opinions
God Plants A Garden — By Tommy Purser
Local attorney Lamar “Buck” Elder has written a book: “God Plants A Garden.” I sat down one evening not long ago and enjoyed reading it. It’s a short read that captures your attention early and holds it firmly. Buck, as those of us who know him are well aware, has a solid sense of humor…
Read MoreTrial By Jury — By John Reed
Trial By Jury Monday morning, I became a “peer.” Answering the mandatory invitation, I showed up at the courthouse for jury duty. Close to a hundred others came as well, by car, by pickup truck, even one by skateboard. White, black, Latino, male, female. We were a mixed bag, drawn from all levels of local…
Read MoreOur Traffic Problems Will Return To Normal — By Tommy Purser
Our City and County leadership, for decades, worked to try to come up with a solution to the problems that arose from time to time with the railroad that bisects our community. There have been times when the city is cut in half for long periods. It was always our leadership’s fear that, one day,…
Read MoreWe Make Progress When Citizens Tackle the Small Stuff — By Lee Hamilton
We Make Progress When Citizens Tackle the Small Stuff By Lee H. Hamilton One of the not-so-small gifts of living in a representative democracy is that you can’t accomplish things alone. Whether you’re trying to get a stop sign put up on a dangerous corner or to change US policy on greenhouse gas emissions, you…
Read MoreWhat Have You Got To Lose? — By John Reed
What Have You Got To Lose? During the 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump was famously quoted while among mainly Black voters, “What have you got to lose?” As it turned out, minorities of all stripes lost nothing, and gained quite a bit. Job numbers are at historic highs across the board. His criminal justice reforms…
Read MorePeople Just Don’t Care
Only 23.52% of the registered voters in the City of Hazlehurst bothered to cast a ballot in Tuesday’s election. People…. just…. don’t…. care. In my eight years as a member of the City Council, I found myself helpless in trying to bring order and responsibility into a government that was growing increasing chaotic and out…
Read MoreOld Games Vs. New — By John Reed
Old Games VS New Let’s talk about times BE: Before Electronics. Before phones, computer games, television, or even radio, people had to find more active ways to entertain themselves. Board games, card games, even certain sports filled the spaces we now occupy watching pixels on a screen. Bridge is one example. For this generation, think…
Read MoreArtificial Turf For High Schools
I knew well before Friday night’s football game in Lyons that Toombs County’s football stadium, “The Pit,” had been converted to artifical turf. I did not, however, realize the extent of the other improvements in the stadium. It has been transformed into a wonderful high school football venue without sacrificing the atmosphere The Pit has…
Read MoreCalling All Casseroles — By John Reed
Calling All Casseroles I attended a homecoming service at a local church this past weekend. A good crowd filled the small country sanctuary, a guest pastor thundered from the pulpit, several musicians shared their talents. And then the main event: dinner. I’ve had the fortune to travel to every state in the continental US, and…
Read MoreYet Another Fake Internet Story — By Tommy Purser
I saw an Internet post the other day that raised my doubts. It started out, “A true story ….” and while it was partly true it left out a lot of the story, and it was full of inaccuracies. The post told the story of how Donald Trump put up a 50-ft. flag pole in…
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