I’m Just Saying: Austin’s Post-Vacation News Purge

You can bank on it - Austin takes his summer vacation and the news cycle will fill up with all kinds of stories. 

Few are bigger, or better, than the local-man-does-good story of Columbia County District Attorney Bobby Christine. He has parlayed a vital position guiding headline-making legal policy with the National Guard into a nomination to become the U.S. Army's Judge Advocate General - the highest legal official in the nation's largest branch of military service. 

While it is an honor worthy of celebration and reportedly will make Christine the highest ranking local to ever serve in such a position, another bit of legal news this week is even more reason to commend his current service. 

Christine – make that Major General Christine - was tasked to advise the secretary of defense and the president on the rather complicated legal process of deploying National Guard troops to protect and secure ICE Teams currently collecting and cleaning up the millions of illegal aliens scattered all over the United States. 

On Friday, June 20, a three judge panel from the decidedly left-of-center Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals  ruled unanimously that the specific written order authorizing the actions, reportedly crafted and supervised by Christine himself, was up to Constitutional muster and 100% legal as it is being applied to the situation in Los Angeles. 

California Governor Gavin Newsom was not happy, but the Trump administration and their military leadership sure were. 

Federal judges coast to coast have been taking shots at, and blocking, many of the president's executive orders and other administration policies, but the National Guard's legal actions as prescribed and spelled out by Major General Christine were unassailable. 

To say this was a big week for Christine would be an understatement - epic fits better. Stay tuned, Columbia County's first elected district attorney is a star still very much on the rise. 

In other news... 

It was with heavy heart we listened, in real time, as Augusta Commissioner Alvin Mason resigned from his seat  as Tuesday's Commission meeting was about to wrap up. While his stated reasons were not specific, those close to the 4th District Commissioner know he has been dealing with health issues. Commissioner Mason served his country well in the military before his retirement, and then, later, with the civil service. The city will miss his leadership and spirit. His resignation was reluctantly accepted by his peers with heartfelt respect and sorrow. 

From our "YOU PEOPLE NEED TO LISTEN TO THE RADIO” department: 

As is the case with most members of the media, I usually refrain from reporting on suicides out of respect for grieving families and friends. I am, however, going to make something of an exception and wag my finger at a respected institution, because it ought to know better. 

Earlier this week a dead body was discovered in the employee parking deck at Doctors Hospital. A huge public safety/medical response contingency showed up - as was to be expected. It did not take long for the scene to be secured, and the was death confirmed as a tragic and open-and-shut case of suicide. 

As per their own policy, neither local law enforcement nor the coroner’s office put out statements. 

As you may expect, the rumor mill quickly exploded. 

The bright individuals who choose to regularly listen to my afternoon radio show were supplied with accurate information that addressed any mystery and cleared up most questions about the incident. 

To my astonishment, I am learning that not everyone listens to the show. 

To make clear what happened, the deceased gentleman had no connection to the hospital, he simply chose the location because he was familiar with the neighborhood. 

I recently crossed what I refer to as the 100 message threshold on written inquiries about the situation. The vast majority came from employees of Doctors Hospital. 

So, I address this to the administrators of Doctors Hospital: Do a better job of communicating with your people! 

When a high-profile and upsetting situation unfolds on your own property, especially when it is clearly unconnected to anything having to do with any internal strife or difficulty, send out a memo to every single employee explaining what happened – as soon as possible. That simple act reassures your team members and squashes ridiculous rumors that harm morale and erodes trust. 

This isn’t brain surgery which, ironically, the professionals at Doctors do have figured out. 

And finally... 

I was humbled (stop the snickering) with word last week that I am part of the 2025 inductees list to the Friends of Georgia Radio Hall of Fame! I will have more to say about this in a few weeks, but I wanted to acknowledge the kind words from so many through virtually every form of correspondence known to man - including a candygram.  

I am incredibly grateful for the recognition and look forward to another 33 years of service to Greater Augusta.