THUMBS UP: To all of the bands that performed Sunday during “This One’s For You: A Tribute to Mad Jim Hall” at Charley O’Corley’s in Remerton. Also, thumbs up to the many people who attended the benefit concert. Hall was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 renal cell carcinoma. He has cancer in his kidneys, his renal glands, his lymph nodes, his lungs and his bones. Proceeds from the event will help pay for medication and radiation treatments, which doctors hope will give Hall more time with his family, his friends and his guitar.
THUMBS UP: To members of MoveOn.org and the Valdosta Tea Party organization for hosting rallies in support of and in opposition of, respectively, President Barack Obama’s health care reform initiative. Even though the two groups are on different sides of the fence, it’s nice to see the First Amendment in action. As Americans we have the right to speak out in favor of or against our government and to assemble peacefully. However, so few exercise that right these days or believe in others’ right to do so.
THUMBS UP: To Lowndes High School for winning the softball game against Valdosta High School Tuesday. The Vikettes defeated the Wildcats 6-0 at Morris-Coat Field of Dreams. Ashley Chapman pitched a one-hit shutout, and the Vikettes pounded out eight hits and crossed the plate six times in the win. Lowndes now has a record of 5-5.
THUMBS UP: To Marcia Smith for winning the Wilson Eye Center Ophthalmic Scholarship. The Valdosta Technical College graduate will use the money to help offset the cost of taking her optical board exams.
THUMBS UP: To Lorena Maggio and Brooke Hoke Parr for participating in the annual Atlanta Breast Cancer 3-Day benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Philanthropic Trust Breast Cancer Fund. The two Nashville Mills employees have been training for the grueling October 60-mile journey with regular walks and other forms of training. Maggio lost an aunt to breast cancer. Parr lost her mother-in-law and her sister.
What We Think
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
