VALDOSTA — It's funny how speaking the truth angers people. There is an old saying "a bit dog barks the loudest.” That is so true.
Here’s an idea to help balance the state budget! Both my wife and I have been furloughed because there’s not enough state money to pay our salaries, why don’t we begin furloughing welfare recipients? A day a month for six or say 12 months and let’s see what kind of savings we have. And as far as that goes, while we are going through hiring processes, we are required to take a drug test before we can work, let’s drug test our welfare recipients before they can get their checks and not work!
A big rave for Mr. Ernie Owens owner of Owens Propane in Quitman, Ga. On Friday night, Mr. Owens donated 550 gallons of propane for firefighter training. On Friday night firefighters from the city of Valdosta, Lowndes County, Echols County, and students from Valdosta Technical College participated in pressurized container fire training. It is people like Mr. Owens who pitch in when times are hard and resources are hard to get that makes our community great.
My husband and I had a terrific meal at 41 Feed Store. The South Georgia area needs more restaurants like this one – delicious, locally owned and inventive.
To all ranting about bad service by arrogant local, state, and federal government employees, why would you ever want government running health care, too? Bad customer service permeates all levels of government. New hires quickly go bad, and it's too difficult to fire any bad government employee. In a private company, they would be quickly fired after so many complaints from customers.
While playing outside with my toddlers, the last thing I want to see is the inmate work detail van pull up in front of my house and have them pile out, start digging in my ditch and eyeballing me and my kids. If Brooks County wants to use inmates as free labor, fine. Just keep them out of residential neighborhoods.
Congratulations to Star Parker for the best column she has had in the paper for a long time. She is exactly right about everything.
To the ranter wanting sports in school to sacrifice as well as teachers: Good luck!
Thank you, Lowndes County, for getting on the ball and fixing our bridge on Beatty Mill Creek Road. Again thank you.
What We Think
Rant & Rave for Wednesday, March 10, 2010
- What We Think
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Leaving NCLB behind
Georgia schools may be sighing in relief today, following the announcement that the U.S. Department of Education granted a waiver to the state, along with nine others, from the rigorous requirements of the No Child Left Behind act.
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Don’t jettison landmark
While we respect the request to relocate the F-86 aircraft from outside Mathis City Auditorium to the new Moody Air Force Base Airpark, we would hope the city and MAFB would reconsider moving it.
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Shame in Berrien County
Unfortunately for Sherrie Williams of the Berrien County school-based health clinic, she talked to The Times and praised the program that she oversees. This pride in her work led to the loss of her job.
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Grading policy: A second chance?
In clarifying the Lowndes County Schools’ controversial grading policy, Superintendent Dr. Steve Smith spoke of second chances.
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Be up to any weather challenge
Georgia’s Severe Weather Awareness Week starts today and runs through Friday. The idea behind the week is to prepare Georgians for weather emergencies and how to keep these situations from becoming tragedies.
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Parents and schools
There is a lot of talk lately about school systems and grading policies, and how all of a child's problems come back to a lack of parenting. But is it really that simple? Can it be a case where the school systems are so focused on the problem few that the majority of students are ignored?
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Thumbs up, thumbs down
THUMBS UP: To Brooks County High School engineering and technology teacher Don Morgan and his students. They recently received national attention for their work with biodiesel fuel. They collect used cooking oil from area fast-food restaurants then process this oil into biodiesel. Morgan hopes to next interest the Brooks County school buses into running on the fuel created in his class. This classroom not only prepares students for the future but may prepare all of us for an alternative energy source.
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Take me out to the ball park
The Valdosta State baseball season begins today. The Blazers host Lindenwood at 2:30 p.m. Nothing beats quality baseball played in warm weather with a great venue like Billy Grant Field.
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What We Think: Signing Day
Wednesday was National Signing Day, the day when high school athletes across the country make official announcements about what school they’ve chosen to sign with.
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School policy fails expectations
Lowndes County Schools recently implemented new grading guidelines for students. These guidelines have left many parents upset ...
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Leaving NCLB behind
