Newspaper Page Text
Page 4 — Wednesday, December 2, 2009, TheTrue Citizen
inions
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The Pledge Of Allegiance
I pledge allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America
and to the Republic for which
jit stands, one Nation under
God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all.
★ -A'’*’*- ★ ★ ★ ★
RFD
No time to relax
According to most news reports, the swine flu epi
demic may have reached its peak and is slowing down
in most parts of the country.
By the middle of October, about 22 million Ameri
cans had been infected, almost 100,000 had been hos
pitalized and almost 4000 had been killed by the virus
or its side effects. That sounds like a lot of victims, but
the numbers won’t approach those of the normal flu
season.
Many Americans are conflicted about being vacci
nated for either virus, and that is an understandable con
cern. Vaccine shortages and news photos of long lines
at the peak of the outbreak were certainly discouraging
for many who might have wanted the immunizations.
In any case, this is no time to let down our guard
about this threat. Many more millions will be infected
before the virus makes a retreat.
The recommended list of those who should be vacci
nated includes: pregnant women, child care profession
als, health care workers who have direct patient con
tact, children 6 months to 4 years old, and children 5
through 18 who have chronic medical problems.
Getting the vaccination and taking other precautions
are personal, individual decisions. We are simply urg
ing our readers not to let a little good news make you
complacent. The virus is still out there and holiday
travel and family get-togethers could give it a fresh start,
so just be alert!
Looking Back
10 years ago: December 1,1999
The Burke County Hospital received a thumbs up from the
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
The three-year accreditation was the first under the management
of HealthSpan, a group of local physicians which leases the fa
cility from the Burke County Hospital Authority.
Burke County’s unemployment rate dropped from 8.2 percent
in October to 7.7 percent in November. The biggest employers
were Kwikset (560), Samsons (385) and Globe Furniture (318).
25 years ago: November 28,1984
Pat Ivey, brother of Waynesboro Police Chief H.L. Ivey, was
named as the new manager at Western Sizzlin’ Steakhouse.
All three candidates for Waynesboro City Council posts were
unopposed, allowing the election to be cancelled.
R.U. Harden and Charles Economos were unopposed for re-
election and G. Samuel Stone was unopposed to replace Dorothy
Latimore.
50 years ago: December 3,1959
Z. A. Petro, manager of Aluminum Chair Products, said the plant
was in operation with 44 employees. HE added that employment
was expected to double in the next month, and the first car-load
of products would be shipped by the first of the year.
75 years ago: Nov. 30,1934
The recently restored Old Church, located 6 miles southeast of
Waynesboro on the “Old Quaker Road’’ leading to Savannah,
burned to the ground over the weekend. It stood on ground granted
by a royal charter from King George of England and had stood
since the 1770s.
Harry Gage of Waynesboro was one of 26 Louisiana State
University students suspended for challenging the “pictorial
power” of Huey Long, Louisiana’s "Kingfish.” The group had
signed a petition protesting censorship of the school’s newspa
per.
P.O. Box 948 • 601 E. 6th Street
Waynesboro, Georgia 30830
Telephone: (706) 554-2111 • Fax: (706) 554-2437
Published every Wednesday by TheTrue Citizen, Inc. Pe
riodical Postage Paid at Waynesboro, Georgia (USPS
642-300)
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The True
Citizen, P.O. Box 948, Waynesboro, GA 30830.
Roy F. Chalker
1915-1994
Roy F. Chalker Jr. Bonnie K. Taylor
Editor & Publisher General Manager
Elizabeth Billips
Associate Editor
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tography; Susie Barefield, classifieds and circulation;
Betty Belk, accounting and bookkeeping; Lavonna
Drawdy, advertising composition and design and adver
tising sales; Lisa J. Chance, page designer; Anne Marie
Kyzer, staff writer; and Tres Bragg, staff writer and ad
vertising composition..
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By Bonnie K. Taylor
General Manager The True Citizen
Christmas on Liberty Square is this Friday in Downtown
Waynesboro beginning at 5 p.m.
This event should get us all in the Christmas spirit starting with
a Live Nativity presented by Hebron International Baptist Church
in the parking lot next to the Good Day Cafe.
Also performing on the main stage will be
The Homegrown Band playing sounds of
Christmas.
The event officially gets underway with the
traditional Stroll at 5:30 p.m., followed by the
historical address and caroling.
My dear friend, David Boggs, will be read
ing ’Twas the Night Before Christmas at 6 p.m.
on the courthouse square.
| | The Burke County High School Choir and
Hand Bells will perform at Lirst Liberty Mar
ket at 6:30 p.m.
Performing at 7:15 p.m. at the Main Stage will be Center Stage
Dance Academy, Quick Steps Dance Studio and Brittany’s Dance
Academy.
Local retailers, including Picket Pence Framing & Antiques,
The Good Day Cafe. Waynesboro Emporium, Waynesboro Plo-
Okay, so I’m a week late with my list of things that I’m thank
ful for.
I’ve been busy.
Sue me.
But honestly, isn’t that happy Thursday in
November every year just the beginning of
the season when we all begin to focus on the
really important things in our lives?
We should remain thankful till at least the
week after Christmas.
You know. When we’re all broke. When
the gifts have been stowed away to be re
gifted at somebody’s birthday during the com
ing year. When many of us have gained so much weight from
the Holidays that nothing we bought LOR the Holidays fits on
January 1. When our credit cards are screaming for mercy at the
thought of being dragged through one more UPC scanner.
In other words, be thankful before if s too late!
Okay, enough of the cynical palaver. Because the truth is, I’m
one of the few men I know of who actually likes the Holiday
Season.
So, without further delay, here is my already slightly delayed
list.
Lor me, thankfulness begins with family. Mine is the best,
though I’m sure that you think yours is.
Thoughts of my huge extended family start with Mama.
The Sunday before Thanksgiving she turned 83. She’ll fuss at
me, then forgive me for revealing her age. That same day she
sang in the same church choir where she has for over 60 years.
I’m thankful that she and Daddy found each other and contrib
uted substantially to the baby boom.
My two brothers have lived around our hometown all of their
lives and, between them, know everybody in the county. I, on
the other hand, was gone for thirty years. So, when I need folks
to hang with or to fill out a party list, I have to borrow friends
from them. Both are also long wed and they let me be the fifth
wheel when I don’t have plans of my own. Which is most of the
time. The bros have my back. I have theirs.
My sister, who had the unenviable task of growing up the only
sister to three rowdy boys, is the world’s second best cook, right
behind Mama. Sis was around recently and baked several batches
of cookies for various Holiday functions but she never yelled at
me when she noticed a few, okay, more than a few, missing. I
blamed it on the mice but I think she was on to me. I also came
home one day and found a load of clothes I’d left in the dryer
folded and stacked. Trust me, if you live alone and eat most of
your meals out of cans, fresh baked cookies and folded under
wear are things to be thankful for. Sis has my back too.
My oldest daughter looks like Barbie, like her mother. She’s
rist and Gifts and Yvonne’s Blowers & Gifts, will be open late for
your shopping conveninece.
There will be many fun things for children inlcuding Milk and
Cookies with Santa at 6 p.m. at the courthouse; pictures with
Santa’s old sleigh at Lirst National Bank; ice skating at Capital
City Bank; D.O.O.R.’s Elf Candy Shoppe; portraits with Santa at
Graphicsmith Studio; write and mail your letter to Santa at
Yvonne’s Flowers & Gifts; thumbprint art at Picket Fence Fram
ing & Antiques; make a pet ornament at Bella Dee-O-Gee; and
D.O.O.R.’s Polar Express train rides at the Elf House.
There will be lots of food to eat like steak sandwiches, subs
and potato soup from the Cajun & More.
There will also be vendors with Christmas gifts for your holi
day shopping.
On Saturday the Town and Country Woman’s Club will be host
for the annual Christmas Tour of Homes from 4-8 p.m.
Tickets are $15 and can be purchased by calling 706-551-1299.
Peatured on the tour are the homes of Linda and Jerry Jenkins,
210 Shady Oak Lane; Jean and Ken Stanford, 710 Academy Ave.;
Val Crawford, 820 Academy Ave.; Nina and Don Springer, 827
Academy Ave.; June and David Johnson, 831 Academy Ave.;
Bonnie and Eddie Taylor, 851 Academy Ave.; Laura and Randy
Hensley, 250 Crestridge Drive.
Get in the Christmas spirit... join the fun this weekend!
my serious minded child, thoughtful but also playful. And just
as butt headed as me. We’ve had the inevitable father/kid clashes
as she matured and I didn't, but she’s always had me wrapped.
Still does. She’s my heart.
My younger daughter currently has pink and white hair and
indescribable tattoos that I couldn’t talk her out of. Even with all
the added color, she’s gorgeous. My rebel child. She makes me
laugh. She gave me my first grandchild so I forgave her for the
tattoos. She’s my other heart.
My son has been to war with the Marines twice and has come
back both times unhurt. He’ll be out of the Corps in less than a
year and has already charted his course for civilian life. Eons
ahead of where I was at his age. No man has ever been prouder
of his boy. He’s my third heart.
Thrown into that mix are a multi talented son-in-law who adores
my daughter and granddaughter and who will become a million
aire by his own device, and a pretty little daughter-in-law who
stood by my son through boot camp and two overseas deploy
ments.
I couldn’t begin to list all of the nieces and nephews, aunts,
uncles and cousins who I also thank God for every day.
As I said, it all begins with family.
And a church that welcomed me home and put me to work.
A soon to be completed new house.
A Southern hometown that has embraced me again.
A country that I love in spite of a government that I don’t trust.
Local football teams that win more than they lose.
Priends, old ones, new ones, even borrowed ones.
A Lord whose good all the time.
And you.
Every time you tell me that you like how I fill this space. I’m
more thankful than I can ever express.
Happy Thanksgiving, a week late, or 51 weeks early.
Don Lively is a retired police officer and freelance writer. He
lives in Shell Bluff. Email Don at Livelvcolo @ aol.com.
We welcome your letters
Letters to the editor of The True Citizen are welcomed and en
couraged. These are pages of opinion, yours and ours.
Letters to the editor voice the opinions of the newspaper’s read
ers. The True Citizen reserves the right to edit any and all por
tions of a letter. Unsigned letters will not be published. Letters
must include the signature, address and phone number of the
writer to allow our staff to authenticate its origin. Letters should
be limited to 400 words and should be typewritten and double
spaced or neatly printed by hand. Deadline for letters to the edi
tor is Tuesday at 9 a.m.
Email Letters to the Editor to: lisaj@thetruecitizen.com.
Don Lively
THANKS A LOT