While the local government buzz around these parts focused on a ballpark and a bunch of money this week, we should not ignore some good news that came from the county commission.
Hamilton County Schools boss Justin Robertson went to the commission, which unanimously passed a $1 million request to help fund the school system’s move to have a security officer in each school building across the county. It will be combined with $950,000 allotted by the school system to fund beefed-up security in our schools.
There were a lot of folks justifiably offering atta boys to Robertson, who worked with the sheriff’s office on the measure as well as talking with the county’s other municipalities.
Robertson told the commission he’s confident to be fully staffed by fall break of the upcoming school year.
There’s normally a lot of bellyaching about paying extra, but the commissioners who spoke were right to praise this idea and the cooperation between the school system and the sheriff’s department to make a smart security measure a reality.
Well done, folks.
Happy July
Did you have a good Friday? It likely was not as productive as Bobby Bonilla’s. Bobby Bonilla, you may recall, was a baseball star in the 1990s, and at one time was the highest paid player in the game when he signed with the New York Mets.
That situation did not work and the Mets bought Bonilla out of his $5.9 million contract. But because of getting involved in the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme, Mets ownership was cash-strapped at the time.
So instead of cutting Bonilla a check, they negotiated with his agent to defer the payments; Bonilla hit the lottery.
Bonilla receives a $1.193 million check every July 1 and has since 2011. And he will get that same amount until 2035, which means the deferred payments total more than $29 million on a $5.9 million debt.
Now that’s some kind of retirement plan.
Elmo in three
So Ted Cruz is now picking a fight with Elmo.
Las Vegas has set the betting line at Elmo minus-160, provided Cruz doesn’t skedaddle off to Cancun beforehand.
Cruz has a beef that a commercial showing Elmo getting vaccinated shows “zero scientific evidence supporting the decision for kids to get vaccinated.” Nothing like arguing with a talking puppet, right Ted?
What’s next, Cruz condemning the lifestyle of Bert and Ernie?
Obit observation
Good families are almost always centered on strong mommas. Good communities like Lookout Mountain are anchored by strong pillars.
Greg Brown Sr., who died June 25 at the age of 72, was assuredly a pillar for the mountain town where he lived his whole life.
A fixture who served as the town’s mayor for six years, Brown’s impact – be it the “sidewalk connection from Tennessee to Georgia” or the “restoration of the historic Natural Bridge Park,” according to the obit – will be felt for years.
He was much more than that of course: businessman, family man, golf lover and kind soul, to name but four.
Still, Brown’s love for his community will be missed, but not soon forgotten.
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6273. Follow him on Twitter @jgreesontfp.