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I lost a hero
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Editor,

 

I got a phone call last week; it was my sister telling me that Jack Shuman had died. I was heartbroken by this news.

I had not seen Jack much in the past years since I move away from Pembroke years ago. When I did get to see him it was like we had seen each other every day and I still lived there.

When I was a teenager trying to be a man, Jack showed me that there was no hurry to grow up so fast, and enjoy the moment. He taught me a lot of things that my Dad was not able to do, such as ride a dirt bike, cook on the grill, shoot pool – you know the good things when you’re sixteen. He had a great love for rock music, and helped me take my love for music and turn it into a great passion. He taught me everything that I know about high performance engines. He introduced me to all types of racing. His favorite was Drag Racing, and we spent many nights at the drag strip in Savannah. He made me a MOPAR MAN!!

Being with Jack meant you got to cruise around town in the coolest and best cars in town.

He did more for me than he will ever know. He showed me how to work on things, and repair cars to which I took that passion and made a career out of as a technician for the railroad. But to me he was much more than a relative. To me Jack was a best friend, a teacher, a mentor, and one of my heroes. He was a person that would help out and not ask for anything in return. Just knowing him made me a better person. Every time I see a motorcycle, go to a race, or pick up a wrench I will remember Jack Shuman and say thank you for all that you were to me.

 

Nolan Keith Geiger

Lillian, Ala.

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Showing gratitude for service
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Dear editor: Another election cycle is finally over and the voters of Bryan County have spoken. We will have three new county commissioners in January 2011.
My congratulations go out to Jimmy Henderson of District 5, Carter Infinger of District 4 and Wade Price of District 2. I look forward to working with them as we continue to take care of the business of the county.
All three races were contested, which gave the voters a choice of who they wanted as their commissioner. Those who did not prevail in this election are to be applauded for offering themselves as candidates.
Our county owes a debt of gratitude to retiring commissioners Rick Gardner with eight years of service, Blondean Newman with eight years of service as a commissioner and 30 years as tax commissioner, and Toby Roberts with 18 years on the county commission.
These three spent many hours establishing policies and procedures for our county government and many meetings with state and local officials to achieve the best possible outcomes regarding our county on numerous issues. Their many years of experience will be sorely missed.
I well remember the first time I ran for public office and lost. Sometimes those who are not elected are the winners because they don’t have to go to all the meetings – that is said with tongue in cheek, of course.
After my loss, someone sent me the following quotation from President Theodore Roosevelt, which I keep on the wall in my office:
“It is not the critic who counts, not the one who points out how the strong man stumbled or how the doer of deeds might have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred with sweat and dust and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, if he wins, knows the triumph of high achievement; and who, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
And my wish for all the citizens of Bryan County is to have a truly blessed Christmas and a prosperous and happy New Year’s.

Jimmy Burnsed
Chairman
Board of commissioners

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