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PAGE 4A-THE MADISON COUNTY (GA) JOURNAL. THURSDAY. AUGUST 10. 2023
Opinions
“Private opinion is weak, but public opinion is almost omnipotent.
Henry Ward Beecher
Summer Evenings
Hello, neighbors. I spent some of my last days before
the new school year reading a work by Fyodor Dosto
evsky, “Notes from Underground.” It was my third at
tempt in about 20 years — mainly because of the first
section, a real mental challenge. The book is about, good
grief, who-knows-what. I suppose I would say it is about
a man, the Underground Man
(though never so-named),
looking at himself, examin
ing his life. Really, though, I
think it is about a man having
a two-way conversation with
himself. As the reader, I felt
unnecessary. He knows what
“you” are going to say, and
he has a rebuttal for every
thing “you” might be think
ing. His life is so examined,
chiefly, solely by himself. In
my opinion, his life is overly
examined, almost to the point
of not being able to live.
Reading mainly after sup
per each day, my reaction to the book was to go outside
so I could enjoy the summer evenings. I wanted to wor
ry myself with nothing other than the present moment. I
would ask myself, “What do I hear?” Crickets. Grasshop
pers. Cicadas. Peepers. Life, all a wondrous cacophony.
“What do I see?” Stars. Satellites. Nighttime shadows.
City glow. Stars, again. Endlessness, bigger than me, far
beyond. “What do I feel?” Warmth, a cooled warmth —
the heat of the day muted, comfort after long daylight
hours. I was thankful for my life being such that I have the
opportunity and ability to sit outside after sunset hours,
simply accepting the mild night and all its vibrant offer
ings.
Sitting quietly, I thought of the tortured Underground
Man from the book, how far he is from me. Primarily,
a character from 1860s Russian literature, sure. But, in
By Travis
Moak
reading page after page, I realized we have one thing in
common: smallness. He felt lost in his world, jostled about
and practically trampled underfoot by the crowds around
him — a mote of existence, fighting against the world to
prove his place in it. Outside, among the nighttime won
ders, I also felt a little lost, minor in all that surrounded
me. However, I contented myself with not being at odds
with the world. Where he ultimately admitted he was
an unhappy man, I gladly accepted my place among the
evening crowds with happiness. Our smallness fueled
our fires.
Hopefully you are familiar with the smallness I felt,
a sense of wonder brought on by simply being a part of
all the big things around you. I feel it partly by my own
choosing, though I also have two people in my life to
thank for giving the chance the make that choice: my
parents. Small as I am, over the course of my lifetime
they made my world bigger than I could ever make it on
my own. My folks married each other 51 years ago last
week, and I have been around to enjoy 40 years of sum
mer evenings thanks to them. I had breakfast with some
friends last week, and we talked about how so many
little decisions led to where we are in our lives. Perhaps
you think of it, too - things could be very different for any
of us. We each noted how thankful we were that our paths
brought good things to our lives. In particular, I thought
how, among all the summer nights, winter sunsets, daffo
dils, morning hawks, red maples, canoe paddling, black
berries, and other newspaper-worthy subjects, the thing
that makes me feel bigger rather than smaller are a set of
parents whose hearts are full of love. Happy Anniversary,
Mike and Linda. Enjoy a summer evening, everyone; let
it be enough for your happiness.
My hope for you is that you take the time to enjoy a
such a moment in the coming days. Thank you for making
my life better, Mom and Dad.
Mindfully yours, Travis.
Travis Moak is a Madison County educator and con
tributor to The Madison County Journal.
Celebrating National Health Care Week
Dear Editor:
In 1965, our nation launched its first community health
centers to improve the lives and well-being of Americans
regardless of their ability to pay. President Lyndon B.
Johnson piloted a program to deliver affordable primary
health care to Americans who needed it most. He helped
establish community health centers in underserved areas,
making medical services accessible to people irrespective
of their age, geography, or economic status.
President Johnson’s philosophy was simple: in a “Great
Society,” no one is left behind. Today, community health
centers are one of the largest health care providers in the
country and provide high-quality, affordable health care
services. Dining National Health Center Week, August
6-12, we reflect on the significant role that health centers
have played in providing the comprehensive care that all
people deserve. MedLink Georgia is a Federally Qualified
Community Health Center providing quality, professional
healthcare to over 60,000 Georgians in Northeast Geor
gian communities since 1979, regardless of a patient’s
ability to pay.
MedLink Georgia has 29 convenient locations provid
ing a wide variety of patient care tailored to the needs of
the community in which it serves, including primary care,
pediatrics, dental care, behavioral health, diabetes educa
tion and nutrition counseling, podiatry, and more. We play
a vital role in the health of communities and offer a slid
ing fee scale to uninsured and underinsured patients who
qualify.
During National Health Center Week, let us recognize
our health centers and staff for their outstanding contribu
tions to communities across Georgia and beyond.
Let us thank the dedicated professionals in our commu
nity health centers who provide quality care at affordable
prices. Let us thank them for their dedication, their ser
vice, and their commitment to a stronger, healthier, and
more equitable healthcare system.
Sincerely,
Dave Ward
MedLink Georgia, CEO
Back-to-school at the library
I hope you had a chance to check out the Back-to-School
Rally co-hosted by the Madison County Library last week
at Madison County Middle School. Organizers of the event
gave away school supplies, provided educational resources
to parents and students, and even served a meal to attend
ees! I wasn’t able to make it, but I hear a lot of fun was
had by all.
Events like the Back-to-School Rally are only one of
many helpful resources the library can offer you. As our
kids are easing (hopefully not kicking and screaming)
back into School Days, the library can assist with every
thing from homework and
research to socialization -
an important part of your
child’s development, no
matter the age. Obviously
our library has a plethora of
enjoyable books for every
reader, interest and ability.
But the library is more than
just a place to grab books
for entertainment — it is
also a great resource for re
search, writing and home
work. The Madison Coun
ty Library has a surprising
number of non-fiction and
educational titles in the re
sources section.
I don’t know about you,
but research papers are the
bane of my existence. I’ve been a writer for over twenty
years, and I still loathe them; a distaste that originated in
my high school days and will never leave me. Now that my
son is starting 9th grade, I know the complaints are coming
when he’s tasked with those dreaded term papers. But I’m
excited to know he can come to the library and get the re
sources he needs (thanks to the internet, most information
is at our fingertips, but you’d be surprised at how often you
need an out-of-print or local title that just can’t be found
online). If your teen is writing a research paper and needs
sources, bring them to the library! There’s something about
doing your research in person, with your own hands, that
gives those papers a little extra oomph. Even if a specific
title isn’t on the shelf, you can easily request a title from a
PINES-participating library from the easy-to-use database
(you can find it on the Madison County Library’s website).
All you have to do is request a hold, and the book will be
delivered to the library in a few days! I have used the li
brary’s ample resources for both my book writing and for
school (I am a full-time history student) and am a frequent
user of the PINES system, which is so easy and convenient.
I’ve found some incredibly rare and hard to find textbooks
through the system, saving myself time and money! And,
I’d be remiss if I didn’t shout out the Heritage Room again
- the comfy space is much more than just genealogy and
old yearbooks, folks. You can access old newspapers, legal
documents, and some incredibly rare local books, journals/
academic writing and resources that you won’t find any
where else. If your teen is interested in journalism, local
history, or writing, I can’t recommend it enough.
If your student has trouble accessing the internet —
which, let’s face it, is a necessity these days - pop by the
library to grab an internet hotspot! Anyone with a library
card can check out these hotspots and enjoy high-speed
internet for all their schoolwork and socialization needs.
Another great new feature the library offers now is assis
tive hearing technology! Madison County Library recently
installed Listen EVERYWHERE hearing loops in the Jere
Ayers room. These provide sound amplification, accessi
ble via a free mobile app or small lanyard. These make it
easy to access audio on your own hearing device and is
easy to use and as simple as downloading an app (or simply
requesting one of the lanyards if apps aren’t your thing).
Library staff are always happy to assist!
School can be extremely stressful, especially when all
that homework is piling up. The library always has fun
and educational activities to take the stress off for a while.
Brush up on your computer skills at the library’s Inclusive
Computer Club or talk all things science with your peers
at the Science Book Club. If clubs aren’t your thing, come
hang out in the newly-sprueed-up teen area and read your
favorite graphic novel, or my personal favorite: the dog
eared 90’s copies of Fear Street. Grab one of the library’s
many DVD titles to watch your favorite TV show or that
classic film your English teacher recommended (but only
after you’ve read the book!). As we move from the swelter
ing summer into the dog days and eventually into Fall, the
library will be offering lots more fun clubs, storytimes and
reading events! Make sure you grab a copy of the calendar
at the front desk each month, so you don’t miss anything!
The Madison County Library wishes all our kids a pro
ductive, safe, and FUN school year!
Teri Drake-Floyd is a pro fessional writer and published
author, and serves as secretary on the Madison County Li
brary Board of Trustees.
Things Mama
Told Me (Part One)
If you lived in the Southern part of Madison County that
was bordered by the Broad River and Beaverdam Creek,
during the time after 1887 and into the 20th century, you
would have been very familiar with four towns. These
were Hull, Colbert, Comer and Carlton. People of these
communities were very close because of the Seaboard
Airline Railroad depos that were in these towns and the
Athens Road which is Highway 72. A friend of mine and
amateur historian, David Whitehead, recently loaned me
a copy of a book called “Memories of Our Home Town”
a compilation of folk history of Colbert, earlier named
Five Forks, between 1776 and 1976. One of the excerpts
from this book is an account of what one of the authors’
mothers told them about life “back then.” The following
is a summary of her account that I would like to share:
The way I remember it we did not just “grow up. We
were reared, not raised, with a lot of love and discipline,
which meant the employment of the old adage “Spare
the rod and spoil the child.”
There were not too many of
us that were spoiled. Almost
everybody had what was ba
sically a leafless peach tree
in the back yard. The few
limbs that had a few leaves
on the end of the branch
were used as “fly chasers”
when one sat on the porch.
Back then, nobody had
screened porches like they
do now. When the leaves
finally came off we would
place the bare limb into the
fold of a piece of newspaper
and stich it in place. The pa
per would then be cut into
strips. This bare limb could also be utilized as a switch in
the aforementioned discipline process.
There were many different kinds of switches. The new
growth from a privet hedge was often used. There were
also the hickory switches that were always standing in
the comer of the classroom, which were replenished by a
generous supply that were stored in the cloak closet. Yes,
back then we all wore cloaks when the weather called
for it. I have no idea when the cloak became a coat. I
remember that the boys would cut notches in the hickory
switches, for obvious reasons.
Growing up in Colbert meant growing up in an envi
ronment that would today be referred to as communal liv
ing. Everybody knew everybody and all the kids were in
and out of each other’s houses like they were their own.
It was like a community of one big happy family. You
had your parents, you had everybody else’s parents and,
if you were lucky, you had your grandparents close by as
well. You also had uncles and aunts and all the unrelated
neighbors who, I believe, through general interest, were
looking out for you. I am not sure where the fine line was
where interest left off and medlin’ set in! In any case you
pretty much minded everybody who was an adult because
it was an established norm that “age was to be respected.”
Once everybody got a phone, the use and abuse of the
telephone party line kept the entire community informed
as to what was going, so there was not very much privacy
buy then again there was not a whole lot going on that we
needed to be private about.
Back then there was not much efficiency in any facet
of living, especially in the home. That had its good points
as well. During the years before the automobile there was
a distinct lack of transportation, there were very few ra
dios and television was something that could not even
be imagined. Unless you walked you did not go far from
home. There was a lot more time spent with family and
others in the small community. This gave us a lot more
togetherness in our family as well as our community. We
talked to each other a lot.
The word “babysitter” had not been uttered yet. There
were not really many alternatives or variations to child
care. Everybody did what needed to be done and accept
ed that mode of living, out of necessity. Everyone coped
with what today would have been considered inconve
niences and did not ask too many questions. We were
much friendlier, more trusting, less competitive and en
joyed the simpler things in life more than we do now.
To be continued next week . . . Stay tuned!
Columnist Charlie Snelling is an Athens resident who
grew up in Carlton.
By Charlie
Snelling
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The Madison County Journal
Danielsville, Madison County Georgia 30633
Merged with The Danielsville Monitor and The Comer News, January 2006
A publication of MainStreet Newspapers Inc.
MIKE BUFFINGTON, Co-publisher
SCOTT BUFFINGTON Co-publisher
HANNAH BARRON Editor
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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:
THE MADISON COUNTY JOURNAL
PO Box 908
Jefferson, Ga. 30549
The Official Legal Organ of Madison County, Georgia-Penodicals postage paid at
Danielsville, Georgia 30633 (USPS 011-097; ISSN 1074987X)