Straight from the Mike…Michael Murphy, Jewels in the Crown

Well, it has been over a year now. The city of Mableton is getting its underpinnings in good fashion, in a timely manner and under budget. Despite the overhanging gray cloud of litigation, it has found the time to honor two well-deserving community stalwarts. Carolyn Turner and Elliott Hennington have been recognized as ‘Citizens of the Year.’ They have the distinction of being the first two jewels in the city’s crown.

One of the many reasons I supported cityhood for Mableton is to have the ability on a local basis to honor ‘Heroes in our midst’. Of course, like many other Mableton residents, we would like to see a near-term resolution to the litigation matter. I have no animus toward the naysayers. The forecasters of doom and taxes have been proven so far to be just that, a forecast similar to that of the Weather Channel, not a sure thing.

Moreover, there is a plethora of other good news in the community. The brothers of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. took the time to award another Mableton resident, Shelia Edwards, with their community service award. Shelia is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of SPOTLIGHT. This weekly organ provides information, opinions and goings on in South Cobb in particular, and Cobb County in general. She has been a solid voice in Mableton for many years. It was her efforts that led to a denial of a waste facility expansion permit on Discovery Blvd. a few years ago.

The South Cobb Business Association will be honoring another community stalwart and businessman, Ray Thomas. Ray is the past president of the Mableton Improvement Coalition. He has been an advocate in supporting the need for economic development in South Cobb. This need is even more pronounced with the creation of the city of Mableton.

It is because of these three aforementioned Mableton residents, and my friend Elliott from nearby Powder Springs, that we can be bullish about the future of South Cobb. Our Mayor and Council represent the city very well and under the leadership of City Manager Tanks, have made several impressive personnel hires.

Let us not forget the importance of giving residents their flowers while the skies are still blue, and the sun remains bright in their lives. They help to make the breath of the community so fresh and positive. The recognition can be appreciated by the honorees and gives inspiration to those that will follow in their footprints. If you have had the opportunity to interface with any of these awardees, you can understand my excitement for each of them.

It is an honor to have them as friends and our community is so lucky to have them down in the riverbed with us. To each one, I say, we love you, we appreciate you, and we thank God for you.

I remain Michael Murphy….