Smith: The loss of Parade magazine

Although I was not aware of what was going on, it was a little disconcerting in the last couple of years when on occasional weekends no Parade magazine was among the inserts in the Sunday papers. That should have been a signal—that the popular supplement was headed for extinction.

Rich: Maybe it’s just me

Most readers of my wife’s column know that I am a transplant. Some might say that I’m an interloper or intruder. Since moving to the South, I’ve encountered only extreme warmth and hospitality. Yet, I still regard myself as the “odd man out” if only in my own home. Or is it just me?

Crane: Again...the buck stops and I’m glad

There already is a small city, called Buckhead, Georgia, about an hour east of Atlanta just off I-20. The bucolic burg has a population of just under 200.

Yarbrough: At UGA, bad decisions bring tragic consequences

The Beloved Woman Who Shared My Name used to tell her grandsons, “You are free to make any decision you wish. Just remember that with those decisions come consequences, good or bad.

Smith: Remembering France

The balmy temperatures of last weekend allowed for a respite on my back patio which led to a memorable flashback to a late spring trip several years ago to a nice address in the city of Conques in France’s Southern Pyrenees.

Rich: Mama learns a few things

In the Appalachian years of Mama’s childhood, there wasn’t a lot of learning to be done other than that which comes from hard times and harder work. Scattered throughout the widespread communities were one-room schoolhouses.

Letter to the Editor: County zoned out on zoning issues

Dear editor, This letter is not about gated communities, planned unit developments, homeowners’ associations with restrictive covenants or other regulations.

Letter to the Editor: Open letter to Mike Lynch

Dear editor, I recall a high level of tension in Greene County in 2014 regarding our schools. Our test scores were awful, one of the lowest counties in the State. Our graduation rate was abominable. Our school board (BOE) was not only ineffective but combative.

Crane: Marshal your resources

It was a truly joyous occasion to behold last Friday, a combination of family reunion, church payday service, and practically a 21-gun salute all rolled into one.

Yarbrough: Discussing political realities with Skeeter

When Skeeter Skates calls, you had better put everything on hold. He just did and I just did. For those of you who may not be familiar with Skeeter, he is the proprietor of Skeeter Skates Tree Stump Removal and Plow Repair in Ryo, Georgia, and a legend in his field.