About The Sylvania times. (Sylvania, Ga.) 2022-current | View Entire Issue (March 20, 2024)
thesy lvaniatimes. com The Sylvania Times Wednesday, March 20, 2024 - Page 7 -Editorials & More- From the Editor’s Desk Bv Joe Brady, Editor The Times news@sylvaniatimes.com Ok, we all get caught up in our daily lives. Even newspaper staff can get caught up in the mundane. Tasks lose their excitement with the passage of time. Last Wednesday as Lori was delivering papers around Jenkins County she called me, “Joe, you probably know this already, but I was just told that the break ins at Bay Station and Family Dollar was by two juveniles. They have arrested them. “ Now y’all, if you remember the front page of the newspaper from week to week, you will remember that was the front-page story last week. Let’s also remember that Lori was delivering that edition as she called me. I was at a loss for words. At first, I was confused, was Lori reading the headlines on the front? Was this a joke? She does lay out JCT every week. She continues, “did you know that? Why didn’t we put that in the paper?” Y’all, stop the madness! I replied, incredulously, “it’s on the front page.” I then inquired as to whether she was running a fever, maybe she had a headache? Y’all know I could write articles about newspaper employees all day right? Maybe Lori was overwhelmed Monday when she was laying out the paper and couldn’t read the story she was painstakingly placing on the page. Now, while I poke fun at her, I am guilty of the same thing at times. These days we are all just so busy that our minds work at a faster pace than we can process sometimes. I’m sure that’s written down in a medical journal somewhere. But now did I tell you the story about Bam angering the entire county last week at a 4H function in Metter? That’s all for now, take care. LANK Sharon Blank, Library News Who’s in the mood for something sweet? Our teen craft time will be at 3:45 pm on Wednesday, March 27. We’ll be decorating delicious cookies. We’ve got something amazing coming up in April, and that’s no joke - there will be a partial solar eclipse on Monday, April 8! There’s going to be some cool stuff going on at that time, and we want to help you enjoy it safely. For this reason, we will have free solar eclipse glasses available while supplies last from now until after the eclipse. (Please note: if you still have some of the eclipse glasses from the total eclipse in 2017, do not use them! They will no longer be able to protect your vision. Also, do not look at the eclipse through ordinary sunglasses, telescopes, binoculars, or camera lenses as Bad Things will happen.) Our first eclipse event will be a special solar eclipse kickoff event on Saturday, April 6 at 2 pm. Screven County High science teacher Laura Mills will be visiting the library to explain what an eclipse is, how it works, and how to safely observe it without risking eye damage. Then starting at 1:30 pm on Monday, April 8 we will have a livestream of the event on the big screen here at the library, showing scenes from areas where the eclipse will be total. Weather permitting we will also have an outside observation area where you can enjoy seeing the moon move to cover roughly 80% of the sun. The actual eclipse is predicted to begin roughly 1:45 pm, and will reach its maximum at roughly 3 pm. It’s going to be quite the celestial show, so come join the fun! Easter is coming, and our library has some great ideas for you to make it special. Whether you want a new recipe for your springtime feast, ideas for decorating your home or yard, or fun crafts for the kids to do when they’re done hunting for eggs, we’ve got lots to offer! Want to know more about what’s happening at the library? Head over to www. facebook.com/screvencountylibrary to find out! We’ve also got an Instagram at www.instagram.com/screvencountylibrary so you won’t want to miss that. Well, that’s all for now - see you at the library! THE Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night Something Sweet? Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should bum and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they Do not go gentle into that good night. Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, Do not go gentle into that good night. Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse, bless, me now with your tierce tears, I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Kim Hinely First Congregational Church 246 Goloid Church Rd., Sylvania, GA Small Town Sylvania, Georgia has always been a place I called home, where family is present, and lives are lived in a small town. I sometimes wonder how life would be if this town was fast paced when I was growing up. All the people at Screven County High School were so ready to leave this small town. As I have come back through the years, I have seen friends who went away for their education but came back to settle down in this small town. It is something about the feeling you get when you see old friends, family, to new people. Everyone has a story to share, that is what makes small towns special. I remember recently going to another small town with a friend of mine and meeting someone that grew up knowing my dad and grandparents. The smile that came over my face, it could have lit up a room. I knew I had met a new friend. The feeling you feel when you are safe, and you are loved. God wants us to feel that feeling as well. Some of the greatest times in my life have been sitting around the table listening to my parents and grandparents talk about their lives and how things used to be. We live in such a fast-paced world, sometimes slowing down to smell the flowers outside and walking an old dirt road would be good for the soul. I am honored to say that I came from Sylvania, Georgia, where my roots were planted, and my tree has grown. Every season in life, God grants new opportunities with new growth. During this season find time to enjoy the little things. Find time to not waste and enjoy that day that God has given you. I know God has the greatest story and that is the Bible. A story begins with the beginning, the middle and the end. Filling in the substance is what life is all about. In the days ahead, find your friends, your parents, your church family, find your substance and there you will find your story. Senator Jon Ossoff USPS Delays Affecting Entire State Senator Ossoff Demands Answers It was only two short weeks ago that Jenkins County residents discovered their local newspaper was MIA. But Jenkins County is not the only community struggling under the weight of missing mail. In light of growing concerns. Senator Jon Ossoff has stepped in to demand answers from the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), focusing on issues stemming from the Atlanta Processing and Distribution Center in Palmetto, Georgia. This move follows increasing reports from Georgians experiencing significant delays in receiving mail, including vital medications and important documents. Senator Ossoff has formally initiated an inquiry with USPS Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, seeking a thorough explanation and an immediate investigation into the causes behind the reported inefficiencies. With the Atlanta center serving as a crucial node for mail distribution across the region, the repercussions of these delays are felt broadly, impacting families, seniors, and the business community alike. "I urge you to expeditiously investigate the reported delays across the metro Atlanta area and to take any necessary and appropriate actions to ameliorate any issues," Ossoff stated, emphasizing the essential nature of reliable mail service to the public. Key questions posed by Senator Ossoff include the current status of the issues at the Atlanta distribution center, potential causes of the delays, and how the USPS plans to communicate with customers facing delayed and lost packages. Mitchell Taylor, President of the American Postal Workers Union, attributes a significant portion of the problem to the operational changes following the opening of a new facility three weeks prior. According to Taylor, these adjustments have not only disrupted mail processing efficiency but have also created staffing shortages that exacerbate the situation. Despite the new facility's capacity, designed to streamline operations with nearly 200 dock doors for trucks, it struggles to manage the volume, leading to further delays. ,, cnc ® J SEE USES ON PAGE 13 Georgia Commissioner of Labor Bruce Thompson ATLANTA - Georgia Commissioner of Labor Bruce Thompson announced Friday he has been diagnosed with an advanced stage of pancreatic cancer that has spread to his liver. Thompson vowed to remain in office while he fights the disease. “While we wait on a final prognosis for chemotherapy, I can assure you I will continue to be who I have always been - a fighter,” he wrote in a news release. “I will continue to fulfill my duties as labor commissioner throughout this time and will work with my highly professional and qualified staff to ensure Georgia citizens are served with uninterrupted excellence.” Thompson, a Republican from Cartersville, was elected labor commissioner in 2022. Before that, he served five terms as a state senator in a district that included Bartow and Cherokee counties and parts of Cobb County. At various times, he chaired the Senate Economic Development and Tourism Committee, the Science and Technology Committee and the Veterans, Military and Homeland Security Committee. Thompson asked that Georgians remember him and his staff in their prayers. Georgia State Senator Banned from House Floor After Denouncing Resolution Honoring Late House Speaker By Debbie Hearn. Reporter A solemn occasion turned contentious on Thursday at the state capitol as a resolution honoring the late House Speaker David Ralston led to a state senator being banned from the House floor. The Senate was in session debating SR 687, a resolution intended to name a building on the University of North Georgia’s campus after the late lawmaker, who passed away late last year. Almost all senators took to the Senate well to express their support for the resolution. However, State Sen. Colton Moore (R-Trenton) diverged sharply from the consensus, denouncing Ralston as “one of the most corrupt Georgia leaders we’ll ever see in our lifetime.” Moore's comments stirred immediate controversy, particularly given his recent criticism of Fulton County DA Fani Willis’ investigation and indictment of former President Donald Trump. Moore accused Ralston of obstructing legal and judicial processes involving suspected criminals, adding fuel to already simmering political tensions. Senate President Pro Tempore John Kennedy (R-Macon) swiftly apologized for Moore’s remarks, yet the damage was done. The resolution eventually passed with overwhelming support, garnering 53 votes in favor, with Moore standing as the sole dissenter. However, the repercussions for Moore did not end there. Later in the day. House Speaker Jon Bums (R-Newington) announced Moore's banishment from the House chambers, a move unprecedented in the state's political history. Bums' announcement was met with a standing ovation from fellow representatives. The decision to ban Moore underscored the seriousness with which the House viewed his comments, signaling a swift and forceful response to what was perceived as disrespectful behavior towards the late Speaker Ralston. Adding to the day's solemnity, Ralston's portrait was unveiled under the Gold Dome, commemorating his contributions to the state.
