Letters from Readers - 2011
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Dec. 26,
2011 National security This letter liberally references Brig. Gen. Jim Cash's article entitled “Another Government Cover-up” in the January 2011 edition of "Military". I agree with his assessment that the contrail observed off the coast of California in November 2010 resembled a missile launch contrail, not an aircraft contrail. In the 1980's Brig. Gen. Cash was a command director and assistant director of operations for the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD). NORAD is responsible for the detection and reporting of aircraft and missile threats to the president for action. Brig. Gen. Cash was a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot for over 25 years. Why did the Obama administration put out information that the contrail recorded off the California coast was made by an aircraft? My initial reaction was the contrail came from an inadvertent launch of a missile by one of our Navy's surface ships or a submarine. Although this continues to be a possibility, I believe the likelihood of this event is somewhat remote because of the number of people who would have been aware of this occurrence. The other possibility is the launch came from a foreign submarine, probably Russian or Chinese, which went undetected across the Pacific Ocean to our coastline. If it was a missile launch from a Russian or Chinese submarine, it calls into question our ability to detect the approach of potential threats to our national security and our ability to defend this country. It should also alert our president, the Secretary of Defense and Congress to the increasing capabilities of foreign militaries, especially Chinese and Russian armed forces; and the need to maintain a strong U.S. military establishment. We should not be cutting back our military forces in the face of a threatening environment. I agree with Brig. Gen. Cash that the integrity of our administration is under scrutiny and “once again the leader of this nation chose to disguise the truth and keep the American people in the dark on an issue that possibly constitutes a major threat to the entire U.S. population.” Donald A. Moskowitz Londonderry, N.H. Dec. 19, 2011 Low expectations According to a story I read in The Post last month, Waste Management, while negotiating with Cherokee County about new garbage rates, mentioned that there were residents not contracting with them for garbage service. Since a county ordinance requires everyone to sign up, they reportedly claimed, Cherokee County had to correct the situation by forcing everyone to do so. Almost immediately, the Cherokee County Commission sent a letter to virtually everyone telling them to sign up with Waste Management under threat of receiving a citation. In my opinion, these events raise some interesting questions. First, if the county government reacted this fast because of Waste Management's request for the law to be followed, can we also have Waste Management bring up the other issues the county government ignores, such as sewage in Weiss Lake? Also, why should a county ordinance give Waste Management the ability to collect $10 from property owners like me who spend maybe 45 days a year in Cherokee County and are quite capable of returning home with their garbage? Lastly, since the commission chairman explained that it is expensive to offer curbside collection in a rural county like Cherokee, why not do what so many other rural counties do and scatter several collection points around the county so residents can deliver their garbage personally? I am sure the Cherokee County commissioners and their staff are brilliant people, but the thought of them negotiating with a company of Waste Management's past reputation is scary to me. And given the Commission's lack of guts to do its duty on other issues, such as sewage, I have little expectation that the people will get a fair shake. Jack Crane Marietta, Ga. County in crisis Regardless of your political leanings, religion, age or sex, there is a crisis in Cherokee County that needs your attention. The focal point is our Humane Society, which is in dire need of help from local churches, government entities, fraternal organizations, schools, and businesses. The Cherokee Humane Society is dealing with maltreated, malnourished, and unwanted animals in the most aggressive fashion. Despite having only minimal contributions, the Humane Society has evolved into a clean, safe, well-planned sanctuary for stricken and hopeless animals. It needs your help to continue these efforts, and the needs are simple: financial donations and time from volunteers. The financial part is obvious, but the volunteer aspect centers around a little time spent caring for the animals, effort such as walking a dog, playing with kittens and, for the stout of heart, cleaning the habitats. The animals and volunteers need you. To learn more contact the Humane Society at 256-779-7159 or online at www.cherokeehumanesociety.org. Art McQuillen Centre Dec. 12, 2011 About deregulation In response to Diane Busby's recent letter “Deregulation Lie” (Letters to the editor, Nov. 21 edition), I would like to clarify some of her confusion. First of all, I have five retail stores and government regulation is defiantly a job killer. For instance, to have a diamond certified only took one sheet of paper, two weeks and five minutes for an employee to fill out the application. Now, because of government regulation, this now takes 15 sheets of paper: three for Homeland Security, three for application, and the other nine are for money laundering and diamond procurement proof and three hours for any employee to fill out each time. Talk about cost! This added cost to the jewelry industry. Let's move to the banking deregulations, passed under the Clinton administration. This also deregulated Fanny and Freddy. And just a reminder, the run-amuck housing foreclosure market started with the Sarbanes-Oxley legislation. This forced the banking industry to market foreclosed real estate at under loan-value prices. By 2013 you, Ms. Busby, will not be able to sell your home or any real estate without paying a sales tax. It's in the health care bill. This would cost you, at present rate $9,000 out of your pocket to sell a $100,000 home. And in the health care bill, if you brought $600 or more gold or silver to sell you would have to pay income tax on the entire lot, you would be 10-99'ed by the receiver and turned in to the IRS. Also, starting in 2013 farmers will be imposed a penalty for the amount of dust they create plowing their fields, cutting their hay, or just planting a garden. This is your new government regulations imposed by the EPA. This paper is not thick enough for me to continue to mention all the imposed regulations that have been imposed on businesses. I'm not a political person, but let me point out all of these regulations were imposed by the Democrats, not Republicans. Grant Ratliff Centre Violation of trust Our letters to the editor section has been, and will always remain, the “bulletin board” where Cherokee County residents can tack up their feelings of pleasure—or displeasure—with local, state and national elected officials, office holders and authorities. However, in this space in the Nov. 28 issue The Post unintentionally printed a forged letter. Our failure to conduct a more thorough inquiry before we ran a letter alleged to be from C.L. Jones-Jelks was just that—a failure. First and foremost, one phone call on our part would have allowed us to discover that the person whose name was attached to the letter was not the author. When we did make that phone call late last week, our suspicions were confirmed. Valid criticisms of public policy will always have a place in The Post, but deliberate violations of our trust through the misuse of our ability to access a broad swath of the public are flat wrong. We apologize to Centre City Clerk Mary Lee Tucker and Mayor Tony Wilkie for our oversight and promise them, and all our readers, that we will work even harder in the future to ensure that our trust is not violated again. Scott Wright Managing Editor Dec. 5, 2011 Defending government After the Civil War ended, veterans had to go to Washington, D.C., to get their paychecks. They sat and waited for hours as a clerk looked through the thousands of records until their papers were found. These papers were bound with red tape, thus the origin of the phrase “cutting red tape.” Our elected leaders and those campaigning for office often cite the size of our government as the cause of our troubles. Our bureaucracy, they say, is much too big and complex. There are, in unopened boxes in post offices all across the country, hundreds of thousands of pre-printed change of address forms. The purpose of having so many of these forms in so many locations is grim: in case we ever suffer a devastating attack on our infrastructure or cities, we can begin assigning new addresses and delivering the mail again as soon as possible. For the post office to do this meant the creation of new committees and new departments (i.e., bigger government). But that certainly didn't result in a loss of some measure of freedom, and it certainly doesn't mean our future is any less secure. Bureaucracy is the cost of having a government that can prepare for doomsday scenarios. Is it always a fight for efficiency in big organizations? Yes. Can change often only happen in slow increments? Yes. The difficulty in accomplishing something, though, should never relieve our elected officials of their obligation to try. Our frustrations with government are well-founded. But at some point, blaming the size of government for our troubles became a politician's excuse for never tackling tough problems and never making an effort to compromise. If we ever hope to get back to governing, electing politicians who argue that government cannot and will not ever work is not a good first step. We know what problems exist in our country. The most frustrating part of this political mess is that we also already know how to fix many of those problems, if only we could summon the political will. If we truly intend to make our prosperity last, the complexity of our problems should never be something our leaders shy away from, nor should we let ourselves hide behind the perverse notion that government can't work. Joshua Hilley Birmingham Give Weiss to Georgia For those who don't know, Southern Company is a billion-dollar holding company that owns power companies throughout the South. Of importance to us is that they own Alabama Power and Georgia Power. For decades this company has stood by and watched Alabama Power mismanage Weiss Lake, turning it into a retention pond for sewage and other pollutants. Now we learn from some fine folks in Georgia that Georgia Power's coal-fired Plant Hammond is cooking the Coosa River (“Coal plant on Coosa makes 'Dirty Dozen' list”, front page story, Nov. 14) and sending damaged water, along with dead fish, down the Coosa and into Weiss Lake to mix with our sewage. This is creating a toxic cocktail for our families and wildlife to play in. One might expect that we would hear a public outcry from the state Of Alabama and our public servants condemning this recently discovered assault on our lake. What am I thinking? They are the same groups who have done very little about the pitiful condition of Weiss Lake in the past. Why would they do anything now? I have an idea. Maybe we can get Georgia to annex Weiss Lake and then the Georgia Water Coalition will fight even harder to SAVE WEISS LAKE. Simply by identifying the problem, they have done more than we have. Tom Taylor Centre Nov. 28, 2011 Applauding audacity I have heard a lot of talk about The Post being a “socialist propaganda machine” since the front page story in the Oct. 24 edition in which a local resident paid a visit to the “Occupy Wall Street” protest in New York City. One acquaintance of mine exclaimed rhetorically, “What kind of Michael Moore B.S. is Scott Wright trying to pull?” Undoubtedly, the gentleman who edits The Post is holed up in his office pouring over the works of Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, Mao Ze Tung, Che Guevara, Albert Einstein, Helen Keller and other anti-capitalist subversives in order to conjure up this week's dose of socialist voodoo mind poison. Now, most of the folks I mentioned were obviously “Power to the people” types, but one might inquire, “What are Albert Einstein and Helen Keller doing on the short list?” I included those last two highly-esteemed American heroes to illustrate that being anti-capitalist is not to say you are anti-American or mentally deficient in any way. In Einstein's essay, “Why Socialism?” he more or less called capitalism a glorified Ponzi scheme doomed to collapse; Keller wrote such articles as “How I became A Socialist.” In fact, there is no economic model written into the Constitution. Abraham Lincoln (a Republican) bemoaned a disturbing trend towards corporatism when he wrote in a personal letter “... corporations have been enthroned and corruption in high places will follow.” FDR was clearly the most socialistic president and was elected so many times they imposed term limits. President Eisenhower (a general in The United States Army) warned against our country becoming a “military industrial complex” in which corporations unduly influence politics and foreign policy to protect their own interests. I am not inferring anything about Mr. Wright's political views here, but I applaud his “audacity” to print viewpoints that might be contrary to the opinions of right-leaning readers. By the way, Alabama chose to honor one of those aforementioned anti-capitalists on our state quarter. Shane Decker Centre No justice in Centre I am writing out of concern for the citizens of the city of Centre. I think it is absolutely ridiculous that the city clerk has the authority to pick and choose who can get an arrest warrant and who can't. I know of an incident where a 23-year-old pulled a knife on a child and the investigator found enough evidence to justify an arrest, but City Clerk Mary Lee Tucker refused to issue a warrant. This is not the only incident like this that has occurred in Centre. I believe that Mrs. Tucker makes decisions based on her personal feelings instead of the law and I think it is time for a change at City Hall. It's the City of Centre, not the city of Mary Lee Tucker. The mayor and City Council have the power to appoint a city clerk who will do the job and not use personal feelings to make a decision. I think that in the next election the people of Centre should vote for a mayor and Council members who will do what they say when they are out on the campaign trail. One of Mayor Tony Wilkie's main promises was that the city clerk would be replaced if he was elected -- that he would not put Mrs. Tucker back up for appointment. But just as soon as Wilkie was in office he made the appointment anyway, without blinking twice. I feel he should be a one-time mayor and nothing more. I hope the people of Centre will speak up in 2012 and remove the current mayor and several Council members and put in place a new city clerk who will do her job. C.L. Jones-Jelks Centre Nov. 21, 2011 Don't dump animals I realize the economy is in bad shape but that is no reason to dump puppies and kittens as though they were so much garbage. During the summer, I was outside feeding my two dogs when all of the sudden I heard a dog cry out as though in pain. My husband and I live in the country so I was unsure where the sound came from. It was the next day before I saw the puppy. A little bit later I realized there were actually two puppies that had been dumped on our property. One was injured and could only walk on three legs. Both had mange. They had made themselves a shelter at the base of a bush. Thank goodness they did because before I could make arrangements for a shelter for them, it began to hail. Fortunately the bushes protected them. Several weeks later my husband and I were on our way to church and I saw two even younger puppies sitting on the side of the road as though they were waiting for their ride. After church we went back to the same area but did not see the puppies. Two days later, I went by the same area again and saw one of the puppies trying to get something to eat out of the dirt. They were living under an abandoned cotton trailer. No food, no water and the temperature was in the 90s. Why do people do this? Animals are God's creatures just like we are. Yet, people continue to abandon and abuse children and animals as though they do not count. The Humane Society took all four puppies I found. They are now in good homes. There is no reason for animals to suffer needlessly when someone is willing to give them a good home. By the way, my two pets were “dumped” as puppies as well. Marsha Bachelor Cedar Bluff Re: immigration law The state's new immigration law should have added that any person collecting food stamps or welfare should be required to show they have made an attempt to work for farmers as seasonal help and have been turned down. Any other reason for not working for them other than disabilities should result in their benefits coming to an end. Lloyd Chatman Gaylesville Deregulation lie One of the most consistent messages we hear from the Republican Party is that government regulations on businesses are job killers — unnecessary and expensive. About the kindest thing that can be said for that message is that it is a convenient untruth. Every time our government has relaxed regulations, the thieves, swindlers, and crooks have a field day. Remember the Silverado Savings and Loan debacle? Enron? World Com and many others? All made possible by the government failing to regulate the financial industry. Hundreds of billions were stolen and very little was done to the thieves. Tens of thousands of employees and investors were left empty-handed. Then we had the housing bubble and the mortgage industry ran wild. Realtors, appraisers, banks, mortgage brokers, credit rating agencies, Wall Street, etc., had another field day. This time, the crooks made trillions and homeowners and taxpayers lost just as much. The fallout from this deregulation caused the global economy to crash. Millions of people lost their jobs and their homes. All of this human suffering is real and the direct result of foolish deregulation. The next time you hear this deregulation ditty of the GOP message machine, remember this: the cost of regulation is just a tiny fraction of the cost of deregulation. On second thought the deregulation ditty is more than a convenient untruth — it is an outright lie. Diania Busby Centre Thank you, Post The free ad I placed in The Post has been a huge success — no less than five calls daily, including the weekend. I got calls from Rome, Ga., Cedartown, Ga., Fort Payne, Huntsville, Decatur, Centre, Cedar Bluff, Hokes Bluff, and Gadsden! My residence was a house, and now it feels like my home. Thanks to you my babies (puppies) were donated and delivered at no charge. I have two, from different nice people. My poodle's name is Sheeshi, my Yorkie is Winston. They are both full-blooded and so, so pretty. Today I feel much better, I have more energy, I am eating as I should, my health has improved. I am grateful to you for taking special care of my ad request. I am thankful and much happier; I was 81 and lonely, all alone. Because of your kindness I feel wonderful and I am so very pleased here with my two babies. Dorothy M. Melson Centre Nov. 14, 2011 God controls Earth First, I am not what some liberals refer to as a “Bible thumper.” I am an evangelical Christian who believes the Bible is the inspired Word of God. Man-made global warming is the biggest farce since the 1970s Ice Age scare. Today, many pastors, professors, politicians and newsmen have thumbed their noses at the Word of God. The earth has gone through massive climate changes since day one: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Since climate change is very real, could God at this time have put climate changes in place? In my opinion, He did. The man-made global warming or the new climate change terminology scare is nothing more than paganistic religion, or earth worship. The apostle Paul says, (Romans 1:25): “who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creation more than the Creator…” The Book of Daniel says, “and He changeth the times and the seasons…” (Daniel 2:21). Earth is surrounded by a magnetic field. Scientists recently noted that our steadfast shield has become weaker over the last 150 years. Some scientists say this weakening may be the beginning of a major geological event, perhaps a reversal of the earth's magnetic poles — an occurrence that happens roughly every 259,000 years. And earth is long overdue. If liberal politicians would take the time to read the Word of God, they would know that God told Job about this hole to the far north of earth 3,500 years ago. The Bible says, “He stretchest out the North over the empty place…” (Job 26:7). The green movement has been linked from the idea of zero growth. In a sense, it is no more than a slogan. That's when you become aware of how limited liberal thinking is. So many decisions are made by robotic bureaucracies or unaccountable corporations. Since Al Gore and our president are not climate scientists, my advice would be to take a course in horticulture 101. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is necessary for all plant life. Therefore, drastic reductions in CO2 would result in limited or no food, where animals and humans could not exist. Man does not have the knowledge or power, as some suppose, to destroy the earth. God and only God, who created and controls the earth possesses power to alter the earth. (Ecclesiastes 1:4) says, “one generation passeth away and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth forever.” Apparently, President Barack Obama, former Sen. Al Gore, liberal politicians and greedy corporations do not realize that God is still in charge, and He alone will control the destiny of the earth. Lewis H. Glass Leesburg Nov. 7, 2011 How dare you, Post First of all I would like to say that I support Alabama's new immigration law. I am proud to say that I live in a state that has decided to back its people up. And I mean the ones who have the right to be here, Americans and legal immigrants! And I would like to add, how dare the editorial staff of The Post publish a letter from the Alabama Superintendent of Education in English and Spanish! (“Re: Schoolchildren,” Letters to the Editor, Oct. 10.) Immigrants who are here legally know English, and you should not support or cater to the ones who are here illegally! The media is half the problem. The media keeps giving the illegal immigrants a platform to stand on. If they want rights, they need to go where they illegally came from and then come back to our country the legal way! I mean, honestly, do you think that if Americans go to another country illegally, that the citizens of that country would learn our language to accommodate us? No! When Americans go to another country we have to abide by their laws and learn their language. The state superintendent should be ashamed of himself. He should be fighting for the children who have the right to be here; he should be more concerned with their education. They are the ones who deserve the chance. The illegal aliens are getting all this support. Try and give it to the ones who are American citizens! Andrea Morgan Gaylesville Stop whining In response to Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver's recent comments in The Post (“Shaver says new immigration law will be expensive,” front page story, Oct. 3), I think it is time to pull up our britches and start the process of determining exactly how the county will address the new immigration law. It is not time to be whining about any problems it may bring to our county's financial plate. Solving problems is part of the responsibility of an elected official, and citizens are right to have those expectations. Whining has never solved any problem. In the article, Sheriff Shaver said, “But we don't know exactly what [the law] is yet because no one has had time to read it.” Huh? Dave Rogers Cedar Bluff Oct. 31, 2011 Support the law I am a resident of this county for many years and am appalled at the short-sightedness of our local public servants ("Sheriff says new immigration law will be expensive," front page story, Oct. 3). No law, new or established has ever been revenue-neutral. The cost of an orderly society requires laws, rules and regulations. This has nothing to do with a political party. The fact that the new Alabama immigration law will impose financial responsibility from the citizens in the cities, counties and ultimately the state is of little consequence when we consider the expense required to maintain illegal immigrants in our society. The cost to the public to educate, and provide medical care and nutritional supplements is far more expensive. Do your homework before you start to cry wolf. My grandparents immigrated to this country from Europe, legally. That means they waited their turn to be granted permission to enter this country. They saved and spent their life's savings to get to this country. There were no free handouts because they didn't have money for food or medical care. They worked long and hard hours to provide the better life they dreamed of for their families. They did not know the English language but they made it a priority to learn their new country's language. Signs and packaging were never written in anything but English, and they had to learn English to take competency tests. Our country has been given the title of the “Melting Pot.” Did we forget what that means? It has the connotation of being blended into one legal, lawful society. I have said all of this to make the point that Alabamians need to support the lawful entry into this nation and stand united. When illegal immigrants learn that Alabamians stand united in enforcement of this law, they will stop coming. Anyone hurt by the absence of illegal immigrants to hire is running their business illegally and should consider alternatives to their dilemma. M. Hill Centre Tates Chapel annexation I've been a resident of the Tates Chapel community for six years. Mayor Wilkie quoted a “lack of understanding” as a reason for approval ratings going up on this issue (“Wilkie: Tates Chapel annexation up to community,” front page story, Oct. 3). Here is another thought for consideration. The city is going door-to-door in the community asking for a yes or no vote on annexation. Of course, you also get your free advice on why annexation is good for you. I am more than sure that some of our folks are intimidated by this approach, especially the elderly. They are also sending letters to the non-resident weekenders stating the benefits of joining the city. So naturally the acceptance ratings are going up. Seems the city is going to a lot of trouble if their only concern is “what the residents of this area want.” Most of my neighbors are just as apposed as ever. Folks, the bottom line is the same as always: money and control – our money and their control. Jim Hamrick Centre Oct. 24, 2011 Centre city park I am a former resident of Centre, and I visit there often to see close family. I have one child, 5, who very much enjoys playing at city parks. On a recent visit to Centre, we stopped by the city park to let my son spend some time at the park, which I used to love playing in as a child. I remember from growing up that birthday parties, barbecues, and several city functions are held there, so you can imagine the confusion and frustration I felt when I took my son to the bathroom at the park. My son informed me he needed to use the restroom so I walked him to the bathroom. I saw many problems. First, there were puddles of water pouring out of the bathroom and we were wearing flip-flops. That was unpleasant. Second, the door had no door knob, just paper towels stuck in the hole where the knob should have been. Third, the door wouldn't shut, at all. Fourth, the light did not work. It was overcast that day, so we could not see anything. Fifth, the Toilet was pouring water into the bathroom and was severely clogged. Sixth, the toilet tank was missing its lid. Not a real problem but definitely an eye sore. Seventh, there was no toilet paper or paper towels. Eighth, there was no changing table. I expect more from a place that so many people rely on to old family functions. My son ended up having an accident and we had no way to clean it up. There restrooms at the park were ill-equipped and unsanitary. I ended up having to make do in the back seat of my car. I do believe portable toilets would have been a life-saver. Please, to officials in the city of Centre, take this letter into consideration. You have such nice playground equipment and such a beautiful city. It was an absolute wonderful place to grow up and I want to extend that feeling to my child when we visit again. Hannah Christopher Piedmont Pro Bono Week We grew up thinking of America as the wealthiest country on earth, but the truth is that one out of every eight Americans lives in poverty, unable to pay for the basic necessities of life – food, shelter, and clothing. Americans of limited means face urgent legal problems, such a foreclosures, loss of parental rights, consumer debt, evictions, and lives paralyzed by domestic violence. They have rights; but far too often their rights are lost because they are unable to get the legal help they need. To help bridge that “Justice Gap”, America's lawyers annually donate over 25 million hours of pro bono legal help to the poor. It is far from enough. In Cherokee County, the majority of the lawyers engaged in private practice are involved with the Volunteer Lawyers Program. The Volunteer Lawyers Program (VLP) is a project of the Alabama State Bar. Its purpose is to provide free legal services to low-income Alabamians in civil matters. During National Pro Bono Week, (Oct. 25-31), let's recognize the selfless people who provide free legal help to the poor as part of a continuing effort to make equal justice a reality. Wes Mobley, President Cherokee County Bar Association Oct. 17, 2011 The wrong targets As a member of Weiss Lake Property Owners Association (WLPOA), I apologize to Mr. Tom Taylor (“Weiss peace offering,” Letters to the Editor, Oct. 10) for not making pollution a number one issue. It is very important to all of us. However, Mr. Tommy Miller is trying to make the property owners who do have approved septic system tear out the walls and make our places unsafe to sleep in. That is our number one issue right now, Mr. Taylor. We were approved to build by the previous inspectors Richard Shields and Jim Klaus. Now, Mr. Miller and Alabama Power refuse to honor those permits. They are intimidating property owners, even telling them that they do not own the land they paid for, that Alabama Power does. However, we pay the property tax; Alabama Power does not. We are fighting for our rights to enjoy the property that we paid for on Weiss Lake. I can truthfully say that all members of the WLPOA are very interested in pollution in and around Weiss Lake and we will join any movement and any group that will do any improvements of any kind. We bought our property in this beautiful area to enjoy for many years to come and for our families to use long after we are gone. The area I live in has a county-approved septic system. I will do all I can do to see that this is implemented in every area of not only our county but all counties along the Coosa River. Please join us and together there is no limit to what we can accomplish. I also invite any property owner to join our association for the betterment of all. We are not sure if the business owners and other residents realize just how much the “lake people” contribute to the economy of Cherokee County. All residents of Cherokee County should join together to improve and develop Weiss Lake to its full potential. They should want nice structures built around the lake and the slapstick eyesores that dump sewage in the lake demolished. Mr. Miller and Alabama Power have their sights on the wrong targets. They should go after the crude structures, not the nice places. Save Weiss Lake and WLPOA will work together to accomplish this. You have my word. Martha Fraker Centre ABC must G-O! The Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board (ABC) is in competition with small businesses in this state, and has been for decades. Companies wishing to sell alcohol must by an alcoholic retail license from the county and state to operate a liquor store, in order to sell beer, wine and beer by the keg. The state even has approval authority over the kind of advertising that is permissible, including a ban on neon signs. Drive-in windows are also prohibited by the ABC. It is the citizens of an individual county or municipality that hold elections to decide the legality of alcohol sales. But after the vote passes and small business owners spend thousands to get their establishments up and running, the ABC sees a dollar sign in the sky and “here they come.” They put up a state-controlled ABC store and then the small businesses have to compete with the state – which has approval power over how they run their business, assuming they deem you worthy of their approval for a license to open! Small businesses must then buy their beer, wine and liquor products from the ABC store and mark up that price to make a profit and pay for their overhead and expenses. But anyone can go into the ABC store and pay a lower, state-mandated wholesale price for the same product and ultimately put the small business owner out of business! Why not let the ABC warehouse the products, then sell to the little guys? The state should not be in the retail liquor business. Why do we never hear about this from the politicians when they talk about creating jobs? I think the people of the state of Alabama should ask the following questions: _ Who appoints the members of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board? _ What is the annual salary of an ABC Board member? _ Where does the revenue from the state's foray into the retail liquor business end up being spent? _ Does the state conduct an annual audit of the ABC Board? _ Does the ABC Board contribute to Republican and/or Democratic campaigns? If so, is that legal? Let's start asking questions of our elected officials right away, since another election year is just around the corner. The state does not have any business being in competition with small business owners. Let's ask the right questions and see if the politicians try to weasel their way out of this one. It's time to take a stand against Big Government, on the federal, state and local level. I hope things will get better for business owners after this letter is published. Col. Parker Ray Tinsley Centre Oct. 10, 2011 Re: schoolchildren Alabama's public schools welcome all children regardless of their race or ethnic background, birthplace or birthplace of parents and the Alabama Department of Education (ALSDE) is committed to all students and parents to provide a safe and civil environment in which students can pursue their education. To alleviate any confusion regarding Section 28 of Act No. 2011-535, referred to as Alabama's Immigration Law, the Alabama Department of Education would like to clarify details specific to enrollment and attendance in public schools. Section 28 requires that all students enrolling in Alabama public schools on or after Sept. 29, 2011 present an original or certified copy of the student's birth certificate in order to complete the enrollment process. We would like all parents and students to know, regardless of whether the enrolling student has an original or certified copy of their birth certificate, the student will be enrolled and receive full participation in all of the academic, co-curricular and extra-curricular programs that will be offered by the local school system. The information that we are required to collect under the Act will not be used to individually identify your child. The information will be used to report statistical data to the Legislature. This new law does not apply to any student enrolled in an Alabama public school before Sept. 29, 2011. Once a student is enrolled in any school district in Alabama, they are always enrolled unless they graduate or withdraw. We would like to remind all parents and students that according to the mandatory attendance law of Alabama, all students between the ages of 7 and 17 must be enrolled in school. We encourage all students to stay enrolled and attend school. The Alabama Department of Education is committed to a quality education for all. Translated: Las escuelas públicas de Alabama da la bienvenida a todos los niños independientemente de su raza u origen étnico, y nos comprometemos a todos los estudiantes y padres para proporcionar un ambiente seguro y civil en el que los estudiantes pueden proseguir su educación. Para aliviar cualquier tipo de confusión en relación con la sección 28 de la Ley N º 2011-535, conocida como la Ley de Inmigración de Alabama, el Departamento de Educación de Alabama gustaría aclarar detalles específicos de la inscripción y asistencia de los estudiantes en las escuelas públicas. La sección 28 requiere que todos los estudiantes que se inscriben en las escuelas públicas de Alabama en el mismo día o después del 29 de septiembre de 2011, presentan una original o copia certificada del certificado de nacimiento del estudiante para completar el proceso de inscripción. Nos gustaría que todos los padres y los estudiantes conocen, sin importar si el estudiante tiene una original o copia certificada del certificado de nacimiento, que el estudiante será inscrito y recibirá la plena participación en todos los programas académicos, co-curriculares y extra-curriculares que serán ofrecidas por el sistema escolar local. La información que estamos obligados a recoger según la ley, no se utilizará para identificar individualmente a su niño. La información se utiliza para informar de los datos estadísticos a la Legislatura. Esta nueva ley no se aplica a cualquier estudiante que se inscribió en una escuela pública de Alabama en el mismo día o antes del 29 de septiembre de 2011. Estos estudiantes se siguen siendo activamente matriculados hasta que se gradúen o se retiren del sistema de escuelas públicas de Alabama. Nos gustaría recordar a todos los padres y los estudiantes que de acuerdo a la ley de asistencia obligatoria de Alabama, que todos los estudiantes entre las edades de 7 y 17 años deben estar inscritos en la escuela. Animamos a todos los estudiantes a permanecer inscrito y asistir a la escuela. El Departamento de Educación de Alabama está comprometido con una educación de calidad para todas las personas. Larry Craven, Superintendent Alabama Dept. of Education Oct. 3, 2011 Weiss peace offering I see that several people from the Weiss Lake Property Owners Association (WLPOA) are upset with what I wrote about their new association (“Save Weiss Lake,” Letter to the Editor, Aug. 15), so I thought I would make a peace offering. But before I make my offering I need to lay a little groundwork. The top issue facing property owners of Weiss Lake is the fact that the reservoir is one of the most polluted lakes in the country. All the experts, from the head of the State Health Department on down, agree that a major cause for this is illegal septic systems inside the flood easement. The condition of our lake hurts the value of our properties and hurts tourism, which hurts business and kills jobs. This loss of revenue causes our property taxes to go up. Most importantly, it affects the safety and health of every man, woman and child who swims and plays in Weiss Lake, particularly the children who accidently drink the filthy water while they play. As one might expect, I was totally surprised when, in The Post article introducing the WLPOA, none of the members said one word about this most serious issue. Now, my peace offering: I would like to see the people who are upset at me have the leaders of WLPOA write a letter to the editor of The Post condemning the pollution in our lake and the use of illegal septic systems in the easement. If they will show that they strongly support the proposed county sewage ordinance, then Save Weiss Lake will send write an apology letter for publication in The Post. We will also join their organization and send them some money. I'm not going to start my apology letter or get out my checkbook just yet, however. I suspect that the WLPOA represents that segment of owners who are involved in the pollution of Weiss Lake. Tom Taylor, member Save Weiss Lake Tax time again It's that time of the year. Property owners are receiving their annual property tax notices. Of course, when you review your statement the property taxes are not lower than last year. I want to know why and I want to know why Cherokee County makes it so difficult to correct property assessments to the real value? It is only fair to mention that if you own operational farmland in Cherokee County the property tax liability is in line with reality. All other property owners, stand by. As we all know, real estate property values in America have fallen dramatically during the last few years and continue to fall. Back when times were good and property values were increasing most county governments could enjoy increased property tax revenue. Now that values are falling, most county governments show little concern about adjusting to the new lower values. I challenge any property owner to visit the tax department and try to get his or her property value in line with reality. County officials don't seem to be interested in helping property owners lower their property values. At my recent visit to the Cherokee County tax department, I was told that property values here have not declined. Clearly the message is they aren't interested in working with property owners to do what is right and adjust their property values to a realistic assessment. As a result property owners are forced to overpay their taxes. It's a fact there has been a tremendous drop in property values across all of America -- except in Cherokee County, Ala. and the Washington, D.C. area. Think about that one, folks. and the Washington, D.C. area. Think about that one, folks. I live in Leesburg and I have a home in Cumming, Ga. which is in Forsyth County. I purchased the Georgia home in September 2008. In 2009, I received a letter from the Forsyth County Property Tax Division informing me that property values in the county are much lower, which reduced my tax liability. I received a similar letter 2010 and again in 2011. My total reduction since 2008 is around 35 percent. I did not have to do a thing to initiate this reduction. Forsyth County Officials actually show empathy toward the taxpayers because they understand the current real estate market. Most people are not aware of the tax obligations required to be paid by individuals, businesses, farms and corporations. It does not matter if you do not have a job and pay no income tax at all, you do pay taxes somewhere (look at your cell phone bill). Dozens of others exist to, such as federal excise tax, multiple state taxes, 911 tax, motel tax, city franchise tax, etc. All these taxes, and Cherokee County is not interested in working with local property owners – their real bosses – and doing what is right. Andrew R.R. Kennedy Leesburg Sept. 26, 2011 Tates Chapel I am writing to voice my concerns over the process being used to obtain positive responses to the idea of annexation of the Tates Chapel. It appears that door-to-door solicitation is being selectively used to encourage homeowners to support annexation into the city of Centre. How are part-time land owners being contacted? The benefits appear to be focused solely on saving money on insurance and garbage collection. There is nothing mentioned about the zoning restrictions, alternative water sources or other changes — not to mention an increase in taxes paid to the city. At a town hearing a few months back, 95 percent of the attendees were against annexation. I am now hearing that this opposition has been reduced to somewhere in the 30 percent range. What happened between then and now? Also, has the city done its homework to determine what it would cost to redirect water, add garbage collection, provide police and fire coverage, hoist street, etc? If so, have they done the financial analysis to determine that they can do so without raising taxes? Does everyone understand the restrictions that will be imposed on their property if they become part of Centre? Does everyone realize that the current spring water source for homes will be replaced with water from Weiss Lake? And, based on recent issues and publicity of water quality, does that make sense? I understand that some homeowners have been added to the city based on individual requests. I would think the same courtesy should be offered to those who do not want added to the city should this annexation be passed. Anthony Adams Centre Welcome support We would like to express our deepest appreciation for you support of all the Career Tech programs, including Agriscience and Family Consumer Science from all five county schools, Gifted Education, Career Quest, Alternative Education, Early Learning Center, and the future of all Cherokee County students. Everyone that exercised their civic rights by attending meetings, speaking, making phone calls, or in any way went the extra mile to show your support for education, we thank you. We are grateful to say that all Career Tech programs in the county are open and serving students. Our school system was also able to rehire 10 teachers across the county as a result of the 1 cent sales tax that the Cherokee County commissioners so generously passed to help the students in a time of crisis. We welcome your interest and invite you to visit your schools and see the programs where students have opportunities to prepare for to be successful in life. Every part of a student's education is important and vital to their quality of life. Your support and dedication to making sure that every student in Cherokee County has the best possible and most up-to-date education is appreciated. Career Tech teachers Sept. 19, 2011 Sub-par advisory I read the recent article regarding the new fish advisory for catfish and striped bass in Weiss Lake. Curious, I further went to the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) and printed their report and tables. I was absolutely stunned at the poorly written report and the grossly incomplete science and sampling strategy used by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM). Dr. John Guarisco is listed as the contact person for the ADPH. As a Ph. D. he is obviously a highly educated and intelligent person. I strongly suspect that he has not read the report issued by his colleagues. The questions raised by Mrs. Landrem in your article are quite correct ("Fishing advisory raises more questions than it answers," front page story, Aug. 22). In any scientific analysis the first proper step is to define the sampling strategy and give justification (logic) for sample sites chosen. There is no way the choice of only two sampling sites for over 50 miles of flowing water, including three primary drainages (Coosa, Chattooga and Little rivers) and multiple secondary drainages could adequately characterize actual levels of contaminants in the lake or in fish tissue. According to the ADEM results, catfish and striped bass were found to have PCB levels sufficient to cause concern immediately in front of the lower lake dam. Yet, at the state line there was no cause for concern. What about the intervening miles of flowage? In our Weiss Lake Association’s monitoring for E-coli bacteria levels we test no less than 28 sample sites monthly (and we don’t receive any state funding either). The primary forage fish in the lake are threadfin and gizzard shad. Other fish eat these shad as well. Crawfish also provide forage and they are bottom dwellers, as the report suggests. They also exist throughout the entire drainage and virtually all species of fish eat crawfish. Were largemouth, spotted bass, crappie and white bass tested? The report states that “If a particular species is not listed in the advisory, it is prudent to assume that similar species with similar feeding habits should be consumed with caution.” What kind of guidance is that given the above paragraph and other fishes using the entire vertical water column? With the extremely limited scope of the testing done, another paragraph in the report is particularly troublesome and misleading: “Fish consumption advisories are issued for specific water bodies and specific species taken from those areas. In reservoirs, advisories apply to waters as far as a boat can be taken upstream in a tributary, that is, to full pool elevations.” Is this to be interpreted that because PCBs were found in two species of fish at the lower lake dam that the advisory exists for some unknown scope of the lake above the dam to somewhere below the state line, and for potentially other species of fish with similar feeding habits to the catfish and stripers? That is bordering on junk science and is totally unacceptable to a professional and the public. Given the potential impact of a non-descript fish advisory on tourism, local commercial fishermen and guides, it is obvious that additional testing and quantification of the problem, if any, needs to occur. I think it is obvious that whoever is involved in the sampling and analysis by ADEM and ADPH needs to revisit their sampling strategy and get some professional help. The studies as conducted are essentially meaningless. George L. Taylor CSP (ret.) Rising electric costs Comparing my residential electric cost per kilowatt hour for a two-year period ending July 2011, the cost for the period ending July 2010 was 10.7 cents per kwh, and for the year ending July 2011 was 11.6 cents per kwh. My cost should be comparable to others, and includes both base rates and fuel cost adjustments (excluding taxes). Calculating billing is difficult and only by looking at total cost per kwh is it meaningful. When you factor in a partial merger of base rates and fuel cost adjustments, it is very hard to figure. Now, with the fuel cost to be removed from the actual bill and only available online ("Cherokee Electric fighting perception," front page story, Aug. 22), it will be almost impossible. Inflation is on the rise and will continue for a long time. It is easy to detect cost per gallon, cost per pound, etc. As for the monthly billing for our electricity, we are in a different realm. William Ford Gaylesville Sept. 12, 2011 Service demeaned I was surprised recently when I received a letter from the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) informing me that I would have to prove my citizenship in order to get a HAZMAT endorsement. The TSA questioned my status as a citizen because I was born at Johnson Air Force Base in Saitama Ken, Japan. I'm sure they failed to understand that when you are born on a United State military base you are born in U.S. soil. I'm left to wonder how many others, like me, are made to prove their citizenship because they parents chose to serve their country and were stationed overseas when their children were born. I sent the TSA a copy of my birth certificate. I also called Rep. Mike Rogers' office. Although they were nice, I was left with an 'oh, well' feeling. My father, Jerry King, served over 20 years including in Vietnam and Korea. In fact, he died in September 2003 due to exposure from Agent Orange. This harassment by the TSA completely demeans my father's service, in my opinion. Jerry King, Jr. Centre A pair of issues In reference to the 'mean conservative' editorial in the Aug. 15 issue of The Post ... Even the most avid, neo-liberal, self-named progressives, having no concept of error and whose aspirations to 'social justice' can never be satiated, can fail to notice the obvious differences between responsible and irresponsible behavior, or pretend to ignore the ever-growing cult of destructive 'victimism' in which single teen mothers choose to marry the state, relegating responsible taxpaying wage earners to the position of operating a bankrupt brothel as well as a corporate welfare agency. Legislation may appear deceptively attractive in theory, yet be ruinous in practice. Regarding another mischievous nature ... It's ironic, is it not, that whenever a natural disaster occurs the trinitarian theologians explain it as an exercise in benevolent 'character building'? Cosmetic armor to face another day? A vain attempt to insert a bit of sanity into an insane world where distinct life forms coexist with one another? Victims, the target of a planned attack? Divine design? Jesse L. Warmack Piedmont Sept. 5, 2011 Another Weiss reply I would like to reply to the letter from Mr. Tom Taylor in the Aug. 15 edition of The Post. I do not believe that Mr. Taylor has all the facts straight regarding the Weiss Lake Property Owners Association (WLPOA). Alabama Power has had, for several years, two inspectors -- Mr. Richard Shields and Mr. Jim Clouse. Mr. Clouse still works with local Shoreline Management head Mr. Tommy Miller. Both Mr. Shields and Mr. Clouse performed inspections and granted permits. I know of many areas around Weiss Lake which have county-approved septic systems and do not dump sewage into the lake. All of us in the WLPOA swim in Weiss Lake, and our children and grandchildren swim in it. We spend money in Cherokee County for food, gas, clothing and entertainment. The county has grown immensely in the 10 years we have been here. We paid big money for our waterfront lots, and we pay property taxes. We help to clean up the lake. We are good people who treasure this "paradise" that we have found and are a positive movement for the betterment of the lake and the county. Here's the issue: We had our buildings approved by the previous inspectors and do not feel that it is right for a "new sheriff" to come into town and change the rules 10 years after the fact. How long have you lived in your home, Mr. Taylor? How would you like to suddenly be told that you have to tear down your house or make it unsafe to sleep in? That's why the Weiss Lake Property Owners Association has been formed. We only want to be treated with respect and dignity, and to have our previously-granted approvals honored. Martha Fraker Centre Aug. 29, 2011 To clarify, on Weiss A recent letter to the editor from a representative of “Save Weiss Lake” (Letters to the Editor, Aug. 15 edition) characterized those participating in the newly formed Weiss Lake Property Owners Association as lawbreakers with shanties seeping raw sewage into our beloved Weiss Lake. That characterization couldn't be further from the truth. I attended a recent meeting of the association and can assure the writer that the attendees were all law-abiding citizens who want nothing but the highest standards of clean water and a shoreline that is maintained in a manner that would be the envy of any community. The association is comprised of residents of Cherokee County and surrounding counties in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. Those in attendance at the recent meeting have many of the same concerns as the writer and are frustrated about years of building guidelines and building codes that ranged from highly subjective to non-existent. These are property owners who have received approvals or exemptions to make improvements to their property over the years but now find themselves at odds with FEMA and Alabama Power Shoreline Management. The newly energized enforcement initiatives from FEMA and Shoreline Management demand immediate “compliance” from those of us who obtained approvals in years past. The new guidelines have nothing to do with water quality, public health, rotting shanties or shoreline trash. As the EPA establishes new 50 MPG standards for all new automobiles, they don't require all existing automobiles to achieve 50 MPG, retroactively. Likewise, if property improvements have been approved by those charged with enforcement in the past - whether in writing, verbally or tacitly – those approvals should be recognized today. We all agree that there should be no compromise on standards of health or safety; but arbitrary, conflicting and unpublished building codes can defy common sense and breach the rights of the property owner. We wish “Save Weiss Lake” much success and encourage government and corporate agencies to join any effort to improve our water quality and the health of our shoreline without diminishing the legitimate rights of the shoreline property owners who bring significant revenues into Cherokee County for businesses, schools and other government services. Jack Fullen Kennesaw, Ga. Aug. 22, 2011 Whose fuzzy math? This is in response to a letter from Phillip Kellen published in The Post on Aug. 8. He suggested that the Career and Technology Center should be a post-high school program. Does he realize that part of the reason our education system is in this financial mess is because of proration on the state level? Or that any post-high school program cannot survive on tuition alone? It would have to have state funding, which is non-existent. He also pointed out how much each resident in Cherokee County would have to pay to support the Career and Tech Center with the one-percent sales tax increase. Fuzzy math, Really? I think he forgot to calculate how many non-residents we have spending money here. There are hundreds who come here from other counties and states, and they spend an enormous amount of money. I have heard some people say they will just go out of the county to buy whatever they need. Sales taxes in surrounding counties are as high as ours or higher! Why would anyone want to contribute to another county's revenue when our county can benefit by making the purchases here? The Cherokee County Commission did the right thing by stepping up to increase the sales tax and keeping the Career and Tech Center open. They are to be commended for taking such quick action after the Board of Education let us down. It is important to our kids and our county to make sure that campus stays open. Sarah Bright Centre Aug. 15, 2011 Save Weiss Lake Only in America can a group of people purchase land in an easement, agree to the legal terms and conditions of what can and cannot be done on the land, and then over the years just ignore them. People have violated these legal requirements by building everything from shanties to full-size houses and installing septic systems that seep sewage into the lake. Now that Alabama Power has finally gotten around to enforcing the agreement they form an association to fight to continue their illegal activities. I have a suggestion for the members of Weiss Lake Property Owners Association: Find a copy of what you agreed to when you bought your property, bring it into compliance, and you won't have to deal with Alabama Power or anyone else anymore. Then, there will be no need for an association. Needless to say, we the people of "Save Weiss Lake" hope your association is a failure. There's plenty of blame to go around for the pitiful condition of Weiss Lake. There's Alabama Power, which neglected the easement for years. (Glad to see Alabama Power is finally doing something about it.) Then there's Cherokee County, which gladly accepts the revenue that the lake generates while doing little or nothing to take care of the "Golden Goose". Recently Probate Judge Melvyn Salter stated that the County Commission would have a new ordinance in a couple of weeks. Now months have gone by, and there is still no ordinance. Then there's the state of Alabama, which has stood by while people pollute our lake and have done nothing about it. Dr. Donald Williamson, head of the state Board of Health, made a big deal that he was going to “put up a flag” in Centre. I guess he forgot where Centre is. But at the top of the list are the irresponsible people who simply refuse to accept that their actions are causing harm to our beautiful lake. They should be proud that they now have an association. I only hope that they will change the name of their group, because responsible lake property owners want nothing to do with keeping Weiss Lake in its current condition. We are looking for significant improvements for the sake of the health and safety of our families. Tom Taylor Centre Aug. 8, 2011 Another alternative I don't know about anyone else, but every time I hear a politician suggest using money from one program to pay for another I get scared. Before they propose their program, they should present their plan to a grade school teacher to check their arithmetic. With a one percent increase in the sales tax, how much do you and I and every other man, woman, and child in Cherokee County need to spend, each and every day, to increase our county's income and pay for the short fall in our schools? You don't want to know! To raise $1.75 million (assuming there are 25,000 people in the county) we all must spend $20 each and every day for the year. It must be spent within the county – not in Piedmont, not in Gadsden, not in Rome, not in Fort Payne. Can you afford that? Are there that many things we need to buy every day? Are there that many things to buy in the county? And, by the way – with your $20, you will also need to add 20 cents for Cherokee County and $1.60 for the state of Alabama. So you need to spend $21.80, every day! The politicians need to get rid of their “fuzzy math.” Do we need a tech school? Absolutely. However, there must be a better way to pay for it. Maybe it should be a post-high school program, like a junior college, with tuition, etc. I would think that the carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and other unions might supply instructors and/or money to help out. Philip Kellen Centre Aug. 1, 2011 Sales tax thoughts I attended the meeting last [week] concerning the closing the Career and Tech Center. There is no doubt that it is a very important institution for this area. The attendees of the meeting need to be reminded about what has happened to the U.S. economy during the last 10-12 years. Because the country has the second highest corporate income tax rate in the world our Washington actors, along with their efforts to help direct us toward “world governance,” have caused over 43,000 formerly U.S.-based manufacturing companies to relocate to other areas of the world. Of course the move saves the companies huge amounts of taxes, but translates into a loss of 50,000 job losses every month. I do business in the Atlanta area. I can tell you the price of a gallon of gas at just about every gas station on my route from Leesburg to Cumming, Ga. Right now Cherokee County has low gas prices. In fact, I arrange my gas purchases to fill up when I am in Cherokee County. I dabble in gold bullion, silver coins and numismatics. I buy the majority of my coins in Georgia because they do not charge sales taxes on anything that is considered money or currency. Unfortunately, Alabama considers the purchase of gold, silver and coins just like buying a lawn mower, so they impose a sales tax. That extra money I pay for taxes destroys my competitive edge. If this new sales tax is imposed I will guarantee you that business conducted in other counties and states will offset any positive tax revenues the county will receive. Look at the basket case called California. Little by little, over the years, they imposed what seemed to be just an innocent little tax. Those taxes kept adding up until now California is just about out of business. People and companies are leaving the state at an alarming rate because the politicians only know how to raise taxes and not cut spending – just like Washington. If Cherokee County imposes this tax it is making a huge statement for our future. In my opinion the Tech Center will eventually close because there will be no business in the area to hire the students who graduate from the school. What will it be next time? Is the Commission making a statement that every time there is a money shortage they will simply go to the public trough just like California? A gentleman at the meeting made a comment: What is a penny? He said that most people would not take the time to pick one up off the ground. Well, that measly penny turns into $500 if you spend $50,000 for food, services, and other items. To me that is serious money. Bo Whitley Leesburg July 25, 2011 Bring US troops home Wars of aggression such as those the U.S. government has pursued since 2001 have many costs. First are the lives lost and ruined among the foreign population. Presidents Bush and Obama undoubtedly are responsible for more than a million deaths, many civilians among them, including those in Pakistan and now Libya. The U.S. government calls many of its victims “insurgents” and “militants,” but that may mean only that they objected to a foreign occupier. The cost also includes destruction of water and sanitation facilities and power generation, jeopardizing the health and lives of people, especially children and the elderly. Another obvious cost is the money sunk into imperial missions. The occupation of Afghanistan costs $10 billion a month. The Iraq and Afghanistan wars have now cost more than $1 trillion, and these money pits are still in operation. Let that sink in: The government has a $14 trillion debt. Annual budget deficits are running at more than $1 trillion a year. Congress and the president are wrangling over whether to raise the debt ceiling. And the government is spending $10 billion a month in Afghanistan alone. If this were a movie, you'd dismiss it as ridiculous beyond belief. Yet our “leaders” expect us to accept this as reasonable, reassured that wise people in power know what they are doing. If it seems screwy, you must be an “isolationist” or uninformed. The Indianapolis Star reports, “By 2008, the Army suicide rate surpassed the national average, reaching a rate of 20.2 per 100,000, compared to the national average of 19.2 out of 100,000.” The New York Times notes, “There were more than 295 suicides last year among active-duty personnel, a majority outside combat zones.” How many were waiting to ship out? Suicide is a chosen act, of course, but the politicians and war planners share in the responsibility because of the horrors to which they callously subject young people. Apologists for the empire will laud American military personnel for “serving their country” and for “fighting for our freedom.” Nonsense. They, like the public, were duped into believing that. In fact, their lives were destroyed serving the political and economic interests of empire-builders and contractors. There was nothing elevated in what the troops were ordered to do. Their mistake was in trusting the people who claim to be “leaders.” Support the troops, we're told. Here's a better idea: Don't “support” them. Bring them home. Now. Sheldon Richman, editor The Freeman magazine Fairfax, Va. July 18, 2011 Shocked at closing Many were shocked, saddened and even angered that the Cherokee County Board of Education has made the decision to close the Career and Technology Center (CTC). I understand that there are budget constraints; however, the children's education and opportunities should not be sacrificed. Surely this issue can be re-visited and other avenues considered for the needed budget reductions. I am the mother of six children who have been educated in Cherokee. Two are still students. My children, along with countless others, have benefitted from programs offered by the Career and Technology Center. Two of my sons took all of the business classes; they learned a lot from Mrs. Stinson and Mrs. St. Clair. My oldest daughter completed the health occupations program, thanks to Mrs. Oliver, which gave her a desire to pursue a nursing degree at the University of South Alabama. My youngest daughter had planned to take them, too, but now she will not get that opportunity. My youngest son has been pursuing auto mechanics. He had intended to take further classes from Mr. Walker this year, his senior year. Following high school, he planned to further this venue of education. His friend has taken welding for two years and this would have been the year he would have been able to receive his certification. Because of the closing, that student, as well as others, will have to pursue post-secondary training to receive certification. The courses offered by CTC provide opportunities for students to graduate from high school with employable skills. Not all students within our county have the financial means to pursue a college education. Closing CTC will affect our future generation's ability to find sustainable employment. This decision will have far-reaching effects on future generations. I respectfully request that our Board of Education reconsider this decision and consider other avenues of budget reductions. Dianne Ledbetter Piedmont July 11, 2011 Response to Mr. Jones No perfect man has ever walked this earth during our lifetime. No man on earth is supposed to or has the right to judge another, because according to the Bible the Lord will act as judge on Redemption Day. Consequently, it seems to me that Mr. Jones ("Offensive to God," Letter to the Editor, July 4 edition) has overstepped his Christian boundaries. The statement that really got my attention was "HIV, cancer and a host of other disgusting diseases spring from this immoral and unnatural behavior." What? Cancer is not caused by any immoral activities, Mr. Jones. And HIV has been spread by blood transfusions! But mentioning cancer, that is something that everyone is born with the potential to acquire. Some of those who are stricken are lucky enough to journey through life with faith guiding us in our fight and the last thing we need is someone who seems to think he has been appointed by a higher being to be judge and jury for the rest of us. For Mr. Jones to say what he did in his letter affects more than just me. Many Christian men and woman are fighting for their lives due to cancer. So what temptation have they fallen to, Mr. Jones? Let him who hath not sinned cast the first stone. We all have a right to our opinion, but temptation and sin do not cause cancer. Genetics does. I know, because I am a cancer survivor. And what is so bad when I read letters like the one from Mr. Jones, which said that his way is "Jesus' way"... Why, if I was not a woman so strong in my faith, I might be questioning it after reading Mr. Jones's letter. Please sir, get the facts straight before you write them. And by the way, it would seem to me that Mr. Jones should be sitting on the front row in church Sunday morning asking for forgiveness, as he is guilty of judging others without knowing. Sadly, it seems he has lowered himself to the standard of those he complains about. Marie Hatcher Cedar Bluff July 4, 2011 Offensive to God In my opinion, civilization has collapsed. Recently New York became the sixth state in our failing Union to legalize homosexual “marriage.” Sodom was destroyed for this very behavior. But some people will not learn and so bring disease, poverty and destruction upon themselves and others by their savagery and wickedness. Just as abortion is murder, homosexual behavior also is deadly. HIV, cancer and host of other disgusting diseases spring from this immoral and unnatural behavior. If the unconstitutional "Obamacare" is allowed to stand, the rest of us will have to pay to treat these unnecessarily acquired diseases. Those who engage in homosexual behavior also destroy their minds and souls. Many seek to indoctrinate children with their lies. And they try to silence those who would show them there is a better way — Jesus' way! Temptation is not a sin. You don't have to act on it. Turn from your wicked behaviors. Let Jesus show you how to walk free of sin, even in the midst of temptation. Perfection is not the absence of temptation. Perfection is mastery over temptation. The opposite of perfection means succumbing to temptation. The opposite of perfection offends God. New York, you offend God. Repent. John Jones Centre June 27, 2011 Don't mess with Texas Earlier this month, Texas Gov. Rick Perry signed into law a repeal of the federal government incandescent light bulb ban. Any incandescent light bulbs manufactured and sold in Texas now steer clear of the authority of the federal government and the 2007 energy act, which started phasing out the bulbs next year. As Texas State Representative George Lavender put it, "Let there be light." Rep. Lavender, R-Texarkana, was quoted by Fox News from his Facebook page after the bill passed saying, "It will allow the continued manufacture and sale of incandescent light bulbs in Texas, even after the federal ban goes into effect. ... It's a good day for Texas." Texas might be the first successful state to overturn the light bulb ban, but South Carolina has advanced similar legislation as well as Arizona, though it was vetoed by Gov. Jan Brewer. "The government is attempting to micromanage our decisions as consumers," says Bill Wilson, president of Americans for Limited Government (ALG), about the legislation passed to ban the incandescent light bulbs. "The federal government has no power to tell any citizen what types of lighting they are allowed to use." If states like Texas, South Carolina and Arizona are willing to repeal the incandescent light bulb ban — a symbolic move proving that American's do not want that level of government involvement in their lives — why haven't Republicans in the House of Representatives followed suit? Rebekah Rast Americans for Limited Govt. (www.getliberty.org) June 20, 2011 Host families wanted Foreign high school students are scheduled to arrive soon for academic semester and year home-stay programs, and the sponsoring organization needs a few more local host families. The students are anxiously awaiting news of their new families. These young ambassadors are looking forward to fulfilling their life-long dreams. The students are all between the ages of 15 and 18, are English-speaking, have their own spending money, carry accident and health insurance, and want to share their cultural experiences with their new American families. P.I.E. currently has programs to match almost every family's needs, ranging in length from one semester to a full academic year, where the students attend local public and private high schools. P.I.E. area representatives match students with host families by finding common interests and lifestyles through an in-home meeting. Prospective host families are able to review student applications and select the perfect match. As there are no "typical" host families, P.I.E. can fit a student into just about any situation, whether it is a single parent, a childless couple, a retired couple or a large family. Families who host for P.I.E. are also eligible to claim a monthly charitable contribution deduction on their itemized tax returns for each month they host a sponsored student. For the upcoming programs, P.I.E. has students from Germany, the Former Soviet Union, Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil, Hungary, Croatia, Korea, Mexico, Slovakia, China, and many other countries. P.I.E. is also participating in a special government-funded program to bring scholarship students from the Newly Independent States of the former Soviet Union to live in American communities. P.I.E. is a non-profit educational organization that has sponsored more than 25,000 students from 45 countries since its founding in 1975. The organization is designated by the United States Department of State and is listed by the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET), certifying that the organization complies with the standards set forth in CSIET's Standards for International Educational Travel Programs. Families interested in learning more about student exchange or arranging for a meeting with a community representative may call P.I.E., toll-free, at 1-866-546-1402. John Doty, president Pacific Intercultural Exchange June 13, 2011 Saying thanks On Saturday, June 4, an honest person in Cherokee County gave me reason to say "thank you". Whoever you are, you did a nice thing for me, and I sincerely appreciate your actions. I was shopping at Walmart and as I stood in the check-out line I reached for my wallet. It was gone. Where did it go? Did I drop it somewhere in the store? I checked all my pockets again and still could not find my wallet. I asked to cashier to please excuse me. I told her I was missing my wallet and needed to go to my vehicle to see if by chance it was there. I asked her to hold my purchases and I would be right back. I rushed out of the store to check my vehicle, and I was very worried that someone had found my wallet and was having a shopping spree somewhere at my expense. When I checked my truck cab I found nothing. Now I was really worried. As I turned to go back into Walmart, I glanced into the back of my truck bed. There, to my surprise was my wallet. I must have dropped it when I got out of my truck, and someone saw it on the ground, picked it up, and laid it in my truck bed. I expected to open it and find everything gone, but I was wrong; nothing was gone. My credit cards, cash, and personal information were all there. After a big sigh of relief and a quick prayer giving thanks, I returned to the store, paid for my purchases and headed home. To the honest person who did this for me, I say "thank you!" You are surely a good person. We need more like you in the world. Tonight I will again ask God to bless you for your good deed, whoever you are. Jerry Culberson Centre June 6, 2011 F-35 essential to Alabama Wilbur Wright once said, “It is possible to fly without motors, but not without knowledge and skill.” Recognizing education was essential to success, the Wright brothers founded the first flight school in the United States on the grounds of what would one day become Maxwell Air Force Base. Those early investments resonate today, as many Alabama higher education institutions carry on that same tradition of excellence with the next generation of pilots, engineers and astronauts. But the ability for tomorrow's graduates to use the knowledge and skill they cultivate from these highly-specialized programs means they have to have jobs in which to use them. That's why supporting multi-service programs such as the F-35 joint strike fighter are essential. The F-35 program is essential to our national defense needs and the needs of our allies. China, Russia and other countries continue to invest in developing planes with cutting edge technology. If we don't make the same investments, we will fall behind. And that edge could translate into over 100 jobs and $5.5 million in local revenue in Alabama if Congress continues to fund the F-35 at adequate levels. In addition to providing industrial jobs to Alabama, the F-35 project is also important from a local mission based standpoint. The 187th Fighter Wing of the Alabama Air National Guard based in Montgomery is one of only four Air National Guard Associate units utilizing active duty Airmen as well as Air National Guard technicians together as part of the same unit. Plain and simple, the F-35 program fulfills a national need and creates local jobs. Kay Ivey, Lt. Gov. State of Alabama May 30, 2011 Like family I attend Union Grove United Methodist Church in the Rock Run community. On Wednesday, May 18, I was attending the funeral of my husband's aunt, Betty Rae Jennings. During this time I became very sick from an illness I suffer from. I was unresponsive, didn't know where I was, or who was around me. My church family came to my aid. I don't remember anything that went on during this time. My husband has told me that there were a lot of people trying to help, and who were all very worried about me. Kenny Ingram is a member of the Spring Garden Volunteer Fire Department. My husband told me that it was Kenny who knew what to do for me. Grace Jennings, a retired nurse, was also there for me. I want everyone to know how much I appreciate everything they did for me that day. If ever there was anyone I could depend on, it is my church family at Union Grove United Methodist Church. Maryann T. Studdard Centre Prescription for waste The incredible waste of valuable prescription drug resources is appalling. Here's but one example of such waste: Most of the major pharmaceutical company ads in publications usually contain a couple of pages of 'stats' describing the product. These pages are often set in type so small that they cannot be easily read. Since only a physician may prescribe prescription drugs, such advertising properly belongs only in medical and professional journals. Billions of dollars are spent each year on TV and print media ads. These enormous costs are reflected in the price of the product. Direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs should be banned. The United States and New Zealand are the only countries that permit DTC advertising of prescription drugs -- and prescription drugs in New Zealand are heavily subsidized by the government (and, as an indirect result of DTC advertising, so are pharmaceutical companies). Drug prices in most other countries are about half those in the United States. It's time to rein in the pharmaceutical industry drug cartel and their congressional co-conspirators. Paul G. Jaehnert Vadnais Heights, Minn. May 23, 2011 Too much talk As a former naval officer who served a tour of duty as an intelligence officer, I am astonished at the covert information released to the media by the U.S. government. The operation against Osama bin Laden is an example of this problem. The media reported details of the military operation, including the designation of the units assigned to the task. They received access to information on a dog involved in the operation, the name of the dog trainer and the location of the training base. When President Obama visited the troops to congratulate them the names and faces of many individuals were plainly visible on TV. The media reported we captured bin Laden's computers, CDs, and telephone numbers with information on numerous al-Qaida terrorists and future plans of the terrorist group. It even received some access to bin Laden tapes. One story reported the activities of the U.S. intelligence agencies and how they found bin Laden. They even reported on a CIA operation inside Pakistan. And why didn't we keep the death of bin Laden a secret while we mined the information we gathered and sought out al-Qaida terrorists? Our loose talk and openness continues to aid the enemy. Donald A. Moskowitz Londonderry, N.H. Keeping focused The day after tornadoes ripped through Alabama, I received a briefing on the devastation. I was filled with shock and anguish. A few hours later, Gov. Bentley requested that I assess the damage in Elmore County on his behalf. There was no preparing for what I saw. The damage was vast and heartbreaking, but the camaraderie of neighbors was more evident than ever. People from all over had joined together in one neighborhood to sort through debris and comfort those who had been affected. Strangers became friends, and individuals worked together as one. The atmosphere was heavy, but there was a strength that is undeniable. News of the tornadoes was quickly overshadowed by the work of U.S. Navy SEAL team who killed Osama bin Laden. While that was a momentous occasion, we must continue to remember in prayer and lend assistance to those here in Alabama whose losses are great. Please feel free to contact my office at 334-242-7900. I encourage you to remain engaged and to let us hear from you. The most successful government officials are the ones who hear from and listen to their folks back home. Kay Ivey, Lt. Governor State of Alabama May 16, 2011 Thanks very much The members of the Ellisville Volunteer Fire Department would like to express their sincere appreciation and gratitude to those who assisted with the rescue, recovery and relief efforts during the aftermath and devastation left behind on April 27, 2011. There was a tremendous outpouring of support from many businesses, churches, individuals and organizations as we all united to help our neighbors in need. To those of you who donated items, volunteered your time, were there to lend a helping hand, give a hug or a simple pat on the back, we say thank you very much. Brent Hill Assistant Fire Chief Ellisville V.F.D. New strategy needed The increase in gasoline prices reflects instability in the Middle East and speculation in the oil markets. We need to address the huge run-up in oil prices with comprehensive policies designed to provide solutions to our energy consumption problems. The Obama administration should continue to promote democracy in North Africa and the Middle East. Hopefully, democratic reforms in these countries will provide some stability in the region and thereby help decrease speculation in the oil markets. The U.S. has to increase domestic oil production, including oil derived from our Western U.S. oil shale and Alaskan oil deposits; build new refineries; build nuclear power plants meeting stringent U.S. specifications; increase power production from natural gas and alternative energy sources, and conserve energy in our homes, businesses and vehicles. (One way to conserve gasoline consumption is to decrease the speed limits on our expressways. Studies have shown going from 75 mph to 55 mph will reduce gasoline consumption by 33 percent.) U.S. nuclear plants should be designed to withstand a 9.0 earthquake, tornadoes, category 5 hurricanes and floods, and have battery and diesel generator back-up to provide power to coolant water for at least one month. Existing plants can only withstand a 7.5 earthquake and have four hours battery back-up. We need the Obama administration to provide some leadership and implement a comprehensive energy strategy. Donald A. Moskowitz Londonderry, N.H. May 9, 2011 About litter problem I would like to make a comment concerning the county's litter problem. My husband has been out of work for almost three years and with the help of my son, they collect any and all scrap to try to earn money to support our family. They are not thieves and do not disturb anything from other people's property unless they are ask to or get permission from the owners. They are really only wanting to collect the materials along the roads and in the ditches and anything that is given or offered to them by other residents. So they are actually doing the cities and counties of Alabama a favor by cleaning up and removing many eyesores from the roadways. But we know the way things are now — some people have given all scrappers a bad name by stealing and tearing up other people's property. This has caused my husband to be stopped and harassed by local police officials when they were not doing anything wrong. It really sounds like county and city officials want something done with the clean-up, and my husband is just trying to help them — and us too! Maybe someone can let us know what we can do to help so we will not get into any trouble. Wanda Keith Centre Thanks, WEIS Radio During the night of our recent storm, having no electricity there was only one radio station I could pick up, WEIS 990AM. No others were on either band. The people of Cherokee County are truly blessed. I wanted to keep my family home that night, but after hearing those voices telling me a big one was headed my way I left for the shelter of a church in Centre. Later we found out the tornado was less than two miles away, taking out homes just down the road. Thanks so much to the people of WEIS radio station; they saved a lot of lives by being on the air that night. Hats off to the church, too, for providing shelter. Thanks also to Ingles, for passing out free water. Most importantly, thanks to our federal government for giving us food stamps to help those of us who are less fortunate so we can feed our families. Finally, thanks to my neighbor for the generator. Keep up the good work WEIS Radio, you all are a true blessing in Cherokee County. John Williams Mt. Wiesner community April 25, 2011 Thanks, guys During some recent storms my wife and I were provided a moment of silence when a tree fell across the power lines across the road from our house. Power all around us, including a local business, was out. I called the Cherokee Electric Cooperative and reported my outage. Four workers appeared within a very short time and had us back up and running. I want to thank those guys: Darrell Mitchell, Blake Bullard, Trent Connell and Chad Maples. They indulged my questions when I walked out to talk with them. They worked in the pouring rain without complaint. They had to venture down in some pretty deep and swampy woods to cut the tree off the line. After they left, they had enough work to do to keep them busy the rest of the night. All in all, they did a great job and were very pleasant to be around. I really appreciate their service. I'm not sure that those of us who get to work during the day always appreciate the fact that those guys are on call and often have to spend their nights answering emergency situations. Next time I see a guy or lady wearing those solid-colored shirts with the Indian head on their left shoulder, I'm going to remember to tell them thanks. They got my power back on and my milk didn't even spoil. Thanks guys. Jeremy Taylor Gaylesville My actions are mine For my actions and wrongdoings, I am truly sorry. I have no excuse for my actions. I take full responsibility for my crimes, but they are mine alone! It is the justice system's duty now to punish me, and I'll take my punishment and do what time or recourse is handed to me. To those who choose to attack my family, stop! My parents are Godly, good people who are not responsible for me. My children are innocent. If you feel you must say something or have no other way to release your anger, then the address to the Cherokee County Detention Center is not hard to find. If this is not fitting to you, you will have your day in court where I'm sure you will say what you feel. But as of now I do apologize for my addiction getting the better of me. I regret having hurt you. And although it may not be granted I do ask your forgiveness. Leave may family alone. The Bible says not to attack on of God's own. Know that you're not only hurting them and me, you're condemning yourself. I'll be out soon enough. Then you can have your opportunity to step to me and do what you must. Dawn B. Smith C.C.D.C. April 18, 2011 Rethink your purchase Recently, as I was checking out my groceries at Wal-Mart, in the lane next to me was a clerk I recognized as being one of the nicest clerks there. She is always pleasant and has such a sweet smile. She was checking out a couple, and I watched as the man became loud and abusive. He demanded to see a manger. One of the cashier managers was checking me out and he stormed over to my lane, asking her how old he looked. It seems he thought it was ridiculous that he had been asked to show his identification in order to purchase alcohol. He ranted and raved about how Wal-Mart had just lost a $60 sale, then stormed out. I doubt Wal-Mart will be closing its doors over this missed sale. And certainly, this man didn't need the effects of alcohol to help endear him to those he comes into contact with. As I continued with my transaction, the clerk shared with me that the clerks have taken so much abuse from those seeking to purchase alcoholic beverages without proper identification. I've heard the same things from my son on his job at a local store. People who purchase alcohol should be aware that the clerks servicing them do not make the rules and laws. Government officials decided that proper identification must be shown for every purchase of alcohol within the city. The clerks in the stores and those of us shopping should not have to endure such angry outbursts from those wishing to purchase alcohol. If you want to purchase alcohol then be aware of the requirements and laws to do so, and don't take it out on the employees serving you. And if you're already acting like a jerk, then maybe you need to rethink your purchase. Dianne Ledbetter Gnatville community April 11, 2011 Get off your butts I am so upset over this issue with Weiss Lake. This is not that hard! All we need is for someone to get off their butt and go around to all lake homes and lots and fine those who are not doing what they are supposed to be doing. After a time of it not being fixed you condemn the property as unfit for human living -- that will make them clean up! Gosh, if no one else has the time, then call me. I will go out and use my own car and my own gasoline to check the lake lots and homes. Just give me a ticket book. Let's get going and stop waiting for someone else to do something about it! There also needs to be a hot line for people to be able to call in and report areas that are dumping into the lake. I am sure with the high bills we all have had from the past three months from Cherokee Electric Cooperative, they can afford another phone line and someone to man it. I have never lived anywhere before where residents can complain until they are blue, and the people in charge just sit there. Madeleine Trefry Gaylesville Fines for dumping There should be a fine for anyone dumping anything in the lake. We've had our lot since 1980 and have been all over the lake and we haven't seen anyone dumping sewage in the lake. What about the fertilizer and poison that gets in the lake from farming? We were allowed to have a 250-gallon holding tank, secured above the ground, which we had pumped. In-ground septic tanks were not allowed by Alabama Power. We enjoy fishing and swimming in Weiss Lake. I imagine the water gets tested on a regular basis, or does it? Samuel L. Walker Centre April 4, 2011 Alabama's Olympics Registration is now open to one of the most unique events in Alabama. In the entire state, there is but one organization, ONE, that each year offers the largest multi-sport event that follows Olympic traditions right down to an amazing Opening Ceremonies, complete with a lighting of the State Games flame. That is the Alabama Sports Festival! The Festival was organized in 1982 as a non-profit at the request of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) to develop grassroots Olympic-style competitions and expose athletes, volunteers and spectators of all ages and abilities, especially our youth, to Olympic sports and the overall Olympic experience with all of its tradition and ceremony. All of the details are available online at www.alagames.com. The Opening Ceremony of this years Alabama's Summer Olympic Games, which is televised live statewide, will begin at 7 p.m. on June 24 inside the main arena at the Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center. It is free of charge. This 29th annual renewal of what has become a strong tradition of excellence in the state is filled with excitement, fireworks and large doses of patriotism. It is truly a fun, wholesome, God and country, family oriented experience for all ages. Please review our website at www.alagames.com and get involved. The Games are open to all ages, abilities and levels of competition, both individual and team sports. There are some 25 different sports offered. It is your Alabama's Summer Olympic Games! Come be a part of something great. J. Holland Director, External Affairs Alabama Sports Festival March 28, 2011 Economic impact I would like to echo the sentiments of Tom Taylor of Centre. In his recent letter to the Post, Mr. Taylor expressed his concerns over the rapidly growing pollution problem with Weiss Lake. I could not agree more. As a frequent visitor to Weiss Lake, I have personally witnessed people dumping various items into the lake; trash, and contents of chemical toilets as a couple of examples. This is very discouraging, to say the least. My family has chosen Centre and Weiss Lake as a place where we spend a good bit of our vacation time and discretionary income. That last point is a very important one: discretionary income. I would venture to guess that the majority of businesses in Centre rely in some form or fashion a vibrant Weiss Lake. Restaurants, realtors, grocery stores, etc. Left untreated, the growing pollution problem in Weiss Lake will certainly have a negative impact the local economy as people choose to spend their money elsewhere. I can assure you that I will find another lake to enjoy if the powers that be don't wake up and start dealing with this problem. I'll also encourage others to do the same thing. If you share the same concerns as I do, please write to the editor of this paper (info@postpaper.com). Please also write your representatives (Lindsey and Williams; see e-mail addresses at right), as well as Dr. Don Williamson (sho@adph.state.al.us), and Judge Melvyn Salter (msalter@cherokeecounty-al.gov). They all can play a huge role in bringing lasting positive change to Weiss Lake. Please also bombard Alabama Power Co. with letters demanding that they step up and provide the resources necessary to clean up the lake. Patrick Power Alpharetta, Ga. To our elected officials My parents, who own a house on Weiss Lake, have recently let my husband and me know about a serious pollution issue that has me very concerned about visiting the lake in the upcoming months. Apparently, raw sewage is being dumped into the lake? Maybe “very concerned” is actually an understatement. My parents have spent thousands of dollars to abide by the rules and regulations required to own property on the lake. How sad it is that the property they intended to pass down to the next generation of their family is being jeopardized by others who go unpoliced in their mistreatment of the lake. I have two children, ages 5 and 2, who love to visit their grandparents at the lake. I can only imagine how enjoyable our visits will be when I have to tell them that the water that they love to swim in is so dirty that it might make them sick. That is not quite the legacy that my parents intended to leave for them. Anyone on this planet knows that water is our most precious resource. When Alabama Power sought to harness this resource it became their responsibility to act as a caretaker for the lake and the areas that affect it. Setting up rules and regulations was the first step in this responsibility, but it takes consistent follow-through and enforcement of these rules and regulations in order to act as true caretakers. I understand that Cherokee County is trying to address this concern through their own means, but by allowing property owners to get around new rules and regulations via grandfather clauses just allows for current violators to continue polluting the lake. It's the very same people who would be grandfathered in that have created this problem to begin with. As an Alabama resident I am asking you, our elected officials, to do whatever it takes to ensure that the pollution issue is addressed swiftly; to make sure that Alabama Power starts enforcing their rules and regulations; to make Cherokee County drop their grandfather clauses; and last but certainly not least, to SAVE WEISS LAKE! Jennifer Abell Harvest, Ala. March 21, 2011 No more excuses My husband and I saved for years to retire to Weiss Lake. We could have retired anywhere, but chose this area for its natural beauty. Little did we realize we were putting our money in the toilet, because that is what Weiss Lake is today! To government officials, I say: How can you allow this to go on one more day? All of the residents of Cherokee County feel the impact of our lake. It needs to become a pristine body of water that can support fish and water fowl. It needs to be a place to fish and swim and support the recreational needs of our community. We want answers about why the lake has progressed to the sad state of affairs we are now witnessing. No more excuses. Tell us what action you intend. I am a voter in Alabama now and I will vote to preserve my interest in Cherokee County. Sarah Trammell Cedar Bluff A sad thing Concerning the pollution being dumped into Weiss Lake, I think it is a sad thing that people have so little care for the environment that they will mess up the water by dumping sewage and throwing other trash and/or waste into the lake. They should be stopped immediately and made to clean up the lake themselves. I also think that Cherokee County officials, Alabama Power and the state of Alabama should be monitoring the lake on a daily basis. It seems that they do not care, either. They seem to be in the same boat with the ones dumping the sewage and trash in the lake. Weiss Lake is a great lake for family outings, swimming, fishing for everyone -- if kept clean. My family and a lot of others enjoy the lake; we fish, swim and go for boat rides. It's getting hard to do either with all that is being done by a few to mess up the entire lake. I demand that the officials in control of the lake take action now, not later, to get the trash and pollution stopped and cleaned up. My family does not live on Weiss Lake. We do not own property on the lake either. My family lives in Madison. However, even though it is about a 200-mile round-trip for us, we do frequent Weiss Lake several times each year. Officials, please take action to clean up the lake and control the pollution now, not later. Clean it up and then continue to monitor it afterwards. Bob Harris Madison Bad state of mind I have been keeping up with the efforts to clean up Weiss Lake. It sounds to me like no one is stepping up to the plate to enforce what is already written into the deeds when land id purchased around the lake, this creating a “dump what you want, build what you want” state of mind. This seems to be what is happening around the shoreline of what was once a beautiful lake. Landowners are putting up closed buildings, mobile homes, unapproved septic tanks and permanent structures on recreational lots inside the flood easement and very little is being done about it. A recent quote from Tommy Miller, regional coordinator for Alabama Power said, “I think, at the time (1961) Alabama Power believed (assumed) people would buy their lakefront property, read their deed and do what they were supposed to do.” Wake up, Mr. Miller. This is 2011 and that's not happening now and hasn't for the past 25 years. I personally have made many mistakes when I assume. If there is a law in place, then why is it not being enforced? Your company has the authority given to you by FERC. Other recent quotes include commitments to clean up Weiss Lake by State Health Officer Dr. Don Williamson: “We are looking for the opportunity to begin this process in order to demonstrate that we are serious about this.” The opportunity has presented itself. Williamson also said: “If the County Commission doesn't pass regulations the only thing we can do is begin the process with the tools we have.” The time is NOW. It's been 50 years. You have the authority to act! I am a concerned tax-paying citizen of Cherokee County and a mother who enjoys fishing, swimming, boating, water skiing and knee-boarding – and I spend several hundred dollars here to enjoy these sports. I pray that our elected officials will step up to the plate and hit a home run for the future of Weiss Lake and our children, grandchildren, and even our great-great grandchildren's enjoyment of “The Crappie Capital of the World.” Connie Webb Centre March 14, 2011 Stop doing nothing I greatly appreciate The Post putting the issue of the sewage problem in Weiss Lake on the “front burner” over the past few weeks. The issue is critical to this area economically. We depend on the lake for recreation, visitors, and so much more. It amazes me how the local citizenry can let such a potential asset like Weiss Lake go to ruin – literally! If the lake were cleaned up and made safer for swimming, and the eating of the fish caught out of it, the lake would become much more inviting to visitors and the economic impact to Cherokee County would be tremendous. As it is now, I suspect many of us are very leery of the disease potential from the water in Weiss Lake. It has been for many years the responsibility of our government to clean up Weiss Lake and their failure to do so is troubling, to say the least. I cannot imagine their perceived incentive in continuing to do nothing, but evidently there is something preventing them from “getting the job” done. Tim Farnham Centre Fix Weiss Lake I remember the day they started building Weiss Lake. There was a big stage with speakers, a huge crowd, and they shot off 10 sticks of dynamite to commence the project. So, like a lot of you all, I spent my whole life playing and fishing in the waters of Weiss Lake. I love it a lot and would love to see some regulations written -- and enforced heavily -- to protect the lake and get it cleaned up. I heard so much talk when I lived in Fort Payne about how polluted the lake is. If that's true then let's fix it. The lake is something we see everyday, and I know all of you enjoy it as much as I do. David Ashley Centre March 7, 2011 Let's all 'Save Weiss Lake' “Save Weiss Lake” is not an organization. There is no formal membership, no fees. This is a movement dedicated to bringing swift and long-lasting change to the deplorable pollution situation in Weiss Lake. Our goal will be accomplished by bringing political pressure on local and state government, and Alabama Power. To do this we need anyone and everyone to start e-mailing, calling and generally demanding immediate action be taken. We are mad as hell, and we're not going to take it anymore. Think about it: My grandchildren, your kids, you, me, and thousands of other people are swimming, fishing and playing in a lake that careless, self-centered people are dumping their sewage into! What's worse, they are getting away with it because the county and state are ignoring the problem. We must not rest until aggressive action is taken. So far, we've contacted the following and encourage you to do the same: _ The Post at info@postpaper.com; Editor Scott Wright said he will print all letters he receives concerning the pollution of Weiss Lake. Let's send in so many he can't print the all. _ Rep. Richard Lindsey at rep.richardlindsey@tds.net; no response to our letter or copies of several other e-mails. Write Rep. Lindsey and ask him why not. _ Sen. Phil Williams at philw.williams@alsenate.gov; we got a quick response and he said he has already started to looking into the problem. We need to encourage him to continue. _ Dr. Don Williamson, State Health Officer, at sho@adph.state.al.us; we've sent two letters asking the state to take aggressive action now. We've received no response. Probate Judge and Commission Chair Melvyn Salter at msalter@cherokeecounty-al.gov; no direct letter but we've sent copies of our other letters. We also sent letter to AG Luther Strange asking that he consider legal action against Alabama Power for its neglect of the flood zones. The company is not the only reason for the pollution but shoulders plenty of blame. If BP can be fined and made to clean up the Gulf, then Alabama Power should be fined and forced to clean up Weiss Lake. We're not stopping there. More letters are going out soon. If you'd like to help, please contact these officials and encourage them to act. Ask your friends to do the same and ask them to pass it on. Always remember to put “Save Weiss Lake” in the subject line. Tell them we demand that action be taken NOW. Don't become discouraged if you don't get replies. Keep working. It's up to us. Now let's get started. Tom Taylor Centre Feb. 28, 2011 Owned by foreigners The Obama administration is spending our money at unprecedented levels and this practice is projected to continue for years into the future. Our annual federal deficit is approaching $1.5 trillion and will probably hit $2 trillion before long. Our national debt is projected to go from $14 trillion now to $25 trillion in five to eight years. As of Nov. 30, 2010 the following are the top 10 countries holding U.S. Treasury securities: China, Japan, United Kingdom, oil exporters (including Venezuela and countries in the Middle East), Brazil, several countries in the Caribbean, the city of Hong Kong, and Canada, Taiwan and Russia. We are indebted to some countries who are potential adversaries and might be unfriendly to us in the future. They could decrease their purchases of Treasury securities, which would increase interest rates; or they could sell their U.S. securities, which would hurt the dollar and significantly increase inflation. The president and Congress have to reign in our current spending spree and reduce our deficits and the money we owe to foreign countries. Harold Myerson, editor-at-large of American Prospect and the L.A. Weekly in his article “Think bigger, Mr. President” has it right. He stated: “We need to either raise tariffs on unfair foreign competition or reduce taxes on companies that keep, bring or create jobs at home.” Donald A. Moskowitz Londonderry, N.H. Feb. 21, 2011 Condition of Weiss Lake unbelievable Recently, I have read several articles in The Post concerning the pollution in Lake Weiss. To say the least, I am appalled by what I've read and how nonchalant our public servants are about it. I guess when Probate Judge Melvyn Salter tells us that we will have new a ordinance in a few months, we are supposed to jump for joy. Well, the only reason the county might do something about the problem is that the Alabama attorney general has told them it is their responsibility. Why should we believe that a new ordinance will be enforced? If I'm not mistaken it's against the law to dump sewage in the lake right now and nothing is being done about it. It's ironic: When I built my house I had to get permits and pay for engineering surveys. Several of my neighbors had to pay as much as $15,000 for special septic systems. Meanwhile, some low-life can pull up a trailer or RV, dump sewage in the lake, and the county does nothing about it. With one stroke of a pen the county doubled my property taxes. I guess they did that so I can have the pleasure of swimming, fishing and playing in a polluted lake. Alabama Power is a joke, too. Their only interest is in making money from power generation and charging honest folks high fees for dock permits. Several years ago, they made a big deal about how they opened a new shoreline management office and were going to clean up the flood zones. As far as I'm concerned all they are doing is charging fees and monitoring new construction. Meanwhile, within sight of my house a dock is falling into the water and I have to cleanup the wood, nails and everything else. In clear view of my house there are dozens of structures in violation of the flood zone and nothing being done about them. Every time there's a minor flood I have to spend hours cleaning trash out of the lake – and God only knows how much sewage ends up in the lake! I was just thrilled that Dr. Williamson and the state Board of Health were very concerned about the pollution in our lake. Of course, they aren't going to do anything about it; they are going to let the county address the problem. I guess that's because the county has such a great track record of working the problem? I don't know about the rest of you who use and love Weiss Lake, but this makes me sick. To think that my grandchildren and I are swimming in a lake that raw sewage is being dumped into is unbelievable. It's even worse that the public servants who are paid to protect us aren't doing their jobs. There's not much I can do but you can bet that I'm going to call and write letters to every congressman, senator and government agency I can think of and raise hell about this situation. I urge you to do the same. This is a serious problem and it needs to be fixed right now, not when some bureaucrat gets around to it. As far as I'm concerned, the state of Alabama should take over the control of Weiss Lake. Alabama Power should be fined and the lake taken away from them. Tom Taylor Centre For all the people Lest you forget, new Gov. Robert Bentley, not all Alabamians are your "brothers and sisters". However, they are still entitled to the honest aids of a Christian laborer who claims to take no salary at this time and who hopefully will be a “one-termer.” Perform your duties as principle magistrate, sir, and leave your muscular Christism where it belongs. Adjust your displeasure with those who refuse to worship an empty-veined Palestinian man-God of a particular tribe who received this distinction by a close vote of rowdy Pagan priests and clerics at the Council of Nicea (325 C.E.) hosted by the sun-worshipping murderer Constantine -- a man-God conceived neither in Nazareth nor Bethlehem, but Rome. Hopefully, Mr. Bentley's political decisions will be based upon inquiry and investigation instead of some occult mental process. The episode has a rather distinct smell about it, a reminder that a man's religion can often be his most disreputable trait. Jesse L. Warmack Piedmont Feb. 14, 2011 For all the people I see that Centre has successfully written a fair and reasonable alcohol ordinance. I did not mind them taking time to get it right the first time. Whether you are for or against it, alcohol is here now. The Council was voted in by the people of Centre and they need to work for the good of all the people, and for the betterment of Centre. As I have said before, if we do business in other cities that serve alcohol then what's the big deal with it being in our community? I have never quite understood the argument, “Oh, not here!” but those very people will spend there money outside this county in the very same businesses they don't want to see open up here. I am a firm believer that the law will spell out what has to be done to sell alcohol and life will go on. You will not stop people from doing what they want to do, whatever it is. Trust your lawmakers and move on to other things that will help Centre and Cherokee County. I personally have never seen a drunk person in any nice bars or restaurants, anywhere. I'm sure you would in the cut-and-shoot bars, but I feel that the City Council will never allow that sort of place to come to Centre. The Gridiron is giving us a place closer to home to eat and have a drink if you choose, and keep our money at home. I welcome them and I have faith that most of the people here will act responsibly. Sure, you will have a handful of people who will never know how to act, but the rest of us appreciate the right to choose. Let's go forward and be positive for our county and for new businesses that will also mean jobs, which we need so badly. Judith Caldwell Leesburg Feb. 7, 2011 Scam concern I recently received a "transfer" call, which means someone hard of hearing used a special operator to verbally transmit their typed message to me over the phone. The call was about an ad for a puppy that I had placed in The Post a few weeks before. Since we are so close to Cave Spring, Ga., where there is a school for the deaf, I didn't question the call. The caller, Kerry, asked about the puppy, via the operator, and I was asked to email pictures and information, which I did. The response was an e-mail indicating that Kerry would be sending a check or money order, even though I had listed the puppy for free. It continued: “… I want to alert you on the fact that you will be receiving the check or money order this week or next week and payment will cover your cost and as well as the shipping cost … so please as soon as you receive the payment get it cashed immediately, deduct the money that accrues to you and send the remaining balance to the company that handles the shipment … I will pay you an extra $100 if you can reserve this for me.” The e-mail went on to ask for personal information, including my full name and mailing address. I know of scams concerning ads placed on the Internet. Having someone call as "hearing impaired" from an ad placed in a local paper is a new one for me, if that is what this was. It is my hope that no one who places ads in The Post will be taken by con artists. Any time anyone sends you too much money and asks you to return the extra, there is cause for concern. Please be careful of anyone asking for your personal information in an e-mail, too. Cynthia Causey Centre Jan. 31, 2011 Repeal health care It's clear from the countless polls and the latest election results that Americans want a change of direction from the policies our elected leaders in Washington have been pursuing. We need to help small businesses like mine have the certainty we need to plan and grow in the future. That starts with repealing the expensive new health care law. Plain and simple: this law costs too much and delivers too little. Not only does this health care law spend money we don't have, but it's paid for on the backs of small businesses, like mine. It levies endless new taxes, fees and mandates that hinder me from being able to grown my business. Also, despite the rhetoric from its supporters this law has actually made things worse than they were before. It will only result in more job stagnation and shuttered businesses here in our state. Our economic recovery starts with small business and Washington needs to reverse these job-killing policies. I encourage our members of Congress to stand with small business and vote to repeal the new health care law. Jeff Dickson Gadsden Jan. 17, 2011 Smart enough? As a concerned citizen of Cedar Bluff, I wanted to express my disappointment in the recent actions of our “appointed” mayor, Ethel Sprouse, and a couple of our Town Council members. Because of the death of Councilman Mark Hicks the Town Council was faced with the obligation of filling his seat. In a democracy, you would think that the logical person to fill this seat would be Tammy Crane, the person who ran against Mark in the most recent election and lost by only three votes. However, Sprouse and two Town Council members apparently felt like the residents of Cedar Bluff needed to be represented by someone with more education than the person we all voted for. They felt that we, the residents of Cedar Bluff, were not smart enough to decide who we wanted to represent us. In doing this, they appointed a highly qualified, very intelligent person who possibly couldn't care less about being on the Town Council. In the process, they left out the woman who had spent her money and effort to run for the opportunity to represent us. What have we gained? As one councilman was overheard to put it: “We don't need no pancake flappers on the Council.” (Love the grammar don't you?) How do you, the residents of Cedar Bluff, feel about that? Are you smart enough to live here? Mack Moats Cedar Bluff |
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