Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Obama's gaffes in international protocol 'pathetic, embarassing'
As pathetic and embarrassing as this is, the president of the United States now bows in subservience to an Islamic monarch.
Book event to delve into the allure of evil
Best-selling crime novelist Kathy Reichs, the featured author for the Columbia County Reads Together program, will discuss her work and sign books 7 p.m. Saturday in the Jabez Sanford Hardin Performing Arts Center at the Columbia County Library in Evans.
Lakeside High students organize cancer benefit
Like many at Lakeside High School, sophomore Grace Bellmer wanted to be proactive after learning her beloved English teacher, Karen Chase, had breast cancer.
At chess board, opponents are pawns for River Ridge player
Noah Quesnel has all the right moves. The River Ridge Elementary School fourth-grader won his second state chess title at a Georgia Chess Association tournament held March 28 on Jekyll Island, Ga.
Planners will look at changes to development
The Columbia County Planning Commission will have a second opportunity Thursday to decide on site plan revisions to Marshall Square.
Residents clean up after severe storms
Strong storms and a tornado ripped through Columbia County Friday, leaving some homeless and causing damages estimated at nearly $300,000.
Spring Birdhouse Sale raises money for autism group
The Knights of Columbus Terence Cardinal Cooke Council will hold its second annual Spring Birdhouse Sale on Saturday and Sunday at its home church of St. Teresa of Avila.
Shelter lowers fees for adoption event
Columbia County Animal Care and Control will hold a special pet adoption event Friday and Saturday at its Columbia Road shelter.
South Columbia Elementary School Third Nine Weeks Honor Roll
Newsmakers
The 2009 FCCLA State Leadership Conference was held April 19-21 at the Classic Center in Athens.
Current events
Gospel Water Branch Baptist Church, 703 Furys Ferry Road, Evans, will hold its women's conference and revival at 7 p.m. Friday at the church, and a retreat at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Gordon Club at Fort Gordon. The revival is free; the retreat costs $30. Call (706) 860-7091.
River Ridge Elementary School Third Nine Weeks Honor Roll
Easter arrives
Five-year-old Carla, 2-year-old Americus and 11-month-old LeAnna Lawson, daughters of Candace and Jonathan Lawson of Martinez, enjoy an Easter morning egg hunt at the Martinez home of their grandparents, Joyce and Ronnie Cooper.
North Columbia Elementary School Third Nine Weeks Honor Roll
Police blotter
A seventh-grade special education teacher at Grovetown Middle School died Monday in a single-vehicle wreck in Appling.
Vacation photo
John Weeks (from left), Alan Hyatt, Eric Hyatt and Kevin Hyatt (front) attended the 2009 Masters Tournament.
Riverside Elementary School Third Nine Weeks Honor Roll
Small steps for a big cause
Karen Brazel, a kindergarten parapro at Evans Elementary School and a cancer survivor, walks around the track with pupils Emily Nicholson (from left), Francesca Fernandez and Conner Johnson.
Riverside Middle School Third Nine Weeks Honor Roll
Newsmakers
Pam Alexander, an author and illustrator of children's books about Georgia, is shown with four pupils who won a book by successfully answering a question about the books.
Drinking tea, or Kool-Aid?
At 5 p.m. today, hundreds of people will gather in downtown Augusta and other communities for "tea parties" to protest the runaway federal budget. The local event is being organized by Columbia County's Young Republicans.
Pay to write it, pay Corps to read it?
Columbia County taxpayers paid for a consultant to conduct an environmental assessment at Wildwood Park. But now that the assessment is complete, Columbia County taxpayers will have to fork over $20,000 just to get the corps to review it.
Tax Day 'tea parties' turn up the heat
To show their pain, many Americans will protest high taxes and record spending at Tax Day Tea Parties - 21st century versions of the Boston Tea Party. Tonight, I will join Augusta-area residents at one of the Tea Parties at Augusta's Jessye Norman Amphitheater.
Editorial cartoon
Editorial cartoon for Wednesday, April 15, 2009.
Player of Year leaving hoops behind
Augusta Prep senior Jim Hull, The Columbia County News-Times Boys Basketball Player of the Year, completed his standout basketball career and turned his focus to running.
Athlete Spotlight: T.D. Davis & Ben Morgan
They have opposite roles, differ in physical makeup and have different ways of doing business on the baseball field, but Ben Morgan and T.D. Davis share the same purpose for the Greenbrier High School baseball team this season.
Sports calendar
A Grovetown High School Athletic Booster Foundation meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Columbia County Board of Education office on Hereford Farm Road. For information, call (706) 823-6062.
Lakeside falls to South Effingham in makeup game
Lakeside High School pitcher Ryan Shipp throws to a South Effingham High School batter. At left, Lakeside's Collin Parker lays down a bunt against the Mustangs during Diamond Day, held Saturday at Evans High School.
Stampede win tournament
The Stampede Baseball 9U Team won the Midland Spring Fling NIT Tournament held in Lexington, S.C.
Belcher returns to old form for South Carolina
Through his first six appearances on the mound in a South Carolina Gamecock uniform, former Greenbrier High School star Nolan Belcher did not seem like himself.