http://www.macon.com/203/index.xml News, sports and entertainment from Macon Telegraph en-us Copyright 2009 Macon Telegraph Opinion 60 Sun, 05 Jul 2009 07:47:23 EDT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss McClatchy Interactive's PubSys feedback@macon.com http://www.macon.com/203/story/767255.html http://www.macon.com/203/story/767255.html Sun, 05 Jul 2009 07:46 EDT As we reflect on the moment 233 years ago when our Founding Fathers risked their necks by signing the Declaration of Independence, it’s a good time to take an accounting of our republic. Our founders wouldn’t recognize the country they created. From the 13 original colonies, we have spread across the continent and beyond to territories that were yet to be discovered. Nor would they recognize their fellow Americans, of all different shades and nationalities. It would be hard to convince them of the greatness of our military. Gone are the days where we had to depend on the magnanimous French to pull our wool out of the fire. They would be surprised at the diminished roles of Britain — that, during their time, was the most powerful nation on Earth, and France, now just a hanger on to her once great world presence. http://www.macon.com/203/story/767260.html http://www.macon.com/203/story/767260.html Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:42 EDT If one believes the political spin created in Washington and broadcast via news outlets, the pairing of gay rights and pro-life advocates would make Oscar and Felix resemble Ozzie and Harriet. http://www.macon.com/203/story/767257.html http://www.macon.com/203/story/767257.html Sun, 05 Jul 2009 07:46 EDT Each year around the Fourth of July I make it routine to commemorate the national holiday by reviewing the history which brought us to the adoption of this loud shout of autonomy. http://www.macon.com/203/story/767254.html http://www.macon.com/203/story/767254.html Sun, 05 Jul 2009 07:46 EDT By Vincent de-Paul Bass http://www.macon.com/203/story/767259.html http://www.macon.com/203/story/767259.html Fri, 03 Jul 2009 09:42 EDT When I was young, I never gave a second thought that things could (or would) change. They just were. As a kid, it was simply a matter of living each moment. http://www.macon.com/203/story/766896.html http://www.macon.com/203/story/766896.html Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:58 EDT The recently released census estimates that show Macon losing residents and Warner Robins gaining population are no surprise. Anyone with a vague sense of the area can see the growth of the International City. What used to be farmland has sprouted housing developments. The U.S. Census Bureau backs up anecdotal evidence. In 1990, Warner Robins’ population sat at 43,726. Ten years later, the city had grown to 48,804. Then population really took off. The 2007 population estimate put the city at 60,392. Add another 944 residents for the 2008 estimate of 61,336. http://www.macon.com/203/story/766899.html http://www.macon.com/203/story/766899.html Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:58 EDT Barack Obama has fundamentally shifted our foreign policy away from our own national interests in Honduras. He aligns us with the interests of Hugo Chavez, Fidel Castro and a long list of South American drug cartels. http://www.macon.com/203/story/766900.html http://www.macon.com/203/story/766900.html Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:58 EDT This past Sunday, I read an article in this newspaper that was as disturbing to me as anything I’ve read in long time. It had nothing to do with dead celebrities, election fraud in Iran or global warming. Instead, it was a seemingly innocuous little piece about a congressman who represents a certain district here in Middle Georgia who is facing re-election in just over a year and as yet has no apparent opposition in that contest. http://www.macon.com/203/story/766897.html http://www.macon.com/203/story/766897.html Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:17 EDT By Shondra Wilson http://www.macon.com/203/story/765658.html http://www.macon.com/203/story/765658.html Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:51 EDT Dr. Ron Natale, head of Central Georgia Technical College, is gone. He was summarily called to Atlanta on Monday to meet with the commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia, Ron Jackson. The meeting was short, maybe 10 minutes. Natale had been informed in May that his contract wasn’t going to be renewed, but he would stay on at the college until the end of September. That deal was apparently off the table. Jackson has appointed Flora Tydings, president of Athens Technical College, as interim president. Natale was told not to go back to the campus until 11 a.m. Tuesday, when he would have until 5 p.m. to clean out his office. Why the shift? Apparently Jackson didn’t like being confronted at a meeting two weeks ago where he had to explain why he was letting Natale go. http://www.macon.com/203/story/765231.html http://www.macon.com/203/story/765231.html Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:51 EDT A “Food Safety Bill” contains provisions which: http://www.macon.com/203/story/764458.html http://www.macon.com/203/story/764458.html Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:32 EDT The recent decision by the Public Safety Committee of Macon’s City Council to allow open containers downtown during next month’s Bragg Jam opens the door to another aspect of any sort of “Entertainment District” that might form downtown. Bragg Jam organizers sought permission to allow people to carry their adult beverages around town as long as they use a designated cup and wear a wristband. http://www.macon.com/203/story/764457.html http://www.macon.com/203/story/764457.html Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:32 EDT Juanita Harvey was her name. She was my sixth grade teacher, but if she taught school today, she’d be looking for work as an ex-teacher. She was wonderful, and you always knew where you stood academically because at the end of each six week period you were seated according to your grade average. Those who worked hard and made the grade were assigned seats to the right of class beginning with the student with the top average. Those not performing well enough were assigned accordingly in seats to the left. http://www.macon.com/203/story/760638.html http://www.macon.com/203/story/760638.html Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:02 EDT I don’t write letters to editors, but a recent piece to The Telegraph was so wrong it demands a reply. Christians, even if we omit the four Crusades, have repeatedly, tragically, broken Jesus’ message of peace. http://www.macon.com/203/story/760695.html http://www.macon.com/203/story/760695.html Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:10 EDT Americans take for granted that our food supply is safe. We walk into grocery stores and we see an array of options from which to choose. While we may look at a label to see how much saturated fat a product may contain and the number of calories, the thought that the product could be dangerous never enters our minds. We should be more careful. http://www.macon.com/203/story/760654.html http://www.macon.com/203/story/760654.html Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:13 EDT What is too much pain? http://www.macon.com/203/story/760655.html http://www.macon.com/203/story/760655.html Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:13 EDT The Great Recession is reaping a bitter harvest of job losses and deep budget cuts throughout Georgia’s public education and training system. Although federal stimulus dollars are providing some temporary relief, more than $1 billion in state funding has been slashed from Georgia’s K-12 and post-secondary education budgets. http://www.macon.com/203/story/760696.html http://www.macon.com/203/story/760696.html Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:10 EDT There has been too much pretend anger expended recently over the use of a generator provided by the local emergency management agency. http://www.macon.com/203/story/760669.html http://www.macon.com/203/story/760669.html Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:10 EDT By Alisha Thomas Morgan http://www.macon.com/203/story/759757.html http://www.macon.com/203/story/759757.html Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:40 EDT During the first week in June, Bibb County property owners were collectively holding their breath. Any day the new property valuations were expected to arrive via mail. No one in the county had been holding their breath longer than the Macon-Bibb County Board of Tax Assessors. There was, and is, a lot riding on this revaluation that goes beyond money. Reputations are on the line for past and present employees of the assessor’s office. Jim Davis, the former chief appraiser, now retired, recommended the drive-by method of revaluation at a cost of almost $2 million. He also hired his old employer, Tyler CLT to do the work. In fairness, the job was put out for bid and Tyler CLT won out.