Spitball Army

From a story by Joseph D. Bryant in The Birmingham News, dated 15 September 2009:

Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford this morning presented [a] $10,000 check to 14-year-old Raven Hatcher, the city’s youngest employee.

Hatcher, a freshman at Jefferson County International Baccaulaureate School, last year gave a presentation on improving Ensley Park. Her written plan included suggestions such as updating the playground, adding more seating and bringing more activities to the park, including senior citizen and tutorial programs.

The mayor then asked Hatcher to conduct a study detailing problems and solutions for Ensley Park. Hatcher this morning is presenting her report to the council.

“This young lady has detailed problems at the park,” Langford said. “She has done more than some people we have awarded contracts to.”

Hatcher’s report also estimates costs to improvements at the park. The mayor first met Hatcher when she came to City Hall to make a presentation on issues at the park. He then surprised Hatcher by appointing her as a consultant charged with expanding her study.

Hopefully, Ms. Hatcher’s report didn’t dwell on such minutiae as I am about to mention.  But perhaps the highly literate denizens of the area that use Ensley Park would treat it with more respect if they thought that “destroying” it was offensive to the authorities and the community at large (see the photo below).

(photo: www.al.com)