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.

Olivia Fowler

On The Way

by Olivia Fowler

We hear tales of what happens to people who win the lottery. It doesn’t always turn out to be a good thing. Especially if their names are released.

Think how it would be to be a nine-to-five person, faithfully showing up for work every day, and suddenly becoming the recipient of millions of dollars. It boggles the mind.

One winner tried to donate winnings to his church, but his church turned it down. One winner didn’t quit his job at Dunkin Donuts because he needed to work in order to feel worthwhile.

There was a man in Georgia who was slow to claim his prize because he said he couldn’t take off work. He might lose his job. And when asked what he planned to do with his winnings, he announced that he

Ben Robinson

All About Ben

By Ben Robinson

It’s that time of year again. I get to put together a Christmas list.

This year will definitely be better than last year. For one thing I am employed this year, so I can actually afford to buy people better gifts than a wrapped sheet of paper that simply says, “Warm wishes from Ben.”

Of course, that also puts pressure on me. I no longer have a girlfriend, so at least that pressure is gone. I still care for the girl, but she probably would not appreciate a picture of me as a present.

One priority is my gift for my father. He’s a bit insulted because I mistakenly wrote in last week’s column that he was dishonorably discharged from the army. Of course, the truth turned out to be he was

November 18-22 is American Education Week, a time to reflect on our country’s legacy of education and to give thought to what we want for the future of our kids.

Pickens has provided a variety of new opportunities over the past few years. Academically, we are doing more. Our on-time graduation rates have risen a full four percentage points, our students’ performance on standardized testing at the elementary, middle and high school level continues to surpass their peers around the state. SAT and ACT performance has been at or above the national average, and in 2012 Daniel High School was named the best traditional public high school in the state by US News and

Ben Robinson

All About Ben

By Ben Robinson

As far as military service, my family has been thankfully limited. The draft was over before me or my brother Thom reached 18. The idea of volunteering to go overseas and have somebody shoot at me never really appealed to me, so I never volunteered either.

My father served briefly in the military near the beginning of World War II, but my grandmother’s poor health led him to seek a dishonorable discharge. My Uncle Farris served in the army for a while, but he finished his time with no major headlines.

On my mother’s side of the family, my uncle Don Smith was in the Air Force