Long-haired athletes are like Samson

Clint Madray almost choked on his chaw of BEECH-NUT. Shifting the tobacco from one cheek to the other, the burly UGA Wally Butts disciple growled, “Roy, what’s that on your head?” “Coach, it’s a Beatle,” Roy said.

Even 2020 had plenty of positives

This past year is one none of us will soon forget, for obvious reasons. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact our community deeply as we turn the calendar page into 2021.

Thrill of the hunt made Christmas memory

This time of year has a way of churning up memories like butter.  Maybe it’s the first time you saw snow. Maybe you recall an especially joyous Christmas family gathering. Perhaps you remember hastily cutting a fresh, live Christmas tree (remember those?

Vaccine is a gift to end rough year

Christmas comes in 2020 with a rare bit of good news — vaccines for COVID-19 have arrived in Georgia and are being administered to healthcare workers and at long-term care facilities.

Four books to escape political television

In a normal week, I’ll read a book. In a great week, I will read two. Lately, I’ve had a string of great reading weeks. The tsunami of negative she’s-lying-he’s-lying ads have turned me and the TV off. If they were aiming to influence my vote, the ugly messages did more harm than good.

Purina expansion is good for Hart

Nestlé Purina’s new investment in Hartwell is sure to pay dividends, just as its previous investment already has.

Some angels don’t have any wings

Whump. Whump. Whump! A dozen years ago, my heart sank listening to whump, whump, whump. That was a sound I hadn’t heard in about 20 years. But I hadn’t forgotten the sickening alert of a tire going flat.

Virus vigilance is needed now

Christmas gatherings are coming on the heels of Thanksgiving get-togethers and the novel coronavirus numbers are laying bare the results. Hart County has set records in the past few weeks for the number of new COVID-19 cases as the rest of the state sees the same spike in new infections.

Some things you learn the hard way

C.J. and J.W. were born 11 years and 150 miles apart, but both grew up learning which end of the mule kicks. C.J. was a prosperous merchant’s son in Troup County. J.W. was a cotton farmer’s son in Wilkes County. And by the time they’d meet, their wallets would be tens of millions of dollars apart.

Find a way to give back this year

The holidays are always a time for giving. Charities and nonprofits annually see increases in donations around Thanksgiving and Christmas. The generosity of people in communities like here in Hartwell always amazes us. This year it will be more important than ever.