Newspaper Page Text
THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. JANUARY 2, 2020 - PAGE 5A
Opinions
Why should we suffer for others’ riches?
Dear Editor:
My wife and I moved to
our 65-acre tract of land
located on the Zetta Lee
Johnson Road and HV
Chandler Road in 1986.
The Georgia Renewable
Power (GRP) plant is lit
erally in our backyard, six-
tenths of a mile from GRP.
We were here before Par-
allam. MacMillan Bloedel,
Trusjoist, GRP and now
biomass. We have had to
put up with all this and
why. We later sold some
of our land and now have
47 acres. We worked hard
and have done without to
pay for this land while rais
ing our children and taking
what life has thrown at us.
But we are happy with our
land. My family and I are
life-long citizens of Madi
son County.
We choose to stay here
for a reason; that reason is
Governments are already
suspecting Russia of fielding
assassination teams targeting
people who are in public dis
agreement with the Russian
government. There is no
reason not to believe such
a team would strike here in
America, eliminating dissi
dents who have found sanc
tuary on American soil. Such
a strike would create fear
in smaller eastern countries
that border Russia.
called the country. We are
a rural region not a town
or city with factories and
such. But it goes much
deeper than that. I can’t
describe all that the coun
tryside God created has to
offer. It is enormous. We
purchased our land so that
we could have a small farm
if we wanted, go walking
through the woods, deer
hunt, sit on the front porch,
eat a peaceful and quiet
breakfast on the backporch,
have a garden.
Oh, did I say have a gar
den? I have grown sweet
potatoes and had a garden
for over 30 years. With all
the threats of runoff and
the air pollution I am hav
ing second thoughts about
having a garden anymore. I
irrigate from the stream near
my garden spot. Now we are
afraid of the water. We have
a dog and cats that have to
Putin would like nothing
more than to rebuild the old
Soviet empire.
We will have to deal in
some way with the Mexican
drug cartels. They are de
stroying the American life
style and culture at a tremen
dous cost.
The big pharmaceutical
companies are taking money
from everyone’s pocket with
soaring drug costs. Medical
facilities and medical prac-
hear and breathe the pollu
tion from GRP.
Can anyone give me a
legitimate reason why we
should give up our lifestyle?
Why should this neighbor
hood have to go through
the battle that they are now
going through? Why should
there have to be a coalition
group formed to fight for our
health? Why should I have
to turn up my television so
I can hear it over the plant?
Why should I be awakened
in the middle of the night
by the plant? Why should I
have to listen to this plant at
all? I have heard that it will
be quiet. “Quiet,” accord
ing to the Merriam Webster
Dictionary, is “enjoyed in
peace and relaxation” and
“free from noise or uproar.”
I have yet to experience qui
et from GRP. I don’t care
how quiet it may get or be I
do not want to hear it at all.
When I turn off my lights
at night, I still have lights in
my back door from GRP.
When I walk out my back
door I hear and see GRP.
Why should I have to step
aside because of some
one’s “gung ho” idea that
this is good for our coun
ty? What is my biggest ex
pense when I pay property
taxes? School. Is this the
reason someone thought
GRP would be good that it
would bring in more mon
ey? I find it hard to believe
that we needed that plant for
tax money. Look at all the
subdivisions in this coun
ty. Look at all the chicken
houses in this county. Do
they not pay taxes?
Does anyone get my
point? If I wanted to sell my
property, who would buy it?
It will be a cold day in hell
before we should be made
to step aside and let industy
who witness the same event
are going to have differences
in their version of what took
place.
Controversy involving
Eastwood’s films are noth
ing new and that goes for
ones he has starred in and
ones he has directed. East-
wood, who is almost 90
years old, received criti
cism for his films “Ameri
can Sniper” and “J. Edgar.”
His well-remembered Dirty
Harry series of movies were
not well received in some
circles and the same can be
said for his westerns, often
deemed too violent.
take the place of what we
have all worked hard to
pay for. We will not give up
our Country living because
someone has a “gung ho”
idea that made someone a
little richer. This “gung ho”
idea is at our (the residents
surrounding GRP) expense.
If this county must have in
dustry to survive, then get
off somewhere away from
us and do it. I may have said
some things that others may
not understand.
Well, let a plant such as
GRP be planted in your
backyard and see what you
think. I may not have said
everything but hopefully I
have made my point. GRP
is another headache to deal
with when we all could be
doing something more pro
ductive.
Sincerely.
Ted Fowler
Colbert
Richard Jewell was a
hero. That fact did eventu
ally to come to light but it
was at a large price for him.
In fact it was really the ulti
mate price he paid.
Make no mistake that East-
wood could care less about
those who criticized his latest
film. He wanted to put a he
ro’s light on Richard Jewell
and from all indications he
accomplished that. It’s just
too bad he was not still here
to see it.
Chris Bridges is a colum
nist for MainStreet Newspa
pers Inc. He can be reached
atpchrisbridges@gmail.com.
Bridges
contributed to his early
death.
Jewell, to his credit, re
built his life the best he
could. He worked to get
himself in better physical
shape and worked for a time
for the Jefferson Police De
partment.
Still his life was never the
same. The money he did win
in his lawsuits (estimated to
be around $2 million total)
clearly did not make up for
what he had been through.
This story has always
bothered me. As a member
of the media I understand
how getting something
continued from 4A
wrong can impact some
one’s life. And while the
AJC never said Jewell “did
it” the details of his personal
life were splashed for all too
read. A man who was in re
ality a hero was portrayed as
a pathetic loner who would
do anything to live out a fan
tasy of being a cop.
The media can play a big
role in shaping opinion on
someone. It’s not just the
Jewell case. Once a person
forms an opinion it typically
does not change despite fu
ture developments.
Eastwood’s movie drew
criticism for implying that
the AJC reporter who broke
the story got her informa
tion in exchange for several
favors. The reporter, who
has also died, was strongly
defended by her colleagues
and editors who said she
would never do that sort of
thing.
The AJC wanted the mov
ie distributor to put a dis
claimer at the beginning of
the him but it was not done.
It should be noted that any
him based on actual events
is going to have some parts
that are hctionalized. No
him can be 100 percent ac
curate because even people
Terrell
continued from 4A
tices are enjoying record
payments for medical pro
cedures and tests that cost
much less in other countries.
Other medical health costs
and insurance rates are un
real and literally draining
the pockets of hard working
Americans trying to raise
families.
We must resolve the legal
issues surrounding the Fed
eral Bureau of Investigation
and the abuse of the federal
Foreign Intelligence Service
Act (FISA), as well as the
Hillary Clinton violations of
federal law concerning her
emails and illegal servers.
Unfortunately, it is hard to
believe we will get much of
anything done in 2020. The
best we can expect is Con
gress will continue to collect
their checks and travel fees.
Finally, we can expect the
Democratic Party to contin
ue to try to change the face
and heart of America while
our poor and sick continue
to suffer and those on the
international scene will be
emboldened to do all of us
harm.
It’s not a very pretty pic
ture.
Jimmy Terrell is retired
from a career in law en
forcement and is a Winder
city councilman. He can
be reached at ejterrell65@
gmail.com.
Bridgeman continued from 4A
Elected officials take all
sorts of oaths, presidents
and members of Congress
among them. They should
pay attention to the content
of those oaths - things such
as upholding the Constitu
tion.
Those are not simply
words. They should be
recognized and honored,
not trashed and ignored as
Trump has done.
Trump’s lies and actions
make him unfit for office -
from president to dogcatch-
er. I apologize to dogcatcher
and other presidents.
The differences he exhib
its are what endears him to
supporters - he makes peo
ple like me furious.
I have been a moderate
all of my adult life and my
political heroes - Daniel
Patrick Moynihan, Howard
Baker and Sam Nunn have
been in that line. Trump has
changed me.
I have become a Nev
er Trumper. I will vote in
November 2020 for any
creature but him. My dog,
Doodle, is smarter and more
civilized than our president.
I would vote for her.
Ron Bridgeman is a re
porter for MainStreet News
papers. Send him email to
ron @ mainstreetnews. com.
Leaders
should have
listened to
the citizens
Dear Editor:
(In response to the Dec.
26 article, “RICO case
alleges owners misrep
resented power plants to
investors.”) Had the coun
ty commissioners, along
with state and federal of
ficials, listened to their
constituents' opposition in
installation of this plant,
we wouldn't have this and
other nonresident busi
ness owners in the county
wreaking so much havoc.
With the power plant
ruining the air and down
stream well water sources,
and poultry waste dumping
into the ground, our county
is literally becoming one
big pile of manure. And
people are worried about
cow poop gases?
Sincerely,
Christine Brown
Arson
hotline
offered in
Georgia
The office of the Insur
ance and fire commissioner
reminds Georgians that the
state has a toll-free arson
hotline, 1-800-282-5804,
sponsored by the office and
the Georgia Arson Control
Program.
Callers to the hotline will
be eligible for rewards of
up to $10,000 if they pro
vide information leading
to the arrest and convic
tion of an arsonist. Callers
and reward recipients may
choose to remain anony
mous.
“We want to remind
Georgians of this incentive
to report any information
they may have about a sus
picious fire,” said officials.
“In many cases, investiga
tors rely on evidence pro
vided by witnesses to con
vict an arsonist.”
For the best
buys, read
The Journal
classifieds
Local services
PROJECT LIFESAVER
The Pilot Club of Madi
son County and the Madison
County Sheriff’s Department
offer a 24/7 monitoring sys
tem (bracelet) for individuals
suffering from brain disorders
and who may have the po
tential to wander away from
caregivers. For more informa
tion on the Project Lifesaver
Program, contact Linda Free
man at 706-335-3814 or Bet
ty Sartain at 706-795-2047.
ALCOHOLICS
ANONYMOUS
Alcoholics Anonymous
meets on Mondays and
Thursdays at 7 p.m. at the
Colbert Baptist Church annex
and Fridays at 7 p.m. at the
Danielsville United Method
ist Church annex.
NARCOTICS
ANONYMOUS
Narcotics Anonymous
meets at 7 p.m. Monday at
the Danielsville Methodist
Church annex.
TOUCHDOWN CLUB
The Madison County High
School Touchdown Club
meets the first Tuesday of
each month at 7 p.m. in the
high school film room across
from the weight room. The
club meets every week during
football season. The football
program’s website can be
accessed at redraiderfootball.
wixsite.com/mchs
MART
The Madison Area Re
source Team (M.A.R.T)/
Family Connection meets the
fourth Tuesday of each month
at the old Danielsville court
house at 8 a.m. Call 795-3565
for more information.
MASONIC
LODGE
John H. Jones Masonic
Lodge #348 holds its monthly
meeting every third Thursday
at 8 p.m. preceded by a meal
at 7 p.m.
TOPS MEETING
TOPS (Take Off Pounds
Sensibly) of Ila meets each
Tuesday at Mt. Hermon Pres
byterian Church in Ila. Weigh-
in is at 5:15 p.m. followed by
the meeting at 5:45 p.m. For
more information, call Mary
Ann Bonds at 706-789-2869.
MCHSBAND
BOOSTER CLUB
MCHS Band Booster Club
meets every third Tuesday at
6:30 p.m. at the high school
band room. Band parents are
invited and encouraged to at
tend.
GAMBLER’S
ANONYMOUS
Gambler’s Anonymous
meets every Monday night
at 7:30 p.m. at Living Word
Baptist Church. For more
information, call (404) 237-
7281.
AMERICAN LEGION
The American Legion Post
#39 of Danielsville meets the
last Thursday of the month at
7 p.m. All veterans are wel
come. For more information,
call 706-795-2669.
4-STAKES
HORSESHOES
Four-Stakes Horseshoes
pitches every Tuesday at
6:30 p.m. The league is hand
icapped to give all pitchers an
equal chance. All ages and
skill levels are welcome. Call
706-207-9831 for more infor
mation.
ABATE OF GEORGIA
ABATE of Georgia, Inc.
District 5 North “Your motor
cycle rights organization” is
now meeting at Cycle World
of Athens, 4225 Atlanta Hwy.
on the third Tuesday of the
month at 7 p.m. in the cus
tomer lounge. For more infor
mation, call Allen Kennedy at
770-231-4824 or email abate-
ga5north@gmail.com All
motorcyclists are welcome.
BROTHERS OF THE
THIRD WHEEL
Brothers of the 3rd Wheel
meets the second Sunday of
each month at the T/A Truck
Stop in Commerce on Hwy.
441. For more information,
call Cam McCallister at 706-
540-4950.
MADISON
COUNTY BEEKEEPERS
The Madison County Bee
keepers Association meets the
third Monday of each month
at 6 p.m. at Trinity Baptist
Church, 2411 Hwy. 29 North,
Danielsville. The group held
its first meeting January
2018. Organizers say visitors
are welcome to attend. For
more information, go to mad-
isoncountybeekeepers.com or
call 706-255-2412.
MADISON COUNTY
NEEDLECRAFTERS
Madison County Needlec-
rafters meet every Tuesday
from 1 to 3 p.m. for crochet
ing, cross-stitch, knitting.
tatting, etc. in an atmosphere
of relaxing fellowship, mem
bers said. Bring your current
handwork project and drop
in. Call 404-713-4027 for
more information.
NATIONAL LADIES
HOMESTEAD
GATHERING
The National Ladies
Homestead Gathering ex
ists to provide a welcoming
environment, where women
can share new ideas, cele
brate victories, address chal
lenges and cultivate com
munity with like-minded
women. The group meets the
first Thursday of each month
at 6:30 p.m., at the Jackson
EMC building off of Hwy. 29.
BEE CLUB
The Oglethorpe Coun
ty Bee Club meets the third
Monday of the month at
7 p.m. at the Oglethorpe
County Farm Bureau on
Hwy. 78 in Crawford. Visitors
are welcome. For more infor
mation, visit ocbeeclub.com.
To have an event listed in
on-going sendees, call Mar
gie Richards at 800-795-
2581.
THE STARTER &
ALTERNATOR SHOP
• Starter • Alternator • Generator Repair
WAYNE, Owner ,<fta
245-0055 Batteries
481 College Street §40
Royston, GA 30662
HOURS: 8-5:30 M, T, TH, F 8-12 Wed. • 8-11 Sat.
NEW YEAR’S CLASSIC - The
first Saturday of January is al
ways a special day at ACS. This
is the day that we host the annual
New Year’s Classic Bible Quiz
Tournament - one of the largest
tournaments in the Country.
Bible Quizzing is one of the
unique extracurricular activities
offered at ACS. Bible Quiz stu
dents memorize large portions
of Scripture and then compete in
tournaments where they are asked
questions about the passages they
have committed to memory.
This year’s teams are mem
orizing Galatians, Ephesians,
Philippians, Colossians and Phi
lemon. These students are hid
ing God’s Word in their hearts
and meditating on it often - one
of the many benefits of a Chris
tian school education. Time for a
change? Check out ACS.
ATHENS
CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
“Affordable Quality Education Since 1970”
K3-12TH CALL (706) 549-7586
www.athenschristianschool.org