| Many issues and events have local impact
A lot is going on as we enter the shortest month of the year. Heres my take on some of the issues and events affecting us in Houston County: n Centervilles mayor and council are dead serious about dealing with signs in the city. They are tackling the problem before it gets out of hand with an ordinance that will have teeth. One commendable action is a decision not to issue permits for billboards in Centerville. When I was mayor of Warner Robins about 25 years ago we had a moratorium on permits for billboards. Somehow in the intervening years the problem has gotten out of hand. n Payday lenders may have enough clout in the Georgia Legislature to get a recently enacted ban on their outlandish interest rates rescinded. Military personnel and civilians least able to afford their interest rates are the victims.
Army opens high tech rehab center for injured troops
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (AP) -- The Army opened a $50 million high-tech rehabilitation center Monday that is designed to serve the growing number of soldiers who return from war as amputees or with severe burns. Of the roughly 20,000 soldiers injured since the start of the Iraq war, more than 500 have lost a limb -- many of them in roadside bombings. The Center for the Intrepid, a privately funded facility, includes a rock-climbing wall, a wave pool and a virtual reality computer system. About 3,200 people attended a dedication ceremony, including Gen. Peter Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and 2008 presidential hopefuls Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and John McCain of Arizona. Clinton, a Democrat, said Americans are firmly behind the nation's veterans, despite the rancorous national debate over the Iraq war.
BHA outlines its plans for housing
BILOXI - The Biloxi Housing Authority plans to add 1,577 places for people to live over the next five years, a redevelopment program that will cost $120 million to $150 million. Housing officials gave the Biloxi City Council an overview of the program Tuesday. It will be funded by federal grants, tax credits and private partners. "We're not asking the city for a penny," said Bobby Hensley, the agency's executive director. The agency is seeking city help in transferring property, zoning matters, modular-housing approvals, infrastructure improvements, expedited design reviews and building inspections. Biloxi qualifies for more than $41 million from the first round of hurricane-recovery grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development and will seek more money in future allocations.
Rough and rude but no details
The boss of would-be copper digger CuDeco is the kind of chap happy enough to spruik how he used to be 6 foot 2 until he mashed his legs in a chopper crash and now stands at 5 foot 9. And he's the kind of bloke who modestly proclaims the copper discovery of the decade. Even when the data is somewhat dubious, even overblown. So it's little wonder his attendance at a Sydney Mining Club lunch yesterday drew a big crowd, especially following the company's share price roller-oaster after some big claims from the company and some bigger questions from the ASX. McCrae told the Sydney investment community he was "really appreciative of the converted" who showed up before dishing it out to those critical of CuDeco's claims. See, some stockbrokers have "testicles smaller than ants" when it comes to analysing his company, McCrae said, before showing an accompanying slide of ants and testicles.
Athletes display
Editors note: this is part of a series of features being published over the next few weeks on the various sports which make up the 2007 Canada Winter Games. Spectators coming out to watch the wheelchair basketball during the 2007 Canada Winter Games are likely going to find their jaws are going to drop, says Corey Smith, a member of Team Ontario. You can bounce (in the wheelchair) and move up and down the court without touching the wheels, says Smith. Youll be watching it and youre kind of going to go Howd they do that? Before they kind of judge it and think its going to be boring, they should come out and see it, he says. People love to watch it when they give it a chance. Theyre not going to see these sad people confined to wheelchairs shooting at some five foot net, agrees Ramesh Ferris, president of the Yukon Society Towards Accessible Recreation and Sport (Yukon STARS).
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