Letters from Readers
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June 30, 2008 Holiday and highways All available troopers will be on duty during the Fourth of July holiday travel period, enforcing traffic laws, assisting motorists, and serving as visible reminders to drive safely. In addition to routine patrol operations, enforcement plans include license and sobriety checkpoints, saturation and line patrols, and operation of laser speed detection devices (LIDAR) from stationary vantage points. According to Public Safety Director Col. J. Christopher Murphy, troopers will especially target those violations that frequently factor in crashes and generally constitute “aggressive” driving when two or more are combined – unsafe lane changes, following too closely, failing to yield the right of way and speeding. Troopers, including special “Task Force Zero” DUI enforcement teams, also will actively work to identify and apprehend drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs during the period. Murphy said Alabama is committed to sustaining gains in highway and traffic safety during the upcoming holiday and throughout the year. “The goal of troopers and our partners in local law enforcement is to save lives and safeguard all motorists on Alabama’s roadways,” he said. Murphy urged motorists to make safety a priority and to buckle up on every trip. He also addressed officer safety, issuing a reminder about the state’s “move-over” law. This law requires motorists on multi-lane roadways to move over one lane when passing stationary, roadside emergency vehicles with emergency lights activated. The official Independence Day 78-hour travel period begins at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 3, and ends at midnight Sunday, July 6. Last year there were nine traffic fatalities – eight vehicle occupants and one pedestrian – in Alabama during a 30-hour Fourth of July holiday period. Public Information/Education Alabama Department of Public Safety Patriotism all year long Seeing that the Weiss Lake Marina at Cedar Bluff had a flag pole but did not have an American flag flying, my husband and I donated a large flag to make sure there would be one flying for Flag Day. The flag was donated approximately six weeks ago. We were very disappointed to see that the flag was not flying when we were in Cedar Bluff a few weekends ago. We checked to see why it was not up and we were told that the Cedar Bluff Fire Department didn't have equipment that reached high enough to put it up and that they had given the flag to the fire department in Centre since they had equipment that could get it up. Still hoping to get the flag up by Flag Day, I made a call to the Centre Fire Department to check on the status. I left my message concerning attempts to get the flag up and my phone numbers on their automated answering machine but never received a call from anyone there. On Flag Day (June 14) we were again at our lake house in Cedar Bluff and noticed the flag was still not up. Ironically (or maybe not) when we drove into Centre we noticed the fire department there didn't even have a flag flying on Flag Day. This lack of patriotism and apathy may be OK with some, but it's not OK with me. I think it's a shame! This episode reminds me of a quote I read long ago: "The death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination from ambush. It will be a slow extinction from apathy, indifference, and undernourishment." -- Robert M. Hutchins Shirley Willis Cedar Bluff June 9, 2008 Conspiracy fact Great! Hillary Clinton is going to "fix" the "mistakes." Bill Clinton is the one who made the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). News: Those weren't mistakes, pardner! Those were major treason. That is why he was impeached, remember? See, The New American from Feb. 3, 1997. But the managed news, on the other hand, played down the treason and created a circus with the titillating "Oval Office incident." That held the public's attention away from the president's business dealings with the Red Chinese weapons dealers. See The New American again: "Apparently, Mr. Clinton was unable to discern a possible conflict of interest in a meeting that enriched the business prospects of a major Democratic National Committee contributor and personal friend." After the Chinese friend donated $639,000 to Clinton's legal defense fund, Mr. Clinton appointed him to a White House advisory body, the Commission on U.S. Pacific Trade and Investment Policy. This friend of Clinton's was closely allied with Mr. Clinton's visitor, who was a major player in communist China's military industrial complex. Read it and weep, for the victims of the handed-down betrayal still in the current White House. Conspiracy is no theory, it's a fact. How many of the weapons Clinton armed the hostiles with have killed Americans that Bush has sent in his war against the Constitution? His goal is the North American Union, part of the New World Order. Martha V. Pearson Centre Congress to blame Today, people are blaming the oil companies for high gas prices. We are awash in oil, but the U.S. Congress refuses to allow drilling in the huge tracts offshore and in Alaska. Congress is the culprit, not the oil companies! There is nothing in the U.S. Constitution that authorizes Congress to meddle in our marvelous free market system that was working very well without federal interference. However, massive interference has stifled production of oil and nuclear power. Visit www.thenewamerican.com for details. In addition, Congress is mostly legislating in areas unauthorized by our Constitution. Foreign aid and regulating education are just two of many examples. In areas where Congress is authorized, it has created several major disasters. Our military is dispersed in many countries around the world, but it is not protecting our southern border to keep out the illegals. In addition, Congress gave up its power to declare war to the President. Therefore, we now have perpetual war to achieve perpetual peace as George Orwell wrote in his classic novel, 1984. A citizen who does not obey the Constitution would quickly be arrested. However, Congress truly is a criminal enterprise because it continues to violate our Constitution after taking an oath uphold and defend it. We must demand that Congress obey the Constitution, or we soon will see the destruction of our nation. Nancy Barker Brennan Camarillo, Calif. June 2, 2008 Save your skin Did you know that one in five Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime? Surprisingly, melanoma is on the rise in our country, particularly among young people. Sadly, people don’t always realize this disease can be life-threatening. In 2008, 62,480 Americans will be diagnosed with melanoma with 8,420 people dying from the disease. There are three simple steps to reduce your risk for skin cancer. First, start early. It is never too early to teach a child about sun protection, and to protect them from the harmful rays of the sun. If you are a parent, grandparent, or caregiver, you have the unique ability to instill healthy habits to protect them for life. Secondly, never stop taking care of your skin. It is important to protect yourself from harmful UV rays even as an adult. Dermatologist Dr. Daryl Rigel says “simple behavioral changes can make a big difference” in your risk for skin cancer, as sun exposure is linked to most cases. Also, be sure to have your skin checked by a dermatologist annually. Dr. Rigel suggests that your birthday should be a reminder to have your “birthday suit” checked! Finally, know this: a family history of skin cancer raises the risk for skin cancer for all members of the family. Be sure to tell your health professional if someone in your family is diagnosed with cancer. He or she may recommend more frequent screenings. Enjoy the warm weather summertime brings, but don’t forget to follow these tips and save your skin. Mary Sessions Wife of Sen. Jeff Sessions Prevent Cancer Foundation Get the facts straight Those who make derogatory slurs against another should have their facts straight and know what they are talking about and not list a website proving their statements are out of line and wrong ("Promises he can't keep," letters to the editor, May 26 edition). Is it morally wrong for Mr. Stever to attempt to disillusion others, but that seems to be the norm for some of our elected officials and their constituents. Those elected to public office should better serve the people than that; when it comes time for reelection they should not have to attack other candidates with false statements or have their constituents do their dirty work for them in an attempt to keep their office. In the revenue commissioner's race, Harrell Whitner has had to be very strong to hold his composure due to attacks from constituents from John A. Roberts. Harrell Whitener is well-versed in the Alabama Constitution concerning property tax laws and will not make a statement he cannot back up. Title 40-7-25.3 of the state code proves rollbacks are a part of the constitution and section 40-9-19 offers tax exemptions from state ad valorem taxes, thus his slogan "Roll Back Taxes". If elected he will Roll Back Taxes. In closing I ask what has Mr. Roberts done in 14 years and what does he promise if reelected? The race for revenue commissioner has only one purpose and that is taxes. Harrell Whitener gives us all hope of lower taxes and that includes everyone, even the current revenue commissioner and his staff and constituents. I urge you to vote for Harrell Whitener. Donna Rhodes Cedar Bluff Exercise your rights One June 3 you will have the opportunity to go to the polls and exercise your right as an American citizen. The freedom has been guaranteed through our Constitution and Bill of Rights, and many have died or shed their blood to forever make it possible for us to vote.The tragedy is that many do not take advantage of this privilege. I encourage each of you, yes, I challenge you, to exercise your right to vote for the candidate of your choice. The polls will be open in Cherokee County from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Melvyn Salter Judge of Probate May 26, 2008 Promises he can't keep I am writing this letter in regards to some political ads that are currently being run in the The Post. The ad that Mr. Whitener ran most recently was the one about “rolling back taxes.” This ad really concerns me because I feel that Mr. Whitner is trying to lead the people of this county to believe that he can just magically “roll back your taxes.” I don't know how much Mr. Whitner knows about the laws of the state of Alabama, so he might actually think if he were our revenue commissioner that he would have the authority to actually “roll back taxes.” If this is the case, I really think that he should get educated on the revenue commissioner's job and how it works before making promises that he cannot possibly keep. He is trying to mislead our good citizens into believing that he can single-handedly lower everyone's taxes if he gets elected the office of revenue commissioner. Come on Mr. Whitner, the people of this county are not the fools that you are playing us for. I just want to take this time to suggest to all the people of Cherokee County that they might want to do a little research on this matter before putting their confidence in Mr. Whitner's unrealistic promises. This information is readily available in the state of Alabama's website: http://www.ador.state.al.us/advalorem/index.html. It clearly states in the Code of Alabama that the methods that are used to calculate your taxes are governed by the state of Alabama. This is not something revenue commissioner has any control over. The revenue commissioner has to abide by the laws of the state or be held accountable. Therefore, Mr. Harrell Whitener has no means to just take it upon himself and “roll back taxes” unless he wants to “go to jail.” We might suggest to Mr. Whitner that he should be running for governor instead of revenue commissioner if he is going to help us on our taxes. At least then he would have a better chance at success. I would like to close this letter with the hopes of putting a thought in the minds of each and every one that reads this. Do we really want someone in the revenue commissioner's office who puts out propaganda and untruths such as this to get elected, do we want someone who will try and mislead us. I know that taxes are expensive, but we all to have to look at what we as citizens gain from the proceeds of these taxes. We have police protection, schools for our children, we have roads to drive on, and these are just a few of the benefits that we have due to property taxes. It's not like we are just throwing our money away. So citizens, now that I have opened your eyes, let's all really think very carefully about our decision before going to the polls to elect a revenue commissioner. Jim Stever Centre May 19, 2008 Worst Senate ever There have been numerous articles and editorials written about the ineffectiveness and lack of action by the Alabama Senate over the past few weeks and many different reasons have been given for this situation. The major factor impacting the Senate is the same issue that developed when power was stripped from the lieutenant governor when Steve Windom was elected to that office. That power was not returned to Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley when she was elected. Even though she was offered support to help her regain that leadership, she refused because she did not want to “ruffle the feathers” of those she believed could assist her in becoming governor. Many had hoped that Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom, Jr. would regain the power of the office. He had served in that capacity and with the power of the office had managed the Senate in a respectable manner during his first term. He, like Ms. Baxley, chooses not to use his power as lt. governor to again accept the responsibility of leadership for the Alabama Senate. Leadership is an awesome responsibility and many people do not want to undertake that responsibility because it requires tough decision -- decisions that sometimes “ruffle feathers”. So now we continue to have a leaderless Senate, with 35 members trying as individuals or as loosely joined caucus, to “run” the Senate. Each year for the past decade, the Senate has become progressively worse and now the press, along with many of the senators themselves, are calling this Senate the worst ever. If you want to fix the Senate, then return the power to the lt. governor who must answer to all the people of the state, not just the 140,000 or so who reside in a single district. Then the responsibility lies with someone accountable to all. Yes, we have had lt. governors in the past who some did not agree with, but at least someone was in charge. The responsibility was centrally located and the public knew who to look to for leadership. Today, that does not exist and everyone points a finger and blames the other. Until a few in the Senate are willing to give up power and return it to the lt. governor you will continue to see “the worst Senate ever” in Alabama. Gerald Dial, Lineville Former Dist. 13 senator Sewage treatment, too? I had to smile as I read Dewandee Neyman's letter to the editor in the May 12 issue of The Post concerning this "big city" girl's letter of April 21. Actually, I grew up in an Indiana town about the size of Centre. The hog farmers there would make you WISH for chicken houses. People knew how the places smelled, which is why most hog farms were solitary operations on hundreds of acres with no residential areas anywhere near them. Kind of like, "If you can't stand the stink then stay away from the farm." The point of my "vent" about the smell was that it affects the property values and our quality of life. Several neighbors have stopped by, either to let me know they are angry about our "overnight" development, or to ask me, "Well, you eat chicken, don't you?" I have six beautiful Rhode Island red hens that provide eggs and the smelliest old billy goat this side of Birmingham. However, their pens are as far from the neighbors' homes as I can get them. Maybe Mrs. Neyman was sitting on the toilet reading her copy of The Post that day. Does that mean a sewage treatment plant in your backyard is OK, too? Think about it. Lori Webb Cedar Bluff May 12, 2008 Thank the farmer I had to smile as I read Ms. Webb’s concerns about the smell from the poultry houses near her home ("Raising a stink," letters to the editor, April 21). I wondered as she wrote her letter, was she munching on chicken fingers, chicken salad, chicken nuggets, a chicken sandwich or eating an egg? Does she grill chicken on her grill? Being a big city girl I suppose she thinks food comes from the supermarket. I suppose Ms. Webb had rather her food be grown and shipped from a foreign country. Of course those countries do not have the strict regulations that U.S. farmers are required to follow. The U.S. farmer produces an abundance of food and consumers pay less for food than any other consumer in the world. Agriculture is the nation’s largest industry covering more than 250 career areas. In the U.S. around 24 million people produce, process, sell, and trade the nation’s food and fiber. The next time Ms. Webb puts food in her mouth and clothes on her back she should give thanks to the farmer who put it there for her. Dewandee Neyman Tucker’s Chapel community Daddy vs. father I am writing in regards to the letter "Judges' bad judgment" (letters to the editor, April 21). First of all, I want to say that any man can father a child, but it is very important for a father to be around for the nine months that the mother is carrying the child. Although the child is in the womb, he or she learns to recognize voices and if someone other than the biological father is around during this time the child will know his voice as the father. Once this child is born, it just so happens that another man had stepped up to the plate to become a part of the mother's life. They became common-law husband and wife. This man was the first to cut the cord and the first to hold the child. So this child knows him as his daddy. You see, not every man can be a daddy. This takes someone special. He too gets up in the night to feed the child and change the child. He also supports the child. This child and this man have a bond that no one can ever break. So did the judge make a bad call? I don't think so. DNA tests are easy to acquire over the Internet, but it is my understanding that to hold up in court they must have an impartial witness, the procedure must be videotaped, hands and equipment must be sterilized, and every step must be documented on paper. It's up to the judge to decide if all these requirements were met. If you don't know all the facts, you can't say if the judge was right or wrong. This is about who is the child's daddy, because a daddy is more important than a father to a child. A.A. O'Shields Leesburg May 5, 2008 What about the issues? In recent weeks, I have been handed several sheets of paper by some of the candidates running for the position of revenue commissioner that can only be described as smut sheets. The people circulating this trash evidently don't know enough about the issues facing our county to debate them with any intelligence, because all they do is try and sling mud at their opponents. I wonder what they would think if personal things about their past were exposed for everyone else to see. Maybe these candidates should clean up their own houses before they let someone else talk them into tearing down someone else's reputation. These two candidates have run for public office several times in the past and have never been elected. They don't campaign for the best interests of the people of Cherokee County. All they do is complain about someone's salary or who they are married to. These are not the important issues; improving our county, economic development, schools, roads and promoting our natural resources are the important issues. Do these candidates know anything about any of these things? They talk about ethics, but I wonder if they even know what the word means. Maybe they should ask the person backing them for his advice? Sarah Bright Centre No bad judgment I am writing in response to the letter to the editor in the April 21 edition of The Post ("Judges' bad judgment"). This is a testimony. I have four kids who have an absent father. A lot of the things mentioned in the first case in the letter are some of the same things I am going through with my ex-husband. But, if I am correct, I know the family mentioned in the letter. Those kids were taken care of at all times by their mom and I, too, remember the time drugs were involved in the father's life. But do you not believe God is capable of changing a person? Even if he is behind on child support payments and has the kids he still pays every month towards the balance he owes! He has straightened out his life and I, for one, am very proud of him. As a matter of fact, I think we'd all like to see the county's addicts get better, but how can we if all we do is throw the past in their faces? I can understand why someone would be upset if these facts are the only ones they know of, but that's not the whole case. On the stand the mother stated that the reason for not allowing her kids to play sports and it wasn't the reason described in the letter on April 21. The children were old enough to tell the judge where they wanted to live and he is capable of providing for their needs since he is no longer spending his money elsewhere -- thank God! So don't blame the judge because, believe it or not, they know what they're doing. To all the addicts out there, it can be done. If it weren't for this man's courage and willpower, my children wouldn't have the father figure they have now and for that I am truly grateful. Thanks for giving back. Dione Hall Centre April 28, 2008 Porn on page 14? I usually pick up The Post every week, but normally do not have the time to read it cover-to-cover. However, the week of March 31, I had more time and read the Just for Fun page. This page had many interesting items and puzzles, but I was appalled when I saw the cartoon, "Edge of Adventure," for that week. Thinking I may have interpreted it incorrectly, I asked a number of friends to tell me what they saw and the response was the same each time. Many, including me believe it was pornographic and in very poor taste. This page may be viewed by children and that cartoon was definitely for adults only. It's possible that your editor overlooked the content of the cartoon, so please be more vigilant of what you print in the future. Your audience consists of readers both young and old. Fran Whiddon Cedar Bluff Senate Bill 426 Many of you are probably not aware that illegal immigration costs our state $112 million last year alone. Many are probably also not aware that the average illegal immigrant household receives approximately $30,000 in government benefits every year but pays only $9,000 in taxes, costing taxpayers $21,000 per household each year. Are you aware that Alabama is one of four states in the nation that has not passed comprehensive illegal immigration laws? Can you imagine what it might cost if we let needed legislation die without getting passed? Alabama would become more of a magnet than it already is for illegal immigrants. We cannot afford to wait for the federal government to protect our resources. We must do everything within our power to protect our state this legislative session. Senate Bill 426 punishes businesses that knowingly hire illegal immigrants and allows tax dollars to go toward law-abiding citizens' needs rather than illegal immigrants' needs. Please urge your representatives to pass SB426. Jane D. Bedford Mentone Thanks to EMS April 4 was a very active day, weather-wise, across Alabama. Though much damage was caused by straight-line wind and not tornadoes (although there were some tornadoes) the bottom line is still the same: damage. Our hearts go out to those who were injured or had their property damaged. Fortunately, the Rock Run community was spared any direct hits, but the emergency sirens were sounded here. Several weeks ago I wrote the editor of The Post concerning the siren being non-operative in the Rock Run community after failed attempts to EMS for reparation of same. The non-productive attempts were not the fault of EMS but were more a lack of clarity regarding jurisdictional authority. We would like to thank our very capable, able and dedicated EMS personnel for getting the siren back in operation. It is to this end this letter is written. Thanks so much! Tonya Pike Rock Run community April 21, 2008 Judges' bad judgment I am writing because I have a few concerns with our court in Cherokee County. I know of two different cases were two different judges awarded children to the wrong parent. The first case was a father who was awarded custody from the mother. The mother has always taken care of the kids, took them to the doctor, dentist, games, and paid for everything. She never once complained. Then the father decided that after years of not taking care of them, not paying one doctor bill, not helping with a babysitter, not paying child support (he is thousands of dollars behind),and he even choose drugs over his family, got custody of the kids. It was said the custody changed because the mother could not always afford to let her kids play sports. Now you tell me what is wrong with that picture?!! The second case involved a one-year-old. The mother is not sure who the father is, so she told one man he was the father, then told another one that he is the dad. So one dad took it upon himself to have a DNA test. It came back 99.9 percent positive that he was the father. So about seven months ago a judge agreed, and told him to pay child support and laid out visitation rules. Now the other man wants to be the dad so he filed a case and without presenting any DNA information the same judge took the baby away from his biological father and gave custody to someone else. The biological father has all the means to take care of the baby, and the baby was not in any harm. So my question is this: How can a judge take a child away from his own parent and give him to someone unrelated for no cause? I would like any feedback, good or bad, that anyone might have. Tracy Clifton Cedar Bluff Raising a stink Have you been around County Road 75 near Cedar Bluff lately? If you drive about three miles past Harton's Store, your nose will be greeted by what is first thought to be something dead and rotting. If you open your windows or sit on your porch to watch the birds feed, your nostrils will be assailed by an overpowering stench. Oh, but it's only the six HUGE chicken houses that were just built and put into operation last fall. I can't wait to see (and smell) what it's going to be like when it gets HOT outside. We have just paid off our home and nine acres of property in 2007, hoping to retire here, raise our pygmy goats, fish and enjoy visits from out-of-state family. We even put in a swimming pool to enjoy with our friends and family. We cannot do that now. The smell is so horrible that I can't even bear the stink when I am cooking out on the grill. We were working in our garden the other day and a friend who was helping us had to leave because she could not stand the smell. Most of the homes in our area are mobile homes. Would these smelly chicken houses have been built near someone's expensive lakefront home? Why were they approved here without some sort of impact research? I have all my windows closed as I write this and I can STILL smell it! I retired here in 2003 after 20 years in Atlanta. So much for my "sweet home Alabama." Lori Webb Cedar Bluff March 31, 2008 Bank on my support Last week, there was a rather harsh letter written and published concerning the customer service at the Centre branch of Union State Bank ("Banking in Cedar Bluff," letter to the editor, March 24). It is true that everyone is entitled to their opinion and that my experience may be very different from someone else's concerning Union State Bank in Centre. But after reading the article I felt compelled to say that all of the staff at Union State Bank in Centre has always been exceptionally kind to me. I have banked with them for over 15 years and have been treated with respect and consideration, no matter who I was dealing with. I am proud of my relationship with Union State Bank in Centre. I grew up in Birmingham, where you were “just an account number” at most banks. But my bank, Union State Bank, has always made me feel like I was important to them. I just wanted to express my appreciation to all the people at the Union State Bank in Centre for all they do and continue to do. Kym Black Centre Don't eliminate incentives The economic stimulus package that Congress approved and President Bush signed into law last month did something besides promise tax rebates to most Americans. It included important incentives for businesses so they could continue to grow and create jobs. But a bill passed earlier this month by the state House Education Appropriates Committee would eliminate these incentives for businesses in Alabama. The incentive would increase the deduction that businesses could take on the depreciating value of equipment. That might not sound like a big deal, but it would save Alabama businesses about $59 million. Bush and Democratic and Republican members of Congress wanted businesses to have these incentives to help shore up Alabama’s and the nation’s economy. The committee bill would remove this incentive for Alabama businesses. As state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, Alabama’s largest small business association, I believe it would be a serious mistake if the Legislature were to approve the committee version of the bill. Small businesses continue to lead growth in the U.S. economy, and small businesses create most of the country’s net new jobs. Here in Alabama, small business accounts for 97 percent of the state’s employer firms and about 51 percent of the workforce. Legislators sometimes assume that a business is a business, but this is wrong. Seventy-five percent of NFIB members in Alabama have fewer than 10 employees, and almost 70 percent have annual sales of $500,000 or less. Small businesses operate on thin profit margins, so every cent counts. For some, the higher deductions allowed under the federal law could be the difference between building up or falling behind. I believe that small business is the heart and soul of Alabama’s economy and that when you make things harder for small businesses, you hurt the working families that depend on them. Rosemary Elebash State Director, NFIB/Alabama Montgomery March 24, 2008 Banking in Cedar Bluff One of my relatives who has lived in Centre for over 15 years -- and who has been banking with Centre’s Union State Bank office for all those years -- has recently encountered what they consider to be a serious, ongoing problem involving the quality of service and the lack of competency by some of the employees at that bank. As in all cases, there is at least one good apple in the barrel: Thank you, Susan Kelley for your help, you are wonderful! However, because of ongoing problems with customer service issues, my relatives feel they have no other choice -- even with high gas prices -- but to drive out of their way to the Union State Bank in Cedar Bluff. A big "thank you" to all the employees at Cedar Bluff’s Union State Bank: Dora Norton, Becky Terry, Gail Simpson, Shirley Woodall, Jenny Moore, Pat Eaton. You guys are great! Cedar Bluff’s branch of Union State Bank has an exemplary staff. They are always kind, caring, and knowledgeable. Misty Inman Centre High gas prices If gasoline prices hit $4 per gallon as many economists predict, an estimated 65 percent of American car owners say they will dramatically change their driving behavior, according to a survey conducted by Opinion Research Corporation for our association. According to the survey, 91 percent of drivers are driving less and 75 percent are maintaining their vehicle better because of rising gas prices. Other specific behavioral changes were carpooling (31 percent), purchasing more fuel efficient vehicles (30 percent) and making greater use of public transportation (24 percent). Driving less might not be an option for you, but performing simple and inexpensive vehicle maintenance will not only save gas money, perhaps as much as $1200 per year, but will also improve your vehicle’s safety and dependability. The Car Care Council offers these gas-savings maintenance and driving tips: _ Check your vehicle gas cap. About 17 percent of the vehicles on the roads have gas caps that are either damaged, loose or are missing altogether, causing 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize every year. _ When tires aren’t inflated properly, it’s like driving with the parking brake on, and can cost a mile or two per gallon. _ A vehicle can have either four, six or eight spark plugs, which fire as many as three million times each 1,000 miles, resulting in a lot of heat, electrical and chemical erosion. A dirty spark plug causes misfiring, which wastes fuel. Spark plugs need to be replaced regularly. _ An air filter that is clogged with dirt, dust and bugs chokes off the air and creates a “rich” mixture – too much gas being burned for the amount of air, which wastes gas and causes the engine to lose power. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. These simple vehicle maintenance steps can add up to serious savings. To learn more about how to maintain your vehicle and reduce your fuel expenses, visit www.carcare.org. Kathleen Schmatz, President & CEO Automotive Aftermarket Industry Assoc. Feb. 25, 2008 Drive safely I could see my family in the distance searching for me. I knew they must be worried sick. Hours, then days went by! I reached out and covered myself with leaves during the freezing nights. If it had not rained I might easily have died from thirst. Finally I rallied enough strength to drag myself through the woods and across the yard. When my family saw me they ran to my aid, carrying me into the house. Oh, what a sight I was, bloodied, broken, covered in mire, dehydrated and next to starvation. But they were there for me and slowly they nursed me back to health. Now, such a short time later, I am well on my way to recovery. Though I
will be crippled for life, I am not bitter. I don't hold any animosity.
Really, my story is no big deal -- many people could care less since I'm
just an old house cat. My family just hopes that mine will be a cautionary
tale, that my story might give some people cause for thought. Next time the
victim might not have paws and claws. Might your driving habits one day such
anguish cause? Our legislature hasn't yet passed such legislation, and it still isn't likely to in spite of all the rhetoric we hear. Many legislators will resist passing HB423 unless they feel that their
positions as office holders will be threatened in the 2010 election cycle if
they don't comply with our wishes, It's up to Alabama voters to make them
comply and give us a way to have a government we can respect and take pride
in. It will require a groundswell of voters demanding that this bill be
passed to get it passed. If we want a better government, we have to actively
work for it. Feb. 18, 2008 Conserve in Cedar Bluff Another factor of this shortage is the rapid residential and industrial growth that the Southeast has enjoyed over the past few years. We have all been made aware that the water we have been taking for granted for so long isn't abundant anymore. Some are only seeing minor problems, due to the cooler months we are experiencing. But with summer and high demand a few months away, we find ourselves facing a potentially critical situation which will take everyone working together to prevent reaching a point where there isn't enough water to meet basic needs. We are asking all our customers to conserve water in order to lessen the demands that we are placing on our very limited sources. We have in place a Water Conservation Plan, including different phases of water restrictions depending on the severity of demand we are experiencing. We are not assured that rains will come in sufficient amounts to replenish the water table and recharge the aquifers that supply us. We know it will take months of above-average rainfall to replace the water the drought has taken away. If these conditions persist, we will be forced to enact higher levels of use restrictions. We want to assure you that we are doing everything we can to prevent any disruptions in your water supply. Our crews are always on the lookout for leaks which steal reserves. If you notice leaks please call 256-779-6359 or 256-779-7285. We need your help to protect our stored water and keep our losses to a minimum. Now more than ever, every drop counts. Another way of helping us is to make sure that you are maintaining your own water system. We often get calls about high water bills. These are usually due to a situation in the customer's home or workplace involving leaks in service lines, faucets, and a common area for water loss -- the bathroom toilet. You can determine the location of a leak by isolating sections of line and watching the flow indicator on the water meter, or by using a form of dye or food coloring in the tank of the commode to indicate flow past the tank. Although you are paying for this water, the wasted amounts created can go a long way toward lessening the total demands we have on our reserves if we all get involved. Hopefully, the rains we have received will help replenish our water
reserves. But it will take long periods of above-average rainfall to do much
good. We assure you that we are by no means out of water, but we do feel
that you deserve to be kept up-to-date on the situation so you can help
conserve water and become part of the solution. Feb. 11, 2008 A great man gone Ray was raised on the Chattooga River in Gaylesville and as a young man he saw the health of his river decline as a result of upstream pollution. What had been his fishing and hunting grounds had become a dumping ground. In a 1962 hearing to address water pollution flowing to his Alabama home, Ray told officials simply: “All we want is clean water down there, where our fish will live.” For the next 46 years, without fail, that is what Ray fought for with a tenacity and steadfastness that became legendary among environmental regulators and activists in both Alabama and Georgia. Debby Berry, founder and president of the Smith Lake Preservation Committee, said that Ray could be like a “bulldog without a bone!” and Weiss Lake Improvement Association president Carolyn Landrem added, “When he got his teeth into something; he hung onto it.” In the early 1990s Ray was a founding member of Alabama Water Watch and the Coosa River Basin Initiative. He later served as CRBI board president for several years, and served on both CRBI and AWW boards until his death. In the early days of AWW, he volunteered up to 20 weekends a year, traveling around the state teaching citizens how to monitor the streams in their communities. Even during his long illness, he rarely missed AWW or CRBI board meetings. Kelley also realized long before many that the fortunes of communities in both Alabama and Georgia would depend upon enough clean water flowing across the state line. Said fellow CRBI founder Jerry Brown: “Ray's world was bounded by the river basins- not superficial, political lines that humans have drawn on top of the creation. Ray bounded back and forth between Georgia and Alabama seamlessly.” Thus, Ray became one of the Coosa Valley's strongest environmental advocates. He didn't get that way by studying environmental science or marching for Greenpeace. In fact, he spent his working career making electric transformers at the General Electric plant in Rome — an occupation he linked to the cancer that ultimately took his life. Ray became an advocate because when he saw a problem, he didn't sit on his haunches and expect others to solve it. He leapt at the problem and sunk his teeth into it like the bulldog that he was. Ray will be missed, but his legacy of a cleaner Coosa River and Weiss
Lake remain and inspire all of us who care for these special places. Feb. 4, 2008 Thanks to so many Last, but not least, I have to thank the people at Cherokee County Health and Rehabilitation Center, whose facilities are second-to-none. Thanks, also, to the personnel who cared for me. They not only cared for my physical needs, but with a smile and a few kind words they kept my spirits up, as well. They give a new meaning to the word "kindness." A special thanks to my wife, Jean, and my home congregation, the Menlo
Church of Christ.
Propane problem So, after 30 years, that tank was removed, leaving my widowed mother without a tank. It doesn't surprise me to hear that Heritage Propane has a company policy to gauge people, because of their bad business practices. But it amazes me that state law protects businesses at the great expense of the citizens by allowing these companies to charge whatever they want and forcing people to buy because they do not own their tank. This really hits the poor and elderly. If you talk to the people at Heritage, they simply justify their
practices by claiming, "it's company policy." We don't need companies like
this.
Real change Only one candidate is campaigning for our freedom, our liberty, and for returning to and governing in accordance with the U.S. Constitution, which granted us rights both as individual citizens, and as states which joined together to create the United States of America. Our Constitution places strict limits on what our federal government can do. Those limitations, as well as individuals' and states' rights have been ignored and/or abused by our government whenever convenient for government for too many years. I urge everyone to ignore what mainstream media and both major political
parties say about him and to vote for the one candidate who may represent
America's last hope, Congressman Ron Paul from Texas. Jan. 28, 2008 Share the rebate We paid taxes and Social Security all our lives and to be left out is definitely discrimination because SS was funded by our contributions. I understand the government is going to borrow from SS to fund the rebate, which President Bush hopes will stimulate the economy. This time, the retired citizens of the USA should share in the rebate. I also believe that the government owes us our fair share of the first rebate, plus interest. If one citizen gets money back, we should all get money back -- not just the working class and the wealthy. I believe this rebate will, again, be taken from SS, because the government is constantly "borrowing" from SS and it is going broke. I wonder why? I realize that taxes pay government expenses and I am not against that. However, the USA is the only country in the world that pays medical bills, housing and food for illegal aliens, all while average Americans have difficulty qualifying for government assistance. It still holds true that the government is for the rich and to hell with the little man. Our elected officials should be looking after the retired as well as the
wealthy, and they should remember that we put them there and we can remove
them. People on SS are not dead. We buy stuff and pay taxes, too. Today's
working class citizens will be retired, someday. Just like those of us who
have been forgotten by the government. If retired citizens don't get part of
the rebate, then no one should get any.
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