I am writing this column on the 66th wedding anniversary of my parents, the late John Wade Bullard and Mary Lou Taylor Bullard. They were married on June 8, 1956, in Statenville,…
Category: Editorials
Around the Banks: The 70th Annual Florida Folk Festival
After two years of not having a face to face program, the Florida Park Service of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection celebrated the 70th Annual Florida Folk Festival, the nation’s oldest…
Cagle grams: What is a conversion?
James H. Cagle Guest Columnist “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.” (Psalm 19:7) “Well spoke the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, saying, Go unto…
Emerald’s Gem Box: I hear voices
There’s a country song named “Voices” that explains how he (the singer) walks around hearing voices in his mind. The voices are from his parents and grandparents and the lessons that they…
The Editor’s Desk: The essence of civility
“Guys, you can say whatever you want, as long as you remain seated.” I distinctly remember hearing those words fall from the tongue of a teacher from one of our area’s schools…
Unpopular Opinions: How shopping carts represent the status of society
Now, I know what you are wondering. “Shopping carts? What do they have to do with society?” Well, hear me out, because shopping carts can be a status marker for how society…
Emerald’s Gem Box: Love
Valentine’s Day is just a few days away! The smell of love, flowers and candy fill the air. Whether it’s love for your spouse, your children, parents or a best friend, everyone…
Emerald’s Gem Box: Thank God for your roots in life!
I’ve often mentioned/written before that I wake up early every morning and one of my morning rituals is listening to motivational speeches. Whether it be inner strength, inner success, business success, business/personal…
Emerald’s Gem Box: Integrity
Integrity, according to Dictionary.com means, “adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.” What is integrity? It is the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. It…
Emerald’s Gem Box: Matthew 5:21-22
(The following column is a re-write of a column I wrote two years ago. I came across it again and thought it was worth updating and running again.) One Sunday morning during…
Emerald’s Gem Box: Happy New Year!
2021 has come and gone and we find ourselves staring 2022 straight in the face. My favorite New Year’s childhood memories find me spending every New Year’s Eve with my Grandma Greene…
Emerald’s Gem Box: Merry Christmas
The countdown is finally over … Christmas is here! Let the fun begin! Hundreds of glasses of milk and cookies will be left out, with only crumbs and an empty glass left…
Emerald’s Gem Box: The things we miss in life
Emerald Greene ParsonsPublisher So many times in life we are caught up in our feelings about what we don’t have in life and miss so much of what we do have. So…
Around the Banks: Happy Halloween
Once before the wonder of imagination began to petrify with age, I absolutely loved Halloween. In our school at South Hamilton Elementary, in White Springs, we all looked forward to the annual …
Emerald’s Gem Box: Why I do what I do…I want to help change the world. Or, at least my corner of it.
One year ago, I wrote a column entitled “I want to change my corner of the world.” Those words seem to best describe why I love the newspaper business. We all have…
Christian Concepts: COVID vaccines
The city of Los Angeles had recently considered mandating COVID vaccines for everyone in the city. This ongoing emphasis on mandating vaccinations continues to be prominent in the news. I am glad…
Around the Banks: Old is new
I can close my eyes and see the big black dial telephone situated on a small table behind the dining table at my Grandma Bullard’s house on Mill Street in White Springs….