I’m sure many are aware the U.S. Supreme Court is hearing a prayer case, The Town of Greece, N.Y., vs. Galloway.

There, the town council randomly selected clergy to open their meetings with a prayer. Susan Galloway objected to the prayers, which were mostly Christian. She argued by allowing that, the town supported one faith over others and violated the First Amendment. The town lost in the 2nd Federal Circuit Court and sued Galloway in the U.S. Supreme Court.

First, some history. The Establishment Clause is the first of several tenets in the

Ben Robinson

All About Ben

By Ben Robinson

It’s been kind of an uplifting day.

Sometimes I get discouraged by the complications life presents. Then God apparently smacks it into my head, and I am excited again.

Today as I was working on an article, Georgia Chapman called and invited me to Saturday’s McKinney Chapel Christmas Pageant. She said it simply did not seem right doing the pageant without me.

Of course, I realize that my part in the pageant is to cover it for whatever publication I am working for at the time. It goes fine without me because of the wonderful people who present the

Olivia Fowler

On the Way

By Olivia Fowler

My beloved cousin Gwynne in Tennessee has the most loving and generous spirit of anyone I know. She is a sucker for any sob story, is active in animal rescue, volunteers in an organization to help troubled teens and is the first person in town to call if someone needs help.

For many years she taught first grade and kept at it so long she ended up teaching children of former students. She retired last year but is teaching part-time this year, sharing a class with another teacher. They split the week, and she loves it.

She’ll go to bat for a child when necessary

Applauding Sheriff Clark

Dear Editor,

An article regarding the actions of Pickens County Sheriff Rick Clark and published as a letter to the editor appeared in the Dec. 11 issue of your newspaper. Please allow me to comment.

The writer should know that a presidential proclamation does not have the force of law in the United States. To have the force of law it would require an act of the U.S. Congress. The proclamation of President Obama regarding flying the U.S. flag at

Olivia Fowler

On The Way

By Olivia Fowler

The following is an excerpt from the presidential order to lower the flag to half-staff as a mark of respect for the memory of Nelson Mandela issued by President Barack Obama last Thursday, an order our county sheriff chose to disregard.

“As a mark of respect for the memory of Nelson Mandela, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its territories and

Ben Robinson

All About Ben

By Ben Robinson

This year I’m moving from that group of people who do not buy Christmas gifts because they are broke to the group of people who buy limited and very poor gifts because they are nearly broke.

Next year I hope to move to the group of people who buy nice Christmas gifts because they can afford it. I am almost there, except for that “afford it” part. But at least I can let people know I appreciate them, though honestly my gifts are not good indicators of how much.

Ben Robinson

All About Ben

By Ben Robinson

I am not really smart enough to have so many appointments to keep up with.

For example, last week when I was at the doctor for my injured leg, they made my next appointment.

For the past three months I have been going to the doctor every Tuesday so my bandage can be changed. Since Tuesday is the deadline day for the Courier, I asked if I could change my weekly appointment to Thursday or Friday. “No,” I was told. “We don’t want to take any chances with your wound. We need you

Olivia Fowler

On The Way

By Olivia Fowler

We’re constantly told we’re living in the information age, but I’m not convinced this is the best thing that ever happened to mankind.

All we have to do is turn on the television and we’re inundated with reports that shock, scare or flabbergast us. We’re told that yellow dye No. 5 will give us cancer and our mattresses are full of dust mites and dead skin. The latter info I could do without.

Although it’s good to know about yellow dye no. 5, the color added to Mountain Dew and Sundrop for as many years as I’ve been alive, the news has probably come too late to make a difference to people of my generation. I quit drinking them some time back but unfortunately consumed enough gallons during my late teens and twenties to put me into a high risk category… There’s still time for all those younger

Olivia Fowler

On The Way

By Olivia Fowler

The old oak table would be pulled apart as far as it would go, and the leaves would be put in. The tablecloth would be ironed and spread upon the table, and everyone would run around a little frazzled carrying out the many and varied tasks that went into preparing Thanksgiving.

The food was always the subject under discussion, and any children in the area were sent on countless errands to fetch and carry, stir, peel and be available at all times for orders.

And the smells coming from the kitchen wafted down the long hall.

Once Grandmama and Uncle Walter got the turkey safely into the oven, Mama would take us all outside and we’d walk through the woods looking for turning leaves to make into an

Ben Robinson

All About Ben

by Ben Robinson

Getting to see David Cox Sr. last week brought back memories and made me feel old.

For one thing, we were gathered together for Maddison Cox, daughter of David Cox Jr. to sign a letter of intent to play golf in college (although yours truly happened to forget the memory card in his camera for the photos, so that story will be in next week’s issue if I can get someone to send the photo over to me).

David Jr. was my classmate, both at Dacusville and then later at Pickens High School. David’s got a college-aged daughter? He must be old! Of course, if he is the same age as I am, somebody else might be old too.