Ponderings by Dan Ponder

The Best Resolution of All Over the past couple of weeks I have given thought to the resolutions I wanted to make for the coming year.  I put them in this column last week because I believe one key to success is to make your pledges known.  Who will encourage you if no one knows…

It is beginning to seem that the election season will never end.  First, we had a brutal two year re-election campaign for president.  We just found out this past week that Senator Saxby Chambliss will not run for his own re-election in 2014.  An open seat for the U.S. Senate almost certainly guarantees that more…

What would the Founding Fathers think? Inauguration Day for our President is a day for all citizens of the United States to stand up and be proud, regardless of party or political persuasion.  The great experiment called democracy continues to flourish to the benefit of all that call themselves Americans. It was the 57th inauguration…

It was my honor Tuesday night to attend the Victory Celebration for Dean Burke who will represent District 11 in the State Senate in Atlanta.  That is important because he has been elected to represent you and me in the General Assembly of Georgia. I was struck by the many friends in attendance that once…

Home for the Holidays Because of early deadlines for this week’s paper, I am writing this article as my grandchildren are swirling like a tornado around the house.  This is our year to celebrate with our children the weekend before Christmas Day and Santa is on his way. I was the first one up this…

The shining eyes of children The children came marching in single file.  Flash cameras went off as every child and grandchild came into the Christmas program at John Johnson Elementary School in Bainbridge. Mary Lou & I were there at 7:30 am to get a good seat to watch our grandson, Henry, sing with his…

“The sun did not shine. It was too wet to play. So we sat in the house. All that cold, cold, wet day.”  These lines from Dr. Seuss’ “The Cat in the Hat” could have described all of us over the past week.  The downpours seemed to come over and over as this region experienced…

Many Americans look forward to President’s Day because of the heavily advertised sales held throughout the retail industry.  A federal holiday, it is celebrated on the third Monday in February, giving many workers, teachers and students a welcome day off. Actually, the official holiday is known as Washington’s Birthday.  It is often recognized as the…

He placed his hand on the Bible and in front of his colleagues, family and friends he promised to do the very best job he could do on behalf of those that elected him.  Just a few minutes later Dean Burke was seated at his desk on row two in the Georgia State Senate, shortly…

Scrambled Eggs and Pearls For years I have said that I choose to live in Southwest Georgia. It is not perfect, but it beats anywhere else I have ever been.  I like to compare our part of the world to other places I visit.  This week I spent several days in Beverly Hills, my hotel…