A lot of people are taking a victory lap after the recent announcement that the nonprofit Conservation Fund has purchased the property on Trail Ridge, adjacent to our Okefenokee National Wildlife Reserve, where Alabama-based Twin Pines Materials had planned to mine for titanium dioxide.
Some deserve credit for derailing this project, but some who are taking credit, don’t. Although I am admittedly biased, I am convinced that without your loud and clear opposition, this nefarious scheme might have happened. The victory lap belongs to you. Thank you.
I’m not sure what prompted this decision. Still, the state Board of Education has announced that, beginning this fall, teaching cursive writing in elementary school will be mandatory, starting with the third grade. By fifth grade, students will be called on to write whole texts in cursive “legibly and efficiently.”
No laptops. No touchscreens. Hopefully, that means goodbye to those infernal computer spellcheckers. Kids might have to actually consult a dictionary.
There is still hope for civilization.
Speaking of children, are you not fascinated by the war of words playing out between the World’s Richest Man and the World’s Most Powerful Man? Elon Musk and Donald Trump sound like a couple of kindergartners trading personal insults and threats via social media. If they were forced to put away their social media devices and respond to each other by writing whole texts legibly and efficiently, this would probably have been over a long time ago.
As of July 1, colleges will begin sharing revenue with their athletes, with a cap expected around $20 million annually per school. That figure is intended to cover athlete compensation across all varsity sports, not just those that generate revenue, like football and basketball. And it doesn’t include endorsement deals athletes make on their own. This development, along with the transfer portal, marks a new era in college athletics. I’m not sure it is a better day, but it’s here, like it or not.
I receive numerous news releases from public relations firms promoting a study, book, or survey. Most of them I ignore because I don’t think you would be interested. But consider this one an exception.
It concerns astronumerology, which “blends the insights of planetary influences (astrology) with the vibrational meanings of numbers (numerology) to offer a deeper, more holistic view of a person’s character, life path, and destiny.” I have no idea what that means, but I thought I should share it with you in case you're seeking a vibrational interpretation of your holistic life path. On the other hand, a glass of sweet tea might work just as well.
My column on school absenteeism engendered a lot of response. One came from Sue Mason, a social worker at Catoosa County Schools. She says in Catoosa, when a child has three or more unexcused absences, parents or guardians are contacted.
If that doesn’t work, Ms.
Mason is brought in. She meets with the parent/ guardian, and if that doesn’t work, a pre-warrant arrest is issued, and workers and parent/ guardians end up in the Magistrate Court. If unexcused absences continue, parents/guardians may be arrested, and the case may be referred to state court. I wonder if other school systems take the issue of absenteeism as seriously as those in Catoosa County do?
Finally, I had given considerable thought to the federal deficit and how it could be reduced, but to no avail. Then comes a suggestion from Mike Ernstes, a great American, in Cobb County.
His solution? “I estimate there are roughly five personal injury attorney signs per mile of highway,” he said. “Google tells me there are two million miles of highway in the USA. Put a tariff of just $10 a day on each sign. (I don’t think they’ll miss it.)
That comes to over $36 billion per year. Surely that would help.” It sure would, and it couldn’t happen to a more deserving group.
Donald Trump, are you listening?
You can reach Dick Yarbrough atdick@dickyarbrough. comor at P.O. Box 725373, Atlanta, Ga. 31139.