Opinions

Dear Editor,

The Tri-County Fair Board along with the Baxley Lions Club is sponsoring its 2nd annual rodeo on October 12 and 13 of 2012. We take this opportunity to invite everyone out to the fairgrounds to join in the festivities. Also, if anyone would like to be a vendor (especially in the arts and crafts area), please contact John Redman (367-0826) or any other Lions Club member to receive additional information. Thank you for your consideration and we hope to see you at the rodeo.

Sincerely,
John C. Redman

Published in the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer on August 15, 2012

Georgia’s superintendent of education is no doubt getting a boost of support from public school educators, administrators and school boards today. Whether he can hang on to enough support from fellow Republicans in Georgia government to keep his job is another matter. [Full Story »] 

Time just flies by nowadays. It seemed that it was only yesterday that we brought my baby boy home from the hospital but here we were helping him move into his dorm room at Valdosta State University. While the unloading was getting underway in earnest, my wife handed me a list and told me to go to the mall and get supplies. I asked where the mall was because I was lost as a goose. She gave me directions and I lit out, glad to get away from the bedlam of hundreds of students and parents milling around doing the same thing we were. [Full Story »] 

B. J. and I live on St. Simons Island, Ga. Some of the people on St. Simons put a lot of stock in the fact that they are members of private clubs. Well, although it is not on St. Simons Island and we don’t go around tooting our horn about it, we own our own private club. [Full Story »] 

Years ago when our boys were small, Larry would equip them with paper bags and send them off on a mission. [Full Story »] 

By Superintendent Scarlett Copeland

On August 7 students in grades Prekindergarten through twelve began their first day of school. Prior to this an Open House for parents and students was conducted on August 6. Assistant Superintendent Dr. Sandy Dominy and I visited all six schools in the district during this time and it was exciting to see a large turnout. Participation among parents and grandparents was extremely high and this speaks volumes of the interest in education in Appling County. Each principal and their staff are commended for their exceptional planning. Custodians and Maintenance and Operations personnel are to be recognized for preparing great our buildings and grounds to create a safe, clean learning environment. [Full Story »] 

By Keith Golden, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Transportation

On behalf of the Georgia Department of Transportation and the State Transportation Board, I want to congratulate the voters of the Heart of Georgia Altamaha Regional District. Your vote to approve the Transportation Referendum, or T-SPLOST as it is known, was a courageous and visionary investment. [Full Story »] 

Dear Editor,

While passing through the lovely town of Baxley on Thursday, the 16th around noon, I had a flat tire outside of town on 341. The Operations Manager from Brunswick Okefenokee EMS was with me and we could not get the spare tire to release from under the vehicle. We called several dealers around the area to see if they could offer any advice for our dilemma. [Full Story »] 

Dear Editor,

On August the 11, about 1:40 in the morning I was just sitting on the couch in my living room. I experienced the presence of the Lord, like I never experienced before in my entire life. [Full Story »] 

By Tim Wldmon, President of American Family Association

Is America worth trying to save? Save from what you might ask. Is America worth saving from self-destruction? Maybe that’s a better question to ask.

Civilizations have risen and fallen through the ages. Countries have been birthed and countries have died. I believe the United States of America was birthed by the God of the Bible primarily for the purpose of advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ both here and around the world unlike any other country in history. [Full Story »] 

Just to show how easy one can get into trouble, I have decided to tell of an experience I had with pornography. I know, I know, the Good Book says a Wise man will conceal a matter but a fool tells all. Well, here goes. [Full Story »] 

I’ll be the first to admit that back in 1966 when I enrolled in the University of Georgia, I was a just a teeny bit naive. I expected to breeze through college as I had through high school, earn my degree, and go forth and teach classes of eager-to-learn students. I student-taught in Augusta at Richmond Academy under a supervising teacher who inspired terror in her students—and me, too, actually. Not once during my tenure in her classroom did I so much as ask a student to be quiet. Just her presence in the room kept them under control. I learned nothing about discipline. UGA didn’t teach me that either. When a small high school just over the South Carolina line called me and asked me to finish out the year for its French teacher, I was eager but innocent. That 1st semester of teaching taught me far more than all my education classes and student teaching put together. [Full Story »]