demonstrate all to clearly that furthering his personal vendetta against Sheriff Smith is more important than the pressing financial difficulties facing the county." http://www.tribune-georgian.com/articles/2008/10/01/news/top_stories/1topstory10.1.txt http://www.tribune-georgian.com/articles/2008/10/01/opinion/1opinion10.1.txt Amen, T&G!

If you need new major appliances - or even CF bulbs - now's the time!

Annual tax break on energy efficient items Thursday thru Sunday. http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/100108/geo_338771361.shtml

CCSO employees running amok.

This rather cryptic post appeared 15 hours ago on TOPIX, Kingsland: Benadic Lee Jacksonville, FL Reply » Report Abuse Judge it! #42 15 hrs ago The sheriff Randal has been allowed to give herself extra $ in her ckecks. I heard that rob and ms sears were arguing really loud at the old courthouse the other day about it. I asked a friend across the street, she said that Randal was saying sears took money from her check and was gonna sue sears but I heard that sears saw what was going on and tryed to fix it but rob won't let her. She got mad, sid some stuff and left the building. Randal has been taking leave over her hrs to make a big check for awhile and nobody even cares. Where my friend has to make peanuts compared to her and almost lost her place because she had to go without a weeks pay. No one get to sell our leave how does she get to do this? I can't find any policy for it. I bet sears gets fired soon for messin with the sheriffs secretary. I wish i could call her and get the whole story but I can't. rick check this out and give us the real story. I wondered just what the inept writer was attempting to communicate. Well, this morning, Main Mole brought me up to speed. "The sheriff Randal" is actually the sheriff's long-time, personal secretary Edna Randall. It seems that Edna Randall has, since the primary defeat of Big Thug Willie, been occasionally " selling back" her accrued sick time, with the approval of "Rob," (whom I take to be Rob Mastroianni). This is illegal - against county policy. Charlene Sears, the world's most highly compensated "simple file clerk" got wind of it and is raising hell. She has actually gotten her hands on copies of paperwork showing the illegal payments. I'm told that she and "Rob" showed up the other day at "Theresa Smith's office" (whom I assume has something to do with payroll at the county - anyone?) to argue the point. A loud, highly contentious shouting match ensued. Main Mole reports that Sears is highly pissed at BTW right now and wants to be seen as being "Dudley Doright" in trying to rectify this violation of county pay policy. One wonders if she is not pissed because maybe she went to BTW for the same deal and got turned down. If I were Tommy, I would demand signed resignations from every single employee on my desk by 10:00 AM of day two, then keep only the apparently relatively few who are worth a damn.