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Editorial
The Banks County News
November 17, 1999
Ceremony a fitting
tribute for fallen firefighter
Ninety-one people were killed while fighting fires in 1998. Banks
County volunteer firefighter Loy Williams is one of those struck
down while serving his community. Williams was one of the Banks
County volunteer firefighters trying to save New Salem United
Methodist Church in a New Year's Eve arson.
A national ceremony was held recently in Maryland to pay tribute
to those firefighters killed last year. It is fitting that members
of his family and fire department attended this special ceremony
to remember and honor Williams.
Too often people don't take time to honor those heroes who give
selflessly to their communities. Volunteers such as Williams
serve their communities with love and dedication without any
monetary reward. We salute the 91 who lost their lives while
trying to save people and structures.
No need to move trial out of county
A Superior Court judge in Texas once said that if someone commits
a crime in a county, he should be tried in that county. The suspect
should be tried by his peers in his home county without the taxpayers
being burdened with the costs of an out-of-county trial.
This judge was right on the mark in his ruling.
Lawyers representing those accused in the home invasion at Sam
and Georgia Thurmond's residence are asking that the trial be
held in another county. But there has not been an undue amount
of press coverage of this case. The attorneys have clipped the
articles about the case and are all set to use them to sway the
judge for a change of venue.
It is ridiculous to assume that Banks Countians would not be
fair in this case and are so biased that the court system should
go elsewhere for the trial. An out-of-county trial brings additional
costs to a county that most trials would not. The judge and court
officials must travel to this county, along with the suspects
and sheriff's department officers. The case should be tried in
Banks County where the crime was committed.
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Column
By Angela
Gary
The Banks County News
November 17, 1999
 Thanks, Nanny,
for praying for us
Sometimes she calls early in the morning
to tell us she is thinking about us and let us know we are in
her prayers. She seems to know when we are going through a difficult
time or aren't feeling well. She may wake up in the middle of
the night with one of us on her mind. She will pray for us and
then call us the next day to tell us she is thinking of us.
Religious leaders preach about the importance of prayer, but
many people don't take time to do it. Others may take time to
pray for themselves, but they don't do it for others. My grandmother,
Mozelle Clark of Commerce, is one of the few people who remembers
others in her prayers. If she tells you she is praying for you,
she means it.
Nanny Mozelle is a firm believer in prayer, and her prayers have
gotten my family through many difficult times. I am thankful
to have her to pray for me and remind me through her actions
of the power of prayer and what it can do. I am also thankful
to her for many other things. With Thanksgiving just around the
corner, I want to take time to thank Nanny Mozelle for being
such a special grandmother.
In addition to teaching the importance of prayer, Nanny Mozelle
also instills the importance of family history to me. My cousin,
Tommy Dove, helped her create a family tree and we all have a
copy of it, along with a brief written family history. This is
something I would have likely never taken the time or effort
to do, but it is something that I am glad to have. I can look
at the family names and read about the lives some of my early
relatives lived. It is interesting to see the paths these people
took and how they parallel our lives today. There were farmers
and teachers and even a few writers. It shows how much we are
like our early ancestors.
My grandmother also brings to life many of those relatives I
never met by telling me what they looked like and how they lived.
She is quick to point out family resemblances my sister and I
have to these people who lived before we were even born. This
is also importanct in keeping family history alive. This is something
that we don't often do, but it is something that is important.
My grandmother knows what is important in life and puts her priorities
in the right order. God and family top her list, as they should.
As Thanksgiving approaches, let's all put our priorities in order
and thank those who encourage and inspire us.
Angela Gary is associate editor of The Jackson Herald and
editor of The Banks County News.
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