Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 2010
THE JACKSON HERALD
PAGE 5A
Random thoughts for chaotic times
RANDOM: “lack
ing a definite plan,
purpose, or pattern.”
If that doesn’t fit
the frantic, out-of-
control frenzy in
which we find our
selves, I don’t know
what does. We are
confused people
wandering in the
wilderness. And our
“leaders,” who are
supposed to help us find
our way and straighten up
and fly right, aren’t very
organized, either. They can’t
even agree that we should
straighten up and fly right.
Some of them want us to
bow down and sag left. What
a mess!
Am I discouraged?
Pessimistic?
Absolutely not! I have
lived long enough to know
this isn’t the first, or worst,
mess we’ve ever been in.
Nor is it the last. If the
modern-day gloomers and
doomers who think the
world is coming to an end
next week will just calm
down, stick around a while
and pay attention, they’ll
see the light.
Count on it. Things will
get better. Then they will
get worse again. Better,
worse. Worse, better. Isn’t
that what history teaches
us? Nature, too? It always
rains after a dry spell, and
the sun always shines after
a storm. And vice versa.
Some folks are so far
down in the dumps that they
want the world to stop spin
ning so they can get off.
Bad mistake. Ok, so it’s a
roller coaster. Hang on and
enjoy the ride.
One way to do that is
look for good in bad situ
ations. Situations and cir
cumstances are
like people. There
is some good in
the worst of us and
some bad in the
best of us.
Down here,
where we see
through a glass
darkly, nothing is
perfectly clear. It
is not either-or.
Neither is it black
or white. Between the two
there are many shades of
gray. A wise person is not
content with the appearance
of things; he looks beneath
the surface to discover their
true meaning.
But truth is illusive. We
think we have found it only
to discover that it has gone
off and left us. The search
is a never-ending one. And
along the journey, the wise
man realizes there is a
remote possibility he might
be wrong. So he keeps on
looking.
The person who knows
for sure what he knows, and
think he knows everything,
and thinks he is always right
is the height of ignorance.
The world did not begin the
day he was born.
❖ ❖ ❖
Now, let’s lighten up a bit
and really get random.
A friend of accused me of
writing down to you because
I’m always defining words I
use in my column. Like I
did with “random” at the
beginning of this piece.
I didn’t do it to insult
your intelligence. I know
that you know what random
means. I looked up the defi
nition, and wrote it down,
for my own edification.
Edify: “to build; establish;
to instruct and improve.”
But make no mistake: it
pleases me to no end if I
use a word you don’t under
stand and you turn to the
Dictionary to discover its
meaning. When that hap
pens, you learn a new word,
increase your vocabulary,
and improve your ability to
communicate. We are lim
ited in our ability to talk or
write - and even think - by
our vocabulary.
Back in the day (there’s
that cliche again). I’d read
something - anything - and
pass over words I didn’t
understand. I’d wonder
what the writer meant and
fuss at him for writing over
my head.
With age came a smatter
ing of patience, and I began
to look up the hard words.
And I made an amazing dis
covery. I better understand
what the author is saying,
and the old man is learn
ing again. I am continuing
my education. It is a good
feeling.
Now I look forward to
coming across words I
don’t know. And just about
every day I am rewarded.
That is why my 35-year-old
Dictionary is tattered and
torn and held together with
duct tape.
(Why don’t I buy a new
Dictionary? Good question.
I guess I am in my second
childhood. Like the 3- or
4-year old who can’t let go
of his “blankie,” I can’t let
go of that old book.)
❖ ❖ ❖
Now, here is a random
thought that is not without
plan or purpose. It is impor
tant and urgent. It can con
tribute to the protection and
preservation of the English
language.
There are those who
believe our nation and
our form of government
are under attack. In even
more jeopardy is our native
tongue. Technology is about
to do it in. The computer is
creating a generation that
doesn’t have to write, read,
talk, do math, or think.
Machines are doing it for
them.
So we should not be
surprised that so many
Americans can’t speak or
write a simple declara
tive sentence. This Vent
in The Atlanta Journal-
Constitution mentions
another problem. “With the
popularity of texting it’s a
wonder that any of us know
how to spell a complete
word.”
The fact that I am writing
this and you are reading it,
and both of us are looking
up words we don’t under
stand, means that we are
learning, growing, changing
and holding out hope for the
English language and a bet
ter world.
The random thought with
a plan and purpose? It’s
very simple. READ!
“For any person to suc
ceed in our society they
must be able to read, and
without acquiring a passion
for reading and the skill to
make it fun, they are going
to be severely penalized.
They will also penalize oth
ers, because they will not
be a winner and a contribu
tor but rather a drain on
society.” - Jim Davidson,
motivational speaker and
syndicated columnist.
There’s a random thought
you can take to the bank.
Thanks, Mr. Davidson.
Virgil Adams is a former
owner/editor of The Jackson
Herald.
Outdoor burn ban continues through Sept. 30
Food bank
hours given
THE HOURS of opera
tion of the Banks-Jackson
Emergency Food Bank,
located at 111 Atlanta
Avenue, Commerce, are
from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
every Monday, Wednesday
and Friday. The phone
number is 706-335-5143.
The food bank provides
one-time emergency food
supplies for individuals
and families referred by
churches or social service
groups.
THE STATE’S outdoor bum
ban in 54 Georgia counties is
under way through Thursday,
Sept. 30.
The Georgia Envi-ronmental
Protection Division’s (EPD)
open burning ban prohibits
citizens and businesses from
burning yard and land-clearing
debris. The rule is in addition to
the year-round state ban on the
burning of household garbage.
The bum ban includes several
counties in Northeast Georgia,
including Jackson, Banks,
Barrow and Madison counties.
Citizens may access more
information on the open burn
ing ban by calling the EPD dis
trict office in their area. For the
Northeast Georgia district office
in Athens, call 706-369-6376.
Small businesses may obtain
help and information by call
ing EPD’s Small Business
Environmental Assistance
Program toll-free at 877-427-
6255.
For more information on the
open burning ban and exemp
tions to the rule, visit www.
georgiaair.org and click on “Hot
Topics” to visit the open burning
ban page.
For more information about
alternatives to burning - such as
composting and chipping - call
Joe Dunlop at the Department of
Community Affairs at 404-679-
1598 or email at joe.dunlop@
dca.ga.gov, or call Roy Edwards
at Georgia’s Department of
Natural Resource’s Sustainability
Division at 404-657-7449 or
email him at roy.edwards@
gadnr.org.
Debris can also be hauled to a
commercial processing/grinding/
composting operation or to an
inert or construction and demo
lition landfill. For a list of area
landfills, call EPD’s Solid Waste
Management Program at 404-
362-2692.
Cassells express thanks
Dear Editor:
On July 17, at approximate
ly 3 a.m., we were awakened
by the frantic, heart-rending
screams of our grandsons that
the green house was on fire.
The green house is/was down
our driveway where my two
daughters and five grandchil
dren lived. My grandson had
escaped the inferno, and came
to wake us up, 911 having
already been called. When
we reached the house, it was
totally consumed with fire.
My daughter, Mary Nicole
(Nikki) and granddaughter,
Winter Wright, perished in
the fire. The house and all
possessions were a total loss.
Piecing together five accounts
of those who survived (my
other daughter and four other
grandchildren), it appears that
Nikki gave her life to save
two of those grandchildren.
To all those who have
provided our family with so
much help, love, moral sup
port as well as financial assis
tance, please know that there
is no way we can adequately
say thank you. The outpour
ing extended to our family
by the community we call
home is more profound than
words can properly say. It
would take more room than
this newspaper has to list
each and every person, busi
ness, church and organization
separately.
The media has reported that
there were no smoke detec
tors in the house. There were,
in fact, several of them. I
did not know that there were
no batteries in them. Please
people, check your detectors
to ensure their operation is
properly working.
With no insurance on the
personal property inside the
house, we were, initially,
completely overwhelmed
with the situation we were
looking at. Someone told me
later that same day that God
will provide. To the Jackson
County Fire Department, the
EMTs, deputies, Gwinnett
County firefighters, and all
the other first responders; to
Galilee Christian Church, to
Absolute Comfort Air, to the
Georgia firefighters state
wide, all who have set up
educational funds and burial
funds to aid our family, to
the friends, neighbors, com
plete strangers, to the entire
Jackson County Family who
have provided so much to
help us endure: God bless
you. And thank you.
Sincerely,
Thomas and Linda Cassell
Jefferson
Citizen urges county leaders
to consider traffic light
Dear Editor:
I read that there will be a traffic light installed at the inter
section of Ga. Hwy. 124 and Ga. Hwy. 332. Apparently, one
accident has been observed there.
Someone needs to be observing the intersection of Ga. Hwy.
53/New Cut Road/Ednaville Road - talk about dangerous. I
can’t tell you how many accidents have occurred there over
the years, but I’m sure the sheriff’s department can - and I’m
sure it’s a lot more than one.
Try turning left on Ga. Hwy. 53 from New Cut Road while
someone is sitting on Ednaville Road waiting to turn also - no
one turns, then both try to turn, on and on ....
How about the commissioners consider a traffic light there?
Lives are in danger every day at this intersection.
Sincerely,
Judy Rouse
Braselton
Letter Policy
All letters-to-the-editor must be signed by the writer with a
phone number provided for verification.
Letters may be mailed, faxed or emailed. The deadline for
letters is noon Monday.
The Herald reserves the right to edit or reject any letter sub
mitted. Write us about your thoughts or local, state or national
issues at: The Jackson Herald, PO. Box 908, Jefferson, GA
30549.
FAX: 706-367-8056 E-mail: editor@mainstreetnews.com
Free legal services available in area
FREE LEGAL services are available to senior citizens and low-
income clients in the area.
Services are based on case type and financial eligibility. Georgia
Legal Service Program does not handle criminal cases.
For an appointment, call 1-800-745-5717 or 770-535-5717 between
9 a.m. and 11 a.m., Mondays through Fridays.
A Whole New
Ballgame
Shannon Sell
According to a recent survey conducted by the National
Association of REALTORS®, close to one third of existing home
sales were either foreclosures or short sales (meaning sales in
which the lender agreed to allow the home to sell for less than the
amount outstanding on the mortgage). Indeed, it seems for now
that these "distressed properties" have become the new
"traditional" sales transaction.
This is why it is especially important to seek the representation
of a specially trained and qualified real estate professional. Sellers
particularly need assistance in navigating these complex short sale
transactions, and buyers need guidance if they are to take
advantage of these delicate opportunities.
Regrettably, many homeowners have found themselves unable
to maintain their mortgage payments and risk going into default.
A trusted agent's specialized knowledge can help secure a short
sale and keep the sellers out of the grueling foreclosure process.
Aside from staying current on national and local laws (which are
constantly changing) that apply to short sales and foreclosures,
real estate professionals are trained in qualifying sellers for
assistance, negotiating with lenders and helping to limit future
liability for the defaulting borrow.
On the other side of the transaction, real estate professionals can
assist buyers by explaining the complexities, potential problems
and stresses involved in purchasing a short-sale property. Now
more than ever, it makes sense for both sellers and buyers to seek
professional representation.
Shannon Sell is the broker & owner of The Sell Group,
LLC, a full-service real estate firm located in
downtown Hoschton. He can be reached at .
706-654-5691. www.thesellgrouponline.com ^ELLCiRDUn,
We Believe in a Sound Financial Future
At Community Bank & Trust, we believe our
best days are ahead of us. Our exceptional
service, conservative lending practices and our
sound financial management are what make
us successful.
These values shape our core beliefs. They guide
our decisions and they define who we are.
Because, at the end of the day, we’re not just
managing people’s money. We’re fueling their
dreams. And guiding their way.
Community Bank & Trust
Commerce Main: 706-335-3151
Jefferson Main: 706-367-1635
CBTonline.com
Member FDIC. CBT, a Division of SCBT, N.A.