opinions
Losing LOST Would Be Devastating For The City — By Tommy Purser
When I sat down to write this column, I hesitated to bring up the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) negotiations for the third straight week. But the impending elimination of the LOST is a serious matter. And there are only two days left to reach an agreement before the Dec. 30 deadline arrives. The 60-40…
Read MoreThe LOST Mess — By Tommy Purser
The Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) provides to city governments across the state a publication entitled “Renegotiating Local Option Sales Tax (LOST).” It is full of useful information about the negotiation process and how to properly approach the matter. One of the points made in the document is that the negotiating parties should, at the outset…
Read MoreBe The One — By John Reed
Be The One In warmer months, my flowerbeds grace me with blooms every color of the rainbow. Among the showiest are the irises. Their vibrant yellows and purples always delight. All except one. For some reason, one iris blooms in late fall, around Thanksgiving time, long after most of the color has left the landscape.…
Read MoreIs A Disaster For Taxpayers Coming? — By Tommy Purser
It was a simple question, really: “Do the people realize what’s happening here?” I did a quick mental review of past articles we had published in the paper concerning the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST)negotiations going on between the City of Hazlehurst and the Jeff Davis County Commission. My memory was a bit fuzzy on…
Read MoreDon’t Blame Me — By John Reed
Don’t Blame Me I voted. Unlike 3 million other registered Georgia voters, I exercised my constitutional right to pick our leaders. I’m sure there are plenty on both sides who are disappointed with the outcome… They have only themselves to blame. And there is absolutely no room for complaints or suspicion or conspiracy theories. I…
Read MoreAging — By Tommy Purser
I’ve lived long enough to see a lot of friends and relatives get old. I’ve watched so many deteriorate with age, struggle with doing things that once were easy to do. Some resign themselves to endure the inevitable loss of quality in their lives. Others fight —- fiercely. I’ve decided to designate myself as a…
Read MoreBetter Than They Could Be — By Tommy Purser
The good wife didn’t make it to a Jeff Davis High School softball game this year. I urged her to go. “They are really, really good,” I told her. “You don’t know what your’re missing.” Well, it’s too late now. She will never know what she missed. The girls won the state championship over the…
Read MorePerson Or Policy? — By John Reed
Person Or Policy? The concept of civil discourse has sadly been missing this campaign season. The incessant barrage of negative advertising has seen both sides attack their opponent’s character and person. It seems everyone running is either a wife beater or a baby killer. Unfortunately, the voters have become the big losers. Lost in all…
Read MoreCity’s splash pad built using funds intended for downtown improvements — By Tommy Purser
I listened with interest to a video recording of last week’s meeting of the Hazlehurst City Council. A question was asked about whether the city still owned the splash pad or the county had taken over ownership. The mayor said something to the effect that the city had spent some $300,000 to build the splash…
Read MoreLoving High School Sports — By Tommy Purser
As I’ve said many times before in this space, I love high school sports. Because social media has devastated small newspapers across the state and nation, I don’t get to go to as many games as I used to and I certainly don’t have the space in the paper each week to give these youngsters…
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