Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

Page 4A - The Lee County Ledger, Thursday, December 20, 2001 Merry Christmas Christmas is a special time of year. Christmas is a time of fam ily and friends and renewing old relationships. Christmas is a time of goodwill towards our fellow man. Christmas is a time of joy and celebration. Christmas is also full of tradi tions and spiritual meaning to mankind. Did you know that "Santa Claus' is based on a real person? Saint Nicolas was a Christian leader that wanted to give money to the poor people. However, he was also a very shy man. It is said that one day he climbed the roof of a house and dropped a purse of money down the chimney. It landed in a stock ing in which a girl had put to dry by the fire. Thus, a Christmas stocking hung with care and Santa entering the home thru the chimney was borne. It is said that evergreens such as our traditional Christmas trees are symbols of enduring life be cause of their enduring green color during the winter season. The Christmas tree lights rep resent the birth of Jesus, the Light of the World. The star often placed on top of the Christmas tree represents the brilliant star that guided the three wiseman to Baby Jesus. The tradition of exchanging gifts represents the gold, frank incense, and myrrh given to the Christ Child by the wisemen. It is said that an Indiana candy maker wanted to invent a candy that was a witness to Christ. He made a hard candy because Christ is the "Rock of Ages" and the candy was made in the shape of a shepherd's staff to symbolize the "Good Shepherd". The white stripe represents the sinless nature of Christ and the red stripe repre sents the blood shed by Christ for our sins. Of course this candy is known by everyone as candy canes. Christ-Mas - "Christ" means 'Messiah' or 'Anointed One' and "Mass" is a religious festival. Christmas is full of traditions and special meaning to all mankind. Enjoy time with family and friends in celebration. Let us all remember to celebrate the true The University of Georgia • Cooperative Extension Service Holly Pit Making Scale Doug Collins, Acting Lee County Extension Coordinator Putting TCnowledge toWork^l Holly pit making scale causes twigs to become distorted and sparsely foliaged. Holly Pit Making Scale Holly pit making scale affects American, Chinese, and Japanese hollies, but not English holly. The affected holly twigs look irregu larly swollen. They appear rough, distorted, and pitted. The scale insects feed on the plant juices of the holly. Infested twigs often have sparse foliage. Growth can be reduced. Pit making scale is difficult to control because it is all but im possible to kill the adults in the "pits" with chemicals. The recom mended course of action is to prune all dead and scale infested wood from the plant. Taft Eaker, the University of Georgia Coop- The Lee County Ledger ‘EstabCisfecC August 24,1978 P.O. Box 715 (124 4th Street) Leesburg, Georgia 31763 (229) 759-2413 USPS 470-310 Official Organ of Lee County SUBSCRIPTION RATES Lee and surrounding counties $14. 95 year Elsewhere $19. 95 year Publisher Derryl Quinn Editor Jim Quinn Layout and Design Tricia Quinn (USPS 470-310), is published weekly for $14. 95 per year in Lee and surrounding counties, and $19. 95 per year else where by at its offices at the May Office Building, 126 - 4th Street, Leesburg, Georgia 31763. Periodicals postage paid at Leesburg, GA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes on Form 3579 to, RO. 715, Leesburg, GA31763. wit (CS>) Printed On member of Georgia Recycled Paper press association Tom Lambert meaning of Christmas - The birth of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Son of God. Tom, Herbert, and Lannis of the Georgia Forestry Commission in Lee County wishes everyone a Safe and a Very Merry Christmas Then pealed the bells more loud and deep, “God is not dead, nor does He sleep! The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men!” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow '%>u£LL' Facts About Masonry erative Extension Service Homeowner Integrated Pest Management specialist recom mends that an application of hor ticultural oil be made at the time of pruning to control immature scale, called crawlers. While it is almost impossible to control adult scale insects, the immature insects are much easier control. The best time for control ling them is during the growing season. Shake a twig over a white sheet of paper to detect the presence of crawlers. For more information, call the Lee County Extension Office at 759-6025. BULL HAS TAKEN LEE COUNTY It’s a shame but I hear that Lee County’s “Raging Bull” admin istrator seems to be passing out more than professional advice. Next, instead of obscentities, he’ll be screaming “Off with their heads!” If King Commission al lows this abuse to continue, he may lose his crown. Why not take some of the huge increase they gave the “Bull” and insist on some stress managment and sen sitivity training. Hardworking people are a precious resource, as well as voters! Concerned Citizen GOODIN HAS WHAT IT TAKES Honor and integrity. They are traits we want in our leaders and characteristics we admire in our role models. When coupled with liberty, honor and integrity yield freedom, which is the essence of the red, white and blue flags we see proudly displayed every where. They are virtues we hope to instill in our children because we understand that to embody honor and integrity will bring great things. That is why I am so bothered by Coach Goodin's dismissal. Coach Goodin has built a football program from scratch, taken the team to the state playoffs twice, and has a winning record over all. But just as important, he has also shown a consistent willing ness to take an interest in the kids, go the extra mile. However, now, because of someone's arbitrary and distorted definition of a win ner, all of his good deeds, the ex tra effort, his exemplary record on and off the field, have been dis counted. It is as if the rules have been changed after the game has been played; in a blink of an eye, the final score has been altered - forgery, all in the name of win ning. But to be a winner, one must act like a winner. It is self-evident that a true winner does not engage in deceit, manipulate the truth, or run from a sincere question. A winner does not backstab, does not engage in cowardly armchair quarterbacking or hide behind fabricated rules. A winner will always take responsibility for his or her actions, no matter the cost, for in the end, it is the difficult things we do in life that are sa vored the most. What does it say about our school board when teachers, the people in the trenches, the ones in the know, are afraid to voice their opinions because of the fear of reprisals? What happens to our school system when the free ex change of valued ideas is squelched, when liberty is squashed? Is not progress pref erable to stagnation and decline? So why is Dr. Lewis so intent on avoiding questions? Why is he so keenly interested in getting rid of a coach who has shown he can win football games and is a person that has demonstrated an unmistakable willingness to go the extra mile, to go above and beyond the call of duty, a man who will take a personal interest in a kid's life and make a differ ence? Why is the school board so cavalier about losing a coach who is a credit to the school and community, a winner in every sense of the word? Unfortu nately. it is not uncommon for people to fear what they don't understand or feel threatened by what they don't have. In this case, what the powers-that-be seem to be lacking are the essential quali ties in every winner — honor and integrity. John Bagnato LCHS BAND WEBSITE We'd like to invite you to visit the Lee County High School Band website. We have links to many different college sites and local interests. We also have links to this year’s pictures taken at the various games and try to keep the site interesting. The address is http://www.geocities.com/ lchstrojanband/ Each page plays holiday music and the holiday page has buttons which allows visitors to play dif ferent Christmas music. We'd like to invite you and the Lee County Community to visit the site and to have the best of Holidays. Thank you, Larry Cooley Webmaster of the Lee County High School Band Web Site County Administrator needs to GO! - NOW Randy Dowling IS the problem with morale in Lee County. From what I've heard, most of the county employees do not trust him or expect him to treat them fairly. He recently "cussed" at one employee who decided to quit her job instead of being under the pressure of a man without tact or caring toward others. This par ticular employee had just com pleted extensive computer train ing and was a very liked and ca pable person. Dowling has made the statement, "She was not a team player". He continues, to this day, in an effort to destroy her credibility. Everyone knows this particular person, whose mother works in the Tax Assessor's of fice. She was a good and capable county employee who knew how to treat the public. We need more like her in county government, not less. I also heard a story about Randy having unkind words with a lady in the office of the Clerk of Superior Court. If the County Commissioners were to check into the circumstances and the language Randy used against these two ladies, he would be fired on the spot. Hopefully, one or both of these young women will seek some legal advice on their employment rights. The truth is Randy Dowling is not a team player. Most, if not all. of Lee County's Elected Officials, (except 4 of the 5 Commission ers) do not like, trust or believe in Randy Dowling. The Sheriff of Lee County. Mr. Breeden, and his staff, will not even speak to the man because of his lack of respect for law enforcement personnel and the fact that, in the past, Dowling stated he “hated the Sheriff' s Department" . What kind of statement was that, Randy? In the past five years, since Dowling has been Administrator, morale within the County has de clined substantially. The Assistant County Administrator, Lang Hollbrook, who recently quit, could not work with Dowling. Why did he leave? Miss Dock ery, his current clerk, is number three in the past five years. Dowl- See Letters, Page 10A By J.M. Rhodes Member of Chehaw Lodge 701 Leesburg, Georgia WHEN IS A MAN A MA SON? by Rev. Joseph Fort Newton When he can look out over the river, the hills, and the far hori zon with a profound sense of his own littleness in the vast scheme of things, and yet have faith, hope, and courage- which is the root of every virtue. When he knows that down in his heart ev ery man is as noble, as vile, as divine, as diabolic, and as lonely as himself, and seeks to know, to forgive, and to love his fellow- man. When he knows how to sympathize with men in their sor rows, yea, even in their sins- knowing that each man fights a hard fight against many odds. When he learned how to make friends and to keep them, and above all how to keep friends with himself. When he loves flowers, can hunt birds without a gun, and feels the thrill of an old forgotten joy when he hears the laugh of a little child. When he can be happy and high-minded amid the meaner drudgeries of life. When star-covered trees and the glint of sunlight on flowing waters subdue him like the thought of one much loved and long dead. When no voice of dis tress reaches his ears in vain, and no hand seeks his aid without re sponse. When he finds good in every faith that helps any man to lay hold of divine things and sees majestic meaning in life, what ever the mane of that faith may be. When he can look into a way- side puddle and see something beyound mud, and into the face of the most forlorn fellow mortal and see something beyond sin. When he knows how to pray, how to love, how to hope. When he has kept faith with himself, with his fellowman, and with his God, in his hands a sword for evil, in his heart a bit of a songglad to live, but not afraid to die. Such a man has found the only real secret of Masonry, and the one which it is trying to give to all the world. Treason By Hugh Morris Be strong and very coura geous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Joshua 1:7 Treason is specifically defined in the Constitution of the United States of America Section. 3. Clause 1: Treason against the United States shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testi mony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act. or on Confes sion in open Court. TREASON - This word imports a betraying, treachery, or breach of allegiance. Treason involves a person who owes allegiance to the United States and levies war or adheres to the enemies of the United States, giving them aid and comfort. The Supreme Court of the United States declared that engaging in actual, physical hostilities against the United States constitutes treason and that such conduct does not have to take place within the United States for the country to prosecute. Thomas Jefferson on treason March 22, 1792. “This, when real, merits the highest punish ment.” Treason is a rare phenomenon. There have been fewer than 40 federal prosecutions for treason and even fewer convictions. Several men were convicted of treason in connection with the Whiskey Rebellion (1794) but were pardoned by George Washington. The most famous treason trial, that of Aaron "http://www.encyclopedia.com/ articles/02049.html" Burr in 1807, resulted in acquittal. Politically motivated attempts to convict opponents of the Jeffersonian Embargo Acts and the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 all failed. In the 20th century, treason has become largely a wartime phenomenon, and the treason cases of World Wars I and II were of minor signifi cance. Most states have provi sions in — their consti tutions or statutes similar to those in the U.S. Constitution. There have been only two successful prosecutions for treason on the state level, that of Thomas Don- in Rhode Island and that of John Brown in Virginia. Cases pop up in times of national stress. So it says more about the times in which we live since Sept. 11 that there is talk once more of a treason prosecution. John Walker fought alongside the Taliban while his fellow Americans were fighting terrorism on the other side of the battle lines. Walker was captured during a failed prison revolt where CIA operative Johnny Michael Spann was killed. He could face charges of treason, conspiracy, providing material support to terrorists or murder of a U.S. agent. Editor’s note: Hugh O. Morris, Jr is an attorney and his office is located at 506 North Jefferson Street, Albany, Georgia, (229) 420-4104. KPS Model Student Alyssa Yom was named a Model Student of the Month for November, 2001 at Kinchafoonee Primary School.