A colloquial adage proclaims "the bit dog hollers the loudest." That saying is particularly appropriate in the case of local attorney James Ney, who foolishly spoke out of turn on a subject of which he is conspicuously ignorant.

On Sept. 26, MDJ columnist, Dick Yarbrough, published a tongue-in-cheek commentary in the form of a conversation with the Almighty, condemning the actions of the Cobb school board, and board member, the Rev. Dr. John Crooks, regarding their recent questionable vote on the cell tower at Eastvalley Elementary School.

Lawyer Ney, in attempting to neutralize the bad publicity created by the column, attacked the columnist on the ludicrous grounds that his writing was sacrilegious. He went on to attempt a lay canonization of Crooks on the basis that he is a "man of God." Not a particularly good defense in light of the bad press the clergy has received. Think Jim Bakker, numerous Catholic priests and the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

By his action, learned counsel attracted the attention of certain residents of Dr. Crook's district. Virginia Gregory responded via letter to the editor, revealing that Ney is a partner in a legal firm which boasts, among its clients, several cell phone companies.

It was also learned that he has been instrumental in securing zoning variances for cell phone towers in other jurisdictions. For sure his firm has a financial interest in cell phone tower placement, even if not in this particular incidence.

In spite of being under the spotlight for the omitted information, Ney was not as smart as the proverbial "bit dog." Instead of "letting sleeping dogs lie," he wrote another letter denying any involvement in the Eastvalley cell tower deal, a moot point.

Whether or not his firm is involved in this deal is of no consequence. It clearly has a vested interest in the placement of cell towers.

It appears he is "feathering his nest" against the day he has to come before the CCSD and argue for the placement of a cell phone tower on another school property. Is Eastvalley just the beginning?

His defense of Crooks is falling mostly on deaf ears. The reverend has committed enough transgressions against the trust of his constituents to assure he is a "one-term" member.

He and his fellow board members have repeatedly practiced the "good ole boy, back room deal" brand of politics made famous in the South, during Reconstruction, and refined to an art by the likes of Huey Long, Orval Faubus and George Wallace.

I think Crooks and the rest of the board violated the first section of the Open Meetings code in bringing the cell tower matter to a vote when it was not on the agenda. He broke faith with his constituents, after promising it would not be brought up. His "it would become a circus" defense is rightly being interpreted as "I put it past them when they weren't looking."

It is entirely possible that the board is relying on the second part of the Open Meetings law, which provides that it is permissible to discuss an item not on the agenda, if it becomes necessary during the course of the meeting to act on it.

Anyone violating the first part of this code, and relying on the second part in defense, had better be able to prove it was "necessary" to do it at that time, and it became necessary during the course of the meeting. I strongly doubt that either can be proven, since Crooks had already promised to wait until a later meeting.

I find it reassuring that Crooks sought the input of the public on this issue, at such likely places as the grocery store and service station, the same as board member Holli Cash uses comments picked up at Kroger and Publix to evaluate the performance of the superintendent. Crooks reports that the majority of the people he surveyed, in this highly scientific method, were in favor of the cell tower. Of course, it was only by word of mouth, with nothing in writing, or even e-mail. I guess he learned a lesson from the embarrassing episode involving fellow board member Lynda Crowder-Eagles.

It is obvious that Crooks has been caught with his finger in the pie and Ney is licking his in anticipation. We can only hope that the same Lord listening to Dick Yarbrough will spread His protective hand over the schools of Cobb County. It appears we have the foxes watching out for the chickens.

Pete Borden is a brickmason in east Cobb.