Political Notebook: Macon-Bibb mayor becomes a proud grandfather
Macon-Bibb County Mayor Robert Reichert's smile lit up the room this week as he announced that his first grandchild, Robert Phillips Shoemaker, was born Oct. 24 in Atlanta.
At birth, little Robert weighed 6 pounds 8 ounces and measured 20 inches long.
Shoemaker is the son of Reichert's son-in-law, Robert, and his daughter, Bowen, both Atlanta attorneys.
Reichert asked other county leaders if they could tell he was thrilled as he shared details about the newest addition to his family.
"I'm still trying to wrap my mind around being a grandfather," he said with a laugh.
ANYTHING YOU WANT
Before the benediction at Friday's ceremony for retiring Macon-Bibb County firefighters, the Rev. Ronald Terry had to get something off his chest about the "prejudice" he had witnessed at the event.
He noted that the men treated Commissioner Elaine Lucas differently as they lined up for kudos from county leaders.
The men all hugged her, he said, while just shaking hands with the men.
In opening remarks, Lucas had shared the story of how firefighters broke into her basement to rescue her grandchildren from their burning east Macon home a few years ago.
As the men came forward in order of rank and tenure, she hugged pension board representative Capt. Danny Angelo just a little tighter.
"This is one of the ones who saved my grandchildren," Lucas told the attendees.
Earlier, she also shared her standing joke at meetings.
"Anything the fire department wants, the fire department gets," Lucas said, which prompted a quick outburst from the front row.
"Don't tell them that. Don't tell them that," Reichert hollered before joining the crowd in a hearty laugh.
SOUTH MACON PLAYGROUND
Macon-Bibb County Commissioner Ed DeFore gave an "amen" when Commissioner Larry Schlesinger spoke this week about a neighborhood that Schlesinger said has been neglected by the government.
That south Macon neighborhood he was referring to is now a place where a portion of blight funds could be used to knock down abandoned homes to clear the way for a playground.
The neighborhood association group South Macon Arts Revitalization and Technology is helping develop the learning playground that will also incorporate health and education activities for children and adults.
Commissioners are scheduled to vote Tuesday on a resolution to demolish five homes in the 700-800 block of Lynmore Avenue.
PERRY EMPLOYEES AND FAIR TICKETS
Some employees of the city of Perry received free one-day passes to the Georgia National Fair this year while others didn't.
Instead of giving tickets out based on seniority, as it did this year, Perry City Council will discuss on Monday the possibility of buying two one-day tickets to the fair for all city employees. The estimated cost is $2,500.
In the past, the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter Authority has been able to provide free tickets for all city employees. However, for the last two years, the fairgrounds "has had to cut back on how many tickets it provides to the city," City Manager Lee Gilmour said. "Since it is something that has been provided for a number of years, the city might want to consider that as a benefit and provide two one-day (tickets) to each employee." Telegraph writers Stanley Dunlap, Liz Fabian and Laura Corley contributed to this report.
This story was originally published October 30, 2015 at 6:28 PM with the headline "Political Notebook: Macon-Bibb mayor becomes a proud grandfather ."