Commissioners discuss energy plan

Work being done on a proposed energy conservation plan for Athens-Clarke County is proceeding well, according to one commissioner during a mayor and commission agenda setting meeting yesterday.

While some commissioners expressed concern, especially regarding costs that may potentially be imposed on residents, they were mostly optimistic about the plan. Among other objectives, it would seek to eliminate excess lighting in the county in an effort to reduce energy costs.

“This is an excellent strategy,” said 6th Commissioner Carl Jordan. “I appreciate the work that has gone into it.”

Mayor Heidi Davidson and the commissioners also discussed possible rate and procedure changes for the pickup of trash in the community. Whereas the county has previously offered backyard pickup of garbage in addition to curbside, changes may be in effect that would eliminate the backyard service.

3rd District Commissioner George Maxwell expressed unease with the proposal on the grounds that some elderly or disabled individuals may not have the ability to carry their garbage to the curb. He was assured that there would be a provision whereby those unable to do so could submit a short application for continued backyard pickup.

Commissioner David Lynn of the 5th District also commented on the service. “Athens must be the only community left that still picks up garbage in the backyard, but that’s no reason to do away with it,” he said.

Dan Magill speaks to students

Dan Magill, the legendary University of Georgia tennis coach, sports promoter and World War II veteran, has done and seen many amazing things. Yet when questioned about his greatest accomplishment of all during an interview with journalism students at the university today, the 87-year-old responded, “Winning the hand of Rosemary, my wife.”
Magill, whose fame is well-known around the university’s city of Athens (his seat in the stadium’s press box reads simply, “Dan Magill–The Legend”)­, reminisced about many events throughout his illustrious life. One of his favorite memories, he claimed, was winning a bid to the 1941 Orange Bowl after triumphing over Auburn with a score of 7-0.
Another fond memory he recalled was during his time at boot camp in the United States Marine Cops, in which he listened outside of a window, in the freezing cold, to a drill sergeant’s radio broadcasting of the 1943 Rose Bowl, which Georgia also won.
Magill also spoke concerning whether or not other sports get the publicity they deserve at the college, where football is clearly dominant. “Football makes so much money that it really finances the others,” he said. “It certainly deserves the attention.”