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thesy lvaniatimes. com
The Sylvania Times
Wednesday, March 13, 2024 - Page 7
-Editorials & More-
From the
Editor’s Desk
Bv Joe Brady, Editor
The Times
news@sylvaniatimes.com
This week we are celebrating a milestone at the newspaper. Jenkins County
Times has turned a year old. For our Sylvania friends, Sylvania Times turned
three in January. It has been a long journey, but not a hard one. The point is, we
all love bringing you the news. And you show your enthusiasm by reading the
words we write each week. As Sally Field once said at the Oscars, “You love us,
you really love us!”
This week is also my birthday. JCT and I actually share the same birthday. I
did that on purpose cause the way my mind works, I didn’t want to forget either
mine or the paper’s special day. As I mark another year around the sun I reflect
on the past.
I am officially the age I remember Nanny being at the first birthday party
memory I have of her. Nanny was recuperating after a surgery and we all
descended on her to celebrate her 54th. I remember all of us kids piling in her
bed. You know, that is the only memory I have of that day. Not the cake, or what
we ate, but the love we showed one another. I hope I can leave those memories
behind. I had a customer at the auction house last week tell me that I couldn’t
possibly be mean to anybody. Oh my! I’m sure there is a line of folks who would
disagree.
My own family would disagree. They don’t seem to get the fact that I’m
perfect! They snicker when I remind them of it. All kidding aside, I think the
responsible folks in our society begin to worry about their legacy. What kind
of legacy will you leave behind? Have you made a difference? I catch myself
asking those questions sometimes. I know one thing, I have had a good time.
Most of the time I have laughed my way through this life, you probably can’t
ask for more than that. Only time will tell what type of legacy I leave. I’m sure
some people will say as I do, “I have never killed a man, but I have read many
obituaries with great pleasure!” That’s all for now, take care!
Sharon Blank, Library News
What does
Daylight
Savings Time
have to do with
the library?
Daylight Saving Time has come, which means everything is an hour earlier and the
sun is more likely to be up after the workday is through. But did you ever wonder
where the idea for Daylight Savings Time came from? You’re probably thinking about
Ben Franklin, but his idea was simply part of a satirical article he wrote while living in
Paris that suggested that Parisians go to bed and wake up at more reasonable hours so
that they wouldn’t waste so many candles. The person who actually suggested that we
readjust our clocks every spring and fall was an entomologist named George Hudson
from New Zealand, and he wanted it so that he would have more time after work to go
hunting bugs. Yes, really!
What does this have to do with the library? A lot! We’re the best place to find fun
and factual information like this to talk about with your friends. Our staff is trained to
track down fascinating true stories like this, among our other services, and we love to
find the information that most people don’t know and share it with you. So come in,
call or email us and our staff will do their best to find you an answer to your question!
You can call us at 912-564-7526 or email us at scl@sjrls.org . You can even send us a
message on Facebook!
On Tuesdays at 3:30 pm we have our weekly storytime for the kids. It’s a great time
for them to learn to love reading, as we read them a fun book and show them how to do
a craft related to the book. It’s a ton of fun for the little ones!
You don’t have to wait until Tuesday for our Crafts To Go, though - they’re available
every day! Just come up to the desk and ask, and we will give you a creative craft kit
that you can take home and make on your own schedule. There’s a new kids craft every
week, new teen crafts twice a month, and a new adult craft once a month. Even better,
they’re all free! Want to do them in the library? Come in on Wednesdays at 3:30 pm
for our in-library craft times.
Another bit of crafty fun is our monthly Teen Craft Times, when our staff members
help teens and older kids do fun projects. This month’s craft will be decorating cookies
for St. Patrick’s Day, and it will be at 3:45 pm on Friday, March 15.
Want to know more about what’s happening at the library and the services we offer?
Head over to www.facebook.com/screvencountylibrary and click “Like!”
Well, that’s all for now - see you at the library!
'V
your
V€*TE
counts
Talk is cheap, voting
is free; take it to the
polls.
- Nannette Avery
ms?
Pastor Bill Kent,
Memorial Baptist Church
Sylvania, GA
Planting Seeds
Not everybody listened to Paul Harvey on the radio, but a lot of people did. He had
critics like all people do but Harvey focused on positive thoughts and encouraging
people. He started working at a radio station at age 14 doing basic things like sweeping
floors but his voice soon got attention and he improved his talents and increased his
knowledge throughout the years. In his prime, approximately twenty-four million people
listened to him on 1,600 stations. He spoke about many topics in an interesting way. His
uplifting messages attracted a lot more listeners than bitter, angry people do.
Though it won't ever be easy, Paul Harvey inspires us to continue planting the seeds of
the Gospel when it's popular, when it's well received, when it's ignored and when it is
rejected. When Paul and the other Apostles preached and did missionary work to start
new churches, they got frustrated sometimes when people didn't listen and respond to
the Gospel, but Paul and the others urged us to never give up and to continue as long as
we live. "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if
we do not lose heart," (Galatians 6:9).
Then James gives us several examples to encourage us to endure despite obstacles and
disappointments. "Therefore, be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how
the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives
the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the
Lord is at hand...My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as
an example of suffering and patience," (James 5:7-8,10).
When Peter spoke about suffering while serving God, he said we shouldn't be surprised
but to continue serving cheerfully by God's grace. Then Jesus reminded us that people
respond in different ways just as some seeds are choked by weeds, some fall on rocky
soil and others don't sink into the ground but we keep on scattering seeds everywhere
because sometimes the seed of God's Word is well received and produces much fruit.
"But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands
it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty,"
(Matthew 13:23).
A word from Senator Jon Ossoff
Sen. Ossoff Launches Inquiry
into Causes of Deaths in Federal
Custody
In 2022, Sen. Ossoff led a 10-month bipartisan investigation
that uncovered nearly 1,000 uncounted deaths in state and
local custody in 2021
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is launching an inquiry into deaths that
occur in Federal custody.
This week. Sen. Ossoff, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Human
Rights, launched an inquiry with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)
into how the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) determines and reports the cause of
death for people who have died in Federal custody.
“[The Department of Justice] is responsible for the care of individuals in its custody,
whether in prisons, awaiting trial, or during the course of arrest,” Sen. Ossoff wrote.
“The vast majority of deaths in federal custody occur while individuals are under the
care of DOJ components, specifically the [Bureau of Prisons (BOP)] and U.S. Marshals
Service (USMS). A comprehensive understanding of how these agencies determine
manner of death is essential. It can help ensure the Department is doing everything it
can to protect and care for individuals in its custody and provide accurate information
to families.”
Each year, hundreds of individuals die in F ederal custody. In fiscal year 2021, F ederal
agencies reported that roughly 80 percent of deaths that occurred in their custody were
from natural causes or illnesses.
However, recent NPR reporting highlighted that, in documenting deaths as natural,
DOJ agencies like the Bureau of Prisons and U.S. Marshals Service may be ignoring
circumstances such as medical neglect and poor prison conditions. According to NPR,
“the CDC says natural deaths happen either solely or almost entirely because of disease
or old age. Yet 70% of the inmates who died in federal prison the last 13 years were
under the age of 65.”
In 2022, the Intercept reported on the 2017 death of 26-year-old Kedric Buie at U.S.
Penitentiary Atlanta, highlighting that his death was reported as “of natural causes”
related to a heart attack, despite autopsy report findings that he had experienced blunt
trauma to his head, torso, and left lower extremity.
As part of his inquiry. Sen. Ossoff requested GAO examine how Federal agencies —
such as the U.S. Bureau of Prisons and U.S. Marshals Service — determine the cause of
death for individuals in their care, how Federal agencies notify family members about
the death of a loved one, and more.
Sen. Ossoff continues working to improve public safety and improve oversight of
Federal agencies.
In 2022, Sen. Ossoff led a 10-month bipartisan investigation that uncovered the
DOJ failed to count at least 1,000 deaths in state and local custody in 2021 alone that
had been publicly reported elsewhere. Sen. Ossoff’s bipartisan probe found the DOJ
has failed to properly implement the Death in Custody Reporting Act (DCRA), a law
requiring DOJ to collect data from states about the deaths of prisoners in their custody
to ensure transparency and help the Department identify potential violations of civil or
human rights.
In 2022, Sen. Ossoff also introduced the bipartisan Family Notification of Death,
Injury, or Illness in Custody Act of 2022 alongside Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA), which
would help ensure family members are notified in a timely and compassionate manner
about any health challenges of loved ones while in custody.
Last April, Sens. Ossoff, Mike Braun (R-IN) and Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin
(D-IL), Chair of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced the bipartisan F ederal
Prison Oversight Act to establish new, independent oversight of the Federal Bureau of
Prisons (BOP).
In 2022, Sen. Ossoff also passed into law his bipartisan Prison Camera Reform Act
to reduce violence and civil rights abuses in America’s prisons.
U.S. Representative Rick Allen
Allen leads resolution of disapproval to
overturn EPA’s PM 2.5
Office Locations
AUGUSTA DISTRICT OFFICE. 2743 Perimeter
Parkway. Bldg. 200, Suite 105. Augusta, GA 30909,
Phone: (706)228-1980. ...
STATESBORO DISTRICT OFFICE. 50 E. Main
Street. Statesboro, GA 30458. Phone: (912) 243-
Congressman Rick W. Allen (GA-12)
introduced a Congressional Review Act
(CRA) resolution along with Representatives
Jim Baird (IN-04) and Ben Cline (VA-06) to
nullify the Biden Environmental Protection
Agency’s (EPA) National Ambient Air
Quality Standards (NAAQS) final rule for
Fine Particulate Matter, otherwise known
as PM 2.5 standards. The CRA enables
Congress to disapprove of a final rule issued
by a federal agency within 60 days of its
publication and prevents the agency from
issuing a “substantially similar” rule in the
future unless authorized by Congress.
Upon introduction, Congressman Allen
issued the following statement:
"With over forty years of experience
starting and operating my own construction
business, I am all too familiar with
heavy-handed, top-down regulations that
often place unnecessary compliance and
implementation burdens on states and the
business community. The EPA’s final rule
and rushed process to revise the current
fine particulate matter standards is simply
unworkable and will have disastrous
impacts on manufacturers and job creation
nationwide.
"This cannot stand. This Congressional
Review Act resolution would use the power
of Congress to reverse Biden’s harmful
rule, safeguard the American economy,
and protect future economic development
projects from President Biden’s
overreaching rush-to-green agenda," said
Rep. Rick Allen.
"The impact of the EPA’s proposal
would have devastating effects on U.S.
companies while doing little to achieve the
goal of lowering fine particulate matter,"
said Rep. Jim Baird. "Steel manufacturers
and metal casters already meet some of
the strictest manufacturing regulations, but
this new proposed ruling would force U.S.
companies to outsource steel materials due
to lack of supply in the domestic market.
9452.
This proposed ruling also comes at a time
when metal casters have already taken
significant steps to decrease their emissions
by unprecedented levels. I am proud to co
lead this effort with Rep. Allen, and I hope
the rest of my colleagues will join us in
overturning this proposed rule change and
wait until Congress conducts its mandated
review of fine particulate matter next year."
"Time and time again, we find ourselves
grappling with the Biden Administration's
pattern of imposing oppressive regulations
as part of their green new deal agenda," said
Rep. Ben Cline. "The EPA's latestproposition
to reduce the particulate matter 2.5 threshold
poses a severe threat to our nation's
manufacturing industry including paper
and pulp mills, jeopardizing approximately
80% of them with potential closure. The
forestry sector, an economic cornerstone
with profound historic significance in the
Commonwealth, would sustain significant
damage due to this unwarranted rule, with
the 6th District suffering disproportionately.
That is why I
proudly co
sponsored
this legislation and urge leadership to
bring this bill to the floor swiftly. We
must overturn the Biden Administration’s
detrimental regulation to protect our
economy and prevent the far-Left green
energy agenda from undermining American
manufacturing."
BACKGROUND: PM 2.5 is a complex
mixture of extremely small particles that
can be emitted from sources such as forest
fires, construction sites, and unpaved roads.
Congressman Allen recently participated
in an Environment, Manufacturing, and
Critical Materials Subcommittee Hearing
where he highlighted the devastating
impacts that President Biden’s finalized
PM 2.5 standards would have on the state
of Georgia. Additionally, state and local
governments across the nation are sounding
the alarm and urging the President to
reconsider this disastrous proposal.
