Clearing out my notebook on a beautiful Friday afternoon on the first day of February:
• Next Tuesday is the run-off special election for the District 11 State Senate race. Early voting ended yesterday and if you didn’t take that opportunity to vote, please make sure you go to the polls on Tuesday. Either Dr. Dean Burke or Mike Keown will represent us in the senate for at least the next two years.
From my previous comments and the editorial opinion on this very page, its no surprise that I, personally, and The Post-Searchlight still believe that Dr. Burke is the best choice to fill that role. And that opinion does not result strictly from the fact that Dr. Burke is from Bainbridge. I believe he brings the proper business experience, agricultural exposure, and temperament to do a fine job in Atlanta representing District 11. But, regardless of your choice, please go the polls and vote Tuesday.
• Hopefully by the time you read this, the horrible situation in Midland City, Ala., will have reached a safe resolution. Just over an hour away from us, a 5-year-old boy must be terrified and is going through an ordeal that most of us just can’t imagine.
A man who had earlier murdered a school bus driver before abducting the boy is holding him hostage. For the past three days, the young boy, who has an autism-like disorder, has been held in an underground bunker. As a parent, I simply cannot imagine what his parents are experiencing right now.
Please keep the boy, his family, and the law enforcement officers who are trying to bring the situation to a peaceful resolution in your thoughts and prayers.
• NASCAR is my second favorite spectator sport after football, specifically University of Alabama football. About this time every year, I start to become anxious in anticipation of the beginning of the NASCAR season and the Daytona 500. The season will kick off three weeks from tomorrow with the running of the race in Daytona. Unlike other sports when the biggest events are held at the end of the season, NASCAR holds its largest event at the beginning of the year.
If you are a NASCAR fan and are interested in participating is some sort of “Pick Em” contest or Fantasy Racing League, drop me an email and let me know. I have in mind a contest similar to the “Pick Em” contest we held during football season. It should be a lot of fun.