Editorial

The blessing of ‘paying it forward’

Carolyn Cary's picture

I have long believed in the premise of “paying it forward” long before the movie of the same name came out.

The feeling of doing something nice for someone, especially a total stranger, and their never knowing it was you, is richly rewarding.

I have a December birthday and one of the local restaurants had emailed me a coupon for a free hamburger. Now, their hamburgers are priced at $10, and, yes, it comes with fries. I picked out one that came with melted Swiss cheese and mushrooms. Read More»

Chatt Hills raises funds for parks — privately

Ben Nelms's picture

We’ve just completed an election that, at least in some ways, pitted large government against small government. This has been going on since the founding of this country and likely won’t end anytime soon.

And, admittedly or not, while some do not want government intrusion and government control, many do want government (large or small) to solve some of their problems.

But there is a local example showing that the citizens of a community can exert their resolve and accomplish what will not or cannot be accomplished by government. That example is Chattahoochee Hills. Read More»

2 years ago vs. today

Cal Beverly's picture

Two years ago this week — November 2008 — I wrote the following words in this space:

“Important election at a time of crisis:

“I can remember one other election since 1964 that has as much import as this year’s: 1980 and the seismic shift to a man of hope, Ronald Reagan.

“The nation was changed dramatically — many would say for the better. Read More»

Tea Party AWOL on local nanny governments

Cal Beverly's picture

Query: If all politics is local — as many say — have local Tea Partiers gone blind to over-reaching government in their own backyards?

Or are Tea Partiers effectively co-opted by local pols’ self-serving participation in the local Tea Party groups and thus prevented from seeing any evil in governments smaller than state level?

If so, smaller-government activists are missing prime targets for their blunt weapons.

Exhibit in point: Peachtree City’s government by survey. Read More»

A column of ‘what ifs’

Cal Beverly's picture

Something different this week, something that may prove uncomfortable for many of you.

I expect some of my readers who profess different faiths — or no faith at all — to disagree, discount or otherwise disregard this particular installment. To you who disagree, I mean good will toward you, and I hope you will re-join me at a future date.

This will be a column of “what ifs.”

But first, some background — ancient background. Read More»

Does an ‘October surprise’ await us?

Cal Beverly's picture

For more than 30 years, political pundits have raised red flags about an “October surprise,” an unexpected announcement or event that blind-sides a political opponent or party just before the November election.

Google “October surprise” for a quick course in previous suspiciously timed disclosures or actions that seem to be aimed at maximum effect on the electorate. Note that both Democrats and Republicans have been accused of dropping October surprises onto the public plate. Read More»

Ballard discredited as DA and columnist

John Munford's picture

For all of the job duties of a prosecutor, turning a blind eye to a potential crime is not one of them.

Yet that is exactly what our District Attorney, Scott Ballard, has done in his “investigation” into a physical affair between a then-sitting Superior Court Judge and a defense attorney.

Ballard should have probed the cases leading up to the moment the couple was caught in the throes of passion. Do you really think they would dare be caught doing such judicial tomfoolery AFTER they were caught? Read More»

Life can change as fast as a crystal shattering — live it to the fullest

Annie Volk's picture

[Editor’s note: The following essay by Annie Volk was the J.C. Booth Middle School eighth-grade first-place winner in the Peachtree City Rotary Club’s “Laws of Life” student essay contest.] Read More»

Essay winner: What I learned from my sister about serving others

Brittany Butler's picture

[Editor’s note: The following essay by Brittany Butler was the J.C. Booth Middle School seventh-grade first-place winner in the Peachtree City Rotary Club’s “Laws of Life” student essay contest. Not long after she wrote and submitted this essay, Brittany’s sister drowned in a tragic swimming pool accident in Florida.]

Everyone has their own set of laws for living life, but how we understand them and what we do with them makes them special. I got mine two months before my third birthday. My little sister was born. Read More»

Serving homeless people gives new perspective on our comforts

[Editor’s note: The following essay was the first place winner in the Peachtree City Rotary Club’s “Laws of Life” student essay contest. The author is Michael Carroll, sixth-grader at J.C. Booth Middle School.]

By Michael Carroll

Everybody thinks they know the true meaning of being grateful; they don’t.

I think the only people who know the true meaning of being grateful are the homeless. Read More»