Opinions

Dear Editor,

Let me tell you about a lady friend that I know. I met Mrs. Jean Cooper some 40-50 years ago and have been fascinated by the lady ever since. People in this county and many other counties around here have met Ms. Jean. At present, she is homebound after breaking her hip for the second time. Mrs. Jean knows no strangers. We travel all over Georgia due to our ties with Georgia Farm Bureau, and everywhere she will stop and ask people where their from, and sure enough she will know someone from that same area. [Full Story »] 

(Editor’s note: The following is the eulogy given at the funeral service of Dr. James A Bedingfield by Cathy Cain Atkins. Dr. Bedingfield is considered a legend in Appling for his care of many.)

Born in 1921, James A. Bedingfield was raised in Cadwell, GA. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and went on to earn his Doctorate of Medicine from the Medical College of Georgia. He served in the Army as a doctor for two years before coming to Appling County to open his practice in 1948. He was the father of five children: Kay, Andy, Amy, Barbara and Drew. He also had eleven grandchildren. He was very proud of all of them and kept numerous pictures of them on and above the cluttered desk in his office. [Full Story »] 

Dear Editor,

On Wednesday night, April 20 a car hit my Weimaraner, “Maggie.” The accident caused extensive damage to her leg, leaving the bone exposed, meat and hide gone, and her artery severed and she was bleeding profusely. My regular vet was several counties away and was going to meet me, but I knew she would not make it that long. I called Doctor Hall, whom I have never used, and he told me to meet him at his office. He met me at the car. That moment would be another story within itself, but that was the moment I bonded with Dr. Hall. [Full Story »] 

Dear Editor, Parents, Students and Community Members:

I am excited to welcome back all returning students and their families, and let me extend my initial welcome to our incoming ninth graders as well as other new students and their families. I look forward to meeting and working with all of you this year. [Full Story »] 

Dear Editor,

Every morning we wake up to something new or strange that has happened all around us. From day to day so many things take place. We begin to wonder why, when and how could this happen to me? We get so busy doing our own thing, our way. So many things will happen to us, when we only think of me, my and I, and forget who holds the key to our every day life. [Full Story »] 

Dear Editor,

This letter concerns the operations and management of the Appling County Road Department. During June and July I spoke with Manager Tommy Davis and County Manager Lee Lewis about the right of way fronting my property on County Farm Road. I conferred with them twice about the condition of the shoulder of the road. The right of way in front of my property has not been mowed in months. Because of the steep shoulder parts of it cannot be mowed period. [Full Story »] 

I never knew my wife to read the local paper so I did not fear being honest in relating the story about the Clunker Deal. One of the local bigmouth biddies told my wife she needed to read that particular edition, however, and she did. [Full Story »] 

Are you sick yet? Washington is sure making me sick these days. Over the weekend a friend started talking about our President, and I abruptly asked him to stop. Why? Because I started feeling nauseous. This guy just doesn’t get it. I don’t know what planet he’s from, but we can’t continue to try to spend our way out of debt. It’s time to take a long hard look at entitlements and government handouts to hopefully set this sinking ship back afloat. [Full Story »] 

Last Thursday night I attended a Friends-of-the-Library meeting in Hazlehurst’s beautiful new facility. After a business meeting, Carole Jones Graham was to speak on etiquette. She is quite the expert and has even written books on the subject. I am quite the amateur and can hardly remember which fork to use for which dish. I watch the people around me and hope they know their etiquette. Hopefully, they’re not watching me for the same reason. [Full Story »] 

I recently installed a PVC water line along the fenced in area in my back yard. I have a chocolate Lab, Fox. I didn’t like him but the family did so he was in like flint. They think he is human and treat him as such. [Full Story »] 

Dear Editor,

I would like to take this opportunity to say “thank you” to my dear friends and relatives in Baxley. As many of you know, I’ve been on the Kidney Transplant list at Emory Hospital for a while now.

I was blessed to receive not one but two new kidneys on April 13, 2011. The transplant was a tremendous success, and I’m doing wonderful. God has truly blessed me through this experience.

I’d like to say “thank you” to everyone. You may have attended a fund raising event, made a donation to the fund raisers or my transplant fund, brought food, stopped by for a visit, called, simply asked about me, thought of me or said a prayer. Each and everything is so appreciated. [Full Story »] 

Dear Jamie,

I would like to submit just a short note to say how fortunate that we are to have our hospital system in Baxley. A lot of people don’t realize how many communities have either lost their hospitals or have had to cut back to “skeleton crews” across Georgia. Nearly every hospital that I am aware of is having severe financial problems for numerous reasons. That is another story for another time. [Full Story »]