Weekly Editorial

It’s a special week in Appling County. Seniors from two local schools will receive high school diplomas and prepare for a new journey. Enjoy this special time in your life and we know that Appling County will be well represented by the Class of 2013. [Full Story »] 

As I listened to retired U.S. Army Staff Sargent and member of the singing group 4Troops Ron Henry share his testimony at Mayor Steve Rigdon’s annual Prayer Breakfast, held last Thursday on the National Day of Prayer, it was evident how God has worked through this soldier’s life. Henry shared an emotional experience of how he and other soldiers came under fire from insurgents with AK-47s at close range while traveling in a vehicle. As the shots rang out Henry stated he immediately began to ask for God’s protection and added that not one soldier in the military vehicle was harmed. To me, that’s evidence enough that God hears the prayers of the righteous. [Full Story »] 

By Charles N. Davis

Buried somewhere in my parents’ house in Watkinsville is a stack of aged newspapers – copies of the Athens Banner-Herald, The Oconee Enterprise and the dearly departed Athens Observer. You see, in my family, community newspapers have always been the chroniclers of family lore, of scholastic achievements, of the fleeting fame of youth. [Full Story »] 

Did you know that the Federal Government owns or leases between 55,000 and 77,000 vacant properties? The really insane part to this problem is that the government leases office space for various government agencies instead of using some of the vacant properties to house the agencies. [Full Story »] 

For 26 years this newspaper has published a Progress Report that presents a wealth of information the general public may not be aware of about our community. First and foremost, let me thank this community for its continued support of this publication. Without your support this special issue would not be possible. [Full Story »] 

Last week was known as Sunshine Week across our great land. What exactly is Sunshine Week? Sunshine Week is a national initiative to promote a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information. Participants include news media, civic groups, libraries, nonprofits, schools and others interested in the public’s right to know. Sunshine Week seeks to enlighten and empower people to play an active role in their government at all levels, and to give them access to information that makes their lives better and their communities stronger. [Full Story »] 

The following is a comment posted by former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee on Monday about the current Washington quagmire: [Full Story »] 

(Published: December 30, 2012 in The Macon Telegraph)

By MIGUEL FARIA — Special to The Telegraph

The latest shooting rampage of 26 people, including six adults and 20 children in an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., on Dec 14, is a senseless tragedy and words cannot convey the horror and the magnitude of the loss of innocent life. [Full Story »] 

I guess the Mayans had it pegged wrong. The year of doom 2012 has come and gone. Guess what? We are still here. [Full Story »] 

Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. [Full Story »] 

All have witnessed some asinine solutions government officials have come up with at one time or another to common sense problems. However, the latest handling by the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) has got to be ranked high on the list of idiotic bureaucracy at its best. [Full Story »] 

One of the main talking points or promises during the run up to the election by both President Obama and Mitt Romney was, “I can help the middle class” and/or “I can stimulate job growth”. Were the candidates at that time sincere or was this just hyperbole? [Full Story »] 

(The following is an opinion that appeared in The Savannah Morning News on November 11.)

By Lara Wessel

President Obama, by a margin greater than predicted by most credible pollsters, won a second term as president of the United States. In addition, the Democrats have retained control of the U.S. Senate, and the Republicans will maintain control of the House. [Full Story »]