I enjoy some aspects and specific types of yard work (really) and today’s lesson is a discussion on my philosophical and scientific approach to the topic.  I like to see, and get great satisfaction from, a freshly mown yard, the edge of a pond that has been neatly trimmed and a scenic view through the trees.  That said I do have certain limitations and thus have come up with a structured way of accomplishing these tasks.  The number one rule is to use my time in an efficient manner.  My wife calls this particular philosophy “short cuts.”
One of the primary reasons I am a fan of efficient time management with regard to yard work is that there must be sufficient opportunity left over to go hunting, fishing, play golf and pursue my multitude of hobbies.  I think that this perspective makes a lot of sense.
Now you must understand that my pretty, talented spouse is a stickler for detail.  In fact her attention to said detail is legendary if not historic in nature.  Anything worth doing is worth spending all day on (even if it should only take a couple of hours) is her mantra.  I think that viewpoint stinks like old bilge water.  By the way she is out of town this week and won’t get to read this column otherwise I would phrase that criticism more delicately.
 If I used her method it would take me weeks of back breaking labor to keep the yard in order.  More importantly many fish would go uncaught, my golf handicap would skyrocket and I would very probably go into a deep, dark depression.

By Nick Nunn
staff writer

Gregory Harold Thompson, varsity tennis coach at Morgan County High School, was born January 29, 1969 at the Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta.
While attending Central Gwinnett High School in Lawrenceville, Coach Thompson played baseball and basketball, as well as competing in the high jump for the school’s track team.
After graduating from Central Gwinnett, Coach Thompson enrolled in Gordon Junior College then transferred to Georgia College and State University, where he completed his studies with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology before returning to earn a second BS in Health and Physical Education a year later.
Coach Thompson was married to his wife, Allison, on August 2, 1997, and they have a nine-year-old son together named Will.
At the Crossroads Alternative School, Coach Thompson teaches all subjects with the exception of math, as well as teaching special education to English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) students.
Outside of his sports-related interests, Coach Thompson also spends time camping, staying involved with his church, and spending time with his wife and son.
During his 10-year tenure in the Morgan County School System, Coach Thompson has coached tennis, baseball, girls’ basketball, track, and cross country, in each of which he has a personal interest.

Among the many sports that you have coached at Morgan County, which has been your favorite and why?
GHT: I have enjoyed all of them, but I have to say that tennis has been pretty fun. I also really enjoyed my years as the cross country coach because I was running with the kids everyday and I was in the best shape of my life for four to five years.
What is your favorite local campsite and why?
GHT: Locally, it's hard to beat Hard Labor Creek
What makes Hard Labor Creek one of the best campsites around?

Dogs fall to Cartersville in first round of state tournament

By Nick Nunn
staff writer

The Morgan County High School varsity Diamond Dogs lost both games of a doubleheader to the Cartersville Purple Hurricanes last Friday afternoon, falling out of the state playoff bracket in the first round. Despite a late push by the Dogs, they lost the first game 3-8 before dropping the second game 0-3.

Coming into the doubleheader, Cartersville had racked up a perfect 14-0 region season, losing only six games in total during the year for an overall 22-6 record.

The threat of rain pushed the games ahead last Friday, so the Dogs had to leave Morgan County early to make the long trip to Cartersville.
The hurricane warning flags flying in the wind over the home bleachers forewarned the Hurricanes’ dominance over Morgan County.
During the first five innings of the first game of the doubleheader, only Cartersville was able to put runs on the board.
In the top of the sixth inning with the score 7-0 in the Hurricanes’ favor, Morgan County was able to push ahead their first run of the game when Andrew Couch hit an RBI double with two outs on the side.

Stewart Spence also delivered an RBI in the inning, making the score 2-7 with the Dogs trailing by five runs.
The Cartersville team managed another run in the bottom of the sixth to put them ahead 8-2.

“If I had my way, someone else would have already done this.”
Jason Collins claims that it wasn’t his intention to be the first openly gay American athlete playing a team sport; that’s just the way it turned out.
Since Collins’ coming out, there has been much written about his decision and what it will mean for his career, the NBA and professional sports in general.

The outpouring of support in the media for Collins might cause one to beg the question of whether the courage Collins must have needed in order to make the announcement was necessary; there has been hardly a bad word directed towards him, and the opposing opinions that initially found the way out into the open were quickly recanted and apologized for.
But shouldn’t the mere fact that there has been nothing but positive reactions give us reason to ask how people close to Collins and professional sports actually feel about his announcement?

Call me what you will, but I am no longer a dreamy-eyed optimist and I refuse to believe that, in the high noon of politically correctness, we are getting the true picture of the reactions and emotions Collins’ announcement has caused.
Consider this: in Collins’ piece, which appeared in Sports Illustrated, there is a picture of Collins playing in a game against Shaquille O’Neal captioned, “Jason Collins (right) has played tough defense against the likes of Shaquille O'Neal throughout his career.”
(The photo and caption can be found at: http://goo.gl/qNOMg)

When one thinks of going to prison the normal sequence of events goes something like this: (1) Commit an act that is against the law; (2) Get caught; (3) Go to trial and get convicted; and (4) Go directly to jail. Lots of people have followed this format but in my case it was a little different. I have, however been to federal prison, an admission not easily made in a public forum, and I am now inclined to tell you about these events in order to get it off my conscience. This is the whole story (and I’m sticking to it). 
My prison time was not done at Folsom, San Quentin, Leavenworth, or some place far from home. Embarrassing as it is I must admit that my time was done only an hour from Madison at the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary. 
Here and now I give you the true and correct circumstances.
Sadly I am probably the only 16-year-old to have ever spent time in that devilish place. Under normal circumstances they accept only those who are 18 years of age and older but they made an exception for me.

The middle and high school football teams began preparing for the season last week; the middle school held tryouts last Wednesday through Friday and the high school team began practice this Monday. Mike Tountasakis goes over the basics (top). Jacarius Robinson tries out his throwing arm (above). photos by jesse walker

Printed in the May 9, 2013 edition.