In response to a Congressional inquiry, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) looked into the status of state pension funds. The agency reports that no state pension funds are about to run out of cash, But there will be a significant problem in some states, especially where health care benefits are provided for retirees.

State governments are reporting a deficit of over $750 billion to cover the cost of promised retirement benefits. The situation may actually be worse than those estimates project. Some states continue to use methods to project their costs that are no longer allowed in corporate pension funds. Workers now retire earlier and live longer than many plans estimate. Those that pay health benefits confront the rapidly rising costs of health care.

Billionaire investor Warren E. Buffett warned his stockholders that many of these projections are `accounting nonsense.` Buffet said, `Because the fuse on this time bomb is long, politicians flinch from inflicting tax pain, given that problems will only become apparent long after these officials have departed.`

Buffett Warns of `Accounting Nonsense`

Beside his daily duties as a special education teacher, Johnson also is head baseball coach and football offensive coordinator for the Wolves. Oh, how could we forget, he is also married with a 6 month-old son.

After only two years at RHS, you have lead the Wolves from a .500 team to one that has won 20 games and their first state playoff birth in school history, what was the key to the turn-around? BJ `Just structure. I learned a lot of running a ball team from head football coach Sid Fritz. I played for him in Tennessee and then even learned more when he hired me last year. I felt like we had the talent and all we needed was organization.`

What would you say is the best moment of the season? BJ `We were getting beat 1-0 to Ringgold in the bottom of the 7th. We were facing Zach Fairchild, one of the best pitchers in the state, and eventually came back and won in extra innings.`

After only two years as a high school head coach you won the regions coach of the year award, how would you describe that honor? BJ `It`s a little embarrassing. I didn`t do anything myself, it was all my players.`

Heading into the season what were your goals? BJ `20 wins. Then after we achieved that we had to set new ones. Honestly, with the playoffs starting this weekend, we want to win two games at a time.`

So tell us about your background? BJ `I am from a small town close to Chattanooga, Tenn. I lived on a 400 acre farm where we raised animals. My dad always told me that as long as you work hard anything is achievable and that`s what I`ve tried to bring with me in life. I even go back to the farm every weekend and help my dad and brother run the farm. We have about 100 cows that we have to manage. I like to work.`

Still the news is good as far as lake levels in the Coosa river basin. All of the lakes are near or above their normal levels for this time of year.

By contrast, the situation in northeast Georgia, including lakes Lanier and Hartwell, is not good. Lake Lanier started 2008 at about 1052 feet, which is 5 feet below its previous all-time low. While lake levels have rebounded by about 5 feet to around 1057, that level remains 5 feet below previous lows. May 1st is typically the high point for the year. Lanier`s average level on May 1st is 1070. Normally lake levels fall about 5 feet during the summer. In 2007 the level dropped over 10 feet from May to December.

The reason that Lanier has not bounced back can be seen in the watershed map (left). The Coosa watershed is represented by the broun area. The area feeding Lake Lanier is shaded in yellow.

According to the 2007 population estimates, the 28-county Atlanta metropolitan area is currently the fastest-growing metropolitan area in the United States. Virtually all of the 5.3 million people living in that area depend on their water from rain that falls in the yellow shaded area.

The problem is compounded by Federal endangered species regulations which require the Army Corps of Engineers to release water from Lanier to protect species downriver, including freshwater mussels and Gulf Sturgeon in the Apalachicola Bay.

Currently the Corps is continuing a flow reduction from a minimum of 750 cubic feet per second to 650 cubic feet. The state of Florida is challenging that action due to the fact that it is spawning season on the Apalachicola River. The flow reduction also impacts the oyster industry that’s an important part of the economy in the Apalachicola Bay.

Even with the flow reduction, it is likely that Lake Lanier will fall to another all-time low in November or December of 2008. For the lake to recover will require several years of near-normal rainfall levels. Even that may not be enough in the face of continued usage growth in the Atlanta metro.

Sure, high school football gets talked about, as does basketball, and maybe a little baseball. But, what about those athletes that might not play the `other` sports.

This past Tuesday night made me step back and remind myself that great ball is all around us. And I`m not talking about the Rome Braves.

Tuesday night I found myself watching and getting involved with a 14 and under fast pitch softball game. That game told a fantastic story. I didn`t care who won, nor was there names like Chipper Jones, Barry Bonds or John Smoltz playing.

It was two groups of girls that gave their hearts and souls to win a ball game. The battle was back and fourth, and fourth and back. After the first extra inning, and a runner on third jetted home and just leveled the pitcher for a thought to be win, the crowd came unglued. The runner was called out and ejected by league rules for rough play. Players with tears in their eyes battled even harder.

The game finally ended with a two out hit and victory. It reminded me what mattered in the world of sports. LOVE for the game. Love for winning, not money.

So this week I am going to give you advice. If you got some free time next week, go out and watch a girls fast pitch softball game at the Alto Park fields in Rome. Watch true passion. After it its probably the last place you can watch a game that`s played for the Love of the Game!

Until next week!

God bless!