8.11(8.3) by Jess Roberts

NW GEORGIA’S PREMIER FEATURE READER AUGUST 2011

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V3Magazine AUGUST2011

Departments+Features

Photo University of Alabama Athletics

Columns+Opinions

14 Small Talk: Q&A

18 Cents & Sensibility

Dr. Paul Brock tells us why his favorite, incredibly dangerous pastime is "low-stress" compared to his not-so-laissez-faire day job

What's worse: rising prices in the grocery aisles, or the Atlanta Public Schools testing scandal cheating our state's students for life?

23 Business Buzz

36 Inside & Out

Unfortunately for guys like Ryan Earnest, the banking profession is catching heat across America. But they aren't all "too big to fail"

"Giants" of Northwest Georgia history are toppling everywhere you turn. Lucky for them, greener pastures surely await

26 SEC Preview 2011

42 Trends & Traditions

V3 breaks down the makeup of this season's "Conference of Kings", as fans and players alike gear up for 2011's best gridiron clashes

He's got more to contribute to your wedding day than just the deejay, doll. So c'mon, bridezilla, give your groom a chance

39 Heartwarmer

44 Take on Health

Habitat for Humanity of Rome is doing quite well on its mission to house families in need. But as they say: the more, the merrier

Looking to abate the dangers of vascular disease, Dr. John Kirkland of the Harbin Clinic Vascular Lab sets the perfect screen

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Publisher's Note

i. My name is Ian and I’m a college football addict. (All together) “Hi, Ian!” Before I proposed to my lovely wife Ashley in 2005, she learned the cold, hard truth about my disease while visiting me at my home in Charleston, S.C. We were in the giddy, early stages of our relationship, and she came to stay with me on the opening weekend of college football season. Awaiting her arrival, I spent the previous day rigging three digital cable boxes to different televisions in my living room for maximum viewing capability. I finished in time to sit back and beam with pride at my accomplishment, then went out for a fantastic Friday evening date with my future wife. Now, let me make one thing clear: I was—and still am—head-over-heels in love with this woman. But football is a powerful drug. And as I stated in my opening paragraph, I am ADDICTED. Long story short, she suffered through the three-TV, morning-to-midnight football fest that fabulous Saturday and was a good sport about it, but the reality of the situation was right there for her to see. Lucky for me, when I asked, she agreed to marry me anyway. I’ve taken you on this trip down memory lane because the dawn of the 2011 college football season is upon us. From the end of March Madness until football begins, I am the consummate family man. I indulge in the golf majors, NBA Playoffs, Braves baseball and the tennis grand slams, but family time/functions, weddings and social events come first. This is due to the 14 consecutive Saturdays, followed by a short hiatus, leading into three weeks of bowls games that my poor wife tolerates each and every year. I owe her and my children my full and unfettered attention when the season is over. Period. It doesn’t help my cause that I call high school football on 95.7 The Ridge on Friday nights, and I certainly love my NFL as well. But fall Saturdays are sacred for this guy, and marriage is about give-and-take. I take Saturdays, which are spent in a stadium or in front of a large television, and Sundays are for family—though I can’t say I don’t keep my fingers crossed that the fam’ will let me watch the Falcons game. (Not to mention, DVR is a real lifesaver.) Each year for our August issue, V3 looks to usher in the fall football season—a season that means so much to so many rabid fans across our region—with a high-profile, college football-related cover story. This edition, our fourth since beginning the trend, features our hotly contested preview of the Southeastern Conference, whereby we give you everything from our predictions on how your favorite teams will stack up to how several questions at quarterback could affect season outcomes. This edition of V3 is also our first double issue, with our inaugural Kid Compendium 2011 appearing on the reverse side of the standard issue. (For this special treat, simply flip the book upside down and you have an entirely different magazine.) Similar to our yearly Wedding Compendium but designed for parents, it offers insight into many goods and services offered in Northwest Georgia that can help maximize your child’s quality of life. From cupcakes to braces, we’ve got most of the bases covered for all the moms and dads out there. Now, for just a moment, let’s back-track and revisit my public admission to football addiction. I just want to say thank you for supporting my habit, Ashley. Your high tolerance for my shortcomings gives me everything I could ask for in life. And even though you’re a Georgia fan, I think we can make this work. Like I said, folks, “give-and-take.” VVV Ian Griffin, Managing Partner

M AG A Z I N E NW GEORGIA’S PREMIER FEATURE READER AUGUST 2011

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF + PRODUCTION MANAGER + ART&DESIGN neal howard STAFF WRITERS anna armas, matt rood, brian foster, j. bryant steele, dianna edwards, ashley walton, holly lynch, nicole nesmith, jacob peppers PHOTOGRAPHY derek bell, MFA 706.204.6874 CHIEF OF ADVERTISING + OFFICE MANAGER/SALES DIRECTOR ian griffin AD SALES + CLIENT RELATIONS chris forino, shadae yancey-warren AD DESIGN + CREATIVE ENGINEERING brittany howes PUBLISHER v3 publications, llc CONTACT one west fourth avenue, rome, ga 30161 phone: 706.235.0748 email: v3publicatons@gmail.com

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QUALITY CONTROL THETONYWARRENTAPES:PART3

Surgeons are the fighter jet pilots of applied medicine. First, the physicians gather reconnaissance, diagnosing the terrain, documenting intelligence, compiling the best situational outlook and gameplan possible. Then, with laser-guided precision, the tactical specialists swoop in and lay waste to the targeted insurgency. Anyone who's ever seen Top Gun should recognize that certain brand of swaggering self-assuredness so often carried by men in high-risk professions. And though it'd be a gross misrepresentationâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;perhaps an outrageous insultâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;to compare DR. PAUL BROCK to a cocky "Maverick" or a snarky "Iceman", the vaunted confidence it takes for the HARBIN CLINIC CANCER CENTER's top surgical ace to hold people's lives in his steadied hands is, nonetheless, a necessary component of the job. Thankfully for his patients, though, when the doc isn't executing manuevers in a real-life airplane (his favortie "low-stress" hobby), he's flying metaphorical sorties in an effort to wipe cancer off the map in Northwest Georgia.

Q + A N E A L H O W A R D PHOTOSDEREKBELL 14

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V3 PB

So, Dr. Brock, it has been four months since the Tony Warren Cancer Center opened its doors to the public. How are things running thus far? It has just been phenomenal; the public response to it has been incredible. We are still integrating and bringing some new programs on board, but that kind of thing just takes time and we’re doing a really good job with that. I particularly like having the volunteers downstairs to reach out and touch people as soon as they walk through the door. It really feels like a high-end place. Volunteers? When you walk into the Cancer Center, there is someone to greet you the moment you hit the door. They basically ask you how you’re doing today and how they can help you, then they direct you to [whatever

services you may need]. For patients, it helps to not just walk in the door looking for signage, but to have a physical person there to help … When you have something like the Cancer Center, people in Rome want to volunteer. That’s one thing about our community that’s really incredible, that so many people want to get involved. We’ve had a plethora of volunteers. That’s a pretty encouraging reflection on Rome’s character. Operationally speaking, every new business experiences some hiccups when first starting out. In what areas are things already running smoothly at the Cancer Center, and in what areas do you all still need to work out some kinks? I think all departments are running pretty smoothly. What’s happening is that we’re adding new services all the time

as we get more involved with ACOG (American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) and other cancer programs, and we have these protocols brought down to us, and those things allow us to offer better and more advanced cancer services. When we meet with our cancer conferences weekly, those things are being brought to those conferences—new protocols, new procedures, things that a small town like Rome would never have seen (if not for the Cancer Center), even things that Emory may not get to see; we’re getting to see them from the National Cancer Institute or from ACOG itself, and it certainly is adding a lot to us. But as far as our cancer services, we’re doing things like we did before, it’s just that now they’re integrated into the same building. Only, I think we’re doing it better because our technology is better and we’re in a single building where we can integrate our services top-to-bottom. What we’re not doing as well as we’d like right now are the social services things. There are a lot of patients in the community who do not have the ability to pay for services, and [we need to] get social services on board to get them access to Medicare, Medicaid, and the things that they need to help them. The Harbin Clinic writes off millions of dollars, so it’s not about the money to us. It’s about little things like how do I get a patient from his or her home to the Cancer Center if they don’t have money and they don’t have a car? Where does that money come from? Who manages that person to make sure they get to and from the clinic? And so those are the things that we’re finding in our community are still lacking. We’ve got to have a way to reach out to those patients and ask, how can we help you with day-to-day life while [treating you]? Particularly if you’re getting radiation, because that’s an every day thing for six weeks, five days a week. So we’re talking about “access” issues, essentially. Access issues and funding. A lot of [patients undergoing cancer treatment] can’t work full duty so they’re losing income, so how do you support the family if that’s the case? How do you think the political upheaval in Washington over entitlement spending—namely Medicare, Medicaid and the reshaping of those programs— may manifest itself when it finds its way to your door? It really depends on what the government does. If they move to a national plan where everybody is covered, then we (the Harbin Clinic) are probably winners because all

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of our indigent patients who don’t have funding now will have funding. The problem is can our country offer Rolls-Royce therapy to every person walking the street? And the answer to that is no, we cannot. What has to happen is that we have to come up with an affordable health plan for everybody. It’ll be a Ford LTD, then those who want to can add to that—cruise control, metallic paint, whatever they want to do—and in doing so, you’ll add the appropriate services. Some of the service lines people won’t want or won’t be able to afford, and the government and the public are going to have to understand that. As a country, we can’t afford to give everybody everything. That’s the difference (between the U.S. and other countries with universal healthcare models). President Obama wants to compare us directly to Canada and to England, but the thing that nobody wants to talk about is the fact that those two countries are based on a Magna Carta. You have to remember that we brought the Magna Carta to this country and it didn’t work for us, so we came up with a Bill of Rights. And what does it say? It says that every person has the rights of the majority. So, if tomorrow Obama comes down and says we want to throw this Ford LTD on the ground and deny access, those very people will come out and say, I’m an ADA! I’m disabled because I have renal failure, and you WILL dialize me ’til the day I die at age 90. What Canada and England did was say, look, we ARE going to deny access, we’re not going to do bypass surgery over 65, we’re not going to dialysis over the age of 60—and they saved billions of dollars. We will never be able to save that kind of money here because the public won’t allow it. So the president will bring his healthcare plan to the table and he’ll show you all of these savings it’s going to bring, then the moment it hits the ground it’ll be three times the cost because of these issues. Being a Bill of Rights-based country, we’ll never be able to save money like that. It will not happen.

drive through little towns all the time, but Cedartown isn’t Rome, Summerville isn’t Rome. Rome is very unique. Our cultural heritage, our medical facilities, all this makes it a very attractive place to raise a family. And if you have children with special needs, there’s an educational program here for them. You’ve got public, you’ve got Montessori, you’ve got Christian-based education—I mean, if you can’t find it in Rome for your child’s needs, it doesn’t exist. We have so many things, in terms of latitude, to offer.

"...We have to come up with an affordable health plan for everybody. It'll be a Ford LTD, then those who want to can add to that—cruise control, metallic paint, whatever they want to do— and in doing so, you'll add the appropriate services."

Let’s put it in reverse for a moment and discuss your personal background: Are you a Georgia boy by birthright?

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My father was a surgeon here and I was born at Floyd Medical Center, grew up here, went to Darlington, went to Washington and Lee up in Lexington, Va., then transferred to Emory for medical school. And, to be honest with you, I thought…that I’d never come back to Rome. But it’s funny, you know, when you get to the point where you’re married and have one or two children and you start looking for a place to live, it’s incredible how few communities like Rome exist. I mean, you think Rome is a dime-a-dozen because you

You signed on with Harbin in 1988. Were you just operating as a general surgeon then? No, I did a fellowship with a guy named Joe Miller at Emory who was a non-cardiac thorascc surgeon, so some of my practice is non-cardiac chest work. I do lung work, esophagus work; that’s where a lot of my cancer stuff comes from. My leaning, obviously, and the thing I like to do most, is cancer surgery. The more complicated it is, the more I like to do it. Those cases are challenging, and as someone who’s been practicing a long time, I enjoy using the talents and the judgment that I have gained over the years to help people get better.

In a Rome News-Tribune article that predated the opening of the Cancer Center, you were quoted as having said, “This cancer center embodies a great number of the features of (Tony Warren) that I got to know very well. Tony’s life was integrated, and what you see is an integrated, comprehensive cancer center.” When you say Dr. Warren’s life was “integrated,” what do you mean, exactly? If you got to know Tony, he was a very scientific person. He had questions and answers to everything, but everything was sort of lined up in boxes. And so, he thought the things that he thought about as going together ought [to be grouped] together. Even though they may be separate entities, he always managed to find a way to the commonality of those things and to put those things together in a way that made sense. You know, he is the one that came up

with the initial idea that, You’ve got all these doctors in their offices. I see Patient A; then two weeks later Doctor B sees Patient A; then a week later Doctor C sees Patient A; then we send letters to each other to tell each other what we think is going to happen; then somewhere along the line some osmosis occurs and the patient gets care. Tony said, That is absolutely ridiculous. Why don’t Doctor A, Doctor B and Doctor C all sit in a room; we’ll bring Patient A into the room and we’ll talk about Patient A. That way, before we leave, in a matter of 10 minutes, three weeks worth of work can be integrated and a decision made as to how we’re going to treat Patient A. And it took someone like him, with his reputation, to say that is what we are going to do—and we all did it. When I interviewed a Cancer Center colleague of yours for part two of this series, radiation oncologist Dr. Matt Mumber (see June 2011 pg. 20, “Mumber the Merciful”), what I found most interesting about our conversation was his “emotionally centric” approach to patient care. He also mentioned several philosophers of medicine who had influenced him with regard to “whole patient care” or “whole person medicine.” The job of an oncologist and the job of a surgeon are very different, of course, but are there any philosophers who have had a significant impact on your approach to surgery? Most of us are based on the giants of medicine who came before us … People like Whipple* and some of the Halstedian* surgeons who did work on breast cancer, they’re the people I look to. Because these were, in their time, forward-thinking surgeons who took risks and made decisions, even if it was contrary [to popular wisdom] at the time. The first 20 people Whipple operated on for pancreatic surgery died. He didn’t stop. He kept operating. Same thing for Halstead. He had huge complications when he prescribed that women should have radical mastectomies. All the muscles, all the lymph nodes—it was a grotesque operation to do, and it was met with great resistance because it was so disfiguring for women. But he stuck to it, and, ultimately, he was correct—in his time—that it was the right thing to do if you wanted to cure cancer. Now, what we have learned through many scientists is that we don’t have to do Halstead mastectomies anymore. But it took the genius of people in their time, making decisions on what to do, then someone challenging that in the next generation… So what you’ll see in surgery is the

challenging of the everyday concepts and what has to be done. We wouldn’t have laparoscopy if Saye and Reddick, in 1989 and 1990, had not challenged the mantra that everything is done with a scalpel and a big operation. They said, well, why can’t we do this through a scope? You would not believe the grief those two men caught when they brought that idea to the table the first time. In fact, they took it to Vanderbilt and said, We have invented a whole new field of surgery; we want to give it to you guys and let you develop it. Vanderbilt said, You guys are a bunch of nuts and sent them packing. So, what did they do? They went out and commercialized it; they hired people to make their laparoscopes; now 50 percent of what everybody does is laparoscopic. Medical professional liability insurer MAG Mutual has recognized Harbin Clinic as it’s top multi-specialty facility—i.e., the safest—of the 18,000 policy-holders that it covers. How do you manage to abate many of the lawsuits and mishaps that so often leave a black eye on other medical institutions? …I think we have the highest quality bar for recruitment of any clinic you’re going to see in the country. For doctors who join us, there’s got to be a good story and there’s got

to be an incredible quality issue that allows them to come here. We probably hire one out of two or three people we interview. The rest don’t make the quality bar; they’re not offered contracts and they don’t come here. You mean most applicants don’t even get the few minutes of face-time it takes to be rejected? They don’t. And on top of that, when you hire high-quality people and then start looking to major university-trained physicians, they also bring a certain expertise to the table, and with that comes the new technologies and everything else. Because of our quality issues, the caliber of the physicians we hire, and the fact that we’re a patient-centric facility, yeah, MAG likes us a lot. We don’t get a whole lot of litigation. Do bad things happen? Sure they do. But the reality is [summed up in] a term that I use with my patients all the time: intellectual honesty. The physicians at Harbin Clinic are intellectually honest. They go out and say, This is what happened and this is what I had to do. It may not be what everybody wanted to hear, but they’re honest about it. They just say, This is what we’re going to have to do to make you better. They take ownership.

Continued on pg. 18

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How do you find the correct balance between taking risks and sound risk management? It’s pretty easy. And, again, to me it’s a matter of who rides an alpha wave and who rides a delta wave. I don’t ride any alpha waves. As a risk, that is unacceptable and I will not bear that with my patients. … Most physicians you’ll find in Rome, particularly those at the Harbin Clinic, are not alpha wave people. We don’t bring [a new technology or treatment method] here unless it has already been proven somewhere else, particularly if there are risks associated with it. I’ll let the Emorys and the Sloan-Ketterings makes those decisions and let them get there, then I’ll bring it in later … You would be chastised to make things up as you go. There’s got to be some forward-thinking research or retrospective analysis that shows us the right thing to do before you can do it. Every med student comes to that crossroads where he or she has to narrow their options down to one career tract or another. How did you decide that surgery was your bag, as opposed to general practice—or anything less stressful than surgery, for that matter? I like solving problems and getting immediate gratification. Surgery differs from

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most medical professions because I actually get to go in and fix something. You come in with appendicitis, I can take your appendix out; you come in with a bad gallbladder, I’ll take your galbladder; come with cancer, I’ll take your cancer out. My medical colleagues deal a different hand. They don’t cure diabetes, they don’t cure hypertension, they don’t cure COPD, they don’t cure obesity most of the time. They maintain those diseases. And although I have great respect for them, my personality was such that that’s not something I could have been a champion at. I found quickly that surgery, because of the technical exercise, as well as the immediate gratification I got from it, was a better fit for my personality. Have you felt any sense of personal gratification for having been one of the integral founding fathers behind the Tony Warren Center? … We were inheritors of all this, and we happened to be here at the time when it all came out of the ground. People want to give us credit for it, but I don’t deserve any credit. I’m just someone who shared a vision with Tony a long time ago, and shared it with (Harbin CEO) Ken Davis and all the partners I have at the Harbin Clinic who happened to be on the receiving end of all this … It has been a long dream for a lot of us that there would be a cancer center sitting over there, and I think it’s a beacon for our community and our region. Then, like I said, if you look back at our recruitment and the people that are here to take care of those patients, it’s pretty phenomenal. I always challenge people, if you want to have your mind blown, take the Harbin Clinic, look at the physicians who work here, and then trace them back to where they did their training. It’ll blow you away. Harvard, UAB, Emory, Vanderbilt—I mean, it is ridiculous. These are the top training centers in the country, and if they’re not now, they were when those physicians came to us … Rome has prided itself on the fact that we get

top doctors to come here and bind to the concept that you can offer big-city medicine in a very small town … I have been amazed at the physicians I have access to, their expertise, and what they can help me do. … You’re a busy man, and a very difficult one to pin down for interview. How do you relieve professional stress when you find a little free time outside of the office? I fly an airplane. I got Earl Tillman to teach me. My daughter, Emily, graduated from Georgia, and for graduation wanted to learn how to fly an airplane. I thought, well, that’s a crazy thing to ask for, but if that’s what you want to do, we’ll do it. We went over to Earl’s, and I said I want you to teach her how to fly. He said, well, why don’t you fly? I said I’m a 55-year-old surgeon, you’ve got to be kidding me. Why would I do that? And, ultimately, he taught me how to fly. I’ll never forget the day that I went for my checkout ride. When you do all of your training, you have to pass all these written tests and practical things they make you do, but the very last thing you do is go to an FAA flight instructor who has to take you through your paces, then he has to sign off on it for you to get your pilot’s license. Emily went the day before, and she had maybe 30 minutes of questions, maybe 45 minutes in an airplane, then he handed her her ticket. I show up the next day and he literally says, Let me get this straight: You’re a 55-yearold surgeon and you want to do WHAT?! (Laughs) He says, Chief, you’re not going to pass. Surgeons are horrible pilots. I said, well, it’s funny you say that because I live in a high-risk environment every day and I manage it pretty well. I don’t know what kind of doctors are high-risk to you, but I don’t have a wish to die. So, why don’t we do this: Instead of you discounting me outright, take me on my paces, and if I pass it, pass me. But don’t start off with the mindset that you’re going to fail me. Turns out it was two hours worth of questions and three hours in an airplane, and when we got out he said, I apologize, you well deserve your license. Strange, any idea how he’d come to draw the conclusion that surgeons are—were— terrible pilots? A lot of doctors think they know it all. I don’t know any of those kinds of doctors, though. Most of the [physicians] I meet who fly airplanes have a huge respect for dying. A healthy respect for dying is a sentiment I’m sure your patients appreciate. Bad things happen if you do bad things, and most of us would never put ourselves in harm’s way. VVV

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CENTS+SENSIBILITY with J. BRYANT STEELE

YOU ARE WHAT

YOU CHEAT What's worse, rising food prices starving us out of the grocery aisles or the Atlanta Public Schools testing scandal cheating our children out of a REAL education?

ecently, I went grocery shopping with my son. It had been several years since he tagged along as a toddler, then as a young teen, when I could send him off down another aisle to speed up the buying. But he grew up, and is off on his own now. Still, as we walked down the grocery aisles, he demonstrated that the lessons from all that shopping during his growing years had stuck in his brain. And, as any parent will tell you, there is some satisfaction when you can think to yourself, “Well, I did something right.” Various sources, including the federal departments of Agriculture and Commerce, are reporting that food prices are three to five percent higher than a year ago. Food costs are only going to continue to go up, particularly as a result of the shortage of migrant workers (as reported in this column last month) and the drought currently being felt in the South and Midwest. Farms are hurting. You can do little about the cost of produce and meat, but other items that you spend on, say, paper towels or soap, can help offset food costs at the grocery store. What my young son learned tagging along with me was that a larger package of a durable product is usually—but not always—the least expensive way to go. A store brand or generic brand is usually—but not always— the least expensive way to go.

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The main thing is that you should look past the “on sale” or “two-for-one” signs and crane your neck to look at those less visible black-andwhite posts that, in tiny print, tell you what an item costs per ounce or other unit. That can save you money. When talking about grocery shopping, another thing I tell people is that detergent is a loosening agent. That’s all it is. Until something other than an ad writer’s words convince me otherwise, I’ll always buy the cheapest detergent. We also know that manufacturers rather routinely “repackage” items to make them more eye-catching, but often behind the new look is a reduction in quantity. So “large,” if there were truth in advertising, should read “not as much as it used to be.” If you have the storage space—as businesses do, but not all homes—buying nonperishables in bulk makes sense. Speaking of buying in bulk, I once belonged to one of those warehouse clubs where you pay an annual membership fee. It took me a couple of years of wondering before I spent an afternoon doing the math and determined I wasn’t saving the cost of the membership fee. So, shop those warehouse clubs only if it makes sense for you. It might seem surprising, but food at warehouse stores is usually fresh. Some experts attribute that to the high turnover. In turn, if you’re buying for a large dinner party, you should be fine shopping at a warehouse store for chicken, beef and cheese, for example, while saving money. Prepared salads are fresh, too, an easy pickup for your contribution to a potluck.

But if you’re cooking just for a few, it’s not worth going out of your way for vegetables or fruit that doesn’t keep. Coupons are another issue with me. It’s wise to use them, but more often than not, I find that 20 percent off a name brand is still more expensive than the store or generic brand. Again, read the small print on the grocery shelves and compare those per-unit prices. Don’t just get suckered into thinking you’re getting a deal. And, if you want a personal shopper guaranteed to save you money, call my son. He has four jobs, but I’m sure he could fit you in.

STEELE'S BIZ BITS

nless you’ve been living in a cave, you know about the test-cheating scandal in the Atlanta Public School System. To recap, 179 educators, including principals and staff, have been implicated following an investigation by state and federal authorities. Students were the victims. Charges have yet to be filed, but there allegedly was a great deal of obstruction of justice, and that is a felony. Some people might see jail time. And some officials have even called for the resignation of the president of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce (don’t expect that to really happen), just because he was vocally supportive of the school system in the past when test scores seemed to be improving. The story has made headlines nationally and overseas, and has been the butt of jokes by Jay Leno on The Tonight Show. The story is not going away, especially since some

of those educators plan to appeal their terminations. This story, as we say in this business, has legs. So why should you care, if your own schools are excellent and aren’t under any cloud? Because Atlanta, like it or not, is the face people associate with Georgia, much like Chicago with Illinois. Negative publicity for Atlanta is negative publicity for the rest of the state, and the people whose job it is to recruit employers to Georgia, well, that job just got a little trickier. One of the top things—if not the top thing—businesses look at when deciding to relocate or expand is quality of education. They want that crucial perk for their employees’ children, and they want it for their future workforce. So, Atlanta Public Schools, thanks from the rest of us for the black eye. Back to more pleasant business: One of the best birthday presents anyone ever gave (wish I could take credit for the idea) was a big wad of $1 bills and a roll of quarters for a colleague who shopped yard sales every weekend. For several Mondays afterward, the colleague would tell us what she had found that weekend at yard sales. It was obviously a good present. I’ve held three yard sales myself. One in Macon, one In New Jersey, and one in Atlanta. I made several hundred dollars each time. Here are some tips if you’re thinking of holding a yard sale: First, go off-season. My best sale was on a pleasant November weekend. Most other sellers had finished by September, but hardcore seekers will go any time of year, and the hardcores are easier to deal with than the casual seekers. Always have a Plan B in case of bad weather, though, such as your garage and your den. Second, price to sell. That reduces timeconsuming haggling. Third, check with your local government’s inspections office about signage regulations. Temporary postage of board signs is the best and cheapest way to draw attention. On the flipside, if you’re a seeker, go in the off-season. There are fewer buyers and it’s less chaotic. But if you have a recent high school graduate, now is the time to start looking for dorm room necessities, and yard sales are a great place to go. Because, let’s face it, what you pay top dollar for likely isn’t going to last beyond college. And whether you’re a seller or a seeker, go to the bank the day before and get yourself a wad of small bills and a bag of coins. Otherwise, making change is the biggest hassle. VVV

J. Bryant Steele is an award-winning business and feature writer published locally and internationally. vini vidi vici / v3 magazine

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V3 MAGAZINE

PREVIEW

2011 IN A CONFERENCE OF

COLLEGE FOOTBALL ROYALTY, ONLY ONE

CAN BE KING 26

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MAKIN' IT RAINEY Under a newly revamped, pro-style Charlie Weis offense, Florida will be looking for big numbers from senior running back CHRIS RAINEY in 2011. Rainey's 2010 stats were a bit more paltry than anticipated (366 yds and 2 TDs rushing; 216 yds and 3 TDs receiving) due to an embarrassing incident involving an ex-girlfriend, for which the young playmaker served a costly fivegame suspension.

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BEASTS

EAST

FLORIDA GATORS

GEORGIA BULLDOGS

2010 Record: 8-5 (4-4)

2010 Record: 6-7 (3-5)

The WILL MUSCHAMP era begins in Gainesville with the Gators toughest inconference schedule since 2006. Alabama, LSU, Auburn and Georgia await the Gators back-to-back in the month of October, with only the Crimson Tide making a road trip to The Swamp. It will be a true head coach’s baptism for Muschamp, and surviving such a difficult gauntlet with a .500 record would be a moral victory. There are a lot of unknowns to be determined, as well, but given that Florida has no shortage of top-tier talent— big shocker—don’t be surprised if you see them competing for the top spot in the East. The major question mark: How well will quarterback JOHN BRANTLEY, who had an abysmal start to the 2010 season and a lackluster 2011 spring game, run first-year coordinator Charlie Weis’s offense? If they can find their rhythm early on, the underthe-radar Gators could make some noise.

The Bulldog Nation’s 2011 hopes lie on the shoulders of a five-star, true freshman RB by the name of Isaiah Crowell, particularly since quarterback Aaron Murray, who is coming off a fantastic freshman season, will need reliable support from the running game if he hopes to build on that success. The departure of Murray’s favorite targets, NFL first-rounder A.J. Green and secondary go-to guy Kris Durham, will certainly hurt, but if the O-Line and Crowell can pick up consistent yards, Murray will have time to get comfortable with his receivers. If this happens, the Bulldogs will score in bunches. On the defensive side of the coin, firstyear coordinator Todd Grantham landed a huge piece of his 3-4 puzzle when he signed 6’4”, 340-pound juco recruit John Jenkins to line up at D-tackle. But the Dawgs secondary will deservedly be under the microscope. If coach MARK RICHT and company can slip through their first two contests unscathed, it could be a special season in Athens. Regardless, an honest look at the Dawgs says they have a great shot at making an appearance in Atlanta come December.

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KENTUCKY WILDCATS 2010 Record: 6-7 (2-6) Derrick Locke, Randall Cobb and Mike Hartline will be sorely missed on a Wildcats squad looking to qualify for its sixth straight bowl game. Without those three playmakers present to strike a match, junior QB MORGAN NEWTON will have to step up big time if Kentucky wants to keep its hope-giving post-season streak alive. However, they will need to sweep the non-conference portion of their schedule and win no less than two SEC games in order to do so. The good news for second-year head coach JOKER PHILLIPS: The Wildcats' schedule happens to set them up nicely for just such a result—though fans shouldn’t expect much more. (Sorry, Ashley Judd, not this season.)

SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS 2010 Record: 9-5 (5-3) Steve Spurrier did the unthinkable last season, coaching South Carolina to its first SEC Championship Game, and the 2011 Gamecocks are poised to repeat as the Eastern Division champs. Spurrier’s offense is loaded with talent and anchored by stud tailback MARCUS LATTIMORE, and while the defense lost some talent to the NFL, incoming freshman Jadeveon Clowney (the consensus, toprated high school recruit in the nation in 2010) should make an instant impact on the D-line. As for the Gamecocks season outlook, count on them to stumble along the way, but the early matchup with UGA in Athens will be a must-win if they plan on making it back to Atlanta.

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT MURRAY Let's be honest, folks. Despite an 8-5 record, in the aftermath of an embarrassing 2009 season with Joe Cox at the helm, Georgia fans would've settled for any starting QB with a higher football acumen. JaMarcus Russell, Ryan Leaf, Burt Reynolds, Adam Sandler-anyone. Instead, they dipped into that big pot of recruiting gumbo known as the state of Florida and fished out a spicy blue-chipper by the name of AARON MURRAY, whose 2010 freshman numbers (see pg. 33, "Quarterbacks in Question") were impressive by any measure. Still, if the rising star plans on earning his team an invitation to Atlanta this December, he'll need to capitalize on the Dawgs' watered-down conference schedule and side-step the dreaded sophomore slump.

TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS 2010 Record: 6-7 (3-5)

what could be a special team in 2012. That said, look for the Vols to knock off one of the big boys before the fat lady sings.

VANDERBILT COMMODORES 2010 Record: 3-9 (1-7)

The Volunteers will make strides this year, but they simply don’t have the horses on the defensive side of the ball to compete for an SEC title. TYLER BRAY looks as if he will develop into a great QB somewhere down the line, and there is certainly enough talent among the receiving corps, but it appears 2011 will most likley be a stepping stone for

Vanderbilt has been, is, and always will be a pesky team to play. They are often overlooked, however, and for that reason they can jump up and bite just about anybody in the SEC. For 2011, they have a senior leader at quarterback in LARRY SMITH and an experienced defense, but Vandy will be Vandy—and, usually, that’s only good enough for last place in the East.

PROJECTED FINAL STANDINGS:

SEC EASTERN DIVISION 1. GEORGIA 2. SOUTH CAROLINA 3. FLORIDA 4. TENNESSEE 5. KENTUCKY 6. VANDERBILT

10-2 (7-1) 10-2 (6-2) 9-3 (5-3) 7-5 (3-5) 6-6 (2-6) 3-9 (1-7)

Original photos courtesy of the athletic departments of the universities of Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Vanderbilt (Joe Howell)

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ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE 2010 Record: 10-3 (5-3) The Tide will boast a reloaded roster this season, as they are easily poised to make runs at both the SEC title and the BCS crown. Losing a Mark Ingram, a Greg McElroy and a Julio Jones would devastate most teams, but NICK SABAN has a wealth of talent ready to step up and produce in Tuscaloosa. (Anyone heard of a kid named Trent Richardson, by chance?) Unlike last year, the Tide's schedule sets them on a nice trajectory, as well. Contention for the top spot at quarterback is the only thing that could keep Saban and company from seizing a second national championsip in three years, as up-andcomers A.J. McCarron and Phillip Sims have spent the offseason battling for the starting

STARS FELL ON ALABAMA

Here's a good sign that you've earned the respect of your coaching staff, teammates and, quite frankly, the entire college football sphere: Play backup to a Heisman Trophy-winning, school history-making back who is coming off a national championship year (Mark Ingram); have him undergo arthroscopic knee surgery right before the kickoff of the 2010 regular season; then, watch as your fanbase breathes a collective sigh of relief that they won't be "losing a step" with the loss of their biggest star. For Bama junior TRENT RICHARDSON, who enters 2011 with a BCS ring, 1451 career yards rushing and 14 TDs, the expectations continue to rise as he continues to deliver. 30

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role. Both young players bring with them plenty of accolades from their high school days, but neither has proven anything in the SEC as of yet. If one of the two finds his rhythm in the early going, however, it’ll be tough to stop the Tide. On defense, the only question mark is the D-line, but, again, the consensus among scouts and coaches alike is that the youngsters who are step up in 2011—Ed Stinson and DAMION SQUARE, to name a couple—will be household names before all is said and done.

ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS 2010 Record: 10-3 (6-2) The Hogs are the dark horse in a powerful SEC West. With perhaps the best tandem of wide receivers in the country (most notably

GREG CHILDS) and an explosive backfield, newbie QB Tyler Wilson should have a lot of help in getting acclimated to the Razorback offense. The big thing that makes this Arkansas team scary for the

opposition, though, is that they had a major breakthrough season on defense in 2010, and the core of that same unit is back for 2011. If carried over from last season, the offensive line’s struggles may be the Hogs’ only glaring weakness. The make-or-break game for Petrino’s boys will be played out on a visit to Tuscaloosa Sept. 24, given that Alabama is the only true contender they’ll see away from Reynolds Razorback Stadium; the others will be faced with a homefield advantage. Final take: Expect Arkansas to be in the hunt for the West ’til the bitter end.

AUBURN TIGERS 2010 Record: 14-0 (9-0) The defending national champs have Nick Fairley and Cam Newton-sized shoes to fill, and though plenty of talent can be found on campus, a brutal schedule will make those shoes even tougher to match. The quarterback situation is still in flux, as BARRETT TROTTER, Clint Moseley and KIEHL FRAZIER all have a chance to see the field this season. Frazier, a true freshman, was personally recruited by offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, and is said to be the perfect fit for his spread offense.

Naturally, 2011 expectations are low for the Tigers—and for good reason. Seven or eight wins would be an impressive effort with such a difficult schedule ahead. Anything better than that should earn Gene Chizik a big raise.

LSU TIGERS 2010 Record: 11-2 (6-2) Say what you want about the Mad Hatter, but the dude has guts. In fact, any coach who puts Oregon and West Virginia on his team’s non-conference schedule should be committed in one of two ways: to an institution or to winning a BCS title. For LES MILES, which of the two is yet to be determined. As always, the talent level in Baton Rouge is top notch, but can waffling quarterback Jordan Jefferson find the consistency he has so desperately lacked throughout the entirety of his career at LSU? If not, Georgia transfer Zach Mettenberger will surely get his chance to run the Tiger offense. On defense, the Bayou Bengals lost an apex predator in Patrick Peterson, but should be rock-solid without him nonetheless. They’ll be in the hunt for the SEC and BCS trophies, too, and fans won’t have to wait long to see what their squad is made of; while Chip Kelly and his highscoring “Quack Attack” will see them in Death Valley on opening weekend.

OLE MISS REBELS 2010 Record: 4-8 (1-7) Unfortunately—or fortunately, depending on how you look at it—for the Rebel faithful, the “Right Reverend” Houston Nutt may be sitting on a pretty hot seat by the end of the 2011 season. The strength of this year’s Ole Miss squad is a deep and experienced offensive line, and one that will need to open holes for its backs in order to take the pressure off fresh-faced RANDALL MACKEY at quarterback. Mackey, to his credit, emerged as the frontrunner for the starting job in the spring, and is considered a major threat to

HOW THE

WEST

pick up yards on the ground if not carefully tracked by the opposing D. Speaking of the Rebels defense, youth on the line and playing in a super-tough SEC West will make getting to a bowl game one hell of an accomplishment. The fact that their in-state rival is legitimately on the rise won’t make Nutt’s seat any cooler, either, particularly if things don’t pan out well in Oxford this season.

MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS 2010 Record: 9-4 (4-4) Third-year head coach Dan Mullen has the Bulldog fanbase extremely excited about the direction of their program. And, hey, it never hurts to cap off a 9-4 season by opening a 52-14 can on your Big Ten opponent in a bowl game, which State did versus Michigan on Jan. 1, 2011. Come September, the offense should be much improved, most notably in the passing game. Returning QB CHRIS RELF has worked tirelessly with his receivers this offseason, say Starkville insiders, and the ability to challenge defenses in a big-time vertical way would make a team that averaged 214.9 yards per game on the ground in 2010 a far more formidable opponent. As for the D, there are questions among the linebacking corps, but overally they should be about as stingy as last year’s unit.

PROJECTED FINAL STANDINGS:

SEC WESTERN DIVISION 1. ARKANSAS 11-1 (7-1) 2. LSU 3. ALABAMA 4. MISS. STATE 5. AUBURN 6. OLE MISS

9-3 (6-2) 10-2 (6-2) 8-4 (4-4) 6-6 (3-5) 5-7 (1-7)

SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

ARKANSAS DEF. GEORGIA Original photos courtesy of the athletic departments of the universities of Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Louisiana State, Mississippi and Mississippi State

Either way, the (other) Bulldogs should make a little noise, but not enough to finish higher than third in the West. VVV

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SEC 2011 SCHEDULES FLORIDA GATORS

GEORGIA BULLDOGS

ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE

ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS

2010 Record: 8-5 (4-4)

2010 Record: 6-7 (3-5)

2010 Record: 10-3 (5-3)

2010 Record: 10-3 (6-2)

Sept. 3 vs. Florida Atlantic Sept. 10 vs. UAB Sept. 17 vs. Tennessee Sept. 24 @ Kentucky Oct. 1 vs. Alabama Oct. 8 @ LSU Oct. 15 @ Auburn Oct. 29 vs. Georgia* Nov. 5 vs. Vanderbilt Nov. 12 @ South Carolina Nov. 19 vs. Furman Nov. 26 vs. Florida State

Sept. 3 vs. Boise State* Sept. 10 vs. South Carolina Sept. 17 vs. Coastal Carolina Sept. 24 @ Ole Miss Oct. 1 vs. Mississippi State Oct. 8 @ Tennessee Oct. 15 @ Vanderbilt Oct. 29 vs. Florida** Nov. 5 vs. New Mexico State Nov. 12 vs. Auburn Nov. 19 vs. Kentucky Nov. 26 @ Georgia Tech

Sept. 3 vs. Kent State Sept. 10 @ Penn State Sept. 17 vs. North Texas Sept. 24 vs. Arkansas Oct. 1 @ Florida Oct. 8 vs. Vanderbilt Oct. 15 @ Ole Miss Oct. 22 vs. Tennessee Nov. 5 vs. LSU Nov. 12 @ Mississippi State Nov. 19 vs. Georgia Southern Nov. 26 @ Auburn

Sept. 3 vs. Missouri State Sept. 10 vs. New Mexico* Sept. 17 vs. Troy Sept. 24 @ Alabama Oct. 1 @ Texas A&M** Oct. 8 vs. Auburn Oct. 22 @ Ole Miss Oct. 29 @ Vanderbilt Nov. 5 vs. South Carolina Nov. 12 vs. Tennessee Nov. 19 vs. Mississippi State* Nov. 26 @ LSU

*in Jacksonville (EverBank Field)

*in Atlanta (Georgia Dome) **in Jacksonville (EverBank Field)

KENTUCKY WILDCATS

SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS

2010 Record: 6-7 (2-6) Sept. 1 vs. Western Kentucky Sept. 10 vs. Central Michigan Sept. 17 vs. Louisville Sept. 24 vs. Florida Oct. 1 @ LSU Oct. 8 @ South Carolina Oct. 22 vs. Jacksonville State Oct. 29 vs. Mississippi State Nov. 5 vs. Ole Miss Nov. 12 @ Vanderbilt Nov. 19 @ Georgia Nov. 26 vs. Tennessee

2010 Record: 9-5 (5-3) Sept. 2 vs. East Carolina* Sept. 10 @ Georgia Sept. 17 vs. Navy Sept. 24 vs. Vanderbilt Oct. 1 vs. Auburn Oct. 8 vs. Kentucky Oct. 15 @ Mississippi State Oct. 29 @ Tennessee Nov. 5 @ Arkansas Nov. 12 vs. Florida Nov. 19 vs. The Citadel Nov. 26 vs. Clemson

*in Little Rock (War Memorial Stadium) **in Arlington, Tex. (Dallas Cowboys Stadium)

AUBURN TIGERS

LSU TIGERS

2010 Record: 13-0 (9-0)

2010 Record: 11-2 (6-2)

Sept. 3 vs. Utah State Sept. 10 vs. Mississippi State Sept. 17 @ Clemson Sept. 24 vs. Florida Atlantic Oct. 1 @ South Carolina Oct. 8 @ Arkansas Oct. 15 vs. Florida Oct. 22 @ LSU Oct. 29 vs. Ole Miss Nov. 12 @ Georgia Nov. 19 vs. Samford Nov. 26 vs. Alabama

Sept. 3 vs. Oregon* Sept. 10 vs. Northwestern State Sept. 15 @ Mississippi State Sept. 24 @ West Virginia Oct. 1 vs. Kentucky Oct. 8 vs. Florida Oct. 15 @ Tennessee Oct. 22 vs. Auburn Nov. 5 @ Alabama Nov. 12 vs. Western Kentucky Nov. 19 @ Ole Miss Nov. 26 vs. Arkansas *in Arlington, Tex. (Dallas Cowboys Stadium)

*in Charlotte, N.C. (Bank of America Stadium)

TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS

VANDERBILT COMMODORES

OLE MISS REBELS

2010 Record: 6-7 (3-5)

2010 Record: 3-9 (1-7)

2010 Record: 4-8 (1-7)

Sept. 3 vs. Montana Sept. 10 vs. Cincinnati Sept. 17 @ Florida Oct. 1 vs. Buffalo Oct. 8 vs. Georgia Oct. 15 vs. LSU Oct. 22 @ Alabama Oct. 29 vs. South Carolina Nov. 5 vs. Middle Tennessee Nov. 12 @ Arkansas Nov. 19 vs. Vanderbilt Nov. 26 @ Kentucky

Sept. 3 vs. Elon Sept. 10 vs. Connecticut Sept. 17 vs. Ole Miss Sept. 24 @ South Carolina Oct. 8 @ Alabama Oct. 15 vs. Georgia Oct. 22 vs. Army Oct. 29 vs. Arkansas Nov. 5 @ Florida Nov. 12 vs. Kentucky Nov. 19 @ Tennessee Nov. 26 @ Wake Forest

Sept. 3 vs. BYU Sept. 10 vs. Southern Illinois Sept. 17 @ Vanderbilt Sept. 24 vs. Georgia Oct. 1 @ Fresno State Oct. 15 vs. Alabama Oct. 22 vs. Arkansas Oct. 29 @ Auburn Nov. 5 @ Kentucky Nov. 12 vs. Louisiana Tech Nov. 19 vs. LSU Nov. 26 @ Mississippi State

MISSISSIPPI STATE BULLDOGS 2010 Record: 9-4 (4-4) Sept. 1 @ Memphis Sept. 10 @ Auburn Sept. 15 vs. LSU Sept. 24 vs. Louisiana Tech Oct. 1 @ Georgia Oct. 8 @ UAB Oct. 15 vs. South Carolina Oct. 29 @ Kentucky Nov. 5 vs. Tennessee-Martin Nov. 12 vs. Alabama Nov. 19 @ Arkansas* Nov. 26 vs. Ole Miss *in Little Rock (War Memorial Stadium)

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A.J. McCARRON

JORDAN JEFFERSON

JOHN BRANTLEY

have all the potential in the world but don’t have a quality win under their belts as starters. With so many questions at the game’s most crucial position, the fate of the SEC depends on something impossible to predict: who will rise to the occasion and who will flounder.

IN QUESTION

2011

looks to be the year of the running back in the SEC, with most teams featuring a stud or two deep in the backfield. Whether it’s Trent Richardson at Alabama, Auburn’s Michael Dyer or the Gamecocks’ Marcus Lattimore, the conference is stacked with top-notch tailbacks. On the contrary, the quarterback position is a mystery that will unfold as the season progresses, and the questions that are yet to be answered make projecting this year’s conference outcomes extremely difficult minus a crystal ball. Statistically, Georgia’s Aaron Murray is the top veteran signal-caller in the conference, coming off an excellent freshman season (3,049 yds, 24 TDS, 8 INT). The other “big names” are LSU’s Jordan Jefferson and South Carolina’s Stephen Garcia, who both have loads of experience but are incredibly inconsistent. Chris Relf should show improvement at Mississippi State, but he isn’t going to wow anyone with his numbers; while Alabama and Auburn don’t even have clear-cut starters at the start of fall practice. The Crimson Tide are sizing up a twoman tug-o-war between sophomore A.J. McCarron and redshirt freshman Phillip Sims, both of whom had very impressive outings in the Spring 2011 “Crimson & White” game. As for Auburn, it’s a threeman battle for O-coordinator Gus Malzahn, who, at deadline, is reportedly deliberating between sophomore Clint Moseley, junior Barrett Trotter, and promising freshman Kiehl Frazier. Rounding out the league are a handful of talented gunslingers who either haven’t lived up to the hype, haven’t started a game, or

SENIOR SAVVY? Both Stephen Garcia (South Carolina) and Jordan Jefferson (LSU) lead teams with loads of talent, and each has at least two seasons starting at QB. But while you’d think this would set both players up for stellar senior seasons, the fact of the matter is that both signal-callers have been plagued with inconsistency throughout their careers— inconsistency that has cost their respective teams crucial games. Garcia and Jefferson have always seemed to struggle with the mental part of the game, and Garcia is lucky to still have a spot on the team due to a laundry list of discipline issues. For both schools, the crux of the issue is that their championship hopes will lay in the hands of two flaky seniors who may or may not put it all together in 2011. If they do manage to right their ships, however, we may see them square off for the SEC crown at the end of the season.

A TALE OF TWO TYLERS There are multiple quarterbacks making their SEC debuts as full-time starters this season, the most intriguing of which are whom we at V3 Magazine have dubbed “the Two Tylers”—a.k.a., Tyler Wilson of Arkansas and Tennessee’s Tyler Bray. Bray led the Volunteers to victory in his first four starts in 2010, showing great potential and giving Vol fans hope for the future of Tennessee football. The 6’6”, 210-pound NFL prototype set several

TYLER WILSON Tennessee freshman records along the way, as well, but his aforementioned wins came against Memphis, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt and Kentucky (hardly the cream of the crop). Until Bray beats one of the big boys, he will remain unproven. But a bright future could be in the cards. The Hogs’ Tyler Wilson has less experience, but significantly more proven talent surrounding him at Arkansas. His best outing to date was an impressive appearance versus Auburn in 2010, in which he threw for 332 yards and 4 TDs. If Wilson gets things clicking in Bobby Petrino’s highflying offense, Arkansas will be a fearsome opponent for any team—and that means any team—on their 2011 schedule.

CHOMPIN' AT THE BIT Florida QB John Brantley is the son of a former Gator signal-caller, a former Gatorade High School Player of the Year, and, at one point, was higher on the depth chart in Gainesville than last year’s Heisman Trophy winner, Cam Newton. But the hype was overwhelming for Brantley; the outcome, a disaster. Brantley was a square peg in a round hole, and his failure to aptly run Urban Meyer’s spread option resulted in a dismal 2010 season. By the end of last season, in fact, he only appeared on the field in pass situations, and the defenses he faced were ready for everything he threw at them. The silver lining for Gator fans, though: If Brantley can be fixed, new offensive coordinator Charlie Weis (forget Notre Dame, already) has the pedigree to get it done. Sink or swim, Brantley will now be a pro-style quarterback at the helm of a prostyle offense; hero or zero in the eyes of the Gator faithful, he will at least be given the chance to get what he earns. For 2011, a Weis-driven Florida offense is undoubtedly one of the biggest mysteries set to play out in the SEC, and the play of Brantley in particular will decide the Gators’ fate. VVV

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INSIDE+OUT with DIANNA EDWARDS

FAREWELL TO

THE CHIEF

In sleepy little Summerville, "giants" of Northwest Georgia history are toppling everywhere you turn. Lucky for them, greener pastures surely await

he tornadoes of that black April night more than three months ago lasted well under an hour. But the change they unleashed will be months, years even, in the settling. This was my first tornado. I had nothing to compare it to, except one puny wildfire in California that drifted into the city of Sherman Oaks and made freeway exhaust seem like perfume. I was alone that April night, freshly turned 59, and celebrating my birthday by candlelight thanks to the violence of the morning’s simple “storms”. These understated fronts had plucked centuriesold trees from the ground like fresh stems from a vase. Children were already climbing the downed oak they’d sat under so often at Cave Spring Elementary School. I didn’t measure its circumference, but it was easily

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over 12 feet. It was a mighty thing; awe inspiring. Only God can make a tree, I thought. Axes and chainsaws can take one down easily enough, but only a tornado can pick up a tree by the roots and fling it back down again. A fallen tragedy for children to climb and mother robins to weep over. Tiny, crushed blue and brown spotted eggshells were scattered 50 feet away from the tree’s branches. I cradled one into my truck, where it rested for weeks. I’ve read that tornadoes have families but I don’t think they give much thought to the families of others. Not Robins. And certainly not people. The families whose homes were destroyed or damaged in April are far from having their lives back to normal. One historic farmhouse on Cedartown Street (once so shaded by old trees that it was all but invisible from the road) is now as sunny as beachfront property. But that historic house stands. And my friends survived. In the debris of their yard I found a seashell that could have come from anywhere; across the street or all the way east from Tuscaloosa. Its delicate, twisting spirals echoed the shape of the funnel cloud that had left it there. Another tiny lost thing, now just a bright bit of color on the ground.

THE WINDS OF CHANGE

andy Lacey started serving Cave Spring as a volunteer fireman in 1982, and wound up as fire chief, police chief, and public safety director somewhere around Hurricane Opal. His career in Cave Spring will be bookended by high winds, it seems. Lacey’s hair was probably as red as a fire truck when he started here. It’s still red, but not so richly. Cave Spring’s first fire truck has now been retired from service, and has since been replaced by a bright, shiny new one that Lacey, former Rome fireman Steve Rogers, and a host of others worked to get passed with a SPLOST action in 2007. Chief Lacey, who hates being called “Chief ”, is one of the most respected law enforcement officers in Northwest Georgia. Ask Rome Police Chief Elaine Snow or District Attorney Leigh Patterson. When Chief Lacey arrests a bad guy, he stays arrested (to twist an old Mae West line). Lacey is tough, fair, and gets his many jobs done. He can be funny as all get out, too. His men adore him (as much as rough men could ever adore another rough man), his wife adores him, and I admit to thinking highly of him myself. One of his old comrades (and Bertha true crime author) Major Mike Ragland would probably kiss him smack on the lips if he thought he could get away with it. “Lacey is SWAT, EMT, a First Responder, a good manager of three departments,” says Ragland. “…You can run those things without having done the jobs, but it’s sure easier when you have.”

Which is why it makes me sad for Cave Spring that Chief of Chiefs, Chief Lacey, (he can’t stop me now) is headed for the greener pastures of Polk County in August. He’ll stay on as part-time fire chief here. Lacey says he is proudest of the volunteer fire team he leaves behind. When he started here, there were six firefighters in Cave Spring. Today, there are 35. All trained to standards that have had bigger counties looking to Cave Spring for recruiting. That, in itself, is a legacy. Thank you for your service, Big Chief. And another thanks to your family for sharing you with us.

SIGNS OF THE TIMES

ave Spring is dotted now with “For Sale” signs in the yards of historic register properties. The Rolater/ Montgomery House, built in 1858 by Captain Felix Van Den Corput, is one of the loveliest estates I’ve ever seen. A Victorian and Carpenter Gothic gem on a city block of heritage trees and plantings, complete with outbuildings and a small fishpond. It is breathtaking. The Tumlin House, Cave Spring’s elegant Victorian Painted Lady bed and breakfast, has just come on the market as well. Built in 1866, the house has a romantic history: It was given in dowry to Albert Tumlin when he wed his bride, Miss Julia Dickerson. The couple was the first to have electricity in Cave Spring. And then there is the sign in my own yard, the Wesley O. Connor House. A sign I did not expect to see go up for many years. The day I signed the contract, I could barely see to write my name. I excused myself and left for the sheltering arms of my dear friend, Paulette Harbin. That night, Mr. Connor’s Civil War diaries kicked off the shelf in the library and fell open on the floor. I do not think Mr. Connor approved of our decision. We were not in complete approval of it ourselves. But the pull of a dying father is strong. The pull of a beautiful, thriving 11-year-old little girl who shares my blood is stronger still. My father no longer speaks, but he understands. I told him over dinner in his nursing home—a good place, a decent place—that we had put the house, which he loved to visit, up for sale; that we had done it in hopes that we might move closer to him. He put his fork down. I saw a storm rising in his eyes. He was determined still, with whatever strength he had left, to shelter me from the winds that would come soon enough with his leaving. He shook his head hard. "No.” VVV

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TEXT BY JACOB PEPPERS

PHOTOS BY DEREK BELL

As it stands today, the Rome branch of HABITAT FOR HUMANITY is doing quite well on its mission to give families in need a fighting chance. But as the old saying goes: the more, the merrier

HOPE

HAS A HOME

miling faces, encouraging words, and a willingness to help are but a few of the character traits exhibited by the employees and volunteers of the Rome branch of Habitat for Humanity. As outlined in the mission statement found on the organization’s website, Habitat in Rome seeks to “bring families and communities in need together with volunteers and resources to build decent, affordable houses.” In practice, they do much more than that. Whether selling items at reduced prices in their Home Mart store, assisting in cosmetic home repair via their Brush with Kindness program, completing major repairs with their Critical Home Repair program, or creating an entirely new home for a given family in need, Habitat’s employees and volunteers are dedicated to giving people the opportunity to own, maintain, and furnish their own homes. According to Louise Banham, manager-director of the Home Mart in Rome and a two-year employee of Habitat for Humanity, “Every day you [experience] something that touches your heart. It’s so great to know that we’re helping to build better communities.”

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The Home Mart side of Habitat in Rome is part of the Habitat International Restore Network. All items for sale have been donated by various private entities, including Lowes and Walmart, and are immediately priced at 50 to 75 percent off the retail price upon hitting the retail floor. The profits made from all sales are then used by the home building side of Habitat to provide safe, decent housing for those in need. “The purpose of the Home Mart is to fund Habitat for Humanity, so that we can provide affordable housing,” says Habitat Rome executive director, Bruce Day. “We encourage people to shop here because you get good deals, and you’re helping to provide affordable housing at the same time.” Whether in search of windows, doors, furniture, bed knobs or broom sticks, Home Mart gives customers a chance to purchase high-quality items for significantly less than retail value, while simultaneously helping a fellow citizen. Habitat is also a member of the Community Organizations Assisting in Disaster, which includes local emergency management, 411, Red Cross, and various churches and nonprofit organizations. After the storms that struck Floyd County on April 27, an area was cleared out at the front of Home Mart’s showroom floor to hold supplies sent by various donors. Storm victims received vouchers and were directed to the store, where they received help loading supplies into their vehicles and were handed gift certificates redeemable for future items. Another current initiative of Habitat for Humanity is the organization’s Brush with Kindness program, which began roughly a year ago. Since that time, Habitat has worked on nine different homes, painting them as well as completing cosmetic repairs. Day explains that one of the best things

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“Not just building houses, not just repairing houses, but improving our communities and the quality of life for everybody.” Yet another way in which Habitat addresses the community’s need for safe, affordable housing is through their Critical Home Repair program. Day says this option is employed when families are experiencing a severe but reparable problem with their home, such as a leaking roof or rotting floor. Despite its Home Mart and various other functions, the primary purpose of Habitat for Humanity is—and always has been— the creation of decent, affordable housing for those in need. To that end, since its inception 27 years ago, Habitat Rome has constructed 49 homes for its homeowner “partners”. Each year, Habitat builds two to three homes for eligible families. An impressive number, but one that Day and his fellow philanthropists hope will increase dramatically in the years to come. In fact, Habitat’s goal is to construct six affordable homes per year and maintain that number in the years to come. As Day puts it, “It’s a number that’s definitely needed, and we feel like that would make a significant impact.” As for how Habitat families are chosen, candidates are assessed according to three basic criteria: a family’s need for decent housing; that family’s capacity to repay a non-profit, no-interest loan through Habitat (which generally equals out to about $350 a month, including insurance and taxes); and, finally, the family’s willingness to contribute what, in Habitat circles, is referred to as “sweat equity”. Sweat equity is the stipulation that a future Habitat homeowner assist in the construction of his or her family’s new home, as well as volunteering hours at Home Mart so that they are able to help others while being helped in return. about the Brush with Kindness program is that a lot of volunteers, many of whom don’t have the knowledge or experience to help in the home-building process, can still devote their time by painting a home and helping a family all the same. Brush with Kindness works in collaboration with the South Rome Association and the South Rome Redevelopment Corporation. “We’re very interested in collaboration,” says Day.

ruce Day carries with him countless stories of families that Habitat has helped. One involves a family whose house was built on a concrete slab that, during storms, allowed rain water to run under one of the walls, often soaking the carpet and bottom edges of the furniture. What made the situation even worse was that many of the home’s electrical outlets weren’t functional,

so drop-cords were needed to channel power to much of the home. This left the family walking over drop-cords draped across a floor puddled with rain water. “It was just a dangerous situation,” Day says, “so we were excited to be able to build a safe, decent, affordable house for that family.” Another example of Habitat’s impact involves a woman named Cecilia Slaton. Prior to coming to Rome, Slaton was homeless. She moved to Rome and lived in the Rome Housing Authority for four years, then managed to find a way to begin attending classes at Georgia Northwestern Technical College. In an effort to make a better life for her and her three children, she later acquired a job with the school. When Slaton attended her first meeting with Habitat, the four of them were living in a cramped, two-bedroom apartment. “The experience was just great,” she says. “From the first time I found out that I was approved to building my house, the people who work with Habitat—the volunteers and everyone else—were so helpful and so nice. I just feel really blessed…to be in the midst of all these great

people and have all these great people build my home…” One of the most striking things about the employees, volunteers and partners of Habitat Rome is that they think of themselves as a family. Indeed, when asked what one of his favorite things for working for Habitat is, Director Day says, “We are dealing with folks (staff and volunteers)

manpower or volunteers, but a lack of skilled volunteers with greater experience in home construction—flooring, sheet rock, and everything in between. Day is confident that with a larger number of veteran skilled laborers on his team, Habitat can make a far greater impact for individual families and the community as a whole. Of course, whether volunteers are skilled or not, there are various areas in which they can help. Be it painting a home through the Brush with Kindness program, assisting customers in Home Mart, helping in the hands-on construction of a new home, or even just purchasing items from Home Mart to fund Habitat’s building program, there is a rewarding experience waiting for anyone who may be interested. In the words of one homeowner partner, “Even if you’re not a Habitat partner, once you work with Habitat, it makes you want to keep coming back.” VVV

"We're very interested in collaboration. Not just building homes, not just repairing houses, but improving our communities and the quality of life for everybody." who are so loving and concerned with the community that they are just a joy to work with.” He laughs, “Of course, I can’t deny that there is just a great sense of gratification in knowing that we have helped…almost 50 families.” There is no question that Habitat Rome has already facilitated a dramatic improvement in the quality of life for many families throughout Rome-Floyd County. However, Day is certain that his organization can do more. What holds them back, he explains, is not lack of

To find out how you can be of service to Habitat for Humanity’s Rome chapter, please visit habitatrome.com

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TRENDS+TRADITIONS with HOLLY LYNCH

h, the groom: The poor buddy standing at the church, all dressed up, no clue what’s going on. Literally, he’s just hanging in there until he can get in a car or on an airplane and get lost with his new wife. Nevertheless, there he is, standing proudly, saying the right things. Smiling. Ever wonder what influence the groom had in getting to that place? Ever sat in the congregation and wondered how much input he had into the flowers pinned to his friends’ tuxedos? Is the groom really as clueless as we assume? In my business, the groom is generally one of two types. Type 1: I meet him on the evening of the rehearsal at the church—literally, the first time I ever lay eyes on the groom is less than 24 hours before the wedding. The bride has told me all about him, of course, but I’ve never met him or had a conversation with him. More often, though, it’s Type 2: He’s at some meetings, emails or calls me with his own questions and concerns, and even has a few elements at the wedding that are distinctly his. With increasing frequency, this is the man we meet several weeks or months before the wedding. I really like this guy. Traditionally, the groom takes on the responsibility (along with his parents) of hosting the rehearsal dinner. He also pays for the bride’s bouquet, the mothers’ flowers, and the boutonnieres for the male members of the wedding party, excluding his own. The groom is also responsible for the honeymoon plans, which traditionally begin with the wedding night accommodations (and often the transportation to that location). In recent years, the groom has also taken a more active role in the areas of the wedding

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GIVE YOUR GROOM

A CHANCE

He's got more to contribute to your wedding day than just the deejay, doll. So, c'mon ladies, pass the bridezilla baton and stand by your man!

in which he has some experience or expertise. Music is usually one of those areas. Many grooms enjoy selecting the band or DJ for the reception, and even choose the song list for the event. Some grooms even want to choose the music for the ceremony, but stop short of selecting the song his bride will use to walk down the aisle. (Although I have had some brides lament, He wants me to walk down the aisle to ‘here comes the bride’!) The groom is often instrumental in planning the bar, as well, if there is one. I’ve seen grooms negotiate on other points of the wedding so that he can have his favorite liquor served at an open bar. One even traded his long-standing belief that he didn’t want to see his bride until the ceremony in exchange for Crown Royal. Photos were done early; drinking extended well into the night. Good trade. Menu choices and cake selection are also areas where the groom’s opinion is often welcome. He certainly knows which

foods his family enjoys, so the groom’s input here is a great asset. However, the final decision on the menu—because it is one of the largest expenses of the wedding—should rest in the hands of the person footing the bill. Now, let’s take a moment to clarify a few things. First, the groom is always welcome to give his opinions on wedding details to his bride. His decision-making power, however, is often hampered by the people who hold the checkbook. If the bride’s family is paying for the wedding, they become the primary decision makers, consulting the groom’s opinion on some items. If the couple is jointly paying for the wedding, then they should primarily make the decisions, while consulting their families. If the groom’s family is also contributing to the finances of the wedding, then all parties involved should come to a consensus, with the bride and groom’s preferences leading the way. So, if the bride and her family are paying for the wedding, the groom is expected to contribute his opinion when asked, but respect the final decision. Brides and their mothers often dream about the wedding day from a very young age. (My Barbie got married LOTS of times so she could have several types of weddings.

She always married Ken, though.) Men don’t think about the wedding in quite the same way. I think the man finds the woman he wants to spend his life with, asks her to marry him, and then waits until after the wedding to reintroduce himself to her, particularly since the months spent planning the wedding have transformed his onceperfect girlfriend into his now-crazy fiancé. Oftentimes the bride is dealing with family issues (parental and extended), plus the stress of finishing school, finding a job or keeping a job, and the pressure of planning a wedding that’s different from her best friend’s or sister’s special day—all while still fitting into a budget. The groom has less of those issues. He’s dealing with his mother (who has somehow become a little crazy like his fiancé) and his own job/school concerns, but really doesn’t bear the stress of figuring out which china pattern will best complement the specialty table linens at his reception. I’m always sad when the groom says, usually quite near the wedding day, “I just want to get this overwith.” The groom shouldn’t feel that way, of course, but I totally understand why he does. He wasn’t asked about the china pattern, and if he had been, he would tell you very quickly which plate, flower, and napkin he likes.

There’s something in the DNA of men and women that make men more decisive decision-makers. Not better, necessarily, but more decisive. So, when asked, the groom can often make decisions without secondguessing himself. This makes the involved groom an incredible asset. Ask his opinion. Because he has one. It is his wedding day, too. Then be confident in what you’ve chosen, because the groom will be happy when his bride is happy. Brides and grooms will make decisions together for the rest of their lives as a married couple. Why should the wedding be any different? There’s something important to the rite of passage that a wedding day provides for the groom as much as for the bride. Like graduating from high school or the first day of your first ‘real’ job, there’s an almost out-of-body experience to the event. Until the minister tells you to kiss your bride, and suddenly it’s you again. Standing up there in front of people you don’t know, promising your life to another person. Smiling. VVV

Holly Lynch is the owner and managing coordinator for The Season Special Event Planning at 250 Broad Street in Rome.

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eurologist David Hale, M.D. comes to Harbin Clinic from Evans, Ga. He received his medical doctorate from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, and while there completed his internship in internal medicine. Dr. Hale completed his residency in neurology at the Medical College of Georgia. He is a member of the American Academy of Neurology, the American Medical Association, the Medical Association of Georgia and the Georgia Neurological Association. He, his wife and daughter reside in Rome. In the following Q&A, Dr. Hale fields questions regarding Parkinson’s disease, its symptoms, the manner in which it is diagnosed, and its prospective treatment options. Parkinson’s disease is widely discussed, but what is it exactly? Parkinson’s disease is one of the known “neurodegenerative disorders”, meaning there is a gradual loss of certain brain cells. These brain cells produce a neurotransmitter called dopamine, which helps in regulating movements. When a person develops Parkinson’s disease, the lack of dopamine causes the symptoms of tremor, slow movements, rigidity and imbalance.

Slamming the Brakes on Parkinson’s Disease

with Parkinson’s. Although a person may be feeling happy or sad, his or her facial expression may appear mostly blank. Not blinking your eyes is often another cause for concern.

Although there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease at this time, there are measures which may help slow the progression and maintain functionality and independence for as long as possible.

What if these symptoms only occur temporarily? Many of the symptoms concerning Parkinson’s may have other causes, such as side effects from medication or other neurological diseases. The most common cause of tremor is a condition called “benign essential tremor”, which may run in families and may sometimes be confused as Parkinson’s. Many symptoms of Parkinson’s may be caused by another illness. However, they usually subside after their cause is identified and treated. If the symptom remains after the cause has been addressed, you should speak to your doctor.

What can I do if I am diagnosed with Parkinson’s? There are many things you can do to help improve quality of life. For one, it is important to find a neurologist (a doctor specializing in the brain) to form a plan that will keep you healthy for a longer period of time. Working with physical, occupational and speech therapists can also improve functionality and quality of life, as certain exercises can improve mobility, flexibility and balance. Support from family and friends are additional ways to help following a diagnosis.

How would I know if I had Parkinson’s disease? There are several early warning signs for Parkinson’s, including tremors or shaking; smaller or different handwriting; difficulty in smelling foods; difficulty sleeping; stiffness in arms and legs; constipation; a soft or hoarse voice; a masked face; frequent dizziness or fainting; poor balance; a shuffling gait; hunching over; leaning or slouching.

I have one of these symptoms. Should I be concerned? Having just one of these symptoms does not mean you should be worried about Parkinson’s disease. However, if you have two or more of these symptoms, you should make an appointment with you doctor to discuss them. Older age is one risk factor, with most cases not noticing symptoms until the age of 60. Having a first-degree family member is also a concern, but familial cases of Parkinson’s are rare. The vast majority are sporadic rather than inherited.

What is a masked face? A masked face is the term we give to the lack of facial expression which occurs

Is an early diagnosis important? An early diagnosis provides the best opportunity to live a longer, better life.

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Where is more information available? If you have any questions, concerns, or if you would like to be more educated about Parkinson’s disease, you can call 1.800.4PD. INFO (473.4636) or visit the National Parkinson Foundation website at parkinsons. org. The Northwest Georgia Parkinson’s Disease Support Group is another valuable local resource. They meet at the Fifth Avenue Baptist Church in Rome on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 6 p.m. Rome will be one of three cities in the nation to host a national Parkinson’s disease awareness campaign and fundraiser called “Moving Day” on Oct. 22. It will be held at State Mutual Stadium, and all are encouraged to attend. If you have concerns that you may have Parkinson’s disease, be sure to make an appointment with your Harbin Clinic physician. VVV

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