Opinion

An overwhelming majority of respondents in our online poll on social programs are absolutely ready to put an end to them. [Full Story »] 

Sen Saxby Chambliss gave the commencement address at Gordon State College Friday. The following is the text of his remarks:

Thank you, Dr. Burns, for that generous introduction.

President Burns, trustees, alumni, graduates, family and friends: Thank you for allowing me to share this wonderful day in your lives and in the life of this institution. [Full Story »] 

By Walter Geiger

Colonel Pickering constantly schooled Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady with Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner’s lyric, ‘The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain’.

It is the hook that holds the musical and later movie adaptation together. [Full Story »] 

I got to observe television production up close and personal last week and it was an eyeopening experience.

On Wednesday, a Discovery ID crew was in our office to interview me for an upcoming episode of “Deadly Affairs”. The crew consisted of a light man, sound man, producer and assistant producer. Both producers were females. [Full Story »] 

By Walter Geiger

In just its ninth year, the Barnesville BBQ & Blues Festival has grown into one of the premiere events of its type in the southeast and nationally.

Approximately 50 cook teams will be in town this week. Their campers and smokers will start rolling in on Thursday night and, by Friday morning, the air will be filled with the aroma of pork, chicken and brisket prepared as it was intended. [Full Story »] 

When people die, family members are left with the task of going through their stuff.

Such has been the case with our family following the death of Laura’s father, Quimby Melton Jr.

On a recent Saturday, I ventured into his stables – a place rarely visited since Quimby’s last horse, Bandy, died in 2006 at 38 years of age. [Full Story »] 

If you work, you have reason to celebrate this week.

On average, Georgians who work have earned enough money to pay off their share of the tax burden at the federal, state and local levels as of April 9. So, we celebrate Tax Freedom Day. [Full Story »] 

By T. J. Imberger
Event chairman

The national spotlight will be on Barnesville soon as the smell of hickory smoke starts to work its way through town. The stars and crew of the TV reality show BBQ Pitmasters will soon find out what we already know – Barnesville is a great example of what small town USA is all about.

The Barnesville BBQ and Blues Festival is in its ninth year of showcasing some of the best barbecue and music in the Southeast. So much so that several months ago we were contacted by Discovery Channel’s producers of BBQ Pitmasters to bring the filming of a one hour episode here to Barnesville, only one of 10 episodes to be filmed for season four of the show. [Full Story »] 

By Kay S. Pedrotti

Nobody’s talking “yes or no” on whether the Arkansas giant Walmart will try to stomp down in Barnesville. If it happens -- and where it’s supposed to happen -- it could be a bigger nightmare than the city or county has faced in the eight years I’ve been here, other than the 2011 tornado. [Full Story »] 

By Walter Geiger

I’ve heard a lot of motivational speeches in my life. Quite frankly, most have been snoozers with an occasional treat thrown in. Last week, however, I was spellbound as Jackie Harmon spoke at an academic achievement banquet.

Harmon, then 15, moved to Griffin with her mother and a man her mother had taken up with.

Turns out the man was an abusive drunk who beat Jackie’s mom and once split open her skull.

When he was through kicking them around, the man kicked Jackie and her mom out of the house [Full Story »] 

It is rare, but occasionally, reporters become part of the story or stories they are covering.

The first example that springs to mind is that of Woodward and Bernstein and the Watergate scandal. They basically created ‘investigative reporting’ as they dug into the Watergate burglary and the scandalous coverup that followed it. They and their sources became part of the story and some actually were subpoenaed to give testimony that ultimately forced President Richard Nixon out of the White House. [Full Story »] 

By Walter Geiger

As I sipped coffee and slowly brought my brain to life on the second morning of the Daylight Saving Time period, I began pondering the whole notion of messing with our clocks - both inner and outer. Maybe I am just older and grumpier but I hate the time change. [Full Story »] 

Saturday was not a great day for soccer along the banks of the Chattahoochee River in Duluth.

It was freezing. A biting wind was blowing in off the river and the occasional snow flake or frozen rain drop hit the bill of my cap. [Full Story »] 

By Walter Geiger

Decades ago, a pending trip to Atlanta brought excitement. Back in the 1970s, Atlanta was electric. Now, not so much.

I’m older. Atlanta has changed. [Full Story »]