Coal is not ‘clean,’ nor is it ‘beautiful

Shhhhh.Listen.Can you hear it?Clink, clink, clink.What’s that?It’s cocktail glasses clinking in celebration.Where?In the ivory towers of America’s corporate polluters.President Donald Trump and his minions at the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) are spewing “fake news.

Georgia looks to Early Literacy reform to improve reading outcomes

While a great deal of focus on education policy in Georgia has revolved around school choice policies and education finance, there are significant changes taking place inside the classroom as well.

NGCP’s ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ a musical to see!

North Georgia Community Players (NGCP) have outdone themselves once again in performance talent with a spectacular musical performance of “Fiddler on the Roof.” The show opened last weekend and runs for the next two weekends at the Dillard Theatre, 892 Franklin Street, Dillard.

Celebrate the USA every day

The land of the free and home of the brave turns 250 this year and Rabun County is planning many events to celebrate the incredible birthday. The United States of America was founded on July 4, 1776, with the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Why Congress avoids the hardest math in Washington

With most Americans recently submitting their income tax filings, it’s an opportune time to review where exactly those tax dollars go in the federal budget these days. Spoiler: It’s mostly going to our entitlement programs, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

Humor helps smooth bumps in life’s road

“A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs -- jolted by every pebble in the road.”-- Henry Ward Beecher The Great Depression didn’t just sprinkle pebbles in the road. It spread rocks of despair on almost every path.

Golden Arches lead to community partnership

Rabun County has always been a place where community members, businesses, nonprofits and organizations come together to support one another and the causes that are important to society. The Golden Arches of McDonald’s is arguably the most recognized symbol of all-time.

Elections don’t always result into what you might think

“Sign, sign, everywhere a sign” may be one of the most iconic lyrics from 50 years ago. Within the Five Man Electrical Band’s 1970 “Signs” song, those referenced “signs” provided directives on what people desired of other people.

‘What the world needs now ...’

As Jackie DeShannon sang in the Bert Bacharach/Hal David hit from the 1960s, “What the world needs now is love, sweet love; it’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.” And though the song came out nearly six decades ago, its message is more relevant than ever.

Hatchett: Our Final Week Under the Gold Dome

The 2026 Legislative Session has officially come to a close, I now look forward to bringing my work back home to the 50th Senate District, where it matters most.At the heart of this session was the passage of a balanced, responsible budget.