McCoy: Carpenter bees don't seek permits

Have you ever encountered incompetent handymen? Maybe you wanted a few damaged roof shingles repaired, and instead, your hired hands installed new toilet seats in your bathrooms because they were too afraid to scale the roof.

It looks and quacks like a scandal

Despite a tough couple of weeks, President Obama's job approval ratings are holding up fairly well. As I write this, 47 percent of voters nationwide offer their approval.

Environmental ‘wackoism’ is not extinct

Dr. Henry Miller, senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, and Gregory Conko, senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, in their Forbes article "Rachel Carson's Deadly Fantasies" (Sept. 5, 2012), wrote that her 1962 book "Silent Spring" led to a world ban on DDT use.

Carter: Let’s go dancing in the streets

While you were riding out the storm last Sunday, I was putting bicycles on the rooftop rack of our car. It was raining, but I'd been tracking radar and hourly forecasts all day. It was now or never.

Lincoln Memorial, Arlington are reminders of freedom's cost

If you were to suddenly appear this weekend at the numerous BBQs or pool parties without any knowledge of our nation's history, it might be hard to understand the real meaning of Memorial Day.

Morgan: From Covington square to Capitol Hill

The Covington News office is conveniently located for its local government reporters within easy walking distance of city hall, the Historic Courthouse and the county administration building. Today Gabe Khouli holds down that beat, but before Gabe, there was Rachel Oswald, trudging those well-worn paths and developing far more friends and admirers of her work than enemies. She was back in town this week for a visit with some of those friends.

Travis: How do teachers savor their summer? Let’s count the ways

In just a few days, the school year for Newton County children will be over. We'll see pictures of them rushing out of the schools' doors, cheering.

Yarbrough: They’re schools, not businesses, as teachers know well

Dear Public School Teachers in Georgia:

McCoy: Where am I? Brain is not playing fair

It's not cool to keep silent

I remember the first time I ran away from home. I was in sixth grade and I had been wronged in some way. I was sure my parents loved my sister more or denied me some privilege, and I was having none of that. I stayed home when my parents left for work, skipped school, packed a bag and took my bike to this little secluded spot by the river, thinking that was an awesome place to live. I was home before my parents.

Credit report coding trips up buyers

Are large numbers of homeowners who have negotiated short sales with lenders at risk because of a startling omission in the American credit system? Do their credit reports and scores indicate that they were foreclosed upon, rather than having negotiated a mutually agreeable resolution with their lenders?

Sometimes, perspective changes things

Single and lonely in a new neighborhood, a guy invites his neighbors to a drop-in party. With ample food and drink, he sits alone as party time comes and goes.

Who's teaching students to hate U.S.?

Brothers Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who are accused of setting the bombs that exploded at the Boston Marathon, attended the University of Massachusetts. Maybe they hated our nation before college, but if you want lessons on hating America, college attendance might be a good start. Let's look at it.

Where am I? Brain isn't playing fair

Last week, while out of town and staying in a hotel, I had a most exasperating experience.

Property tax proposal doesn’t add up

The word tax is a three-letter word that might as well be a four-letter word these days.

Yarbrough: Bad marks for teacher evaluation

Oh great. Now, the Obama administration is getting involved in public education in Georgia.

Dreaming big for 2011

Here we are, ringing in yet another New Year. It's time for the annual wringing of hands at remembrances of ironclad resolutions made 12 months ago which somehow went unfulfilled. I planned to drop 60 pounds in 2010, but the scales report a 10-pound gain. The scales are probably wrong, after all, they're made in China. Obviously, something was lost in translation, although my girth is evidence of what was not. ...

Of clutter, leftovers and loose ends

If you're really into organization, if you're really into time management, if you really believe that "to everything there is a time and a season," then your Christmas decorations are back in storage in the attic, the Christmas tree has been tagged for the chipper, thank-you notes have been written, and the refrigerator is sparkling and clean, nary a leftover to be found.

Pull the plug and start anew

Good grief! I haven't gotten used to writing 2010 yet and 2011 is here.

‘Rabbit’ and greens for New Year's

I don't know about you, but I'm really looking forward to Saturday.

Join my Christmas mission

I've wished for a white Christmas so many times it seems unreal that it may actually happen today.

The splendid little town of Porterdale

When I was growing up in Porterdale, we had Christmas programs with folks singing all the Christmas carols in the gym. There was a huge tree in the center of the floor. It was a beautiful site.

Around the well

As in most small cities, our downtown has experienced a sharp turnover in businesses in recent years. Retail businesses in small towns have faced competition from shopping centers with convenient parking and a greater variety of merchandise.

Supe's Corner: Powerful teaching includes seven human touches

Thirteen years ago, before 8,000 teachers in Louisiana's capitol city, I watched in amazement as East Harlem public school teacher Kay Toliver held all in awe with a two-hour demonstration of effective teaching strategies combined with her commitment to the human touch in teaching. Two years ago, in Williamsburg, Va., I observed this same 30-year classroom veteran as she stressed her long-held belief that "powerful teaching includes the human touch."

Faith, wishes and introspection

I'm amazed each Christmas at how the whole world comes to a halt of sorts. Virtually every educated, civilized person aware of the calendar and in possession of modern communication devices knows that on this day Christians around the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Moslems, agnostics and atheists all know Jesus, whose followers claim him to be the Son of God, Savior, the propitiation for the sins of the world.

Holy days, not just holidays

This time of year brings great joy as well as great stress. There is often too much to do, too much to eat, too much to drink, too little sleep and too much family. It's easy to get caught up in the holiday frenzy and forget the meaning and value behind the holidays, the holy days.

A Christmas to remember?

Now that you have finished shopping, wrapping, decorating, planning, cooking, packing, traveling, welcoming, there is one more thing.

Kittens a welcome Yule distraction

"T'was the night before Christmas and all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse." Except that's not true this year at our house. On the night before Christmas, this house was alive With cats racing, wrestling and taking a dive. To the rafters they jumped, then slid down the stairs Knocked over the greenery, then hid in their lairs. Sonny was ...

No Deal for government work

For weeks, I awaited a call that never came from Gov.-elect Nathan Deal informing me that I would be a member of his transition team.

Yule finds us scattered

Christmas was simple when the children were young. Most years we'd celebrate at our home. Grandparents would come to us, and we'd open the gifts Christmas Eve night. Santa always came to our house first, (he has to start somewhere, after all). Santa timed his visits perfectly, arriving after the grandparents had taken our offspring out to look at the holiday lights. Donna and I would stay behind to clean ...