By Bill Eudaly America is still reeling from the recent shooting in Sandy Hook, CT, that killed 20 students and 6 educators. One can only imagine how their families continue to cope with their loss, or how the rest of us make it every day after such a watershed event. Some suggest more prayer, while others say more gun control. Whatever it is, lord, give us more of it-we sure need it. One suggestion is to arm educators. To some, this is not as absurd as it seems. After all, teachers are already on the front lines in facing overcrowded classrooms, gang violence, and now armed intruders. Loaded…

What is best for Georgia students? That is the question that should always be front and center when discussing education reform. One-third of Georgia students do not graduate high school, so our education system clearly needs to be improved—for the benefit of our children, our families, our communities, and our economic future. Too often debates about education reform are centered on money and power. We wish to re-focus the debate toward what is best for students.  On Nov. 6, Georgians will vote on a constitutional amendment that would allow parents and other community members to start public…

Dear Editor: I had decided to wait until the accusations subsided before sending you this letter; however it seems that a few people have decided to inflame this issue with unsubstantiated accusations for a long time to come. Therefore, I am led to write this letter now. Anyone who attended the Airport Privatization Review Committee meetings would know that we could not have come to consensus on the issue of commercialization. There were attempts on the part of the pro-expansion members to derail our task more than once, starting with the blindside resolution to dissolve this committee back …

Aye matey! Its vote like a Pirate day on July 31, 2012. This is the day that Georgians will go to the polls to impose a 1 percent sales tax on themselves called T-SPLOST. The problem is your vote will not count for much if you live in a small county. The Georgia Constitution is remarkable in that it allows for “Home Rule” or county self-determination. It has been that way since Georgia started chartering counties. This Regional vote scheme of T-SPLOST completely dismantles “Home Rule” and disenfranchises thousands of voters. Many believe it violates the Georgia Constitution. T-SPLOST lumps …

Editor's Note: U.S. Rep. Paul Broun represents the 10th Congressional District of Georgia. That district currently includes more than a dozen counties in the northeast portion of the state. Due to recent redistricting, Dacula will become part of the 10th Congressional District next year as will Barrow and Walton counties and part of Newton County.  Dear Editor, The American people deserve more. You deserve real solutions. You deserve a stable and secure business environment. You deserve an economy where everyone benefits and where hard work is still rewarded. And you deserve results instead …

Dear Editor: No matter what side of the Briscoe Field fence you’re on, you’ve got to have a feeling in the pit of your stomach that “somethin’ just ain’t right” about the decision-making by commissioners Beaudreau, Lasseter, and Howard last week. A contentious 3-2 vote was taken in May 2011 to move ahead with the Request for Proposals for possible commercialization of Briscoe Field. Lasseter, Beaudreau, and Howard voted “yes” and Nash and Heard voted “no.” However, no action was taken until last week … four months later … after two studies recommended commercialization “not feasible” and …

Dear Editor: I was called by the Georgia State Government phone system to participate in the June 20, 2011 Transportation Roundtable town hall meeting for Gwinnett County.  I don’t know why, as I moved from Gwinnett County to Walton County in 1999 after living there for 19 years and watching it deteriorate under the watchful eye of supposedly experienced politicians and the GA DOT.  So my thoughts on the TSPLOST tax are as follows and based on years of similar acts by the elected officials. In my opinion, this is just more politicians, construction companies and developers wanting the …

Dear Editor: As a concerned citizen I would like to comment, plant some doubt regarding the metro area TSPLOST movement and help enlighten the populace to this albatross. I attended the Metro Atlanta Northern Crescent Transit Summit with an open mind to understand the proposed value of a metro rail system. To my understanding I could find no rational reasons to remove from the citizenry billions of dollars one penny at a time with the TSPLOST for any type of rail system. It sounds inexpensive when you propose a penny tax. Depending on who you speak with that tax ends up accumulating $6 …

Things I don't understand ... … our government sending foreign aid dollars to countries from which we borrow money to run our government and send foreign aid to others. … spending $2 million to convert the food pyramid to a food plate. … adults locking small children in their car for hours and then claiming they forgot the child was there. … people using “you know” in response to a question. If I knew I wouldn’t have asked. … our government that doesn’t count adults as unemployed if those adults stop looking for a job. … our President who celebrates economic recovery on the same day that the …

I am a senior citizen and proud of it. Like most seniors I get confused once in awhile and pass it off as senior moment. Lately I have noticed many of my fellow seniors having what appear to be senior moments about the proposed changes to Medicare and Social Security. Congressman Rob Woodall’s Dacula town hall meeting was the most recent example. Given that the proposed changes for both entitlement programs will not affect anyone 55 or older, why is there such resistance among our age group? First, fear is a great motivator. Many of our greatest accomplishments were the results of trying to …

In the course of a lifetime, what does it matter? I ran across this phrase in a middle school novel. Changes in my personal and professional life (divorce, remarriage, an aging parent, a husband with incurable cancer, retirement) caused me to ask myself, “in the course of a lifetime, what does it matter?” Faith matters. I couldn’t get through one second without God’s help.  Family matters. Links between generations hold this nation together. Profession matters. Mine was education. Love what you do, and do what you love. I have purposely left out, “community matters.” Last fall, I became aware…

Dear Editor, This alert comes with a warning of an upcoming issue we will be facing in our state. The following link will explain more fully my great concern that we are moving closer to having to deal with the issue of expanded gambling in our state. http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/displaybill.aspx?BillType=HR&billNum=643 On the 40th and last day of the General Assembly session, April 14, 2011, at 7:36 p.m., the members of the House of Representatives were asked to vote on a list of uncontested resolutions. There were eight resolutions voted on as a group. The vote totals were: Yea…

Dear Editor: Since approximately 1892, when Dacula was known as Freeman, GA, my family has owned a small corner lot on Second Avenue and Wilson Street in downtown Dacula.  I have no desire to sell my lot, but the politicians that run the City of Dacula say I must or the City will take it using the “power of eminent domain.”  The City wants to build yet another park despite the fact that there are two parks within walking distance of downtown.  Our City’s historic business district faces stagnation, even decline.  Numerous empty buildings are either up for lease or for sale.  The park under …