Welcome: Hello, newcomers, and thanks for picking up Flagpole. In Athens, local politics is a spectator sport on par with the Bulldogs. This column might seem a bit bewildering at first, but stick with it for a while, and you'll find it's a lot of fun.

Puff, Puff, Vote: A whopping 494 residents of three northern Clarke County precincts voted in the Republican 9th Congressional District race July 31, and those brave few souls—in addition to anyone who didn't vote, but not those who pulled a Democratic ballot—can go back to the polls for the runoff. Early voting started Monday, and Election Day is next Tuesday.

The two survivors are former state Rep. Doug Collins, R-Gainesville, and former talk-radio host Martha Zoller. The dynamic is typical of a GOP primary—establishment guy versus upstart outsider—but Zoller and Collins are turning it on its head. Such tea party luminaries as Sarah Palin and Herman Cain have endorsed Zoller. In a sign that the tea party is now the Republican mainstream, Collins, who has the support of the Atlanta powers that be, is arguing that those endorsements mean Zoller is the insider, comparing her "celebrity" campaign to President Obama's in an echo of a John McCain ad from 2008. Zoller, the self-described "conservative firebrand," dubbed Collins "Gold Dome Doug."

The two candidates are essentially identical on the issues, so, of course, they've been sniping at each other over silly stuff for months. Most recently, Team Collins attacked Zoller for saying in a 2009 CNN interview that she'd be open to legalizing marijuana. That buzzkill Collins also voted in the legislature to ban the synthetic pot known as "spice." So, hey, all you Ron Paul fans who backed libertarian Carter Kessler in the House District 118 race, put on your best Bob Marley t-shirt, pause the Super Troopers DVD and go vote for Zoller!

Those of you who have no interest in choosing between two wingnuts or have the pleasure of being represented by Congressman Paul Broun, crack open a beer, put your feet up and enjoy the show.

Boulevard Rising: For a couple of weeks now, construction crews have been tearing up the Atlanta Mission (Potter's House) parking lot at Prince Avenue and Barber Street. Emmanuel Episcopal Church next door is expanding into the space.

The expansion, five years in the making, includes a reconfigured sanctuary, classrooms, conference rooms and greenspace with gardens, a courtyard and a labyrinth. It will be energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable, although the church does not plan to go to the expense of seeking LEED certification. Construction is scheduled to last until June. "It's going to be beautiful," says church representative Katrina Evans.

For now, the thriftstore will remain in operation. Emmanuel isn't tearing down the small shopping center on the property until February, Evans says. The Huddle House is already gone, but the Golden Pantry isn't going anywhere.

Many Boulevard-area residents had hoped the larger of the run-down storefronts, which once housed a Bell's grocery store, would be redeveloped as a grocery store once again, perhaps a Publix or Whole Foods. Publix has flirted with several locations along Prince Avenue and Jefferson Road, including the Moss Side and Oak Grove developments.

"If the intown grocery was not going to work out in that location, this is probably the next best thing," Athens-Clarke senior planner Bruce Lonnee says.

There's still a chance a grocery store will come to intown Prince Avenue when the nearby St. Joseph's Catholic Church property hits the market. St. Joe's is building a new church and school off Epps Bridge Road just inside the county line.

Farewell, Bobby: Deputy Manager Bob Snipes, the second-highest-ranking official in the Athens-Clarke County government and a walking, talking institution in his own right, is hanging it up and headed for the links. Mayor Nancy Denson announced last Tuesday that Snipes is retiring Sept. 7 after 39 years in local government.

"I found Bob to be the ultimate professional," said Denson, whose history with Snipes dates back to 1980, when he was a traffic engineer and she was a city councilwoman. "I trust his judgement, and I respect his integrity."

Snipes deserves to be commended for his service. In fact, he already has been; former Mayor Heidi Davison named a new Public Utilities building on Barber Street after him in 2009. Among his many accomplishments was Bear Creek Reservoir, which saved Athens from catastrophe during the 2007 drought.

However, his retirement gives Manager Alan Reddish (with input from the mayor and commission, presumably) an opportunity to hire a younger, less old-fashioned and more creative person to groom for the top job when Reddish retires. Assistant Manager Richard White and Planning Director Brad Griffin—both adept at dealing with elected officials and the public—would appear to be the top internal candidates, but Reddish is likely to look outside Athens-Clarke County as well.