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My youngest is studying to be a chemist at Valdosta State and, accordingly, he did a home experiment last week in trying to develop his own brand of organic solvent. I haven’t quite figured out just what that is yet but at least now I know it when I smell it. Let me explain. [Full Story »] 

B. J. and I go back with Charleston, S.C. a long way. Since I have a lot of family and ancestral roots there, and a brother buried there, I probably go back farther than B. J. Across the years, Charleston has become sort of an “old stomping ground” with us. There are few nooks and crannies in Charleston that we haven’t plundered through at some time or other in daylight or dark. We traversed Charleston Harbor several times both in my brother’s private boat and on the ferry. While my brother Halbert was living, since he was a WW 2 U. S. Navy Veteran, we made Patriot’s Point a regular destination so my brother could guide us through the WW 2 Navy ships anchored there. [Full Story »] 

Barrow Seeks to Change 27th Amendment to Cut Member Pay

On March 6 U.S. Congressman John Barrow (GA-12) introduced an amendment to the U.S. Constitution, H.J. Res 33, to allow Members of Congress to cut their pay at any given time. Under this amendment, Congress may reduce their compensation immediately upon enactment of a salary reduction law. The 27th amendment currently prevents members from “varying” their pay, preventing a salary reduction. [Full Story »] 

By Senator Tommie Williams (R-Lyons)

The Senate moved beyond Crossover Day this week thus reaching an important milestone in the legislative process.  Since it is the last day bills can cross from one chamber to another, we worked late into the night debating and voting on a list of 29 bills in an effort to pass the remaining important legislation before the 40th day.  Moving forward, we will begin taking up bills from the House and working on compromises between similar legislation in conference committees.  [Full Story »] 

Juanita Ussery Armstrong, 83, passed away Sunday, February 24, 2013 at her residence. She was a native of Plymouth, FL living the past ten years in Baxley. Mrs. Armstrong was a retired insurance underwriter and a member of Mt. Dora Baptist Church. [Full Story »] 

Doug Daniel, 92, passed away on Saturday, March 9, 2013 at his home surrounded by his loving family under the care of Hospice of South Georgia. [Full Story »] 

James Clinton Griffin, 65, of Alma, died March 3, 2013 in Alma. Griffin was born Sept. 15, 1947 to the late Millard and Beanie Nail Griffin. He worked in construction as a carpenter. He was preceded in death by his wife, Julia Roberson, his parents and his brother, Ronald Griffin. [Full Story »] 

Dr. John Greene Herring, Jr., a resident of Thomasville, NC, passed away on Monday, March 4, 2013 at the Piedmont Crossing Retirement Community. Dr. John Greene Herring, Jr. (Jack) was born in Tifton on July 31, 1915 to Ruby Leigh Hewitt Herring and Editor John Greene Herring, Sr. He completed his public school education at Tifton High School in 1933. He attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, finishing in 1935. He next attended the University of Georgia College of Agriculture in Athens, where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture in 1937. In 1940 he married Esther Ruth Wood of Baxley. They had two children, Doris Esther Herring Russell of Whispering Pines, NC and John Greene Herring, III of Guatemala. [Full Story »] 

Frank J. Moore, 89, passed away at Lumber City Nursing Home Friday, March 8, 2013. He was born Sept. 20, 1923 in Canastota, NY. After receiving his education in New York, Moore joined the Army Air Corps and was stationed at the air force base in Homestead, FL. On base he met a cute little secretary, Virginia Boyett, who became the love of his life. They were married in 1945 and spent 56 happy years together. Most of these years were spent in Homestead, where Frank ended his military service and began his career as an automobile mechanic. [Full Story »] 

John Wesley Roach, 51, died Thursday, March 7, 2013. John Wesley was born march 24, 1961 in Appling County to the late Burns Earnest Roach and the late Rosie Lee Castell Roach. He was a member of Hazlehurst Pentecostal Church. [Full Story »] 

Polly Chandler Thompson, 89, passed away Thursday, February 14, 2013 at her residence. Mrs. Thompson had lived in Baxley for the past six years; she was a native of Opelika, Alabama born February 27, 1923. She was the youngest of her ten brothers and sisters and a Baptist by faith. She was a homemaker for 55 years, with a husband and five children to care for. Mrs. Thompson was a loving, caring person all her living life and even up to the end. [Full Story »] 

Superior Court Judge E. M. Wilkes III opened five indictments in Appling County Superior Court on March 5. The subjects that were indicted and the indictments are as follows. [Full Story »] 

By Jamie Gardner

Appling County Development Authority Executive Director Dale Atkins and Development Authority Attorney Alex Johnson requested permission from the Appling County Board of Commissioners to loan a local company $300,000.00 through the authority’s revolving loan fund program. The development authority administers the loan program, but the commission has to approve the release of funds. [Full Story »]