TPC Pages

30 June 2018

[TPC] - Bess Tuggle: Memoirs of Surviving Children, Pt. IV

 The Cop
~ special to The Chronicles ~

My boys all went to the same school for two years (elementary school), and they usually rode the bus.  In inclement weather I would drive them though. The driveway was half a mile long, all dirt and yes, they had to walk to the end of it to wait for the bus.

    It was all good when they were at the same school.  It became difficult when they started to spread out between schools – and I still had to get to work on time.

    One nasty, rainy day I loaded them into the truck to take them to school.  Elementary school was the first stop, then on to middle school.

    As I turned onto the road the where middle school was located I saw blue lights behind us.  Of course, I pulled over. We all do. I wanted to get out of the officers way so he could do his job.

    He pulled up behind ME – and I was right in front of the middle school.

    We sat there.  My mind was racing.  Insurance – check. Seat belts (I looked) – check.  Speeding – no. I’ve driven like a granny all my life.

    The officer came to my window, I rolled it down (back in the day where we still had hand cranks) and he asked if I knew my tag was expired.  Talk about a major sigh of relief... I pulled my sticker down where I had stuck it over the sun visor. I had it, but neglected to put it on.  The boys sidetracked me on a regular basis, and it’s only gotten worse with age.

    The kind officer went to his trunk, got out Windex with paper towels, and proceeded to clean my dusty/dirty tag and apply the sticker.  During all this the blue lights were still flashing and students were passing us being dropped off at school.

    He came to the window and I thanked him.  He turned to go, but I had one request. Would he PLEASE write me a warning ticket?  He looked at me like I’d lost my mind.

    I explained that most of the school children that had passed knew us and my truck.  My kids needed something to show that Mama didn’t do anything really bad.

    He laughed and wrote me my warning.  If I could find him I’d hug his neck today.  

    Bess  ☺

 
A jack of all trades, Bess Tuggle has been a Covington resident since the late 70’s. She's been a K-Mart cashier, cabinet builder, vet tech, office manager for a beef cattle ranch and water well company (where she was able to hold benefits for D.A.R.E. and Scouts), a court reporter, business manager, assistant at a private investigation firm, legal assistant, convenience store clerk, landscaper and elementary school substitute teacher.  Her greatest pleasure is being a wife, mother and grandmother.  Her stories are all real, and all names will be withheld to protect the innocent, and also maybe the guilty, depending on the crime & the Statute of Limitations. 
Your Source for the REAL Story

28 June 2018

[TPC] - Perrin Lovett - National Affairs: The Vampire Edition

~ special to The Chronicles ~

The first great luxury and prestige point of being your C.F. Floyd National Affairs writer is the simple fact of being such. Really, I’m honored and grateful. The second great luxury is the wide latitude I’m allowed in picking subjects. Yet, therein, within the unbridled discretion, lurks the first menace.

Mine is an admittedly strange but active mind. Every week I literally have 100 potentially actionable ideas and maybe as many potential ways to present them. There are so many important issues which affect our culture, our freedoms, and our lives that it is hard sometimes to delineate the “one” for a given segment. You may have detected a slight tendency, here, towards the long-winded. It’s difficult, once a subject in pinned down, to limit it and prevent it from devolving into a novella. I do my best…

It’s also a minor goal of mine to keep the work here at least loosely interwoven with predecessor issues. In a way, all of this stuff is interrelated - at least in part. So here, today - and I’m getting to the subject matter de jure! - I picked a seemingly whacky and obscure story out of Texas which has slight bearing on what I’ve already printed and on some other features swirling. We’ll get into the other pressing matters of the maelstrom in due time. (I hear ya, “Perrin, hurry it the hell up!”). But. Now. On to the Vampires of Austin!

Frequently, if one really wants quality news about what’s happening in America, one has to turn to the European press. Even their tabloids do a better job of fact-finding than our sold-out CNNABCNBCBS cabal. Today’s American news of the weird comes courtesy of a story I read in The Sun (UK). There is in Austin, Texas, of all places, an active coven of vampires. (Here I’ll note that even the best fiction-minded author simply can’t make this stuff up to compete with reality).

Daley and Logan South, as king and queen, lead a host of some 60 real-life, blood and/or “energy” drinking vampires out and about in the capital city. Again, I am NOT making this up!

Count Crocodile Dundee and Galadriel... Picture by John Chapple/The Sun.

In the new spirit of inclusiveness, the group is not restricted to children of Dracula. One will also find, somewhere in the bloody BDSM sex club, “‘otherkin’ which includes ‘werewolves, fairies and people who identify with animal spirits’.”

All perfectly normal. Healthy. Better, maybe. Your kids should look into this.

The American Psychiatric Association’s DSM used to classify this manner of mania as a form or mental illness. That truth stills remains, a professional diagnosis or not. These people are not “LARPing” or play-acting. They have actually convinced themselves that they are vampires, werewolves, or some other oddity.

In my column a few weeks ago, I noted the decline, the current push for child molesting acceptance, and the coming of cannibalism to the mainstream. I was dead serious. See my added notes under that column. This story is further proof - of both counts. No need to make assumptions; the evidence is proffered by the otherkin themselves.

Vampirism, within reality and without the pages of novels, involves the drinking of human blood. That is a form of cannibalism. Read about the safe and easy ways to consume blood. Don’t go a slicin’ into arteries! That might draw the attention of the police. A simple diabetics tool suffices… (Sorry if this is a little nauseating - it should be).

Note also that all of this craziness is about kinky sex. The king has his queen wife and his concubine. They troll at night for the next item of "prey … just some cute young thing, male or female - any which way.” It’s all good, man! Except that it’s not.

Now, I am not saying these particular freaks are into harming children. I am saying I wouldn’t allow my child anywhere near them. But I just can’t help but notice certain signs. In defense of their practices and in an attempt at normalization, they specifically mention children: “vampires out helping with children's hospitals, blood drives, things like that...”

Make of this what you will. I see it first as a ridiculous manifestation of insanity, masquerading (poorly) as ordinary, average fun. I see it second as a bridge between the weird and the totally demented, a gap-filler to the next steps. It’s Crowleyism, doing as thou wilt, so long as it’s evil.

And, as with much evil, this kind presents itself not only as normal but also as Holy. “‘You can obviously pick whatever religion you want, but it's not an evil is not an evil thing. [SIC?] It's not, you know, we're not going to walk into a church and burst into flame. A lot of us are Christian, lot of us are Catholic.’” That’s a lie; the flames are only delayed.

By the way, dear denizens of the Piedmont, this stuff is closer to home than you might have suspected. There’s a coven a short drive South in Columbus.

How does this fit with the overall decline of society? The strange factor speaks for itself. The rest practically interprets itself.

My first alternative idea for today was about the drawing of battle lines in our nation and across the West - political, cultural, racial, religious, economic, etc. We face multiple changes and slides, of which the resistance and reversal are beginning to bubble vigorously. In a way, the night creatures of Austin are a most minimal, yet visible, expression of the decline. The moral failings, the debt, the invasion, and the blind deference to government tyranny may be heavier matters. Yet, in another way, the blood-lusting monsters put an exclamation point on the poignant issues. Consult Gibbon and other ancient authorities on the mass emergence of deviants. While not necessarily a root cause, this is always a constant and sure sign that a society is in the advanced stages of decay.

Project Gutenberg.

For a related-interest reading assignment, I leave you with this: if you liked Bram Stoker’s Dracula, then I highly recommend you read the older Varney, The Vampyre. (It’s free, just click and go). Peruse that and you’ll likely see the parallels between the titular character and America’s vampyres - minus Varney’s charm and conflicted nobility.

Join us next week as we continue to explore the affairs which shake a nation. I expect you’ll come along. Nay, I will take no refusal.




Fellow Terry College of Business (UGA) grad Brother Perrin Lovett is a true renaissance gentleman & scholar. A recovering attorney, he's into guns & cigars, and the US Constitution. A published authorPrepper columnist & YouTube personality, and an acclaimed blogger, TPC is very proud to have our old friend on board as the C.F. Floyd Feature Writer of National Affairs

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Your Source for the REAL Story

27 June 2018

Kayla's Corner - Week of June 30th: Karaoke on the Square; Custom Tint & Sound Appreciation Day; C-Town Revue at TLR@IBP

Kayla's Corner
Week of June 30th, 2018




Welcome back to the Corner, a place for details on food & fun, cool destinations & local happenings.

This weekend the city of Covington is going to be hotter than the weather! There's so much to do! 




Kicking it off on Friday afternoon, starting at 6PM, come on down to the Covington Square for Karaoke Night! Bring a blanket, bring a lawn chair & bring your singing voice because you're going to need it! It's a family friendly event, so bring all your pals and maybe bring a picnic, or choose from one of the many fantastic restaurants we have in downtown Covington! 





Then on Saturday, starting at 10AM & ending at 2PM, Custom Tint & Sound will be hosting their Customer Appreciation event! Not only will they be showing off some of their custom rides, but there will also be cool door prizes, a kids jumpy house & some free BBQ! Custom Tint & Sound owners, John & Ashley Draper are having this event to show appreciation to their wonderful customers & friends for their business & support over the years. So hurry out & don't miss out on the fun! 





From their event announcement:
We're throwing a party you don't want to miss! FREE BBQ, KIDS JUMP HOUSE, DJ, AND DOOR PRIZES! To show our appreciation to our customers and friends for their loyal business, come out and join us Saturday June 30th from 10am-2pm. And of course we'll have several "cool" rides on display to gawk at..... DON'T MISS IT!
Saturday the 30th, 10AM - 2PM

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The Listening Room

At 9PM Saturday night a pretty big music event will be happening at The Listening Room at Irish Bred Pub. It's time for another installment of "The All-Star Feelin' Good C-Town Music Revue," proudly presented by TPC Editor MB McCart. 



C-Town Music Revue

For this edition, MB has got a great line-up! Kicking this off will be Davis Brooks & Sam Mitchell, two younger fellas who are supposed to be pretty darn good. Next will be my buddy & co-worker Scott Bowen who can sing some David Bowie & Pearl Jam like nobody's business! 


Hannah Thomas


And the headliner? The one & only Hannah Thomas. Hannah is an amazing talent! She's a professional musician that has played all over America & has recorded with several well-known musicians. 


Hannah has recently released a new album
"A Talent Supreme"



There will be quite the crowd we're hearing, so you better try to get there a little early & try to grab a table or a chair so you don't miss out on this awesome event! 


(*ed. note: look for more info on the C-town Music Revue in this week's Music Minute)

Okay, y'all! Thanks so much & I'll see you next week! 

xoxo, 

KayKay




Author of TPC recurring piece, "Kayla's Corner," Ms. Leasure is originally a Walton Co. gal who studied marketing & advertising & loves the beach, the woods & her dogs while keeping herself busy with multiple projects & endeavors. She has her finger on the pulse of the home county like no other & is always "keeping an eye on Covington." A beautiful lady, inside & out, it is The Chronicles' true privilege to have her talents as part of our team. 


Kayla Leasure: Keeping an Eye on Covington
The Piedmont Chronicles

26 June 2018

[TPC] - Ellis Millsaps - The Porch, Ch. V: In Which the Party Expands

~ special to The Piedmont Chronicles ~


So I walk out to smoke & Bruce & Bob are sitting there. 

"Hope it's okay that we made ourselves comfortable," Bruce says. "The cat said it was okay." 


I look at Puddy sitting in Bob's lap. 

"We didn't want to knock. Thought you might be napping."

"Or drunk & passed out again," Dylan adds.

I'm trying to come up with a clever repartee, but my hungover mind is not up to speed yet when the dead suddenly materialize. And when I say the dead I mean they've brought Jerry Garcia this time.

Cohen makes the introductions.

"Mr. Garcia, this is our gracious host, Mr. Millsaps. I trust you know these other gentlemen."

"Hell, yeah. We go way back."

"Wassup," I say.

"Wassup," he responds.

They fold out their chairs & we sit, apparently all glad to be here on this porch in Porterdale, GA, in spite of the fact that the president of the United States is making us ashamed of our country.

Except Bowie & Cohen.

"Mr. Millsaps," Leanard says, "I believe when last we were assembled you had us composing a song."

"Yeah, I've rethought that. I'm afraid we might run into copyright problems there. I'm thinking we need to take this show on the road."

"Any ideas to where?"

Elvis says, "I've always wanted to go to Disney World."

I don't want to stand in line. I'm thinking we should go to Graceland," I say.

"Maybe we could write a song about going to Graceland."

"Been done I think, Mr. Presley, but I thought it might be interesting to get your take on the place fifty years later.'

"We could have a problem there," Dylan says. "Bruce & I don't have time for that. Neverending tour, you know, and even if we did, we'd be swamped by people wanting to touch the hem of our garments. Ain't that right, Boss?"


"I'm afraid Bob's right. As I understand it, only the magic traingle can see you guys. Millsaps might as well be invisible, but the rest of you literally are. Isn't that the case, Mr. Cohen?" 

"It is indeed, but let me try something. Messrs Springsteen & Dylan, would you be so kind as to each pluck out a hair for me."

"Just wait a second & another one will fall out," Bruce say & Bob adds, "Why don't you just go through my garbage like everybody else," but they both oblige. 


"Now if you would hand those to me & step inside for a minute, we'll see." 

Once those two are inside the dead start to flicker like Captain Krk being transported. A staticky Cohen hands me the magic hair & everyone comes in focus. 

Dylan sticks his head out & says, "Your hocus pocus work?" 

"Yep. We're going to Graceland." 

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Trivia Categories at 1917 Tavern in Porterdale, GA, for Wednesday, June 27th (7:30PM) 


- The City of New Orleans

- Famous Socialists 

- The Civil War 

- The Great American Novel

- Disco 

This week's Da dishes will be gazpacho, cauliflower bacon salad & tiramisu cheesecake. At 1917 we give the best trivia prizes. The 1st place team wins a free dinner of their choice propared by me the following Wednesday (no teams larger than sic. I'm not working with loaves & fishes). The 2nd place team takes home a dessert of their choosing & the 3rd place teams receives freshly baked cookies.

Last week's winners are this week having pork saltimbocca, red velvet cake, and oatmeal raison cookies. Let's see you match that Amici.

Also, for $20, local businesses may sponsor a trivia event: show up to play & give a spiel about your operation or bring something typed up & I'll read it. 




Ellis was an attorney by trade (now recovering) but has worn many hats over the years: father, bus boy, stand-up comedian, novelist, wiffle ball player, rock'n'roll band manager, and at one time wrote a popular and funny column for The Covington News. A Fannin Co. mountain boy originally, Mr. Millsaps now stays at the mill village of Porterdale by way of 20 years in Mansfield. Usually funny and at times irreverent and subversive, he leans left in his political philosophy but can always be counted on for a pretty darn good write-up. The Chronicles are proud to have him involved. You can read his past works at TPC by visiting his Contributing Writer page

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The Piedmont Chronicles

25 June 2018

A Moment from MB: Recent Developments at TPC; the Word Around Town - Atty Johnson's Greatest Hits


Your Source for the REAL Story

Hello, friends, and welcome back to The Chronicles - Your Source for the REAL Story.

And what exactly is the "real story"? Good question. Well, that can mean a lot of different things for a lot of different folks. In some respects, it'd really be more what you might see at one of the other local papers, and we've got some good ones. The Covington News, current legal organ of the home county, and the Newton Citizen, are both two publications that are going to give you a pretty good rundown of the regular, everyday local news, including crime & punishment, local business news, etc.

The East Metro Times, a monthly circulation, and a good one at that, has really developed a niche as a "good news" source of information & tends to concentrate on local businesses & professionals sharing their knowledge & wisdom, good health tips, community events & information, etc.

So where does that leave us, TPC? Well, unlike any of the previously mentioned publications, we tend to really just do our own thing. In terms of local news, it's more in the realm of "real politic" & I as the local political writer & editor tend to specifically follow a few key stories at a time. Usually these are in the realm of taxes & keeping an eye on those who serve as public servants & making sure they are doing the right things & doing things right. Also, in a pure, unadulterated political junkie way, I follow Georgia politics in an H.S. Thompsian manner.

The biggest asset of this publication that's been one of my true passions for so many years is fairly recent thing - our Contributing Writer staff:

- Kayla Leasure, Asst. Ed.
-
Perrin Lovett
- Ellis Millsaps
-
Ms. Bess Tuggle

They have facilitated an ascension for this paper which has truly created a situation of the sum being greater than the parts. Each has a true talent & a contribution level that has taken The Chronicles to a place it could never be without them. I am humbled, and so grateful, that they've been willing to become a part of Team TPC.

With Kayla and the "Corner" talking about local happenings & dining, Perrin Lovett as the C.F. Floyd Feature Writer of National Affairs, Ellis, AKA, "Da," talking about all sorts of stuff & Bess with her real-life, human interest stories, it's really a great mix. 


Now for the big news!

Thursday, June 21st, marked the first-ever publishing of the print edition of The Piedmont Chronicles. Volume 1, Number 1 - On Newsstands Now! Also, you can reach out to me, or Assistant Editor Kayla Leasure, to get a copy directly or to sign up for a subscription & delivery plan. 25 cents for a copy, or a dollar a week for delivery. Call 678.712.8652, or email: ThePiedmontChronicles@gmail.com

As I mentioned on the front page of our inaugural print edition, it's been a dream of mine since I was a boy to be the publisher of the legal organ of our great, beloved home county. The Law says we have to run a weekly print circulation for two years to be eligible to be a candidate for that all-too-important position. So, now, the candle is lit, and it's very exciting. 


The Word Around Town

Attorney Phil Johnson's Greatest Hits


As reported by a few publications, the city of Covington has recently denied a rezoning request for a particular tract of land, owned by Freddy Neely, in which Phil was ivolved to facilitate said zoning change for a large, multifamily development. Many folks were not thrilled about the prospect of such a large development & cheered the decision. In addition, the city had previously instituted a 60-day moratorium to be able to revisit & tweak their ordinances in preparation for the apparent incoming onslaught of growth & new development, and that, in my estimation, was a great move by this forward-thing city council we are fortunate to have.

But going back to Phil, he's kind of an easy target for derision in our community. Now don't get me wrong, he's got his fans, supporters & cheerleaders, but like many of us, he's got a good number of detractors & "haters."

Before I get into the list, let me just say this: I like Phil. He's a cool dude. Great conversationalist, obviously smart as hell. Personally, I like him. He's just one of those special guys. Always reminds me of "A Man in Full," the genius work from the recently departed Tom Wolfe (RIP). Especially the part about the guy the main character remembers reading about - (paraphrasing) - a man, from humble & hardscrabble origins, who had it all; lost it all; had it all again; lost it all again, etc.  


The old fella has built it back up pretty good, hasn't he?

Another gripe by many in & around the home city & county is how Phil may have been as responsible as anyone for the "Great Selling Out of Newton Co." back in the late 90s & early aughts. Well, if you're going to pick one, I might have to vote for Hubert Huberto White, but really the biggest blame has to be laid on the feet of the multiple editions of the Newton Co. BOC during that time (so, again, Hubert).

Oh well, regardless, here's some of the best of the best of Phil:

- the alleged driving force of the Mosque deal out in the western part of Newton. Once again representing land owner Freddy Neely in a situation that left many scratching their heads as how it could've gone completely under the radar until former Newton BOC Chair Keith Ellis took it upon himself to break the story to the Newton Citizen.

       - Speaking of Freddy Neely, it is my understanding that Phil, as his legal representation, was integrally involved with getting the city to basically throw out most of the specific, detailed ordinance in the by-pass corridor that several other businesses had to follow when it came to the development of Freddy's distilled-spirit behemoth - Nitro 2 Go.

- he was the attorney involved in the infamous Bad News Bear Creek deal which saw Newton Co. pay approx. 1 & 1/2 million bucks for some land only to eventually quit-claim it back to the original landowners.

- and there are others, some maybe true, going back to the 1980s. But, let's not forget this one: 



- being singularly responsible - and Phil will tell you this - for bringing Wm Thomas Craig, Esq. to Newton Co. in 1975.

Atty Phil Johnson, folks! The gift that keeps on giving...

Well alright! That'll do it for this go-round.

In Liberty,

MBM