Rich: With their shoes on

Make no doubt about it: I was raised in a household of two of the most righteous people who ever lived.Both were mountain people who never gave a moment’s thought to looking back at the mountain poverty they had escaped. Both came down, out of the hills, and built a better life for themselves.

Farley: A tale of two Putnam schools

As big yellow school buses begin their daily rounds through our neighborhoods each August, I am reminded of my own school days in Putnam County, which resumed each September back then. I’m also of the generation who experienced attending a primitive school and later a relatively modern school.

Yarbrough: When being a UGA grad is a beautiful thing

Now, I’m going to blush. Not only am I brighter than brilliant, but I am also a chick magnet. My cup runneth over. With what little modesty I can muster, I must admit I didn’t set out to be this wonderful. I just picked the right university to attend.A firm called DatingAdvice.

Rich: With their shoes on

It was the summer of my 12th year of life. I remember that clearly because I was in that awkward stage of having too many freckles, too many pounds, and long, wavy hair.All my life, I had heard talk of the first mountain church that had called Daddy as their Pastor: Mill Creek Baptist.

Yarbrough: Correcting the record on the Vietnam generation

For those of you who know what goes into this space each week, you know that I write what I mean and mean what I write. But today, I am going to revisit something I said a few weeks ago because I didn’t say it well.

Letter to the Editor: Continuing questions about Jimmy Davis Park

The Jimmy Davis Park (JDP) Advisory Committee has a long-standing history in our community. The land, awarded in 1968 to the city of Eatonton by the U.S. Department of Natural Resources, holds significant value to our Black residents.

Crane: Biden his time

The energetic New Castle County councilman was only 29 years old when he decided to challenge two-term U.S. senator and former two-term governor, Republican J. Caleb  Boggs, for his Senate seat.

Rich: The privilege of being a homemaker

A member of our extended family went to be with the Lord not long ago. It was an unexpected but expected death, long in coming and full of pain and torture.For me, it is Tennessee Williams who usually comes to mind when death calls.

Letter to the Editor: STRs should be classed as businesses

Dear Editor,Short-term rentals (STRs) are income-generating properties. They are defined in the Putnam County Code of Ordinances as a business (Section 22-121), require a permit, pay hotel tax, are not owner-occupied, and do not qualify for a Homestead Exemption.

Letter to the Editor: Promoting peace worldwide

Dear Editor,I was heartened to see the picture of St. Mary’s Peace Pole in the July 11 edition of The Messenger.In an effort to promote peace on Earth, the first Peace Pole was constructed in Japan in 1983. There are now more than 200,000 Peace Poles in over 200 countries around the world.