VALDOSTA —
Every Wednesday through 2013, The Times will publish only positive raves, along with a feature on a member of the community. Each month has a different theme, and for March, it’s our local governments.
Valdosta and Lowndes County are two of the largest employers in the county. While the public’s attention is generally focused on the elected officials and the decision makers, more than 1,000 employees work for them who often go unrecognized for all they do to provide services to the community.
All are critical in their own way in ensuring that the citizens of the community are safe, receive assistance in times of emergency, and are provided essential services.
Officials may make policy decisions, but it is the government worker who carries out these decisions and ensures that citizens’ needs and concerns are addressed. Government employees build sidewalks, repair potholes, fix traffic signals, enforce the law, put out fires, administer programs to assist individuals, apply for grant funding to provide for citizens’ needs, enforce codes, and much more.
President Ronald Reagan once said, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’”
While comedians have used the quote as great joke material for years, times have changed since the 1980s and most citizens view government a little differently nowadays, at least at a local level. Government jobs don’t carry the stigma that they once did, and at least in our community, workers generally don’t receive the kind of hostility usually directed at the federal level.
Even though government employees are more appreciated today, they are still not recognized as often as they should be. For the month of March, though, The Times hopes to change that.
What We Think
It’s All About You
- What We Think
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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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Visit musical roots this weekend
Beginning Saturday, May 18, Nashville, Ga., will be hosting a special Smithsonian exhibit, “New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music.” The exhibit will continue through the end of June and Nashville has done a tremendous job in promoting and planning for the exhibit.
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