What Happened to Telfair County

[Do Something]

Am I the only person who is disgusted with what has happened and is continueing to happen to our once strong Telfair county?
Does anyone else realize that we are doing this to ourselves because of our hesitance to become involved and for electing the same people who would rather fuss and fight with each other or enhance their financial situation at our expence? And appoint people with the same mindset to our local boards?
Really people, we don't have much more to lose because almost all is lost. This county is now set up for complete failure with no new industry being interested in settling in a county with no hospital, and with it's politicians and board appointees only being concerned with fighting amongst themselves and/or lining their own pockets at the expence of our having any future hopes of making a decent living here at home. How could we not benefit from electing some new people with new ideas who are interested in the future, instead of the same bunch of old retired people who have already lived their lives and aren't interested in the future as they don't have any future plans for themselves? What if we mistakenly elected a stone cold idiot? Could things get worst? I say what do we have to lose by taking a chance on getting some new people in office and on our boards to change the course of this county and to take a new approach on enticing new industry (= Jobs,taxes to run the county, insurance/healthcare for our citizens, etc etc. Hello, hello? is anyone out there???????

[exactly]

i'm afraid it's to late for telfair. I have relative there and it seems everyone there have been programed to not care. always the same folks running for office, always the same infighting, always the same ineffective law enforcement which usually ends up with the sheriffs indictment. always the same.... and the next election.....more of the same... until eventually the county will be in such a mess it will be absorbed by a neighboring county. like you said before, gradually that county is being shut down from being attacked from within, like a cancer, I don't think they even have a courthouse anymore, they voted to close there hospital, no new industry is coming because of no incentives, and also anyone who looks at going there with their industry first have to negotiate with certain people on certain boards who attempt to enrich themselves. once they encounter that corruption they run away. of course the prisons are somewhat immune from being exployted, at least the state prisons. And as you can see by the lack of interest in your post, none of the people there care, just happily ignorant to what is happening to them.

[Sandy]

I feel bad for saying this, but Telfair County is a lost cause. I spent two years there, and I was absolutely shocked at the dealings and behind-the-door activities that go on in EVERY aspect of administration. The school board is made up of "yes men," the sheriffs notoriously corrupt, embezzlement runs rampant everywhere...the hospital fell victim during my stay and had to close down because of it. I've never seen a town like this. It's like a caricature of every negative stereotype you can think of, and I honestly thought places like these only existed in the movies. Everyone complains, but no one will get off their ass to do something about it because inevitably they (or someone they know) profits from the misdealings somewhere down the line. I'd say 60-70 percent of the town is on welfare. 50-60 percent of them are qualifying illegally. The police are as much involved with drugs as the dealers. The percentage of violent/accidental deaths per year compared to its population is mind blowing. Especially among the younger generation. It seemed that every year brought at least two tragedies of youngsters getting run over, shot, drowned, stabbed, or some other gruesome end. I can't even begin to list the crap that goes on there. The law enforcement officers are the crooks, and the superintendant of schools graduated with a special ed degree. Can you see what's wrong with this picture? The whole county is just one giant nightmare, and I'm just thankful that I got out.

[Wishing]

I wish we could get some people fired up to do something around here. Send some of those old timers home to enjoy their retirements and put a new generation in all the offices here in Telfair Co. Does anyone know some people whom may be approached to run for office? Some people who are truely interested in turning things around. I am not rich by a long shot but I will contribute $$$ to any decent candidate who will challenge any incumbent. Anyone else willing to contribute?

[Sandy]

Wishing wrote:

I wish we could get some people fired up to do something around here. Send some of those old timers home to enjoy their retirements and put a new generation in all the offices here in Telfair Co. Does anyone know some people whom may be approached to run for office? Some people who are truely interested in turning things around. I am not rich by a long shot but I will contribute $$$ to any decent candidate who will challenge any incumbent. Anyone else willing to contribute?

Much hope for you, but finding an honest man to take office would be like throwing a guppy in a room full of sharks. Not to mention...the established system there is made to prevent the "Ancient Ones'" hold from weakening. I mean, they have a two year cap on each elected Sheriff, for crying out loud! Even if you got the best of men to get that job, it would do no good. By the time he (or she) started to change the way things are run, it would be time for them to be replaced. I don't mean to be the voice of gloom, but the fact is that there have been a few good ones elected into various parts of local government in Telfair, but they never last long. It wears you down. Imagine trying so hard to do the right thing but being outvoted and powerless to do anything but watch as the same good-old-boy mentality reigns supreme. It's soul deadening. I'm not a fan of big government taking control or whatnot, but what this town needs is an enema. An established body that can come in and flush away the shitheels in one fatal swoop. And that's just not going to happen.

[it happens]

So what happens at the end of this ride? More and more the county can't pay its bills, the town
"Boss's" keep siphoning all the life out of the county for their personal gain, and as the county declines , their finacial situation improves. So when will the end come for Telfair? How long can it sustain this?

[will from hazlehurst]

you are exactly right about the city police and the town bosses siphoning off all the profits..........things change , but they always stay the same, the epitome of the analogy that perpetuates this process is the 2 term limit.....the dunces that did this guaranteed our failure....and their descendants are still here fighting about it with anyone that has the common sense to try and change it.....they are involved in siphoning off the profits also.........BEWARE !!

[Far From Home]

You people are such uneducated idiots, it's mind boggling! To you, "Do Something" when you said "What if we mistakenly elected a stone cold idiot? Could things get worst?" No, they couldn't get "worst" because that isn't a real word. And to "Sandy" there is no "2 year cap" on the Sheriff's term in office. It's 2 terms which equals 8 years. If you people would get out from in front of your computer screens and go to the board meetings and contribute your time and ideas to your county, then maybe you could complain when things didn't go your way! You're right, Telfair is spiraling downward, but instead of criticising those that are trying to make a difference, support them and support your county!

[ur the idiot]

According to Webster's Dictionary.....

Main Entry:1worst
Pronunciation:\ˈw ərst\
Function:adjective
Etymology:Middle English werste, worste, from Old English wierresta, wyrsta, superl. of the root of Old English wiersa worse
Date:before 12th century
superlative of bad or of ill
1: most corrupt, bad, evil, or ill <his worst fault>
2 a: most unfavorable, difficult, unpleasant, or painful <the worst news> <your worst enemy> b: most unsuitable, faulty, unattractive, or ill-conceived <has the worst table manners> c: least skillful or efficient <the worst person for the job>
3: most wanting in quality, value, or condition <the worst results>
— the worst way : very much <such men…need indoctrination the worst way — J. G. Cozzens> —often used with in<wanted a new bicycle in the worst way>

[ur the idiot]

Now Ms. Smart@#$, Maybe for the Smiths, worst isn't a word but for the rest of us, we'll trust Mr. Webster. Also please tell us who are the people who are trying to make a difference? Let me guess....last name smith again right? Would love to see where they have positively made things better for Telfair Countians. Tell us uneducated idiots where you received your fine education, we are very impressed with your knowledge.

[Sandy]

I'm not going to go around slinging names like a certain somebody on this board, but to that person I say this: all the claims that people have made here. All the accusations of corruption and greed...you're canceling out and invalidating because of a grammar error and a single piece of misinformation that was given to me by a Telfair native? And you call us the idiots?
Let me inform you of a little something, you self important little prig.(Oops! Guess I lied) Telfair County's reputation for being one of the most corrupt little counties is known far and wide. The people are themselves weighed down by the crap that goes on there. No one believes it will change. Who would do it? You call for action...how? How do you call for action in a town where almost everyone benefits from turning a blind eye? How do you get action in a town where murdering someone who tries too hard or fights too well against the established system is NOT just a joke or hyperbole bandied about the dinner table? How many people do you know were convicted for extortion? Drugs? Are crack addicts? I met more in the few years I spent in that county than I was ever exposed to in my entire life, and I grew up in a low income, high crime neighborhood in a much larger city.
You tell people to get off their butts and come to town meetings? Before you go around ousting the crap in office, give the people an alternative. No one is going to rally forth when all you're doing is replacing Bad with Worse or Just As Bad. And the truly good (some of whom I've asked this question) refuse to put their health...both mental and physical...at risk. Go to meetings indeed...and do what, pray tell? The same damn thing we're going here? Complain? I'm sure the pocket padders will be listening with all ears and take your suggestions to heart. People gripe against things they can't change but will stand behind someone who can focus their anger and their betrayal. Find a good candidate...good luck...and then maybe you'll get somewhere.
And go complain about inaction to your fellow county members. I no longer live there, nor did I ever have true residency when I was physically present. However, my brief stint in Telfair did allow me to meet some wonderful people...though far outnumbered by those who would rather do nothing, acheive nothing, and were just as tainted by those they condemned.

[Far from Home]

Lol, ok I accept that I am wrong, I was very angry after reading that particular post, but it was no less a grammatical error. "Could things get any worst", come one. Anyway, Smith is not my last name and I did not write what I wrote to get into any pissing contests with you or anybody else. The only things you every read on here are negative comments. My point is, instead of whining about what's "wrong", do something "right". And as far as my education, I have a long list of abbreviations behind my last name and I am proud of it! I agree with you that Telfair is not famous for it's wealth, opportunity, or upstanding citizens. It's time to change that, and I think everyone will agree

ur the idiot wrote:

Now Ms. Smart@#$, Maybe for the Smiths, worst isn't a word but for the rest of us, we'll trust Mr. Webster. Also please tell us who are the people who are trying to make a difference? Let me guess....last name smith again right? Would love to see where they have positively made things better for Telfair Countians. Tell us uneducated idiots where you received your fine education, we are very impressed with your knowledge.

[Being Honest]

The question is (What Happened to Telfair County)when it should read (What Happened to McRae Georgia) Helena is a nice little town and it's seen more growth in the last several years than Mcrae has seen in the last 50 years.Maybe they should turn Mcrae over to Helena and call it all Helena and you might see some changes.

[will from hazlehurst]

surrounding counties are laughing their asses off at telfair now just as in decades past , they want us to fight among ourselves about a two term limit and other such assinine crazy ideas, so they will not have to deal with us at all. they know we are crazy....they will give us two state reps. to divide our county so we won't have any infleunce, and our two term limit will insure that we never have any veteran politicians with the knowledge to obtain any power on the state level to help ourselves....the local power brokers like it this way so they can continue to be big fish in a small pond....Telfair is full of such dummies that fight among themselves about nonsense.....LOLOLOLOLOLOL !!!!! Telfair native !!!!!!

[will from hazlehurst]

The two term limit doomed Telfair County to FAILURE------it limited our power and infleunce in state politics forever---we are after all the only county in the state with this failed arrangement..........and we are suffering the long term consequences..........so "enjoy" the fruits of your energies, while we fail to other counties like Coffee, Ben Hill, Laurens and others.....After all our state representative is from Ocilla Ga. a town smaller than ours , much smaller......."TOUCHE "

[Far from Home]

Will, I totally agree with ya!

will from hazlehurst wrote:

The two term limit doomed Telfair County to FAILURE------it limited our power and infleunce in state politics forever---we are after all the only county in the state with this failed arrangement..........and we are suffering the long term consequences..........so "enjoy" the fruits of your energies, while we fail to other counties like Coffee, Ben Hill, Laurens and others.....After all our state representative is from Ocilla Ga. a town smaller than ours , much smaller......."TOUCHE "

[So True]

Well said Will, well said. So so sad ......but true.