The people's voice of reason

Articles from the May 1, 2016 edition


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  • Inside the Statehouse

    Steve Flowers|May 1, 2016

    At this time of year Washington, D.C. is a beautiful place to visit. The city is aglow with the blooming of the cherry blossom trees. The cherry blossoms offer a glorious scene as you stroll down the mall and look toward our nation’s capital. This scene has been glimpsed by tourists and visitors for over a century. Each year the National Cherry Blossom Festival commemorates a 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Japan to the United States. The current Cherry Blossom Festival has grown t...

  • Recognizing Our Problem

    Marcia Chambliss|May 1, 2016

    As I think about the increasingly vicious political climate we’re now experiencing, I reflect more often on just how we’ve reached a point in our nation’s history where more factions are fighting each other than ever before. No doubt there are reasons far more complicated than what I can comprehend or even begin to outline, but I can’t help but believe that so much of the animosity towards each other is a direct result of our escalating dependence on government to “do something” to correct an...

  • Ignorance: The Mother of Evil

    Judge Philip Dale Segrest|May 1, 2016

    First, let’s focus on ignorance; then we can develop its relationship to evil. Ignorance certainly includes lack of knowledge, but ignorance is not merely absence of knowledge. Ignorance has a positive existence in human consciousness. It is incorrect beliefs more often than the mere absence of correct beliefs. The incorrect beliefs are strongly and passionately held and adamantly defended. Ignorance doesn’t just stand on a street corner and rant and rave; it talks on I-Phones, and moves in ema...

  • CULTURE TRAITORS

    Robert Tate|May 1, 2016

    When and where is it all going to end? Ever since I was a little kid, I have loved Germany and the German people. When I was five years old, my father took my brother and me to see the movie, The Blue Max, starring George Peppard and Ursula Andress. It is the story of a brutal, callous, cold blooded killer named Bruno Stachel who flew for the Germans in World War One. I still watch this movie at least once or twice every year. But as a little kid, the aviation scenes and the cool German...

  • So Long Turkey Season, Hello Fishing

    Steve Long|May 1, 2016

    By the time you folks get to cast your gaze over this article, there will only be 6 days left in Turkey season! For some, it's been a pretty darn good year for turkey hunting, while others have found it to be a little on the slower side. Regardless, it's going to be wrapped up fairly soon, and as we approach the end of one season, my mind starts to steer towards the next season. And in this case, I've got fishing on my mind. I imagine y'all might be a bit more familiar with fishing down in the...

  • THE OPOSSUM

    Ron VanHerwyn|May 1, 2016

    I felt this information would help everyone to see the wide picture and great wonders of this unique creature. So without further a due, this months fur baby is the Opossum lets pity the poor opossum. The oft-maligned marsupial definitely suffers from an image problem - it is frequently perceived more as a giant, dirty, scavenging rat rather than a cute creature of the wild. But whether you love them or hate them, North America's only marsupial has a set of unique characteristics that might...

  • 60 Years? How Long It Has Been!

    Ed Jones Sports Editor|May 1, 2016

    The 60th reunion of the class of '56 enjoyed a wonderful meal at a great facility inside the Wynn Lakes Country Club April 16, 2016. It was so special to see 78 year old friends acting like teenagers, that is, those who could stand up without assistance. Some even tried to dance to the sounds of the '50's'. Not many danced very long. There were no oxygen tanks in the room. After me and my wife Betty tried to dance "The Panama City Bop", we were glad to hear the end of Chuck Berry's "Long Distanc...

  • Felonies and Rumors of Felonies…

    John Sophocleus|May 1, 2016

    I first met attorney Donald V. Watkins in 2002 when he was interviewing candidates to support. He found my stance on limiting government to address very few things in our economy unworthy of his support. His appreciation of my championing our 5th Amendment civil right to property for ALL was nonetheless reassuring. One of the first black students to attend UA School of Law, his training is sound and accomplishment in practice profound over the years. At age 68, Watkins is well known for success...

  • Gambling and Lotteries

    John Martin|May 1, 2016

    On the subject of gambling, many people and politicians in Alabama are all over the spectrum on how much we should allow in this state. On one side are the ones who believe that it should be completely legalized with a free market. On the opposite, we have the extremists who want to abolish every last bit of it, lest the people overindulge in it and plummet into Hell. Do we have a practical solution to this argument? For starters, there is no way we can abolish it. The federal government has gra...

  • HOW MANY FORMS OF NOTARY ARE IN ALABAMA?

    Ron Holtsford|May 1, 2016

    I am familiar with two forms of notary and three other forms that I would consider more or less as authentications. The notary public is probably what you are most familiar with. Notaries are appointed and commissioned by the local probate judges and in addition to the application must be bonded for $25,000.00. The notary is reported to the Alabama Secretary of State to include the expiration. If you want to make sure that your notary is authentic, you can look them up on the Alabama Secretary...

  • Christian Counseling Versus Secular Counseling.

    Hector Oswaldo Chavez|May 1, 2016

    First, to make counseling truly Christian we must bring our faith and our counseling together in our mind. Christ-centered counseling requires more than devoted Christians who are expertly trained in the fields of counseling. It is the presence of God and the Holy Spirit into the counseling process that makes Christian counseling. This begins by recognizing Christ as the only wonderful Counselor. He becomes our model. Christian counseling is grounded in the Bible, and most often seeks to help a...

  • News from the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office

    Sheriff Derrick Cunningham|May 1, 2016

    Show-n-Tell Camp The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office is now accepting applications for our Show-N-Tell summer camp for youths who are interested and serious about camp enrichment. It is not a disciplinary camp but a way of bonding with our youth to promote positive interaction. Camp will last for 1 week and is totally free for boys and girls between the ages of 9-11. It will be held on August 1-5, 2016. We will be going to Camp Chandler in Wetumpka, Alabama and will be bused from M...

  • Beware of Scams

    Sheriff Bill Franklin|May 1, 2016

    Complaints regarding telephone scams and identity theft have risen exponentially over the past few years. The Sheriff’s Office receives calls from citizens three to four times a week regarding these offenses. The most common complaint the Sheriff’s Office receives is in reference to telephone scams also known as “phishing”. These scams usually involve one or more perpetrators calling a victim and acting as representatives for a major corporation such as a bank or telecommunications company...

  • From the Mayors desk

    Mayor Jerry Willis|May 1, 2016

    It has been very exciting to be a part of the arts in Wetumpka. The Abandoned Rural America Exhibition presented by a gentleman from Georgia, Peter Muzyka, has been a tremendous success and a huge draw to our community. The Kelly Fitzpatrick Memorial Gallery has worked extremely hard on this exhibit and it certainly showed with a successful opening night. The performance at the Wetumpka Depot playing to a full house of people dealing with words and music tied to rural America was a pleasure to...

  • Sheriff Sedinger participates in a Baby Shower

    Sheriff Joe Sedinger|May 1, 2016

    On April 8, 2016, Sheriff Sedinger participated in a Baby Shower of a different type to promote donations to the River Region Pregnancy Center. The Baby Shower, in Honor of Sheriff Joe Sedinger, was hosted by Judge Joy Booth, Kathy Evans, Kim Kervin, Kelly Lee, Desirae Lewis, Jessica Sanders & Hailey Crowe. A Sheriff themed cake and punch was served to all that attended. Sheriff Sedinger even tried pickles and ice cream, which was not his favorite. It was all in fun and the truck load of...

  • May Potpourri

    Judge Peggy Givhan|May 1, 2016

    Not too long ago, I became intrigued by May poles with all the ribbons, colorful flowers, and small children dancing around weaving the wide bands of ribbon into a basket like pattern. I read several articles on the history of May poles, and found in a magazine a step by step process for accomplishing the result. At a mechanic's shop, I was given a 8 foot long iron pipe with a 2 inch opening and took this potential pole home as if I had been given the crown jewels. My family was very inquisitive...

  • MAKE AMERICA GRATE AGAIN

    David Spooner|May 1, 2016

    No, I did not misspell great, I meant grate. I saw that sign below another sign that said “Ban Pre-shredded Cheese.” This is as far as I am going to comment on the political season we are now in. This is a much better season, Spring. This is the time to get out of the house, go to a farmers market, work in your garden and when you harvest the fruits of your labor, you will feel great. Let’s start right off with dispelling another myth. You do not have to soak your dried beans before you cook...

  • Something to Anticipate

    Dr. John Bitter|May 1, 2016

    Many years ago there was a refrain about the pay of a young man in the Army that went: “Twenty one dollars a day; once a month.” Based on the efforts of our illustrious commander-in-chief, this may become the situation once again. President Barrack Obama says he wants to cut the military back to where it was before World War II. Really? Not that long ago your chronicler, after watching Fearless Leader in action, made a suggestion that the wise investor should put his money into white flags and b...

  • Social Security Questions and Answers

    Kylle McKinney|May 1, 2016

    Question: What is the benefit amount a spouse may be entitled to receive? Answer: If you’re eligible for both your own retirement benefit and for benefits as a spouse, we will always pay you benefits based on your record first. If your benefit as a spouse is higher than your retirement benefit, you will receive a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse's benefits. A spouse generally receives 50 percent of the retired worker's full benefit, unless the spouse begins collecting b...

  • What Makes A Happy Home?

    Dr. Rick Marshall|May 1, 2016

    The question was asked in a class of eager preschoolers, “What makes a happy home?” “A cat,” answered one four-year old. “Brownies,” answered a blue-eyed blond with cute pig tails. “Lots of love,” stated another. Finally the teacher’s eyes fell on a hand in the back corner of the room. “Yes, Dennis,” she said. “What makes a happy home?” “Lots of peanut butter and ants in the kitchen!” came the reply. You don’t have to be a psychologist to imagine what must have recently happened at his house....

  • Call Your Mother

    Michael J. Brooks|May 1, 2016

    An ABC tribute to Gilda Radner some time ago reminded me of the number of people we’ve lost in the last few years who made us laugh: John Belushi, John Candy, Phil Hartman, Bob Hope, Grady Nutt, Rodney Dangerfield, Jerry Clower and others. Humor has great value. Solomon said laughter is medicine for the soul (Proverbs 17:22), and sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is to have a good laugh. Lincoln, a man who suffered depression or "melancholia" as it was called in those days, talked a...

  • "Happy 8th Wedding Anniversary"

    Trisston Wright Burrows|May 1, 2016

    This month, Brian & I will celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary. Without a doubt, there is no one on the planet I would rather go through life’s ups, downs & round abouts with. “I have found the one whom my soul loves”, Song of Solomon 3:4. As Brian builds his life around Christ, he is naturally a reflection of Christ in the way he treats me. And as I build my life around Christ, I learn to love my husband as God has called me to love him. That is what makes a marriage gain more and more beaut...

  • THE BIRTH OF AMERICA'S EDUCATION AND SCHOLARSHIP

    Bobbie Ames|May 1, 2016

    In the introduction to the 1828 Dictionary, distributed by the Foundation for American Christian Education, Rosalie Slater has chosen to include some selections from Noah Webster's Masters Thesis from Yale College. Her selections in the preface are carefully chosen to guide us in the use of this volume. Many people consider the 1828 Dictionary as the second most valuable book in the home library, next only to the Holy Bible. This writer certainly does. It contains the language of Liberty, and...

  • May 1, 2016

    A special publication by the Alabama Gazette...

  • May 1, 2016

    A special publication by the Alabama Gazette...