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Saturday, Sep. 27, 2008

POLITICAL NOTEBOOK: Feeling traumatized about system

Eighty Georgia legislators will join dozens of health-care providers Monday to discuss the status of Georgia's statewide trauma care system, which most agree is woefully underfunded. Efforts to create a permanent funding source floundered in the Legislature this year.

The Medical Center of Central Georgia, one of only four level 1 trauma care centers in the state, has said for years that it may have to abandon its top-level designation without more state funding. This summer, the Georgia Trauma Commission allocated $3.55 million to the Medical Center, less than any other trauma center in Georgia. State Sen. Cecil Staton, R-Macon, has been a leading advocate for trauma funding.

According to a news release from the Healthcare Georgia Foundation, the Trauma Care in Crisis luncheon forum Monday is expected to draw several hundred people to the Georgia Railroad Freight Depot in downtown Atlanta.

Panelists will offer an overview of the statewide trauma system, legislation, preparedness, the regional approach, communication, business, funding and prevention. Speakers representing major hospitals, emergency medical services, universities, the Governor's Office of Highway Safety and business organizations will present a variety of perspectives on how to establish and pay for a comprehensive statewide trauma care system, according to the news release.

NRA WILL BACK MARSHALL AGAIN

The National Rifle Association has endorsed U.S. Rep. Jim Marshall in his 8th Congressional race against challenger Rick Goddard.

"He has a 100 percent voting record with the NRA, and he has co-sponsored a lot of NRA priority bills and he's just great on our issues," NRA spokeswoman Ashley Varner said.

Marshall has an "A" rating from the NRA, and the association also endorsed him in his last race in 2006. Goddard, a retired Warner Robins Air Logistics Center commander, also is rated an "A" by the association, which tends to favor incumbents.

CHAMBLISS GETS GUARD AWARD

U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss has won the National Guard Association's Harry S. Truman Award.

Given for his support of legislation that benefits the Guard, the award is the association's highest honor, according to a news release. It was given, particularly, for Chambliss' work on the National Guard and Reserve Retirement Modernization Act, to reduce the age for receipt of retirement pay for guardsmen, and legislation to create a reintegration program for National Guard personnel returning from combat, the release states.

Chambliss said in the release that he is humbled by the award and that he accepts it "on behalf of our courageous citizen soldiers and their families in Georgia and around the country."

COX PREDICTS HIGHER TEST SCORES IN 2009

Georgia's public school test scores weren't exactly glowing this year, but State Schools Superintendent Kathy Cox is predicting better scores in 2009.

About 70 percent of the state's sixth- and seventh-graders didn't pass state social studies exams this year, which were later ruled flawed and tossed out.

About 40 percent of the state's eighth-graders failed a state math exam based on a new, harder math curriculum. Those exam scores held, however, and many retested after summer school.

"Last year was tough with the mathematics," said Cox, a 44-year-old Republican. "But it was also the first year that (many) teachers implemented it. And I know for some, they didn't do as well as they hoped. I know from looking at what happened with reading, when we implemented the new tougher standards there it took those elementary teachers just one year to get back on track and pull those scores right back up."

Cox said, "I have a feeling that's exactly what will happen again this year."

SHOVEL OR GET BURIED

Bibb County school board member Tommy Barnes joked that if the new Early Childhood Center groundbreaking ceremony didn't go off as planned Friday, the child-sized shovels being used at the event would have instead been used to bury school board members.

The school system broke ground Friday morning on the new center to be built on Pierce Avenue, the former site of Tinsley Elementary School. The $7.2 million school, paid for from a penny sales tax initiative, will serve the county's 4-year-olds and students with special needs between the ages of 3 and 6.

The school's principal, Lisa Garrett, had been waiting for the new school since 2004 and started a countdown calendar in fall 2005. The school is set to open next fall.

"These shovels were bought six years ago," Barnes joked. "(Lisa Garrett) threatened to bury us with them if this didn't happen."

BLOODY MARYS, BRUNCH FOR HART

Former Bibb County Commissioner Sam Hart's supporters will get together for a "BYOBrunch" Oct. 5.

The event, hosted by former Tubman African American Museum director Carey Pickard and Chris Howard of the Historic Macon Foundation, will be held at 1066 Magnolia St. starting "anytime after 12 noon." Hart, who is facing Bibb County Commission Chairman Charlie Bishop in the November chairman's race, will attend, Pickard said.

Bring your own brunch items, and the hosts will provide Bloody Marys and coffee.

DEMS TO PARTY ON FIRST FRIDAY

Bibb County Democrats will celebrate First Friday next week with a street party that includes music, food and a chance to meet local candidates, according to a party news release.

The festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. in front of the Bibb County Democratic Party headquarters at 428 Second St. For more information, call the office at 745-8123 or 747-1000.

Barack Obama yard signs will be given to the first 100 guests, and all local Democratic candidates are expected to attend or to send representatives.

Telegraph staff writers Travis Fain, Julie Hubbard and S. Heather Duncan contributed to this report.