Mothers make for good shopping buddies

Attention, Newton County mothers and your adult daughters: When you're out and about shopping, picking out spring plants for your garden, or maybe enjoying lunch and a little family gossip, do not be alarmed if you notice me lurking about. I have neither sinister nor larcenous intent.

The joys of a garden

Spring is here, and after we sailed past Good Friday and the risk of frost, it is now planting time! I've bought seeds and pots and I'm ready to plant something.

Brown: Firearms ordinance about safety

During the last county commissioner's retreat, I submitted a proposal regarding the discharge of firearms in high-density areas. After careful research, we asked the county to allow us to return to the guidelines established prior to the 2006 version of the county ordinance governing this matter.

Yarbrough: For ethics reform, the party isn’t over yet

The Georgia House of Representatives has passed an ethics reform bill and has sent it on its way to the state Senate for its consideration and action. But don't get out the confetti just yet. What one body sees as true ethics reform, the other sees as a desultory effort to curb the power and influence of those lizard-loafered lobbyists skulking the halls of the Gold Dome. We the Unwashed? We are caught in the middle, as usual.

Travis: Ups and downs of Windows 8

Last weekend was my husband's birthday. We won't say which one. My out-of-town daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren were here to help my local grandchildren and family celebrate.

Williams: Higher minimum wage a good thing?

In his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama proposed raising the minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $9 an hour. That would be almost a 25 percent increase. Let's look at the president's proposal, but before doing so, let's ask some other economic questions.

Morgan: Shame on the rest of us

Many if not most political observers these days fall into one of two camps: either cynics who by definition believe all people - meaning elected officials - are motivated by selfishness, or skeptics, those who by instinct doubt or question or disagree with generally accepted conclusions, per the American Heritage Dictionary. They distrust government at all levels, as polls regularly show. Voters' lack of trust in elected officials was cited as one reason last summer's ...

When will Republicans learn how to win?

Republicans around the country are looking at each other trying to determine what happened in the presidential election. The answer is easy if we are willing to accept the truth. We Republicans nominated Mitt Romney. Our supporters across the country voted for him in primary after primary.

Views from the right: Got racism?

Liberal racism sightings have become like a lunatic's version of "Where's Waldo?" Kevin Baker of Harper's magazine said Romney's referring to his "five boys" in last week's debate was how he "slyly found a way" to call Obama a "boy." Said Baker: "How the right's hard-core racists must have howled at that!"

Views from the left: Biden to the rescue

If the question is who did more to help his ticket, Joe Biden won the vice presidential debate by a mile.

…great news

A terrible pall had been cast over the land. Nights seemed longer, and the days less full of life. People retreated into their homes, avoiding the eyes of their neighbors.

The board of elections

I was honored to receive the appointment to the Board of Elections for Newton County. I take the responsibility very seriously since it entrusts the board to provide oversight for compliance with prevailing election laws.

Thank you for Strand letter

Dear Editor: Thank you for printing my article pertaining to the Strand Theater. I have received an unusually large number of favorable comments regarding the letter. All were from people over 50 who said it brought back childhood memories and reminded them how things were around the square at that time.

McCoy: The $250 Bath

Have you ever spent $250 to take a bath? I know that's a strange question, considering most of you get free baths, except when you have to buy a new bottle of body wash or one of those scrubby sponges that you like to use on your shoulder. Why would anyone ever spend 250 clams to soap up, shampoo and wash in a traditional bath or shower? It's just not logical, is it? Well, what ...

Let your presence be your present

It’s the time to head for the hills

Our little corner of the world this year experienced one of the wettest springs in recent memory. If it didn't rain every day, it rained every other day.

Our Thoughts: Breast Cancer

October is the month set aside to celebrate success and progress in the battle against breast cancer. There is nothing more devastating than to go to the doctor and to be told that you have cancer. The second worst thing is to tell your family that you have this killer disease.

Forgiveness

"Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." We ask to be forgiven by the Creator for our sins - falling short of what our God expects of us - but at the same time, we pledge to forgive those who trespass - or sin - against us. We can't have one without the other. That's a tough bargain to strike, but based on the words alone, some might ...