Monday, January 12, 2009
SCLC will be 'relevant' as long as racism 'prevalent' in Georgia
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference will be relevant in my birth state of Georgia as long as racism remains prevalent in Georgia. And your publication's refusal to call the John Deere noose incident what it was - a thuggish, racial threat - only enables the racism to continue.
Fingerprinting business expands
A chance encounter four years ago prompted Sonny McDowell to enter the electronic fingerprinting industry.
Students help boy get swing
Michael Jones can't play on the swings on the Evans Elementary School playground without help from paraprofessional Katie Tharp. So to help her special-needs pupil, Tharp decided to conduct a fundraiser to get a special swing.
Putrid smell might be coming from your own yard this time
The end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009 has been a time when we have plenty of moisture in our soils. What better way to start 2009 than with adequate soil moisture?
Church gets own site after 7 years
After meeting for nearly seven years at the Belair Conference Center, members of Bible Fellowship Church rung in the new year by attending services in a new Martinez location.
Pupils singing for idol contest
Evans Middle School will once again host its own version of American Idol , dubbing their show Evans Idol. The Friday event will feature 14 students vying for the top prize of $100, said Wendy Baggott, Evans Middle's choir teacher and the event's organizer.
Pruning trees helpful with structure, growth, nutrients
If young trees are looking a tad lanky with their bare branches, and you want to trim a few back, this is a good time to do it.
New leaders sworn in
The Columbia County Commission Tuesday approved a $1.6 million bid from RCN Construction to build a Georgia State Patrol post on Chamblin Road.
Doctor touts benefits of yoga therapy
Center for Primary Care Dr. Paul Fischer broke his back two months ago and used yoga to help manage the pain and get back in shape. Now, Fischer wants to promote the therapeutic exercise with a new yoga program designed for men.
Current events
Dropped Stitches, a group at Washington Commons that knits blankets for hospitals and soldiers, is seeking donations of yarn from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily at the retirement community on Washington Commons Drive off Washington Road across from Club Car.
Wednesday's winds snarl traffic, down trees
Gold Cross EMS workers load Columbia County Roads and Bridges employee Phil McCorkle into an ambulance after a dead tree fell on him on The Pass in Martinez. McCorkle, who was working to clear debris from Wednesday's wind, was not seriously injured.
School Councils
The Lakeside High School council will meet at 6 p.m. Monday, and Feb. 23 and March 23 in the school conference room.
Time capsule
As reported 48 years ago in the pages of The Columbia News, Thursday, Dec. 22, 1960:
Adoption spotlight
Bounder was rescued from a shelter, while Ozzie and Harriet were abandoned in a ditch at age 3 weeks.
Property transfers
Medallion Construction Co. Inc. to Marianne K. Cobb, 493 Marble Falls, $156,000.
Divorces
Cynthia D. Lass and Gregory L. Lass, Dec. 30, 2008.
Police Blotter
The following accounts were taken from reports from the Columbia County Sheriff's Office. More reports are available at www.columbiacountyso.org.
Newsmakers
The Green Way Store owners and managers -- Jessica Weinstein, Harris Weinstein, Kim Strickland and Jack Weinstein -- and members of the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce and county officials cut the ribbon to celebrate the opening of the store in Evans.
Editorial cartoon
Editorial cartoon for Sunday, January 11, 2009
Everyone benefits from easy information
The Internet was supposed to provide a way to make everyone in the world better connected. With ongoing efforts to find new ways to provide more information via the World Wide Web, Columbia County is helping to make everyone in the county better informed, too.
Budget cuts are back in style
Everyone jokes about state Rep. Ben Harbin carrying around the state's checkbook as chairman of the Georgia House Appropriations Committee. Expect a lot fewer checks to come out of that checkbook this year. And expect the ones that are written to be smaller.
Lady Bulldogs off to hot start
Coming into most basketball seasons, fans typically have a good idea which players will put up big numbers for their team and which teams will be among the best in the area.
Sports Calendar
The Augusta Baseball Umpires Association is recruiting umpires for the 2009 high school season. Umpiring experience and baseball knowledge are pluses. Classroom and field training will be provided.
Butler hands Harlem its first loss of season
The clash between the Bulldogs of Harlem High School and Butler High School's girls basketball teams Tuesday was everything it was billed to be. Harlem was pinned with its first loss of the season, a 52-48 overtime thriller, but will have another shot when they play host to Butler on Feb. 3.
Wildcats claw past Cavaliers'
When Westminster lost to Augusta Prep in December, the Wildcats could have blamed the loss on a lack of heart -- without being cliche
Lakeside High standout settles in at East Carolina
Kyle Tudor commanded the position of honor in Lakeside High School's auditorium Monday, dressed in the purple and gold of East Carolina University for the first football signing party of the year.