Another year passes

Opinion

December 31, 2012

Another year passes

Editor and Publisher John H. Walker The Daily Southerner Mon Dec 31, 2012, 04:06 PM EST

TARBORO — “Like sands through an hourglass ...”

While the soap opera was a bit different from every day life, it was a lot closer to reality that most of us would want to admit.

With time running out, our “leaders” in Washington continue to play the blame game and point fingers at one another as the folks who foot the bill for the operation of our country (no, not the Chinese) are left to twist in the wind.

Sunday night, as this column is being written, Senate Republicans forwarded a proposal to Harry Reid and said they were optimistic the “fiscal cliff” could be avoided.

Watching from afar, the soap opera playing out in Washington reminds of us of a couple of brash, young hotrodders playing chicken — with a roadway full of schoolchildren in-between.

It would be nice if both sides could belly up to the bar and engage in a little bit of give and take. We all hear from each side about how they are willing to give while the other side only wants to take, but we all know that the both the Demadonts and Republicants — as my friend, Garland Robinette of WWL Radio in New Orleans calls them — are both in full press public relations mode.

If day-to-day life were a washing machine, both parties would be on the spin cycle.

It’s impossible for them to get the message that we want the business of the country taken care of because we keep sending them back to the trough to feed.

• • •

Today’s newspaper has one of those stories you love to see and one that breaks your heart ...

Instead of allowing the Grinch to steal Christmas from the family of John and Tammy Owens, family friend Paula Mazingo intervened to ensure the family of 12 discovered there are those who care about others.

Miranda Baines shares the story with us and tells how the community rose to the occasion.

But it wasn’t just one time for that to happen over the holidays ... there were countless people who gave and gave again to help others.

The really heartwarming thing about it all is that for 99.9 percent of the people, they are giving to a stranger.

I’m sure there are times when, without realizing it, we help someone we may know but that, I think, is the exception, rather than the rule.

The second story is that of 12-year old James Lee Parker, who was accidentally shot while on a hunting trip with his father, uncle and step-brother.

That’s a story we’d rather not have to share with you.

Sunday night, we’re told, the outpouring of support for the family was amazing, as persons of all walks of life went to Carlisle Funeral Home to pay their respects.

Funeral services for young James are at 2 today at Tarboro Church of God.

• • •

We hope you had as wonderful a Christmas as we did, visiting the grandbabies in Burlington, Ky.

Stepson Drew has been deployed most Christmases and when he asked his mom if we could come visit, it didn’t take long for her to answer.

One of my joys has been introducing Alex (7) and Dominick (5) to the world of trains. We went to our first train show in Birmingham in 2010 and we got to do it at Christmas, crossing into Cincinnati to see Duke Energy’s “World of Trains” at one of the Union Station museums. Grampy and Mimi enjoyed it as much as the boys!

Have a happy and safe new year!

(John H. Walker is editor and publisher of The Daily Southerner.)

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Opinion

My 13 years have been lucky
It was 13 years Sunday that a drought was broken in Big Spring, Texas, After that, we ate Mexican for dinner with a gathering of family and friends.
The next day, a Saturday, Stephanie and I joined one another in marriage under a beautiful little gazebo by Comanche Trail Lake, fed by the historic spring from which the community draws its name.

May 20, 2013
We Salute...
Each Friday, The Daily Southerner will recognize individuals, groups and businesses in Edgecombe County who have gone “above and beyond” in their effort to make this a better place to work, play and raise a family.

May 17, 2013
Benghazi: We need the real truth
The American diplomatic mission at Benghazi, in Libya, was attacked on Sept. 11, 2012 by a heavily armed group. The attack began during the night at a compound that is meant to protect the consulate building. A second assault in the early morning the next day targeted a nearby CIA annex in a different diplomatic compound. Four people were killed including U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens. Ten others were injured.

May 15, 2013
With much thanks and love …
The past month has been interesting, to say the least.
As I grew up, my first cousins — a group of us that have simply been referred to as “The Cousins” would often joke that when we died, we knew it would be as the result of a heart attack. That’s the history of the Walker family and my Dad and his seven brothers and sisters, as heir parents had, died of heart-related issues.
But along the way, something else happened, Cousins Joyce, Dudley, Don, Kenneth, Howard and Jimmy all died after a courageous battle with cancer.
Dudley and Don and Jimmy and Howard were brothers. But we were much more than cousins. We were a true Southern family in that no matter how far away we might move, we always wound up back at Granny Walker’s.

May 6, 2013
Favoring Immigrants over Citizens
Should Immigrants ever be given more favorable treatment than those of us who are already U.S. citizens? Apparently President Obama believes this should be the case when it comes to Obamacare. When it comes to the terms of the immigration reform bill and Obamacare almost 11 million illegals will be given a provisional legal status to live and work in this country.

May 1, 2013
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Princeville, the oldest African American community in North America, through the years has had many hurdles and set backs since it was established.Yet with its resilience, it has some how, through some miracles has always bounced back to stay the course of normalcy as best as it could envision. Yet, we must be ever so reminded that our earthly job of being responsible and accountable for and to ourselves shall never cease, until our journey is finished.
This beckoning call for volunteers is being directed to all the local residents who are concerned and aware of the deplorable existing condition of the cemetery on N.C. Highway 111.
This appeal is specifically for churches, community organizations, and all concerned able body men, women and young folks to respond. The purpose of the tentative meeting is to organize a special committee of volunteers within the community, to assumed the responsibilities and duties of maintaining the cemetery. This is where our deceased loved ones are laid to rest and one day for sure some or most of us, if it’s God's will, shall lay rest in this cemetery. It's about pride and cultural respect and decency that we the living owe our beloved ones who's gone over.
Please call or respond to the contact information below and we'll get in touch and arrange a special meeting to start this project. It's no secret that it's an eyesore and a reflection of what we collectively think of ourselves as well as about of our deceased. This mindset can change. With the weather changing, the grass will be growing. Once again we'll be faced with the cosmetic upkeep. There are some simple tasks we as concerned residents can come together as a concerned unit/group to maintain the appearance of our cemetery.
Calling all concerned men and women and children residing in historic Princeville.
Those interested please call (252) 823-3740

Milton Bullock
Native of Princeville

April 17, 2013
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Dear Editor,
Thursday, May 2, is the National Day of Prayer all over the United States. I would like to challenge every minister of the gospel to bring a group from his or her church and meet us on the Town Square across from Edgecombe County Courthouse at 11:45 p.m. Thursday for prayer and unity.
After looking through the phonebook and newspaper church page, there appears to be more than 300 churches in Edgecombe County of multiple faiths. Yet each year we barely have 25 people respond to the advertising for National Day of Prayer.
Prayer has no respective person and does not practice segregation, yet the church segregates itself every Sunday morning. As a blood bought believer in Jesus Christ, I ask all who believes that Jesus was born of virgin, died on the cross and rose on the third day to meet me with an expressive tongue of prayer for our local, state and national leaders. Are you up for the challenge.

Viola Harris

April 17, 2013
We Salute...
Each Friday, The Daily Southerner will recognize individuals, groups and businesses in Edgecombe County who have gone “above and beyond” in their effort to make this a better place to work, play and raise a family.

April 12, 2013
We Salute...
• ELLIS “BUDDY” HOOKS, on being named to receive the BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA DISTINGUISHED CITIZEN AWARD.
Hooks will be officially recognized on May 14.
• ALL PARTICIPANTS in the 76th EASTERN CAROLINA 4-H LIVESTOCK SHOW, held this week at the East Carolina Agriculture and Educational Center.
• Members of the TARBORO HIGH BOOSTERS CLUB, employees of the TOWN OF TARBORO, members of the GOLDEN K KIWANIS CLUB and all others involved in the successul staging of the 20th TARBORO EASTER CLASSIC BASEBALL TOURNAMENT, Despite chilly, wet weather on Thursday, today’s weather is forecast to improve to the point of being a perfect day at the ballpark.
• Edgecombe County businesses recognized for their efforts to promote a safe work place, including Keihin Carolina System Technology, Inc., Air System Components, ABB, Inc., Piedmont Natural Gas, Tarboro Resource Center and QVC, Rocky Mount , Edgecombe-Martin County Electric Membership Corp., Hillshire Brands-Sara Lee Bakery and N.C. Department of Commerce, Division of Workforce Solutions, Tarboro Branch Office.
• LT. FLEMING THOMPSON, a 2005graduate of Tarboro High School, on being named the United States Air Force’s 23rd Bomb Squadron NAVIGATOR OF THE YEAR.

• • •

April 5, 2013
What makes smart people do stupid?
It really gets me to see those you would think are smart people do what are obviously stupid things. I’ve just read about what has been going on in the city of Stockton, Calif. The population of Stockton is about 300,000. It is next to a beautiful downtown waterfront and sports a handsome $46 million glass hockey arena and single-A baseball team, playing in a new taxpayer-financed stadium. Sounds great, but actually this is part of the terrible financial problems the city is experiencing.

April 3, 2013
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