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(02/21/14 2:01am)
Facts from the White House
Barack Obama is our 44th president, but the U.S. has actually only had 43 presidents - Cleveland was elected for two nonconsecutive terms and is counted twice, as our 22nd and 24th president.
Nine presidents never attended college: Washington, Jackson, Van Buren, Taylor, Fillmore, Lincoln, A. Johnson, Cleveland, and Truman. The college with the most presidential alumni is Harvard, with seven.
The term “First Lady” was first used in 1877 in reference to Lucy Ware Webb Hayes. Most First Ladies, including Jackie Kennedy, are said to have hated the label.
Presidents Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, and Kennedy were assassinated in office. Lincoln and Kennedy died immediately.
James Buchanan was the only president never to marry. Reagan was the only divorced president.
Six presidents had no children. Tyler—father of fifteen—had the most.
The heaviest President was William Howard Taft (1909-13), who sometimes tipped the scales at more than 300 lbs. during his tenure. After he became stuck in the White House bathtub, Taft ordered a new one installed. The replacement was big enough to hold four grown men of average size.
John Quincy Adams (1825-29), the sixth President, customarily took a nude early morning swim in the Potomac River.
Virginia is the birthplace of the greatest number of Presidents. It boasts eight. Thirty-one states have never claimed a native son as President.
Richard Nixon was the first President to visit all 50 states.
Abraham Lincoln’s children had a pet turkey. Lincoln gave the turkey a pardon so it wasn’t killed and eaten.
Theodore Roosevelt was the first president to call his residence in Washington, D.C. the “White House.” Prior to his term, it had been called the Executive Mansion or the President’s House.
Warren Harding was the first president to speak over the radio. He was also the first newspaper publisher to be elected into the presidency.
Witness to some of the bloodiest battles in history, Ulysses S. Grant could not stomach the sight of animal blood. Rare steak nauseated him.
John F. Kennedy’s father gave him $1,000,000 when he turned twenty-one. (Each of his nine brothers and sisters got a million dollars too!)
Thomas Jefferson was an avid inventor who is credited with inventing several items including the coat hanger, hideaway bed, and dumbwaiter.
Lyndon B. Johnson rejected his official portrait painting, saying it was the ugliest thing he ever saw.
8 Forgotten Presidents
1. Millard Fillmore was the 13th president from 1850-53. Although he established the White House library and Compromise of 1850, nobody appreciates it enough.
2. Martin Van Buren was not only the 8th president from 1837-41, he was also the first president born an American citizen (after the signing of the Declaration of Independence) - a pretty big deal.
3. Warren G. Harding was the 29th president from 1921-23. He was president when World War I ended, but a heart attack cut his time in office short.
4. Chester A. Arthur was the 21st president (1881-85) and was known as “Elegant Arthur” for his fashion sense. Unfortunately, his stylish persona was forgotten over time, as well as his love of night clubs.
5. William Henry Harrison was the brief 9th president for one month in 1841. After delivering the longest inauguration speech (in the cold), he
caught pneumonia.
6. Andrew Johnson was the 17th president from 1865-69. He purchased Alaska and ratified two amendments, but trying to follow up an act like Lincoln was tough.
7. Franklin Pierce was the 14th president (1853-57), and his big contribution was the Kansas-Nebraska Act, leaving no question as to why he is lesser known.
8. John Tyler was the 10th president from 1841-45. He was involved in the annexation of Texas and was born in Virginia. Maybe he is remembered more in those states.
Name that pres
Of course, you have learned all about Washington, Lincoln and Obama. But the U.S. is on its 43rd president. See if you know enough about all of the presidents to guess these five.
- Enacted the Indian
Removal Act of 1830
- Nickname: “Old Hickory”
- 7th president (1829-37)
- Appears on the $20 bill
- Only president to kill a
man in a duel
- President during end of
Korean War
- Played football at West
Point
- Was elevated to the rank
of 5-star general (WWII)
- 34th president (1953-61)
- President during Battle
of Little Big Horn and
Reconstruction
- Named Commander of all
Union forces in Civil War
- 18th president (1869-77)
- Lost everything after retiring
- “Father of the Constitution”
- President during War of 1812
- Smallest president at 5’4”
and 100 lbs.
- Key author of the Bill of
Rights (first 10 amendments)
- 4th president (1809-17)
- First American to win
the Nobel Peace Prize
- First president in a plane
and first to leave country
- An outdoorsman, a popular
stuffed animal named for h im
- 26th president (1901-09)
Answers: Andrew Jackson, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ulysses S. Grant, James Madison, Theodore Roosevelt
(01/22/14 9:00pm)
Women’s winter fashion involves lots of layers and bundling. Some female students at Mercer choose the casual look of a denim jacket and textured scarf, like Brianna Stampler (top). Others, like Shelley Osborne (bottom), dress up for class with a warm peacoat and patterned shirt, completing the look with studded flats. Stampler also demonstrates the modern phenomenon of combat boots - in a neutral color, this shoe will successfully complement almost any cold weather outfit.
Staying warm is a top priority for all Mercer students during this season, and many have decided to look good doing it - including guys. Staying spiffy in a colorful sweater and a black coat which matches virtually everything, Joshua Whitfield (bottom) tops off his winter outfit with an eye-catching patterned bowtie. Kevin Sharpton (top) demonstrates the more everyday look of Mercer students with a classic pullover and matching baseball cap to block both wind and sun.
(09/14/13 2:47am)
Mercer’s volleyball team started the season with the UAB/Samford Invitational on Aug. 30-31 and the Active Ankle Challenge at Auburn on Sept. 5-6.
Under Head Coach Damian Elder for the second year, the team consists of three starters and seven newcomers. After being picked seventh in the annual Atlantic Sun Preseason Coaches’ Poll one year after finishing sixth with an 11- 18 record, Elder says his biggest concentration is “to change the way our players interact with each other and the staff” on the team.
Senior libero, Emily Rochefort, regrets the number of early injuries the team has already experienced, but she believes the team is strong in many areas. “One of our strengths as a team is that we are extremely athletic. We make a lot of plays that other teams don’t expect from us,” Rochefort said.
“While we are athletic, we are also very young, and our freshmen are extremely involved both on and off the court. We are trying to build confidence as individuals on the court and as a team, as well. Although they are only freshmen, they are a talented group of girls that bring a great deal to the team.”
The Mercer volleyball team split two matches at the beginning of the UAB/Samford Invitational, with a loss to Alabama-Birmingham 3-0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-18) and a comeback to defeat Jacksonville State 3-1 (25-17, 25-23, 18-25, 28-26).
Mercer got off to a solid start, converting on 16 of 34 attacks (.414 hitting percentage) and never trailing in the first set. From that point forward, the match was a back-and-forth battle, drawing 37 tie scores and 14 lead changes.
Mercer trailed 24-21 in the fourth set before rallying to get three-straight points to pull even. Eventually, freshman Avery Hoven made a kill that pulled the Bears away from a 26-26 tie, followed by a match-winning block-assist by junior Caroline Carlton and Hoven.
Junior setter Carly Iannarino racked up 47 assists for Mercer in the second match of the day, helping with an offensive attack in which four players reached double figure kill totals. Four Bears also registered 10 or more digs in the win against Jacksonville State.
Sophomore left side hitter Molly Locke marked her 15th career double-double performance, achieving 16 kills and 19 digs against the Gamecocks. Iannarino (47 assists, 15 digs) and freshman Ellie James (11 kills, 13 digs) had double-double achievements to help the Bears tie up the day.
The next day of the Invitational, the Mercer volleyball team concluded its opening weekend with two losses to Samford and Georgia State. Mercer failed to Samford with a score of 3-0 (25- 15, 25-18, 25-23) before finishing the event with a 3-1 (25-23, 19- 25, 25-18) loss to Georgia State.
The Bears offense was led by Carlton, who piled up 19 kills with only six errors in the two matches. Iannarino tallied 52 assists, while Rochefort collected 41 digs to accompany her five assists.
Mercer made a valiant effort at the opening game of the Active Ankle Challenge at Auburn University, as Iannarino gave 55 assists and Carlton piled up 20 kills. However, their efforts were unable to stop Troy from claiming a 3-2 (18- 25, 25-18, 25-17, 22-25, 15-8) win over the Mercer volleyball team.
The loss dropped Mercer’s team to 1-4.
Iannarino and Carlton’s respective 55 assists and 20 kills were career-high efforts that came as both players barely missed double-double performances. In addition, Iannarino completed seven digs and two kills, while Carlton finished with nine digs, two total blocks and a service ace.
James and Locke each completed double-doubles. James matched 12 kills with 14 digs and Locke paired 14 kills with 24 digs. Rochefort also achieved 24 digs while adding a pair of assists.
In the opening set, the Bears scored five unanswered points to break from a 10-10 tie before winning the set 25-18. After Troy responded with wins in the second and third sets, Mercer registered 19 kills with only four errors in the fourth set, making the fifth set crucial for a victory.
The Trojans bounded to a 4-1 lead and continued to a 15-8 victory in the final set.
On the second day of the Challenge, Locke knocked down 20 kills, but the Bears dropped 3-0 decisions to Auburn and Wisconsin Green Bay to finish the event.
Mercer lost to Auburn 3-0 (25-16, 25-10, 25-14) in the opening match of the day and was later defeated 3-0 (25- 22, 25-16, 25-17 to Green Bay.
Locke collected 10 of her kills against Auburn while making six digs. Iannarino registered a match-high 25 assists during the match, while Rochefort led the team with seven digs.
Locke added another 10 kills while registering five digs in the second match of the day. Iannarino notched 23 assists and Rochefort was credited with 19 digs.
So far, the Bears’ volleyball season has a 1-6 record, but members are not discouraged.
“Although we didn’t come out victorious in the Active Ankle Challenge, we played well as a team,” said Rochefort. “With so many freshmen on the court, we are still trying to build confidence as a team. We played three good teams that will make us better in the end.”
Rochefort has high hopes for the rest of the season, saying “From practice and our play in the preseason, I think that we will succeed in our conference games. We have one of the hardest preseason schedules in our conference, and I definitely think that will show when we start our conference schedule. “
Mercer returns to play in the UNC Wilmington Courtyard Classic on Sept. 13 in Wilmington, NC.
(04/25/13 6:27pm)
Bibb County features several popular shopping areas. However, only a few short years ago, the most impressive shopping center in the district, and possibly in the county, was the Macon Mall.
The Macon Mall was overall a successful shopping area for many years until the late 2000s brought trouble, sending the shopping center spiraling downward, losing many of its businesses.
Two primary reasons associated with the decline of the Macon Mall, include the widespread rumors about a large gang presence at the mall and the opening of the Shoppes at River Crossing, an outdoor mall in north Macon, in March 2008.
However, all hope is not lost, as new management took over the mall in 2010 and is looking to improve the mall in a substantial way, working to make it more secure, enjoyable and convenient.
The Macon Mall opened in July of 1975 with 950,000 sq. ft. and four anchor stores, replacing Westgate Mall down the street.
In 1997, the mall reached its greatest size and capacity, adding more upscale businesses, two major anchor stores, Parisian and Dillard’s, and a two-story food court..
Many Macon natives have fond memories spanning from when the Macon Mall opened in the 1970s through its transformation into the fourth largest mall in Georgia in the early 2000s.
“Back in my Mercer days, it was the only place to shop and was twice the size it is now,” said Mercer alumna (2002-2006), Kate Miller.
“[The mall] was one of the highlights for me about moving to Macon. The mall felt very safe...[it] was organized so that shops appealing to similar clientele were all close to each other,” Miller continued.
However, the businesses are not the only aspect of the mall treasured by mall-goers of the past.
Many Macon citizens remember a time when the mall often held fun family events, such as the indoor car shows, choral groups, and fashion shows including one featuring Edith Head’s line.
Certain features of Macon Mall’s past remain close to people’s hearts, such as the train car restaurant, Farrell’s Ice Cream parlor, the giant carousel, the four-plex movie theatre, Big Top Sandwich Shoppe and the arcade with video games like Pac-Man and Galaga.
Since the mall’s decline, most of the businesses that attracted people to the Macon Mall have either moved to another location, the majority to River Crossing, or simply closed down.
According to Bill Murphy, 57, a former employee of Atlanta mall developer Scott Hudgens and a Macon resident since 2011, “The day of the mall as a mecca is gone, as the cost is prohibitive for construction and maintenance of elaborate public spaces.”
Several shoppers still believe the surrounding area to be dangerous and crime-ridden and remain uncertain about mall security measures, despite the efforts of the new management.
“[Since 10 to 15 years ago], the mall has gotten a little worse,” said fifth-year Mercer senior, Chris Borroso.
“Kids were running around without parents, causing trouble. The crime got a lot worse, and people stuck to the peripheral shops.”
Others claim that along with the area’s reputation for crime, mall management is to be blamed for the fall of the shopping center.
Randy Kitchens, 55, who grew up in Macon, said, “Going to Macon Mall risks car vandalism or theft at the least. This is during daylight hours. To go at night is simply flirting with disaster…If I want to enjoy a nice mall, I have to leave Macon. Poor management and lack of security destroyed what was the old Macon Mall.”
The negative reputation the mall has gained in past years is furthered by the number of crimes people imagine occur at the mall.
However, according to Sgt. Mark Schultz of Bibb County Police, in his five years at Macon Mall, he has seen no crimes more serious than shoplifting.
“The mall is just as safe as any other place in Macon,” said Shultz.
Widespread rumors and urban legends involving gang initiations at Macon Mall have also circulated and frightened off many shoppers in past years.
However, since new mall management took over the building in September 2010, they have been working to renovate and bring life back to the Macon Mall.
The new management company, Hull Storey Gibson Comapanies LLC, bought the mall and began making changes almost immediately, decreasing the mall’s size in order to eliminate empty spaces and updating the décor to show some of Macon’s history.
Hull Storey Gibson have bought and managed over 15 malls in the South, from Texas to North Carolina, over the past 35 years.
In order to bring more business back to the Macon Mall, Hull Storey Gibson has brought in a popular barbeque restaurant, Smok’n Pig BBQ, in April 2012 and two new stores in October 2012, Dry Falls Outfitters and B. Turners.
Caitlyn DuCharme, a sophomore at Mercer and Macon resident, said “Compared to the last few years, it’s a definite improvement. I don’t necessarily feel safe, but the atmosphere is much nicer than it was two years ago.”
The new management has recently torn down the old Dillard’s building and plans to replace it with a grassy area with the potential of being redeveloped in the future. The demolition and landscaping should be completed early this summer.
Deputy Johnny Blash, a Macon Mall police officer since 2005, said “The current renovations and security measures are very good. Now, it’s a matter of word of mouth. People will start to realize the mall is now more family-centered. It used to be a hangout place for people not doing any shopping. But that has changed now. It’s time to have fun with pants pulled up and showing some respect for other shoppers.”
The new management has put a large focus on security at the Macon Mall, continued Blash. “It will thrive now. It’s the safest it’s been in a long time.”
According to Blash and Schultz, two uniformed officers are in the mall during the day, along with six security officers. At 6 p.m., four more Macon police officers join them for extra night security.
The mall has also posted rules and regulations for shoppers, including an age limit for single shoppers and a dress code.
Schultz’s prediction about the future of the Macon Mall is that “it might never go back to what it used to be, but the new owners have put in a lot of work, and it is much more secure now than ever before. It will probably get even better in the future.”
(03/06/13 5:19pm)
The Macon Promise Neighborhood initiative, or MPN, has been in the spotlight since former Chief Financial Officer Ron Collier sought a lawsuit to cancel the Bibb County school system’s lease of the old Ballard-Hudson Middle School building in December of 2012.
The initiative got even more attention in late January when Bibb County Commissioner Joe Allen called for a federal probe of the school system, investigating its dealings with the MPN, as several school board members said they did not understand the full financial commitment the school system made to the Promise Neighborhood.
The school system, one of many partners within MPN, appropriated funds to renovate the Ballard-Hudson building, in order to create a Macon Promise Center, where a variety of programs funded by the initiative could be held.
Macon Promise Center could complement MPN’s initial aim to focus on “strengthening educational outcomes for low-income children by working in partnership with the schools, the community and the family.”
The center could be a place where people from the neighborhood could gather without searching for a form of transportation, according to Mercer professor and MPN liaison, Mary Alice Morgan.
It could be used for educational programs for children (and parents) and for other events and activities within the community.
The MPN initiative’s mission is to end generational poverty in the Tindall Heights and Unionville areas of Macon with a community of unified support so that the neighborhood’s children can thrive and reach their full potential.
The initiative is working to increase the neighborhood children’s chance of success, putting them on a more level playing field with children with more resources.
The Bibb County school system has been supportive of the MPN initiative since its creation - the controversy arose after the school system’s total pledge was calculated. The board had made an overall commitment of $29.4 million, close to triple the amount the school board voted on in June, $10 million.
Sue Sipe, the school board’s acting president, said she thought the school board’s lease for the Promise Center was “nominal, like a dollar,” although she later discovered the actual cost, according to The Telegraph.
Superintendent Romain Dallemand committed $19.4 million (including the original $10 million) without board approval last July. Months later, in October, school system attorney Andrea Jolliffe informed the board of the increased amount.
The school board approved the new amount. However, the document shown to the board listing the total commitment did not include another $10 million of in-kind resources.
This extra $10 million commitment, which is at the center of the Collier lawsuit, was to be used for the Macon Promise Center.
The confusion within the school board and the Macon Promise initiative has been echoed in the media and the public, as the litigation process made open discussion about the topic off-limits for some time.
Despite the recent lawsuit, MPN is not slowing down its programs helping the community.
“We will continue to assist the efforts of the school district and build community resources in Unionville and Tindall Heights to ensure maximum outcomes for our children,” said Ebony Harris, MPN Project Director.
Some of the goals of the initiative are the healthy development and early learning of young children, readiness for school, early intervention for at-risk children and youth in school and graduation from high school ready to succeed in jobs or post-secondary education.
However, perhaps the most concrete goal of MPN is, within five years of implementation, to graduate 75 percent of Southwest students with regular education diplomas with 75 percent of those students continuing on to college or job training.
So far, MPN has built a strong coalition of around 30 partners, besides the Bibb County School District, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Club, Macon Housing Authority, Mercer University and Wesleyan College.
MPN has also brought tutors to several schools in Bibb County, some from Mercer University.
The initiative has also begun a successful four-week summer internship program
at Southwest High School, which places students with some of MPN’s partners, such as Macon Housing Authority, the Boys and Girls Club and several more.
The neighborhood initiative hosted an alternative weekend, with the purpose of bringing Mercer students, who have been very involved with MPN, and residents together to discuss challenges and opportunities, turning their thoughts into actions at the MPN Service Day a month later.
MPN is on its way to achieving many of its goals, although the initiative has not yet received an implementation grant. The application was sent in July 2012, and if awarded, will bring more than $28 million in resources to Tindall Heights and Unionville over the next five years.
Morgan sees the initiative as a serious opportunity and is excited to see Mercer students so involved with the initiative, whether it be in the Boys and Girls Club, service days, Big Brother Big Sister or tutoring.
“As a nation, we know howdifficult it is to break the cycle of inter-generational poverty. Simply doing what we’ve always done in the past doesn’t work,” said Morgan.
Morgan sees a great space for change in the Macon community and believes we can start with one small part of the community, the Promise Neighborhood, and soon the change will spread. For now, she says our focus should remain on the two neighborhoods, Tindall Heights and Unionville, until a definite upturn can be seen in these areas.
“Promise Neighborhood can be a game-changer for the children and families in Tindall Heights and Unionville because it is not simply services – it is a movement, embraced by residents, the school system, community leaders and non-profits,” said Morgan. “We are working together in unprecedented collaboration to move the neighborhoods past the ‘tipping point’ from failing schools and poverty toward academic achievement and economic prosperity.”
(02/06/13 3:28pm)
On Tuesday, Jan. 22, Bibb County Commissioner Joe Allen asked a Grand Jury to investigate recent actions of Bibb County Board of Education, as well as the Board’s dealings with the Macon’s Promise Neighborhood.
Allen made the request for a Federal Prosecutor during a news conference at the Bibb County Courthouse, informing the people of Bibb County that his purpose is to investigate the Bibb County School Board, current and past Board members.
The commissioner said in the conference, “The allegations that surround the School Board must be addressed by an outside authority with subpoena power. These allegations must be investigated immediately by a Federal authority, as the facts show a possible misuse of Federal funds, not to mention State and local money as well.”
Allen made this request as a citizen of Bibb County and the state of Georgia, not on behalf of the Board of Commissioners.
As an elected official of Bibb County, Allen said he felt that he felt a certain responsibility about these kinds of issues. He stood up for the Bibb citizens’ right to have the truth separated from fiction, even if no wrongdoing has occurred.
According to The Telegraph, Allen made the request in the wake of lawsuits detailing “a lack of school board oversight in the Macon Promise Neighborhood program.”
A Telegraph investigation showed Bibb County Superintendent Romain Dallemand pledged more than twice as much funding for the neighborhood improvement program than the school board authorized him to do, which adds up to be a $19.3 million school system commitment to the program.
This money is slated for the former Ballard-Hudson Middle School building, which was auctioned off for $220,000 in 2009.
Chief Financial Officer Ron Collier has sought a lawsuit to cancel the school system’s lease for the building and called it illegal. According to an audit report of the district’s finances, the school board did not approve the lease before it was signed by the Superintendent.
Allen never specified exactly what he wanted investigated, and he refused to say whether it was tied to Collier’s lawsuit or other claims, according to The Telegraph.
However, Allen did specify four areas he wanted addressed.
First, he requested that the Grand Jury should look into any practice of additional compensation for the members of the Board of Education that should not have been received.
Then, the investigation should examine companies doing business with the Board where funds might have been used unlawfully to benefit certain members of the Board.
Thirdly, the prosecutor should examine employment practices of the Board wherein undue hardship or punishment was placed on Board employees “in retaliation for exercising their normal duties as those duties pertain to overseeing the spending guidelines of Federal money given to the school board.”
Lastly, the investigation should cover if any bidding procedures have been violated by the Board.
According to 13WMAZ, Monday, Jan. 28 was the first time participants of the Macon Promise Neighborhood initiative officially met since two of its partners were mentioned in a lawsuit.
At this meeting, Diana Glymph, chair of the initiative’s advisory board, worked to clear up the matter for Macon Promise partners.
In order to combat the negative attention Macon Promise received after the first Telegraph article, Glymph reassured residents and members at this meeting that the program would not be withdrawing from the neighborhood because of finances and lawsuits.
Although Mayor Robert Reichert was similarly disappointed with Promise Neighborhood’s negative attention in the media, he encouraged partners to look at the situation in a positive way and to continue to attack their goals with vigor.
“The controversy is not about the families and it’s not about the services to the families,” Glymph said, according to 13WMAZ. “It is an outside controversy that is tied to a project within the Promise Neighborhoods and would be an asset to our work, but the work is going on with or without [a] Macon Promise Center.”
Glymph also said Promise Neighbrohood is not about to give up. They are planning to reapply for a $30 million grant over five years to initiate programs they have determined necessary in the Unionville and Tindall Heights neighborhoods.
Until a grant is approved, Macon Promise has several initiatives in progress.
“[O]ne partner has secured funding for a school-based health center at Ingram-Pye elementary. There are 70 tutors and 52 mentors from Mercer and Central Georgia Tech working with students, and Central Georgia counseling services is offering counseling for families in the neighborhood through the initiative,” said Candace Adorka of 13WMAZ.
The Promise Neighborhood initiative is a partnership made up of several dozen community organizations, including the Bibb County school district and Mercer University.
The project received a $500,000 federal planning grant in 2011 to begin work on programs which would improve the lives of students and families at Ingram-Pye and Hartley elementary schools, as well as Ballard-Hudson middle and Southwest high schools.
(01/23/13 4:32pm)
A gathering of nearly 70 Macon residents came to declare their love for Macon in the city’s Rosa Parks Square on the afternoon of Tuesday, Jan. 8.
At the event, Mayor Robert Reichert announced the day as “I Love Macon Day,” as a tribute to the yearlong campaign whose objective is to get 10,000 people stating the reason they love the city of Macon and vowing to spread the message of appreciation whenever possible.
“(The campaign) promotes the positives,” the mayor said, according to The Telegraph. “While we recognize there are negatives, as there are with other cities, we want to do something about them. ... It is a way to remind ourselves of the positives we have. It should be an all-day, everyday event.”
Bibb County Commission Chairman Sam Hart announced to the crowd his hopes that the day expands next year to “I Love Macon and Bibb County,” once the two governments have consolidated.
Campaign organizers rolled out a long sheet of paper at the event to gather signatures. People can also sign the pledge at the website ilovemacon.org, go to a local pledge signing spot listed on the website, or pledge by sending an email to love@ilovemacon.org.
As of Jan. 8, around 7,200 people signed the pledge. Organizers hoped to get the remaining 2,800 by the deadline of Jan. 31, 2013, the one year anniversary of the effort.
Now the pledge has 8,500 signatures, but still needs the last 1,500 to complete the “I Love Macon” challenge.
The “I Love Macon” campaign was created by five Macon citizens: Josh Rogers, Pilar Wilder, Julia Wood, Wesley Griffith and Heather Bowman Cutway.
All five of the campaign’s founders were selected as Macon Magazine’s “Five Under 40” in 2011. The group was asked what they loved about Macon, which the initial inspiration for the campaign.
The “I Love Macon Pledge” asks people who sign to keep a positive outlook on their city, even as they acknowledging that the city has problems common to many cities. The pledge also encourages signers to spread the good aspects of the city of Macon with others in the community.
Rogers said the project, which has mostly been a grass roots affair, provides a way to boost the city’s collective self-confidence, according to The Telegraph.
“Sometimes, people can be critical of the place they live,” Rogers said. “Because people are sharing the things they love, they learn about other aspects of Macon. ... We hope this will deepen people’s love.”
Schools, restaurants, and other organizations around Macon have helped the campaign by encouraging people to sign the pledge. Mercer brought about an opportunity to sign the pledge at one of its basketball games.
The “I Love Macon” campaign also has a Facebook page on which the organizers post some of the best reasons people love Macon. People can also sign the pledge on the Facebook page.
“I feel privileged to have been raised in a city with so much rich history, culture and tradition,” wrote one pledge signer, Fred Swann. “Is it perfect? Absolutely not. I am willing to fight to make it better every day.”
(01/23/13 4:30pm)
Bibb County swore six school board members into office Tuesday, Jan. 8, including newcomers Thelma Dillard, Jason Downey and Lester Miller.
Incumbent board members Ella Carter, Tom Hudson and Susan Sipe were sworn into office the same afternoon.
Probate Judge Sarah Harris administered the oaths of office during the ceremony, which took place at the Bibb County Courthouse.
The six board members won positions on the eight-member school board in last year’s elections.
The terms for Lynn Farmer and Wanda West, at-large board members, end in 2014.
The board will be working through major issues this year such as the budget, the idea of year-round school and pending litigation against the school system, Downey said in The Telegraph.
He described his swearing-in as a “humbling” process and said he immediately realized after signing his name that “now the work begins.”
Although Jan. 8 marked the day of the official swearing-in ceremony, Miller said he has been attending board meetings and keeping up with the school system’s actions in preparation for his new job on the school board.
Miller said that to him, he has “been working on the school board for several months now.”
The changes to the board are promising, according to Dillard, who said she embraced both the veteran and new members of the board.
Dillard said she looks forward to working toward new solutions for tackling important issues such as school funding and advancement opportunities for teachers.
The Board of Education is already beginning to address the issue of expanding opportunities for teachers.
The Bibb County School District is planning a Teacher Recruitment Fair at Central High School on Feb. 23, an event including on-site interviews and meeting Bibb County school principals.
The Board of Education also began its next round of Discipline Task Force meetings on Thursday, Jan. 17.
The Task Force was created make recommendations to the Superintendent.
The latest meeting provided an opportunity for the District to update the community on recent improvements to discipline and safety.
(01/23/13 4:30pm)
With its eclectic décor, old- timey music, classic Italian menu items and abundant serving sizes, Macon’s newest Italian restaurant, Buca di Beppo, is not exaggerating when they call themselves a family-style restaurant.
Although Buca di Beppo has over 90 locations in the U.S., England and Mexico, the restaurant’s atmosphere is that of a small, one-of-a-kind, locally owned, Italian bistro.
Unlike many other Italian restaurant chains, Buca di Beppo’s eccentric style and taste in both decoration and music keep diners entertained as they eat delicious Italian cuisine.
It is hard to keep your eyes off of the walls, full of images of Italian landscapes, paintings of saints and holy people, and vintage photos that look like they might have been taken from someone’s personal photo album.
The decoration gives the impression that you are looking at the result of one person’s mission to collect as many souvenirs and photos from different countries around the world as they could, especially Italy.
Even with what seems to be wide-ranging and spontaneous décor, Buca di Beppo sticks to its overall theme of Italy in a big way.
Although many small random pictures of movie stars and kittens cover the restaurant, a large painting of Venice or of a Catholic saint dominates many walls.
The music ranges from Italian operatic music scores to Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra classics.
Of course, the food is Italian-themed with a variety of Italian appetizers, like mozzarella garlic bread, and entrées, including ravioli, fettuccine alfredo, cheese manicotti, baked lasagna, and shrimp florentine.
Buca di Beppo’s menu also includes popular Italian wines, soft drinks and desserts, such as the dolce platter and chocolate-chip cannolis.
The restaurant continues creating innovative new recipes inspired by Northern and Southern Italian cuisine.
Buca di Beppo has a strong focus on family and friends, which is demonstrated by their large meal portions they encourage customers to share.
Diners can choose between the sizes of small and large for each entrée, depending on how hungry they are.
Their large portions also extend to their dessert options, as in their “Colossal Brownie Sundae,” which could easily feed five people.
The restaurant might be considered casual dining, but the lively atmosphere, friendly service and delicious food help make Buca di Beppo the perfect place for any kind of celebration, whether it be a birthday, anniversary, formal or graduation.
The placemat even advertises parties for Confirmations, Communions, office celebrations and Groundhog Day.
If you would like to feel excited about going out to eat, Buca di Beppo is the ideal restaurant.
It is impossible for fellow diners not to realize it is your birthday and almost equally impossible for them not to join in with the staff in singing their catchy birthday sing-along.
As you’re celebrating, you can even enjoy the light of your own personal candelabra.
However, Buca di Beppo is mostly a restaurant for larger parties who are willing to pay for more expensive meals, most likely for a special occasion.
Since the meal portions are meant for sharing, each item costs more than expected at most casual Italian restaurants.
Also, if you cannot agree on a menu item to share with another person, you will be paying a rather hefty price for one meal.
Therefore, Buca di Beppo, although delicious, might not be your number one choice for a first date, a quick bite to eat or a thrifty dinner, especially on a college budget.
But keep it in mind for when graduation comes around.
(10/10/12 4:02pm)
Although the Mercer Engineering Department is not exactly known for its overabundance of female engineers, you may be surprised to find out that Mercer has a relatively high number of women engineering students in comparison to other universities around the country. As of 2010, around 35 percent of students who graduated from Mercer with engineering Bachelor’s degrees were women.
This respectable female presence was evident at the October meeting of the Society of Women Engineers, or SWE, held last Friday, Oct. 5, in the Engineering Building. The half-hour discussion had no shortage of members, with 12 ladies in attendance, most of whom were eagerly making plans for future events while enjoying a nice assortment of doughnuts.
As Friday’s relaxed meeting demonstrates, this group of women are as interested in exciting events as they are in their academics. President Caitlyn Ryan explains that this organization “is about getting all the female engineers together for moral support. The older girls set an example for the newer ones, and we all like to have fun.”
Although these women are brought together on an academic basis, the focus of the organization is not necessarily rigorous and continuous study but discussing problems with each other and meeting people who can relate to their situation.
According to Ryan, SWE is also a really good opportunity for networking among engineering students, both male and female.
SWE’s monthly meetings are not the only time this group comes together. They participate in several of the Engineering Department’s events, such as the hot dog stand called “Swieners.”
SWE hosts its own events as well, including the event held last year called “Engineering Superheroes,” where middle school-aged girls in Macon came to visit Mercer engineering students, along with students from several other schools, and learn about what they do.
Unfortunately, SWE has held a few events in the past that proved to be unsuccessful. However, Ryan announced, this year SWE will be participating in some new, engaging activities that will hopefully be fun and entertaining for members and also bring more attention to the organization.
A few of these fun activities include a game of “Capture the Pumpkin” which will be open to the entire campus. “Capture the Pumpkin” is a social that involves either going to the Georgia Aquarium, the Atlanta Zoo or the Georgia State Fair; and possibly some kind of event in support of Engineering Week later this school year.
It was obvious by the conversation in the Friday meeting that these events and activities are the kind of things these lady engineers were looking for when they joined this organization.
SWE is a great example of new and innovative developments throughout Mercer’s campus, as the Society was formed only four short years ago in order to give the female minority of Mercer engineering students some sort of an outlet and a haven.
Although SWE is primarily made up of female engineers at present, it is not exclusive. Both men and non-engineers can join as long as they encourage women and engineering. This group of supportive student peers is another shining example of one of Mercer’s greatest aspects – community and fellowship.
Ryan explains the importance of community support best, declaring: “We help each other out in SWE, and hopefully we’ll all graduate. Therefore, we benefit Mercer as a whole by improving the graduation rate.” Surely this is Mercer’s hope for all departments and everybody wins.
(09/26/12 9:40pm)
The Mercer Women’s Golf Team participated in the Terrier Intercollegiate on Sept. 10 and 11. Thirteen teams competed in this tournament, held at The Country Club of Spartanburg in South Carolina. Mercer finished the opening round in fourth place with a team score of 304 and wrapped up the final round in fifth place with a score of 301. The Bears’ total score of 605 fixed them in fifth place overall, only one stroke behind their host Wofford College in fourth place and nine strokes ahead of Elon University in sixth place. The Terrier Intercollegiate was a successful start to the season, as Mercer’s final score of 605 was only ten strokes behind tournament champion, UNC-Pembroke with a score of 595.
The Mercer Women’s Golf Team as a whole should be commended for the success of the tournament. However, there are several players whose performances were especially strong, including junior Mary Alice Murphy, who tied for second place overall, along with Wofford’s Anne Marie Covar. Murphy ended the opening round with 74 strokes and made a nice comeback in the final round with a score of 70. Her total score of 144 was only one point behind first-place Mary K. Donovan of Gardner-Webb University. Murphy’s effort marks the seventh time in her career she has achieved a top-five finish and the third time earning runner-up honors.
Murphy was not alone in her skill and effort – junior Lacey Fears and senior Kaitlin Marrin both turned in 76’s, tying for 17th place in the opening round. Senior Aurelie Wiriath carded a 78, while sophomore Sarah Louie Brown wrapped up Mercer’s first round with a score of 79. For the final round, Fears remained in 17th place, carding a 75 in the second round and posting a total of 151. Marrin and Brown both posted 78’s, tying for 21st place in the final round and 32nd overall. Wiriath rounded out Mercer’s competitors with an 82 in the final round, ranking 46th individually. Senior Jessica Arthur finished first among players competing as individuals on the strength of a score of 75 in the final round. Her 75 combined with an opening round of 80 placed her tied for 25th overall.
The Bears then traveled to Jekyll Island, Georgia to host their annual Eat-A-Peach Collegiate on Sept. 22-24. The women’s golf team had won the past two Eat-A-Peach Collegiate tournaments, so the pressure for a three-peat was high.
On day one, Mercer junior golfer Mary Alice Murphy fired a 1-under par to lead all players at Pine Lakes Golf Course. As a team, Mercer’s opening round 295 placed the Bears atop the five-team leaderboard.
“We played okay today,” Mercer head coach Gary Guyer said. “Our goal is to get better every round, so that’s what we’ve got to go out and do tomorrow.”
Murphy leads her classmate Lacey Fears by just one stroke on the individual leaderboard. Fears’ day one even-par score equaled the effort of North Florida’s Tess Huber, leaving them in a tie for second place.
Senior Kaitlin Marrin turned in a 1-over 73 on Saturday and was tied for fifth overall. Sarah Louise Brown and Aurelie Wiriath both shot 79 and were tied for 16th place after the first day of play.
On day two, Mercer saw a light drop in their play as they posted a team score of 296 just one stroke shy of the previous day’s 295.
For the second-straight day, Mercer junior Mary Alice Murphy entered the clubhouse with a hold of the overall individual lead. Both Murphy and Lacey Fears shot 73 on day two to maintain positioning as the tournament’s top-two players. Murphy’s 73 paired with her day one’s 71, while Fears’ 73 followed her opening round 72.
Sophomore Sarah Louise Brown and senior Aurelie Wiriath both used 75 strokes in the second round, marking the second-straight day the players have had mirroring scores, putting them in 11th place overall.
Senior Kaitlin Marrin fired a 78 on day two and was in ninth place overall with a tournament total of 151.
Day three saw the Mercer women’s golf team capture its third-straight Eat-A-Peach Collegiate title on Monday, booking a combined team score of 300 in the final round at Pine Lakes Golf Course. Mercer junior Lacey Fears took home Mercer’s top finish, a tie for second place overall, on the strength of her season-best 70 in the final round.
Fears went into the event as the two-time defending individual champion, but ultimately her bid at three-straight Eat-A-Peach trophies was denied by Seminole State’s Chanya Angwarawong. Angwarawong put together a tournament low 67 on the final day to beat out Fears by just one stroke.
Fears used 215 strokes over three days to earn her fourth career top-five finish. Her classmate Mary Alice Murphy also took home a top-five finish, placing fourth with a three-day total of 220. Murphy’s fourth place standing marked her eighth top-five placement and second-consecutive event in the top-five individuals.
Senior Kaitlin Marrin (229) signed for a 78 for the second-straight day and finished 11th overall. Her classmate Aurelie Wiriath shot 76 on the last day, finishing one stroke behind Marrin and in a tie for 12th place overall. Sophomore Sarah Louise Brown (233) rounded out Mercer’s team participants with a final round 79 and a tie for 16th place.
Mercer returns to competition at the LPGA Invitational in Daytona Beach, Florida on Oct. 12. The three-day event is hosted by Xavier at the LPGA International Legends Course.
(09/12/12 4:00pm)
You may know Dr. Charlotte Thomas as the philosophy professor or the Great Books teacher at Mercer, but she was once here as a student - roaming the campus, attending Greek mixers, and questioning her major just like us. Originally from St. Pete, Florida, Dr. Thomas found Mercer and immediately felt a connection. From 1985 to 1989, she lived here as a student, and after four years of living in Atlanta to complete graduate school at Emory University, she returned as a professor in 1994. As a Mercer alumni and a current professor, Dr. Thomas has plenty to share about Mercer, past and present.
Cluster: As a student, what made you choose Mercer?
Dr. Thomas: When I came to Mercer, it was a bit different than it is now. Around 35-40% of Mercer’s student body was from Florida. When I was still living in Florida, my Sunday school teacher, Jean Kinlin - who happened to be the first female to serve as SGA President at Mercer when she attended in the late 70s - looked at me and said that I should go to Mercer. I had been accepted to several other colleges, including Cornell and Vanderbilt, but I wanted to check Mercer out. Jean Kinlin drove me up for the weekend to tour the campus. I felt an instant connection. During this time, we stayed at the Alumni house, went to the Rookery, and had dinner with the Registrar. Later in the year, I went with my mom on a college tour all around the Southeast. We didn’t plan on visiting Mercer at this time, but since it was on the way, I wanted to stop by and check it out again. As soon as I stepped on campus, it just felt like home to me.
Cluster: Where did you live while you were at Mercer?
Dr. Thomas: I lived in a corner room of Porter’s third floor for my first two years at Mercer. There was no air conditioning in the building when I lived there, so we had a huge box fan sitting in the window. I can’t remember the heat ever being a problem, though. It might be because we didn’t start school until September.
Cluster: Do you have a favorite professor or story about a professor from your time as a student? Did anyone inspire you to become a professor?
Dr. Thomas: Well, when I started at Mercer, we had FSP (a precursor of FYS and INT) for the first two quarters of freshman year. Afterward, we could choose whether or not we wanted to go down the Great Books track. I was in the third group of students ever to go through Great Books at Mercer. In my first Great Books class, my professor was Mike Cass. He was one of those people who did and said whatever came to his mind. If students ever began relying on him too much for conversation in class, he would actually sit under the table to get the students to talk to each other. When I was in that class, it was like I could see light coming out of the book when he opened it – you could feel the power of the book. It felt like real and important things were happening.
Cluster: How did you decide the major you wanted to pursue?
Dr. Thomas: I came here with no idea what my major would be. At first, I thought I might be a math or computer science major, but I changed my mind quite a bit. I didn’t even take a philosophy class until my junior year. I didn’t really think about philosophy, until several of my general education professors recommended that I talk to Tom Trimble, who was in charge of the philosophy department. So I had to overload on classes, but I still graduated on time.
Cluster: While here as a student, were you involved in any Mercer organizations, such as Greek life, religious organizations or campus leadership?
Dr. Thomas: Oh yes. I pledged Phi Mu as a sophomore, served as Chief Justice of the Honor Council and was News Editor of The Cluster during my time as an undergrad. I was also involved in an on-campus religious group called the Glad River Congregation. This group was created in the 60s by professors who had become unhappy with conventional religion. There weren’t a lot of people who attended regularly, but a good number of those who did were some of the best professors Mercer has seen, including Dr. Trimble. I have had the unique opportunity of learning from some of these great professors as a student and then as a fellow teacher. Apprenticing under these people helped me become the teacher I am today.
Cluster: Do you have any interesting Mercer Memories to share?
Dr. Thomas: My time at Mercer as a student was a very eventful time campus-wide. Firstly, the Georgia Baptist Convention came down hard on Mercer, and then-current President, Kirby Godsey defended Mercer’s academic freedom. Soon after, I attended the GBC in Savannah, and there was such a show of Mercer pride. It was great to see. Then, around the same time (specifically 1987), Playboy announced Mercer University as the #9 party school in the nation, featuring racy photos of Mercer students ‘partying.’ Of course the GBC did not appreciate this. Possibly the most outrageous scandal of this time, however, was the accusation that Kirby Godsey was misappropriating funds. After this, his image of the hero of academic freedom changed a bit. In fact, Mercer staff members marched in protest against him. So, I had a lot to cover as News Editor.
Cluster: How does coming to Mercer every day as a professor differ from doing so as a student?
Dr. Thomas: Since I was a philosophy major and now I’m a philosophy professor, I go down the same halls I did as a student – therefore it seems familiar. But I’ve gotten into my routine as a teacher here, so I don’t think about it very often. If any friends from my days as a student visit me, that’s when I really start to remember.
Cluster: Is there anything that has drastically changed on Mercer’s campus since you graduated?
Dr. Thomas: Overall, I’d say the student body is smarter, with more ambition. It’s developed into a really wonderful place – it’s better. The campus itself is even more beautiful. I am still nostalgic for my mentors and the spirit they brought to this place. My professors were very serious about education, but fun and playful, too. They balanced a focus on ethics, faith and excellence with a mindset that was not so interested in professionalism and bureaucracy. We may have lost a little of that as a faculty. But I think today’s students will certainly be more prepared to work in the professional world.
Cluster: Did you always plan to work at Mercer?
Dr. Thomas: I went to grad school wanting to teach somewhere like Mercer. Actually, I was the first person to be hired in the Mercer Philosophy Department in 20+ years, and the first woman ever to be hired in the department. This was definitely my dream job. I almost didn’t even dare to dream it.
(09/07/11 11:18pm)
Since school has recently begun, you may still be running on the energy you stored up over the summer, but this won’t last long. By the time October rolls around, every college student gets the feeling that it is time for a nice little break.
The Georgia National Fair in Perry, Ga. could be just the place for you to escape the piles of Chemistry homework you have accumulated, your annoying hall mates and cafeteria food.
Exciting rides, delicious food and plenty of entertainment make the Georgia National Fair a great getaway. It will be open Oct. 6-16 this year.
So, even if you are a member of every club on campus and are taking 18 hours of classes, certainly you can manage to squeeze one night of fun somewhere in that 10-day span.
The fairgrounds in Perry are only about a 35 minute drive from Mercer, and believe me, it is worth the drive. It’s hard to miss the fairgrounds once the fair is set up – you can see all the rides, including the huge Ferris wheel, from the road.
It will be a busy week and a half in Perry, with the gates opening at 8 a.m. every day, except Oct. 6 when they open at 3 p.m., and closing at 10 p.m. each night. From Oct. 7-16, there is an entrance fee of $8 for adults, $7 each for groups, and free for children under 10 - with paying adults.
Michele Trepto, Director of Communications, believes that the Georgia National Fair is something to always be remembered. “The Georgia National Fair is definitely a sensory experience. You can see it, taste it, and touch it. This is the great thing about the fair – it is different for everyone. The fair can be fun for all, young or old,” she said.
If you are there for the displays and entertainment, there are over 30 acts and quite a few display areas. If you go for the tasty food, the fair is full of food vendors (and funnel cake!). If you enjoy the thrilling rides, you have plenty to choose from. And if you are one of those people who would like to participate in all of these, you should probably get to the fair around 8 a.m. and plan out your day accordingly.
The first thing you should do when you get to the fair is check out what shows are going on. Entertainment is rampant at the fair, so you are most likely to stumble upon a show even if you weren’t looking for one.
The fair has your standard entertainment, such as a comedian, a magician, a keyboard player, a petting zoo and a fireworks show at night. These are all fun and exciting.
However, there are even more fascinating shows you would be hard-pressed to find anywhere outside of the Georgia National Fair, like the Big Bear Show, Sea Lion Splash, Middle Earth Storytellers, and Mutton Bustin’ (the sheep rodeo.) There is no excuse not to enjoy one of these unique shows, since they are free.
If somehow you still haven’t found a show you would enjoy, maybe you would be interested in the Blake Shelton concert happening on October 8 from 7:30 to 10 p.m. or the Georgia Jam on October 15, featuring Colt Ford, Corey Smith and Rehab.
Tickets for the Blake Shelton concert are $30 and the Georgia Jam is $25 per ticket. Students can visit http://www.georgianationalfair.com/get-tickets/ to purchase in advance.
Another great part of the fair is the wide variety of foods, drinks, and treats to choose from. Among the many restaurants and booths, including the McGill Marketplace and the Georgia Building, there are such tasty items as barbeque sandwiches, cotton candy, corn dogs, turkey legs, candied apples, slushes and ears of corn.
It may not be the most healthy food on the planet, but it is so hard to pass it up after smelling it all day. The food and drinks are yummy, but if you are cheap or broke, you could always stop by the barn full of cows and grab a free milk.
There is another form of entertainment, which is a little more hands-on and might even be the most popular thing at the fair - the rides. There are rides that spin and twirl and go up and down very quickly. But most importantly, there is a new ride called The Stinger, which should be scoped out and ridden.
If you go on a regular day, you can get 18 tickets for $10, but on an armband day (Oct 10-13, 16) you can get unlimited riding from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. for only $16. I would recommend going on an armband day in order to get a more enjoyable riding experience for your money.
It only comes once a year, and since the Georgia State Fair is not coming to Macon this year, you can easily find your fair entertainment only a few miles away. Just remember, for the sake of everyone at the fair, try not to eat right before you get on a ride – “fair fever” is not a literal term!