My bet is that most of you were not ready for the Flood of 2009. Many of you, according to phone calls, e-mails and letters to our office, decided early on who was to blame. Some of you blame the City, some the County, and some of you blame us. All of you blame Mediacom for not keeping your cable, Internet and phones up and running.
Two of my favorite reasons for people getting upset were: Monday the caller said, “I’ve got to get to work and no one told me North Valdosta Road was closed.” The road wasn’t closed until late Saturday evening and was immediately posted on our Web site. He said it should have been in Saturday’s paper ...? Another caller was upset because she had “errands to run” and she needed a map showing closed roads.
Now neither of these people had any flooding at their house, but their lives had been disrupted. It was the newspaper’s fault that order could not be restored — at least for them.
It was encouraging to see the help people directly affected by the flooding received. Friends helped friends, as expected, and strangers helped strangers as reported in our flood stories. These stories always bring with them hope to the reader. Our world has not gone to hell in a hand basket as some people think.
While our flood did not get much or any mention on the Weather Channel or CNN, everyone in South Georgia was following the news of road closures and rising rivers very closely. Our newspaper Web site saw a 159 percent increase in visitors on Monday. During the four-day period starting Thursday, we had 92,814 returning visitors and 38,932 new visitors compared to the same period a week before.
Our staff worked throughout the day and late into the night to keep our Web site and newspaper updated with the latest flood information. This was a big news event for us. For those of you near the rivers, this was a very personal event. All of us have a new level of understanding for the people hit by Katrina or the Red River flood recently in North Dakota. The total loss was much higher there than here, but waist-deep water in your home is the same no matter how severe the devastation.
What we need to learn is to follow our God-given instincts. You should not have to ask, “The water is up to my chest; what should I do?” Did you ever think of leaving?
We have a long history of being slow to move. God and Noah had people problems during the first flood. The rains came and Noah kept telling people to come aboard even as he closed the door.
What we did have this time was people helping people and that alone is worth praying a prayer of thanks.
What We Think
From the publisher: The Flood of 2009: Were you ready?
- What We Think
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Elections: Creating a two-party region?
Twenty years ago, most area elections were decided during the primaries. Then, almost every candidate qualified as a Democrat. While there may be plenty of challengers on the ballot, many seats were decided in July or a few weeks later during the primary run-off.
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Thumbs up, thumbs down
THUMBS UP: To South Georgians making fine impressions on television singing competitions. Phillip Phillips of Leesburg won “American Idol” this week. Meanwhile, Lowndes High School graduate Stacia Watkins participated in the new ABC show “Duets.” Well done!
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Farewell to the vanishing ace
Donald S. “Bush” Bryan was not only a rare individual. He was part of a vanishing breed.
An Adel resident for the past 30 years, Bryan was a World War II flying ace. Not just an ace but a double ace. A pilot must down five enemy aircraft to become an ace; Bryan downed 13.3 enemy planes in Europe. The fractions represent planes downed with other pilots. -
A widespread mosquito alert
In announcing the discovery of a mosquito carrying the West Nile Virus strain, city and health officials did not include the specific location of the discovery.
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Of Guantanamo Bay and a Founding Father
Some readers may wonder how a Valdosta High School graduate could bring himself as an attorney to represent a Guantanamo Bay prisoner charged in connection to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
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Congratulations, VSU Softball!
This weekend, Valdosta State University Blazers Softball became the latest team to add to Valdosta’s TitleTown legacy.
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School’s out so watch out!
Summer is a time of rest, vacations and trips. It is a time when school is out, when people take time off from work, when people may stay out a little later. It is a time of swimming, trying new things, and seeking adventure.
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Qualifiers are next leaders
While the national media focuses attention on the presidential election, it should be remembered that we will also choose our local leaders this year.
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Thumbs up
THUMBS UP: To the 2011-12 arts season. Theatre Guild Valdosta’s rollicking comedy, “Caught in the Net,” officially brings to a close a magnificent schedule of shows ranging from theatre to opera to concerts to art exhibits and more from a variety of area venues. Theatre Guild will also open the 2012-13 season this summer with the musical “Into the Woods.” Until then, arts lovers can soon enjoy a new series of exhibits from the year-round Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts and three musicals starting in two weeks from Peach State Summer Theatre.
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Events that get things done
Finding something that repeatedly attracts the public is difficult enough, but finding an event that accomplishes that feat while also promoting your organization and helping others … well, in many places, that’s a rarity.
Not so for the Valdosta area. - More What We Think Headlines
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Elections: Creating a two-party region?
