Editorial

The 2019 legislative session is now in the books. As each session is observed, it is apparent that primary, powerful, state senators control the flow and outcome of any and all legislative sessions.
Current Alabama state senators Del Marsh, Jabo Waggoner, Greg Reed and Arthur Orr wield immense influence.

Society has tried to create a mold into which the idealistic father is supposed to fit into. Fathers come in all different forms in someone’s life—whether it be a biological father, step-father, grand-parent or a trusted guardian. 
No matter the case, June 16 is a day of celebration, and remembrance, for these fatherly figures in our lives.          
The definition of a father, according to Merriam-Webster, is “A male parent.” 

During a Marion County Commission meeting, Dynamic Securities and the commissioners discussed security protocols and individuals who were authorized to bypass security when entering the Marion County Courthouse in Hamilton.
One of the topics discussed during the meeting was about the individuals who would be exempt from security checks and be able to bypass security.
All individuals are currently required to go through security checks with the exception of certain judges, officers, commissioners and other elected officials.

There’s a place here in Marion County called Pearce’s Mill that time has not forgotten. The mill community, named for the family that ran it, is being rendered back to nature by time and decay.
Vines, weeds and trees now surround the 19th-century buildings, hiding the former majesty of the once-thriving community. Pearce’s Mill in central Marion County is not even a ghost of its former self. 
The history of Pearce’s Mill is a microcosm of early Alabama history and the history of America itself. 

For almost 100 years, one of, if not the best, annual event for young Alabama high school leaders in Alabama has been the Alabama Boys State and the Alabama Girls State programs.
These events are sponsored by the American Legion and the American Legion Auxillary. Boys State and Girls State are sponsored nationwide by the American Legion. The programs epitomize the American Legion’s mission to honor those who have bought us our American freedom.

I should have begun saving for a facelift many years ago. I didn’t! (Who thinks they’re ever going to grow old! That’s just for grandparents!) 
Alas, the age angels have not seen to carry the weight themselves and have, instead, gifted my body with both mine and someone else’s share. They are not always kind!

If you are an old-timer like me, or maybe just someone who listened while your Daddy told you about the “good old days,” you know that Dick Tracy was the square-jawed detective in the comic books and Sgt. Friday was the star of Dragnet back in the days of black and white TV. Like all good detectives, they always got to the bottom of things.

In an unusual occurrence, the Marion County Board of Education found itself split on an issue. 
It is the norm for the Marion County Board of Education to be in agreement. There are few recountable times where the board has split opinions—let alone votes—on any issue. It has made countless unanimous decisions over the years.
Board members found their views conflicting during a discussion on a proposed ban on leggings during its meeting on Thursday, May 13. The board made no decision on the ban during the meeting and tabled a final verdict for further consideration.

A good many people wonder why simple, straightforward, no nonsense, good-government legislation fails to pass, even though it appears to have universal and overwhelming support and appeal for many voters and legislators.

The five-day special legislative session that addressed the increase in the gas tax to fund an Infrastructure Rebuilding Program for the state was a remarkable success.

Recently, I embarked on the journey of a lifetime. I went searching for a lost town called Ur and I believe I have rediscovered that ancient place.  
Now, I’m not talking about the ancient city of Ur that you are probably thinking of--the birthplace of the Biblical character Abraham, revered as the progenitor of the world’s three greatest religions--Christianity, Judaism and Islam. That city of Ur, located in modern-day southern Iraq, is approximately 5,800 years old and was the center of a moon-worshiping religion.

Quite recently in Alabama, the topics of vaccinations and general health have been magnified by the sudden potential outbreak of the measles virus.
Worries began a few weeks ago when a traveler who was believed to have been carrying the measles virus made two stops in Alabama, causing fear of the virus spreading to our local areas.
Spread of the measles virus is very preventable and the symptoms are clear if and when the virus is contracted.
We believe it is up to all of us to protect each other and pay close attention to any symptoms of sickness and disease.

One of the definitions of “farce” is “an empty or patently ridiculous act, proceeding, or situation.”
I can think of no better example than the effort by Sen. Del Marsh to repeal the Alabama College & Career Ready standards.
First Marsh was a staunch supporter of these standards. In an article by the Business Council of Alabama on April 23, 2013, describing a capitol rally in support of the standards, Marsh is quoted as telling reporters that any repeal effort was “off the table.”

There is no question that Gov. Kay Ivey’s infrastructure/gas tax program was the cornerstone issue of this legislative session. This monumental legislation will be a tremendous enhancement for Alabama’s economic development for decades to come.

What? You don’t want to die and go back to spirit...to become invisible? Allow me to explain...

“Liars are not believed even when they are telling the truth.”
This is the phrase coined by Greek storyteller Aesop for the moral of his famous story, which we have come to commonly refer to as “The Boy Who Cried Wolf.”

In my last Palmer’s Almanac (Journal Record, Feb. 20), I traced the evolution of almanacs from the beginning of recorded time to the founding of the United States of America. As American expansion moved west, the publication of almanacs soon followed.
Almanacs began as inscriptions on clay tablets about 5,000 years ago in the fertile Euphrates valley in modern-day Iraq.
Ancient farmers kept records of the seasons, the weather and the climate as a way of predicting when Spring planting should begin and, hopefully, increasing the next season’s harvest.

My parents were young people during the Great Depression. While my maternal grandparents had owned the town grocery store and a large rooming house, complete with “hired-girls” to help, they were now relegated to living with their children, in a miner’s shack. It had a dirt floor and whatever they could find to stuff into the cracks in the walls.
I believe the World War II may have been the relief our nation found to overcome the abject poverty the Depression visited on our world.

After their successful special five-day Special Session, the Legislature has been in their Regular Session for a few weeks now. The session will end in June so it is about one-fourth over.
Almost one-third of the members are new, freshmen if you will. Even though they are, for the most part, a bright and talented group, they are still wet behind the ears when it comes to legislative ways.

A little over two weeks ago, Hamilton Mayor Bob Page commended the Resource Conservation and Development council during the council’s meeting to discuss 2018’s projects.
Throughout last year, RC&D has funded projects ranging from buying computers and printers for schools and police departments to funding paving projects for school parking lots as they had at Brilliant High School in 2018.

The governor has been inaugurated and the Legislature has had its organizational session. The quadrennium has begun. Therefore, it is time for our state officials to get to work.