Topic: Boy Scouts of the Chattahoochee Council

Topic: Governmental Affairs

Topic: The impact of Workforce Development and Education in our Valley Partnership Region.

Topic: Columbus, GA

Topic: Small Businesses

Topic: Columbus, GA

Topic: Eagle & Phenix Apartments

Topic: Cunningham Center

Topic: Springer Opera House

Due to technical difficulties the end of the show is unavailable.

Topic: Chattahoochee Valley Community College

Topic: Chamber Golf Tournament

Topic: Columbus Lions Indoor Football in Columbus Georgia.

1. Mayor recently you had a news conference to talk about the new officers working their way out on patrol. How long does it take to train an officer from the time they are hired to the time they go out on patrol?

• What impact do you expect these new officers to make on the crime rate?
• You had talked about having the officers on a beats getting to know the areas they are patrolling how does this help them do their job?
• What are you looking for?

2. Mayor growing excitement on the potential of white water on the Chattahoochee.

• What would the estimated 300,000 visitors mean to the local economy?
• I understand the city has prepared a grant to help move this project forward. When would the city be notified on their proposal?
• How could this enhance tourism to the region?

3. Last week we had General Barbero on the show talking about BRAC. How is the city's plan coming together to meet the growth?

• What is the city's focusing on to meet the growth?
• What will make this transition successful?

4. Columbus evolved in the last two decades transitioning from textiles to aircraft part manufacturing, auto manufacturing and white collar jobs.

• The community's public private partnership has worked hard to position Columbus for growth. Even in these tough economic times the community seems to be doing better than many other cities?
• With Kia and Fort Benning gearing up Columbus sure could rebound. What do you expect to see for the in the next six months?

1. Maj. Gen. Mike Barbero you took command of Fort Benning at the end of last year also at one of the largest growth periods of installation. Some people still do not realize how much is going on at the base.

• How many dollars are being spent on construction currently?
• In addition the new Martin Army Hospital project will add another how much in construction?
• At the end of this BRAC transition how much will have been invested in Fort Benning?

2. General how many more soldiers will be trained at Fort Benning after this transition?

• What will it mean to the area economy?
• Look at BRAC as an economic development project it will create an estimated new jobs in the region?
• The regions population will grow by?
• When will we begin to see soldiers, civilians and families moving to the region?

3. General Barbero BRAC has a lot of moving parts.

• Do you have concerns about how the region will be prepared for growth? Education, Transportation, housing? When will the Armor School begin its move here?
• What has surprised you about the region? (since you moved to Fort Benning)
• What would you have like to know before you moved here?

4. Last Thursday was a special day with the dedication of a new parade ground. Where they placed soil from the major battlefields that soldiers have fought and died. What did it mean to you? What impact do you think it will have on the future soldiers who will graduate there?

• It is a great example of public private partnership! City land, private donations and military participation. What do think it will mean to the soldiers when they walk though it?

1. How has, 185, highway 80, the North bypass and Manchester Expressway, transformed traffic flow and created development?

• How important is the road network to the growth of the region?
• From your vantage point what should we be looking at for the future?
• How do we keep advancing our road network?

2. John how did you get involved in the Gateways project?

• What was the goal of Gateways?
• How hard was it to obtain permission from the state and city to start the projects?
• Why was it so important to do?
• What impact do you think it had on the city?
• Who maintains the Gateways?

3. How is the project coming for the intersection of 185 and Victory Drive?

• What do you have planned to this important gateway to Fort Benning?
• What is the time line for the project?
• When this new Gateway is done what can people expect to see?

4. What do you see in the future with BRAC?

• How can we make this growth good for our community?

Guest: Senator Saxby Chambliss

1. The Senate has been very busy since the inauguration?

• How do you see the stimulus bill impacting the economy?
• What are your concerns with the stimulus bill?
• How do we follow what our forefathers have done and focus on pulling our selves out of this?
• What bills would you like to see?
• What do you see in the future for our country?
• Our military is heavily involved in Iraqi and building up in Afghanistan, how is the Senate continuing to support them?
• Later this month the National Infantry Museum will open…it is a great way for a grateful nation to say thank you to the Infantry soldiers thru out history.

Guest: Joe Kleiman, Director of IMAX and Attractions, National Infantry Museum

1. Last week you showed tried out the Imax Theater how did it go?

• How is IMAX different from movies we see now?
• Do you have a schedule of what will be coming?
• Where can people find out more about your schedule?
• What is the response from people who attend there first show?
• How did you become involved with IMAX Theaters?

2. What do you want the attractions to do for the visitors of the National Infantry Museum?

• What do you think will surprise most people on their first visit?
• What are you most proud of?
• How do you plan to build repeat visitors?

3. How did you get to Columbus?

• Where were you prior to coming to Columbus?
• How has your experience been in Columbus?
• What surprised you the most about this area?
• How long should some one expect to spend at the National Infantry Museum?

1. What is Crime Stoppers?

• When did it start?
• How has it impacted the community? (Number of calls, arrests, felony charges misdemeanor charges and amount paid out)
• Why is it important? (how many people have been put behind bars)
• How does it work? (explain how anonymously informant is paid)
• Do criminals really turn one another in?

2. How is Crime Stoppers funded?

• When is Jail and Bail?
• Where will it take place?
• How often do you do Jail and Bail?
• How much money do you want to raise?
• How is the money used by Crime Stoppers?

3. Why would the chamber support Crime Stoppers?

• Is this another way that the business community can support public safety?
• Where can people find out more about Jail and Bail?
• What are some of the funniest reasons people have been arrested?
• What happens to the people who are arrested?
• How much money are they asked to raise for bail?

Guest: Rob Doll talking about "See How They Run".

4. What is "See How they Run"?

• Why is this project important?
• Why is the Chamber hosting this event?
• What can people expect to learn from this program?
• Who should participate? Why?
• Why is See How they Run a non partisan event?

Guest: Mike Venable, Columbus and the Valley Magazine and John Pezold, Chair of the Young Professionals

1. Mike how long have you published Columbus and the Valley Magazine?

• Why are young professionals important to the future of the community?
• How did you come up with the idea to recognize young professionals?
• What is the goal of this project?

2. John from the Young Professionals perspective why is this project important?

• What will this accomplish for YPs?
• As a young professional and rising young leader, how does a program like YP enhance your leadership development and engagement in the community?
• What have you learned from YP so far?
• How many YPs are in the Young Professionals program?
• They represent how many businesses?

3. Mike if someone or a business wanted to submit one of their best and brightest for the Top Five Under 40 where can they get an application?

• What are you looking for in an application?
• Who will review the applications?
• How will the winners be selected?
• How will they be recognized?

4. And how does a recognition program like top 5 under 40 encourage young professionals to stay involved and continue to give back to the community?

• When will the YP Gala be held?
• John can you tell us more about the Gala, what will it feature?

Guest: Fred Cohen, Executive Director, Schwob School of Music

1. How many students are in the Schwob School of Music?

• What can the students major in?
• After graduation where do your students go on to do?
• How many become teachers them selves?

2. What has been the impact on the school being co-located with the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts?

• Is it an asset when visiting students come to look at the campus?
• What do they talk about?
• Do the majority of your students live in uptown?
• What is their impact on the area?

3. Where do most of your students come from?

• How many international students do you have?
• How many come from outside Georgia?

4. How has the uptown campus transformed what the school can offer?

• How does your facility compare to others in Georgia and the South East?
• What has it allowed you to do that would not have been possible when the department was on the campus?

Guest: Sheriff John Darr

1. What will the Mayor's goal of making Columbus one of the safest city impact the Sheriff's department?

• How many people work in the Sheriff's department now?
• What are the responsibilities of the Sheriff's department?
• How does the Sheriff's Department differ from the Police Department and the Marshall's Office?

2. Why did you decide to run to become Sheriff?

• Is it any different than you though it would be when you were running for office?
• What do see in the future of the Sheriff's Department? Or what are your plans for the department?

3. How many people do you have on average in jail that you are responsible for?

• Is the number going up or down?
• What impacts that number? And why?
• Do you see a lot of people returning to jail?

4. Why would you say most of these people end up on the wrong side of the law?

• What can be done to reduce the number of repeat offenders?
• How are people picked to work on details for the city? (like garbage pick-up and other jobs)
• How has that changed with the escapes last year?

Guest: Isaiah Hugley, City Manager, Columbus Consolidated Government

1. How is the budget holding up a little more than half way through the budget cycle?

• Where do you expect to end the year at?
• How is the national economic climate impacting your budget?
• How will this shape you 09/10 budget?

2. What impacts do expect to see from BRAC on Columbus Consolidated Government?

• How is the Consolidated Government planning for it now?
• How can the city stay ahead of growth curve?

3. Trash pick-up price going up.

• What is impacting the price increase?
• When you expect the current landfill to close?
• How will closing the landfill impact the cost of trash pick-up?
• What alternatives to the traditional landfill are you exploring?

4. The city has an exciting project nearing completion skate board park.

• How many people do you expect will use it?
• What are some of the new ideas for the Oxbow Meadows area?
• Where is the planning or the final phase of the Riverwalk to complete it all the way from Lake Oliver to Fort Benning?
• Is there a timeline for it?

Guest: Margaret R. Defrancisco, President and CEO, Georgia Lottery

1. How did you get started working in the lottery?

• What makes the Georgia Lottery special?
• Who benefits from the lottery? (students-pre-K)
• How many students have used the Hope Scholarship?

2. How does the Georgia Lottery stack up against its competition?

• How does Columbus do in sales?
• How do you decide where the games will be offered?

3. How do you keep the games exciting for the participants?

• How many games are running during a month?
• How have the winners impacted the economy?

4. What will we see in the lottery's future?

Dr. Susan Andrews, Superintendant of Muscogee County School System

• What do you see looking at the Muscogee County School System?
• What are the system's strengths?
• What challenges does the system face?
• BRAC is booth a blessing during this economic downturn but also a challenge to meet the huge growth.
• High School graduates need to have the skills to go into the workforce.
• Where do you see the Muscogee County School System in 5 years?
• What does success for the Muscogee County School System look like from your vantage point?

Guest host Michael Dunbar and guest Dr. David Rehak, Hughston Clinic

1. Why did you decide to focus on the hands?

2. Carpel tunnel syndrome receives a lot of press. What causes this condition and can you do anything to prevent it?

3. What are some of the most common injuries you see?

4. What issues could we face as we age?

5. What are the different orthopedic specialties available in your practice?

(Joined in progress, due to technical difficulties in broadcast)

Guest: Dr. Tim Mescon, President, Columbus State University

1. Why did you decide to apply to be president of CSU?

• Through the interview process you had a chance to see Columbus' Public Private Partnership at work what did you learn in the process?
• Why did you get into education?
• What do you want CSU students to experience during their education process?
• CSU plays an important role in providing the future workforce for the community, how do you see that evolving?

2. Now that you have had a little time to kick the tires so to speak what have you seen at CSU?

• What excites you about the future of CSU?
• What is your vision for its growth?
• Where would you like CSU to be 2015?
• How will CSU interact with the community?

3. CSU announced expanding its athletic program?

• What new competitive sports will CSU offer?
• How do you think this will impact the school?
• Why are sports important to the school?

4. How will the Georgia's budget short fall impact CSU?

• How are you and your team planning on implementing the states cutbacks?
• How will that impact the students?

Guest: Russ Carreker, Chair of the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce

1. What has surprised you in your first six months as Chair of the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce?

• As Chair what have you learned about Columbus?

2. What challenges do you see for the Community? (BRAC-Growth)

• How has the Chamber focused on that issue?
• Why is this so important?

3. What are your goals for the Chamber in 2009?

• How can people get involved in these goals?
• What can people do to impact the future of our region?

4. Russ your full time job is being a business owner.

• How has being active in the Chamber impacted your business?
• What would you tell other business owners about becoming involved?
• Why did you decide to become involved?
• How has your involvement impacted your view of Columbus?

Guest: Meghann Givvons, Director of Public Relations at the Georgia Aquarium

1. How would you describe the Georgia Aquarium to those have not seen it?

• In size how many Olympic swimming pools would equal your largest exhibits?
• How many different exhibits are on display?
• What is the most popular exhibit?
• How many fish reside at the Georgia Aquarium?

2. For all of us who have had fish takes know it takes a lot of work to keep them clean, I can’t image how much work it is for the Georgia Aquarium.

• How may people work at the aquarium?
• Where do find the people with the specialized skills you need?

3. How has Georgia Aquarium changed since it opened?

• What trends are you seeing in attendance?
• How many people on average visit a day?
• Where do the majority of visitors come from?
• What impact has Georgia Aquarium had on Atlanta?

4. What are some of the current programs have going on at the Aquarium now?

• What are some examples of what people can learn from a visit to the Georgia Aquarium?
• How often are exhibits changed?

Guest: Dr. David Rehak, Hughston Clinic

1. Why did you decide to focus on the hands?

• For most of us we don’t realize how important something is until we lose the function of it. For most of us our fingers play an important role in everything we do. If we lost the function of a finger it would be hard to button a shirt or tie a tie.

2. Carpel tunnel syndrome receives a lot of press. What causes this condition and can you do anything to prevent it?

• Those of us who follow sports hear about Tommy John elbow surgery. What exactly is that?
• There has long been controversy over teaching young Little Leaguers to throw a curve ball. Should such stress on a kid's arm be avoided at such a young age?

3. What are some of the most common injuries you see?

• Are some of these injuries preventable?
• Are exercises that could increase and function?
• What can we do to protect our hands?

4. What issues could we face as we age?

• How can this impact the quality of life for the injured person?
• Many Americans suffer from arthritis?
• What is the difference in rheumatic and osteoarthritis?
• There are new and innovative treatments for arthritis. Tell us something about these methods?
• Tell us something about the Hughston Clinic. What are the different orthopedic specialties available in your practice?

Mike Gaymon and guest Mayor Jim Wetherington

1. We hear and see in the new break-ins, armed robbery car jacking and such. Is the crime rate going up?

• I know you have focused on getting 100 new officers on the street. What does it take to get a recruit through training and on the street?
• How long is the process?
• When do you estimate these 100 new officers will be on patrol?

2. On the Inter City Leadership Conference there were several take a ways from Fort Worth.

• We had follow-up meeting this month and volunteers who wanted to work on the concepts like Homelessness, Trinity River Vision, Downtown Revitalization, High School for the Performing Arts, Entertainment District, City Planning/Urban Villages, TIF/TAD, Cultural Arts District, High School Completion, Convention Hotel and Public Art.
• Some of these ideas would need city partnership to happen some will need support from the Muscogee County School District and community partners.
• How will the city become engaged in these projects?

3. The city is half way through its budget cycle. How is the budget looking?

• Is it being impacted by the national economy?
• Do you expect to be on target in the last six month of this cycle?
• How does the state budget impact the city and its budget?

4. Construction and Growth on Fort Benning continues between now and 2011 it is estimated 3.2 billion dollars are going to be spent creating the Maneuver Center of Excellence.

• How is all of this construction impacting the city?
• At the Legislative Express we all heard the $1.5 million Georgia Department of Transportation is providing for the interchange at Fort Benning.