An Old Friend Passed Away

The following is about an old friend who passed away recently.  He was remembered by many as being a former mayor of McDonough, but he was much more than that.  He was Mr. Richard Craig who was born on July 1, 1934 and died on January 18, 2018.    Richard was the son of John Hugh Craig, Sr. and Mildred Cowan Craig.    He came from a large family that is well known throughout the area.  His late siblings were Hugh Craig, Jr., Lamar Craig, Robert Craig, Herbert Craig, Larry Craig, and Martha Craig Bolien Watts.   His loving wife Nancy survives him as well as many children.  He is also survived by his brothers Bobby Craig, Mike Craig and Sammy Craig.  I remember Richard talking about his being in the US Army.  He played a key role in the sports, and political area of the county over the years.  He was on the Henry County School Board for ten years.  He loved to play in sports such as baseball at Craig Field on McGarity Road.  He served as councilman of the City of McDonough before serving as mayor.  He was currently on the Henry County Elections Board.  He was a charter member of the Henry County Moose Lodge, past president of the Henry County Kiwanis Club.  He was president of the Henry County High School Booster Club and president of the Henry County Recreation Board.  He was inducted into the Henry County Sports Hall of Fame and the ASA Georgia Umpires and Coaches Hall of Fame. Richard Craig Field is at Alexander Park as well as Richard Craig Park off of Zack Hinton Pkwy.  I remember him coming to eat at the Little Diner on Hood Street in McDonough with my parents Emmett and Elaine Moon.  He worked for Southern Bell at that time out of the building on Griffin Street in McDonough.  He was very helpful to us when my dad had to have open heart surgery in 1974.  I can still see him talking at the Craig Brothers Phillips 66 station in town, which is the welcome center today, with his brothers Herbert and Larry.  We would all usually in up at the Country Kitchen Catfish Restaurant at Barnesville, GA on Saturday nights.  Great memories from my youth. Richard was a forward-thinking man who knew the possibilities of what can be for an area.  McDonough and Henry County lost a true friend when Richard passed away.

Dr. Michael Moon

Democrats Prefer Illegals Over True Americans

On January 19th-20th at midnight 2018, the United States legal citizens found out that the Democrats in Washington, D.C. want to put the interest of those living in our nation illegally ahead of those who are citizens.  They want to put those illegals ahead of the military Veterans who served this nation with valor.  That is a slap in the face to them.  They want to put them ahead of our elderly citizens who built this nation which is another slap in the face.  And they want to put those illegals ahead of our children who need medical care for diseases that cannot be helped and this is a deplorable slap in the face.  These Democrats want to play hardball with a President who knows all about that game.  They are also teetering on violating their constitutional oath to uphold said constitution and the American people.  Those who would condemn our lawful citizens in this nation should be put out of office and banished from our midst.  The Democrats want to play games with the lives of American Citizens over those who came here illegally and are sucking away the funds needed to help our people who are here legally.  We have veterans and others living under bridges in America, some of them freezing to death because they have nowhere else to live and many of them could be helped if the illegals were not taking the funds away from them.  The American Citizens need to wake up and see that those in Washington that love these illegals and there are some Republicans as well who find that they would prefer them over those born and raised here as US citizens.  They need to be put out of any leadership capacity because they don't know what they are doing except feeding there own ego.  Egomaniacs are destroying this nation daily.  All the way from small-town America to Washington, D.C.   They are trying to create a war in our nation that will be a war like no other.  It will pit those US citizens fighting for their homes against the rabble from other nations who would rather see us dead anyway.  They want to blame this on the President, but the blame lies squarely on the heads of those Democrats led by Chuck Schumer who have the unmitigated gall to put an illegal alien in front of a United States citizen and Veteran.  The veterans of our nation will not forget this.   But this has been the sad case in many empires of the world.  Rome let in too many people from the outside and were destroyed from within.  The people of this nation can see now that the leadership in Washington, D.C. under the guise of "we support our citizens" is nothing but a lie.  They take from the Social Security Fund that is the money that belongs to the hard-working US citizens and give it to these illegals.  They take tax money that is taxing the citizens to death to give to these illegals.  Remember what is really going on here and take a good look at those involved and you will see a monster the likes no one ever thought possible.  We were told years ago that we would be taken without firing a shot and that is very close to happening if the people who love their nation don't do something about it.

The Staff

People That Have No Clue

I have received two E-Mail’s from a friend that knows my work background. The E-Mail is a list of comments from someone that is well known in the County, but is acting like a fool. Again, they are fussing about the way they had to wait in the rain to get into the stadium to watch the UGA football game on Jan. 8, 2018. This person is very ignorant of what it takes to protect the President of the United States Of America. As I said on a Facebook post that day the U.S. Secret Service and the FBI owned the Stadium and the surrounding area.

The Stadium is a logistical nightmare to secure in order to protect the President. This person was also upset that he had to stand in the rain. Well, let me tell you something there were agents that had been in the rain for over twelve hours without complaint doing a very hard and dangerous job. It takes a very special person to put themselves in harms way to protect a protectee and we all should show more respect and honor to them. They work long hard hours with very little gratitude from the general public, I know this first hand.

By the time this is posted the E-Mail’s would have been forwarded to one of my old co-workers for review and investigation. The Motto of the Secret Service "Worthy of Trust and Confidence."  The Motto of the Federal Bureau of Investigation “ Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity,” Keep up the great work guys!!!

Alfred Britt

Men's Senior Softball League!!!

There is a group of men wishing to start a Henry County Men's Senior Softball League.  This would be a good opportunity to get those who are able out and enjoying a good sport.  This is something sorely needed for those senior men who want something like this to do and are still physically able to enjoy the game. It would give those men a chance to fellowship with others and enjoy the competition with other teams.  If you would like to be a part contact Johnny Wiggins at 770-634-6198.  

The Staff

When Politicians Become Bought and Sold

"When Politicians Become Bought and Sold"

There is a problem that has been building in Stockbridge for some time now.  There has been a lot of smoke screens to try and hide what has been occurring.  Power plays, money under the table, and puppet strings have been in play.  The city is wanting to have an over lay project for the area of Hwy 138 from North Henry Blvd to Daniel Drive about a quarter of a mile.  The area west of Daniel Drive to near the I-75 interchange is in Clayton County who is also in this mix.  The story unfolds into a situation that is not unlike Chicago or Detroit with the political structure.

The following from the Henry Herald Newspaper lays out what Mr. Alexander has to say on the subject.

“My goal is to establish the highest standards in metro Atlanta. Currently the level of Highway 138 is unacceptable at this time,” said Councilman Elton Alexander, who has been a vocal proponent of enhancing the corridor. “Our standards have not been high enough, which is why we’ve attracted some of the quality that we have now. This whole goal is to establish the highest code regulations with goals to bring high-quality developments and businesses.”

Existing buildings would not be affected architecturally, but going forward, new businesses would have to adhere to the overlay requirements once adopted.

Stakeholder meetings regarding Highway 138 Overlay guidelines will be held at the Ted Strickland Community Center, 130 Martin Luther King Sr. Heritage Trail. The meetings are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 8, Aug. 29 and Sept. 19. Public hearings will be held in the on the second floor of Stockbridge City Hall, 4640 N. Henry Blvd. The hearings will be held Aug. 15, Sept. 5 and Sept. 26 beginning at 6:30 p.m.

The Collaborative Firm LLC, of East Point, will be leading the effort for the Highway 138 Overlay design guidelines at a cost of $35,000. 

The Collaborative Firm LLC is the following:

Business Name: THE COLLABORATIVE FIRM, LLC Control Number: 0257284

Business Type: Domestic Limited Liability Company Business Status: Active/Compliance

Business Purpose:  

Principal Office Address: 1514 E CLEVELAMD AVE. STE 82, EAST POINT, GA, 30344, USA Date of Formation / Registration Date: 11/18/2002

State of Formation: Georgia Last Annual Registration Year: 2017

REGISTERED AGENT INFORMATION

Registered Agent Name: MICHAEL HIGHTOWER

Physical Address: 1514 E CLEVELAND AVE. STE 82, Fulton, EAST POINT, GA, 30344, USA

Now here is where things start to get interesting involving Councilman Alexander and Mr. Hightower.  On February 8, 2016 Alexander honored Mr. Hightower with a proclamation.  

"Proclamation--Recognizing South Metro Development Outlook Conference 2016 Mayor Pro Tem Anthony S. Ford read the Proclamation presented to Michael Hightower, President of the South Metro Development Outlook Conference 2016 and was joined by the initiator, Councilman Alexander."

December 26, 2016 party for African American elected officials that Michael Hightower has aided at the Collaborative Firm in East Point.  Mr. Alexander and other Henry County elected officials attend.

  

Here is more background on Mr. Hightower for you to discern.  In 2000, he was caught up in a corruption scandal that rocked Atlanta and Fulton County governments.  He resigned his seat on the Fulton County Commission and pleaded guilty to accepting $25,000 in bribes for his vote to help a businessman win government contracts. His admitted lapse in judgment resulted in a conviction for public corruption, a sentence of six months of prison time and another six months of home confinement, 420 hours of community service and three years of supervised release.

 

The issue at hand here is there an ethical problem, moral problem and a conflict of interest with what is happening between the City of Stockbridge and Councilman Alexander having the Collaborative Firm to do an overlay for Hwy 138?   This type of activity has been going on in the city for some time now and it looks like there is a power play in the works involving Mr. Hightower helping to fund south metro African American political figures so they can gain office and then have his company do work for them.  And with him being a consulting firm he can also have different people appointed into positions where he can benefit as well.   We often hear from Mr. Alexander about the good ole boy system, but what does he call this?  This is the type of activity that got Mayor Campbell in trouble in Atlanta.  The citizens of Stockbridge and Henry County need to take a hard look at what is happening under their nose.   Look at district 2 and 5 on the county commission.  They were at that party in East Point in December 2016.  That picture of them there tells the story.  The people of Clayton County have the same problem.  Take a look at your chairman of the commission and some of the elected representatives including a state senator whose district covers a part of Henry and DeKalb Counties.  Look closely at who these people really are and who they are indebted to. When the investigations into all this begin it will look like 2000 all over again.

With information courtesy of archives : The Atlanta Journal Constitution, 2000, Creative Loafing 2000,  City of Stockbridge Minutes 2016, The Henry Herald 2017, Athens-Banner 2004, WSB TV Reports 2000, and the Secretary of State 2017.

The Staff

Attachments area

A Good Man For Stockbridge!!

There is a man who is running for Stockbridge City Council who by far is well qualified for the position.  He once held the position and can still make a difference in Stockbridge.  That man is Alphonso Thomas.  Mr. Thomas has done much over the years to help the people of Stockbridge.  He began the Stockbridge Business Association and has always been one to be at the meetings to let those in office know what the needs are of the people.  He has been a friend to many and will continue to be that friend when he is elected once again.  The city needs his leadership and his morals.  He knows what is right and wrong in Stockbridge.  If ever anyone has been a friend to Stockbridge it has been Mr. Thomas.  A good man for the job.

The Staff.

Chaos & Debacle In Mcdonough And Kids Suffer

There was total CHAOS in McDonough on October 27th during the "Uncle Shaq trunk or treat event at the Courthouse parking deck."  There were families waiting in line 2+ hours and got up to the entrance and were turned away.  This was happening between 7:15 and 7:30 pm and the event was billed to last until 8:00PM.  There were kids not only crying, but screaming because they could not get in.  Some have referred this as the "poop show" in McDonough.  And there are several people, of course, taking up for him and his event, but they have no children and did not wait in line with them for over 2 hours.  Just think this man wants to be the next Sheriff of Henry County and he cannot manage a trick or treat event at a very large parking deck in McDonough.  It would be the same CHAOS with him being Sheriff.  This is another bad scar on the face of the City of McDonough thanks to those who want to be in the news and the look at me crowd.  There are mothers and fathers right now that would not give two cents to meet him or have anything to do with an event he is part of because of the way this has been handled.  Remember this will get around and people will stay away from future events because they don't want to wait in line forever to be told to go home by someone who doesn't give a tinkers damn.  It looks like the shenanigans of the City of Stockbridge have moved to McDonough.  Yep looking good there.

A Very Irritated Parent