Opinions

Dear Editor,

After fifty years of teaching, Mr. Herman Ray Long calls it quits. He was born in Pineville, Kentucky, in a family of four sisters and two brothers. He was born in his home. His teaching career began a long time ago when he graduated from Cumberland College in Williamsburg, KY, where he received a B.S. Degree in Education. After graduating from Cumberland College he began teaching in Ohio where he taught four years in two different school systems. It seems his teaching career was interrupted for a couple of years in 1970-71 while he managed a Burger Chef Restaurant. His restaurant work did not last long, because he wanted to go back to teaching. He had a friend in Richmond Hill and decided to apply in school systems in surrounding areas. He put in an application in Appling County and was hired to teach at Appling County Comprehensive High School. He taught Social Science and English for one year and taught Social Science for eighteen years. During this time, Mr. Long taught some courses at Brewton Parker College and also taught many classes in prisons in Georgia. He continued his education during the summer by attending Georgia Southern College where he received a Master’s Degree, a six-year degree, and certification in media library science. He retired from Appling County Comprehensive High School in 1990. [Full Story »] 

By Joseph G. Martin, Jr., Executive Director of the Georgia School Funding Association

The severe cuts now being made at the local level reveal a new reality in the financing of Georgia’s schools. Many systems were once able to cover the decline in state support through rising property taxes, but this fallback is now gone. [Full Story »] 

I miss many things about the ‘old days’ but there is one thing I miss more than the rest; quail hunting. I couldn’t sleep for a week prior to the season opening for sheer excitement and anticipation of seeing the dogs point. [Full Story »] 

Small in stature, Mrs. Baker had the biggest heart in the neighborhood. She lived in a run-down apartment which she paid for with a sizeable chunk of her social security check, her sole source of income. She cared for her domicile as if it had been the most expensive home in Augusta, Georgia. Every inch of her furniture shone with polish, no dust bunnies lingered under her bed, and her kitchen was spotlessly clean, as though it were never used. [Full Story »] 

Dear Editor and Citizens,

A big thank you to everyone who was kind enough to donate food to the Letter Carriers Annual Food Drive. Between our two offices, Baxley and Surrency, over 1,200 pounds of canned goods and non-perishable food was collected. All food donated was given to our local food bank. [Full Story »] 

Dear Editor,

The Appling County chapter of the 2012 Relay for Life would like to thank everyone who participated in this year’s fight to eliminate cancer. We started with putting out pink ribbons for Breast Cancer Awareness, then Appling Healthcare System continued to promote awareness by having a breast cancer awareness program and dinner at Appling Healthcare/Pavilion Dining room, which was open to all ladies. It was very informational. Knicole Lee and Dr. Cezar began a campaign by selling “Babe” t-shirts to raise money so those who ordinarily could not afford to get a mammogram, could do so; so far they have been and continue to be very successful. Thank you for your vision and we wish you continued success. [Full Story »] 

Dear Editor,

Concerted Services Inc. (“CSI”) is a Community Action Agency with administrative offices in Waycross and Reidsville, which has been serving an eighteen county area in Southeastern Georgia for over 45 years.  Our mission is to transform families and communities by providing opportunities and services that promote economic and social independence.  Our services include Head Start and Early Head Start programs, providing early education and social skills to over 1,000 children ranging in age from two weeks to five years old. We mentor and help promising high school students, enabling them to become first generation college students, often breaking a self-perpetuating cycle of poverty. We offer case management and practical, concrete plans for low-income families looking for ways to achieve self-sufficiency and independence. We provide home weatherization services and help with utility bills for families in need.   We provide both home-delivered and senior citizen center meals for the elderly, assuring at least one nutritional meal a day, as well as the social interaction senior citizen centers can provide. The challenges are formidable, and the needs continue to grow, but the satisfaction of seeing lives transformed as a result of our efforts is a gratifying - and humbling - experience for our over 400 counselors, teachers, coordinators, technicians, aides, directors and staff. [Full Story »]