More than a boss

My former boss and good friend Gary Jones passed away unexpectedly last week. His heart just stopped beating. Arrhythmia, they said. I first met Gary when he was named publisher of The Elberton Star & Examiner. They were looking for a new managing editor.

I know who holds my hand

I have a story for you today.  It’s personal and at first you won’t understand. I surely didn’t. God had to explain.    Last month at Bible study Jane handed out our new roster of names, addresses, phone numbers etc. I was eager to see the new list, but upon first glance my eyes filled with tears.

Just an old lawnmower wheel

Yesterday, I went out to check my mailbox and found a strange looking package inside. I didn’t remember ordering anything nor did I recall that Janet had, either. Thinking that it may have been erroneously placed in our box I checked the address and found it was mine alright.

The greatest earthly gift

The greatest gift any country can give its residents is the experience of freedom. Freedom to travel, freedom to worship God, freedom to live one’s life as one chooses. Few countries have such freedoms for its residents.

Red Ribbon Week serves important purpose

It’s important to recognize how destructive drug abuse can be to families and communities. According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, there have been 700,000 overdoses in the United States since 2000. The Center estimates 53 million or 19.

Always a transplant

This actually isn’t my first lake town. South Haven, MI resides on a much bigger lake, of the Great variety, but I often come across people, places and things here in the community that take me back to my childhood summers at my parents’ second home.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: On donating band instruments

This letter is to inform about a community project for collecting new and or used band instruments. Here is the background: A few months ago, I began to play my flute again after several years. Because I had not used it for 3-4 years, I decided it should be cleaned.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: On liberty/safety

What kind of future do you want? “Those who give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither Liberty nor safety.”- Benjamin Franklin Within the last year, we have seen an explosion in tyranny.

Stetson is a winner on and off gridiron

Before the rooster crowed, my cell phone was doing its vibration dance on my nightstand. I wasn’t surprised Loran Smith was calling that early. My friend sleeps fast, too. “Coach, I need Stetson Bennett III’s cell phone number,” the iconic sideline voice of the Larry Munson era said.

Kindness can change the world

At first glance many people would say, “it will take more than kindness to change the world.” However, kindness, when practiced, can do things that many other attributes cannot. For example, if we showed true kindness to our personal adversaries, would they remain our enemies?