The good news you'll never see on TV

By Brandon Dasinger, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church“So, my brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord’s work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” – 1 Corinthians 15:58 It’s always interesting to see what stories the major news channels...

Country stores offered a place to spit opinions and tobacco

By Phil Hudgins, CNI As city editor of a southern daily newspaper several decades ago, I asked a reporter to drive out to a certain country store and see what the old boys sitting around the stove were talking about.

Alabama foot log was original link to our families

Two girls were born in “the other LA”—Lower Alabama—in 1900.The McNeal family lived on one side of a tea-colored creek.The Mercer family lived on the opposite bank.Before mothers ever tied bows onto the pigtails of their daughters, Essie McNeal and Katie Mercer spawned a friendship that spanned...

Why are Christian churches in America so divided, and what can be done to help unite the churches? (Part 1)

By Eugene Ashby, Local columnist Many of the large number of Christian churches in America have "little to no" association with churches of different denominations.

Happy Anniversary

By Lorin Sinn-Clark, Local columnist  “Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupery Mr. Clark and I just celebrated our 47th wedding anniversary, some 50 years together.What an accomplishment, joy and challenge.

Dalton's creation is a glimpse of AI’s future

By Dink NeSmith- CNI Food and music are very different.But when it comes to the taste of either, they are first cousins. You like it, or you can leave it.I understand eating liver can be good for you, but it’s a “no thanks” for me.And that’s a ditto for opera and rap music.

Buffaloes lost, but Dawgs and our family won

The Georgia Bulldogs are gearing up for 2026’s kickoff.But let’s roll back the clock 20 years to a game in Athens.With a name like Ralphie, you’d think the University of Colorado’s mascot would be a boy. But it’s not.

Celebrate a top industry at the Ag Expo

A host of activities celebrating one of the top industries in our community – agriculture – will take place Saturday at the annual Northeast Georgia Ag Expo at the Hart County Agriscience Center.Whether you enjoy looking at antique tractors, cheering on the pedal tractor racers, seeing the animals...

Some marriage proposals are TV-worthy; others are not

By Phil Hudgins - CNI Dear Michele and Marcia: Well, girls, your mother and I are racking our brains for suitable stories to include in the memory book you requested.“Why don’t you do something on our engagement, and I’ll cover the wedding?” your mother asked me diplomatically.She didn’t want to...

Join the count

By Sierra Burke- Local columnist Each year in the month of August, thousands of community scientists across the Southeast join to accomplish one goal, count pollinators.The Great Southeast Pollinator Census was created by the University of Georgia, is one of the region’s largest pollinator...