Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Despite political correctness, the 'holiday' we celebrate is Christmas
Saturday night at Columbia County's Christmas tree lighting, the County Commission chairman had the guts to say what most Columbia County residents and the vast majority of Americans believe: This is not the "holiday" season, but Christmas.
Writer treated lawmakers 'shamefully' in criticizing speaker's tax plan
Barry Paschal wants to raise your taxes. The shameful treatment of our legislators, Barry Fleming and Ben Harbin, in Paschal's editorial columns is counterproductive to our legislative agenda in Atlanta.
Complaints about planning and zoning board focused on candidacies
There was no conversation about the zoning changes by builders except for resigning if you run for office. No builder except myself had enough interest about this issue to go to the County Commission meeting or talk to the commissioners
AJCC to host Latke Dinner
The Augusta Jewish Community Center will hold their annual Community Latke (potato pancake) Dinner at 5:30 p.m. Sunday -- the sixth night of Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights.
Grovetown kicks off county's holiday season
Grovetown kicked off the Christmas season Friday as the first local community to illuminate its Christmas lights.
Pedaling for a purpose
Greenbrier High School senior Ethan St. Martin's first bike ride did not go well. "I hit a mailbox. I was about 3 years old, and that put (bike riding) on hold for about two years," he said. He has been passionate about the sport ever since he learned to ride, though.
Toy drive will make holidays brighter for Harlem families
The city of Harlem is hoping to make Christmas morning a little brighter for needy children. It is the city's fourth year holding a toy drive to benefit area families at the holidays.
Harlem set to light the tree
The city of Harlem plans to turn on the holiday spirit this weekend as they flip the switch on holiday lights and throw a citywide Christmas festival.
Family band stops by on tour
The Annie Moses Band is making Grovetown's New Hope Worship Center one of 12 stops in its holiday tour.
Life of Jesus is depicted
Hoping to remind the public of the real reason for the Christmas season, Sharon Baptist Church of Winfield will present it sixth annual Hayride Through the Life of Christ on Dec. 6-9 at the Columbia County Fairgrounds.
Firm raises funds for transplant
The owner of an Evans car wash is donating half the proceeds from Saturday car washes to an Appling woman raising funds for a kidney transplant.
Time capsule
As reported 53 years ago in the pages of The Columbia News, Thursday, Dec. 2, 1954:
Police blotter
The following accounts were taken from reports filed with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office:
Current events
Columbia County EMA will hold its pre-holiday community blood drive with Shepeard Community Blood Center from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today at the Evans Government Complex auditorium, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Roads and Bridges Department, in Appling.
Pet of the week
This female black pointer mix is about 2 years old and is available for adoption from Columbia County Animal Care and Control. For more information, call (706) 541-4077 or visit www.columbiacountyga.gov and follow the links to Animal Care and Control.
Events are about building community
As the letter by Daniel Ballard points out, Columbia County's annual Christmas in America celebration, held this past Saturday, is all about the holidays. But, specifically, that holiday is Christmas.
More nukes, fewer kooks
Everyone was probably as underwhelmed as I was to see the story the other day in which the "Southern Alliance for Clean Energy" voiced its opposition to the proposed expansion of Plant Vogtle.
Counties' rivalries get new life in realignment
Richmond County couldn't have given Columbia County a better Christmas gift.
Former Evans player off to good start on the hardwood for The Citadel
As a senior at Evans High School, Matt Clark had a solid but certainly not spectacular career. He helped lead Evans to a 17-9 record including a 7-1 mark vs. Columbia County competition.
Gordon Park Speedway Championship
2007 Points Championship Results from Gordon Park Speedway
Augusta Prep takes 3rd in Classic
When Augusta Prep's boys basketball team took the floor last weekend in its second round game of the 2007 Garden City Classic, everyone in the gym knew who to watch.
Knights win first game at home
Evans' boys basketball team won its first home game of the year last weekend with a 69-59 win over Harlem. The fourth win of the season for the Knights came thanks to a strong defensive effort and an even better night from the free-throw line.
Athlete Spotlight: Kacee Camp
Columbia County's high school sports scene has offered several examples of intense, emotional action over the years. The thrill of victory, agony of defeat and other sports cliches come to life on almost a weekly basis.
New coach off to good start
Harlem's girls basketball team has picked up two wins in the first two weeks of the season. The squad has also picked up a new coach.