26 October 2017 GOP Meeting

Macon-Bibb County

My Bride was not able to attend this event, however I did in preparation for the 2018 Election Cycle.

 

We heard from a representative of the "Jim Beck for Insurance Commissioner" campaign.  His literature states that he will "Work to Insure Georgia's Success."  The campaign representative reported to us that these are Jim's Day One Priorities:

1. Serve the taxpayers by opening regional offices to provide in-person meetings between investigators and the public
2. Defend the elderly and our veterans against fraud, by doubling the penalties on insurance companies who take advantage of them
3. Communicate by holding telephone town hall hearings on all proposed excessive rate increases.  There will be transparency and focus on what is right and fair for Georgia.

As the representative departed we were advised to:

 

Visit our website to learn more at:  www.jimbeckforgeorgia.com

 

The speaker for the evening, Lt. Governor Candidate Geoff Duncan talked to us about his goals and his back ground as he seeks the office of Lt. Governor for the State of Georgia. 

 

The emphasis of his campaign is:  Ethics Reform Now!!!

 

After playing baseball for Georgia Tech he was drafted by the Florida Marlins and went on to play professional baseball for six seasons.  A budding entrepreneur he took a business from his living room to a full scale operation in a 10,000 square foot operation.  His goal is to put:  "We the People" back in charge; to shake up the status quo with new solutions, not play politics as usual.  He stated that he is ready to win for Georgia's families and businesses.

 

He has pledged to become involved with the issues of Life/Families who live in Georgia once elected.  As a member of the Georgia assembly he has accomplished tasks by building relationships across the aisle.  He was very involved in passing an appropriate law regarding trucking firms.  The law now is that anyone who is engaged in trucking commerce now has the ability to recover the value of not only the truck but also the value of the cargo.  Until he was able to pass this law truck owners were only able to recover the value of the equipment and not the cargo it the truck was stolen.  Certainly the right move for Georgia and our Transportation infrastructure.

 

He is focused on what he calls the 4 "C":  Churches/Charities/Citizens/Corporations.

 

Once elected he will work hard to establish a new culture in our State Government:  Establish and reward Good Policy versus Politics. 

 

He closed his comments with this statement:  "Leadership does not equal Tax increases."

 

To learn more about Geoff please visit:  TEAM DUNCAN.ORG

Michael Williams

Candidate

for

Governor of Georgia

During the 24 August 2017 Meeting of the Bibb County Republicans we heard Michael Williams discuss with us why he is seeking the Office of Governor of Georgia.

The following is quoted from his literature:

"Take Georgia Back From The Establishment"

Georgia's had a Republican Governor for nearly 16 years and a Republican controlled House and Senate over a decade.  What do we have to show for it?

Every election, candidates run on conservative issues.  They claim to be "true" conservatives, while touting their "bold" agenda.  Yet they always fail to deliver.  They go right back to the same politics as usual we have come to expect from career politicians.  The reason is simple:  they are indebted to big corporate and special interest lobbyists who fund their campaigns.  By self-funding the majority of his campaign, Michael Williams will only be indebted to the people of Georgia!

We cannot elect the same establishment career politicians and expect a better result.  Georgia needs a fearless conservative businessman who has proven he will fight the establishment."

To read the full bio of Michael Williams, please visit:

williamsgeorgia.com/bio

From my point of view this quote from Michael is the only reason I need to vote for him:

"The most important job I've had is being a father.  As Governor, I will work every day to make sure all children in Georgia have the opportunities they deserve."

Please be aware that Michael is the father of four children so am confident that he knows of what he speaks and will carry out his pledge.

  

Herman West, Jr.

Second District Congress Person

Georgia Second District

On 27 July 2017 Herman West Jr. spoke to the Bibb County Republicans during a monthly meeting.

He indicated that he intends to run for the House of Representatives District Two seat currently held by Sanford Bishop.  His purpose in attending the meeting was to converse with the Voters of Bibb County.  He informed us that the 2018 Elections will be our defining moment.  He informed us that the Second District of Georgia is currently one of the poorest and he intends to work very hard to change that.  We in the Second District can no longer allow our representative to seduce the poor without results.  Far too many in the Second District depend on our Government to support them.  This has to change.

Candidate West is a Georgia native raised in Southwest Georgia.  He is will seek economic improvement for this District.  Far too many citizens in this District are unemployed.  Since 2010 two Hospitals in this District have closed.  Education in District Two must improve and when elected he will support the Family Farm.

Candidate West then discussed six areas that need Leadership:

1. We need to climb the ladder of prosperity
2. We need strong leadership
3. We need action, not just words
4. We must work together
5. We must emphasize Conservative Christian Values
6. Politics is Local

Candidate West has a five point plan:

1. We must be united
2. He asked that we stand with him
3. Make the Second District Great
4. Education must be the number one priority
5. We must seize the moment to establish a viable Health Care System

In conclusion we were reminded that "We All Must Be Engaged" and that "Together We Can Do It."



Cat Head Biscuits

at the

Biscuit Head

in

West Ashville, NC

11 July 2017

During a recent Holiday to the Holy Land (a.ka. Northeast Iowa) which features gently rolling hills My Sister In Law had me read a book by a young couple from Ashville, NC who operate Café called the Biscuit Head.  As a tender young Iowa Farm Boy I never ate biscuits in my youth.  No one else did either.  That changed when I retired from the U. S. Navy in Georgia in 1981.  I acquired a taste for biscuits.  During a recent Holiday to the Mountains of North Carolina My Bride, who had the Biscuit Head Café on her Bucket List insisted that we visit this West Ashville establishment.  I am glad I did.  I ordered the "Country Ham Biscuit" which included a fried green tomato and an egg. 

We enjoyed our Biscuits on the covered patio.

The "Cat Scratch" sauce let the consumer know that a biscuit could be hot.

 

The Annual Holiday to Iowa

May 2017

 

My Bride and I traveled to Iowa for the Funeral of My Brother-In-Law Ronnie.  Because we usually visit my Siblings in Iowa in July each year we decided to also include our Holiday in the Holy Land (a.k.a. Iowa) in May.

 

The is the sign near the Country School that My Dad attended on Clayton Ridge near Guttenberg, Iowa.

This home constructed in the 1918 - 1919 period was the Home of My Dad's Family.
I was born here in February 1940.

 These three pictures were taken near French Town, just North of Guttenberg, Iowa.  This shows a strip mine!!!!

Several of My Siblings met at Maggie's Café on Highway 18 near Girard, Iowa.
My Sister Thelma is a dedicated Iowa State Fan and this is the Flag she has on her Car.

These are the corn storage bins near Garnavillo, Iowa.  They belong to the Family
of a High School Class Mate.  Most Farmers store their corn and sell on the futures market to
receive a higher price

This is the six bay Fire Station that houses the Garnavillo, Iowa Volunteer Fire Department.  In addition to serving the town of Garnavillo, population 711, they serve the surrounding farms.

This is just one of the lovely flowers near My Sister-In-Law's Home in Guttenberg, Iowa.
She hosted us during our stay in Northeast Iowa.

This is the interior of "Trinity Lutheran Church" in Guttenberg, Iowa.  I was confirmed here in 1954.

The Fire Hydrants in Guttenberg, Iowa are painted by the citizens.  Some very interesting paint schemes.

This is the entrance to the Ceres Cemetery near the Farm where I grew up on.  My parents and My Brother are buried here.

This is known as the Pioneer Rock Church at Ceres.  It is on the National Historic Register.  It is lovingly maintained by the local Citizens.  It is not an active church and has never been during my life; but it is a monument to the past.

The Mississippi River as seen from Pikes Peak State Park McGregor, Iowa.

This is Lock and Dam Number 10 on the Mississippi River in Guttenberg, Iowa.  The gates are all open to allow the river to flow without causing any flooding up river.  My Dad was an employee of the Army Corps of Engineers when this was constructed in the 1930s.

My Brother John Paul retired from the Crops a few years ago.  Our Nephew, Eric, a Navy Veteran currently works at Lock and Dam Number 10.

This design of wrapped mints welcomed us to the Bed and Breakfast of our USS Ranger Friends in Altoona, Iowa.

Every time we visit Altoona, Iowa we travel to "The Freedom Rock" near Greenfield, Iowa.  It is painted each May to honor our Nation's Heroes.  The painter started doing this project in 1999 to Honor our Veterans after he had seen the epic movie "Saving Private Ryan."  To learn more about the Freedom Rock please perform an internet search.

This year's rock places emphasis on the movie "Hacksaw Ridge." 

When we visited the rock on May 22nd it was not complete.

Our Host in Altoona, Iowa

My Bride and I.  It was cool on the day we visited.

 After our visit to the Freedom Rock we toured the Iowa Gold Star Museum at Camp Dodge near Des Moines, Iowa.  My Bride captured these pictures for historic purposes because she is the Coordinator for the Blue Star Memorial Marker Program in Georgia.  In addition she is also the Coordinator for the Gold Star Marker Program for Georgia.

On May 23rd we were tourist in the Altoona, Iowa area.  We traveled to Ames and other places to enjoy the day.

We enjoyed a wonderful meal at the Hickory Park eating establishment.  If I recall correctly they can seat over 400 at a time.

Mills Farm Fleet is a retail chain in the Midwest that serves the needs of all.

This is only one of the Face Book Buildings in Altoona, Iowa.  Face Book selected Central Iowa because of the trained and responsible labor force available. 

 Later that day our Host and I visited a Cruise In in Altoona.  Because of the threat of rain only two cars were on display.

This 1929 Lincoln captured my eye.

This Buick was on display, but the owner was not around when I took the pictures so I could not determine the year of the car.

 

 On May 25 we revisited the Freedom Rock to hopefully see the artist at work.  He was not, but there was additional painting completed. 

 

 Also on May 25 our Host and I attended a cruise in in Bondurant, Iowa.  This time the weather was most pleasant and many cars were on display.

This is the front garden of our Host at the Griffin Bed and Breakfast in Altoona, Iowa.

We next traveled to Saint Louis to visit our Youngest Son and His Family over the Memoral Day Weekend. 

Members of Boy Scout Troop 677 await their turn to join the procession to the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery to place U. S. Flags at the tombs of over 200,000 Heroes.

Prior to the Flag Placement there was a Ceremony for over 4000 Scouts and their Leaders.  This was in the center of the Cemetery of over 300 acres on the bank of the Mississippi River.

As Troop 677 walked to their designated area I took the opportunity to take this picture of a Blue Star Memorial Marker.

Each Scout, including Our Son's "Gus" placed a flag and saluted the Hero and went to the next grave marker. 

It was a very emotional experience to see these Scouts perform this worthwhile task as this Cemetery prepared for Memorial Day 2017.

This concludes our May Holiday Post for our Travels to Iowa, Wisconsin and Missouri.  We traveled over 2500 miles on this trip.