A coal fox is in the proverbial hen house

Even above the commotion caused by COVID-19, you could hear the EPA’s hooves in the rules-change stampede. The Environmental Protection Agency — despite the public’s concern and comments — was determined to gallop toward weaker regulations for toxic coal ash. We shouldn’t be surprised.

What is an out of order comment?

Making public comments at Hart County Board of Commissioners meetings took an interesting turn last month. The board traditionally has practiced a very open policy through which the chairman asks for public comment before moving onto the next agenda item.

‘Hey old man’ takes on new meaning

For the past few years, and especially since I have entered my 70s, my son has half-jokingly greeted me by saying, “Hey old man.” A portion of that is in deference to my being a grandparent and another part is because it’s true. Certainly, by some standards, I am, indeed an old man.

Get your pets spayed, neutered

If you’re looking for a new cat to keep as a pet, now is the time adopt one. It’s kitten season, and the folks at the Hart County Humane Society are feeling the weight of caring for around 100 cats in need of care.

When Mickey Mantle came to Canon

Franklin and Hart counties share the small town of Canon. And if you blink, you’ll miss the low-slung concrete-block building that squats beside Highway 17. What happened in that beer joint — years ago — makes me laugh every time I drive between Lavonia and Royston.

Hometown heroes deserve gratitude

In trying times, the importance of services or people we too often take for granted are magnified.

Plan to vote in this election

Voting is a fundamental right of every American. It is the simplest and most basic way we interact with our government and contibute our voices to the democratic process.  This year that process may look a little different for a lot of us. For many of us it already has.

Perhaps our perspectives are shifting

I recently looked up the meaning of the word perspective and found one of the main definitions to read:  a way of regarding situations, facts, etc. and judging their relative importance. If there was ever a time to consider our perspectives regarding this Coronavirus event, it is now.

Rethought Weekend of Hart deserves support

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic may have altered plans for just about everything, but it doesn’t mean everything has to be canceled.  The folks organizing the second-annual Weekend of Hart fundraiser thankfully understand that.

My final edition, thanks for reading

By Clay Keller I wrote about a COVID-19 test I had a few weeks back and how lucky I was that it was negative. Turns out that my problem is a very deadly form of cancer, melanoma.