Opinions & Viewpoints
Welcoming 2026 With Faith, Hope, and Community: EDITORIAL *
| *La traducción al español sigue a la noticia en ingles As the sun rises on 2026, we are reminded that every new year is a gift — a fresh page placed gently in our hands. Here in Lanier County, we understand better than most that progress isn’t measured only by headlines or numbers,…
Read MoreGPS Commission votes to approve enormous grid expansion
Dear Editor, Ten days ago on Friday December 19th, the Georgia Public Service Commission did what we thought they would do: voted 5 – 0 to approve Georgia Power’s enormous grid expansion request, the largest in both state history and in the United States. There is no other utility that comes close to achieving a…
Read MoreThe Bible, the Classroom, and the Boundaries of Scholarly Evidence
James Finck Historically Speaking December 17, 2025 5 Minutes From the Southwest Ledger As the story of a University of Oklahoma student receiving a zero on an assignment for citing the Bible has become a major national headline, I wanted to weigh in as both a Christian and a professor. Let me say upfront that I have not…
Read MoreDeficient Sources? Is God Dead? by Ty B. Kerley, DMin.
Continuing from last week, the last of the three significant criticisms lodged against the Christian resurrection narrative is undergirded by a claim that the sources used to defend the resurrection are deficient. When it comes to skeptical criticism, the source of the evidence is usually one of the first topics to be discussed. After all,…
Read MoreCritical Objections: Is God Dead? By Ty B. Kerley,DMin.*
*La traducción al español sigue a la noticia en ingles Last time, we began to look at three broad categories of criticism raised against the Christian resurrection narrative: First, critics claim the Christian resurrection is a legend that began long ago and has been perpetuated and perfected over time. Second, critics claim the Christian…
Read MoreThe Story Behind the Stories: Unlocking Western Literature and History – Historically Speaking By James Finck, Ph. D.*
November19, 2025 From Southwest Ledger *La traducción al español sigue a la noticia en ingles By James Finck, Ph.D. One of my all-time favorite movies, “Hoosiers,” is a perfect example of a David and Goliath movie where a small-town basketball team in Indiana makes it all the way to the 1954 State Championship to…
Read MoreEDITORIAL: Practical checklist for role assignments & oversight*
*La traducción al español sigue a la noticia en ingles Elected officials don’t just pick people. You assign authority. And when a position carries real discretion—control over money, contracts, hiring, enforcement, or public access—your duty is not merely to choose a “qualified” person, but to build a system that prevents predictable failure and protects…
Read MoreConflict of Interest Statement — Part 34 *
LANIER COUNTY NEWS EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is part of an ongoing series and speaks to decision making leaders with known or potential conflicts of interest and employees of area government. The series examines ethics and governance in Lanier County, which includes the incorporated communities of the City of Lakeland and a portion of the…
Read MoreThe Christian Resurrection : Is God Dead? By Ty B. Kerley,DMin.*
*La traducción al español sigue a la noticia en ingles Thus far,in the cumulative case argument, we have suggested that a significant list of historical sources supports the Christian resurrection narrative. Last time, we suggested that while having more sources is almost always better, the evidence from the available sources is more than enough to…
Read MoreConstitution 101: Privileges, Immunities and Debate – Historically Speaking By James Finck, Ph. D.*
November 11, 2025 From Southwest Ledger *La traducción al español sigue a la noticia en ingles Over the years, I have come to realize that many of my students know little about the U.S. Constitution. And even as I speak to older generations, I realize parts of the Constitution are somewhat foreign to them…
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