Editorial
Sook and the best wedding ever
His neck was of red, his face that of white, and his mood blue. Or, at least, I assumed it was blue by the scowl on his face. Moments later, I realized that his wasn’t a frown, but rather a face contorted into perceived sorrow by the bulging dip of Copenhagen between his cheek and gum. He was my wife’s escort to be seated, a groomsman in one of the many weddings I’ve had the honor to attend in recent times. Tis being wedding season, I’ve ...
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I’m not the swiftest pony in the race
I’ll be the first to admit that when it comes to electronics, I’m not the swiftest pony in the race. I seem to always be one or two steps behind. For example, I finally got a pager about the time that cell phones were hitting their stride. It was a couple of years later before I got a cell phone, and even though the new touch screen phones have been out for a few years, I’ve yet to make the leap to one. At the moment, I’m happy with my push b...
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Adding ‘fun’ to my ‘to-do’ list
For an hour and a half, I had fun. Or as much fun as I could have coaching little-league baseball, which can be a lot if your players do as you say. Or more likely, don’t do as you say, and still do well. Then, when the game ended, it all came back to me… dang, I have stuff to do. I have to go back to work and finish this week’s paper. I have to call about that hotel reservation for next week. Did I miss the deadline? I have to sit down a...
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If not lying, then what?
Only in Washington can words such as misrepresent, mislead, misspeak, misconstrue, mischaracterize, and so forth be substituted for an explanation of the facts. However when politicians and lawyers are involved, how facts are defined depends on which side of the argument they are on-for they are only interested in gaining an advantage. Each side uses their pundits to spin the story in a more favorable light even when the evidence suggests oth...
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The hottest Father’s Day gift
I was only five years old, and didn’t attend kindergarten. Life can be quite boring when a person has to play all alone. But school break had just started, and my brothers and sisters were home for the summer. Life was just about to become more exciting. Father’s Day was not long after summer break started, and I was trying to figure out something I could do for my father. I didn’t have any money, so buying a gift was out of the question. T...
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Survey says…
Dear Editor, “School uniforms not in the future for system,” would have been more accurate if entitled, “No school uniforms for now.” This was the third time the issue went before the board. There are common trends among public school districts implementing uniform policies. There is initial opposition to change. However, eventually policies are enacted and communities realize the clear benefits of school uniforms. And, surprisingly, ther...
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Amenities: The key to the future
In the future, cities should worry less about attracting jobs and look more to attracting the workers, say economists and a demographer who studies the impact of generational changes on local governments. “There’s a shift in the way we use technology,” said Georgia State University Economics Department Chair Sally Wallace. “It used to be that people needed to be located at a place of employment in a particular city. We don’t need to do that...
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Thinking outside the manufacturing box
The Thomaston-Upson Industrial Development Authority is looking for more funding so that we can compete on a more equal basis with other counties in Georgia to attract new industry. Other counties are using their funding to offer tax incentives to businesses that we currently can’t do with the funds we have. While I agree the funds are needed, I wonder if we are headed down a dead end street by looking mainly at attracting manufacturing bus...
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The quest
When I went back to school to finish my degree, I dreamed of being the next Bob Woodward. My goal was to be an investigative reporter that sought the truth without bias regardless of political affiliation or office where journalistic integrity was never compromised. Someone who uses sarcasm the way Lewis Grizzard (AJC) use to do to describe how ridiculous and foolish elected representatives often can be during the legislative process. After...
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Thanks for your support
Dear Friend, - Have you ever had to face a serious chronic illness? Have you ever become overwhelmed by the restrictive costs to treat your illness? Have you ever had to rely on your family and friends to make a difference on your behalf? I am facing all of these conditions at once and I need your help. My doctor informed me that I need a kidney transplant. The Georgia Regents Kidney Transplant Program explained to me that the costs assoc...
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The only good snake is…
Snakes, why did it have to be snakes? That was my first thought when I went to the Hightower Memorial Library Summer Reading Program earlier this week to take some pictures for the paper. I generally enjoy each of the programs they have: jugglers, magicians, a clown-they are entertaining for not only the kids, but the adults who tag along as well. Admittedly, I was not so thrilled about the Southeastern Snake Encounter earlier this week becau...
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Armadillos, moles, and buck rabbits
We have a new guest in our yard. It’s an armadillo. He seems to have settled in. When I walk around the yard, I find places where he has clawed up the grass. And there is a big hole where, I suppose, he lives. So far, we haven’t met face-to-face. When we do, I’m going to encourage him to leave. When I was a kid we used to have similar issues with moles. They would burrow just underneath the ground, creating a slight ridge on the surface...
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Thanks for helping to “Stamp Out Hunger”
Citizens of Thomaston & Upson County, Letter Carriers, Thank you so much for your generous donations of food during the National Association of Letter Carriers “Stamp Out Hunger” Food Drive. Also, we would like to thank the letter carriers for their support. Without your hard work placing bags in mail boxes and picking them up, it would not have been possible to collect the 5,600 pounds of food. For 40-plus years the House of Care has bee...
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Fisticuffs and other seldom used words
In my story in last Friday’s paper about the shooting incident on West Walker Street, when describing what happened, I wrote in one sentence, “An argument ensued over the bike, which erupted into fisticuffs.” After reading the story, Ashley came in my office and asked what ‘fisticuffs’ meant. She said she thought I was trying to write ‘fist fight’ and ‘handcuffs’ and accidentally combined the words. I told her that ‘fisticuffs’ means to h...
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Sensing that I may be getting older
My sense of taste was the first to go. Someone gave me a mayonnaise sandwich years ago. “This tastes like nothing,” I said, startled by the lack of flavor offered by the paste of white lard. Next, it was my sense of hearing. It started failing me shortly after I got married, over 17 years ago. “Len, can you come into the kitchen and wash these dishes for me?” My new wife called from across the house. “Huh?” “Can you come wash thes...
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