Income taxes, roads and baseball

Excuse my mess. It is, after all, spring break for most of us. I didn’t take any time off, but today’s column is a notebook of storylines.

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Apparently, if you live in the state of Alabama, you aren’t allowed to have an opinion.

At least that’s what I learned from my column last week.

I received several emails, phone calls and even a real typed letter in the snail mail concerning my complaints over the Columbus Aquatic Center funding and Muscogee County taxes. While most of the emails I received were overwhelmingly positive, it’s, of course, the negative ones that stuck with me.

But I have to say my favorite replies were the ones who suggested the tax freeze referendum was a terrible idea. However, they would like to see a city income tax levied that would put us “out-of-towners” back in our place.

I’ll just let readers chew on that one for a week.

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Lunchroom fodder can sometimes produce fun conversation, and sometimes it leads to everyone agreeing that the roads and red lights in town have major issues.

The major gripe Wednesday was the intersection of Whittlesey and Moon roads. I’ve been there before, trying to turn left on Moon Road. You can sometimes sit there for four or five red lights before you move.

Don’t even get us started on the Whittlesey Road widening project. Maybe my second grader will be off to college by the time that headache is complete.

But for me, now that 10th Street is two-way traffic for a portion of downtown, my major complaint is the lack of a left-turn light at the Broadway and 13th Street intersection.

I know concerned readers wouldn’t want me to stay in the state longer than necessary.

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But I have spent my fair share of money and nights at baseball games in Golden Park. It was where I spent most of my summer between high school and college, watching the Columbus Catfish.

I made some good friends and more memories than I deserve at that ballpark.

When my brother was playing high school ball, it was a treat for kids to get to play a few games in that park. You circled that game on the schedule as a highlight of the season.

One of my fondest memories was when I went with my father to see the minor league Braves play the local team. I’d hate to see it go.

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Speaking of the Braves, around this time last year I started a boycott of the “local” team. I was mad they traded Craig Kimbrel, but his trade was the last straw for me.

I may have to reconsider now that they’ve released a new menu for Turner Field’s last year. It includes the Burgerizza, the Tater Tot Chop, The Everything Dog and the Sausage Sundae.

The good news for fans is that there shouldn’t be long lines for these extravagant, heart-attack-in-one-meal items.

The bad news is you have to suffer through the product on the field while eating it.

This story was originally published March 23, 2016 at 3:35 PM with the headline "Income taxes, roads and baseball."