Sunday, January 12, 2003

Appreciates comments; defends Evans fans
Id like to thank Ashely Brown for his warm wishes to the Evans team. Although our school does not have an unlimited budget, we have a great support system within the school and parents. However, I do not think our reputation with Lakeside is necessary and is no contest with the behavior shown at the recent games between the everlasting rivals.

Evans should support coach, not boot him out
I am extremely disappointed in Evans High School for requesting a resignation from football coach and history teacher Lee Chomskis.

Questions 'awful, nauseating odor' from landfill
Each day as I drive to Thomson to work I smell an awful, gassy smell as I approach the weigh station just west of the Grovetown exit. I have lived in Columbia County long enough to know I am near the Columbia County landfill, and often wonder if it is gas given off by the landfill. I smell the gas each day as I come home, just past the weigh station and just before I exit in Grovetown.

These training aids are no dummies
Landmine explosions injure 12 soldiers - then sniper fire rings out.

Augusta Tech branch set for winter quarter
School is back in session.

Teacher faces narcotics charges
Bel Air Elementary School Principal Mike Doolittle said he was shocked after learning a kindergarten teacher at his school was arrested on drug charges.

Swearing in
Scott Dean says the team is so good that there won't be any reasons for failure.

Leadership slots filled at subscriber meeting
Who says firefighters only put out fires?

New year means big changes for McDuffie County
You've heard the bad news: the economy isn't in great shape and don't expect it to get any better anytime soon.

Third sporting store comes to Thomson
There's a war being waged in Thomson.

McDuffie animal shelter sees success
So far, the McDuffie County Animal Shelter has been a raging success.

Chamber, authority director resigns
Columbia County's Chamber of Commerce is in the middle of searching for a leader.

Hospital unveils logo, motto with message
Caring from the heart may be a simple phrase with only four words, but the new motto of Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center packs a lot of meaning for its staff.

Politicians ready for legislature
Ben Harbin doesn't want to change the fortunes of Georgia Republicans. He just wishes political power would have come in a better budget year.

Thomson welcomes new stores, restaurants
It's that time of year again.

Time capsule
The board of directors of the Martinez Merchants Association is currently in negotiations for a piece of land that will be the growing association's permanent home and be large enough to house all of it's activities for 1970.

Groups receive Sam's grants
Local Sam's Wholesale associates, represented by Sam's business manager Natalie Melton, presented Martinez Fire Department Chief Doug Cooper with a $600 grant last Wednesday morning in the Sam's break room.

Police blotter
The following accounts were taken from reports filed with the Columbia County Sheriff's office.

Property transfers
Kelly K. Crandall and Reva H. Crandall to Mark A. Marin and Heather C. Marin, 215 Old Mill Road, $161,500

Current events
The Greenbrier High School Athletic Booster Club will meet at 7 p.m. Monday in the media center.

Unity seems in the cards
The next person to sit in Bryan Quinseys office will probably have just one set of business cards.

Taking second chance
I went down to the potters house and saw him working at the wheel. But the clay pot he made was marred in his hands; so he formed another that seemed good to him

Lesson for Kolb: Avoid angry letters
Remember when, a couple of years ago, Augusta Mayor Bob Young caught political heat for writing a nasty letter to the boss of an annoying quasi-media gnat, trying to get the writer fired?

After celebration, take action
The most exciting thing to happen in McDuffie County in years is the victory of the Thomson High School Bulldogs in the AAAA state football championship. The town turns out today to celebrate the undefeated season with a parade down main street, ending with ceremonies at The Brickyard.

Lady Panthers earning respect with victories
I must admit I was caught off guard last week while reviewing the Georgia High School Association state basketball rankings.

Changes will accompany golf course's reopening
The new owners of the Jones Creek Golf Club in Columbia County plan to reopen the course in March as a semi-private club.

Answers few after Evans coach quits
Early Monday afternoon, Evans High School football coach Lee Chomskis was asked to address the worst-kept secret in Columbia County.

Chomskis' tough style was too much to 'Bear'
Back in the summer of 2001, as Lee Chomskis was preparing to lead the Evans High School football team into battle, the first-year head coach picked up a book and started reading.

Augusta Christian struggles to overcome losses
The visitors were being very inhospitable last week at the Lion's Den, and Scott Bodden was determined to do something about it.