America could use a hearty laugh right now, but laughter doesn’t come easily because too many Americans have lost their sense of humor.

ATLANTA — Southern states have higher rates of unreported COVID-related deaths than other regions of the country, according to a new study.

ATLANTA – Gov. Brian Kemp signed an Executive Order recently to ease requirements and allow more medically trained professionals to safely administer the COVID-19 vaccine.

ATLANTA — State lawmakers plan to bring new legislation aimed at helping victims of human trafficking in Georgia recover from abuse and protect their identities, Gov. Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp announced Monday.

As I'm writing you now, books are being written about the magical political calculus which "turned the Red State of Georgia ... Blue."

For Georgia seniors, the COVID vaccine rollout has been rocky at best.

Rec Force from Butts County Parks and Recreation competed in the 2021 Tiny Super Hero gymnastics meet on Jan. 16-17 in Peachtree Corners.

While the COVID-19 pandemic and the presidential election will probably rank in most people’s minds as the top stories nationally in 2020, Butts County had its own fair share of top local stories during the last 12 months, including pandemic-related news.

The following names and charges appeared in the Butts County Jail Logbook for the period of Jan. 11-18, 2021:

The Jackson Red Devils wresting team honored their three seniors at their final home match last Tuesday against Athens Academy and Loganville. The three seniors and their wrestling weight divisions are Blake Young (138), Donovan Nichols (145) and Levi Redford (152)

The 2020 2-AAA All-Region Football Teams were named last week and the Jackson High School Red Devils had 15 players named to them.

The weather lately has not been conducive to picnics or eating outside, but when it finally warms up, Jackson will have plenty of colorful picnic tables where people can eat.

On my first trips to Latin America nearing 15 years ago, I always made a point of visiting capital cities and whenever possible, their seat of government and occasionally the residence of their president or prime minister.

Chief Magistrate Rebecca Pitts reports the following individuals were brought before the Magistrate Court of Butts County for consideration of bond or a first appearance bond hearing during the period of Jan. 11-17, 2021:

Without grace, our public discourse will continue to suffer.

It is no secret that Google has secured a near monopoly in the search and local advertising world. However, the impact on newspapers hasn’t been quite as obvious.

The old saying "Revenge is a dish best served cold" is understood to mean it is better to deliver retribution for a perceived or actual injustice after time has passed, in order for it to be done dispassionately. Sometimes it is better not to serve that dish at all. Like perishable food left unrefrigerated, a different kind of "bacteria" can infect the nation.

Passing a florist truck, I couldn’t help but notice the advertisement on the side of the vehicle. The advertisement read, “Flowers Whisper How You Feel.”

News from 10 years ago:

Hard to believe that by the afternoon after the historic win of not one, but two U.S. Senate seats, shifting the Senate majority from Republican to a tie with the Democratic Party, and moving a historically GOP state (of nearly 20 years), clearly into battleground territory the news had already moved to the nation's B-sections.

The mob violence that occurred at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday was deplorable and disgusting. It is the antithesis of a free society that wishes to remain free. Any supporter of President Trump and his policies must denounce this horror with even more vehemence than they denounced the riots of last summer, but the two are not equivalent.

One silver lining from 2020 has been discovering the joy of outdoor adventures.

While much of the world experienced 2020 as the Year of the Pandemic, Europe has faced a second challenge: agreeing on the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union.

My new puppy entered the world on Christmas and he’s already bringing incredible joy into my family – just as many dogs, cats and other bundles of joy are doing for millions during these unusual times.

House Democrats keep coming up with ideas that are bound to sink their already low approval ratings to new depths, possibly giving Republicans a majority in the 2022 election.

Jackson High School now has a new Red Devils mascot in the school cafeteria, thanks to art teacher Debbie Bell’s first block art class.

News from 10 years ago:

While the COVID-19 pandemic and the presidential election will probably rank in most people’s minds as the top stories nationally in 2020, Butts County had its own fair share of top local stories during the last 12 months, including pandemic-related news.

President Trump was NOT ever ahead by 500,000 votes in Georgia ... at peak, roughly 10:30 p.m. on Election night, he led Georgia by roughly 350,000 votes, as the rural and out-state vote (fewer in number) always come in first. As metro votes were tallied, his lead continually shrank and eventually evaporated under a flood of Biden absentee ballots

As you may have noticed by now, I’m “old school,” which is a way of saying you’re old, but by adding the word “school” it softens the blow.

One of many things that will distinguish a President Joe Biden from his predecessor is that the incoming president is likely to speak less in public, mostly because of how he garbles his thoughts and words.

Butts County students will not be returning to on-campus instruction on Thursday, Jan. 7 as originally planned. Superintendent Dr. Todd Simpson said Monday that due to rising COVID-19 cases, the decision has been made to begin school on Jan. 7 virtually for all students, with the plan to res…

The University of Georgia has scheduled additional webinars to help small businesses prepare to apply for funding through the federal COVID-19 Emergency Relief Package, expected to be available in mid to late January.

SOCIAL CIRCLE – Kick off the brand new year by using the 2021 Georgia Sport Fishing Regulations Guide as you make all your fishing plans, says the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division (WRD).

Chief Magistrate Rebecca Pitts reports the following individuals were brought before the Magistrate Court of Butts County for consideration of bond or a first appearance bond hearing during the period of Dec. 28, 2020-Jan. 3, 2021:

Legislation the General Assembly passed this year covering a wide range of subjects from health care to law enforcement to Georgia’s foster care system will take effect with the new year.

Mercifully, 2020 has ended.

Good Lord, where to begin?