VALDOSTA —
THUMBS DOWN: To the candidates who have not removed their campaign signs from area roadways and yards. The only candidates who need signs at this point are those heading into the runoff and — maybe — those who are already guaranteed a place on the November ballot.
THUMBS UP: To Sam Straka’s performance at the U.S. Junior Amateur Championships in Ada, Mich. The rising Lowndes High School senior, who plays golf for the Vikings, qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur by shooting rounds of 70 and 76. He was one of 64 finalists from around the world who qualified for the match play portion of the event.
THUMBS UP: To The Flower Gallery for bringing bouquets and smiles to the residents of Holly Hill Nursing Home. This is the second consecutive year the flower shop has participated in Make Someone Smile Week, delivering Be Happy mugs filled with yellow roses and daisies to men and women living at area nursing homes.
THUMBS UP: To the teens from Skidaway Island United Methodist Church in Savannah who spent the past week in Valdosta lending a helping hand. The group received over a dozen requests for help from area residents needing wheelchair ramps. A total of 26 people worked to build eight handicap-accessible ramps.
THUMBS UP: To Kiley Hill for being named Coach of the Decade by the Gulf South Conference. The Valdosta State University Lady Blazers basketball team has had eight straight winning seasons, nine trips to the Gulf South Conference tournament, three East Division titles, five 20-win seasons and five trips to the Division II national tournament.
What We Think
Thumbs up, thumbs down
- 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
