Barrow Journal

The countdown to the primary election has now moved under a week.

Candidates have been on the stump for months now doing their best to get their message to connect with voters. Of course, money plays a big part in all this. The more money a candidate has, the better chance his or her message is going to reach voters. [Full Story »] 

“Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.”
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Without a doubt, fall is my favorite time of year.

I used to think spring was at the top but there’s no doubt fall holds the No. 1 position in my ranking with spring in the runner-up position. There’s just something special about fall that makes it hold a special place for me.
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The new JROTC program, available to students in the Barrow County School System for the first time this year, is likely one of most positive courses added by officials in many years.

The program has a long list of advantages while the list of disadvantages is, well, pretty non-existent to be honest. The program, with its structured, military overtones, is certainly needed for today’s youth and already the benefits can be seen at both Winder-Barrow and Apalachee High Schools.

First, credit must go to the Barrow County Board of Education for finding a way to add JROTC for interested students. In a budget crisis time like few others in school system history, BOE members found a way to add this class. It was easier said that done but BOE members obviously understood the value of what students could gain from the lessons taught within this setting.

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In many ways it did my ever aging heart good to see average citizens rally for a cause, any cause, last week.

Americans, by nature, are lazy, especially when it comes to politics. It happens to all of us. We get too accustomed to the good life. I’ve long said most people don’t follow politics enough. Many can’t tell you when the next election is much less tell you who is running for office.
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Last Wednesday, after another edition of the newspaper had been completed, my better half and I embarked on our weekly ritual of going to lunch.

As we settled in for our meal, which usually does not occur until well past 12, our conversation turned toward current events and politics, as is often the case. On this day the economy was one of the topics we talked about for a good while. [Full Story »] 

With the primaries for the 2010 state election still well more than a calendar year away, one might not be giving too much thought to Georgia political races at this point.

Well, some are because already candidates are fighting for position as well as fundraising dollars as a full slate of statewide offices will be open next year. [Full Story »] 

With the ringing of the New Year’s bell, comes a host of new elected officials in Barrow County.

Voters decided in the past year change was needed and change is what we got. Only time will tell if that change was for the best, but here’s one piece of advice which new, and old, elected officials would be wise to follow: Be cautious how you spend taxpayer dollars. [Full Story »]