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THUMBS UP: To the milling and resurfacing work underway on Patterson Street. On July 15, Reames and Sons Construction Company Inc. began work on the 2.833-mile stretch of road. According to the Georgia Department of Transportation, the project was let for bid on May 21 and is scheduled to be completed on Oct 30. The $1 million-plus project, although a bit of a nuissance for those traveling the road after 7 p.m. and during the overnight hours, is long overdue. It’s been 12 years since Patterson Street was resurfaced and the high-traffic road has been a rough ride for motorists for a while due to tree roots and wear and tear.
THUMBS UP: To Reed Bingham State Park. Under new management, the state park will host a Labor Day Luau from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. today. Visitors can enjoy country music and Southern rock with The Other Tuckers and The Joshua Keith Band, lots of games for the kids, face painting, a treasure hunt on the beach, and wildlife presentations. The park plans to host a Junior Ranger Saturday on Sept. 18 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Participating kids will be able to join a park ranger for a day filled with hikes and games, history, nature crafts and more. It’s been a little while since the park has been in a position to offer special events. Hopefully, South Georgia will show its support by attending one, if not both, of these events.
THUMBS UP: To the Valdosta Fire Department for raising $8,646 through its Fill the Boot campaign for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. For three days firefighters solicited donations from citizens to support the organization’s efforts to assist kids and adults with neuromuscular diseases. Monies collected help with research, education, providing direct services, and sending kids to summer camp.
What We Think
Thumbs up
- 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
