Opinion & Policy

  Happy tax new year! Here we are at the beginning of February, and we should have received our W-2s from our employers, 1099s from other income, and are now ready to find out how much we owe our federal and state governments for the privilege of living in the good old U.S.A. I understand…

Dear Buzzy, Have you or any of your associates seen who might have taken the old sign and post that was laying on the ground at the Old Jail? It was found between the sidewalk and road somewhat between BridgeWays and the old McDonald home. The sign reads “$100.00 fine for littering.” This sign didn’t…

When the thirteen American colonies still fell under the providence of Great Britain, the currency in use was the British Pound Sterling. The word comes from the Roman word “pounds,” meaning “weight,” with one English Pound literally a pound of silver in weight. The term “sterling” comes from the ancient Greek στερεός, or stereós, meaning…

Inspired by the 1814 Defence of Fort M’Henry, Francis Scott Key referred to our nation as “the land of the free and the home of the brave” in his poem, later retitled “The Star Spangled Banner” and our national anthem. 208 years later, if we were to have a nation-wide contest for someone to write…

  Most of you know I am not originally from Coosa County. My husband and I moved here almost 25 years ago so, since I don’t have at least five generations buried here, I am a relative “newcomer”! But, once we got here and started looking into Larry’s genealogy, we did learn that he WAS…

  Alabama has seen so much violent crime the past couple of years that unfortunately the headlines are no longer shocking. And it was not too long ago that a triple murder by a violent parolee in Marshall County led to the Alabama Legislature enacting permanent reforms of the Board of Pardons and Paroles. Before…

Benjamin Franklin is quoted as stating that “nothing is certain except death and taxes.” The quote originally was reference to the durability of our U.S. Constitution. If you’ve read anything that I have written here before in this column, then you know that I hold our Constitution sacred, but let me take a moment to…

Special to the News By John M. Taylor   In these Orwellian times it can be difficult to discern fact from fiction. One individual who has been falsely demonized is Robert E. Lee. Having two family members who signed the Declaration of Independence, a father who was a Revolutionary War hero, being the only individual…

  First, I want to thank all the wonderful people of Coosa County who came to the aid of their neighbors after the tornadoes last week. Needs were great, and response was greater! Once it was determined what was needed and where it was needed, the calls went out and volunteers showed up. With the…

  As we start a new year, everyone begins making plans for resolutions that they want to make for themselves. Of course, most of them fade away within weeks. So what goals are our state leaders making for Alabama in the new year, and will they actually work to achieve them in the upcoming legislative…