Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Harbin's letter should have been sent to 'stupid constituents'
Why do some politicians assume that potential voters are stupid? Georgia state Rep. Ben Harbin has sent out form letters to his constituents stating that he's sorry for his silence in the matter of his arrest for drunken driving.
Primary candidates to meet with public
The Grovetown Merchants Association will hold a stump meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Liberty Park Community Center on Newmantown Road in Grovetown for candidates in the July 15 primary.
Commission offers insurance help
Columbia County residents needing insurance advice might find some help Friday. An insurance investigator with the office of the Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner will be at the Columbia County Government Center Building A from 12:30 p.m. until 2 p.m.
Summer fun for free
Due to rising fuel costs, many families might choose to vacation closer to home this summer. Beginning this month, travelers can visit any of Georgia's 63 parks and historic sites without paying admission cost as long as they have a valid library card.
Fathers, daughters to dance
With a night full of dancing and dining, fathers and daughters can make memories as they celebrate Father's Day together. The O'Neal-Murphy Allstate Agency will present the Father-Daughter Dinner and Dance Gala on Sunday at Savannah Rapids Pavilion.
Gifted pupils exposed to new course materials
About 80 Columbia County elementary- and middle-school pupils were back in class at River Ridge Elementary School June 2-4, but just for fun.
Plan shifts landing zone toward west
Gold Cross/AirMed recently received approval to change the location of a helipad at their Wheeler Road location.
Skateboarding show to witness at church
Marvin United Methodist Church officials hope teens will celebrate Father's Day by bringing their parents to see some nosegrinds, ollies kickturns, railslides and other skateboarding maneuvers.
Group will celebrate cultures
A nonprofit group with ties in Columbia County plan to put cultures from throughout the world on display June 21.
Adoption spotlight
This male cairn terrier is calm and sweet. He is between 3 and 5 years old and is available for adoption from Columbia County Animal Care and Control. For information, call (706) 541-4077 or visit www.columbiacountyga.gov and follow the links to Animal Care and Control.
Harlem Middle School Honor Roll
Fourth nine weeks honor roll for Harlem Middle School.
Vacation photo
Kaitlyn Dunaway and her brother Kristofer enjoyed the Thunder over Augusta activities during the Memorial Day weekend.
Police blotter
Police say James Lamar Coe, 28, of the 800 block of County Line Road in Harlem, ran when police attempted to pull over his vehicle just after 10 a.m. on County Line Road near Gunnoe Road.
Students win step competition
Ellen Bledsoe (from left), Toiya Turknett, Shaneece Moore and Paige Lutes, members of S.T.E.P. 'n Tune from Lakeside High School, were recently awarded third place for their performance at the Region 23 Young Women in Harmony competition in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Grovetown Elementary School honor roll
Fourth nine weeks honor roll for Grovetown Elementary School.
Time capsule
As reported 51 years ago in the pages of The Columbia News, Thursday, June 6, 1957:
Dickson celebrates 100th birthday
William S. Dickson, a resident of Brandon Wilde, celebrated his 100th birthday May 1. Dickson played semipro baseball for the Atlanta Crackers and other teams for about four years and was an active golfer and member of Forest Hills Golf Club until a year ago.
Current events
The Columbia County Extension Service Gardening at Lunch series for 2008 continues 12:10-12:45 p.m. today at the Columbia County library with extension agent Charles Phillips conducting a session on gardening for children. Call (706) 868-3413.
Stokes wins essay contest
Lindsey Stokes, a sixth-grader at Harlem Middle School, was one of 12 winners in the Georgia Municipal Association's "If I Were Mayor, I Would ..." essay contest.
Moms know babies; dads know best
The guy in the green T-shirt and khaki shorts looked no different from all the other men abandoned on the benches in the mall, waiting patiently for their better halves to tell them to come down to the other end and wait on the benches there.
Political buffet in Grovetown
Ben Harbin must be feeling a tad snakebit right now after sending out his apology letter this past week. It's a textbook case of danged if you do, danged if you don't. And I think he'd have been better off sticking to "don't."
Our stable local economy has a price
Operating your governments next year in Columbia County will cost almost $233 million.
Sports Calendar
The Columbia County Recreation Department plans an elite baseball fall league. An organizational meeting will be at 6 p.m. June 19 at the administrative office at Patriots Park. A team representative must be present to register a team.
Greenbrier alum leads Bulldogs to Omaha
Former Greenbrier High School standout Rich Poythress will play on college baseball's biggest stage this weekend after Georgia toppled North Carolina State in the deciding game of the NCAA super regional in Athens on Sunday.
Augusta Christian year in review
Consider the rematch set. Two teams extremely familiar with one another will face off Friday in the South Carolina Independent Schools Association Class AAA football state championship.
Former Greenbrier coach gets new gig
Scott Chadwick would like everyone to know his Evans house is on the market -- has been for a while. And he'd desperately like to sell it and move on to the next phase of his life.