Entries by Chris Bridges

We are still several days from it officially being spring for another year, but the recent warmer than usual temperatures have had the upcoming season on the minds of many, including this writer.
And while the sun has struggled to show itself of late at least we’ve enjoyed temperatures well above normal for mid-to-late February. Folks, you have to take what you can get this time of year and be thankful for it.
Spring and summer are, without doubt, my favorite two seasons. Early fall is OK but you can definitely take winter and dispose of it, even the ones we have in Georgia.
The recent warmer temperatures have been welcome after the brutal December and January we endured in our neck of the woods. Quite frankly I fear Old Man Winter is not finished causing havoc and I am more than concerned that March may end up being a brutal month before all is said and done.
Spring always seems to replenish the mind, body and soul and some of the things I look forward to include:
•The return of high school baseball: Once we get past the early part of the season when the weather is often still cold and windy, it is quite enjoyable spending an afternoon at the local ball park. On those perfect afternoons when the sky is blue and the temperature is warm, it has always been one of the best parts of my job as a sports writer to cover a local high school baseball team. Through the years I have been fortunate to witness some quality teams and I am eager to get back to the diamond in 2018.
•Yard work: For many people working in their yard is viewed as a necessary evil and for a long time it was that way for me. Even when I bought my first (and to date only) house more than 20 years ago I viewed it that way. However, in recent years I turned yard work into a stress reliever. Being outside in the spring and summer soaking up the sun became something I looked forward to during the winter months when I was not able to do it. I have already thought of a couple of projects that I want to try this year and as a bonus, yard work is good exercise for me.
•Fishing: When I was younger I had a passion for fishing although I admit I have not been in years. I keep saying I am going to take it up again but always never seen to have the time. Perhaps this is the year I will make time. I noticed recently that my high school alma mater is even forming a competitive fishing team. Now that is something I might actually could have excelled at back in the day. At one time I enjoyed fishing so much I actually thought about doing it professionally.
•Fort Yargo State Park: To me, this is one of Barrow County’s best attractions. Even during the winter months, I enjoy going although it’s certainly more enjoyable during the warmer months. For me it’s about relaxing and taking time to reflect. Once spring arrives and continuing going all the way through the fall I often make several trips a week when my work schedule allows. I take my chair (the same one you see me sitting in at those baseball games) and just sit, often for a couple of hours. I’ve been known to sit and look at the lake until the sun goes down. It’s physical and mental relaxation for me and during some recent stressful times it’s something I definitely need.
•Car washing: I like to keep a clean vehicle year-round and it’s funny some of the looks I get when people drive by during the winter when I’m washing my car. Of course it’s more tolerable to do this when it’s warmer. I’m one of those though who has washed his vehicle when there was still snow on the ground (“Hey buddy! Don’t break your neck looking at me!”) so during the warm months I usually wash mine once a week. I’ve even had co-workers through the years ask me to wash theirs when they notice how clean mine typically is.
Spring is close to being here once again and I am certainly glad. Let’s just hope we don’t have to endure another winter storm or another below freezing cold snap before it gets here. My mind keeps going back to that snow and ice storm in 1993 which happened in March.
—
Winder resident Chris Bridges is a former editor of the Barrow News-Journal. You can reach him at pchrisbridges@gmail.com.

At the meeting on February 15, the Auburn City Council approved three agreements for services to be provided to the city.
The council unanimously approved the following:
•an agreement with Commercial Brokerage and Development LLC, Chitra Subbarayan, to provide marketing and economic development advisory services for 12 months at a total of $24,000, due in 12 installments of $2,000 each payable every 30 days. City administrator Alex Mitchem said this was a professional line item in the city budget.
•an agreement with Cheryl Cruce to provide consultant services related to accounting, personnel and payroll advisory for three months at a rate of $25 per hour not to exceed 40 hours a week to be paid bi-weekly. This is also included in the city budget.
•an agreement with now-former city administrator Ron Griffith, who retired last week, to provide consultant services related to certain daily operations, contract negotiations and financial resources advisory services for four months at a total of $1,600 per month.
For more on the council meeting, see the Feb. 21 edition of the Barrow News-Journal.

Believe it or not, the primary election in our state is just a little more than three months away.
All statewide offices are on the ballot this year with most of the races being decided in the Republican primary. Democrats have been locked out of statewide office for some time and it would take a major political upset for a member of that party to win in 2018. With no Roy Moore types on the ballot here, it’s not likely to happen.
In coming weeks, we’ll preview the races starting with governor.
The candidates listed below are the only ones which have officially declared they are running.
There will likely be more as we get closer to the March 9 filing deadline.
•Casey Cagle, Republican: The current lieutenant governor, Cagle is one of the leading candidates running for the state’s top office in 2018.
•Hunter Hill, Republican: A former state senator, civil engineer and combat veteran, Hill’s campaign has been gaining steam in recent weeks. He could be a surprise in the primary. His campaign signs dot the highways around the state.
•Brian Kemp, Republican: The current secretary of state, Kemp ran a few times for statewide office before being elected. His office has endured some negative press, which will likely be brought out once the candidates begin having forums and debates. Still a leading candidate since he has won a statewide race.
•Clay Tippins, Republican: A business consultant and Iraq War veteran, Tippins is pushing himself as the non-career politician. His biggest obstacle in this primary will be name recognition on a statewide basis.
•Marc Alan Urbach: Republican: A teacher and self-described Republican activist, Urbach is the ultimate underdog candidate in the race.
•Michael Williams, Republican: A state senator and businessman, Williams was a big supporter of Donald Trump during the recent president election. With Trump still being very popular in Georgia, Williams will use that to try and persuade voters to his corner.
•Stacey Abrams, Democrat: The former state house minority leader, Abrams is an attorney who, like any Democratic nominee, would face an uphill battle in the general election.
•Stacey Evans, Democrat: A former state representative, Evans is also an attorney.
•Ted Metz, Libertarian: The 2014 Libertarian insurance commissioner nominee, Metz is a Navy veteran and scientist. Metz will be on the general election ballot in November.
The Republican primary race for governor will likely have a runoff with several candidates already declared and others likely to enter either in coming days or during the qualifying period in March.
There is also a good chance at least one more Democrat will enter that primary making it possible for a runoff in that primary.
For a year when the statewide offices are on the ballot the campaign (for all candidates really) just haven’t seemed to draw much attention. One political observer credited that to burnout that is still lingering from the 2016 presidential election, which included a very long Republican primary and a bruising general election.
Local races typically draw more people to the polls as well and without them then the numbers for the upcoming primary could be low.
The deadline to register to vote for the May 22 primary is April 24.
—
Winder resident Chris Bridges is a former editor of the Barrow News-Journal. You can reach him at pchrisbridges@gmail.com.

As I traveled from the northern part of our state Saturday into middle Georgia and then circled back on the return trip, it once again amazed me at how much territory the Peach State covers.
Along the way I also noticed signs for various statewide candidates seeking office in 2018. It’s campaign season again and all offices from governor to agriculture commissioner will be placed before the voters.
In order to be successful campaigning statewide in Georgia, one must be prepared to cover a great deal of territory. From the north Georgia mountains to the coast in Savannah and Jekyll Island and St. Simons, it’s a daunting task to drive our state in one day. Even going from one end of our state to middle Georgia is no easy task.
Georgia is a diverse state and it’s something that makes it such a great one. We have industry. We have a complex transportation system although I still don’t like driving in downtown Atlanta.
We have numerous colleges and technical schools. We have a large agricultural base. We have a very large population.
Politically speaking, Georgia currently leans Republican, but it is not a 80-20 split by any means. While all statewide office holders are currently Republican, recent presidential elections have been relatively close when you go back and look at the numbers.
For decades, it was Democrats who held the power in statewide politics. Truthfully, one side holding all the power is really never a good thing.
It would take a pretty major political upset for a Democrat to win a statewide contest in 2018. It is interesting to note that numerous Democratic challengers are lining up to run for congressional seats across the state against Republican incumbents.
Back to the task of campaigning in Georgia. Even though, in theory, it should be easier to campaign in 2018 with items such as social media and YouTube, the best campaigning is still using shoe leather which means meeting voters in person. That means traveling to events whether they are in Rome, Brunswick, Macon, Columbus, Tifton or Moultrie.
Many candidates without big campaign budgets typically try to do more one-on-one campaigning. Stories of candidates putting many miles on their vehicles traveling the state are common.
Of course, it’s always beneficial to have a budget for advertising. The best mediums are television, radio and newspapers. Ads on internet sites are common in 2018 and many candidates still do direct mailers and the dreaded voice calls (if you want my vote do not call me asking for it.)
In coming weeks the statewide candidates will be more visible, whether in person or on television. Many will grow weary of the process but to me there’s something downright American about it. Now if we can just elect one or two candidates who actually follow through on their campaign promises. If so, that candidate would immediately jump to the front of my list.
—
Winder resident Chris Bridges is a former editor of the Barrow News-Journal. You can send comments about this column to pchrisbridges@gmail.com.

Years ago, when I worked for the newspaper in Walton County, my fellow reporter and good friend Mary Alison Qualman and I used to talk about our likes and dislikes.
One of the things that was on our definite dislike list was a rainy Sunday afternoon. While 99 percent of the time Sunday was a day off from work for us, we both knew Monday morning meant the start of another long work week.
In the newspaper business, both then and now, that meant very long days and plenty of stress to get the next issue out. Sunday was the last bit of rest, both mental and physical, before that process began again and we would talk (and even try to laugh) about how a sense of dread would slowly overtake us as Sunday afternoon would wear on.
“It’s even worse if it’s raining on Sunday,” Mary Alison would tell me.
Of course, I agree with that statement as it was during that time I was beginning to be afflicted with Seasonal Affective Disorder which meant the rain depressed me whether it was Sunday or not.
We even thought of ways of how a Sunday could be even more depressing.
“Be careful of watching certain movies,” I would say. “You know, ones like ‘The Notebook’ or ‘Dear John’ and others similar to them.”
Even in the years since we stopped working together, Mary Alison and I still talk about rainy Sundays and how to avoid depressing movies.
This past Sunday I texted my friend and mentioned how it was a perfect day for those two movies followed by a matinee of “Titanic.”
“Sunday rain,” she replied.
Indeed, it was an entire day’s worth of it.
•••
One of the first signs that spring is slowly, but surely, getting here is the start of a new high school baseball season.
In my time in Barrow County I’ve been fortunate to follow some quality high school teams and hopefully the 2018 season will present more of the same. The Winder-Barrow High School Diamond Doggs had a standout campaign last spring and are set for another state playoff run.
In a relatively short amount of time the Bethlehem Christian Academy baseball program has made a name for itself in the GISA, winning state titles. The Knights are looking to rebound in 2018 after a down 2017 season.
Over at Apalachee, the Diamond Cats are still looking for their first postseason appearance in program history, somewhat remarkable when you think of it. AHS has competed in some tough regions through the years but hopefully the breakthrough season will be here soon.
•••
A somewhat odd and surprising spectacle which has taken place in Statham in recent months has ranged from fascinating, entertaining and somewhat embarrassing.
The recent events, as chronicled by reporter Ron Bridgeman, have included heated discussion back and forth between some council members and audience members. This is something which should never occur, regardless of the issue being discussed or debated.
While it is commendable that citizens are taking an interest in local politics, they must remember to remain under control. Admittedly at times it’s easy to lose our cool. I’m guilty of it as well, but in the long run it’s always better to remain level headed when trying to get a point across.
And under no circumstance should a council member ever yell at or engage in a heated exchange with an audience member. Council members should always remember that their position is going to cause them to be criticized more often than be praised. The old saying of “if you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen” comes to mind.
Cooler heads need to prevail in Statham, a city which during the time I covered its meetings was always known for its effectiveness in operation. Hopefully cooler heads will restore order soon.
—
Winder resident Chris Bridges is a former editor of the Barrow News-Journal. You can send comments about this column to pchrisbridges@gmail.com.

Summer, where art thou?
As I opened the front door of my house early Wednesday morning of last week the brightness of the still dark setting caused me to do a double take. After I looked again I realized what the problem was: it had snowed.
Snow can be a funny thing. I remember as a child always wanting it and it seldom arriving. I remember getting excited at the mere mention of even a few snowflakes and how I would anxiously look upward hoping to see any flurries blowing in the wind.
Yet, more often than not, that childhood snow would never arrive. To be honest, I wanted snow back then because it would mean the possibility of a day off from school. If we even got half an inch, I would hunker down by my radio listening for word if my school was closed the next day. Every now and then the magic words would be heard and I knew a bonus vacation day had been delivered, kind of like an extra Christmas present or a very early birthday gift.
On the very rare occasion, we would even get a couple days off, but that was as rare as the Atlanta Falcons making the playoffs.
Fast-forwarding to today, the roles are reversed. If I never see snow again, I wouldn’t complain. It causes too many problems from travel to the power going out to my power bill skyrocketing.
So, it came to pass last week that I had my fingers crossed, my lucky charms out, and hoped somehow the snow wouldn’t arrive.
I realize the kids probably enjoyed this recent snowfall. Heck, I’m sure some adults did as well. But for me, all I could do was think about summer — and being in Hawaii. Oh, for the bright, warm sun to be shining down upon me. Oh, for it to be warm enough to spend the afternoon swimming and to enjoy an outdoor cookout.
And unfortunately the closest I’ve been to the Aloha State is watching episodes of Hawaii Five-O (the original of course) on DVD. Those were the things on my mind as the white flakes fell from the sky. Besides, this is Georgia. We aren’t supposed to have to worry about that type of weather. I’ll leave it to our neighbors up North who are more accustomed to it.
For me, give me spring and give me summer any day of the week. I’ve had my fill of winter for this year. The weather during the past week was the final straw for me thank you.
Fortunately, winter in Georgia can be bipolar.
While we have seemingly lived within a freezer for most of the last month, this past Sunday was a reminder of why we should be thankful to live where we do. The temperatures were in the mid-60s with a bright, warm sun overhead.
As I took my lunch break I went to my vehicle, reclined in the seat and soaked up the warmth. For a little while anyway, the recent weather woes seemed to be over.
Of course, we still have a long way to go until summer or even spring for that matter. However, if the weather gurus can throw in a few more days like the one we had on Sunday then maybe, just maybe, I can survive.
•••
With 2018 being such an important political one with a host of statewide elections in Georgia, I feel it important to bring up an item which has been political in nature.
Many people were upset (rightfully so I agree) at how some NFL players took a knee during the playing the national anthem.
I wonder, however, why that same level of outrage has not been heard with the government shutdown which means our servicemen and servicewomen cannot be paid for their already too low salaries.
Meanwhile, politicians continue to receive their pay. It seems to me that is worthy of protest. Both parties are at fault and I would hope we all would put our armed forced personnel above any political party. Until we realize that both sides of the two-head political monster are at fault, nothing will change.
—
Winder resident Chris Bridges is a former editor of the Barrow News-Journal. He welcomes feedback about this column at pchrisbridges@gmail.com.

I first met Martha Yarbrough in the early spring of 1995.
In the years since that initial meeting, I gained a mentor, a friend and a second mom. Her upbeat nature and good sense of humor always seemed to defy her age and I felt fortunate to know her.
As the mother of my better half, Pam, it would have been easy for Martha to be reluctant at accepting me. Pam and Martha were really more like sisters than mother-daughter and I’m not sure I’ve ever known a pair closer than the two of them.
Yet from day one, Martha seemed to take a liking to me although at times I really wasn’t sure why.
I always admired her bravery. She had battled cancer a few years before I met her. In 2009, however, the cancer returned. I remember being at a hospital with her in Athens as they prepared for surgery to see how advanced the cancer was.
“I can beat this,” she told me.
I knew if anyone could it would be her.
She approached her tough battle with the greatest of attitudes. I didn’t think it would be possible but my admiration level for her rose even more.
Pam dedicated herself to doing whatever needed to be done for her mom.
From doctor’s appointments to cancer treatments to minor surgical procedures, Pam made sure Martha never missed an appointment. That support, along with Martha’s positive approach, helped her battle cancer for almost a decade despite its advanced stages.
Approximately a month ago, we had to call an ambulance for Martha to be taken to the hospital. It was the first time in her battle that she had to be taken to the hospital for an overnight stay for her condition.
As we sat with her, she remarked how long her battle had been going on. I joked with her that in another nine years we would let her go to the hospital again. She smiled and stuck her tongue out at me, once again showing her sense of humor which had been such an ally.
Unfortunately, that first trip also turned out to be the final stages of her battle.
During the next few weeks, her health declined to the point where she was eventually moved to the hospice house operated by St. Mary’s in Athens.
While I continued to hope for a miracle turnaround, reality said the battle was over and unfortunately as is usually the case, the cancer had won.
She never liked attention placed upon her. We held a brief, graveside service for her earlier this week.
Two days before her death, Pam and I drove her mom back to her house for a final time.
We were moving her from one facility to another. She was too weak to even get out of the car but she remarked how nice it was to see the house again, even from the driveway.
“The house sure is beautiful,” she said.
Pam brought two of their cats out to the car to see her and I know that meant a lot to her. Her love of animals was something I always respected as well.
My heart is heavy today. If she were here today she would no doubt tell me that writing this column was not necessary.
However, I wanted readers to know of a special person that I was honored to know for almost 23 years.
I’m thankful she is no longer in pain and I hope she knows how much she inspired me in all ways. I only wish at times I could have the upbeat, positive attitude she had in all times, both good and bad. She had more courage in one finger than I possess in my entire body.
—
Winder resident Chris Bridges is a former editor of the Barrow News-Journal. He welcomes feedback about this column at pchrisbridges@gmail.com.

The celebrations that are Christmas and New Year’s are over and we are firmly in the middle of Old Man Winter’s grasp.
While temperatures have improved in the last day or so the recent cold snap which put us in a stranglehold was enough to leave me dreaming of an afternoon at the beach or one at Fort Yargo State Park in Winder, my favorite spot for relaxation and reflection (when the weather is right of course).
The winter blues have a tendency to take hold on many of us this time of year. It’s a combination of things. It’s the cold, the lack of daylight hours and the lack of seeing things alive such as the trees and grass. It’s why I always look for a pair of red birds when I put out birdseed. Their vivid colors are a shattering contrast to the dreary background.
I often ask people how they deal with winter, even in Georgia where it typically is not that bad. Some people simply say winter does not bother them.
My father reminds me that winter, and the cold it brings, is necessary for any number of reasons and I know he’s right.
My father’s father was a farmer and I know many of the reasons why winter is necessary as I used to listen to my grandfather talk about them.
However, no matter how hard I try I have a hard time dealing with it. The days when the high (in our state of all places) won’t get out of the 30s and when the low dips into the teens at night are just outright depressing to me for some reason and it has been that way for years.
For me, I try to lose myself in my interests from favorite television shows or movies or being with family or friends. Often even getting a text from someone you know can help make the day better.
It entered my mind in recent days that high school baseball is just around the corner.
While those first games are always brutal in terms of the weather, by mid-season at least the temperatures begin to warm up.
And of course, college football really doesn’t have an offseason anymore.
In a couple of months spring football practice will be here and fans like myself will begin to anticipate the 2018 season.
Winter arrives each year and its severity differs. We were lucky the previous winter and haven’t been as fortunate in this one. I just keep saying “spring will return eventually.” After all, it always has.
•••
This week’s political thumbs down has to go to attorney general Jeff Sessions and his announcement that federal prosecutors will once again crack down on marijuana use even in states where it has been legalized for everything from medical to recreational use.
It’s ironic to hear Sessions take this stance since President Trump has long said issues of this nature should left to the states.
“He (Sessions) represents something that is so Un-American,” said former Congressman and three-time presidential candidate Ron Paul. “The war on drugs is a war on liberty.”
The extremists like Sessions would dictate what drugs cancer patients could use to ease pain. This is of no business of the federal government.
Sessions, though, would likely have no problem in handcuffing a bed-ridden cancer patient for using a drug he deems “evil.”
It’s a bad precedent for Republicans who claim to be for keeping the long arm of government out of our lives. Sessions’ decision borders on the moronic.
—
Winder resident Chris Bridges is a former editor of the Barrow News-Journal. He welcomes feedback about this column at pchrisbridges@gmail.com.

December is now behind us but it seems the cold weather is not.
Obviously we are in winter, but for Georgia the cold seemed to arrive early this year and has shown little signs of relenting. For those like myself who like any season but the one we are now in, it’s going to be a long three-month stretch (at least) before any true relief arrives.
My father tells me we need winter. It takes care of pests and helps prepare things such as trees and our yards to return to life when the weather does get warmer. These are the months when we get needed rain for the upcoming dry months.
I certainly understand that. However, as much as I try to remind myself of those facts and try to convince myself that spring will eventually be here again, I just can’t find much use for winter.
It seems lately the best we can hope for is to have blue skies with the temperature in the 40s at the peak warmth of the day. Folks, that’s just not warm enough for me. It seems Georgia (and I’m still not sure how this is even possible) is dealing with temperatures similar to what our fellow countrymen in the North are dealing with. While we don’t get as much snow (thankfully) the cold temperatures which moved into our neck of the woods in early December have been brutal.
For those of you like myself who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (commonly known as SAD), winter is tough each year. Cold is part of it. Another element to it is the overall lack of sunlight. Even on days when it doesn’t rain, the mere fact that it is dark by 5:30 means SAD sufferers don’t get the necessary sunlight needed to fight back the winter blues.
A recent check showed that we will start getting longer days on March 11 which is only two months away. That will help as long as we don’t enter a lengthy rainy spell, which seems to happen a good bit in Winder and Barrow County.
I did receive a text last week from my former college colleague who has braved the frozen lands of North Dakota since we graduated in 1993. He said they are in the middle of a cold spell even by North Dakota standards. My friend said the high has been seven below zero (not wind chill but actual temperature) with an upcoming expected low of 25 below zero.
OK, so maybe it’s not as cold in Georgia as it is in some places.
•••
The new year will bring a full slate of statewide elections but to this point none of the races really seem to be creating much attention among voters.
All statewide offices from governor on down will be before the voters this year. A new governor will be elected as Nathan Deal is term-limited. Several big names have already launched their respective campaigns and it would take a monumental upset for a Republican not to maintain the position.
Seven Republicans have declared their intentions to run for governor along with two Democrats. Overall, however, Democrats have simply lost their ability to win statewide races in Georgia.
In fact, as of this writing there is no declared Democrat even running for lieutenant governor, attorney general, agriculture commissioner or labor commissioner.
Of course, voters should always pay close attention to races such as congressional ones as well as local contests such as county commissions and city councils. These elected officials have more of a direct impact on the daily lives of citizens than any elected office at the statewide level.
It will be interesting to see how all of the candidates try to drum up interest in this year’s elections. Quite frankly they have a tall task in front of them.
—
Winder resident Chris Bridges is a former editor of the Barrow News-Journal. He welcomes feedback about this column at pchrisbridges@gmail.com.