opinions
Please, Donate To Ring Project — By Tommy Purser
Years ago, the Georgia High School Association had in its constitution and bylaws that athletes could not be awarded rings for state championship efforts. Of course, the rule was widely ignored as are many GHSA rules, and communities routinely raised funds to buy championship rings for their athletes who won state championships. Finally, the GHSA…
Read MoreMemorials And Beginnings — By John Reed
Memorials And Beginnings Two major events were observed within three days of each other during the past few days. On Monday, we celebrated Memorial Day, 72 hours after holding our annual high school graduation. It’s a pity neither event was mentioned during the other, for I see a necessary connection. I’m not sure “celebrate” is…
Read MoreBe respectful, for heaven’s sake — By Tommy Purser
Our great state, along with Alabama and a number of other states, is being beat up across the country because of the recently enacted “Heartbeat Bill.” That name, by the way, is misleading because, at six weeks, while a doctor can detect a “beat” it is not the beat of a “heart.” At six weeks,…
Read MoreInformation Please — By John Reed
Information Please I am an information junkie. Like the robot Johnnie-5 from the movie “Short Circuit” I need data input regularly. In years past, I could be seen in local eateries poring through two or three newspapers while working on my meal. In these modern times, I am more likely to be reading my phone.…
Read MoreMore On Arley Finley — By Tommy Purser
Lately I’ve made some references here to the late Arley Finley. Mr. Finley was one of Hazlehurst’s most well-known personalities for decades. He was not only the Hazlehurst Postmaster for many years, he was active in all sorts of community affairs. He was an active member of First Baptist Church where he was a deacon.…
Read MoreSay What? — By John Reed
Say What? My current work takes me on the road quite a bit. Along the way, I meet and chat with a lot of people, and often I’ll hear a different kind of English spoken…sometimes several versions in a single place. For example, a regular breakfast stop north of town brings me and earful of…
Read MoreStreet Names — By Tommy Purser
Ever wonder how some of our streets got their names? Cromartie Street is an easy one, named after the Hazlehurst state legislator who introduced legislation to create Jeff Davis County out of parts of Appling and Coffee counties. He intended to name the county Cromartie County but the law prohibited a county being named after…
Read MoreViolets — By Jennifer Miller
Violets I grew up out in the country. My daddy’s land was bordered on one side by a creek and on the back side by a slough that shortly meets with the Altamaha River. As a kid, I spent countless hours rambling in the woods with my siblings. There were two interesting flowers that grew…
Read MoreA Few Easter Thoughts By John Reed
A Few Easter Thoughts When the first Easter occurred, Christians were scorned, vilified, even killed for their beliefs. Two thousand years later, that’s still true. Here, secular politicians and media pundits make fun of those who follow a moral path based on scripture. Things are much riskier in many other countries, as recent events in…
Read MoreSHHH…. by John Reed
SHHH… Is there ever a time when the public DOESN’T have a “right to know”? With the arrest of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange last week, the topic of government secrets, hacking, and the ethics of secrecy once again gets into the open. To some he’s a hero for exposing official and corporate misconduct; to others,…
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