William Coleman Davis, 41, who is serving a life sentence for a 1994 murder and burglary in Paulding County, escaped Wednesday from Hancock State Prison aboard a trash truck. Davis was out of prison for about two hours, according to Abigail Morgan, a spokeswoman for the state Corrections Department.

"A Richmond County sheriff's deputy saw him jump off a trash truck at the (Augusta) landfill shortly before 1 p.m.," Morgan said. The deputy hesitated to apprehend Davis because he was covered with egg shells, coffee grounds and soured milk, Morgan said. Davis was working in the prison's kitchen and disappeared sometime around 10:45 a.m.

Corrections investigators are looking to determine how Davis got away from the prison and whether he will face escape charges. An escape conviction could add 10 years to Davis' sentence. The escape charges are unlikely, however. Sources within the Hancock prison revealed that a prison cook actually caused the incident and quoted the cook as saying "Dern fool can't peel potatoes right. I got angry with him, whacked him with my rolling pin and chunked his butt in the trash can."

Bibb County employees began complaining years ago that the environment in the Bibb County courthouse made them ill. Now, county employees are escalating the complaint because the renovations and asbestos removal are taking too long in their view.

"There's no scientific study that links second-hand asbestos to any medical problems," said Bibb commission chairman Larry Justice. Justice was vigorously attacked several years ago for taking a similar position on tobacco smoke. Now it appears that his position may be partially vindicated. "Our studies of absenteeism reveal that smokers are getting sick a lot more often now, since they have to go outside in the rain and cold to smoke. If they're worried about people getting sick, they should reverse the no-smoking policy in the building," Justice said.

Medical experts confirm Justice's position on asbestos. "Since there are very few people who actually smoke asbestos or snort the fibers and for those who do the fibers are not exhaled. Accordingly, it's very unlikely that anyone is adversely effected by 'second-hand asbestos,'" said Dr. Ben Hackright, a local pathologist.

Macon police are investigating a complaint filed by a woman who claims city councilwoman Elaine Lucas stalked her and threatened to shoot her. Lucas had a different account of the situation. No charges have been filed in the case.

In a related story, a man filed a complaint that he was threatened and then chased and tackled by Macon mayor Jim Marshall. Ernest T. Gass claims that he was "merely looking for a restroom" when he was accosted by Marshall. "I heard him holler at me and I just panicked and started running. That dern fool started chasing me like a madman. He's fast, too. Traffic held him up but he soon caught up to me and tackled me in an alley. It was really embarrassing and it scratched my knee up. I think it's time the mayor was held accountable for this."

Gass was never charged in the incident where Marshall alleges he was peeking in the women's locker room of the Macon Health Club. "Takes one to know one...that's all I have to say about that," Gass said.

No charges have been filed against Marshall.

 Lucas, Thompson, Marshal, Justice top list of Macon's best-known bickerers

The Negotiated Press

MACON - Their bickering entertained thousands for years and now three Macon politicians top the list of best known bickerers in Macon. A panel of political snipers, jokers and lunatics voted for the list and the results were compiled by The Negotiated Press.

Some of the notable Maconites left off the list include radio's Kenny Burgamy and Charles Richardson and Mayor-elect Jack Ellis.

"All they do is incite folks on the issues to bicker over, they don't really do any notable bickering," said Jo Kerr, a local political analyst. "Ellis hasn't taken office yet--but we have high hopes for him. It's hard for anyone to top Ronnie Thompson, dubbed 'Machine Gun Ronnie' when it comes to successful arguing. He said comply with the curfew OR ELSE [referring to his shoot-to-kill order during riots in 1968]. I liked his style---more of a head-on High Noon approach. Jim Marshall is more of a sniper. With one deadly rhetorical shot, he nailed Mike Cranford. Lucas and the other council members are remembered more for the volume of bickering and name-calling than for any particular incident," Kerr said. Other notable entries include councilmen Jim Lee and Charles Dudley, former mayor Lee Robinson and former police chief Jim Brooks.

"Dick Dickey made the list because he's always talking about his Buick Roadmaster and many people thought he was saying 'B'You Ain't Right Mister'--clearly just a misunderstanding," Kerr said.

Disclaimer: The accounts, quotes and stories on this page are wholly fictitious and intended as satire and humor. Although real names may be used and all good humor has an element of truth, this stuff ain't real. If you didn't already know these stories were bogus, then you're not too bright. --Steve Scroggins