The following is a Radio Elberton Editorial. Your response is welcome. You may mail your response to Elberton Radio, Post Office Box 340; Elberton, Georgia 30635, email it to Editorial Response, fax it to 706-283-8710, or bring it by our studios at 562 Jones Street.  Properly identified Guest Editorials of an appropriate nature are also welcome for broadcast or inclusion on our web site.

RADIO ELBERTON'S EDITORIALS

EDITORIAL 6/27/08

      LETS GIVE ANOTHER SALUTE THIS WEEK TO A BASEBALL TEAM THAT HAD A SEASON THAT NO-ONE EXPECTED AND REALLY TURNED IT AROUND FROM A YEAR AGO TO PUT THEMSELVES IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT.

  IM REFERRING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA BASEBALL TEAM THAT CAME WITHIN A GAME OF WINNING THEIR FIRST COLLEGE WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP IN EIGHTEEN YEARS.

  ONE SEASON AGO THE GEORGIA TEAM WON A LITTLE MORE THAN 20 OR SO GAMES AND NOW ONE YEAR LATER THEY MAKE AN AMAZING RUN TO THE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES AND IN OMAHA WIN THEIR FIRST FOUR GAMES BEFORE DROPPING TWO IN A ROW IN THE FINALE.

  THE SCHOOL THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME GETS RECOGNIZED FOR WHAT HAPPENS ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD AND NOT A LOT OF ATTENTION GOES TO BASEBALL OR EVEN THE MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM WHO MADE THAT AMAZING RUN IN THE SEC TOURNEY OR SOME OF THE OTHER SPORTS.

   WHAT A GREAT RUN TEAM, OUR HATS OFF.

  SPEAKING OF BASEBALL, THERE WAS ALSO DISCUSSION ON THE HIGH SCHOOL FRONT AGAIN THIS WEEK ON THE STEPHENS COUNTY ESCAPADE, AND AFTER WATCHING THE PLAY OVER AND OVER AGAIN ITS CLEARLY NOT A SITUATION WHERE ANY SIGNALS GOT CROSSED UP. THAT PITCH WAS WITHOUT A DOUBT INTENTIONAL AND THE WORST CASE OF POOR SPORTSMANSHIP EVER. THAT RUN ENDED ON AN AWFUL NOTE AND SOMETHING THAT SCHOOL SHOULD NOT BE PROUD OF.

EDITORIAL 6/20/08

   HAVE TO GIVE A SALUTE TO OUR FRIENDS JUST EAST OF US AND ACROSS THE RIVER OVER IN CAROLINA FOR A FINE COMEBACK AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR, ITS FIRST WILL BE A GOOD ONE.

  WE ARE REFERRING TO THE COMMUNITY OF CALHOUN FALLS WHERE THE CALHOUN FALLS CHARTER SCHOOL IS PREPARING FOR ITS FIRST EVER SCHOOL YEAR AFTER THE FORMER CALHOUN FALLS HIGH SCHOOL CLOSED AFTER THE 07-08 SCHOOL YEAR.

  WE BRING THIS UP BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A HIGH SCHOOL IN A COMMUNITY AND IN ONE THAT'S LOST A LOT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS INCLUDING THE SHUTTING DOWN OF A MAJOR PLANT EMPLOYER IN THE COMMUNITY.

 AUGUST 21ST IS THE BIG DAY OVER THERE AND ITS NOT TOO FAR OFF. AFTER A VOTE TAKEN BY THE ABBEVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO CLOSE THE SCHOOL AFTER LAST YEAR IT LOOKS LIKE AROUND 220 STUDENTS ARE CONFIRMED TO ATTEND THE FIRST YEAR AND WE THINK THAT'S GREAT. IT REALLY SHOWS THAT SMALL TOWNS TAKE PRIDE IN THEIR SCHOOLS.

  GREAT WORK CALHOUN FALLS, WE ARE PROUD OF YOU AND WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION.

EDITORIAL 6/13/08

   ITS BEEN A WILD AND UNUSUAL WEEK IN AND AROUND ELBERTON FROM THE POWER GOING OFF FOR AWHILE THURSDAY NIGHT TO FRIDAY MORNING IN SOME PARTS TO IT SIMPLY BEING FRIDAY THE 13TH TODAY. MAYBE THATS GOT SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT BUT NEVER THE LESS NICE TO SEE THE WEEKEND IS HERE.

  ONE QUESTION WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES IN THE MIDST OF A PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL FINAL THAT NOBODY REALLY CARES ABOUT EVEN THOUGH THE MEDIA AND THE LEAGUE REALLY WANTS TO BUILD IT UP IS WHAT IS QUIETLY HAPPENING TO THE ATLANTA BRAVES?

 AFTER GETTING SWEPT AT HOME OVER THE WEEKEND AT THE HANDS OF THE DIVISION LEADING PHILLIES, THEY GET IT AGAIN ON A WALKOFF HOME RUN YESTERDAY AFTERNOON IN CHICAGO AGAINST THE MUCH IMPROVED CHICAGO CUBS. IT SEEMS THINGS HAVE NOT GONE WELL AS OF LATE-LOSING JOHN SMOLTZ LAST WEEK AND CHIPPER WHO SEEMS TO PLAY WHEN HE WANTS TO. AT ONE TIME WE WERE JUST A GAME OR TWO BACK AND NOW WE ARE REALLY FALLING.

 THE BRAVES HAVE RELIED ON THE MINOR LEAGUE SYSTEM ALOT HEAVIER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND MAYBE ITS TIME TO GET BACK TO BUSINESS, OPEN UP THAT CHECKBOOK AND GET ANOTHER BIG NAME BEFORE THE LATE JULY DEADLINE.

 LETS GET BACK TO WHAT THE BRAVES DID GREAT IN THE 90'S-GO GET SOME MORE BIG NAMES LIKE A RELIEVER AND ANOTHER PITCHER-PITCHING AND DEFENSE...THATS WHAT DOES IT. THAT S WHAT WE HAD A ONE TIME.

EDITORIAL 6/6/08

  WELL SUMMER FEELS LIKE ITS HERE AND THAT MEANS FOLKS NORMALLY WOULD DO ALOT MORE TRAVEL AND MAYBE HAVE A LOT MORE LEISURE TIME. BUT SOMETHING WEVE BEEN FUSSING ABOUT FOR QUITE SOME TIME NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND IF SOMETHING ISNT DONE ABOUT IT, ITS REALLY GOING TO PUT US IN AN ABSOLUTE BIND.

  WE ARE REFERRING TO THE GAS SITUATION WHICH APPEARS TO NOT BE GETTING ANY BETTER AS PRICES CONTINUE TO CLIMB AND IN SOME PARTS IN OUR AREA ARE OVER 4 DOLLARS PER GALLON-OUCH.

 YES I REMEMBER WHEN WE HAD THAT NICE 90 CENTS PER GALLON THING GOING ON AND WE ALL FUSSED ABOUT THAT BUT LOOKING ABACK ON THAT NOW BOY THAT WAS REAL NICE.

 WE NEED TO GET ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S YOU KNOW WHAT AND TELL THEM THAT THEY NEED TO RELEASE MORE RESERVES OR WHATEVER AND STOP BEING THE LAND OF CONSUMPTION AND BE MORE OF THE LAND OF PRODUCTION.

 THERE JUST COMES A POINT WHEN SOMETHING HAS GOT TO GIVE AND WE GOT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN NOW

 A CAR IS A VITAL THING AND GASOLINE IS VITAL IN MAKING THAT CAR GO AND WE ALL HAVE TO HAVE IT TO SURVIVE TO GET WHEREVER WE NEED TO GO. LETS DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEFORE IT REALLY GETS OUT OF HAND.

EDITORIAL 5/30/08

GOOD TO SEE THAT EVERYONE HAD A GREAT MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, I KNOW I DID IN GETTING THAT EXTRA DAY OFF AND WERE WRAPPIN UP A SHORT WORK WEEK.

  I WANT TO MAKE AN OBSERVATION ABOUT A PLACE I WENT TO ON MONDAY AND WHAT A WONDERFUL JOB THE FOLKS UP THERE DO IN KEEPING IT UP AND RUNNING IT SMOOTHLY.

  IM REFERRING TO LAKE RUSSELL AND THE BEACH AREA UP THERE. YES WEVE MENTIONED IT SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT WHAT A GOLD MINE IT IS UP THERE FOR DEVELOPMENT AND HOW IT COULD BE UTILIZED BUT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE FLIP SIDE OF THINGS TOO IN THAT IT HAS A REAL NATURAL BEAUTY ABOUT IT AND ITS GREAT THAT WE HAVE IT IN OUR COUNTY.

 I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT THE GOLF COURSE WAS LOOKIN PRETTY GOOD AS WELL AND IT WILL BE A REAL BONUS WHEN THOSE FEW MORE COTTAGES GET BUILT THAT WILL QUALIFY US FOR MORE TAX DOLLARS.

 LETS SALUTE THE FOLKS THAT MAKE RUSSELL A WONDERFUL PLACE TO VISIT AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK THERE. THATS SOMETHING CERTAINLY GREAT FOR ELBERT COUNTY FOR THE FUTURE.

 WAY TO GO!

EDITORIAL 5/23/08

  LETS STAY ON THE SAME TRACK THIS WEEK AS IT SEEMS THE SUBJECT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT RECENTLY HAS SEEMED TO BALLOON A LITTLE LARGER THIS WEEK AS ITS BEEN REPORTED THAT STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS BEEN CALLED IN TO INVESTIGATE.

  YES ITS MORE OF THE STOLEN  COUNTY TIRES AND A CHAINSAW ESCAPADE THATS BECOME EVEN MORE OF AN ESCAPADE AS THE GBI IS INVESTIGATING THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THESE ITEMS.

  YES THE NAYSAYERS HAVE DONE IT AGAIN-IF THEY COULDNT GET MUCH ACCOMPLISHED AT THE RECENT COMMISSIONERS MEETING WELL LETS CALL IN THE STATE AND FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED, LIKE THEY DONT HAVE BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS TO WORRY ABOUT.

  AGAIN THIS IS AN INTER-DEPARTMENT THING, AND IF ITS TIRES AND A CHAINSAW THEFT WELL OUR NEWS DEPARTMENT NORMALLY PUTS THAT MIDDLE TO BOTTOM ON THE DELIVERY AND YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHERE THE GBI WILL PLACE IT.

  NAYSAYERS-WE ARE GETTING PRETTY BORED WITH IT ALL-LETS GIVE IT UP AND GIVE IT A REST. ITS AN ELECTION YEAR AND I KNOW AFTER BEING HERE SEVEN YEARS YOU LIKE TO STIR IT UP. REMEMBER HOW ANNOYED THE DOT WAS WITH A CERTAIN COMMISSIONER SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND MAYBE THE CAUSE OF OUR STATE ROAD PROJECTS THROWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PILE? HOW BOUT THIS FOR ENERGY USE-TAKE ALL THAT NAYSAYIN ENERGY AND WORK WITH THE OTHER COMMISSIONERS AND GET THINGS ACCOMPLISHED-WHAT A NOVEL CONCEPT.

EDITORIAL 5/16/08

  GOOD TO SEE THE CHICKEN HOUSE ORDINANCE PASS RECENTLY BY COMMSSIONERS DESPITE SOME OPPOSITION. AFTER SEVERAL PUBLIC HEARINGS AND RESEARCH BY THE COUNTY'S LAND USE COMMITTEE IT SEEMS THAT SOMETHING STRICTER IS IN PLACE.

  HOWEVER IT SEEMS THAT SOME OF THESE COMMISSIONERS CONTINUE TO FUSS AT STUFF AND THOUGH, YES ITS IMPORTANT IT SEEMS LIKE IT WAS SEVERAL YEARS AGO THINGS THAT JUST DONT NEED TO BE BROUGHT UP AT FULL COMMISSION MEETINGS BUT HANDLED BY THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND THE DEPARTMENT HEADS.

  WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE RUMORED STOLEN TIRES ESCAPADE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO ADMINISTRATOR BOB THOMAS' ATTENTION AS OPPOSED TO A DEBATE AT A PUBLIC MEETING. FRANKLY IT SEEMS ITS JUST A WASTE OF TIME AND YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF NAY-SAYERS TRYING TO STIR IT UP ESPECIALLY ON SOMETHING THAT TURNS OUT TO BE A RUMOR. WERE ALL PRETTY BORED WITH IT ALL AND THAT ENERGY COULD BE USED TO SETTLE AND APPROVE BIGGER AND BETTER COUNTY POLICY, ETC.

  I CAN REMEMBER WHEN A FORMER COMMISIONER WAS ON THERE THAT AT ONE POINT HAD 15 OR SO DIFFERENT MINUTE ITEMS TO TALK ABOUT ADDED TO THE AGENDA AND MOST ALL COULD HAVE BEEN HANDLED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR WITHOUT DEALING WITH IT AT A REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING.

 LETS LEAVE OUT STUFF LIKE THIS AT PUBLIC MEETINGS AND LET THE ADMINISTRATOR AND DEPARTMENT HEADS DEAL WITH IT AND PASS IMPORTANT STUFF LIKE THE CHICKEN HOUSE ORDINANCES. 

EDITORIAL 5/9/08

    GOT A BONE TO PICK ON SOMETHING THATS BECOME A REAL NUISANCE AS OF LATE, AND PROBABLY WORSE THAN IVE SEEN IN RECENT YEARS.

    WE ARE REFERRING TO THE VERY OVER LARGE FLY POPULATION THAT HAS SEEMS TO INHABIT ELBERT AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES AND MAYBE EVEN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE U.S. THIS YEAR.

  WELL WE HAD A MILD WINTER, AND NOT MUCH RAINFALL, AND THAT MAYBE A CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM BUT CERTAINLY ANOTHER CAUSE CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE CHICKEN HOUSE POPULATION.

  THE COUNTY IS LOOKING TO HOPEFULLY SQUARE THAT PROBLEM AWAY BY INCREASING THE DISTANCES THAT CHICKEN HOUSES CAN BE LOCATED FROM PUBLIC LOCATIONS AS WELL AS PRIVATE LOCATIONS. AND WE CERTAINLY HOPE THAT IN THE FUTURE WE CAN SEE ZONING COME TO ELBERT COUNTY.

  AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS WELL YOU KNOW ONE THING EFFECTS ANOTHER AND EVENTUALLY MAYBE THE FLY POPULATION MAYBE DROPPING OFF.

   UNTIL THEN WELL ITS JUST CONTINUING TO SWAT AT UM AND GRIN AND BEAR IT. IN THE MEANTIME LETS CONTINUE TO LET OUR VOICES BE KNOWN TO OUR COMMISSIONERS AND GET THINGS DONE INSTEAD OF A COUPLE OF UM TRYIN TO STIR IT UP-YOU NAYSAYERS YOU.

  THIS COULD BE THE START OF SOMETHING GOOD.

EDITORIAL 5/2/08

   WERE GONNA STICK WITH THE SPORTS SCENE THIS WEEK AND KEEP IT STATEWIDE AND LETS GIVE A SALUTE TO A SPORTS FRANCHISE OUT THERE ALONG WITH A STATE SCHOOL THATS NEVER GOTTEN ANY MUCH OF A MENTION.

   FIRST TO THAT LONG FORGOTTEN BUT SEEMS LIKE ALWAYS BEEN AROUND ATLANTA HAWKS WHO HAVE MANAGED TO WIN A COUPLE OF GAMES IN THE PRO BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS AGAINS THE LEAGUES TOP TEAM THE BOSTON CELTICS. BEFORE BOSTON BLEW UM OUT IN THE FIFTH GAME OF THEIR FIRST ROUND SERIES, THE HAWKS MANAGED TO TIE UM UP AND SHOWS THE LITTLE GUY CAN GET GOLIATH SOMETIME.

  TO THE HAWKS COACH AND TO GUYS LIKE JOE JOHNSON, AL HORFORD, MIKE BIBBY ETC WE SALUTE YOU.

  ALSO WE WANT TO SALUTE MY ALMA MATER FOR A RECENT MOVE TO TRY TO ADD FOOTBALL TO THEIR SPORTS PROGRAM IN GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY. THE TALK AND STUDY THAT TOOK A YEAR OR SO FINALLY BECAME REALITY LAST MONTH WHEN IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT FOOTBALL WOULD BEGIN PLAY OVER THERE IN 2010.

  IM GLAD TO SEE THEY ARE ADDING IT, AND IT CERTAINLY WILL HELP THE SCHOOL. ITS GONNA TAKE MAJOR EFFORTS TO GET GOING BUT I THINK THEY ARE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. GO PANTHERS, GO HAWKS WE ARE WATCHING YOU NOW IF WE HAVENT BEEN

EDITORIAL 4/25/08

 WE HAVE TO GIVE A SALUTE THIS WEEK TO A GREAT SPORTS PROGRAM HERE IN ELBERT COUNTY IN THAT WE HAVE TO AGREE WITH A RECENT EDITORIAL IN THE PAPER, THAT IT JUST DOESNT GET ENOUGH RESPECT.

  WE ARE REFERRING TO THE ELBERT COUNTY TRACK TEAM AND THE SUCCESS IT HAS HAD OVER THE YEARS WINNING STATE AND REGION TITLES AND A BIG CONGRATS TO THE GIRLS TEAM FOR ADDING ANOTHER REGION TITLE IN THERE LATE LAST WEEK.

  ALOT OF TIMES ACCOLADES AND ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO OTHER SPORTS, LIKE FOOTBALL, BASEBALL AND BASKETBALL TO MENTION A FEW BUT NOT ENOUGH ON TRACK. WE CERTAINLY WANT TO SALUTE THIS PROGRAM AND THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO GET BEHIND UM. THEY JUST GOT THE NEW SURFACE DONE ON THE TRACK NOT LONG AGO TO HAVE HOME MEETS HERE BUT THE PROGRAM DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH STAFF AND SUCH TO COMPETE WITH THE LARGER PROGRAMS YET IT WINS.

  ALSO A SALUTE TO ANOTHER SPORT THAT SOMETIMES GETS FORGOTTEN. LETS HEAR IT FOR THE ELBERT GOLF PROGRAM AND THE BOYS FOR HEADING TO THE UPCOMING STATE MEET. ELBERT RECENTLY FINISHED 2ND WITH THE LOW MEDALIST WHICH WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO QUALIFY..

  WAY TO GO ELBERT COUNTY-WE ARE WATCHING...

EDITORIAL 4/18/08

  ITS TRULY AMAZING SOMETIMES WHEN YOU HEAR THINGS AROUND TOWN THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY TRUE WHEN FOLKS DONT GET ALL OF THEIR FACTS STRAIGHT BEFORE OPENING THEIR MOUTHS TO THE COMMUNITY.

  WE ARE REFERRING TO THAT GROUP OF NAY-SAYERS IN TOWN THAT ARE CONSTANTLY GRIPING ABOUT THE SHERIFF'S BUDGET AND HOW MUCH OVER HE IS AND ALL THE MONEY BEING SPENT ON PATROL CARS AND EVEN GIVING A BALLOONED NUMBER OF PATROL CARS IN HIS FLEET.

  WELL IM HERE TO SAY THAT IVE SEEN THE LIST OF CARS RECENTLY AND ITS PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY UNDER THE NUMBER THAT THE NAY-SAYERS HAVE SAID IT WAS. I THINK THE NAY-SAYERS HAVE SAID 50 AND LOOKS TO BE 29 USED AND 4 OTHERS NOT USED. THATS MORE ACCURATE AND THAT AINT ANYWHERE NEAR 50.

 THE POINT WE ARE MAKING HERE IS NO MATTER IF ITS 33 OR WHATEVER NUMBER, THE DEPARTMENT STILL NEEDS A BUDGET TO OPERATE AND PEOPLE REALLY ARENT GOING TO LIKE IT IF THE DEPARTMENT IS  EVER STRIPPED DOWN TO NOTHING AND FOLKS ARE KICKIN IN DOORS AT 3AM. WHAT THEN?

 SO YOU NAY-SAYERS WHO DONT LIKE IT...SEE HOW IT IS HAVING TO DEAL WITH THAT. AND ITS NOT 50 ITS ONLY 33 VEHICLES, THATS WHAT THE BUDGET ALLOWS.

 NAY-SAYERS GET YOUR INFO TOGETHER BEFORE JUST THROWING IT OUT THERE.

EDITORIAL 4/11/08

AMONG SOME OF THE BIGGEST DISCUSSIONS AROUND OUR COMMUNITY AS OF LATE, WELL YOU HAVE TO PUT CHICKEN HOUSES RIGHT UP THERE. YES ITS THE SMELL THAT DRIVES US ALL CRAZY AND I THINK AT ONE TIME THERE WAS THE ENTERTAINING OF BRINGING AN INDUSTRY IN HERE THAT WAS CHICKEN PROCESSING AND JUST TOO MUCH GOING AGAINST IT TO COME HERE.

  WELL ELBERT COUNTY HAS A VOICE ON MONDAY NIGHT AS A PUBLIC HEARING IS BEING HELD ON A MORE STRICTER CHICKEN HOUSE ORDINANACE AND WE HAVE TO AGREE HERE THAT STRICTER IS THE WAY TO GO. THE ORDINANCE CONSIDERED RIGHT NOW BY ELBERT COMMISSIONERS IS THE LENGTHEN THE SETBACK REQUIRED FROM PROPERTY LINES AND THOSE ADJACENT AREAS. THE PROPOSED LAW WOULD INCREASE THOSE SETBACKS FROM 400 FEET TO 750 FEET AND FROM PROPERTY LINES TO PUBLIC ROAD RIGHT OF WAY FROM 200 TO 400 FEET. ALSO IN THERE A 10 ACRE MINIMUM PER PROPOSED CHICKEN HOUSE.

  THE PLAN WE FEEL PROBABLY NEEDS TO BE SLIGHTLY MORE STRICTER BUT NOT TO THE POINT WHERE IT COMPLETELY DISCOURAGES THE INDUSTRY. AFTER ALL THERES SOME TAX BASE THERE AND WE DONT WANT TO COMPLETELY MAKE IT GO AWAY.

  MAYBE SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF 1000 FEET ON A SETBACK FROM PROPERTY LINE TO THE OTHER GUYS HOUSE NOT OWNED BY CHICKEN HOUSE OWNER AND A 25 ACRE MINIMUM. JUST SOMETHING TO THROW OUT THERE. IT NEEDS TO FINE FINE TUNED AND PUT INTO ACTION.

EDITORIAL 4/4/08

   BIG DISCUSSION IN THE AIR AS OF LATE ON THE SUBJECT OF SOUTH CAROLINA BOAT DOCKS AT LAKE RUSSELL AND THE ISSUE HERE IS WHETHER OR NOT THOSE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE BUILT DOCKS WILL BE PUBLIC OR PRIVATE.

  RECENTLY WE WERE INFORMED THAT THOSE DOCKS BUILT AT THE REQUEST OF THE SCDOC ON RUSSELL NEAR A PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT WOULD HAVE PUBLIC ROADS AND PUBLIC ACCESS BUT THE FEAR IS WHETHER OR NOT THAT PLAN WOULD TURN INTO SOMETHING SIMILAR IN 2003 WHEN A PLAN WAS DENIED AT THAT SAME LOCATION THAT CALLED FOR PRIVATE BOAT DOCKS.

  THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS WOULD GIVE FINAL APPROVAL BEFORE DOCKS ARE BUILT AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT PUBLIC ROADS AND PUBLIC PARKING HAVE TO HAPPEN. AND IF IT SAYS ITS GOING TO BE PUBLIC THAN IT SHOULD BE PUBLIC. IN SOUTH CAROLINA THE DOCKS PROPOSED ARE AN EXPANSION OF A STATE PARK AND WOULD HAVE PUBLIC ACCESS.

  WE AGREE WITH THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR IN HIS ASKING OF A PUBLIC HEARING TO CLEAR THE AIR ON SUCH A SENSITIVE ISSUE. THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO GIVE THEIR INPUT. IF THE DOCKS ARE STRATEGICALLY BEING PLACED IN FRONT OF PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT THAN IT SHOULD BE MADE CLEAR AS TO WHETHER THEY ARE GOING TO BE PUBLIC OR PRIVATE DOCKS. IF THE SOUTH CAROLINA SIDE HOMEOWNERS HAVE ONE SET OF RULES AND GEORGIA ANOTHER SET THATS NOT A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD. IT SHOULD BE THE SAME FOR BOTH SIDES OF THE LAKE.

EDITORIAL 3/28/08

  WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON AN EARLIER EDITORIAL WE DID SEVERAL MONTHS AGO IN RELATION TO NEW CONSTRUCTION EFFECTING THE SMALLER BUSINESSES AND WE WANT TO USE OUR EXAMPLE ONCE AGAIN OF WHATS HAPPENING AT THE END OF NORTH OLIVER STREET.

  WE ARE REFERRING TO THE SHANTY RESTAURANT ON NORTH OLIVER AND HOW THEIR PARKING SPACES WERE TAKEN AWAY WHEN THE WIDENING OCCURRED TO HIGHWAY 77 AS IT INTERSECTS ELBERT STREET.

  NOW THIS IS A LOCAL FAVORITE EATING PLACE THATS BEEN WITH US FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW AND ONE OF THE REASONS IT WAS A GREAT PLACE TO GO IN ADDITION TO THE GREAT FOOD IS THE PARKING SPACES THAT LINED THAT END OF NORTH OLIVER.

  IT SEEMS BUSINESS HAS DIMINISHED DUE TO THE ELIMINATION OF THE PARKING SPACES AND WE FEEL SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. MAYBE A SITUATION WHERE THEY ADD SOME IN SOMEHOW ALONG THE STREETS PAST THE TURNING LANE AS YOU ARE HEADING UP NORTH OLIVER OR SOMETHING.

 THIS IS SOMETHING THE CITY NEEDS TO THINK ON. IS IT REALLY NECESSARY THAT WE HAD TO GO THROUGH ALL THAT? IT SEEMS THERES SOME TRAFFIC ON THAT STREET BUT NOT ENOUGH TO JUSTIFY TAKING THOSE SPACES AWAY.

  AFTER-ALL THERES PLENTY OF ENTRANCE OFF 17-72 TO THE BANK AND DRUG STORE THAT THE ELIMINATION SEEMS LIKE OVERKILL.

EDITORIAL 3/21/08

   LETS SWITCH GEARS THIS WEEK SINCE WE ARE GETTING INTO MARCH MADNESS AND ALL OF THAT AND ITS CERTAINLY MY FAVORITE TIME OF THE YEAR. YES SPRING IS UPON US AND ITS GONNA GET WARMER.

  IN ALL THE MARCH MADNESS HOOPLA WE CERTAINLY WANT TO GIVE KUDOS TO A TEAM, WHETHER YOU ARE A FAN OR NOT, THAT REALLY PLAYED WITH ALOT OF HEART TOWARD THE END OF THIS PAST SEASON HAVING TO ENDURE THE LOSSES BUT IN THE END SOMETHING TO REMEMBER.

  WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE GEORGIA MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM WHO FELL SHORT IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE NCAA TOURNEY TO XAVIER YESTERDAY. IT WAS ONLY A WEEK AGO THAT THE MEN WERE FACING ENDING A DISASTROUS SEASON IN WHICH THEY LOST TWO OF THEIR PLAYERS AND AN UPHILL BATTLE IN THE SEC TOURNEY.  WELL DESPITE SOME NASTY WEATHER IN OUR AREA LAST WEEKEND, THE MEN PULLED OFF THE IMPROBABLE IN THE HISTORY OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL, WINNING FOUR CONFERENCE TOURNEY GAMES IN THREE DAYS AND WINNING THE CONFERENCE TITLE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME.

  CERTAINLY WE HAVE TO GIVE CREDIT TO A GROUP OF PLAYERS THAT CAME TOGETHER, SHORTHANDED I MUST SAY AND MOST OF ALL A COACH, WHO WAS ON THE HOT SEAT EIGHT DAYS AGO AND I FEEL SHOULD GET A SHARE OF COACH OF THE YEAR IN DENNIS FELTON FOR DOING WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED RIGHT HERE IN THE PEACH STATE. 

  EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT A FAN, HATS OFF DENNIS FELTON AND TEAM, GREAT JOB, COLLEGE BASKETBALL FANS SHOULD BE PROUD.

EDITORIAL 3/14/08

   RECENTLY SOME INFORMATION WAS RELEASED THAT SHOWED WHAT A IMPACT A BUSINESS CAN HAVE ON A COMMUNITY AND IF NOT JUST THE COMMUNITY, THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES TOO.

  WE ARE REFERRING TO THE INFORMATION RELEASED BY THE GEORGIA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION THAT SHOWED FIGURES FROM 2005 INDICATING WHERE ELBERT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL GENERATED SOME 33.7 MILLION DOLLARS PLUS TO ELBERT COUNTY'S ECONOMY.

  YES ALOT OF FOLKS ARE FUSSING AND ARE NOT WANTING TO SUPPORT THE HOSPITAL IN ITS PLANS TO UPGRADE, BUT WHEN SOME INFORMATION LIKE THIS HITS OUR DESK, ITS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO IGNORE THE FACT THAT IT DOES ALOT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND NOW ITS TIME FOR IT TO UPGRADE AS THE WORLD CHANGES.

  THE INFORMATION ALSO TOLD US THAT A MILLION DOLLARS PLUS FROM THAT YEAR WAS PROVIDED IN UNCOMPENSATED CARE WHILE 440 PLUS JOBS WERE SUSTAINED.

  YES THE HOSPITAL NEEDS TO UPGRADE BUT ITS GOING TO TAKE HELP FROM THE COMMUNITY TOO.

  WE NEED TO  SUPPORT ITS EFFORTS IN FACILITY IMPROVEMENT-IF ELBERT COUNTY IS GOING TO GROW DOWN THE ROAD IT ALL STARTS WITH WHAT FACILITIES CAN HANDLE THAT GROWTH. SCHOOLS, AN AIRPORT AND HOSPITAL ARE ALL PART OF THE EQUATION.

EDITORIAL 3/7/08

   ITS GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS FOR ELBERT COUNTY....THATS THE WORD FROM A RECENT STATE VISIT BY OFFICIALS FROM SEVERAL STATE AGENCIES WHO HAD A CHANCE TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME NEEDS HERE IN OUR COUNTY.

   IT WAS A SITUATION WHERE LOCAL OFFICIALS WERE SHOWING THE STATE OF GEORGIA THAT WE ARE IN NEED OF STATE HELP AND ARE TRYING TO GET READY FOR GROWTH.

  WELL AFTER THAT VISIT WHERE ELBERT COUNTY'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS WERE SHOWED OFF LIKE ATHENS TECH CAMPUS, INDUSTRIAL PARK, THE REMODLED COURT HOUSE ETC, ELBERT COUNTY GOT THE GOOD AND NOT SO GOOD NEWS.

  THE GOOD IT LOOKS LIKE FROM COUNTY OFFICIALS IS THAT WE WILL MORE THAN LIKELY GET THE ADDITIONAL CABINS NEEDED TO QUALIFY FOR COLLECTION OF 23,000 DOLLARS IN HOTEL MOTEL TAX EACH YEAR BUT THAT THE STATE IS OUT OF MONEY ON FINISHING HIGHWAY 72 THE REMAINING 13 TO 14 MILES FROM KENNY'S KORNER TO SOUTH CAROLINA.

  IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THE STATE JUST NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO BE HOUNDED. THE  WAY I SEE IT HERE IS THAT THEY ARE PUTTING US LOWER DOWN IN THE PILE AGAIN AND ITS UP TO US TO CONTINUE TO GET THEIR ATTENTION.

  LETS CONTINUE TO STAY BEHIND OUR LOCAL OFFICIALS AS THEY WORK WITH THE STATE AND GET THINGS DONE. ITS THE ONLY WAY ITS GOING TO HAPPEN.

EDITORIAL 2/29/08

    WELL THE NEWS OF AN INDUSTRY COMING TO ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTIES HIT US NOT LONG AGO AND ITS A REMINDER THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON SUCH A THING AS WE TRY TO WORK ON HELPING ELBERT COUNTY GROW AND PROSPER.

  WE ARE REFERRING TO THE FENNER DUNLOP FACILITY THAT IS COMING TO HART COUNTY'S GATEWAY INDUSTRIAL PARK. FENNER IS A LEADER IN CONVEYOR BELT MANUFACTURING AND LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE A NICE SIZED AND GREAT ADDITION TO HART'S GROWING ECONOMY.

  YES WE HAVE THE STABLE GRANITE INDUSTRY BUT AS WE ALL KNOW WE CANT CONTINUE TO RELY ON THAT AS A BASE ECONOMY FOREVER.

  WE MUST CONTINUE TO PUSH OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO WORK ON GETTING ADDITIONAL INDUSTRY IN HERE THAT PRODUCES ADDITIONAL JOBS AND MORE INCOME.

  AND IN ADDITION TO THAT AN EXPANSION OF INFRASTRUCTURE WHICH IS IN ITS EARLY STAGES. WE APPLAUD THOSE FOR WORKING HARD IN THAT AREA.

  YOU ALWAYS HEAR ABOUT THE COUNTY NOT HAVING ENOUGH OR ANY MONEY-WELL IT ALL COMES DOWN TO ADDITIONAL TAX BASE AND INDUSTRY AND NEW INDUSTRY IS WHERE ITS AT.

  LETS CONTINUE TO WORK ON IT GOVERNMENT LEADERS...ITS THE FUTURE.

EDITORIAL 2/22/08

    WELL AS WE FOUND OUT FROM THE MONDAY MEETING OF THE ELBERT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, THE DEBT HAS BEEN REDUCED SIGNIFICANTLY, BUT ACCORDING TO THE AUDITOR THERES STILL A WAYS TO GO AND THE AUDITOR IS URGING THE COUNTY TO RAISE TAXES TO COMPLETELY WIPE OUT THE DEFICIT.

   THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO GO. AS YOU REMEMBER A SPLOST WAS RECENTLY PASSED NOT TOO LONG AGO AND HOW MUCH MORE CAN THE TAXPAYERS AT THIS POINT HANDLE?

  YOU HAVE TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE COSTS OF OPERATING ON THE RISE AND CERTAINLY FUEL HAS TO BE FIGURED IN THERE SOMEWHERE AND THAT IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE ANYTIME SOON.

  FOLKS ALSO LOOK AT THE SMALLER PICTURE AND THAT IS ITS JUST MORE FOR ME, JOHN Q. TAXPAYER TO PAY. WE HAVE TO AGREE WITH THE AUDITOR IN THAT LOWERING THE MILLAGE BACK IN 06 WAS NOT THE RIGHT WAY TO GO, BUT SELLING SOME COUNTY PROPERTY WAS. NOW ITS TIME TO FINISH WHAT WAS STARTED.

  ITS A TUG OF WAR BETWEEN PAY NOW OR PAY LATER, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE MONEY IS GOING TO HAVE TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE. THE COUNTY NEEDS TO RAISE TAXES BUT ONLY SLIGHTLY AND NOT ANYTHING LIKE A LARGE JUMP IN THE MILLAGE RATE. IF WE DONT WE COULD BE IN BIG TROUBLE.

EDITORIAL 2/15/08

   WELL YESTERDAY WAS VALENTINES DAY AND WE HOPE YOU DID SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR THAT SPECIAL SOMEONE. ITS ALSO TAX TIME AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU THINGS ARE GETTING CRAZIER IT SEEMS EACH AND EVERY YEAR.

  IT SEEMS THERES AL KINDS OF NEW TAX LAWS AND EXEMPTIONS AND ALL THAT OTHER STUFF THAT JUST KEEPS POPPING UP EACH AND EVERY YEAR AND SOMETHING WAS BROUGHT UP NOT TOO LONG AGO BY A CONGRESSMAN THATS FILLING THAT VACATED TERM. ITS SOMETHING WE HEAR FROM TIME TO TIME BUT NOT CERTAINLY ENOUGH.

  I LIKE THIS FAIRTAX THING THAT PAUL BROUN HAS CO-AUTHORED THAT WOULD REPEAL ALL CORPORATE, INDIVIDUAL INCOME, PAYROLL TAXES, SELF EMPLOYMENT TAXES, CAPITAL GAINS TAXES AND GIFT TAXES TO MOVE TOWARD A MORE CONSUMPTION BASED TAX. ALL THAT SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.  OPERATING A BUSINESS IN ELBERT COUNTY AND HAVE TO PAY PERSONAL TAXES EVERY YEAR CAN GET REAL OLD AND THIS LOOKS LIKE THE OBVIOUS SOLUTION.

  YEAH ITS NICE SOMETIMES TO GET SOMETHING BACK AND LIKE THIS YEAR EVERY AMERICAN WILL GET A LITTLE EXTRA TO-SO THEY SAY HELP STIMULATE THE ECONOMY-BUT IN THE LONG HAUL ITS JUST NOT ENOUGH.

  LETS GET BEHIND THESE FOLKS THAT ARE MOVING FOR THIS FAIRTAX THING AND GET IT PUSHED THROUGH TO APPROVAL. IT WILL GO ALONG WAY.

EDITORIAL 2/8/08

  THIS WEEK IS TRYOUT WEEK FOR AREA LITTLE LEAGUE TEAMS AS KIDS MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE FIELD AND FIND OUT WHICH TEAM THEY WILL BE PLACED ON. AND THAT MEANS THAT THE SPRING SPORTS SCENE IS UPON US THIS YEAR.

  IT ALSO MEANS THE START OF THE SEASON IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER AND THIS IS A TIME WHEN FOLKS REALLY GET INTO THE GAMES.

  IVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH OVER THE LAST DECADE OR SO THE BEHAVIOR OF THE FANS WHEREVER I MIGHT BE AND EACH YEAR THINGS CAN HAVE A TENDENCY TO GET OUT OF HAND.

 IVE HEARD IT AND SEEN IT ALL FROM CALLING A BALLGAME WHERE THE PARENT OF A BALL PLAYER RUNS ON THE FIELD TO ATTACK AN UMPIRE AFTER HIS SON'S HIGH SCHOOL TEAM JUST LOST IN EXTRA INNINGS TO A PARENT NOT LIKING THE CALLS MADE BY AN UMPIRE IN A SCHOOL IN METRO ATHENS, CALLING THE UMPIRE A-WELL WE'LL LEAVE THAT OUT.

  IF YOU ARE THE PARENT OF BALL PLAYERS-LETS MAKE IT A POINT THIS YEAR TO BEHAVE AND SHOW SOME CLASS ON THE FIELD.

 REMEMBER ITS JUST A SPORT AND THE KIDS ARE OUT THERE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE OUT THERE-RIGHT? ITS JUST A SPORT.

EDITORIAL 2/1/08

  WELL SUPER TUESDAY IS JUST A FEW DAYS AWAY AS VOTERS HERE IN GEORGIA WILL CAST THEIR BALLOT FOR WHO THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE AS A PARTY REPRESENTATIVE IN THE PRESIDENTIAL GENERAL ELECTION COME NOVEMBER. AND YES THATS CERTAINLY OF IMPORTANCE.

  HOWEVER THERE ARE RACES THAT WILL AFFECT US MORE CLOSE TO HOME LIKE THE CONGRESSIONAL RACE LATER THIS YEAR IN WHICH NEWLY ELECTED PAUL BROUN FROM LAST SUMMER WILL HAVE SOME OPPOSITION. AS YOU REMEMBER HE'S FILLING THE REST OF THE TERM OF THE LATE CHARLIE NORWOOD.

  OUR BIGGEST CONCERN HERE HAS THAT HAS TO DO WITH ANYTHING STATE AND FEDERAL HAS BEEN OUR ROADS. YES WE ARE WANTING THEM AS IN HIGHWAY 72 WIDENED AND IT WOULD BE REALLY NICE FOR SOMEONE OF CONGRESIONAL STATUS IN ADDITION TO THE STATE LEVEL LEAN ON THOSE DOT FOLKS TO GET IT ACCOMPLISHED AND MOVED ALONG FASTER.

  WE ALL KNOW ELBERTON IS NOT IN GROWTH STAGES BUT ITS THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM AS WE EXPECT IT TO HAPPEN WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS AND WE WANT TO BE READY. FRANKY WE ARE REALLY GOING TO NEED SOMEONE THAT GOES TO BAT FOR US. YES, ITS SEVERAL MONTHS OFF, BUT JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT. UNTIL THEN, HEAD TO THE POLLS TUESDAY.

 

EDITORIAL 1/25/08

  NOT MUCH TO TALK ABOUT IN JANUARY SO WE THOUGHT WE WOULD GO TO THE SPORTS SCENE.

  LOOKS LIKE THE FALCONS LANDED THEIR NEXT HEAD COACH IN MIKE SMITH AND YOU HAVE TO WONDER WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS A GOOD THING. SMITH SPENT TIME AS AN ASSISTANT WITH JACKSONVILLE AND IN THE CFL AND AFTER EVERYTHING THE FRANCHISE HAS BEEN THROUGH, YOU WONDER IF MAYBE ARTHUR BLANK AND HIS NEW GM SHOULDNT HAVE GOTTEN SOMEONE MORE EXPERIENCED IN MARTY SHOTTENHIEMER.

  SHOTT HAS BEEN A CONTENDER EVERYWHERE HE'S BEEN FROM CLEVELAND TO KC, STARTING TO TURN THE CORNER IN WASHINGTON AND SAN DIEGO. OR HOW BOUT BRIAN BILLICK, THE FORMER IN BALTIMORE.

  THE POINT IS-LIKE THE BRAVES WHO DONT OPEN UP THE CHECKBOOK TO BRING IN HIGH PROFILE PLAYERS LIKE THEY USED TO, THE FALCONS ARENT DOING SIMILAR WITH A COACH IN TRYING TO RESSURRECT A FRANCHISE. REMEMBER ITS THE FANS THAT KEEP THINGS GOING. AND WHEN YOU DONT HAVE A GOOD PRODUCT ON THE FIELD IT DOESNT BRING UM IN. WE'LL SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT WITH SMITH. I WOULDNT HAVE TAKEN THAT ROUTE, BUT THEN AGAIN ITS NOT MY TEAM-IM JUST A FAN.

  SOMETIMES WE JUST HAVE TO SETTLE FOR THE EASY WAY OUT AND THIS MAY HAVE BEEN IT-WILL IT PAYOFF? WE SHALL SEE.


 

EDITORIAL 1/18/08

  WANT TO GIVE A SALUTE THIS WEEK TO A TEAM THAT DID PRETTY WELL UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS ABOUT A WEEK AGO AND IT GOES TO SHOW YOU IF YOU KEEP YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME YOU CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN.

  WE ARE REFERRING TO THE ELBERT VARSITY BOYS AND GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAMS INVOLVED IN A GAME AT STEPHENS COUNTY A WEEK AGO IN WHICH, I WAS TOLD, THROUGHOUT THE GAME, LOTS OF UNRULY CROWD NOISE BY THEIR FANS. AND IN ADDITION TO THAT SOME INTERESTING RULINGS BY THEIR SCHOOL OFFICIALS. STEPHENS' FACILITY HAS A BLEACHER AREA BEHIND ONE OF THE BASKETBALL GOALS AND THEIR FANS MANY TIMES DURING BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS GAMES WERE POUNDING ON THE MATS WHEN OUR PLAYERS WERE AT THE FREE THROW LINE AT THAT END. WELL THE STORY GOES OUR FANS PUT CHANGE IN THE CUPS TO SHAKE THEM WHILE THEY WERE AT THE LINE AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION SAID YOU COULDN'T DO THAT BUT ITS OKAY FOR THE GROUP OF STUDENTS TO POUND ON THOSE MATS. A LITTLE SLANTED THERE DON'T YOU THINK?.

  ALSO SEVERAL VERBAL JABS BY THEIR FANS COULD BE HEARD AT OUR COACHES. BUT AGAIN CALM AND COOL ROD RUCKER AND THE BOYS TEAM CAME THROUGH. HATS OFF. STEPHENS IS A TOUGH PLACE TO PLAY AS WE KNOW-GIRLS FALLING IN A NAIL-BITER BUT A GOOD SHOWING NEVER THE LESS. LACK OF CLASS BY STEPHENS. WE KNOW FUN IS FUN AND ITS JUST SPORTS BUT THAT WAS A LITTLE EXCESSIVE. JUST SOMETHING THEY NEED TO LOOK INTO UP THERE. GUESS WE'LL SEE UM IN THE INFERNO. ITS LOUD TOO....

 

EDITORIAL 1/11/08

   WE TALKED ABOUT A YEAR AGO OR SO ON OUR FRIDAY COMMENT ABOUT THE PROPOSED GAS PIPELINE
BEING PUT INTO THE GROUND BY ELBA EXPRESS COMPANY AND THAT PIPELINE RUNNING THROUGH
NORTHEAST GEORGIA AND RIGHT THROUGH ELBERT COUNTY.

   AT THAT TIME THERES TALK OF THIS BEING A GREAT THING MAYBE ECONOMICALLY BUT THEN THE
CONCERN ABOUT HOW IT WOULD EFFECT LAND VALUE ETC AND ENVIROMENTAL CONCERNS.

  ALSO AT THAT TIME IT WAS NEVER CLEAR AS TO THE REAL REASON THE COMPANY WAS ADDING THIS
PIPELINE BUT RECENTLY AT A ROTARY MEETING I GOT A REAL CLEAR PICTURE AND I HAVE TO SAY
THIS IS NOT GOOD.

  IT SEEMS THE COMPANY, WHEN PURCHASING LAND FROM INDIVIDUALS TO LAY THIS PIPE IN THE
GROUND HAS A LOT MORE LEEWAY AS TOP HOW MUCH RIGHT OF WAY THEY CAN USE AND ACCORDING TO
GROUP OPPOSING THIS CONSTRUCTION, THE LANDOWNERS FOR ENVIROMENTAL AND ECONOMIC
PROTECTION, THE COMPANY'S MAIN REASON IN RUNNING THIS PIPE IS TO GAIN BENEFICIAL TARRIFF
RATES FROM THE COMPANY THE PIPELINE WILL CONNECT TO.

  ALL THAT SOUNDS PRETTY BAD AT THE EXPENSE OF LANDOWNERS AND WE SHOULD SUPPORT THE
EFFORTS OF LEEP IN APPEALING THIS THING. THIS IS NOT A GOOD THING FOR THE COUNTY,
PERIOD!!!
 

EDITORIAL 1/4/08

   WHILE THE REST OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA AND MOST ALL OF NORTHEAST GEORGIA CONTINUES WITH A SIGNIFICANT DROUGHT FEATURING LOW LAKE LEVELS TO ALMOST NO LAKE, WE CERTAINLY NEED TO TAKE OUR HATS OFF TO A COMMUNITY HERE IN GEORGIA THAT SEEMS TO BE MAINTAINING GOOD LEVELS.

   WE ARE REFERRING TO ELBERT COUNTY AND LAKE RUSSELL WHERE BOATS THROUGHOUT THE FALL MONTHS AND IM SURE YOULL SEE IN THE SPRING ARE OUT AND ABOUT WHILE OTHER LAKES VIRTUALLY HAVE NO WATER TO PUT A BOAT ON.

  THE FUTURE CERTAINLY LOOKS BRIGHT FOR ELBERT COUNTY AS THE LAKE HAS A PLENTIFUL SUPPLY FOR FUTURE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WE CERTAINLY WANT TO GIVE PRAISE TO EVERYONE INVOLVED FROM OUR LOCAL COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO THE CORPS THAT ALL MAKE IT WORK.

  WE MAY STILL HAVE SOME WATER RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON US IN ELBERTON LIKE MOST OF THE REST OF THE STATE, BUT A PLENTIFUL SUPPLY IS WHERE ITS AT RIGHT NOW HERE IN ELBERT COUNTY. THE CITY IS PRESENTLY USING A THIRD OF ITS DAILY ALLOWANCE WHILE ITS BEEN REPORTED IN OTHER CITIES LARGER THAN ELBERTON THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS ON THOSE THAT DRAW FROM THE SAME BODY OF WATER. THAT PART WE WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND AND ITS SOMETHING THE STATE REALLY NEEDS TO PAY ATTENTION TO.

  BUT WHILE EVERYWHERE ELSE IN NEAR DIRE STRAITS ON WATER, ESPECIALLY THE ATLANTA AREA, WE NEED TO TIP OUR HATS TO ELBERT COUNTY AND THE SUPPLY IT HAS-WE'RE BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE!!! 

EDITORIAL 12/28/07

NOT MUCH HAPPENING THIS WEEK AS FOLKS ARE IN THE MIDST OF THAT HOLIDAY TIME AWAY AND OUR BODIES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT TAKE TIME OFF FROM MEETINGS ETC.

  ONE THING HOWEVER, ID LIKE TO SEE IN 2008 IS THE ELBERT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS COME UP WITH SOME SORT OF LAND USE PLANNING AND ZONING. WE ARE STILL HEARING AND READING ABOUT GRUMBLINGS ON CHICKEN HOUSES AND HOW SOME ARE NEAR CHURCHES OR NEAR RESIDENTIAL AREAS.

  THE ONLY WAY THE PROBLEM WILL GET RESOLVED IS IF LAND USE PLANNING AND ZONING TAKES PLACE IN THE COUNTY.

  WE CAN EXPECT ELBERT COUNTY TO EVENTUALLY GROW AND ITS GOING TO CALL FO SOMETHING TO BE DONE. WHY WAIT UNTIL THAT TRANSPIRES WHEN SOMETHING CAN BE DONE NOW. SO FOR THE ELBERT BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS-HERES YOUR NEW YEARS REVOLUTION. GET IT DONE.

  ALSO ID LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING RESOLVED ON THE LAND FILL SITUATION AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO HANDLE OUR GARBAGE DISPOSAL OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS. THIS IS A SITUATION THAT HAS BECOME CRITICAL AND ANOTHER NEW YEARS RESOLUTION FOR THE COMMISSIONERS.

  WE WOULD LIKE TO WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY NEW YEAR AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT YEAR. BE SAFE.

EDITORIAL 12/21/07

   IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS IT LOOKS AS THOUGH A PROGRAM MAY BE GOING AWAY HERE IN ELBERT COUNTY THAT IN MY OPINION AND ALOT OF FOLKS OPINION CERTAINLY HAS BEEN A GREAT ASSET TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

  WE ARE REFERRING TO THE ELBERT COUNTY BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB AND ITS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, THAT DUE TO FUNDING ISSUES IS BEING ELIMINATED.

  ATHENS HAS DECIDED TO TAKE IT ON AND SERVE ELBERT INSTEAD AND WE FEEL THAT ITS NOT GOING TO GIVE IT THE ATTENTION THAT ITS ALREADY BEEN GIVEN LOCALLY.

  THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN A BIG HELP TO THOSE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLERS AND WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO NOW SINCE THERE ISNT ONE?

 THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO HEAVILY ENCOURAGE THOSE IN ATHENS TO RETHINK THE STRATEGY AND THOSE ON THE BOARD, WELL WE NEED A REVOTE THERE TOO.

 THIS IS A VITAL PROGRAM WITH A GREAT ENVIRONMENT THAT KEEPS THESE KIDS FROM HANGING AROUND THE STREETS AND GETTING INTO TROUBLE INSTEAD.

  WE NEED TO LEAN HARD ON THE ATHENS OFFICE AND THE BOARD HERE TO RECONSIDER-ITS VITAL!!

EDITORIAL 12/14/07


  MIGHT AS WELL TALK SPORTS THIS WEEK WITH STILL SOME GRUMBLING HEARD AROUND TOWN ABOUT
THE BCS SYSTEM AND HOW IT CONTINUES TO BAFFLE PEOPLE.

  GEORGIA FANS ARE STILL A LITTLE DISCOURAGED ABOUT NOT GETTIN INTO THE TITLE GAME AND
GETTING LEAPFROGGED BY OTHER TEAMS RANKED LOWER THAN THEMSELVES. THE ONLY WAY TO SOLVE
THE PROBLEM WOULD BE PLAYOFF FORMAT RATHER IT BE AN EIGHT TEAM PLAYOFF OR HOW BOUT THE
TOP FOUR TEAMS AT THE END OF THE SEASON AFTER CONFERENCE TITLE GAMES PLAY IT OFF. SOUNDS
LIKE A GREAT SOLUTION TO ME.

 THE OTHER BIG TALK IS WE HOPE THE START OF SOME TOUGHER CRACKDOWN IN STEROIDS IN
BASEBALL WHICH MORE WAS BROUGHT TO LIGHT YESTERDAY WITH THE MITCHELL REPORT.

 BUD SELIG NEEDS TO GET TOUGH ON THESES GUYS LIKE THE NFL COMMISSIONER HAS BEEN AND LETS
NIP THIS IN THE BUD. AS WEVE SAID ALL ALONG USING ENCHANCERS AND ADDITIVES IS CHEATING.

SOUNDS LIKE TWO POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS HERE-LES GET WITH IT!!!!

 

EDITORIAL 12/7/07

   LOTS OF TALK AROUND TOWN ABOUT ALOT OF THINGS SUCH AS THE CHICKEN HOUSE ORDINANCE SCENARIO THATS CAUSING ALOT OF PROBLEMS AMONG THOSE LIVING IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS, ETC.

 DONT KNOW IF I WANT TO GET IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS AND THERE IS TWO SIDES OF LOOKING AT THINGS. CERTAINLY NOT HAVING A TOUGH ORIDNANCE IS CAUSING COMPLAINTS FROM THOSE ABOUT THE ODOR AND MAYBE SOME HEALTH CONCERNS, BUT THEN THERES THE SIDE OF IT THAT ITS ANOTHER MONEY MAKING INDUSTRY THATS QUITE POPULAR IN OUR STATE AND TIGHTENING THINGS UP COULD ELIMINATE DOLLARS. ITS REALLY SOMETHING FOR THE COMMISSIONERS TO MAKE A DECISION ON.

  I WILL POINT OUT AN OBSERVATION THIS WEEK, AND THAT IS THE ELIMINATION OF PARKING SPACES AT ONE OF OUR FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANTS HAS DISAPPEARED DUE TO THE WIDENING OF NORTH OLIVER IN FRONT OF THE NEW TO OPEN PHARMACY.

  THE QUESTION I HAVE IS WERE ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE GOING TO PARK? ITS A POPULAR PLACE IN THE SHANTY AND MOST HAVE FOUND IT CONVENIENT TO PARK IN THOSE SPACES SET ASIDE ON NORTH OLIVER.

  SINCE WHEN WAS IT THAT IMPORTANT TO ELIMINATE THOSE SPACES FOR ADDITIONAL ROADWAY? IS IT REALLY GOING TO MAKE THAT MUCH DIFFERENCE NOW THAT THE NEW PHARMACY IS THERE TO SIMPLY ELIMINATE THE SPACES?

  JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT....

EDITORIAL 11/30/07

   WELL FOR ALL OF YOU SPORTS FANS...TAKE SOME NOTE. AS WE KNOW FOOTBALL SEASON IS OVER AND WE ARE GETTING INTO THE WINTER MONTHS SPORTS SCENE THAT INCLUDES WRESTLING AND OF COURSE BASKETBALL.

  AND WE HAVE TO TAKE OUR HATS OFF TO A PROGRAM THAT HAS STRUGGLED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS THAT IS LOOKING TO MAKE A REMARKABLE TURNAROUND THIS SEASON AND WEVE SEEN IT HAPPEN SO FAR.

 IM REFERRING TO THE ELBERT COUNTY BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM AND THE GREAT WORK THEYVE MADE RECENTLY WINNING THAT MADISON COUNTY INVITATIONAL OVER IN DANIELSVILLE BEATING QUAD A CEDAR SHOALS AND ROUTING A TEAM WE HAD DIFFICULTY WITH LAST YEAR IN HART COUNTY BY 20 POINTS OR SO.

  LETS HEAR IT FOR COACH BROWN AS HE HAS INSTILLED DISCIPLINE AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE IN THE EARLY STAGES OF THE SEASON. COACH ALSO SAYS HIS DEFENSE HAS DONE WELL AND OFFENSE IS COMING ALONG.

HATS OFF AS WELL TO OUR GIRLS TEAM THAT IS ALWAYS COMPETITIVE THIS YEAR TOO AND OUR WRESTLERS WHO FINISHED STRONG AT STATE LAST YEAR AND HAVE HIGH HOPES THIS YEAR.

   THIS WINTER LETS NOT FORGET ABOUT THOSE IN THE WINTER SPORTS SCENE...IT SHOULD BE A HECK OF A YEAR!!!!!

EDITORIAL 11/23/07

YES ITS THE THANKSGIVING WEEKEND AND TODAY ONE OF THE BIGGEST SHOPPING DAYS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY-WITH ANOTHER ONE IN THINK THAT MAY OUTRANK TODAY SOMETIME IN DECEMBER.

 AND AS FOLKS MAKE THEIR WAY TO THEIR SHOPPING DESTINATIONS-MAYBE YOU FOLKS THAT LIKE TO GO TO ANDERSON AND ATHENS, REMEMBER THIS HOLIDAY SEASON TO SPEND SOME OF YOUR HARD EARNED DOUGH LOCALLY.

 YES WE ALWAYS ENCOURAGE THAT EACH AND EVERY YEAR AS OUR MERCHANTS, PEOPLE WE KNOW WILL HAVE SOME GREAT SPECIALS WHETHER ITS CLOTHING OR ELECTRONICS, AUTOMOBILES AND SUCH.

 FOR THOSE THAT LIKE TO FUSS ABOUT THE ECONOMY, IT SEEMS ITS THOSE SAME ONES THAT GO OUT OF TOWN TO DO THEIR SHOPPING. WELL THERES NO BETTER WAY TO SOLVE THAT ECONOMY PROBLEM THAN TO SPEND IT RIGHT HERE IN ELBERT COUNTY.

  ALSO A WORD TO THE WISE MAKE SURE YOU ARE BUCKLED FOR WHEREVER YOU MAY BE TRAVELING TO, OR TRAVELING FROM. WE WANT TO SEE EVERYONE IN ONE PIECE AFTER THE HOLIDAYS.

  HAVE A GREAT THANKSGIVING WEEKEND...AND LETS BE CAREFUL OUT THERE.

EDITORIAL 11/16/07

   I KNOW WE ARE LESS THAN A WEEK AWAY FROM THANKSGIVING BUT ITS NEVER TOO EARLY TO REHASH SOME LEFTOVERS FROM HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL. AS WE KNOW ELBERT WILL BE LOOKING AHEAD TO 2008 AS OTHERS PREPARE FOR ROUND ONE OF THE STATE PLAYOFFS TONIGHT.

  RECLASSIFICATION NUMBERS WERE RELEASED AND SEVERAL FOLKS ARE RELIEVED ABOUT MONROE AND APPALACHEE HEADING TO QUAD A AND WE COULD BE SEEING A TEAM WE USED TO FACE IN EASTSIDE COVINGTON JOIN US IN 8-AAA AND ANOTHER NEW ADDITION IN MORGAN COUNTY WHICH MOVES UP FROM AA.

 YES ALL OF THIS IS NICE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO A VERY COMPETITIVE REGION SCHEDULE NEXT YEAR PLUS OR MINUS TEAMS AFTER THE FINAL APPEAL PROCESS AT THE END OF THE MONTH.

 THE GHSA HOWEVER NEEDS TO LOOK AT HOW THE PLAYOFF SYSTEM IS SET UP RIGHT NOW AND HOW IT COULD BE CHANGED IN THE FUTURE.

 IT SEEMS THESE DAYS TEAMS WITH SUB WINNING RECORDS ARE GETTING INTO POST-SEASON WHILE OTHERS LIKE DUNWOODY WITH A MARK OF 8-2 DIDNT MAKE IT. THIS REGION NORTH AND SOUTH STUFF FRANKLY HAS TO GO. IT SHOULD BE THE TOP FOUR BEST RECORDS FROM EACH REGION GOING PERIOD AND WITHOUT DISCUSSION. IF THERES A SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE A AND B REGIONS WITH LOTS OF TEAMS THEN SPRINKLE THOSE TEAMS INTO OTHER REGIONS THAT DONT HAVE THAT MANY...LIKE THAT COMMERCE REGION WHICH AT LAST CHECK HAD FOUR. THEY GOT THE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THE DOME NEXT YEAR NOW LETS GET THE REST OF IT...YOU CAN DO IT GHSA.

EDITORIAL 11/9/07

    WELL TONIGHT IS THE CONCLUSION OF ANOTHER TOUGH SEASON FOR THE ELBERT COUNTY FOOTBALL TEAM AS IT PLAYS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST TEAMS IN NORTHEAST GEORGIA IN STEPHENS COUNTY.

 ELBERT COUNTY AS WE KNOW WILL BE LOOKING TO WIND OUT 2007 AND PLAY FOR 2008 AND ITS ALSO SENIOR NIGHT AT ATKINSON FIELD IN THE GRANITE BOWL.

  EVEN ITS BEEN DIFFICULT THIS YEAR THE YOUNG MEN HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD AS IS THE COACHES AND WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO COME OUT AND SHOW THEIR SUPPORT TONIGHT AS WE SAY GOODBYE TO THE 2007 SEASON.

  WE ALL KNOW WHEN THINGS DONT GO WELL AS IN MOST ALL SPORTING EVENTS, TEAM SUPPORT CAN DWINDLE SOME AND WEVE SEEN THE CROWDS DWINDLE A LITTLE HERE. BUT NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO GIVE UP ITS THE TIME TO KEEP ENCOURAGING AND LOOKING FORWARD TO 2008.

 CERTAINLY WE WILL MISS OUR SENIORS AND WE WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THE GREAT EFFORT IN 2007 AND EVEN IF YOU CANT MAKE IT OUT THANK THEM WHEN YOU SEE THEM.

  YES FRIDAY NIGHTS WERE TOUGH THIS YEAR BUT THINGS ARE GOING TO GET BETTER AND IN THE MEANTIME LETS THANK THOSE FOR THEIR HARD WORK THIS PAST SEASON.

  WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS.

EDITORIAL 11/02/07

   THIS WEEK WE ARE GOING TO TURN OUR ATTENTION TO WHATS HAPPENING IN THE NORTHERN SECTION OF THE COUNTY AND THAT IS THE COMMUNITY OF BOWMAN.

 THIS TUESDAY NIGHT IS ELECTION NIGHT AND EVERYONE THAT IS INTERESTED IN WHATS TRANSPIRING WITH BOWMAN AND ITS FUTURE HAD A CHANCE TO SEE WHAT THE CANDIDATES WERE ALL ABOUT AT THE STAR'S FORUM OVER A WEEK AGO.

  WELL ON TUESDAY BOWMAN WILL BE SELECTING TWO NEW COUNCIL PERSONS AMONG FOUR CANDIDATES TO LEAD BOWMAN INTO THE FUTURE.

 YES THERES BEEN LOTS OF BICKERING OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS ABOUT LEADERSHIP AND RESIDENTS THIS TUESDAY NIGHT WILL HAVE A SHOT AT DETERMINING THE FUTURE.

 FOR THOSE IN BOWMAN THAT ARE LISTENING WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET OUT AND SELECT THE NEXT TWO COUNCILPERSONS-LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD OUT THERE AS THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CHANGE IN BOWMAN'S LEADERSHIP.

  VOTING IS ONE OF OUR MANY FREEDOMS THAT WE MUST ALL EXERCISE AND WHEN WE HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY WE MUST TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT. ITS SETS THE COURSE FOR YEARS TO COME...

EDITORIAL 10/26/07

  THIS WEEK IS A GOOD KUDOS WEEK AND CERTAINLY WANT TO GIVE ONE OUT THERE AND ANOTHER AS WELL TO A COUPLE OF GROUPS OF YOUNG MEN THAT ARE SHOWING ALOT OF GREAT EFFORT AND GETTING SOME ATTENTION.

 LETS HEAR IT FOR OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL TEAM, FIRST AND FOREMOST AS THEY RECENTLY CLAIMED A REGION TITLE BY WALLOPING NOT ONCE BUT TWICE, A MADISON COUNTY FOOTBALL TEAM EN ROUTE TO RUNNING THE TABLE ON THEIR SEASON.

  THESE MIDDLE SCHOOLERS ARE SHOWING GREAT PROMISE FOR THE FUTURE AND SOMETHING ELBERT COUNTY HAS TO BE PROUD OF.

 NEXT LETS SALUTE OUR JV AND 9TH GRADE TEAMS WHO HAVE ALSO SHOWN GREAT IMPROVEMENT OVER LAST YEAR AND ALL WORKING HARD IN THE REBUILDING OF OUR FOOTBALL PROGRAM HERE AT ELBERT COUNTY.

 AND FOR A HARD WORKING GROUP OF VARSITY PLAYERS THAT ARE LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE, AS WE ALL KNOW STARTS FROM THE TOP.

  CONGRATS ELBERT COUNTY ON A MUCH IMPROVED SEASON  AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO GREAT THINGS TO COME DOWN THE ROAD. LETS STAY BEHIND UM AND COACH MILLER AT THE VARSITY LEVEL. WE ARE MAKING GREAT STRIDES.

EDITORIAL 10/19/07

  LAST WEEK WE TALKED ABOUT THE NEED FOR BETTER ACCESS TO OUR POST OFFICE HERE IN ELBERTON IN ORDER TO SERVE THE HANDICAPPED AND ELDERLY.

 AND AS IT IS WHEN YOU ARE RELATIVELY NEW TO AN AREA YOU DONT ALWAYS GET ALL THE HISTORY INVOLVED HERE.

 WE WANT TO THANK THE RESPONSE TO LAST WEEKS EDITORIAL BY THE PROVIDING OF INFORMATION WHERE EFFORTS WERE MADE IN THE MID TO LATE 19-90'S TO TRY TO GET A FACILITY THAT WOULD BE MORE CONDUCIVE TO ALL WHO USE IT. APPARENTLY AS IS THE CASE WITH SOME STATE AND FEDERALLY OPERATED FACILITIES OR PROJECTS YOU ARE ON A WAITING LIST AND LIKE THE CASE WITH THE D-O-T AND THEIR EFFORTS TO GET OUR HIGHWAYS WIDENED YOU HAVE TO GET THEIR ATTENTION.

 IN THE CASE AFTER LOOKING AT SEVERAL LETTERS THAT WERE WRITTEN TO THE FEDS AND RESPONSES PLANS AS OF THE LATE 19-90'S WERE NOT ON THE GOVERNMENT'S LIST.

 THE MESSAGE WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY HERE IS THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO KEEP ON THEM. WE NEED TO GET OUR LOCAL OFFICIALS TO ENCOURAGE OUR NATIONAL LEVEL FOLKS, LIKE PAUL BROUN THE NEW CONGRESSMAN TO GET SOMETHING DONE ABOUT IT. IT LOOKS FROM THE INFORMATION THAT THE EXPANSION WAS THE LAST PROJECT AND THAT WAS OVER THIRTY YEARS AGO.

  SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO MAKE THE POST OFFICE MORE ACCESSIBLE OR SIMPLY CONSTRUCT A NEW FACILITY...COME ON COMMUNITY GET THEIR ATTENTION. WE ARE IN NEED OF IT.

EDITORIAL 10/12/07

HAVE HEARD FROM SEVERAL PEOPLE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS IN RELATION TO A GOVERNMENT ENTITY THAT SERVES US EACH AND EVERY DAY HERE IN ELBERTON AND IT HAS TO DO WITH SOMETHING THAT ITS IN NEED OF.

  WE ARE REFERRING TO THE POST OFFICE HERE IN ELBERTON AND THE FACT THAT IT IS IN NEED OF A MORE ACCESSIBLE RAMP FOR ALOT OF OUR SENIOR CITIZENS THAT USE THE POST OFFICE HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

 RIGHT NOW THERE ARE SEVERAL HIGH STEPS THAT SURROUND THE FRONT SIDE OF THE POST OFFICE WHICH I HAVE SEEN ON OCCASION WHEN I USE IT SEVERAL OF THE SENIOR CITIZENS STRUGGLING TO GET INTO THE DOOR.

 NOW IF THERE ARE PLANS UNDERWAY FOR A RAMP OR A SIGNIFICANT REASON THAT A RAMP CANT BE BUILT THEN THE POST OFFICE NEEDS TO SHARE THAT WITH THE COMMUNITY. IF NOT, THEN WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE THE POST OFFICE TO PUT ONE IN THERE IN THE FRONT.

 THE FOLKS DOWN THERE DO A GREAT JOB BUT ACCESSIBILITY IS THE KEY POINT HERE.

 LETS ENCOURAGE SOMETHING TO BE DONE. WE NEED IT!!!

EDITORIAL 10/5/07

  LAST FRIDAY NIGHT AS WE ALL KNOW WAS THE BIG GAME UP IN HARTWELL BETWEEN A COUPLE OF
OLD RIVALS AND I WANT TO MAKE SOME OBSERVATIONS HERE-SOME GOOD SOME BAD.

 FIRST TO THE GOOD-I THOUGHT THE FOOTBALL TEAM PLAYED WELL DESPITE A 28-3 LOSS TO HART.
THE GUYS SURE SHOWED MUCH IMPROVEMENT LAST WEEK FROM THE PREVIOUS AGAINST A HIGH QUALITY
TEAM. NO RUNNING CLOCK, STARTERS IN THROUGH 4TH QUARTER.

 ALSO A GREAT CROWD FOR BOTH SIDES ON FRIDAY AND THAT ESPECIALLY INCLUDES ELBERT WHO JUST
ABOUT FILLED THE OPPOSITE SIDE STANDS.

 THE ISSUE THAT I WASENT CRAZY ABOUT WAS THE APPARENT VANDALISM BUY THE HART COUNTY SIDE
ON OUR VEHICLES. THERES BEEN NOTHING BUT TALK ABOUT IT AND FRANKLY THIS SHOWED VERY
LITTLE CLASS IF ANY BY THE SPORTS FANS.

 THIS WAS JUST A HIGH SCHOOL GAME AND I THINK WE CERTAINLY COULD HAVE DONE WITHOUT ALL
THAT. LETS GROW UP AND DO WITHOUT THE EXTRA ANTICS. THESE ARE JUST HIGH SCHOOL KIDS. IF
THAT WAS JUST A WAY TO IGNITE THE OLD RIVALRY IT WENT A LITTLE TOO FAR. AGAIN THIS IS JUST
A HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAME.
 

EDITORIAL 9/28/07

WANT TO GIVE A KUDOS THIS WEEK, NOT TO A NEW BUSINESS THATS COMING IN HERE...CERTAINLY WE NEED THAT. AND WE ARE GOING TO GET ONE IN THE NEW ZAXBY'S ON THE FOUR LANE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

  BUT WE WANT TO GIVE ONE TO A BUSINESS THATS HAD A LOCATION HERE IN ELBERTON FOR MANY, MANY YEARS NOW AND THEY ARE CELEBRATING A GRAND OPENING IN A NEW LOCATION ON THE FOUR LANE.

  IM TALKING ABOUT SANDERS FURNITURE COMPANY AND WHAT THE FOLKS HAVE DONE DOWN THERE WITH THEIR SUPER NICE STORE. IF YOU HAVENT SEEN IT YOU NEED TO DO IT.

  ELBERTON NEEDS MORE OF THIS IF WE CANT GET ADDITIONAL BUSINESS IN IN GREAT NUMBERS LETS APPLAUD THOSE THAT CONTINUE TO GROW AND EXPAND.

 THIS IS ALSO A LOCATION THATS HAD VERY LITTLE TURNOVER AND MOST ALL OF THOSE THAT ARE THERE HAVE WHAT WE CALL LONGEVITY IN THE COMPANY.

 SOMETIMES IT TAKES SOME UPGRADING AND YOU HAVE TO GROW WITH THE CHANGES AND THESE FOLKS HAVE SOMETHING NICE HERE.

 AND WHAT ARE THE FIRST THINGS THOSE POTENTIAL BUSINESSES LOOK AT WHEN THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A LOCATION TO RELOCATE-SCHOOLS, HOSPITAL, THATS IMPORTANT. BUT WHAT BUSINESSES ARE HERE IS ALSO IMPORTANT.

  TAKE TIME AND SALUTE JAMES AND THE STAFF DOWN THERE ON A JOB WELL DONE..WE'RE WATCHIN!!!

EDITORIAL 9/21/07

   WELL THE SEASON IS WINDING OUT AND LOOKS TO CONCLUDE NEXT WEEKEND UNLESS CRAZIER THINGS HAPPEN TO THE ATLANTA BRAVES.

 IVE BEEN HEARING GRUMBLINGS FROM SOME FOLKS RECENTLY AND YES IVE BEEN GRUMBLING TOO ABOUT THE BRAVES LACK OF PITCHING WHICH AT ONE TIME WAS ONE OF THE BEST AND NOW NOT SO GREAT. THEYVE GOT ONE GUY WITH AT LEAST 16 WINS AND ANOTHER IN THE ROTATION THEY ARE STILL RIDING THE GLORY YEARS WITH IN JOHN SMOLTZ.

  JOHN MUST BE THE MODEL FRANCHISE PLAYER HAVING STAYED IN ATLANTA IN AN ERA WHERE JUST A LITTLE MORE MONEY WILL TAKE YOU SOMEWHERE ELSE.

 THE BRAVES WILL NOT WIN THE EAST THIS YEAR AND HAVE VERY LITTLE CHANCE OF GETTING PAST NEXT WEEKEND WITH A WILD CARD SPOT BUT LIKE THE BLUE DEVILS WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO STAY BEHIND THE BOYS AS THEY GO THROUGH THEIR TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS PRESENTLY.

  THINGS WORK IN CYCLES FOLKS AND THE BRAVES WERE THE TOP OF THE CYCLE FOR 14 STRAIGHT YEARS. I WAS LIVING OVER THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT FOR THE FIRST SIX AND IT WAS SOMETHING WHEN IT HAPPENS IN YOUR OWN CITY.

  LETS CONTINUE TO STAY BEHIND UM AND THATS WHAT MAKES US A TRUE FAN...A FAN THROUGH THICK AND THIN...THROUGH THE UPS AND DOWNS AND NOT JUMPIN ON AND OFF THE BAND WAGON. GO BRAVES

EDITORIAL 9/14/07

   SOMETHING WAS BROUGHT TO LIGHT RECENTLY AT ANOTHER ONE OF OUR COMMISSIONER'S MEETINGS AND THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF ZONING IN ELBERT COUNTY.

  YES ITS SOMETHING WEVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND PROBABLY LONGER THAN THAT AND ITS SOMETHING WE ARE IN NEED OF.

  IF THE COUNTY IS IN MUCH NEED OF MORE MONEY THAN ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO GENERATE THAT ADDITIONAL MONEY IS ZONING. YES THERES BEEN GRIPING ABOUT CHICKEN HOUSES BEING PUT IN AREAS NEAR RESIDENTIAL SECTIONS, ETC AND YES IT GENERATES DOLLARS ETC BUT WHY NOT GENERATE IT BY ENACTING SOMETHING THAT ADDRESSES THAT ISSUE THROUGH ZONING.

 WE NEED TO STAY ON OUR COMMISSION ON THIS ISSUE AS WE CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH WHAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH-TYING THAT IN WITH LAST WEEK'S LETS GET ON THE BALL WITH A NEW LANDFILL.

  THE ZONING ISSUE IN UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF THE COUNTY AND TIED IN WITH THAT SPECIFICALLY DEALING WITH SUCH ISSUES AS CHICKEN HOUSES WILL GO A LONG WAY.

 ORGANIZATION IS THE KEY AND IN THIS CASE...COULD POTENTIALLY BRING IN LOTS OF MONEY. STAY ON THEM TO GET IT DONE.

EDITORIAL 9/7/07

   ITS AMAZING WHAT YOU CAN  PICK UP WHEN YOU ATTEND BOARD MEETINGS, OR MAYBE JUST NEED A LITTLE REFRESHER ON THINGS THAT ARE TRANSPIRING IN AND AROUND THE AREA.

 YESTERDAY IT WAS DISCUSSED AT A CHAMBER MEETING THE CONTINUED NEED FOR A NEW LANDFILL IN OUR COUNTY. AND THE FACT THAT THE AGREEMENT WE HAVE FOR DUMPING WASTE OVER IN BARROW COUNTY IS ABOUT TO RUN OUT IN THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS AND IF SOMETHING ISNT DONE ABOUT IT-WELL IT COULD BE MORE TAX DOLLARS WILL HAVE TO PAY TO SEND IT OFF TO THE NEXT CLOSEST LAND FILL.

 ITS A SCARY THOUGHT AND ONE WE NEED TO BE THINKING OF AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE. AND IF I HEARD AND READ CORRECTLY HAVING A NEW LANDFILL HERE WOULD HELP US BRING IN A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF REVENUE EACH YEAR.

 WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR A NEW ONE AND ENCOURAGE OUR COMMISSIONERS TO AT LEAST GET THE GROUNDWORK LAID OUT FOR ONE.

 ITS MORE DOLLARS COMING IN FOR US AND LESS WE WILL HAVE TO PAY IF WE HAVE TO HAVE IT SENT OFF TO AN EVEN FURTHER DESTINATION.

 ITS SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE IS FUSSING ABOUT THE COUNTY NOT HAVING ENOUGH MONEY ETC...WELL THIS WOULD CERTAINLY HELP IN THE LONG HAUL...AND LITERALLY NOT LONG HAULING DOWN THE ROAD. THAT WOULD BE COSTLY.

EDITORIAL 8/31/07

    INTERESTING COUPLE OF WEEKS IN THE WORLD OF PROFESSIONAL SPORTS AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE HAMMER IS COMING DOWN ON ATHLETES SENDING A MESSAGE OUT THERE THAT THEY ARE NOT ABOVE THE LAW.

  LOOKS LIKE FALCONS QB MIKE VICK WILL BE DOIN SOME JAIL TIME AND FOR THE MOST PART WILL BE OUT OF PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS. THATS WHAT THE JUDGE AND NFL COMMISSIONER ROGER GEDDELL DECIDED RECENTLY AND IT SHOULD SEND A STRONG MESSAGE TO OTHERS ABOUT ACTIVITIES OFF THE FIELD TOO.

 IT SEEMED FOR AWHILE THAT ALOT OF THESE HIGH PROFILE CELEBRITIES WERE GETTIN AWAY WITH EVERYTHING AND NOW IT SEEMS THAT LATELY THINGS HAVE GOTTEN ALOT TOUGHER.

 I THINK WE AS A SOCIETY NEED TO GET BACK TO STRONG MORAL VALUES AND LET THE PUNISHMENT FIT THE CRIME. LETS GET THINGS BACK TO PERSPECTIVE. AFTER ALL NOTHING SHOULD CHANGE THE FURTHER ALONG YOU GET IN WHAT EVER YOU DO.

  SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE HERE AND I THINK PROFESSIONAL SPORTS NEEDS IT THE MOST.

 LETS SUPPORT WHAT WAS DONE HERE AS ACTION TAKEN AND ENCOURAGE DISCIPLINE THROUGHOUT ALL SPORTS AND IN LIFE. IT HAS TO BE ENFORCED, OTHERWISE THERES CHAOS.

EDITORIAL 8/24/07

  TONIGHT THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE THE FIRST LOOK AT THE ELBERT COUNTY BLUE DEVIL FOOTBALL TEAM FOR 2007 AND A CHANCE FOR THE COACHES TO SEE WHAT KIND OF TALENT EXISTS ON THE FIELD FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON.

  LAST YEAR AS YOU WELL KNOW-THE SEASON DIDNT GO VERY WELL AND FOLKS ARE PUTTING THAT BEHIND THEM AND TURNING THEIR ATTENTION TO THIS SEASON AND A FRESH NEW START.

 FROM WHAT WEVE BEEN HEARING THE KIDS HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD IN THE WEIGHT ROOM AND CONDITIONING FOR A SCHEDULE THATS QUITE CHALLENGING IN PRESEASON.

 WE ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO COME AND SUPPORT THE TEAM TONIGHT AS IT SCRIMMAGES ONE OF THEIR OLD FOES FROM RIGHT DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND CHEER THESE YOUNG MEN ON. LETS PUT LAST YEAR BEHIND US AND LOOK AT THIS YEAR AS THE START OF BRINGING THE PROGRAM BACK.

 YES WEVE SEEN SOME DWINDLING CROWDS, BUT TONIGHT IS A NIGHT, EVEN THOUGH ITS A SCRIMMAGE, TO SHOW ENCOURAGEMENT TOWARD THIS GROUP OF YOUNGSTERS AS THEY PREPARE TO BATTLE IN 2007. THE BLUE-WHITE GAME BROUGHT A PRETTY GOOD CROWD AND WE LIKED WHAT WE SAW LAST MAY.

 TONIGHT WILL SHOW WHAT ADDITIONAL PROGRESS WAS MADE SINCE THEN AND YOU THE COMMUNITY ARE THE IMPORTANT INGREDIENT. COME ON OUT TONIGHT AND GO BIG BLUE.

EDITORIAL 8/17/07

GOT TO GET SOMETHING OUT THERE-AND IT PROBABLY NEEDS A LITTLE ATTENTION AGAIN, NOW THAT SCHOOL'S BACK IN SESSION AND SO FORTH.

  WEVE GOT A THREE WAY STOP AS MANY OF YOU KNOW IN FRONT OF THE RADIO STATION AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE WARM WEATHER HAS GOT EVERYONE IN A FREE WHEELIN KIND OF MOOD.

 WEVE SEEN MORE AND MORE WHERE LOTS OF FOLKS ARE NOT TAKIN THAT STOP SIGN RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF THE STATION SERIOUSLY AND BARRELIN RIGHT THROUGH IT. ALSO IT SEEMS THERE IS QUITE SOME NOISE AS THE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE GETTIN OUT OF SCHOOL AND HEADIN DOWN PAST THE STATION WITH THE STEREOS FULL BLAST.

 WE NEED OUR CITY AUTHORITIES TO KEEP AN EYE OUT OVER HERE LIKE THEY HAVE FROM TIME TO TIME BECAUSE -FIRST OF ALL ITS A PRIMARILY RESIDENTIAL AREA WITH SOME LITTLE TO NO COMMERCIAL. SOMEONE WILL BE OUT WALKIN ONE DAY AND GET HIT OR RUN THROUGH THAT STOP SIGN AND HIT SOMEONE ELSE TURNING ON THE JONES STREET.

 LETS ENCOURAGE OUR CITY FOLKS TO MONITOR THIS AREA AGAIN BEFORE SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS. SAFETY IS WHAT SHOULD COME FIRST AND OBEYING THE FLASHING RED LIGHT IS WHATS RIGHT.

EDITORIAL 8/10/07

LETS CHANGE GEARS TO THE SPORTS WORLD THIS WEEK AND IT LOOKS LIKE CLOSE TO HOME THE BRAVES DOING PRETTY WELL IF NOT GREAT TAKING TWO OF THREE FROM THE METS YESTERDAY IN THRILLING FASHION.

 ITS ALSO BEEN A WEEK WHERE THE HOMERUN RECORD HAS FALLEN AND OF COURSE MORE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THAT.

 ITS NOT SO MUCH HOW MANY HOMERUNS BARRY BONDS HAS HIT SINCE HE BROKE THE RECORD BUT ITS THE RECORD BREAKING HOMERUN HE HIT EARLIER IN THE WEEK AND WHETHER OR NOT ITS A TAINTED RECORD.

 WELL RECORDS WERE MEANT TO BE BROKEN AND IT SEEMS THAT , IF IVE HEARD CORRECTLY, THERE COULD BE HUNDREDS OF PLAYERS OVER THE YEARS THAT HAVE TAKEN PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUGS TO HELP THEM ALONG. THE QUESTION HERE IS THE 756 HOMERUNS A TAINTED RECORD OR NOT? AND HOW MANY BARRY BONDS WOULD HAVE HAD, HAD HE NOT USED PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUGS?

 WELL-WE REALLY OUGHT TO WAIT AND SEE WHEN THE REAL NEWS COMES OUT IF IT COMES OUT. THEN WE CAN MAKE OUR DETERMINATION IN LIGHT OF ALL THE FACTS. THEN WE CAN SAY WHETHER ITS TAINTED OR NOT. AND MAYBE ONE DAY BARRY BONDS WILL COME CLEAN...IF THATS THE CASE. ALL I CAN SAY IS FOR NOW, LIKE WHAT LOTS OF MEDIA ARE SAYING ITS A RECORD THAT HAS BEEN BROKEN AND WE'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT. LETS NOW JUST WATCH AND WAIT.

EDITORIAL 8/3/07

  THE KIDS ARE BACK IN SCHOOL AND I GUESS THE PARENTS GET A LITTLE PIECE AND QUIET DURING THE DAY ANYWAY, AND FOR SOME OF US WHO WORK DURING THE DAY I GUESS THAT DOESNT MATTER UNTIL YOU GET HOME. ANYWAY ITS READING, WRITING, ARITHMETIC, ETC.

 I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS TIME TO COMPLIMENT THE STAFF AT BLACKWELL ON A JOB WELL DONE AND LOOKING FORWARD TO ANOTHER GREAT YEAR. VICKI SMITH RUNS A GREAT PROGRAM THERE AND THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IVE SEEN SINCE MY OLDEST DAUGHTER HAS BEEN HER WANTING TO GO TO SCHOOL AND ENJOYING SCHOOL.

 THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE A TEACHER WHETHER ITS AT BLACKWELL OR ANY SCHOOL IN THE SYSTEM CERTAINLY THANK THEM NOT TO MENTION THE ADMINISTRATION AND BOARD. THINGS SEEM TO BE MOVING ALONG SMOOTHLY AND WILL CONTINUE TO GET BETTER.

 ANOTHER AREA IVE SEEN THATS BEEN WONDERFUL TO SEE IS THE PARENTS INVOLVEMENT IN THE SCHOOLS AND THAT YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THEY STAND IN THERE STUDIES. WE SAW THAT LAST YEAR WITH MY OLDER DAUGHTER AND WILL CONTINUE TO SEE IT WITH BOTH. THE PARENTS ARE A BIG REASON TOO WHY THE SYSTEM IS SUCCESSFUL IN WHAT THEY DO.

  AFTER ALL EDUCATION IS WHAT ITS ALL ABOUT AND THATS WHERE THE BUCK STOPS. GREAT LEADERSHIP CREATES GREAT STUDENTS AND FROM WHAT IVE SEEN WEVE GOT UM HERE. WAY TO GO.

EDITORIAL 7/27/07

WELL SURPRISE, SURPRISE THIS WEEK AS THE FINAL OFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS WERE RELEASED IN THE 10TH CONGRESSIONAL RACE.

YES DR. PAUL BROUN OF ATHENS NARROWLY DEFEATS HEAVY FAVORITE JIM WHITEHEAD FROM AUGUSTA TO FILL THE SEAT VACATED BY THE DEATH OF CHARLIE NORWOOD.

WORD AROUND HERE WAS THAT WHITEHEAD WAS GONNA BE A RUNAWAY AND I GUESS IT REALLY DIDNT MATTER TOO MUCH THAT WE RALLY AROUND THE VOTERS BECAUSE HE'S GOING TO GET PLENTY OF THAT. WELL AS IT TURNED OUT HE DIDNT GET ENOUGH AND THE CONCERN HERE IS WILL PAUL BROUN WORK WITH ELBERT COUNTY ON A FEDERAL LEVEL AS WELL AS WHITEHEAD DID STATEWIDE.

WHITEHEAD WAS CERTAINLY A BIG HELP IN GETTING THINGS MOVING HERE LIKE THE WIDENING OF HIGHWAYS PROJECT WHICH IS TAKING FULL FORM NOW AS YOU CAN SEE WITH THE 17 AND 72 CONSTRUCTION AND 72 WIDENING COMING FROM COMER. AND REMEMBER WHITEHEAD HAD LOTS GOING ON IN HIS OWN BACKYARD IN THE AUGUSTA AREA.

WILL BROUN DO THE SAME FOR US? HIS BACK YARD IS ATHENS AND WE MUST BE CONCERNED HE DOESNT JUST SHUT US OFF.

WE MUST CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO CONTINUE GREAT RELATIONS WITH BROUN AS THEY DID WHITEHEAD. WE CAN MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.

EDITORIAL 7/20/07

GREAT WORK IN GREAT NUMBERS!!

THATS WHAT WE NEED TO SAY ABOUT A RECENT EVENT LAST WEEK IN WHICH THE COMMUNITY STEPPED UP FRONT TO HELP ONE OF ITS OWN AND AFTER BEING HERE SIX YEARS IVE SEEN IT HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES. WE ARE REFERRING TO THE BENEFIT RIDE FOR TJ TERRY JOHNSON THAT WAS HELD LAST SATURDAY STARTING FROM THE WALMART PARKING LOT AND MAKING ITS WAY NON STOP TO HELEN. SOME OF THE RIDERS LEFT THE SCENE AMONG THE VARIOUS TOWNS ALONG THE WAY BUT WHEN IT WAS ALL SAID AND DONE A LITTLE MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED PLUS MADE THE RIDE INTO THE MOUNTAIN COMMUNITY.

 WE CERTAINLY WANT TO GIVE A BIG HATS OFF TO THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED OR HELPED IN ANY WAY OR GAVE MONEY-AND BY THE WAY THE MONEY WAS PRETTY BIG TOO-IN EXCESS OF AROUND $8000 IN THE RIDE FOR TJ.

ALSO DONT FORGET ABOUT THE RAFFLE TAKING PLACE TOMORROW AT 12NOON AT SPORTSMAN SUPPLY WHERE ONE LUCKY PERSON WILL BE GETTING THAT RIFLE COURTESY OF SPORTSMAN SUPPLY AND YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO GET YOUR TICKETS. SOME SAY OVER $4000 HAS BEEN RAISED FOR THAT TOO SO CERTAINLY IT WILL HELP TJ'S FAMILY.

YES IVE SEEN IT DONE SEVERAL TIMES-WEVE DONE SOME RADIOTHONS HERE TOO, SO WE KNOW ABOUT IT FIRST HAND.

WHEN SOMEONE HAS GONE THROUGH TOUGH TIMES, AND WE WILL ALL BE TOUCHED IN SOME SORT OF FASHION OR ANOTHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, I MUST SAY ELBERT COUNTY HAS COME THROUGH.

WAY TO GO!!!

EDITORIAL 7/13/07

ALOT OF THINGS HAPPENING OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS-ONE OF WHICH IS A GREAT CAUSE AND CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO PARTICIPATE AND THE OTHER IS ONE THAT IS OUR DUTY AS AMERICANS.

 WE ARE REFERRING TO FIRST, THE BENEFIT RIDE FOR (TJ) TERRY JOHNSON THAT IS SLATED TO LEAVE THE WALMART PARKING LOT HERE IN ELBERTON ON SATURDAY JULY 14TH 9AM SHARP. THIS IS CERTAINLY A GREAT CAUSE TO BENEFIT ANGELA AND TERRY JOHNSON FROM THE RECENT MISFORTUNE.

 THE RIDE THAT WILL START 9AM GOING NON STOP TO HELEN IS EXPECTED TO BE A GREAT ONE AND EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT A MOTORCYCLE RIDER LIKE ME, LETS SHOW SUPPORT AND SEE THESES FOLKS OFF SAFELY ON SATURDAY.

 THE SECOND EVENT IS THE UPCOMING CONGRESSIONAL RUNOFF ELECTION BETWEEN PAUL BROUN AND JIM WHITEHEAD. YES TO ALOT OF FOLKS IT WILL SEEM LIKE SOMETHING THAT MAY NOT BE ALL THAT IMPORTANT, NOT EVEN AS BIG AS A MID-TERM ELECTION YEAR BUT THE MAIN MESSAGE HERE IS-IF YOU ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE YOU NEED TO EXERCISE YOUR DUTY TO DO SO.

THIS IS A BIG POSITION AS WE SEND ONE TO REPRESENT US IN CONGRESS AND WITH WHAT ALL THATS BEEN GOING ON LATELY IN THE WORLD A REPRESENTATIVE IS A VOICE FOR US ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TUESDAY AND COME HELP SEND OFF THE RIDERS ON SATURDAY...BOTH GOOD THINGS TO DO.

EDITORIAL 7/6/07

YES THERES BEEN TALK FOR QUITE SOME TIME ON THE HOSPITAL AND ITS FUTURE AND LOTS OF FUSSING ON WHAT TO DO IN IMPROVING IT, OR BUILD A NEW STRUCTURE AND HOW  TO PAY FOR IT ETC.

  RECENTLY SERVICING FROM THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY WAS A GROUP OF TASK FORCES THAT WOULD LOOK AT ALL ASPECTS OF THE HOSPITAL FROM EXPANSION TO OPERATIONS.

  ONE AREA OF COMPLAINT HAS BEEN WHETHER OR NOT THE TAXPAYERS SHOULD FUND A PROJECT TO BUILD A NEW ONE AND ONE OF THESE TASK FORCES WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT PROPOSED RENOVATION AND EXPANSION. ANOTHER OF THE GROUPS WOULD BE LOOKING AT WHETHER OR NOT THE HOSPITAL SHOULD JOIN A REGIONAL GROUP AND THE THIRD WOULD LOOK AT COMMUNITY INPUT.

  HAVING SAID THIS WE SHOULD COMMEND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE AUTHORITY IN COMING UP WITH LOOKING AT EVERY AREA OF THE HOSPITAL WHICH IT SEEMS WILL LOOK AT ALL ANGLES OF OF EXPANSION AND WHETHER OR NOT ITS FEASIBLE.

  CERTAINLY WE NEED SOME EXPANSION OR IMPROVEMENTS IF WE ARE GOING TO GROW AS A COMMUNITY. ITS VITAL. IF HIGHWAYS ARE SOMETHING THATS MUCH NEEDED TO ATTRACT MORE INDUSTRY TO OUR COMMUNITY, THE HOSPITAL SHOULD ALSO BE PUT IN THERE TOO.

 IT SHOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE THAT TYPE OF GROWTH OR BE ADEQUATE ENOUGH TO DO SO AND WE THINK THESE THREE TASK FORCES WILL CERTAINLY DETERMINE WHAT TO DO.

  LETS COMMEND THE CHAIRMAN AND AUTHORITY HERE-IT SEEMS WE ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK. 

EDITORIAL 6/29/07

   LETS APPLAUD THE FOLKS IN BOWMAN AND MAYBE IN THE PROCESS QUIET SOME NAY-SAYERS OUT THERE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THAT CITY'S AUDIT WOULD EVER BE COMPLETED. WELL EARLIER IN THE WEEK IT LOOKS LIKE THOSE RESULTS SHOWED THERE WAS UNACCOUNTED SPENDING AND SUCH AND YOU KNOW THE REST OF THE STORY.

 BUT THE MAIN THING HERE WAS IT WAS COMPLETED AND THE FOLKS UP THERE NEED TO HAVE FAITH IN THE CURRENT BODY OF GOVERNMENT THATS RUNNING THE CITY. THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THINGS AND THEY KNOW FROM THE AUDIT THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE TIGHTENING UP OF ACCOUNTABILITY IN CERTAIN AREAS.

  THE FOLKS IN BOWMAN WILL FIX IT-THEY HAVE TO FIX IT. AND FROM THE AUDIT THEY NOW HAVE A BENCHMARK AS TO WHERE TO GO FROM HERE.

 THE FOLKS IN BOWMAN ALSO NEED TO BE PATIENT ON ANY FUTURE AUDITS THAT ARE DONE AND THIS ITEM SHOULD BE DONE REGULARLY IF IT ISNT ALREADY.

 SO FOR THOSE THAT HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THE LEADERSHIP IN BOWMAN THERES ALWAYS ANOTHER ELECTION DOWN THE ROAD. BUT LET IT BE KNOWN THAT RESULTS OF ONE AUDIT ARE OUT AND OTHERS TO FOLLOW.

  LEADERSHIP KNOWS WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. HAVE FAITH.

EDITORIAL 6/22/07

IT WAS CERTAINLY A SAD WEEK THIS WEEK AS A LONGTIME EMPLOYEE OF AN ORGANIZATION PASSED AWAY ON WEDNESDAY.

  I JUST HAPPEN TO HEAR ABOUT IT AT A CHAMBER FUNCTION ON THURSDAY ON THE PASSING OF KATHERINE BRYANT. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DID NOT KNOW HER SHE WAS CERTAINLY SOMETHING SPECIAL AND CERTAINLY IT GOES BEYOND LONGEVITY AND LOYALTY.

  KATHERINE WAS ALWAYS IN A GREAT MOOD AND BRIGHTENED UP EVERYONE'S DAY...SOMEONE EASY GOING TO DEAL WITH. AND FRANKLY SHE HAD THE MOST IMPORTANT JOB AT THE PAPER-THE PERSON WHO ANSWERS THE PHONE-THE FIRST PERSON PEOPLE TALK TO.

  YES WEVE ALL HAD OUR DAYS WHERE WE ARE TIRED-AND MAYBE THAT LAST CALL OF THE DAY WE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN 100 PERCENT JOVIAL-BUT KATHERINE WAS. AND TALK ABOUT WORKING IN PRACTICALLY ONE PLACE FOR SEVENTY OF HER 84 YEARS OF LIVING-NOW THATS DEDICATION AND LOYALTY THERE BUDDY.

  LETS REMEMBER KATHERINE BRYANT THIS WEEK AND SEND THE FAMILY OUR BEST.

  THE SIX YEARS THAT I CAME IN CONTACT WITH HER SHE WAS ALWAYS PLEASANT AND SHOULD BE REMEMBERED AS ONE WHO HANDLED HER JOB THE WAY IT SHOULD BE DONE.

  KATHERINE YOU WILL BE MISSED...

EDITORIAL 6/15/07

LOTS OF THINGS GOING ON IN AND AROUND ELBERT COUNTY, IF YOU HAVENT MADE PLANS OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS AND WE CERTAINLY WANT TO PUT SOME PLUGS OUT THERE WHILE WE HAVE A MOMENT.

  FIRST TOMORROW BEING THE FLAG DAY CELEBRATION AT THE ELKS LODGE AND FROM WHAT WE UNDERSTAND ITS GONNA BE SOMETHING. WE ALSO WANT TO SALUTE MR. WORLEY AND MR. BOYD AND EVERYONE ELSE INVOLVED IN GETTING THAT TOGETHER. WE CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE PART. WHILE YOU ARE OUT AND ABOUT HOW BOUT COMING TO THE SHERIFFS OFFICE ON SATURDAY FOR SOME FUN TOO AS WE CERTAINLY SUPPORT THE GREAT THINGS THAT ARE DEPARTMENT HAS DONE HERE AND CONTINUES TO DO.

 ALSO DONT FORGET ABOUT THE JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION AT THE CULTURAL CENTER-LOTS OF ACTIVITIES AND GREAT INFORMATION.

  FINALLY THERES THE SPECIAL ELECTION TAKING PLACE ON TUESDAY AND THE WORD IS IT COULD BE A RATHER LOW VOTER TURN OUT-SO IF THATS THE CASE WE NEED TO GET OUT AND SELECT OUR NEXT CONGRESSMAN AS WELL AS STATE SENATOR IN THE DISTRICT.

  YES ITS NOT A LOCAL ELECTION BUT THERE ARE ALOT OF THINGS HAPPENING STATEWIDE THAT CERTAINLY EFFECT US HERE LOCALLY.

  HAVE SOME FUN THIS WEEKEND AND DONT FORGET TO TAKE PART IN YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO MAKE A DECISION ON TUESDAY. SOUNDS LIKE SOME GOOD PLANS TO ME.

EDITORIAL 6/8/07

   A TIP OF THE HAT THIS WEEK TO A LOCAL BODY OF GOVERNMENT THAT WE THINK DID A WONDERFUL THING FOR A LOT OF FOLKS THAT SPENT MANY WARM SUMMER DAY COMPETING ON OR MAYBE CHEERED AT, ETC.

  WE ARE REFERRING TO THE ELBERTON CITY COUNCIL'S MOVE TO NOT SELL THE HEARD DRIVE FIELD WHICH AT ONE POINT WAS GOING TO BE SOLD AND TORN DOWN.

 THE THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL INSTEAD HAS COME UP WITH THE IDEA OF LEASING THE PROPERTY TO THE COUNTY WHICH IN TURN WOULD KEEP THE FIELD AROUND FOR A LITTLE WHILE LONGER.

 SEVERAL PEOPLE IVE TALKED TO HAVE A LOT OF GOOD MEMORIES THERE AND LOOKS LIKE MORE MEMORIES WILL BE MADE. MORE IMPORTANTLY ITS GREAT TO SEE THE TWO BODIES OF GOVERNMENT WORKING TOGETHER OR MAKING AN ATTEMPT TO WORK TOGETHER. OVER THE YEARS THE TWO HAVE NOT ALWAYS SEEN EYE TO EYE...AND NOW IT LOOKS LIKE THINGS ARE CHANGING FOR THE BETTER.

  WHEN GOVERNMENTS WORK TOGETHER...THEY GET THINGS DONE INSTEAD OF BENIG MORE TERRITORIAL MINDED AND THATS NOT GOOD. ITS ALL ABOUT TEAMWORK. WHETHER ITS BUSINESS OR ITS GOVERNMENT OR WHATEVER....TEAMWORK IS WHAT WORKS BEST.

 KEEP IT UP CITY...KEEP IT UP COUNTY...GREAT THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN. WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS!!!

EDITORIAL 6/1/07

  WELL JUNE IS HERE AND THE GAS PRICES THING IS NOT GETTING ANY BETTER. ITS CERTAINLY EFFECTING THE GRANITE BUSINESS AND OUR BUSINESS HERE AT THE RADIO STATION AND IVE HEARD COMMENTS FROM FOLKS ALL OVER TOWN ABOUT SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE ON PRICES, ETC, ETC.

  WELL I JUST SAW SOMETHING YESTERDAY FROM THE SITE-FACTSONENERGY.ORG IF YOU EVER HAVE A CHANCE TO SURF THE WEB TALKING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME FEDERAL 1970'S STYLE PRICE CONTROL THAT WOULD LOWER PRICES ON GAS BUT THE FLIPSIDE OF THIS COULD CAUSE SOME BIG TIME FUEL SHORTAGES, LONG LINES AT THE PUMP AND FUEL RATIONING. NOW I DONT KNOW IF ANYONE REALLY CARES ABOUT ALL THAT MORE THAN THEY DO ABOUT PAYING THE ASTRONOMICAL PRICES THEY ARE PAYING NOW. YOU COULD ALSO SEE THAT IF THERE IS  1970'S STYLE PRICE CONTROLS PUT INTO PLACE YOU MAY ALSO SEE AVERAGE SERVICE STATION  OWNERS GET NAILED FOR PRICE GOUGING.

 I THINK THIS 1970S STYLE PRICING THAT THE SENATE IS CONSIDERING SHOULD GO INTO PLAY-SOMETHING TO TRY TO REGULATE PRICES. IT SEEMS LIKE ITS NOT GOING TO GET BETTER ANYTIME SOON AND IF THE PRICES WERE SLOWLY DROPPED AS OPPOSED TO DRASTICALLY DROPPED THIS COULD CURTAIL ANY POTENTIAL SHORTAGES AS THE FOLKS AT FACTSONENERGY.ORG SEEM TO THINK.

  YES THE FEDS NEED TO STEP IN BUT IN A WAY WHERE PRICES ARE LOWERED IN SMALL INCREMENTS AS OPPOSED TO DRASTICALLY LOWERING THEM.

  ITS WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN-WE NEED FUEL TO SURVIVE AND GET DONE WHAT WE NEED TO GET DONE. IT EFFECTS EVERYBODY.

EDITORIAL 5/25/07 (GUEST EDITORIAL BY EC SHERIFF BARRY HASTON)

YOU SEE A LOT IN THE PAPER LATELY EITHER FROM REPORTERS AT THE PAPER OR MELVIN ANDREW'S LETTER TO THE EDITOR ABOUT THE SHERIFF'S BUDGET. YOUVE SEEN WHERE THE COMMISSIONERS ARE MONITORING THE BUDGET OF THE SHERIFF OVER THE NEXT THREE WEEKS, YOU HAVE SEEN WHERE THE SHERIFF CANT MANAGE A BUDGET. BUT YOU HAVENT HEARD A WORD ABOUT THE OTHER OFFICES THAT ARE OVER BUDGET OR THAT THE COMMISSIONERS ARE MONITORING THEIR BUDGET. THIS DOSENT CONCERN ME AND THIS IS NOT WHAT THIS LETTER IS ABOUT AND ITS NOT ABOUT MY BUDGET.  IT TOOK AN OATH OF OFFICE IN 2001 THAT I WOULD PROTECT THE LIFE AND THE PROPERTY OF THE CITIZENS OF ELBERT COUNTY AND WHEN I TOOK OFFICE CRIME AND DRUGS WERE OUT OF CONTROL AND IT SEEMED LIKE EVERY TIME YOU PICKED UP A NEWSPAPER THE HEADLINE READ MURDER OR A VIOLENT CRIME. I HAVE HAD TO MAKE HARD DECISIONS OVER THE LAST SIX AND A HALF YEARS SOME POPULAR AND SOME NOT SO POPULAR BUT YOU ELECTED ME TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS. I THINK THE MAJORITY OF THE CITIZENS LIKE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT THEY HAVE IN THE COUNTY ALTHOUGH IT COST. AS THE BUDGET PROCESS STARTS IN MAY IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO PREDICT HOW MANY SEARCH WARRANTS WE ARE GOING TO EXECUTE OVER THE NEXT YEAR OR WHAT KIND OF CRIME WE ARE GOING TO HAVE HOW MUCH GAS IS GOING TO INCREASE OR HOW MUCH FOOD AND MEDICAL THE INMATES ARE GOING TO USE. I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF ATTENDING THE 5TH GRADE SAFE CLASSES AT OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS AND LAST NIGHT I WAS AT DOVES CREEK SCHOOL GRADUATION AND IT HIT ME AS I LOOKED AT THE CHILDREN THAT WERE GRADUATING. AS I SAT THERE THINKING ABOUT THE BUDGETS BEFORE MY TURN TO TALK IT HIT ME WHERE DO YOU CUT A BUDGET?-WHAT PART OF WHAT WE DO IS NOT IMPORTANT?SO AT THAT TIME I FINALLY CAME TO A CONCLUSION ON MY BUDGET. I DECIDED AT THE TIME I WILL KEEP RESOURCE OFFICERS IN THE SCHOOL TO PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN. I WILL KEEP FIGHTING DRUGS IN THE COUNTY TO MAKE IT SAFER AND KEEP VIOLENT CRIME DOWN. I WILL KEEP PATROLLING THE COUNTY TO PROTECT YOU AND YOUR PROPERTY. I WILL CONTINUE HIGHWAY SAFETY AND KEEP DRUNK DRIVERS OFF THE HIGHWAYS. I WILL KEEP MY PROMISE TO PROTECT YOU AND KEEP VIOLENT CRIME DOWN. I HOPE THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY UNDERSTAND THAT IM THE TYPE OF SHERIFF THAT WANTS TO STOP SOMETHING BEFORE IT HAPPENS. I DONT WANT A TRAGEDY TO HAPPEN BEFORE I DO SOMETHING. ELBERT COUNTY IS ONE OF THE SAFEST COUNTIES IN THE STATE NOW AND THE SHERIFFS OFFICE IS RECOGNIZED NATIONWIDE. IM PROUD OF EVERY EMPLOYEE I HAVE AND THANK THEM FOR HIS OR HER OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS. I JUST CANT PUT A PRICE ON LIFE, CAN YOU? 

BARRY HASTON, SHERIFF ELBERT COUNTY

EDITORIAL 5/18/07

   WELL ITS ABOUT TIME FOR ALL YOU SPORTS FANS THAT REALLY GET INTO IT AND IT SEEMS IT ALL HAS TO START SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE.

  WE ARE REFERRING TO THE DISCIPLINE THAT HAS RETURNED TO PROFESSIONAL SPORTS, SOMETHING THAT WAS SIMPLY LACKING FOR AWHILE IT SEEMS.

  IF ANYONE OUT THERE IS INTERESTED IN THE PRO BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS, I MIGHT BE THE ONLY ONE THESE DAYS-WE MUST COMMEND NBA COMMISSIONER DAVID STERN FOR HANDING DOWN SOME SUSPENSIONS IN A RECENT SAN ANTONIO-PHOENIX GAME WHERE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO HANDED DOWN AND GETTIN A GRIP ON A SITUATION THAT COULD HAVE GOTTEN OUT OF CONTROL. IT LOOKS LIKE THE LEAGUE MAY HAVE LEARNED ITS LESSON FROM THAT AWFUL BRAWL IN 04 AND STERNS THOU SHALL NOT LEAVE THE BENCH IN AN ALTERCATION SEEMS TO BE WORKING.

 LETS ALSO GIVE A HIGH FIVE  TO THIS NEW NFL COMMISSIONER AND HIS OFF THE FIELD CONDUCT RULE THATS REALLY CRACKED DOWN ON ONE FOOTBALL STAR AND YOU COULD SEE OTHER PLAYERS IN THE FUTURE BE DISCIPLINED.

 ITS ABOUT TIME THE LAW WAS SIMPLY LAID DOWN. MAYBE THIS WILL TRICKLE THROUGH ALL SPORTS-AFTER ALL WE JUST GOT TO GET A GRIP ON THINGS...THESE GUYS OR GIRLS ARE EXAMPLE SETTERS TO OUR YOUTH SO LETS SET GOOD EXAMPLES..THATS WHAT MOULDS GOOD FOLKS FOR THE FUTURE-WAY TO GO COMMISSIONERS.

EDITORIAL 5/11/07

   WELL IT LOOKS LIKE WE COULD BE SAYING GOODBYE TO A GREAT OLD LANDMARK HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THERES BEEN ALOT OF BUZZ ABOUT IT AND FOLKS WANTING TO SAVE IT.

  WE ARE REFERRING TO THE HEARD DRIVE FIELD WHICH IT WAS RECENTLY DECIDED THAT IT BE TORN DOWN.

  NOW I WASN'T HERE IN ITS HAY-DAY WHEN ALOT OF THE PARENTS OF THESE LITTLE LEAGUE-ERS YOU SEE AROUND MCWILLIAMS PARK TODAY AT ONE TIME PLAYED AT THE FIELD. LOTS OF THEM HAVE GREAT MEMORIES AS DID I PLAYING SOMEWHERE ELSE. RECENTLY I RECEIVED SOME INFO THAT THERE IS AN EFFORT TO SAVE THE FIELD AND I THINK WITH ALL THE OTHER STUFF IN TOWN THAT HAS HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE THIS ONE SHOULD BE PRESERVED AS WELL. YEAH YOU SEE ALOT OF MAJOR LEAGUE AND MINOR LEAGUE EVEN COLLEGE PARKS REPLACING OLDER PARKS THESE DAYS TO SELL MORE TICKETS, BUT THIS ONE HAS SIGNIFICANCE, LOTS OF MEMORIES, TRAGIC ONES TOO AND STORIES.

  WE SHOULD GET BEHIND THIS EFFORT TO SAVE THE FIELD-SURE ITS IN THE SHAPE THAT MOST THINGS GET WHEN ABANDONED OR NOT KEPT UP ON THE VERGE OF BEING TORN DOWN BUT THIS ONE MUST STAY. LETS SUPPORT THE EFFORTS OF THE FOLKS TRYING TO KEEP THIS FROM BEING DEMOLISHED.

  WEVE GOT A GREAT REC COMPLEX NOW AND CERTAINLY ITS ONE THAT WILL SUSTAIN GROWTH BUT SOMETHING LIKE THE HEARD DRIVE FIELD NEEDS TO BE SAVED-ITS PART OF HISTORY.

EDITORIAL 5/4/07

   LOTS OF DISCUSSION THIS WEEK AROUND TOWN, IN THE NEWS, AT VARIOUS MEETINGS AND ALL SEEMS TO BE SIMILAR-YES WE NEED TO GET ELBERT COUNTY MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

  TWO OF THE SUBJECTS THAT I HAPPEN TO HEAR WAS MORE ON THE HOSPITAL AND ITS NEED OF IMPROVING ITS STRUCTURE AND MORE DISCUSSION ON THE AIRPORT.

  THE FIRST IS A MATTER OF GETTING SOME FEDERAL FUNDING OR SOME KIND OF FUNDING AND IT LOOKS FROM TALKING WITH THE COMMISSION CHAIRMAN CAN HAPPEN. ITS LIKE ALOT OF THINGS WITH THE STATE-YOU GOTTA STAY AFTER THEM AND IT WILL COME TO YOU. YES WE ARE IN NEED OF A LONGER RUNWAY OUT THERE TO GET SOME OF THESE CORPORATE PLANES FLYIN IN HERE CARRYIN POTENTIAL HEADS OF INDUSTRIES...

WE COULD ALSO USE ANOTHER GAS PUMP OUT THERE TOO-JUST NEEDS SOME MODIFICATION. WE NEED TO APPLAUD THE EFFORTS OF THE COUNTY IN TRYIN TO GET THIS DONE AND CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO GET IT DONE.

  AS FAR AS THE HOSPITAL IS CONCERNED SOME SOLUTION NEEDS TO COME ABOUT. IF ITS SOMETHING THE TAX PAYERS ARE NOT WANTING TO DO THEN THERE MUST BE THE UNCOVERING OF SOME ALTERNATIVE WAYS OF FUNDING ITS IMPROVEMENTS. THIS IS A PROJECT THAT MUST HAPPEN IF WE ARE TO ATTRACT GROWTH OR EVEN BE ABLE TO HANDLE ANY GROWTH DOWN THE ROAD.

 IF WE ARE NOT GOING TO PAY FOR IT THEN LETS AT LEAST SUPPORT THE EFFORTS OF THE HOSPITAL TO FIND OTHER WAYS OF DOING IT-WE NEED IT...THESE ARE JUST TWO THINGS THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN..LETS HELP MAKE IT HAPPEN.