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On Tuesday, Ashley Paulk will be an ordinary citizen and businessman again, for the first time in 20 years. Serving as sheriff and county commisson chairman since 1992, he is retiring from elected office but not from his service to the public.
Lowndes County owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to Paulk, as he started the war on drugs and the interstate drug teams which gained national recognition in the 1990s for the number of arrests and seizures of money and drugs from criminals apparently unaware of the dangers of driving drugs through the county.
Paulk has contributed to the financial stability of the community in both positions and has given of his time unwaveringly for two decades to make the county a safer, healthier place to live.
He acknowledges that not everyone loves him, but his stance is that when you treat everyone the same and act in a fair manner, people may not like you but they will respect you. If nothing else, Paulk will long be remembered for his consistency. Some saw it as stubbornness but when he took a stand, it was not negotiable.
Regardless of what others think of him, Paulk has been a faithful servant for many years and deserves our gratitude for his leadership. Thank you Mr. Paulk for your service.
What We Think
Thank you, Mr. Paulk
- What We Think
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How should we handle the mentally ill?
Nearly 20 percent of our state’s population suffers from a form of mental illness, with around 4 percent suffering from acute mental illness. It’s a significant health issue in Georgia.
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Thumbs up, thumbs down
THUMBS UP: To all South Georgia graduates. Congratulations on your success in completing school and best wishes on your continued success in the future.
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New era at the Boys and Girls Club
Next week on June 1, it will be the official end of an era at the Boys and Girls Club of Valdosta when Robert Soper hands over responsibility for the organization to the new Chief Professional Officer Jim Wink.
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Thank you, EMS
We always pull over for them, but we rarely seem to thank them.
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Tornado: An aftermath of help
Seeing the massive path of destruction left in the wake of tornadoes in Oklahoma Monday was a sobering reminder of the power of spring storms.
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Thoughts on graduation
Graduation ceremonies reflect how life marches on. For the students receiving their diplomas and degrees, graduation is a culmination of the majority of their lives’ work.
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Thumbs up, thumbs down
THUMBS UP: To Dr. John Gaston, retiring dean of Valdosta State University’s College of the Arts. For the past 10-plus years, Gaston has worked to build a more interconnected program with various artistic and communications departments working together. Given that you are likely to see one College of the Arts department collaborating with another during events is proof of Gaston’s success.
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On the go this weekend
Take a breath.
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Sharing the roads with motorcycles
With the recent pleasant temperatures and sunny skies, the number of motorcycles on area roads has increased.
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Thank your local law enforcement today
Today, May 15, was designated Peace Officers Memorial Day back in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy was in office.
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How should we handle the mentally ill?
