Albany Beat

Downtown cleanup a joke?
Crime is so rampant in inner-city Albany , we can’t help but question the sincerity of city leadership’s call on the new Code Enforcement Department to single-handedly reverse downtown blight by requiring property owners to improve dilapidated properties. Take the area of North Monroe and West Residence avenues, for example. This week, three side-by-side-by-side residences – from 408 to 412 W. Residence – remain a haven for drug-dealers and dogfighters despite all the tough talk from the city. “My tenants are moving out. They are so scared. And when I call the police, they do nothing. They’re probably scared, too,” said Barbara Beauchamp, who owns rental property in the area. A stabbing occurred in the neighborhood last weekend, and a maintenance worker witnessed a man fleeing a burglary scene, but the police refused to question the man because “they said they didn’t see him break in,” Ms. Beauchamp said. At 412 N. Monroe , the residents have been evicted because of the unsanitary conditions of the home; yet, on Wednesday, at least 10 tenants remained. “Now, that’s ridiculous,” Ms. Beauchamp frustratingly said.Indeed.

Whoops, again, at Cooper
Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. is voluntarily recalling tens of thousands of tires made in Albany for manufacturing defects. The company told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that it will recall more than 48,000 light truck tires sold under more than 20 brand names, including Cooper Discoverer, Wildcat and Wild Country. Concerns with sidewall separation prompted the voluntary recall. A similar Cooper tire recall was held eight months ago.

Central Monitoring coat tally: 1,702
As it turns out, Southwest Georgians still had plenty of coats in their closet after Central Monitoring’s 2007 coat drive netted 2,218 coats. Another 1,702 coats were collected in the Albany alarm monitoring and installation company’s 2007-08 One Warm Coast drive. Albany ’s 11 fire stations and many businesses, churches and organizations participated in the now-annual endeavor. The coats were taken to the Food Bank of Southwest Georgia , which distributed them to member agencies.

Big Loser in Albany
Poppi Kramer from the NBC hit “Biggest Loser” Season 3 is coming to Albany . Ms. Kramer continued on her journey to lose weight after being sent home, losing half of her body weight, and has been proclaimed the season’s “At-Home Winner.” As the keynote speaker, Ms. Kramer will help culminate the Albany-Savannah weight loss challenge at 6:30 p.m. April 3 at the Government Center , 222 Pine Ave. Nearly 50 families participated in the Albany-Savannah challenge to lose weight, lower cholesterol and blood-pressure levels, and incorporate exercise into their lifestyles.