.....Advertisement.....
.....Advertisement.....

Today's Opinions

  • Homeowners beware of bad contractors

    In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, people are scrambling to rebuild their lives and homes.

    Unfortunately, bad actors can take advantage of honest folks during these moments of stress, when everyone is eager to get their lives back in order. There are resources available that can help homeowners avoid being taken advantage of during this challenging time.

    Click here to read more...
  • Thanks vets, but only a few of us are heroes

    Veterans Day is on the 11th and as anyone who reads my columns knows, I am a retired Navy veteran with 20 years of service.

    Just because I served in the military, that doesn’t make me a hero and I do not deserve much “thanks” for my service. I enjoyed it. I had a lot more good times than bad. I was in an at-sea intensive job and I loved being underway.

    Click here to read more...
  • CMHS students say 'thanks'

    Dear Central Florida Electric Cooperative,

    I would like to thank you for all you’ve done in my hometown, Chiefland Florida while we’ve been going through hurricane Irma. You have been very generous and brave by putting our needs before your own and working nonstop to make sure we have electricity and are safe.

    During hurricane Irma, my family and I were settled down in my home safely. We had all our windows and doors boarded up and had plenty of food. Our power didn’t go out till late Sunday night, but by Monday afternoon we were back on track with electricity thanks to you.

    Once again, I would like to thank you for all you have done and are still doing.

    Sincerely,

    Aubreigh Brown

    ———

    Dear Central Florida Electric Cooperative,

    Thank you for your dedication to making sure everyone possible can have power including me. I told my mom that I have a bone to pick with the power men because we were without power for 2 days, but at that moment, she told how hard you guys are working to get electricity flowing. I’m sorry and thank you.

    Click here to read more...
  • Taking a knee?

    By Bob Denny

    I played football with “Loopie” Favre, back in high school. Our coach would yell, “Take a knee!” when he wanted to offer us some “constructive criticism,” or more often, to “chew us out.” (You may be familiar with Loopie’s son, another pretty good quarterback.)

    To a football player, “taking a knee” means “Listen up! I need your attention for something important!” It was never a sign of disrespect, or a way to express anger. It was just a way of communicating to a bunch of us that there’s something important, that really needs to be said.

    Click here to read more...
  • Industrial Arts: A disappearing necessity

    By Ed Emrich 

    I became a teacher very late in my working career. After 25 years in corporate management I found myself with an “opportunity” to redirect and re-evaluate my career. So I decided to become a teacher and give something back to society. I was by decades the oldest person in all of my graduate classes at Western Michigan University (Go Broncos). Most teachers graduate from college, go into teaching in their early 20s, and really, what life lessons can they teach? As a 57 year-old Marine Corps veteran and “new teacher,” I have had a lot of life experience that came in real handy because today’s students seriously need mentors as well as lessons about specific core content.

    Click here to read more...
  • What kind of nation is the United States of America?

    What kind of nation is the United States of America? Are we hateful or grateful? Did the United States become the most powerful nation on earth through “Manifest Destiny” or greed? Are we a religious or secular nation?

    Ponca Indian Chief Standing Bear was a Christian man and farmer, but I’ll bet if he were asked what he thought about the US, he would say it is all those things. Standing Bear lost his daughter and then his son because of his tribe’s forced relocation from Nebraska to Indian Territory (Oklahoma). Some Christian women prayed with him and his family in Kansas when his daughter died. Still, he continued the journey to Indian Territory. The last straw for Standing Bear came at the death of his 16 year-old son. After that, he disobeyed the federal government and returned to his homeland in Nebraska to bury his son.

    Instead of looking at one's actions, ask what someone is trying to say when they take a knee at a football game.

    What was Standing Bear trying to say?

    Click here to read more...
  • Teal Pomeroy

    The sudden and tragic death of Teal Pomeroy has left this community stunned.

    The loss is deeply felt because he was in the prime of his life. He was only 42 and had accomplished so much.

    But what adds to the pain is that he epitomized the phrase “local boy.'

    Pomeroy grew up in Chiefland, attended school here and had lifelong friends made in those 12 years of going to class. He loved the woods and waters that are so plentiful in Levy County. And he took full enjoyment in them.

    Click here to read more...
  • Good News: Here I go again...

    I miss spending lazy Fridays chatting with Winnelle Horne on the porch of the Levy County Quilt Museum.

    She certainly tolerated my foolishness while educating me on Levy County culture.

    One thing the late founder often said to me, ”You're certainly opinionated.”

    “Um huh. You want me to leave now?”

    “No.”

    But right about now, she might want to come back and snatch me up by the ear because I am going to give out an opinion that will rile feathers – something she warned against.

    Click here to read more...