Category Archives: Opinions
Letters To The Editor 8-30-23
Councilman explains his budget vote
Editor,
In a 4-2 vote, the county council passed $85.6 million in total spending for the fiscal year 2023-24, the budget that started this July 1. I voted “No” for a variety of reasons I want to explain.
Total revenue is up from $75.5 million to $84.4 million, or 12.1 percent year over year. That’s a lot.
There is lots of savings, too. The total unassigned general fund cash balance was $32.7 million, so that’s a 62 percent cash position relative to the general fund budget. The standard is 15-25 percent. Because cash on hand is so high and interest rates have gone up, the county has
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If the dark side can deceive one generation
A child’s mind is like a sponge that is constantly absorbing more information. This can be a good thing if they are learning about God and how to develop a personal relationship with Him.
Unfortunately, a Godless society along with a secular public education system moved away from the golden rules, which were considered our Heavenly Father’s standard for holy and obedient
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Marking four decades in newspapers
I’m not sure how it happened, but 40 years have passed since I first walked into the office of The Messenger and began my newspaper career.
The Messenger, in case you don’t remember, was a community newspaper that covered the Clemson-Central-Pendleton area. It eventually consolidated with its parent publication, now called The Journal.
I had been hounding old J.A. Gallimore, the owner and publisher at the time, for a job back
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Forgiveness, not condemnation
Some of you might keep a close watch on the news, and others may listen occasionally or not at all, but whatever the case, you’ve heard enough to realize that it’s common for worldly information to be relayed from a biased perspective.
Worldviews and convictions dictate which side of the fence individuals are on, however, for the Christian, we are realizing that social politics has become a confusing puppet show that distracts us from what God is saying. We should know and trust that He is the only one that has all the
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The Cherokee uprising
In 1730, a group of seven Cherokee, led by Chief Attakullakulla, traveled to London to meet with King George II to sign a treaty that would provide the Cherokee with weapons and ammunition. In exchange, the Cherokee agreed to trade exclusively with the English — not the 
French or Spanish — and vowed that King George’s enemies were also the enemy of the Cherokee.
By 1753, the Cherokee had become increasingly anxious over the growing French presence and
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Local nonprofit collecting warm items for Christmas donations
COUNTY — A local nonprofit is seeking items to give to area senior citizens this Christmas.
Members of Warmth and Comfort for the Elderly in Upstate SC use their crochet skills to provide warm items for nursing home patients,
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Happiness is hitting the snooze button
Sleep is magical. You lay down on a bed and close your eyes and drift away, on a soft fluffy cloud, into a “nothingness.”
When you awaken in the morning, the sun is shining, the birds are singing, the coffee pot is perking (or dripping, depending on your coffee machine), and you feel refreshed and energetic. You are ready to conquer the world.
Sleep is rather scary, because when you sleep, you enter into an unconscious state and have
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Not feeling it
So “hip-hop” is 50 years old.
Well, hippity hoppity zippity do-dah-day!
I hope we don’t have to wait another 15 years for its retirement.
Now, don’t write me off as an angry old white man.
I may be old, but I don’t feel it. I’m occasionally a little angry, but never for long.
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Freedom, truth and liberty
In John 8:32, our Lord tells us, “you shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
“Truth” in this context is the truth of God’s Word, which is the expression of His will, and stands perfect and without error. It is the light of the Holy Spirit shining resplendent in His Word. Whatever deviates from this, in thought or action, is falsehood (not true) and error; the Word is the standard of all that is true and good and right and beautiful. It is through acceptance of this truth that we are released from the bondage of spiritual death.
We read in Matthew 11:29-30, “Come to me, all whose work is hard, whose load is heavy; and I will give you relief. Bend your necks to my yoke, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble
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Getting through drug shortages
In the spring of this year, the U.S. saw a larger prescription drug shortage than we’ve seen in 10 years. And we haven’t recovered yet.
Part of the problem is that 78% of our drugs (or at least a crucial ingredient in each one) are made in foreign countries. Chemotherapy drugs, antibiotics, mental health
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