Opinion & Editorial

My mother’s younger brother, Billy Vines, instilled in me a lifelong passion for the outdoors. Whether I am hunting, fishing or taking a walk in the woods, Uncle Billy’s spirit is with me. He died July 17, 2003.

My mother’s younger brother, Billy Vines, instilled in me a lifelong passion for the outdoors. Whether I am hunting, fishing or taking a walk in the woods, Uncle Billy’s spirit is with me. He died July 17, 2003.

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Every boy should be so lucky as to have an Uncle Billy

News Staff
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
By Dink NeSmith   This Thanksgiving story began 70 years ago. Every boy should be so lucky.  When I was 6 years old, he was more than my uncle. He was my hero. Uncles are men who can span any generation to become a boy’s best friend, too. Our bond began as soon as I could walk and talk.
The General Assembly should make all local races – anything below state representative and state senator – non-partisan.

The General Assembly should make all local races – anything below state representative and state senator – non-partisan.

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Local races no place for parties

News Staff
Thursday, November 14, 2024
The Georgia General Assembly will meet again beginning in January under the Gold Dome in Atlanta. There will surely be many important issues considered by the state legislature in the 40 days of the session. One issue that should be on the agenda will likely not be.
In 2016 my teammate Marcus Waters and I visited during the 50th reunion of Jesup High School’s Class of 1966. As a strong safety for East Tennessee State’s Buccaneers, Marcus helped set a national record for interceptions, and his team won its division’s national championship. Born on Nov. 29, 1947, Marcus died on Nov. 9, 2024.

In 2016 my teammate Marcus Waters and I visited during the 50th reunion of Jesup High School’s Class of 1966. As a strong safety for East Tennessee State’s Buccaneers, Marcus helped set a national record for interceptions, and his team won its division’s national championship. Born on Nov. 29, 1947, Marcus died on Nov. 9, 2024.

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Marcus Waters will always be on my mind

News Staff
Thursday, November 14, 2024
As they rolled his polished-oak coffin into place, a recording of “Georgia on My Mind” set the mood of the packed funeral-home chapel.  That song is one of my all-time favorites. Inside that casket was a high school classmate and one of my all-time favorite football players, Marcus Waters.
Don’t flush plan for sewer line

Don’t flush plan for sewer line

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Don’t flush plan for sewer line

News Staff
Thursday, October 31, 2024
Franklin County commissioners appear ready to move ahead with a plan to ask for sewer capacity in Franklin Springs’ planned new sewer plant. It will be the right move. The county is currently limited in its sewer capacity.

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Make the Great Investment

News Staff
Thursday, October 31, 2024
By Gatlin Correia   With much of our world spiraling out of control and a divided nation with more uncertainty everyday, we are often lost in our own selves.
The bill must be paid

The bill must be paid

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The bill must be paid

News Staff
Thursday, October 24, 2024
Franklin County and Georgia voters will decide the fates of two proposed State Consitutional Amendments and one statewide referendum on the Nov. 5 ballot.
Please, get out and vote in the Nov. 5 election. Your ballot is important. And after you vote, have confidence that however the election results turn out, the people have spoken.

Please, get out and vote in the Nov. 5 election. Your ballot is important. And after you vote, have confidence that however the election results turn out, the people have spoken.

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Vote and trust

News Staff
Thursday, October 17, 2024
The polls are now open for U.S. President. Early voting kicked off with a good turnout Tuesday and will continue through Nov. 1, Monday through Friday and the next two Saturdays at the Franklin County Elections and Registration Office. At the end of Election Day on Nov.
The photo and headline on last week’s front page of the Mitchell News-Journal tell the story of what happened in Spruce Pine, N.C.

The photo and headline on last week’s front page of the Mitchell News-Journal tell the story of what happened in Spruce Pine, N.C.

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Hellish hurricanes put things into perspective

News Staff
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
By Dink NeSmith Albert Einstein theorized that things (such as time, space, mass and motion) are relative.  To me, that suggests putting things into perspective. In a seven-day span, my personal perspective couldn’t have been more powerful if a jackhammer had been pounding inside my brain.
True colors shine during trials

True colors shine during trials

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True colors shine during trials

News Staff
Thursday, October 3, 2024
Like people, communities show what they are really made of in trying times. The remnants of Hurricane Helene brought a trial to Franklin County late last week. Thousands in the county were without power, some for a couple of days, and trees blocked roads and damaged structures.