New Councilman expresses gratitude

I would like to thank all the Aiken County citizens who turned out and voted in the District 5 election for Aiken County Council. Without the help of my family, friends, volunteers and many supporters, my getting elected would not have been possible.

Campaigning door-to-door over the past 3-1âÑ2 months has given me the opportunity to meet and talk to so many interesting people around District 5. Several citizens have shared concerns or issues they would like to see improved or corrected and that County taxes were too high. Many others told me that they believe the government in Aiken County is responsive and they are quite satisfied with the level of services currently provided and the taxes they are paying. A few even said they would be willing to pay additional taxes if certain services were improved; obviously this group was a distinct minority.

One of my goals is to be accessible to the citizens of Aiken County and especially District 5. Hearing from you is important to me. Please feel free to contact me at home at 279-5769, on my cell phone at 205-531-3830 or at sandyhaskell@yahoo.com.

Thanks again to all who voted for me, those of you who allowed me to put signs in your yards, and the special volunteers who assisted in my campaign. If I have failed to pick up my campaign signs, please don't throw them away, give me a call and I will come pick it up.

Sandy Haskell

Aiken County Council District 5

Why Obama bowed to the emperor

There had to be some unknown reason why President Obama did that deep bow to Japan's Emperor Akihito. Here are 10 reasons why he might have done it:

(10) He was checking out the floor in case Michelle wanted a Japanese motif in the White House.

(9) He was checking to see if his shoe laces were tied.

(8) He was checking his tie from his reflection in the emperor's shoes.

(7) His back was out from shooting too many hoops the day before.

(6) He was getting sick from eating all that sushi for lunch.

(5) He was about to show the emperor a new move he had learned from watching "Dancing With the Stars."

(4) The emperor actually had an aikido pressure hold on Obama's thumb.

(3) He was trying to hear the emperor as he whispered the location of a really cool geisha house.

(2) A couple of shots of sake will make you bend over like that.

(1) This was the president's way of apologizing for giving the Japanese pilots earaches and headaches from hearing all our ships blowing up at Pearl Harbor back in '41.

Harry Thomason