opinions
Frustrations — By Tommy Purser
Twenty-three years ago, almost to the day, I was having a bad day at the office. A very bad day. Today, 23 years later, I’ve been having another such day. Twenty-three years ago it was computer glitches that overwhelmed me with frustration, leading me to abandon all hope of getting my column done for that…
Read MoreJoe and Margaret — By Tommy Purser
Joe and Margaret Frazier were two of my favorite people, for a number of reasons, not the least of which was the fact they were such genuinely nice people. Humble and elegant. Genuinely appreciative of the communities in which they accumulated their wealth and the church family who adored them and whom they adored. Margaret…
Read MoreLovebugs — By Jennifer Miller, County Agent
South Georgia is notorious for being associated with bugs. Most folks are complaining about gnats. This time of year, we switch gears to lovebugs. They lightly land on your arms, face and head as you go about your business outside and make a huge mess of your car grill and windshield. Lovebugs are part of…
Read MoreAin’t Life Grand? — By Tommy Purser
The good wife and I are headed to Cordele the next two weekends to perform some grandparent duties — quite pleasant duties, I must add. This weekend my oldest grandson — who is the namesake of his father, who is my namesake — and his bride-to-be will be honored with a housewarming get-together not far…
Read MoreContinue Working Together — By Tommy Purser
I recently watched an interview with former NBA great Charles Barkley who was discussing a number of issues, among which were some of the turmoils infesting the WNBA. At one point in the interview he decried the many harmful posts being made on social media. Barkley added, and I paraphrase, that social media was the…
Read MoreBooks Still Matter — By John Reed
Books Still Matter While out of town last week I found myself with some extra time between meetings, so I spent a spare hour in their local public library. And wonder of wonders! They still had a complete set of Encyclopedia Brittanicas…and not just the cheaper brown cardboard covers. These were the high-end black faux-leather…
Read MoreNot In My Backyard — By John Reed
Not In My Backyard Everything old is new again. The NIMBY movement has wakened once again, this time opposing solar fields and data centers. Once it was an unwanted nuclear plant, then a waste management center, then a prison…and each time offering panicky “what ifs?” to ignite emotions. The problem with the current debates is…
Read MoreHistory Lesson — By Tommy Purser
“Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.” There’s a bit of repeating going on in these parts lately …. if those repeating it ever knew it in the first place. Let me recall here a little bit of history that I have not forgotten. At least not completely forgotten. In 1979, long before…
Read MoreIf You’re Interested — By Tommy Purser
Just below this column you’ll find a copy of the expenditures for the Jeff Davis County Board of Commissioners’ FY 2027 budget that was approved earlier this summer — if you’re interested. On Page 6 you will find the FY 2027 budget approved earlier this month by the school board. — if you’re interested. A…
Read MoreTimes Change — By Tommy Purser
Earlier today I was looking back at some old copies of the Ledger when I ran across a column I had reprinted in the Ledger more than 40 years ago — in May of 1985 to be exact. A lot of changes have come to Georgia in the past four decades but I, for one,…
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