THUMBS UP: To Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office deputies for apprehending an escaped jail inmate following a three-day manhunt. Sheriff Chris Prine reported that Christopher Eric Locher, 26, escaped from custody during a trustee work assignment at the southbound weight scales on Interstate 75 on Friday. He was located following an anonymous tip on Monday at his father’s home in Hahira.
THUMBS UP: To Cook Middle School students and staff for collecting items and monetary donations for care packages to send to troops for the holiday season. The goal is to send 800 shoe boxes full of basic necessities and fun items to military serving overseas in either Afghanistan or Iraq. The boxes will be sent through Moody Air Force Base.
THUMBS UP: To everyone participating in today’s Make A Difference Day cleanups sponsored by the City of Valdosta, Lowndes County, as well as Keep Lowndes/Valdosta Beautiful. As of 8:30 a.m. today, volunteers have been working to clean the area of McLeod Circle in Lowndes County and Payton Park in Valdosta. Next weekend, the folks at America’s Second Harvest of South Georgia will host a Make A Difference Day event where teams of volunteers will assemble emergency food boxes; sort, clean and inspect donated product; and more.
THUMBS UP: To researchers for making progress in the war against cervical cancer. A new vaccine may soon be added to the recommended list for girls and young women after a federal advisory panel voted recently to support it. The panel gave a limited endorsement to the GlaxoSmithKline vaccine, Cervarix. Merck & Co. has had the vaccine Gardasil on the market since 2006.
What We Think
What We Think: Thumbs up
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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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Just the facts, please
The Times has taken some hits this weekend following the reporting of the Rev. Floyd Rose’ rally on Saturday concerning the car which drove into a home, killing an infant on New Year’s, and an incident at Pinevale Learning Center. Some police officers think the VDT is not being fair, and Rose accused the VDT of not printing the facts, but the facts are as follows:
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Fathers teaching daughters
It began as a small gathering for fathers and daughters. It has become one of Valdosta’s most popular social events of the year.
Several years ago, Jeff Stewart co-founded the event with his wife, Becky, as a way for him to give a special night to his two daughters. Other fathers of First Presbyterian Church liked the idea and the Father-Daughter Valentine Dance was born. - More What We Think Headlines
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Shame in Berrien County
