Free-For-All Friday 1/29/16

Feel free to use this post to make comments and ask questions about local topics not discussed here over the past week.

27 thoughts on “Free-For-All Friday 1/29/16”


  4. Hi Decatur. My name is Sam, I live in North Decatur. I am a web developer with over 8 yrs of experience and am looking for some freelance work. Does your business website need a facelift? I can build wordpress, drupal, or static websites quickly and efficiently. I am trying to make some extra cash for a nice gift for my wife for her birthday 🙂

    If interested, please respond to this post and I’ll reach out to you!

    1. Hey there, Sam. I own and operate Decaturish.com, and we are a WordPress site. I sometimes need someone to help me do minor tweaks and spot fixes as issues arise. If you want to talk further, please reach out to me at [email protected].

    2. Sam, post your offline contact info. We have need for site dev help from time to time, too. Thanks.

  8. This is how cool Decatur is–the “competitor” of DM can come on DM and network with potential freelancers! I love Decatur Metro and Decaturish both. We need both of you!

  10. What a quiet day around here. Should we talk about the fact that our most popular choices for president consist of a socialist, an awful human being, an egomaniac and a bible thumper?

    1. Since Bernie Sander only dings on one of those descriptions, and the other leaders, some would say, ding on two or more (I’d say three for Cruz)…Sanders for Prez! Seriously though, this is some entertaining theater, but it’s a done deal: Clinton’s the next president.

        1. I truly don’t know what to think anymore. But if I was a betting man, barring an indictment, I would bet that you are correct. Hell, her supporters would still vote for her even if under indictment.

            1. More correct to say that they claim they will vote for him. I’m not convinced he gets a bunch of people out to vote in primaries. I think Cruz may do better (but he’s, imo, an even worse general election candidate than Trump). That said, FWIW, the only Republican candidate bumper stickers I’ve seen are Trump’s.

            2. My take on that statement is it was a jab at the one-story media covering ONLY the snow storm shutting down DC and NYC for a few days. If he (Trump) were to shoot someone in the street, his poll numbers would not change BECAUSE the media wouldn’t break away from the one-story blizzard to cover it.

      2. I used to be completely convinced of that, but now I think I’ll wait for the proverbial fat lady. (Bernie! Bernie! Bernie!)

        1. There is at least one thing I like about Sanders, or two really. He isn’t religious, and he doesn’t pretend to be religious (unlike, I believe, the majority of politicians).

        1. She can name a VP (Bill?) who she knows will pardon her. We have a long history of making sure our presidents and ex-presidents don’t go to jail.

      4. Tell me you just aren’t coming to the realization that Hillary is out next President. I’ve known that for years, especially given the current dysfunction of the G.O.P.

        And FWIW, the only reason Bernie has a glimmer of hope in a couple of primaries is because Hillary is just so damn unlikeable, no matter what side of the aisle you find yourself on.

  14. As a small non-profit, Woodlands Garden, typically works with outside experts and volunteers to accomplish most any project. Would love local input on a handyman that could help us out with repairs around the Garden and if you’re looking for a volunteer opportunity in 2016 we’d like to help find the perfect task for you at Woodlands.

    Keep in touch and hope you’ll visit soon!

  16. I bring to your attention two fine articles by local historian Dick Funderburke in the recent Decatur Dispatch. “Decatur’s First Great Festival” describes a 1915 gathering of up to 20,000 around the square for the Decatur Fair. Funderburke writes that in addition to a parade of thousands of school children, ” a giant picnic of free food was served on the nearby grounds of the Donald Fraser School (once located near present day McDonalds on Commerce) and as many as 15,000 were served…”. Of greater interest to me was the article on Decatur’s first traffic officer, Addison Wier, better known as writer Sarge Plunkett. According to Funderburke and online sources, Wier fought at several major battles in the Civil War including Gettysburg where “his regiment lost almost half of its men”. Wier was well known for his humorous columns in the Atlanta Constitution. As traffic cop, he waved a stick at drivers to “Keep To The Right”. Wier lived on Adair Street where he died in 1922.
    I look forward to finding his grave in the Decatur Cemetery and honoring his memory on Confederate Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Good Job Dick Funderburke and Decatur Dispatch!

    1. Chris,
      Thanks for posting this information. I have shared it with the Lenox Place Nextdoor group and Facebook page.
      Doug Eidle

  18. Sorry. My post was approved before running it by the sensitivity committee. Here is a better effort:
    I bring to your attention two fine articles by local historian Dick Funderburke in the recent Decatur Dispatch. “Decatur’s First Great Festival” describes a 1915 gathering of up to 20,000 around the square for the Decatur Fair. Funderburke writes that in addition to a parade of thousands of school children, ” a giant picnic of free food was served on the nearby grounds of the Donald Fraser School (once located near present day McDonalds on Commerce) and as many as 15,000 were served…”.

    Of greater interest to me was the article on Decatur’s first traffic officer, Addison Wier, better known as writer Sarge Plunkett. According to Funderburke and online sources, Wier fought at several major battles in the Civil War including Gettysburg where “his regiment lost almost half of its men”. Wier was well known for his humorous columns in the Atlanta Constitution. As traffic cop, he waved a stick at drivers to “Keep To The Right”. Wier lived on Adair Street where he died in 1922. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=33273544

    Mr. Funderburke mentions that the inspiration for many of Addison Wier’s columns was his wife, Mrs. Mary Ida Britt Wier. One of his most famous stories features his wife as Scary Lucy. It describes how Lucy, intent on getting home to make supper, ignored the fighting between Union and Confederate troops. “She simply ignored the ferocious fighting men, and walked across the line of fire to her cabin”. The fighting stopped allowing both armies to rest while Miss Lucy fixed supper. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=33273612

    Addison Wier is buried in section 2 of the new cemetery. Entering from Church Street go past Veterans Rock and the sexton’s house about 75 yards. As you descend the hill, look to the left. His monument sits all alone. Having crossed the fields of Gettysburg with DHS students, I can only sense that Mr. Wier finally made it past the stone wall and is resting on the other side. I could not find the grave site of his wife but she is buried in the cemetery.

    I look forward to honoring his memory on Confederate Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Good Job Dick Funderburke and Decatur Dispatch!

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