(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Augusta Press.)
As a security mechanism, a surveillance camera-equipped deer stand has been erected at the front gate of a community that has been plagued with crime. We don’t know the exact numbers; however, in the past six months, we have seen two shooting deaths and several other hideous crimes take place in that apartment complex.
Not to mention the story last year that made national news, where a young lady was beaten to a bloody mess sitting inside the pizza joint in that very same area.
This area is a dangerous, high-crime area. Complaints come in from people who observe drug dealers making transactions in the parking lot of the convenience store in broad daylight. Parents have been seen walking around in the neighborhood looking for their runaways who had been seen in there because information has it is a known human trafficking area. Now, I’m not just pulling these things out of the sky. These are actual complaints that can be pulled from the records at the Sheriff’s Office.
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Then the audacity of some people who are upset that a business owner/property owner decided to place a creative security contraption—ON HIS OWN PROPERTY, mind you— to deter crime is mind-blowing. This led me to reach out to a few people to ask what’s the big deal?
Commissioner Johnson wrapped his comments in a bow by basically saying that he wouldn’t have even known about it if another commissioner hadn’t sent it to him. So, obviously someone thought it was a problem. He also said he is concerned about the contraption being in the air with an armed person and lights and sirens.
Jordan feels that it gives the wrong impression in that neighborhood to have a camouflage stand with a security person who is supposed to be watching what’s going on.
Johnson also expressed his concerns about the deer stand not meeting code and why the camera couldn’t just be on the ground?
All valid points.
Commissioner McKnight was thoroughly impressed with the idea; however she stated for the record, “I had no idea he was going to put that security building there.”
McKnight also let me and everyone else know that she spoke with that she was not in favor of the hunting motif and would definitely prefer it be painted a different color. She also told the owner to remove the sign that had her and John Clarke’s name on it because she never asked for that or approved that to be done.
Clarke on the other hand was a little bit more firery with his comments, and I quote, “Any jackass can sit behind a dais and vote on ordinances. Catherine and I are out trying to help the community.”
I believe there may be a little steam left to get out with a few more months left on the commission. Either way, we all can be sure that this is not the end of this story and debate. There will be plenty more to come as this owner seems to be really changing things for this part of the corridor and as city leaders take a moment to express their feelings about it all.
Let’s set the record straight. I support innovation in safety. I support safe communities. I believe the owner was trying to produce solutions to an ongoing problem. The “camo” may be a bad touch. As my drill sergeant once told me in basic training, “Good initiative, bad judgement.”
In other news, it seems as if the Martin Luther King, Jr. statue will soon be a reality in Augusta. If you missed the story, take a moment to see it in an earlier issue of TAP. Skyler Andrews, one of the great reporters we have, did an awesome piece on the happenings in reference to the next steps. Please check it out. This project started out as a brainchild of Rev. Fryer, and he has been pushing it ever since. As he has stated many times, it’s not a race issue — it’s a unity issue. I am sure everyone in the community can get behind UNITY, and I have always liked statues that celebrate great people.
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Let’s move on from the topic of statues before that opens up an entire can of worms.
Speaking of a can of worms.
Man! Those Harold Jones signs popped up out of nowhere overnight. He has signs everywhere ,and that says a lot about a candidate in a race by himself. Oh, wait. I believe someone has thrown their name in the hat to run against our sitting senator. They’re not just throwing their name in the hat; they are throwing their money away too.
When I speak to people in the community on both sides about Senator Jones, it’s hard for anyone to say anything bad about him.
Those on the other side who don’t necessarily agree with his “politics,” they still like Harold, and in Augusta, that goes a long way. I believe he won’t have any problems in this upcoming election, and later on when he decides to run for . . . here I go getting ahead of myself.
Before I go let me give a tremendous shoutout to the Columbia County Teacher of the Year, my baby sister “Meesh.”
Excuse me.
For the more sophisticated readers, “Mrs. Ameesha Butler.” I cannot express in words the level of excitement and how proud Moni, myself and our entire family are of her being presented with such an amazing accolade to represent her entire school district. I would say she became an overnight superstar, but judging by her kids and their parents, Mrs. Butler has always been a SUPERSTAR to them. The number of cards, gifts, messages and everything else that came after the announcement speaks to the number of lives she has ALREADY impacted.
Thank you to all the people who sent me messages to pass to her and the congratulations that were sent to me also. I feel like a proud Poppa.
With that being said, we congratulate every teacher who received the title of Teacher of the Year from their respective schools, including my other mom, Sheree Ingram, over at Glenn Hills High.
Teachers are very special people, and they should be honored every day. We leave them in charge of our most precious and vulnerable population, to mold them into great citizens. We should never look down on or minimalize their contributions to this community. They should be revered and placed on a pedestal for being the selfless servants that they are.
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They are overworked and underpaid; however, in my eyes, there is not enough money in any county budget to give them their due. So I hope you will join me in thanking them for all that they do. Pray for them for what they have to deal with and send them a great big “God Bless You” for being the chosen. One other explanation I need to give before we get out of here: I know the fact that I work for Gold Cross adds a level of bias. Let’s talk about a statement that is not biased – the mayor or anyone else comparing an ambulance service to a hamburger place is beyond ignorant. Let me tell you why – if you go to, let’s say, a Burger King, and you have no money, you don’t get any food or service.
THAT IS NOT THE CASE WHEN THE AMBULANCE SHOWS UP. I know for some of them up there, that may be a hard concept to understand. So, let me just ask you this??? Why is it easier to go ahead and pay people $3 million to cut grass they ain’t gonna cut than it is to make sure an ambulance…now I’m getting ahead of myself.
NOW – y’all have a great week!
Michael Meyers is a columnist for The Augusta Press. Reach him at Michael.meyers@theaugustapress.com
