Reflect this week on Easter’s importance

With the harmonious birds chirping and grandeur of the blooming flowers, Easter arrives in the mountains of Northeast Georgia on April 20. While the chocolates, other candies, and gifts linked to the bunny, it is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for which we should celebrate Easter.

Kenny and Dolly sang the gospel of friendship

Today the lyrics of Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers have been looping in my brain. Over and over, I keep hearing their song “You Can’t Make Old Friends.” Yes, my boyhood buddy and I are old. But I’m not talking about that kind of old.

Putting the accent on how we talk in the South

Well now, don’t that just beat all? A new study from Answering Service Care reveals that the Southern accent is officially the friendliest in the U.S.

Hatchett: A strong end to 2025 legislative session

After 12 weeks of tireless work under the Gold Dome, the 2025 Legislative Session has officially come to a close. Let me be clear: Senate Republicans fought daily to protect your freedoms, defend your wallets and invest in the values that make our communities strong.

Thank a 911 dispatcher during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week

911 dispatchers are the first point of contact when calls come in for an emergency. First responders are dispatched to car crashes, fires, gas leaks, domestic disputes, burglaries and various other situations every day.

Legislature passed the buck again on our Okefenokee

Nada. Nil. Zip. Zero.

Train enthusiasts ride for love, not for speed and comfort

There’s something exhilarating about riding on a train. Amtrak’s intercity trains are often slower, bumpier, more expensive and late, but I still like them. Maybe it’s because my dad was a brakeman and then conductor on a freight train, and I sometimes went to work with him when I was a kid.

Good fiscal stewardship builds up billions of dollars surplus

Georgia is used to sitting at the top of the regional heap: the Empire State of the South, home to the unofficial capital of the South, even the “best state to do business” for umpteen years running. But when you occupy that perch, others try to dethrone you.

More child-abuse prevention needed this month and all months

April 2025 is designated as “National Child Abuse Prevention Month.” It is a time to focus on preventing child abuse and neglect, while supporting families and communities in creating safe and healthy environments for children. Local organizations Fight Abuse In The Home (F.A.I.T.H.

Know what to do around bears

When Spring arrives, so do Rabun County residents who hibernate during the winter. It is always important to get a refresher course on what to do when the bears are more mobile again. And if you have never encountered a bear, a first-time lesson also is certainly warranted.